09 Nov Turning Over Tables (John 2:15) by Steve Castle
Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB). Leaders. Guest Authors.
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“He made a whip out of cords and drove them out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables…” ~ John 2:15 (full readings)
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Steve’s Reflections: I don’t know about you, but I felt a little bit like Jesus in the temple as I ominously watched the proof of our cultural decay play out before me as the poll numbers trickled in minute by minute on election night. I desperately wanted it not to be true. I wanted to turn some tables over! I have heard it said that the president is simply a reflection of the culture he serves. I don’t blame our president or his ideologies (we must pray for him), but I do blame the culture he represents for the catastrophic debacle that is playing out before us as regards to abortion, same-sex marriage, and total fiscal irresponsibility. Who of us could survive if we never paid our bills? As a young man, I used to joke with my friends about turning tables over to get people’s attention. There is something very dramatic about this action that drives home a point. It says, “No more!” The numbers indicate that by all accounts our country is divided right down the middle (see Kingdom Divided from 12 Oct). Our president won re-election by the slimmest of margins in many states. Where there is such division and polarity between two sides, there are lines being drawn in the sand. You are either for Christ or you are against Him. You either respect God’s law and His design for marriage or you don’t. You either respect life from conception to natural death or you don’t. You either pay your bills or you don’t. The time has come to stand tall, lick our wounds, and press on. Our mission, in spite of what president is in office, remains the same today. We are still called as a people of God to be light and salt (Matt. 5:13-16) in this world of darkness.
* Steve Castle serves on the LIFE Group board and is a regular Friday devotion author. Him and his wife Tina lead the Fergus Falls MN LIFE Runners Chapter and attend to their number one ministry; their four children. Full bio.
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Faith Challenge: Rise up people of God! Work out your salvation with “fear and trembling” and be light a midst a “crooked and perverse generation.” (see Phil. 2:12-18)
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Sr. Francelle’s Devotions: Underground Churches (28 Jan. 2010)
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: Dedication of St. John Lateran
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Faith Quote: “The task for a Christian is to drown evil in an abundance of good. It is not a question of negative campaigns, or of being anti anything. On the contrary, we should live positively, full of optimism, with youthfulness, joy and peace. We should be understanding with everybody, with the followers of Christ and with those who abandon him, or do not know Him at all. But understanding does not mean holding back, or remaining indifferent, but being active.” ~ St. Josemaria Escriva (Furrow, 864)
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Through Christ our Lord,
Steve
Romans 12:12
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* 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 families): Abortion (images) is #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.