15 May James 2:9 (Humble Acceptance)
Posted on Thursday 15 May, 2008
* Welcome God every morning before work by taking ~5 min to read this Living In Faith Exchange (LIFE) Group devotion (life-devotions.blogspot.com), which has snippets from Living Faith (livingfaith.com).
If you show partiality, you commit sin… James 2:9
Living Faith snippets: “I have recently learned how important it is to let what I know, or think I know, to be measured by the experiences and insights of others. There is a sneaky trick the evil spirit plays, convincing me that I don’t need others, leading me to a kind of isolation, making me afraid of someone else’s sharp mind and overly protective of my own way of Christian living. What starts out as fear ends as prejudice.” by Sr. Kathryn James Hermes, F.S.P.
Rich’s comments: Today’s reading from James is a difficult teaching. We all know from scripture that we shall love our neighbor as ourself, but how often do we put this into practice when it really matters. Why do I feel uncomfortable speaking with the beggar on the street that I pass by daily. Why do I hold discrimination in my heart? I am thankful that God shows no partiality. He loves us all the same. Lord, help me to be Pro-Life and see the dignity of all human life that You have created. Amen.
Feast Day: St. Isidore the Farmer (http://www.savior.org/saints/isidore.htm). Although he is called “the farmer,” the title “farm laborer” would be more appropriate, because he owned no land, but was the hired hand of Juan de Vargas near Madrid, Spain. His wife is also a saint. They were poor and poorly educated, but they had more important talents: They hated sin and loved prayer. On holidays, Isidore would spend the day in prayer at various churches, but on workdays, he worked hard. His fellow workers were jealous because he seemed to pray so much. They told the landowner that Isidore was slacking off. When Juan de Vargas watched to find out the truth, he saw Isidore working hard and being assisted by a white team of oxen and angels.
Our Prayers: Earthquake in China, Abortion, Our troops, Our enemies, Kay Castle (crimes against children), Vicki Miller (cancer treatment), Pam McGushin (mom’s depression, Cindy’s cancer treatment), Tom Tenpenny (Anna’s cancer treatment), Dale Sundermann (strength for his Mom), Jenny Senour (ProLife job interview)
Through Christ Our Lord,
Rich
Romans 12:12
* Today’s Bible readings at www.usccb.org/nab/today.shtml.
* Prayer: If you have a prayer request, simply send it to our distribution list at life-group-distro@googlegroups.com. Prayer connects us with God’s will & His miracles, thereby changing us & helping others. Wayne Watson, “When God’s people pray, there is hope reborn, there is sin forgiven, and miracles you can’t explain await!” “If you pray that God will move a mountain and He doesn’t, assume Christ wants you to climb it instead & see Him.”
* Defend the unborn: ProLife websites at life-devotions.blogspot.com. ‘Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to death; don’t stand back and let them die’ (Prov 24:11). ‘Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you’ (Jer 1:5). ‘It is a great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish’ Blessed Mother Teresa. Click for Prayer to End Abortion.
* Share the Good News: Let’s joyfully live out the Good News and gladly tell others about it (Mark 16:15)! Let’s make room to share with non-believers (be a friend, make a friend, lead your friend to Christ)…and work on perpetual re-evangelization of ourselves and those close to us (Western culture), drawing closer to God’s will by way of daily prayer (relationship) and following Christ’s example of selfless love, mercy, and service…
* Let’s invite family, friends, and our “neighbors” to join the LIFE Devotions group, providing routine spiritual connection and strength for our faith communities.
* Let’s invite family, friends, and our “neighbors” to join the LIFE Devotions group, providing routine spiritual connection and strength for our faith communities.