LIFE Group Devotions

Come Follow Me (John 21:15) by Steve Castle

scastle — Fri, 25 May 2012 07:30:59 +0000

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB). Leaders. Guest Authors. LIFE Minute radio.

“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” ~ John 21:15 (full readings)

Steve’s Reflections: In today’s Gospel we see the beautiful reconciliation between two close friends; Jesus and Peter. They had spent the better part of three years traveling together and it’s come to this moment. I have always found Peter’s betrayal one of the more tragic elements of the passion account. Jesus’ most vocal supporter, Peter, denies he knows him during his darkest hour…even after he knew it was coming! Peter had answered Christ’s call to lay down his nets and follow him, but when it got hard he turned his back on his best friend. In the end the man Jesus chose to build his Church upon, was a sinner in need of a savior just like you and me. Jesus makes all things new and never leaves anything undone. To this end his words to Peter are a reminder of his calling, “Feed my Lambs.” Jesus ends his dialogue with where he started with Peter on the shores, “Come Follow Me.”
* Steve Castle serves the LIFE Group on the corporate board, is a regular author for LIFE Group Devotions on Friday’s, and is the editor/voice of the LIFE Minute. His wife Tina and he live in Fergus Falls, MN where they are attending to their number one ministry; their four children. Full bio.

Faith Challenge: In today’s “Me” culture, personal freedoms are valued even over the life of another i.e. contraception, abortion, etc. What do you need to sacrifice to grow closer to God?

Sr. Francelle’s Devotion: Why Worry? (May 23, 2008)

Counter-Culture News: LSN, LifeNews, Priests for Life, AFA, Vatican, Project Rachel.

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: St. Gregory VII (d. 1085)

Faith Quote: ”…you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” ~ 1Peter 2:5

Through Christ Our Lord,
Steve
Romans 12:12

* 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 (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.

Kylie’s Path to Life (Psalm 16:11) by Dr. Pat Castle

Pat Castle — Thu, 24 May 2012 07:30:57 +0000

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB). Leaders. Guest Authors. LIFE Minute radio.

“You will show me the path to life.” ~ Psalms 16:11 (full readings)

Pat’s Reflections: A colleague recently shared her experience at Planned Parenthood in 2005. Her 23 yr old daughter had scheduled an abortion. A couple weeks before the scheduled abortion, the daughter asked her Mom if she would ever have an abortion…the Mom said no. A couple days before the scheduled abortion, the Mom gave her daughter the book, “I love you as much…”, which is about a mother telling her child how much she loves her. The Mom drove her daughter to the scheduled abortion but was surprised that she was not allowed to accompany her daughter during “the procedure”. After waiting for about an hour, the Mom went out to her car to escape the “dark and cold environment”. Soon afterwards, her daughter arrived to the car. After not being allowed to see the ultrasound, she decided to not abort her child. The daughter asked her Mom if she would help her. The Mom essentially said, “you can do this, and I will help.” Her Dad had paid for the abortion, and he was upset his daughter did not go through with it. Granddaughter Kylie does not know this story…and is “the most respectful” of my colleague’s seven grandchildren. Her daughter wrote this story in the back of the book “I love you as much…” and plans to share this path to Life with Kylie some day. What was your path to Life?
* Dr. Pat Castle is the co-founder of the LIFE Group Devotions and the coach/co-founder of the National LIFE Runners Team. Pat and Angi have two daughters and will soon (26 May) be living in Rapid City, SD. Full bio.

Faith Challenge: How much do you love your family, friends, and neighbors? Courageously show them the path to life.

Counter-Culture News: LSN, LifeNews, Priests for Life, AFA, Vatican, Project Rachel.

Feast Day: St. David I of Scotland.

Faith Quote: “A great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish.” ~ Mother Teresa

Through Christ our Lord,
Pat
Heb 12:1-2

* Save Unborn (& family): Abortion (images) is #1 death cause (23% pregnancies). 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 & re-evangelization of self, by way of prayer (relationship) and following Christ’s example of love (service/sacrifice/mercy). Mt 28:19.

