LIFE Group Devotions

Freedom of Religion (Ps 96:10) by Jeff Pauls

jpauls — Thu, 02 May 2013 07:30:46 +0000

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB). Leaders. Guest Authors.
.
“Say among the nations: The LORD is king. He has made the world firm, not to be moved; he governs the peoples with equity.” ~ Ps 96:10 (full readings)
.
Jeff’s Reflections: The extinguishing of our freedom of religion (which is guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and distinct from “freedom of worship”, the term President Obama uses) is evidenced by a long list of governmental attacks, especially by this particular administration (threats to religious liberty). These attacks, which are rarely covered by the biased mainstream media (there’s a reason that lifesitenews.com‘s slogan is, “because friends don’t let friends read mainstream news”) parallel the very subtle, at first, ordinances, mandates and laws that Nazi Germany passed regarding the Jews. Few people understood, were aware of, or chose to believe what was happening until it was too late (for millions of Jews, Catholics, clergy and others). For an excellent and succinct article about how Obamacare represents a direct attack on the U.S. constitution and our freedom of religion please read Wesley J. Smith’s article, “Obama Looks to Strip Entrepreneurs of Religious Liberty“.

* Jeff Pauls is married to Amy and has two daughters. Jeff is the LIFE Group Devotions operations officer and the Belleville (IL) LIFE Runners chapter leader. Full bio.
.
Faith Challenge: The effort to protect religious liberty is inextricably connected to the pro-life movement through the forced use of our tax dollars to fund Planned Parenthood as well as the HHS mandate which requires us to pay for contraception and abortifacient drugs (and eventually, if left unchecked, surgical abortions) for others through our health insurance premiums. Stand up for religious freedom!
.
Counter-Culture News: LifeSiteNews, LifeNews, American Family, 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. Athanasius.
.
Faith Quote: “The Obama Administration is using the Affordable Care Act to further its idealogical goal of enervating freedom of religion into a hollow freedom of worship–in which people are allowed to believe and worship as they choose, but not practice their faiths in the public square contrary to worldy imperatives.” ~ Wesley J. Smith, from article mentioned above, orginally published Aug 10, 2012 in First Things “On the Square”
.
Through Christ our Lord,
Jeff
Jn 14:6

Truth Defeats Evil (Mt 28:12-13) by Dr. Rich Reich

Rich — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 07:30:50 +0000

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

“The chief priests assembled with the elders and took counsel; then they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, telling them, ‘You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.”” ~ Mt 28:12-13 (full readings)

Rich’s Reflections: Satan’s first attempt to keep the great news of Jesus’ resurrection from a world enslaved by death was to bribe the guards at Jesus’ tomb to lie. Today, Planned Parenthood is funded to lie to women in the name of “health care.” They say that abortion is safe, that it is not painful, that there are no psychological consequences (emotionally, physically, or spiritually). They are told that their unborn child is a product of conception; a blood clot; a piece of tissue. These lies are not being told for the benefit of women, but in order to perform abortions; the financial lifeblood of Planned Parenthood. They don’t make money when a mother chooses to keep her child. They only make money when she chooses to have an abortion. Today, large sums of money are being piped in to support the culture of death; whereas, non-profit crisis pregnancy centers founded on Christian morals survive with little to no money providing the truth and choices that both the mother and unborn child can live with. Evil feeds on ignorance. That is why as Christians, we need to spread the Truth. * 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: Support your local Christian crisis pregnancy center.

Counter-Culture News: LifeSiteNews, LifeNews, American Family, 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. Hugh of Grenoble

Faith Quote: “The trouble with lying and deceiving is that their efficiency depends entirely upon a clear notion of the truth that the liar and deceiver wishes to hide.” ~ Hannah Arendt

Through Christ our Lord,
Rich
James 1:22

Apathy Kills (Jn 12:1) by Dr. Rich Reich

Rich — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 07:30:59 +0000

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

“Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.” ~ Jn 12:1 (full readings)

