Matthew 12:38-39 (appreciating His signs…)

Let’s welcome God every morning by reflecting on this short Living In Faith Exchange (LIFE) Group devotion (life-devotions.blogspot.com), which is based on Living Faith. All whatsoever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Col. 3:17

Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” He said to them in reply, “An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet.” Matthew 12:38-39 (full readings)

Living Faith snippets: “His teachings and His miracles were certainly sufficient to point out who He was. Those asking for signs has only to appreciate what had already been given. When I think of all the signs of God’s love in my life, I know that I have no need of more. He has shown His love by giving me the Eucharist and by guiding me, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. He has surrounded me with caring friends and the beauty of His creation. I need no further signs, but I do need to appreciate more deeply the ones I already have. Lord, may I not forget the many signs of your love that surround me each day. by Fr. Kenneth E. Grabner

Faith Challenge: Let’s challenge each other to joyfully live out the Good News.

* NEW: Let’s watch this out-of-this-world, perspective-giving 45 second ProLife video: Imagine Spot 3. God has certainly given us enough signs (spiritually and scientifically) to know that His gift of Life begins at conception!

Counter-Culture News: LifeSiteNews, American Family Association, Priests for Life
* Let’s never forget the horrific reality of abortion (images)…#1 cause of death in America. Let’s courageously share ProLife Truth (John 14:6) to create social tension for exposing abortion’s unjust peace…rebuilding a Culture of Life (Matt 5:16) and setting the unborn free!

Our Prayers: Those who pray together stay together. Fasting ideas in footnote below.
* Prayer to end abortion, abused children, chastity, peace, our enemies, our troops, depression/ despair, prisoners, ProLife politicians, illnesses/injuries, jobs, natural disasters, addictions, Stephanie Spader (for a family with unexpected pregnancy), Rob Rysavy (for a coworker’s wife who is battling an illness)

* NEW: Carol Nesbit (Please pray for my niece, Kelly, whose baby died in her womb. Pray for healing for Kelly and her husband, Kenny, and their new angel baby in heaven.)

Faith Quote: “We love one another truly and absolutely only when we love forever in joy and in sorrow, in good times and in bad.” John Paul II

Through Christ our Lord,

Pat
Phil 4:13

* Prayer: Prayer connects us with God’s will & His miracles, changing us & helping others. ‘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 Pat will gladly add them to the devotions distribution list (Mark 16:15)!