Posted on 02/17/2010 7:54:57 AM PST by Salvation
Lord,
we thank You for the lives of the innocent unborn. we ask You to raise up more prayer warriors to defend and intercede for this sacred gift and please bless and strengthen those who are committed to spiritual warfare to save these precious ones in Jesus' Name....amen
Day 24 - March 12
Intention:
That we may realize the generational impact of abortion.
Scripture:
Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife because she was barren; and the Lord granted his prayer and Rebekah his wife conceived. The children struggled together within her, and she said," If it is thus, why do I live?" So she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples, born of you, shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the elder shall serve the younger."
-- Genesis 25:21-23
Reflection:
Human beings -- God's tapestries.
What an answer to prayer!
Who dares to say that the unborn are not human, with distinct personality and character right from the moment of conception? This account emphasizes the vitality and uniqueness of the twins who, because of Isaac's prayer for his wife, were conceived in Rebekah's womb.
When Rebekah was told by the Lord that the older would serve the younger twin, God already knew that Jacob and Esau would lead turbulent and conflicted lives. God knows us and knows all about us, including our personality and disposition long before we are actually born, indeed, from the moment we are conceived in our mother's womb.
What a tragedy of gargantuan proportions that babies, planned and endowed by the Creator, with distinct and unique personalities and with, perhaps, a future and destiny intended for greatness, have their lives snuffed out by cruel abortionists before they ever see the light of day! May our prayers that the dreadful scourge of abortion in our land may vanish be as fervent as Isaac's were for Rebekah.
Prayer:
O, God, you formed us in our mother's womb and planned a unique and special life and purpose for each of us, and we do thank you. Grant that we may pray and work for an end to abortion, especially in these 40 Days, so that no unborn baby you have made may fail to achieve your divine intention for him or her because of intentional abortion. We pray this for the sake of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Rev. Ben Sheldon
President Emeritus
Yesterday’s email was about praying for an end to abortion when you can NOT be at the Planned Parenthood site.
I’m truly amazed at the many expressions of
encouragement we are hearing from people who are
joining this 40 Days for Life effort and praying
for an end to abortion — not only at the abortion
centers, but also at home, in church, at school,
at work.
There are THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS of you who are
making 40 Days for Life a special time of prayer
and fasting.
Laura wrote to say that every day, she sits and
quietly prays with the 40 Days for Life devotionals.
“I must say how powerful the devotions are,” she said.
“I have been praying through tears. Thank you, dear
Lord, for giving me the opportunity to be a small
part of this great ministry for life.”
“I can’t get out for very long periods of time due to
an illness,” said Ross, “but I’m offering up my cross
these days for the 40 Days for Life campaign and an
end to abortion. God bless all of you who stand up for
Jesus and for life.”
Les said he lives far from the nearest abortion
facility and does not have an opportunity to
participate in the sidewalk vigils. “But please know
that my wife and I are observing the 40-day fast and
are praying daily for the success of this campaign.
“Your stories of success are heart-warming and
encouraging,” he said, “and we pray that many more of
these scenarios will be played out during the
remainder of the campaign and beyond.”
Betty said her husband is in the hospital, so she
naturally spends most of her time with him. “So with
limited time to appear — and the bad back of an
86-year-old woman — I can only do so much. I pray
that you keep up your good work,” she said. “God
bless you all!”
God bless you too, Betty — and your husband as well.
Your prayers are much appreciated.
Michelle is praying that students at a school in her
area will be able to join the 40 Days for Life vigil
at the local Planned Parenthood. “They already pray
at school,” she said, “but would like to be present
for those going in as a witness for life.”
Isn’t it amazing that people WORLDWIDE are praying
with you — and for you?
“Just to let you all know, your efforts greatly
encourage us here in Brazil,” said Mary. “We are
facing a law to make abortion legal in this great
country. Please pray that this law will NOT get
passed here. We are praying to that end and also
praying for all of you there are who are the
frontlines of LIFE.”
To each of you, no matter where you are or where
you’re praying, I simply say ...
... THANK YOU!
Day 25 - March 13
Intention:
That God will bless us with His gift of strength as we respond in obedience to His call.
Scripture:
Deliver those who are drawn toward death, and hold back those stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, 'surely we did not know this', does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?
-- Proverbs 24:11-12
Reflection:
In this age of technologically advanced communication, ignorance of human rights abuses is no excuse. We know there are persecuted Christians in China, there is genocide in Darfur, and there are babies aborted and women and families devastated right in our own communities.