Rich’s Reflections: Apathy killed Jesus Christ. The Jewish leaders were jealous (Mt 27:18) and Pilate was afraid (Jn 19:8). However, they would not have been able to put Jesus to death if it were not for the thousands of apathetic people who did not even show up at the crucifixion. They did not want Jesus dead or alive, because they did not care. Apathy permitted Hitler to kill six million Jews, and Planned Parenthood to kill many more millions of babies. Are you apathetic to the 3700 unborn slaughtered every day? Why doesn’t the media report this daily massacre? Perhaps our apathetic culture is too selfish to care about the defenseless unborn. Or perhaps many believe that ending abortion is out of their control. That is wrong! We can make a difference. Apathy means an absence of passion. During Lent we experience the Passion of Christ, so that we do not become apathetic to what Jesus has done for us. Renew the passion for the unborn by educating others about the horrors of abortion so that they do not become apathetic. * 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: Do not let apathy kill. Stay passionate about the unborn.

Feast Day: St. Dismas

Faith Quote: ”Science may have found a cure for most evils; but it has found no remedy for the worst of them all – the apathy of human beings.” ~ Helen Keller

Through Christ our Lord,
Rich
James 1:22

Believe His Works (John 10:37-38) by Rosemary Bernth

rcbernth — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 07:30:49 +0000

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

“If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”~John 10:37-38 (full readings)

Rosemary’s Reflections: I had a good discusssion with another Christian about God working through others. He admitted he was not a big fan of Mother Teresa, stating that every good deed she did for the ill and dying was for fame. I was appalled by his accusation–this man who claimed he was a good man was condemning a woman willing to reach out to the Untouchables of her country. I simply told him that he should at least rejoice in the fact she is following Jesus’ example of the Beatitudes. Unlike most celebrities in our country who are only famous for their power, money, or sex appeal, Mother Teresa is at least using her influence for the improvement of humanity, in the name of our Lord. There is no doubt in my mind that Mother Teresa was a vessel for our Lord.

* 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: I asked my friend what he had done that day that would have shown his faith in action. St. James wrote faith without works is dead. If the world is to know we are Christians and that God is alive within us, we must constantly be in action with His Intentions on our minds and hearts. If we are to turn the tide on abortion, we must let God speak through our actions, rather than our pride.

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. Nicholas Owen

Faith Quote: “We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.” ~Mother Teresa

Through Christ Our Lord,
Rosemary
2 Tim 4:7

Timeless Truth (Ps 105:4-5) by Jeff Pauls

jpauls — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 07:30:33 +0000

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB). Leaders. Guest Authors.
.
“Look to the LORD in his strength; seek to serve him constantly. Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought, his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.” ~ Ps 105:4-5 (full readings)
.
Jeff’s Reflections: The Church has consistently and courageously taught and defended moral truths for 2000 years. Through controversies, conflict, mistakes, a few immoral leaders and many immoral followers, the Church Jesus founded has been preserved from error in its teaching office, just as our Lord (the Way, the Truth and the Life) promised (Mt. 16:18). Now that some of these moral laws are being challenged, redefined and mocked, many people say the Church should modernize and refrain from engaging in politics. The Church, however, has not become any more political than it ever was. It is simply that the moral truths that the Church has taught and defended for 2000 years (and more…going back to its Jewish roots) have been subtly relativized. This is not a fight the Church has ever asked for but it is also a fight the Church has never backed away from. “New” attempts to thwart life and liberty, especially that of our children, through abortion, embryonic stem cell research, contraception, invitro fertilization, immodest/pornographic images and redefinition of marriage may seem different or more nuanced or more easily compromised but they are rooted in the same timeless Truth the Church has upheld since Jesus established it over 2000 years ago.

* Jeff Pauls is married to Amy and has two daughters. Jeff is the LIFE Group Devotions operations officer and the Belleville (IL) LIFE Runners chapter leader. Full bio.
.
Faith Challenge: It is a good time to be a Christian! Today’s culture offers many chances to stand up for Christ and His Church. Have faith, be courageous and take an opportunity today to be a Christian witness.
.
Counter-Culture News: LifeSiteNews, LifeNews, American Family, 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 of Parma.
.
Faith Quote: “Both as Americans and as followers of Christ, American Catholics must be committed to the defense of life in all its stages and in every condition.” ~ Living the Gospel of Life, USCCB
.
Through Christ our Lord,
Jeff
Jn 14:6

