10 Feb Mark 7:8 (rules as obstacles)
Posted on Tuesday 10 February, 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
You disregard God’s command, but cling to human tradition. Mark 7:8
Living Faith snippets: “Rules and customs generally help prevent conflict. But in some cases they can go a little overboard, and the enforcers can take them a bit too seriously. Jesus must have felt that way about the Pharisees. He knew that rules had their place, but he also knew they were not meant to inhibit our relationship to God.” by Paul Pennick
Rich’s comments: Rules are important and necessary. God believed this and gave us His commandments to live by. However, we need to be careful that we do not become legalistic like the Pharisees and emphasize the letter of the law over the spirit of the law. Rules help prevent conflict, but sometimes rules conflict with each other, and we need to prioritize what is important. Jesus was observed healing on the Sabbath, a day dedicated to honor and worship God, but what could be more honoring to God than to love and help our fellow man. Don’t let rules and regulations be the obstacles preventing you from sharing God’s love with others.
Faith Challenge: Let’s challenge each other to joyfully live out the Good News. Suggestions?
* NEW: Offer spiritual comfort to someone who has recently experienced the death of a family member or friend. A few weeks ago I was able to provide comfort to a friend who lost his uncle by sharing my hope and faith in Jesus Christ.
Culture War/ProLife News: LifeSiteNews, American Family Association, Priests for Life
* Let’s never forget the horrific reality of abortion (images).
* 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, 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)
* 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, 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)
Feast Day (St. Scholastica): http://saintbenedict.org/stscholastica.htm
Faith Quote: “Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.” by C.S. Lewis
Through Christ Our Lord,
Rich
Romans 12:12
* 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)!
* 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)!