17 Feb Mark 8:38 (Not Negotiable)
Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB). Guest Authors schedule. LIFE Minute radio.
“Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this faithless and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” ~ Mark 8:38 (full readings)
Steve’s Reflections: Deacon Sam exhorted us yesterday to not forget the cross. As we see the climate surrounding the Catholic Church’s stance against the current mandate on contraception, it is clear the Church is being persecuted for it’s courageous moral stance on this issue…we are being taken to the cross. Would you be willing to go to jail to make a stand for your moral beliefs? When I joined the LIFE Group leadership in 2009, I shared with my wife that I might have to go to jail someday for what I believe. If our country continues down the slippery slope of forced contraception and abortion-on-demand that day may come sooner than I expected. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (#2242) states, “The citizen is obliged in conscience not to follow the directives of civil authorities when they are contrary to the demands of the moral order, to the fundamental rights of persons or the teachings of the Gospel.” It goes a step further…”When citizens are under the oppression of a public authority which oversteps its competence, they should still not refuse to give or to do what is objectively demanded of them by the common good; but it is legitimate for them to defend their own rights and those of their fellow citizens against the abuse of this authority within the limits of the natural law and the Law of the Gospel.”
Faith Challenge: Don’t be fooled or lulled asleep by “compromises” and “accommodations”; be courageous, unashamed, and take a stand where it matters most…in the voters box. Vote LIFE.
Sr. Francelle’s Devotion: Lent – a Time to Change.
Counter-Culture News: LSN, LifeNews, Priests for Life, AFA, Vatican, Project Rachel.
* Time to Admit it: The Church Has Always Been Right On Birthcontrol.
Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion, Spiritual Adoption, Alpha Center, Peters family (JP). Add Prayers on our website. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, LIFE Runners, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.
Feast Day: Blessed Luke Belludi (d. 1285).
Faith Quote: “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?” ~ James 2:14
Through Christ Our Lord,
Steve
Rom 12:2
* Pray/Fast: Prayer connects us with God’s will and His miracles, changing us & helping others. Fast from things that take your eyes off Jesus. Those who pray together stay together, and close to God!
* Save Unborn (and family): Abortion reality (images)…#1 death cause (22% pregnancies). Prov 24:11 and Jer 1:5. “A great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish.” Mother Teresa.
* Evangelize: Make room for unbelievers and re-evangelization of self, by way of prayer (relationship) and following Christ’s example of love (service/sacrifice/mercy). Matt 28:19.