The Ultimate Protection (Jn 17:11) by Stacey Wollman

jpauls — Wed, 23 May 2012 07:30:16 +0000

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB). Leaders. Guest Authors.
.
“Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying: “Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one.” ~ Jn 17:11 (full readings)
.
Stacey’s Reflections: Serve the Lord with confidence! He is praying for us! We don’t have to walk in fear, worrying that we might care too much. We are under the protection of God the Father and Jesus the Son. I find the words of Jesus’s prayers in John 17:11 comforting as I lead a team of wonderful staff and volunteers on the front lines as the CEO of our local pregnancy resource center. These words are also empowering knowing that the Son of God, who gave His life so that we can have eternal life, also prays for us. There is power in the name of Jesus. Through Christ we demonstrate love and compassion to each person who comes through our doors for a free pregnancy test. It is vitally important to remember that Christ is the reason we share truth, hope and love to those facing an unexpected pregnancy. Though we might not have an opportunity to tell our clients about the Lord, we share the good news through our actions. As Jesus prays for us, we pray for those who walk into our clinic. It is our privilege to be caring, compassionate, and truthful. We leave the results to the Lord. Everyday we witness the love of God in action. God desires that each of us understand who we are and Who’s we are. Our identity is in Christ. We are children of the living God! You and I must rest in the knowledge that we operate under the ultimate protection!
* Stacey Wollman is the CEO of Care Net Pregnancy Resource Center in Rapid City, South Dakota. She is married to Doug and together they have five children, several foster children, and two grandchildren.
.
Faith Challenge: Let us remember today that Jesus is praying for us! No matter what we face, we need to walk in confidence showing love and mercy to those we encounter, knowing even as we work to protect and defend life we may be rejected. Don’t be discouraged. We are partnering with the living God and rest in Jesus, our protector.
.
Counter-Culture News: LSN, LifeNews, Priests for Life, AFA,Vatican, Project Rachel.
.
Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion, Spiritual Adoption,Alpha Center, Peters family (JP). Add Prayers on ourwebsite. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, LIFE Runners, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.
.
Feast Day: St. Felix of Cantalice.
.
Faith Quote: “Speak tenderly to them. Let there be kindness in your face, in your eyes, in your smile, in the warmth of your greeting. Always have a cheerful smile. Don’t only give your care, but give your heart as well. ” ~ Mother Teresa
.
Through Christ our Lord,
Stacey
.
* 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.

Hardship (Acts 20:22-23) by Rob Rysavy

rrysavy — Tue, 22 May 2012 07:30:32 +0000

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB). Guest Authors.
>
“But now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem. What will happen to me there I do not know, except that in one city after another the Holy Spirit has been warning me that imprisonment and hardships await me.” Acts 20:22-23 (full readings)
>
Rob’s Reflections: Because of the manner in which he cast off worldly comforts and embraced his sufferings, Saint Paul is a great role model for those who are witnesses for Life in our culture of death. The Spirit compels us to speak for those who have no voice of their own. When we do speak the truth about Life we often do not know what will happen, but generally hardships await us. Typically those hardships are indirect such as when a person mocks us for our commitment or a passing motorists curses us while we are praying at an abortion mill. However, we know those hardships can also be direct and include persecution and imprisonment for those who courageously advocate for Life. Whatever hardships await us, we are compelled to embrace them and carry our crosses with dignity.
* Rob Rysavy is a LIFE Group board member and the regular Tuesday devotion author. He and his wife Michelle have six children and live in Colorado Springs.
>
Faith Challenge: None of us know what hardships await us, but we know the world will not validate our embrace of that suffering. When the anger of the world has you contemplating shrinking from your crosses, remember the words of Jesus in in John 15:18, “If the world hates you, realize it hated me first.”
>
Counter-Culture News: LSN, LifeNews, Priests for Life, AFA, Vatican, Project Rachel.
>
Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion. LIFE Runners Creed & Patron Saint. Add Prayers. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.
>
Feast Day: Saint Rita of Casica.
>
Faith Quote: “Our body has this defect that, the more it is provided care and comforts, the more needs and desires it finds.” ~ St. Teresa of Avila.
>

Through Christ Our Lord,
Rob
Mark 9:24
>
* Pray/Fast: Prayer connects us with God’s will & 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 (& family): Abortion reality (images)…#1 death cause (23% pregnancies). Prov 24:11 & 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 & re-evangelization of self, by way of prayer (relationship) and following Christ’s example of love (service/sacrifice/mercy). Matt 28:19.

Peace Be With You (John 16:33) by Dr. Rich Reich

Rich — Mon, 21 May 2012 07:30:37 +0000

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB). Leaders. Guest Authors. LIFE Minute radio.

