31 Mar John 8:28 (where are we going?)
Posted on Tuesday 31 March, 2009
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
When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM… John 8:28
Living Faith snippets: “As Son of God, he always was, is and ever shall be. As Son of man, he could be lifted up on the sacrificial gibbet of the Cross; he could suffer, be in agony and die the death we all fear. St. Augustine reminds us that we gave him through his Blessed Mother what as God he did not have: the capacity to die. And he gave us what we do not have as human beings: a capacity to live forever.” by Benedict J. Groeschel
Rich’s comments: When I attended my Granny’s funeral Mass this past January, the priest said something during his homily that has stuck in my mind. When a loved one dies, we are not leaving them behind. On the contrary, they are ahead of us and leading the way. They are closer to Jesus. Jesus has experienced and conquered death, and He leads the way to everlasting life. I believe that the main fear of death, is the fear of the unknown, but knowing that Jesus leads the way and our loved ones follow, how can we be afraid? One day we will be reunited.
Faith Challenge: Let’s challenge each other to joyfully live out the Good News. Suggestions?
* NEW: Bring comfort to someone who is suffering or who has recently lossed a loved one.
Culture of Life (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 share ProLife Truth (John 14:6)…rebuilding a Culture of Life (Matt 5:16)!
* Let’s never forget the horrific reality of abortion (images)…#1 cause of death in America. Let’s share ProLife Truth (John 14:6)…rebuilding a Culture of Life (Matt 5:16)!
* NOW (25 Feb-5 Apr): Support the 40 Days for Life campaign by praying by an abortion mill for one hour (Matt 26:40)…let’s defend the voiceless unborn!
* NEW: I recently had the opportunity to pray for 6 hours (2 am – 8 am) to end abortion on the Annunciation of the Lord (Wed, March 25th). In prayer, I offered myself as a living sacrifice to Jesus, asking Him to use me as He saw fit to end abortion. After my prayer marathon, I felt a great sense of peace, clarity, and focus. At my Knights of Columbus (KC) council elections, I was elected Grand Knight. Deacon Henry, a Knight in our council and also one of the Board of Directors for A Women’s Answer (AWA) Medical Center, told our council that AWA needs an ultrasound machine. The KC has a grant program that allows pregnancy crisis centers to purchase an ultrasound machine, if a local KC council raises $7500 towards the cost of the new equipment ($44K). As new Grand Knight, I fealt moved by the Holy Spirit to dedicate all council funds and future revenues towards raising $7500 for the ultrasound machine. It is so awesome that God humbles Himself to allow us to partake in His plan. It brings tears to my eyes knowing that I am going to be a part of something that is going to actually save lives.
* NEW: I recently had the opportunity to pray for 6 hours (2 am – 8 am) to end abortion on the Annunciation of the Lord (Wed, March 25th). In prayer, I offered myself as a living sacrifice to Jesus, asking Him to use me as He saw fit to end abortion. After my prayer marathon, I felt a great sense of peace, clarity, and focus. At my Knights of Columbus (KC) council elections, I was elected Grand Knight. Deacon Henry, a Knight in our council and also one of the Board of Directors for A Women’s Answer (AWA) Medical Center, told our council that AWA needs an ultrasound machine. The KC has a grant program that allows pregnancy crisis centers to purchase an ultrasound machine, if a local KC council raises $7500 towards the cost of the new equipment ($44K). As new Grand Knight, I fealt moved by the Holy Spirit to dedicate all council funds and future revenues towards raising $7500 for the ultrasound machine. It is so awesome that God humbles Himself to allow us to partake in His plan. It brings tears to my eyes knowing that I am going to be a part of something that is going to actually save lives.
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, lack of faith, illnesses/injuries, jobs, Angi Castle (Uncle Don passed away), Therese Castle (Ashleigh Hedger is bed ridden, her baby is having complications)
* Prayer to end abortion, abused children, chastity, peace, our enemies, our troops, depression/ despair, prisoners, ProLife politicians, lack of faith, illnesses/injuries, jobs, Angi Castle (Uncle Don passed away), Therese Castle (Ashleigh Hedger is bed ridden, her baby is having complications)
* NEW: Rich Reich, Sr. (father-in-law Stan hospitalized for stint)
Faith Quote: “God had one son on earth without sin, but never one without suffering.” by Saint Augustine
Through Christ Our Lord,
Rich
Romans 12:12
* 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)!
* 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)!