Stirred Up (Dt 13:44-46) by Dr. Rich Reich

Rich — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 07:30:50 +0000

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

“The Lord hear her prayer. As she was being led to execution, God stirred up the holy spirit of a young boy named Daniel, and he cried aloud: ’I am innocent of this woman’s blood.’” ~ Dt 13:44-46 (full readings)

Rich’s Reflections: In the Old Testament reading today, the corrupt law (elders and judges of the people) were going to execute an innocent life until the Holy Spirit stirred up a young boy named Daniel to take action. Without Daniel speaking out against the unjust law, the innocent life would have been put to death. Daniel heard the Holy Spirit stirring in his heart and heeded God’s command: ”Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to death; don’t stand back and let them die. Don’t try to disclaim responsibility by saying you didn’t know about it” (Proverbs 24:11-12). As Christians, we are called today to speak out against the unjust law that legalizes the killing of innocent unborn children. Don’t stand back and let them die. Open yourself to the stirring of the Holy Spirit. Lord, I pray that You stir up the Holy Spirit in the hearts of those who are considering abortion, those who support the right to abortion, and those who stand idly by and do nothing to rescue the innocent unborn; that they may take action and rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to death. Amen. * 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: Do not disclaim your responsibility to rescue the unborn. Pray at your local abortion clinic during the 40 Days for Life.

Feast Day: St. Cyril of Jerusalem

Faith Quote: ”Justice denied anywhere diminishes justice everywhere.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

Through Christ our Lord,
Rich
James 1:22

Believing is Seeing (Jn 4:48) by Dr. Rich Reich

Rich — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 07:30:36 +0000

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

“Jesus said to him, ‘Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.’” ~ Jn 4:48 (full readings)

Rich’s Reflections: You have probably heard the idiom, “seeing is believing.” As Christians though, we should understand that “believing is seeing.” By having faith in Jesus, He lights the way for us to see the Truth (Jn 14:16). How is it that a large portion of our so-called Christian nation does not believe an unborn child to be human? Perhaps they need to see in order to believe. Ultrasound technology is credited with an important role in changing attitudes in women considering an abortion. If women see images of their unborn children, and are educated about developing life in the womb, they are less likely to abort. Statistics show that among women considering abortion, nearly 90% of them decide to keep their babies after getting an ultrasound. This means that ultrasound technology is literally a life saving tool that needs to be placed in the hands of every Crisis Pregnancy Center for the sake of the unborn and those considering an abortion. * 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: The question of whether a woman should be required to have an ultrasound prior to an abortion is a question now pending in the legislature of several states. Petition lawmakers to pass mandatory ultrasound legislation in your state, because seeing is believing.

Feast Day: St. Constantine

Faith Quote: ”I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” ~ C.S. Lewis

Through Christ our Lord,
Rich
James 1:22

Won’t You Be My Neighbor? (Mark 12:29-31) by Rosemary Bernth

rcbernth — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 07:30:57 +0000

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

“Jesus replied, ‘The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.’”~John 10:37-38 (full readings)

Rosemary’s Reflections: Growing up, I always enjoyed watching “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood” on PBS. Whenever he started singing his song, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” I couldn’t help but want to have him next door. He seemed so friendly and always had a smile on his face. Unfortunately, we do not live in a world full of nice neighbors, especially if one of those includes Planned Parenthood. But as the Gospel states, we are called to love those who work there or visit the facilities. Does that mean we let them continue with their actions? Of course not! If your neighbor was backing out of the driveway and a child ran into his or her blindspot, you should stop them. Wouldn’t you want someone to give you the same warning? Caring about your neighbor includes some tough love, but it doesn’t mean degrade them or be apathetic in an effort to be “tolerant.” We must help our neighbors grow to be the best beings God created them to be.

* 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: Do you know who your next-door neighbor is? Maybe today say hello while you grab the mail or offer to shovel their sidewalks (for all of you hit with snow). If you live near a Planned Parenthood or an abortion mill, take some time to pray outside and let those there know you are there to lend a hand to help them over to the side of Truth and Life.

