Mark 10:27 (beyond good intentions)

* 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).

Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.” Mark 10:27

Living Faith snippets: “I say that I really should give myself more fully to the Lord. Honestly, I would really like to. I want to be good! But the prospect of suffering for the sake of love seems too much to bear. How can I ever get beyond good intentions? It seems impossible…But is it? Lord Jesus, fill me and strengthen me.” by Amy Welborn

* Outreach: Let’s go beyond good intentions and invite at least one friend or family member each week to join our LIFE Devotions group (Mark 16:15), providing routine spiritual connection and strength. Save your favorite devotions and forward them periodically to friends and family with an invitation.

* Joel Cain shared this: “I was lamenting to Pat about all the ads for new cars these days that feature options I’m not interested in like iPod connections, MP3 players, GPS …. I want a car to get me from A to B. And, the price of some of these new cars are not much different than what I paid for a new car 8-10 years ago. If these cars have so many high-tech options but the price hasn’t gone up so very much, what’s lacking in the part of the car that really matters to me. THEN, Pat pointed out how this can be what our walk with Christ becomes when we put our interest and effort into externals that make us look good to others when God is interested in what really matters. “For God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Sam. 16:7b (NASB). Joel is the leader of our office Chemists for Christ Bible study group. Joel’s comments also reminded me of the book of Ecclesiastes (in Bible), which is packed with wisdom on vanity (a quick read).

Feast Day: St. Philip Neri (1515-1595) certainly went beyond good intentions while he labored amongst the sick and poor. He routinely “visited whore houses to introduce them to the churches of the city and to the catacombs.” He ministered “to the needs of the thousands of poor pilgrims who flock to Rome.” He relieved “the patients discharged from hospitals, but still too weak for labor.” He also “travelled throughout the city, seeking opportunities of entering into conversation with people.” en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Neri

Our Prayers: Abortion, our enemies, our troops, China earthquake, Myanmar cyclone, depression/despair, Vicki Miller (her cancer treatment), Pam McGushin (Cindy’s cancer treatment), Tom Tenpenny (sister in law Anna’s cancer treatment), Jenny Senour (ProLife job interview), Pat Castle (niece Shantelle’s misdirection), Kelly Benson (son Emeric premature birth), Kathy-jo Peterson (aunt Peggy’s brain cancer), Kay Castle (friend Betty’s back pain), Joe Hourigan (friend’s son, Peter, with Downs Syndrome)

* New: Memorial Day (Veteran’s and their families who sacrificed for God’s gift of freedom), Tracy Humphreys and all who are recovering from the Windsor, CO tornado

Through Christ for ProLife,

Pat
Phil 4:13

* Today’s Bible readings at www.usccb.org/nab/today.shtml.

* Prayer: 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: 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 self and those close to us, drawing closer to God’s will by way of daily prayer (relationship) and following Christ’s example of selfless love, mercy, and service…