Above All (Jn 3:31) by Jenn Garza

11 Apr Above All (Jn 3:31) by Jenn Garza

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB). Leaders. Guest Authors.
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“The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things. But the one who comes from heaven is above all.” ~ Jn 3:31 (full readings)
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Jenn’s Reflections: As a Central Californian accustomed to training mainly on flatland, I must admit that I wasn’t fully prepared for some of the famous San Francisco hills that awaited me at the West Coast kickoff of the A-Cross the Country Relay for Pro-Life, on Ash Wednesday this year. Leapfrogging the first 6 legs with a fellow LIFE Runner was an experience I’ll never forget. Not only for its beautiful, diverse scenery – but more because of the grace that came with knowing that my physical sacrifice was and is a powerful weapon in the heavenly war we wage against the evil of abortion.  In the times we feel defeated or struck down in our effort to protect the unborn, we must remember that the day of our victory is safe in the hands of our Creator. When every so often, we seem to lose a battle here on earth, let us remain hopeful in the knowledge that we are winning the heavenly war.  If the one who comes from heaven is above all, then all we do must be done for Him. This was my prayer during those moments of the Relay when I wanted to quit. The moments when the hills seemed too steep and too high. The moments when it seemed like it was never going to end. This is what our Father in heaven asks of us:  that we do everything to the best of our ability for His glory, for He is above all. Every step we take in our running shoes is a sacrifice of love here on earth for the glory of the One who knows the day we will win this war in His name.
* Jenn Garza works as Vocations Assistant for the Diocese of Fresno, CA and plans to become a cloistered Norbertine nun in August. She is currently training for The OC Marathon and gathering sponsors in an effort to pay off her student loans so that she can enter religious life (donate at www.litanyrun.com).
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Faith Challenge: This week offer a mile (whether its walking, running, biking, driving, or maybe even flying!) for someone who has never asked you for prayer, praying that people will begin to see Christ in you more clearly!
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Counter-Culture News: LifeSiteNews, LifeNews, American Family, Vatican, Project Rachel.
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Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion. LIFE Runners Creed. Add Prayers. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.
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Feast Day: St. Stanislaus
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Faith Quote: “And I wish that all of us, after these grace-filled days, might have the courage, yes, the courage to walk in the Lord’s presence with the Cross of the Lord, to build the Church on the blood of the Lord that is poured out on the Cross and to witness to the sole glory: to the crucified Christ. And thus the Church will move forward.” – Pope Francis
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Through Christ our Lord,
Jenn
Lk 1:37