"But I can't save them all" you say. God isn't asking you to. He has equipped each of us with time, talent, and treasure to do what we can when He provides the opportunity. He has given us His Holy Spirit to empower us as we abide in Him. He is asking us to be on His side in speaking out and protecting those who can't protect themselves.
When we are obedient to His calling to get in on the work He is doing, we will experience intimacy with Him in a whole new way. Our faith will increase as we see God at work! You have responded to His call during this 40 Days for Life campaign.
Let your efforts be for His pleasure and His purposes. Pray without ceasing!
Prayer:
God Almighty, we pray for continued guidance and strength as we intercede on behalf of the young women and their babies who are stumbling to the slaughter. Open the eyes of the mother's heart to see her child as you do - a precious gift to be treasured. Let her feel Your loving arms around her and may she be assured that you have a plan and a future for her and her child. Give her reason not to enter the abortion clinic. Give her wisdom and discernment to find life options through a local pregnancy care center and may she boldly choose life. Thank you, Lord, for hearing our prayer. Because of Your Son's sacrifice we pray, amen.
Carmen Pate
Co-host, "Point of View" Talk Show
From the mouths of children and young adults:
Volunteers frequently ask if children should be brought
to 40 Days for Life prayer vigils at abortion centers.
People sometimes wonder if the horror of abortion is
too much for children to handle. But the presence of
children can be a blessing — to everyone.
A local pastor took his 8-year-old daughter to pray
with her teacher and classmates at the 40 Days for Life
vigil in Lake Havasu City, Arizona — then listened as
she talked about her experience.
“What incredible teaching is going on,” he said.
Joe in Pensacola, Florida shared a similar story on
his blog. It was a Saturday, and the abortion facility
was packed when he and his 10-year-old son went to
pray at the 40 Days for Life vigil.
“I try to use events like this to teach him, but I
didn’t have to say too much,” he said. His son
understood what was happening.
“He connected the abortions with his 2-year old sister,
Anna. He said that our family would be a sad family if
Anna had been aborted, because she brings so much joy,”
Joe said. “All I could do was agree with him.”
Young adults are delivering a powerful message as well.
In Canton, Ohio, a woman drove past the 40 Days for
Life vigil with a sign that read, “What about the
rape victims?”
Christian, who was praying at the vigil, thought to
herself, “What about them?”
She, after all, should know.
“As an 18-year-old,” she said, “I was a victim of date
rape. My life changed forever. A lot of what-ifs went
through my head, and my first thought was abortion.
I did not know what else to do.”
She soon rejected that option ... and gave birth to
her son in June 2008.
A year later, Christian thought she was pregnant again.
Her fiance’s mother advised an abortion — or else
“life as you know it will be over.”
She went to Planned Parenthood for a pregnancy test —
with her fiance and one-year-old son. “And yet the
first thing that the nurse asked me when we walked in
was, ‘If you are pregnant, do you want an abortion?’”
Of course, the answer was “No!” She now has a daughter
in addition to her son.
“I may have had two kids before the age of 20,”
Christian said. “I may have started out as a teen
mom and didn’t go to college. But I am now working
and going back to school to broaden my career.”
Contrary to the advice she was given, her life is
certainly not over. “And if you feel it would be,
there are other options to provide your children with
happy healthy lives,” she said. “With the power of
God’s grace, you can make the right choices, and He
will guide you every step of the way.”
As the pastor in Arizona said — what incredible
teaching is going on!
Holy God,
How it must grieve You to see Your people try to rationalize the killing of Your precious children. The lies have been repeated so often that even those who claim to be Yours have believed them. The Great Liar stalks about, seeking to deceive especially those who call You Lord. Awaken us from our stupor, Father God, and help us to be alert and vigilant. Give us the strength and courage to stand up and declare that the killing of babies in the womb is WRONG! Inhabit our prayers, Lord, and protect the children; for there can be no compromise with darkness. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Thanks for the prayer!
Day 26 - March 14
Intention:
Pray that we fully recognize in the unborn child our brother, our sister, and we recommit ourselves to care for them.
Scripture:
Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?" The Lord said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground."
-- Genesis 4:8-10
Reflection:
After Cain committed the first murder in human history, God asked him, "Where is your brother?" He replied by saying, "I don't know."
In 1973, the Supreme Court was asked the same question, and gave the same answer. Unable to admit that the unborn children are our brothers and sisters, the Supreme Court said in its Roe v. Wade ruling, "We need not resolve the difficult question of when life begins." Boil all that down to three words, and it's, "I don't know."