“I have told you this so that you might have peace in Me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.”~ John 16:33 (full readings)

Rich’s Reflections: In today’s Gospel, Jesus warns His disciples that they will find trouble with the World, but will also find peace in Him. It seems contradictory that in being a disciple of Jesus we will find suffering, but we will also find peace. How can this be? It is through suffering that Jesus gives us peace. This is not to mean that we should be masochists and seek out suffering; however, it does mean that we should find comfort in that through our inevitable suffering in this World for being disciples of Christ (by suffering for the love of Jesus), we will find peace. There are two types of suffering: suffering because of our sins and suffering because we are Christians. By suffering through our sins we fall apart and become disintegrated (feel separated from God and our true purpose in life), but suffering for being Christians we become integrated (find true peace in the communion with Christ). Through this integration we develop a closer bond with Christ and our fellow Christians. By this process we find peace. May the peace of Christ be with you always.
* Dr. Rich Reich is the co-founder of the LIFE Group Devotions and the National LIFE Runners Team. He is married to Erica and lives in Satellite Beach, FL. Full bio.

Faith Challenge: Take comfort in your suffering for being a Christian, for you will find peace in your life.

Counter-Culture News: LSN, LifeNews, Priests for Life, AFA, Vatican, Project Rachel.

Feast Day: St. Eugene de Mazenod

Faith Quote: “I do not believe that sheer suffering teaches. If suffering alone taught, all the world would be wise, since everyone suffers. To suffering must be added mourning, understanding, patience, love, openness and the willingness to remain vulnerable.” – Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Through Christ our Lord,
Rich
James 1:22

Labor pains (John 16:21) by Rosemary Bernth

rcbernth — Fri, 18 May 2012 07:30:36 +0000

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB). Leaders. Guest Authors. LIFE Minute radio.

“When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world.” ~ John 16:21 (full readings)

Rosemary’s Reflections: We encounter our own types of labor pains in our lives. During my last marathon, I encountered leg and back cramps. I could have quit at any of the water stations I passed. But something kept telling me “Just one more mile” after every station. When I Crossed the finish line, I had given it my all. As I sat in the med tent, I was so happy to have completed the race and didn’t care about my time. I had done what I thought I couldn’t do, and I wanted that finisher medal around my neck. Going into labor seems like an ultimate marathon. It certainly doesn’t sound pleasant with the hours of pain and sweat. Yet after all that comes the best prize–a newborn life. Sadly, some women choose not to finish the race, or even to begin, for fear of the physical and emotional pain. They have lost their eyes on the prize, their vision blurred by the pressure of society. We need to be the cheering crowd along the road, the ones offering aid and water to these women–similar to how Veronica offered Jesus a cloth to wipe His face along the Via Delorosa, the road of suffering. Pain is temporary, but the joy of salvation lasts forever.
* Rosemary Bernth (LIFE Runner) was a journalist for the Diocese of Sioux City’s newspaper and is now a writing/travel graduate student at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA.

Faith Challenge: What great strength women have! Yet there are women out there who don’t believe they have the ability to follow through with a pregnancy and feel alone on the road. They are surrounded by people who tell them to quit. This is where we come in. Let us show these women the support they need to finish the race. Volunteer at a pregnancy center, become a sidewalk counselor outside Planned Parenthood, or even be a reference point pregnant women can turn to for prayers.

Counter-Culture News: LifeSiteNews, Priests for Life, Vatican, Project Rachel.

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.

Feast Day: St. John I.

Faith Quote: “Somewhere behind the athlete you’ve become and the hours of practice and the coaches who have pushed you is a little girl who fell in love with the game and never looked back…play for her.” ~ Mia Hamm

Through Christ Our Lord,

Rosemary

2 Tim 4:7

* Pray/Fast: Prayer connects us with God’s will & 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 (& family): Abortion (images) is #1 death cause (22% pregnancies). Prov 24:11 & 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 & re-evangelization of self, by way of prayer (relationship) and following Christ’s example of love (service/spassage/?searchacrifice/mercy). Mt 28:19.

