Matthew 5:17 (surprising ways!)

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

Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Matthew 5:17

Living Faith snippets: “In our search for a spirituality that is meaningful and relevant to our time, it is easy to get caught up in factions that emphasis one extreme or the other. Some people are so biased against organized religion that they overlook the wisdom and depth of the Church. Others are so fearful that they immediately condemn [Judge] and reject anyone who does not belong to their denomination or group. May we remain open to the surprising ways of the Holy Spirit as we seek to know the mind and heart of our God.” by Terri Mifek

Faith Challenge: Let’s challenge each other to joyfully live out the Good News. Suggestions?
* NEW: Let’s love up our neighbor…offer someone a free hug today, especially a pregnant Mom!

Stations of the Cross (#9): Jesus falls a third time.

Culture War/ProLife 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 share ProLife Truth (John 14:6)…rebuilding a Culture of Life (Matt 5:16)!
* NOW (25 Feb-5 Apr): Support the 40 Days for Life campaign by praying by an abortion mill for one hour (Matt 26:40)…let’s defend the voiceless unborn!

* NEW: Yesterday, Rich shared about the Operation Outcry display of several hundred baby shoes…representing aborted children. This reminded me of the Holocaust Museum in DC where there is an entire room filled with shoes from the victims. A Holocaust is happening right now…over 25,000 babies murdered every week in America alone.

Our Prayers: Those who pray together stay together. Fasting ideas below.
* Prayer to end abortion, abused children, chastity, peace, our enemies, our troops, depression/ despair, prisoners, ProLife politicians, lack of faith, illnesses/injuries, jobs, Paul Cote (sister Christine with cancer), John Lown (Allan Hillberg in ICU)

* NEW: Carla Neal (Elena, Ghirmay, Sylk, Gianna, Becky, John , Emily & Jean), Kathy Castle (for repose of the soul of Marv Christiansen), Steve Castle (pregnant wife Tina very sick)

Faith Quote: “Humility readies her [a daughter] for a life that has depth because it involves service and taking on challenges. It provides joy because it teaches her to look outward, not just inward. It gives her the wisdom to understand right from wrong.” Meg Meeker (“Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters”)

* Humility enables us to keep God #1 in our life (First Commandment)…

Through Christ for ProLife,
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)!