The question, "Where is your brother?" will be asked at the final judgment. Each person will answer it and be judged by it. May we be judged to have recognized and loved all our brothers and sisters, born and unborn.
By participating in the 40 Days for Life, we have been answering that question each day, going to where our brothers and sisters are killed, and proclaiming that we have a responsibility to them. By all the pro-life work we will continue to do, we likewise answer that question which reaches from one end of human history to the other.
Prayer:
Father, today we hear your voice, and we respond to the question you ask each of us: "Where is your brother?" We recognize in the unborn child our brother, our sister, and we recommit ourselves today to care for them. Yes, Father, you have entrusted us to the care of one another. We rejoice that you have given us the grace to respond. As we work to renew our culture, we look forward to the great day of the coming of your Son, when every eye will see him, even of those who pierced him, and every knee shall bend, and every tongue confess, to the glory of God the Father, that Jesus Christ is Lord! Amen.
Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life and President, National Pro-life Religious Council
Today’s email sent shivers throughout my body — a testimony about a pray-er who can no longer be there!
The 40 Days for Life team in El Paso, Texas recently
shared Cristina’s story about a very special woman.
Simply put, Cristina said her friend Espy “is one of
the best sidewalk counselors that I have ever met. I
have seen miracles happen through Espy’s work outside
of the abortion clinic.”
In 12 years of serving as a sidewalk counselor, Espy
always seemed to have exactly the right thing to say
in any situation ... whether she was speaking to a
woman seeking an abortion, to someone suffering in
the wake of an abortion — or to a member of the
abortion center staff.
In regard to the abortion workers, Espy learned how
powerful love is. “Love is the way,” she would say.
“She has given a smile to abortion clinic workers and
even hugs,” Cristina said. “Not just that, but she has
been there to listen to the clinic workers as they
shared their personal problems.” These people know
that Espy loves them and prays for them.
“She has given her life to the pro-life ministry,”
Cristina said.
But Espy hadn’t been seen on the sidewalk for quite
a while. About a year ago, she had a stroke. She uses
a wheel chair and has difficulty speaking now, but
in spite of the challenges she will tell you, “God
is good.”
Staff members at the facility have noticed Espy’s
absence and have told prayer vigil participants that
they were worried about her. Just last week, Espy
asked Cristina to take her to the abortion center
so she could say hi.
“I called the clinic administrator and let her know
that Espy was outside waiting to see all of them,”
said Cristina. “To my surprise, the workers walked
outside to meet us! Espy with all her heart wanted to
give them a hug and a kiss, so she did — and they did,
too! Espy was crying — and they were crying, too.”
They gave her many hugs of love and respect. The
director, the one that used to confront Espy and
the one that used to tell her, “Go home!” now told
her, “Espy we miss you. When are we going to see you
outside again?”
“This was a miracle,” said Cristina; “a miracle of
love. Espy is still working; God is still using Espy
to show His love, His mercy, His power. Espy is an
example to all of us that want to follow God’s plan.
“She is an example that God is working. God is
teaching. God is transforming. God is converting. God
is alive inside those places of death. God is alive in
Espy! May God bless Espy and the abortion providers that
they together with us see Jesus one day, face to face!”
By the way, Espy’s full name is Esperanza. The English
translation of this beautiful Spanish name — Hope!
Day 27 - March 15
Intention:
We pray for the gift of openness to children.
Scripture:
God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him, male and female He created them. And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth."
-- Genesis 1:27-28
Reflection:
God's intention is that we multiply and fill the earth.
One of the most pernicious lies that sociologists have foisted off on the public is that the earth is becoming overpopulated. What kind of a sadistic god would create the earth and human creatures on it, only to have them literally reproduce themselves into oblivion? The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is our divine Creator, has commanded us to multiply and fill the earth and far from letting the population get out of control, He has, in fact given his human creatures a dominical role over all the lesser creatures. The "birth control" movement, which had its beginnings with Margaret Sanger in the early years of the last century, has led, in many parts of the world, to a birthrate that is drastically below the normal replacement rate.
God's Word assures us that children are a blessing, that they are a reward of faithfully trusting and serving God and that they are the crown of their parents' old age. The spread of the contraception mentality that has so permeated our culture is, undoubtedly, a factor in the ready acceptance of abortion. God's commandment to multiply and fill the earth has never been withdrawn. May He help us to accept the gift of children and give him thanks for every baby who is born into the world.