Until abortion ends (John 16:20) by Greg Robeson

jpauls — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:30:55 +0000

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB). Leaders. Guest Authors.
.
“Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.” ~ John 16:20 (full readings)
.
Greg’s Reflections: We cannot let the suffering of abortion fade from our view. We cannot settle back in creature comforts while our brothers and sisters are being slaughtered. How can we hold in our view the suffering of those who are dying every minute? We need to find a way to remember and help others see what is hidden. What if every person with a desire to wake others up to the reality of this holocaust, made an outward sacrifice, one that people would see in daily life? The bible encourages us to fast knowing that the Father will reward our spiritual sacrifice (Mt 6:18). But what if we choose a fast that others will often encounter, something that is routine, something we really enjoy. If we fast from this, we will suffer the loss of this thing we are fasting from, but we can use that suffering to daily connect with the babies in the womb and it can help us to remember abortion every day. Our fast will call us to action. Another benefit to a public fast is that it creates an avenue to dialogue with others. “What kind of soda would you like with that?” “I have given up soda until abortion ends.” Prepare yourself for dialogue with others. Notice I did not say debate. This battle for babies will not be won with rhetoric because that does not open the human heart. The Holy Spirit opens hearts. If you want to penetrate even the hardest heart, the person you know who is most “pro choice”, you must come from the place where the Spirit resides in you, from your heart.
* Greg Robeson is the coordinator for Southside Youth Ministry in St. Louis and is married with three children. He has a theology degree from Ave Maria University. Greg started a pilgrimage to the March for Life that now includes over 1,000 youth. Greg’s life motto is “To have passion, remember His”. At 6’10″, Greg is the biggest LIFE Runner!
.
Faith Challenge: God’s people are radically offering themselves to God in this battle and abortion is ending now. Jump on board and be a part of this historic movement of grace. Get involved. Make a sacrifice until abortion ends. For ideas see this site-http://www.untilabortionends.com/en-us/submissions/default.aspx.
.
Counter-Culture News: LSN, LifeNews, Priests for Life, AFA,Vatican, Project Rachel.
.
Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion, Spiritual Adoption,Alpha Center, Peters family (JP). Add Prayers on ourwebsite. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, LIFE Runners, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.
.
Feast Day: St. Paschal Baylon.
.
Faith Quote: “Meditate well on this: Seek God above all things. It is right for you to seek God before and above everything else, because the majesty of God wishes you to receive what you ask for. This will also make you more ready to serve God and will enable you to love him more perfectly” ~ St. Paschal Baylon
.
Through Christ our Lord,
Greg
.
* 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.

If we’ll just follow (Acts 17:15, 22-18:1) by Jack Spring

jpauls — Wed, 16 May 2012 07:30:47 +0000

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB). Leaders. Guest Authors.
.
“Rather it is he who gives to everyone life and breath and everything. He made from one, the whole human race … and he fixed the ordered seasons and the boundaries of their regions, so that people might seek God, even perhaps grope for him and find him, though indeed he is not far from any one of us.” ~ Acts 17:15, 22-18:1 (full readings)
.
Jack’s Reflections: It is by the very breath of life in all of those around us, the born and the unborn, and in the order of the seasons which bring life, that we see God, and are prompted to seek after Him. Then we learn, he is never farther away than we are from one another, and from His Creation, for He is our everything. And so, like St. Brendan the Navigator of ancient Ireland who sailed for seven years in search of The Land of Promise, we are sailors on a high sea, sometimes with neither rudder nor sail, uncertain of our way. We take encouragement from each other, and then are called to trust that God will be our wind and compass. And then, even on the darkest night, when it seems we’re hopelessly lost, we gaze upward to see that God has fixed the stars in the Heavens to lead us home, if we’ll just follow.
* Jack is an author and Chapter President of Una Voce. He has two daughters pursuing careers in education. Jack cherishes his Irish heritage, and has worked for years in support of pro-life causes with The Ancient Order of Hibernians and Knights of Columbus.
.
Faith Challenge: Trust God to show you the way. He’ll deliver you safely home. Look not to the leaders of this world for a Messiah, for He has already come. Promote a culture of life by reading and supporting LifeSiteNews, Priests for Life, and Project Rachel. Be the change in the world you seek. Start now and trust that God will show you the way.
.
Counter-Culture News: LSN, LifeNews, Priests for Life, AFA,Vatican, Project Rachel.
.
Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion, Spiritual Adoption,Alpha Center, Peters family (JP). Add Prayers on ourwebsite. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, LIFE Runners, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.
.
Feast Day: St. Margaret of Cortona.
.
Faith Quote: “Not all those who wander are lost.” ~ J.R.R. Tolkien; “A nation that kills its children is a nation without hope.” ~ Bl. Pope John Paul II
.
Through Christ our Lord,
Jack
Philippians 4:8
.
* 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.

