John 12:8 (Holy Week…)

Welcome God every morning before your 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. All whatsoever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Col. 3:17

You always have the poor with you… John 12:8

Living Faith snippets: “There will be endless opportunities to help the poor. Many are called to help the poor but few do. Whom will you help? My precious God, you send the poor to me for help. Give me the grace I need to open my hand and share what I have with them.” by Paul Boudreau (author of Between Sundays)

* Pastor Don: “As we approach Holy Week may we be reminded of who Jesus was and is and what He embodied for us while He was with us on earth…REAL LOVE. May we become the REAL LOVE of Christ in our homes, our work, our church, our community so that when people look at us they don’t see a “polished Christian” that “has it all together”, but a Christian who has been loved and loved so much that the sharp edges of our lives have been smoothed out and we reflect the image of the One who has changed us and made us REAL from the inside out.”

* Jean Noon: “And with the idea that we are to respond to evil with good I think that we are called by God to create win-win circumstance which can only be created through love. Our greatest desire is not that darkness be annihilated (we win) but that it be transformed through light (win-win). When we have a disposition of love while we speak truth, the defensive-posture of the other is unnecessary and set aside so that growth and transformation can occur (may take time!). Rather than see “them” struggle with “us” we witness their own internal tension which will come about only if their egos are not on the defensive and focused on external strife and survival. Thus we serve rather than participate in attack/defend.”

Faith Challenge: Let’s challenge each other to joyfully live out the Good News. Suggestions?

* NEW: Let’s strive to attend Holy Thurs (Last Supper, washing feet), Good Friday (the Lord’s Passion), Easter Vigil and/or Easter morning services…and our Holy Week will be like a retreat! Our Easter experience is not complete without the perspective of Holy Thurs and Good Friday.

Counter-Culture News: LifeSiteNews, American Family Association, Priests for Life
* Let’s never forget the horrific reality of abortion (images)…#1 cause of death in America. Let’s courageously share ProLife Truth (John 14:6) to create social tension for exposing abortion’s unjust peace…rebuilding a Culture of Life (Matt 5:16) and setting the unborn free!

ProLife Station #10 (Jesus is Stripped of His Garments): “Nobody can stop us from loving our preborn brothers and sisters. Those stronger than we may strip us of popularity, possessions, or power, but they cannot strip us of love. We love others with the same love that Christ showed for us.” by Fr. Frank Pavone (Priests for Life)

Our Prayers: Those who pray together stay together. Fasting ideas below.
* Prayer to end abortion, abused children, chastity, peace, our enemies, our troops, depression/ despair, prisoners, ProLife politicians, illnesses/injuries, jobs, Maureen Rogers (pain)

* NEW: Colleen Boddicker (Her Mom will be moved to hospice today.)

Faith Quote: “We have great hope in the Lord’s power to heal our land of the painful wound of legalized abortion. Every abortion is a personal tragedy. Its dread impact falls not only on a little boy or a little girl, but on the child’s parents, grandparents, siblings and everyone involved. Knowing that God’s mercy is greater than all of our sins, tonight we pray for all these people. We pray for the conversion of all those who promote death as a solution to social ills or to an unplanned pregnancy. We pray for legislators, educators, counselors and all health care professionals who put their skills and training at the service of life. We lift up Project Rachel and other post-abortion counseling ministries, pro-life pregnancy centers, and organizations that work every day to usher in a culture of life.” Cardinal Justin Rigali (shared by Kelly Benson)

Through Christ for ProLife,
Pat
Phil 4:13

* Prayer: Prayer connects us with God’s will & His miracles, changing us & helping others. ‘If you pray that God will move a mountain and He doesn’t, assume Christ wants you to climb it instead.’
* Fasting: Let’s fast from things that take our eyes off Jesus (selfishness, bitterness, being so critical, impatience, gossip, excessive video games, etc) and take on things that fix our eyes on Jesus (selflessness, kindness, compassion, forgiveness, patience, understanding, caring, helping, listening).
* Defend the unborn: ‘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).
* Evangelization: Let’s make room for unbelievers (be a friend, make a friend, lead friend to Christ) and perpetual re-evangelization of self and those near us, by way of daily prayer (relationship) and following Christ’s example of selfless love, mercy, and service.
Let’s joyfully invite others to join our LIFE Group…Rich or Pat will gladly add them to the devotions distribution list (Mark 16:15)!