If God is for Us… (Rom 8:31) by Stephanie Kemp

31 Oct If God is for Us… (Rom 8:31) by Stephanie Kemp

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB).  Leaders.  Guest Authors.
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“If God is for us, who can be against us?” ~ Rom 8:31 (full readings)
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Stephanie’s Reflections:  After St. Paul presents and exhausts his defense of the Gospel in his letter to the Romans, he concludes with his famous rhetorical question.  Over the last 30 years of my own pro-life commitment, I have been reminded over and over of this in private moments of disappointment when I question what I’m doing, when I could be happily doing something else with a lot less frustration.  I’ve wondered: Is what I’m doing really making any difference?  Why not just toss in the towel now?  Am I just spinning my wheels?  No one is listening!!  And then I remember it’s not about me…the Master of the Universe and the Author of Life holds all things in His Hands.  We just have to be His pencil as Blessed Mother Teresa advised.  Look at what God has given us!  He spared nothing.  He has given us everything, including the gift of Himself.  “If God is for us, who can be against us?”  God is in control.  He loves us and because of that nothing can separate us from the love of God (unless we choose to allow it and even then, He is always waiting for our return).  And there’s the rub…  Do we have faith?  Do we believe that God is always there beside us and hears our petitions?  Do we, who work in the Pro-Life movement, really believe there will be an end to abortion – maybe not in our lifetime, but someday?  Are we willing to devote our time, talent and treasure to the cause of protecting all human life even when we don’t see the results?  Are we willing to enter God’s will and trust that the smallest thing we do each day makes a difference in the grand scheme of things?  “If God is for us, who can be against us?”  The all conquering power of God’s love has overcome every obstacle to our salvation and every doubt that separates us from Him.  By faith in Jesus, we can overcome our afflictions and our trials.  Jesus pleads our case before God and promises to be with us in the midst of persecution and everything the world throws against us.  “If God is for us, who can be against us?”  In Jesus, we find the courage and perseverance to meet each new day despite our fears and our setbacks; we find the compassion to reach out to those who are in need and those who are hurting from abortion decisions they can never take back; and we find mercy and forgiveness because “there, but for the grace of God, go I.”  Be of Good Cheer – nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.  “If God is for us, who can be against us?” 
* Stephanie Kemp is the oldest of twelve, mother of three sons, and grandmother of four.  She has over a marathon of yrs with Pro-Life work.  Stephanie is the Respect Life Coordinator for St. Peter parish in Monument, CO.
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Faith Challenge:  Reflect on the meaning of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection and the role we play in continuing the mission of Jesus in establishing His Kingdom – one heart at a time.  Jesus’ mention of His death in Luke’s Gospel today (Lk 13:31-35) leads Him to reflect on the tragedy that Jerusalem has been in the history of Israel.  How have we played the role of Jerusalem in our own lives?  And on the other hand, how have we recognized God’s Word and lived it?  Maybe we can’t affect change on a national level, in our state or in our city, but how about in our neighborhood, in our church, in our family… and most especially in our own heart?
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Counter-Culture News:  LifeSiteNews, LifeNews, American Family, Vatican, Project Rachel.
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Our Prayers:  Pray LIFE Runners Creed to end abortion.  Add Prayers. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, unceasingly. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.
* Prayer For Faith in the Pro-Live Movement by Mary Ortwein:  Lord, give me faith… faith in the Pro-Life cause.  Let me believe this is the most important issue of our time.  Let me believe that with Your help we will succeed.  Let me remember that faith can move even the mountains of legislative intrigue, unjust courts and the growing selfishness of American society.
Give me faith in myself.  Let me believe that even my small efforts to save Your children are important.  Help me to never apologize for my convictions, but rather to be happy to share with others my belief in the sanctity of all human life.
Give me faith in you.  You are the Author of all life.  You know and love every human being.  How You must weep for Your children who die and for Your children who kill them.  Help me to believe the power of Your grace will eventually triumph over every obstacle.  Amen.
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Feast Day:  Saint Wolfgang of Regensburg.
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Faith Quote:  “My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.” ~ President Abraham Lincoln
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Through Christ Our Lord,
Stephanie
Psalm 51:12