Persecution (Acts 16:22-23) by Rob Rysavy

rrysavy — Tue, 15 May 2012 07:30:16 +0000

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB). Guest Authors.
>
“The crowd joined in the attack on them, and the magistrates had them stripped and ordered them to be beaten with rods. After inflicting many blows on them, they threw them into prison and instructed the jailer to guard them securely.” Acts 16:22-23 (full readings)
>
Rob’s Reflections: In our defense of the unborn we should not seek persecution, but we must be prepared for it. Even if you ensure you are acting within your rights you can expect to be hated for it. After all, it was Jesus himself who said, “If the world hates you, realize it hated me first” (John 15:18). When we consider that hatred, keep in mind it may not be confined to unkind words and dirty looks. Today’s image is of then 18 year old Angela Swagler who, along with numerous others, was arrested in Maryland in 2008 for standing by the side of a road holding a Pro-Life sign graphically depicting aborted children. She and the others arrested were told by the state troopers arresting them they needed a demonstration permit (which was not true). The demonstrators were not blocking traffic, but the troopers arrested them anyway stating their mere presence was impeding traffic based on complaints from motorists regarding the content (First Amendment?) of the signs. After her arrest, Angela and 20 year old Elizabeth Walsh were shackled, imprisoned and humiliatingly strip searched (twice). Fortunately, this case had a just ending. Angela sued the state police, won the case, and later publicly forgave the troopers for the humiliation and violation of her rights they subjected her to. So also does today’s passage have a just ending. ”Then he (the jailer) brought them out and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ And they said, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you and your household will be saved.’” (Acts 16:30-31).
* Rob Rysavy is a LIFE Group board member and the regular Tuesday devotion author. He and his wife Michelle have six children and live in Colorado Springs.
>
Faith Challenge: Years ago a Catholic school teacher asked those of us in the classroom, “If was illegal to be a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” Let us pray now that such day a never comes to us, but let us also pray that if it does come to us that we may be found guilty of following Christ.
>
Counter-Culture News: LSN, LifeNews, Priests for Life, AFA, Vatican, Project Rachel.
>
Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion. LIFE Runners Creed & Patron Saint. Add Prayers. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.
>
Feast Day: Saint Isidore the Farmer.
>
Faith Quote: “There is only one thing I dread, to not be worthy of my suffering.” ~ Fyodor Dostoevsky.
>
Through Christ Our Lord,
Rob
Mark 9:24
>
* Pray/Fast: Prayer connects us with God’s will & 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 (& family): Abortion reality (images)…#1 death cause (23% pregnancies). Prov 24:11 & 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 & re-evangelization of self, by way of prayer (relationship) and following Christ’s example of love (service/sacrifice/mercy). Matt 28:19.

The Chosen (John 15:16) by Rich Reich

Rich — Mon, 14 May 2012 07:30:34 +0000

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB). Leaders. Guest Authors. LIFE Minute radio.

“It was not you who chose Me, it was I Who chose you to go forth and bear fruit.” ~ John 15:16 (full readings)

Rich’s Reflections: In the first reading today, Jesus chose Matthias to be an apostle and replace Judas. Matthias did not choose Jesus, but Jesus chose him. This is the same for us. We may choose to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, but it is really not about choice, but rather obedience to God’s will (i.e., submitting to the Lord and denying ourselves). Even when we think about God choosing us, our self-centeredness makes us think that God is preferring us over others. Being chosen does not mean comparing ourselves to others, but rather an acceptance to share the Gospel. We are chosen to witness to the risen Christ and to bear fruit for His kingdom. We are chosen not for selfishness, but for fruitfulness.
* Rich Reich is the co-founder of the LIFE Group Devotions and the National LIFE Runners Team. He is married to Erica and lives in Satellite Beach, FL. Full bio.

Faith Challenge: As Christians, do not think that you are better than others, but accept your calling as disciples of Christ and share the Gospel with others.

Counter-Culture News: LSN, LifeNews, Priests for Life, AFA, Vatican, Project Rachel.

Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion, Spiritual Adoption, Alpha Center, Peters family (JP). AddPrayers 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: Saint Matthias

Faith Quote: ”It behooves us to combat the flesh, and make use of it, without pampering it by unlawful gratifications. As to the soul, we must develop her power by faith and knowledge.” – Saint Matthias

Through Christ our Lord,
Rich
James 1:22