Mark 6:55 (healing/building God’s temple)

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

They scurried about the surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on mats, to wherever they heard He was. Mark 6:55

Living Faith snippets: “It takes a lot of courage to admit that one needs healing. When we do this, Jesus’ power to heal is available to us too; we only need to present ourselves. What in your life needs healing? What the crippled, withered or oozing parts of your soul that require Jesus’ healing touch? Ask Jesus to transform these scars into new flesh. This takes courage and faith.” by David Nantais

Faith Challenge: Let’s challenge each other to joyfully live out the Good News. Suggestions?
* NEW: Put a Bible verse reference in your signature block, which shares the Good News and sends a message to yourself/others that your true identity is from God.

Pastor Don: Read his devotion here titled “Haggai 1:1-15”. Some snippets: “Over the last 2 months, the Lord has laid on my heart Haggai 1:1-15. Haggai was a prophet that challenged the Jews who had returned from Exile in Babylon to see where their hearts and priorities really lay. They had laid the foundation for a new temple, but when enemies seemed to apply pressure, the work stopped. But, even when the barriers were lifted, the people lapsed into spiritual lethargy. They had lost their passion for the worship of the living God. They procrastinated by saying, “It just doesn’t seem to be the right time.” (v. 2) [I often hear this with the ProLife movement.] Haggai recognized the hard economic times (ring a bell?) in verse 6. He brought the people face to face with the real issue, as he exhorted them to look at their own spiritual condition. They were focusing on insignificant matters, like the decoration of their homes, while every day they ignored God’s temple lying in ruins. If the people ignored the physical ruin of the temple, they were ignoring the spiritual wreckage in their souls as well. Have I neglected my temple to pursue worldly pleasures? Am I giving excuses to God saying, “Right now is not the time for me to work on that issue. I’m not in a good place, God, to work on that relationship [love neighbor]. I don’t have the tools, God, to reconstruct my life and make you the center of it right now [love God].” Are we willing to spend the time to ensure that the church is on a strong foundation and is that mighty fortress for people to experience the living God in their lives? I want to “consider my ways” (v. 5), and the ways of the Lord, so that He may take pleasure in my life and be glorified through it (v. 8). Amen.”

Culture War/ProLife News: LifeSiteNews, American Family Association, Priests for Life

* Let’s never forget the horrific reality of abortion (images).

Our Prayers: Those who pray together stay together. Fasting ideas below.

* Let’s pray for courage to share ProLife Truth to those around us (John 14:6)…rebuilding a Culture of Life (Matt 5:16).

* Prayer to end abortion, chastity, peace, our enemies, our troops, depression/ despair, prisoners, Pres Obama becomes ProLife, lack of faith, illnesses/injuries, Rich Reich (Fr. Tim cancer surgery), Liz Curry (abused children), Zek Kazanca (PhD exam prep), Bro Joe Castle (unresolved medical issue), Peters family (JP updates), Mark Nelson (Pat Barton cancer surgery), Rob Ouellette (Leo & Suzanne)

Faith Quote: Rob Ouellette shared. “Live simply, Love generously, Care deeply, Speak kindly…Leave the rest to God.” author unknown

Through Christ for ProLife,
Pat

Phil 4:13

* Bible: Readings and reflections for today.

* 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.’

* 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 me will gladly add them to the devotions distribution list (Mark 16:15)!