13 Feb Rend Your Hearts (Jl 2:12-13) by Valerie Johnson
Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB). Leaders. Guest Authors.
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“Even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God.” ~ Jl 2:12-13 (full readings)
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Valerie’s Reflections: “Even now…”, even after all that’s happened, no matter how bad it is, no matter the circumstances surrounding the situation, no matter how difficult, God asks us to return to Him. I’m glad I don’t need to rend or tear my garments, but compared to tearing my heart, it would be more fun and easier to tear my clothes. We know that the Lord is merciful and is calling us all to Him – not calling us to do what is easy or fun, but to rend our hearts. Stretching and getting in shape might not be easy or fun but we need to do it so we can run the race; learning and educating about human development might not be on the easy list either. Fasting, so we might be filled, weeping and mourning, so that we might laugh, and rending our hearts for the Lord is the path to Heaven. He is the only way we can successfully finish this life. Ash Wednesday is the day we especially remember that we are sinners and that God formed all of us. “Dust we are….” We wear ashes in the Sign of the Cross on our foreheads because we know that Christ has conquered death; so we constantly return, with all of our hearts, to Him – even now.
* Valerie is married to Rick and has 6 wonderful children, ages 18 to 7. She is the volunteer education coordinator for South Dakota Right to Life, the SD delegate to National Right to Life, the vice president of her local Right to Life chapter and active in the Respect Life Committee at Holy Family Parish in Mitchell, SD.
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Faith Challenge: Talk about the Sacrament of Confession with a friend. If it’s something you don’t know much about, find out.
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Counter-Culture News: LifeSiteNews, LifeNews, American Family, Vatican, Project Rachel.
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Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion. LIFE Runners Creed. Add Prayers. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.
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Feast Day: St. Giles Mary of St. Joseph.
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Faith Quote: “Kyrie Eleison” (Lord have mercy).
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Through Christ our Lord,
Valerie
Rev 22:21