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 of God

Faith Quote: “A man is called selfish not for pursuing his own good, but for neglecting his neighbor’s.” ~Richard Whately

Through Christ Our Lord,
Rosemary
2 Tim 4:7

Power of Speech (Lk 11:14) by Shane Kapler

jpauls — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 07:30:21 +0000

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB). Leaders. Guest Authors.
.
“Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed.”~ Lk 11:14 (full readings)
.
Shane’s Reflections: The power of speech – it is easy to take for granted. In today’s gospel we read of how a demon had robbed a man of his power to speak, and how Jesus acted to return that power to him. Each of us has had the experience of being afraid to speak up when we’ve heard the culture of life and of the family attacked. But if the Lord’s power could restore speech to a possessed man, it can definitely overcome our apprehensions!
* Shane Kapler is the author of “The God Who is Love: Explaining Christianity From Its Center” and co-author of “Tending the Temple”. He works as a speech therapist in St. Louis, but his favorite “job” is being a Dad. Visit www.explainingchristianity.com.
.
Faith Challenge: When we do speak out on the Lord’s behalf, and on behalf of the unborn, it should be with wisdom. We should seek out the wisdom of other strong, pro-life Christians – the facts they have garnered and the logical means of expressing them. If you feel weak in this area, spend some time reading at pro-life websites, or listening to podcasts. Then pray that the Lord opens your mouth to share that wisdom with others.
.
Counter-Culture News: LifeSiteNews, LifeNews, American Family, 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: Sts. Perpetua and Felicity.
.
Faith Quote: “…do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say.” ~Mt 10:19

Through Christ our Lord,
Shane

Fulfilled (Mt 5:17) by Dave DiNuzzo Sr.

jpauls — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 07:30:35 +0000

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB). Leaders. Guest Authors.
.
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” ~ Mt. 5:17 (full readings)
.
Dave’s Reflections: The fifth chapter of St. Matthew’s Gospel is one of my favorite chapters in scripture. We read of Jesus giving the Sermon on the Mount, which gives us a true playbook of how to live (the Beatitudes), especially in the modern world that may, because of our faithfulness to God’s law, bring about much suffering, pain, persecution, and heartache. The Sermon on the Mount is Jesus’ “kickoff” into public ministry, and He chose important words to share with His listeners. We should be ‘poor in spirit’, and should ‘mourn’, and be ‘gentle’, and ‘hunger and thirst for righteousness’, we should be ‘merciful’, we should be ‘pure in heart’, and ‘peacemakers’, and when persecutions come along, we should rejoice in the fact that ‘the kingdom of Heaven is ours’! These characteristics are radically counter-cultural, but in them we find truth and fulfillment. In the Gospel reading Jesus speaks of the fulfillment of the Law. Is it any wonder, that in a culture that devalues human life and struggles so mightily to uphold the dignity of the human person that our culture would carry on without these beatitudes? Our world seems to think that the Law is there to oppress, and that only through refutation of the Law can a person be free. Jesus preached a message of true freedom by way of the Law, not to hold us down or oppress us, but to allow us to fully live in Him and experience the ultimate personal fulfillment. Let us pray that our world realizes the power of the Beatitudes and of God’s Law.
*Dave DiNuzzo Sr. is husband to Catherine (a Catholic counselor), the father of four children, and the Director of Programming for The King’s Men, a lay Catholic apostolate working to build up men into leaders, protectors, and providers. He is an author, speaker, volunteer firefighter, and member of The King’s Men LIFE Runners chapter.
.
Faith Challenge: We are now one month into Lent. Examine your Lenten devotions (hopefully you have done more than just “give up” something for the sake of “giving up” something) and determine if the last part of Lent is preparing you for Christ’s Passion and death. Commit or re-commit to daily growth so as to grow closer to the Lord, and as Christ Himself exemplified, unite any suffering you may be feeling to His suffering on the Cross.
.
Counter-Culture News: LifeSiteNews, LifeNews, American Family, 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: Servant of God Sylvester of Assisi.
.
Faith Quote: “Why are those who are notoriously undisciplined and unmoral also most contemptuous of religion and morality? They are trying to solace their own unhappy lives by pulling the happy down to their own abysmal depths.” ~ Servant of God, Fulton J. Sheen
.
Through Christ our Lord,
Dave