Mark 10:28 (dying to self)

* 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).

We have given up everything and followed you. Mark 10:28

Living Faith snippets: “Following Jesus requires a dying to self and a letting go of anything that hinders us from full discipleship. Jesus promised that whoever sacrifices for his sake will “receive a hundred times more now in this present age.” My experience is that whatever we think we have lost in becoming Jesus’ disciples, we actually receive back in abundance. In Christ, we grow rich in love, family and grace. In the end, we actually give up nothing and we receive everything.” by Msgr. Stephen J. Rossetti

Rich’s comments: Dying to self is the essence of metanoia (having a repentant heart). I found it the most difficult first step in following Christ. Recognizing that I had to change. I had to give up the things that I believed defined who I was. The things that made me feel comfortable (e.g. friends, music, material things, plans, aspirations). I had to clean house and make room for Christ in my life. I had to remove all distractions and obstacles that prevented me from placing Christ in the center of my life. I had to become a living sacrifice. How I finally justified to myself, the process of dying to self, is that God gave us free will as a sign of His love for us. I in turn use this gift of free will to offer myself up to God to do His will; to show Him that I love Him. Lord, fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Give me the courage to deny myself, take up my cross, and follow You. Amen.

Feast Day: Today is the feast day of St. Augustine of Canterbury. “Saint Augustine comes across today as a very human saint, one who could suffer like many of us from a failure of nerve. For example, his first venture to England ended in a big U-turn back to Rome. He made mistakes and met failure in his peacemaking attempts with the Briton Christians. He often wrote to Rome for decisions on matters he could have decided on his own had he been more self-assured. He even received mild warnings against pride from Pope Gregory, who cautioned him to “fear lest, amidst the wonders that are done, the weak mind be puffed up by self-esteem.” Augustine’s perseverance amidst obstacles and only partial success teaches today’s apostles and pioneers to struggle on despite frustrations and be satisfied with gradual advances.” (http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1396)

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), Tracy Humphreys and all who are recovering from the Windsor, CO tornado.

Rich

Romans 12:12

* 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…