Prayer:
Father of mercy and grace, we thank you for the gift of our children. Grant that every fiber of our being may rejoice when a new baby, our own or any else's, is born into the world. Help us to welcome them as we would welcome you, for whenever a new baby is conceived, another life to bear your image and another voice to praise and worship you, is beginning. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.
Rev. Ben Sheldon
President Emeritus, Presbyterians Pro-life and National Pro-life Religious Council
Day 28 - March 16
Intention:
Pray that those standing in peaceful vigil will extend mercy and grace to others as they remember that Christ did not treat us as our sins deserve.
Scripture:
You have heard it was said, 'you shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.
-- Matthew 5: 43-44
Reflection:
Perhaps it is obvious by now that not everyone thinks this campaign is a great idea! In fact, those on the front lines standing in peaceful vigil are perhaps being cursed and hated for what God has called you to do. Because we are all fallen creatures, our natural response may not be as Christ-like as we would hope it would be.
So, how do we keep our natural response in check, while allowing the Holy Spirit to empower us to love, bless, do good, and pray for those who hate us or would do us harm?
Consider first the Holiness of God. It seems that sin has clouded our ability to think clearly about God's nature. We simply don't have a clue of how outraged God is by our sin, what an insult sin is to His person, or how sin fires the flames of His wrath. Praise God that He didn't leave us in our depravity destined for His divine wrath!
Ephesians 2:4-5 says, "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in sin, made us alive together with Christ; by grace you have been saved."
Because of God's mercy and grace towards us, we who receive Him receive eternal Hope. Those who curse you, hate you, spitefully mistreat you and persecute you need that same Hope. That is the only way we can ever expect them to behave differently. Ask the Holy Spirit to love them -- through you -- so they are drawn to the Hope that is in you, that is Christ Jesus.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, may we reflect your character of grace and kindness to those who hate us and curse us. Guard our hearts and our tongues as we respond in love to words and actions meant to rile us or cause us harm. Let others see the Hope that is Christ in all we say and do. In His precious name we pray, amen.
Carmen Pate
Co-host, "Point of View" Talk Show
life
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Day 29 - March 17
Intention:
We pray for the grace to be strong when others ridicule or oppose us.
Scripture:
Anyone who does not take up his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
--Luke 14:27
Reflection:
To stand up for what is right means we stand against what is wrong, and that means that those who love what is wrong will oppose us, just as they opposed Christ. Taking up the cross means we continue speaking and standing for the right even when that opposition comes.
We experience this, in particular, when we are out on the streets, where people are not expecting the pro-life message and where they did not go to hear it.
We must remember to never take the opposition personally. When people ridicule or yell at us, we might get a guilty feeling or be tempted to think we did something wrong. We did not. The insults are not being hurled at us personally, but rather at the truth of what we are standing for, and at the demands of the moral law.
There are many who are trying to run away from those demands, or who have managed to tuck the abortion problem away into a distant corner of their minds where it can no longer disturb them. By standing publicly for the cause of life, we have short-circuited that denial and frustrated those efforts to ignore the issue. Therefore, some will be angry, perhaps not fully realizing why.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for the grace of being pro-life, and of standing strong when others may ridicule or oppose me. During this 40 Day campaign, may your peace fill my soul, especially when I may endure the opposition of others, and may I become more like your crucified and risen Son. Amen.
Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life and President, National Pro-life Religious Council
From today’s email:
Outside abortion centers, faithful volunteers are
praying for God to protect women and their babies from
the tragedy that awaits inside.
Inside these facilities, staffers are scrambling to
find volunteers to shield their clients from people
they refer to as “anti-life zealots,” who are
peacefully standing in prayer.
It seems to be happening more during this current
40 Days for Life campaign than it has at any time in
the past — and that’s a credit to the success of
your prayerful efforts.
Nancy says she’s seen it at the 40 Days for Life
vigil in Plattsburgh, New York.
“Planned Parenthood employees call in ‘escorts’ when
they see us appear,” she said. “Escorts — in their
minds — are needed to ‘safely’ bring in the clients,
as they feel the need to ‘protect’ them from the
pro-life prayers! It’s quite a show on their part.”
Mary has seen it as well. When she went to take part
in the 40 Days for Life vigil in Canton, Ohio
recently, she and the other vigil participants “were
joined by two young men carrying signs of hate.”
The men were trying to stand in the way of the people
praying, all the while laughing and saying hateful
things.
“I told one young man that I would pray for him —
but he didn’t seem to hear me or to care,” Mary said.
“I tried to keep getting around them with my sign but
they were relentless and it almost became a game —
a circus act, if you will.”
Mary said it’s best to ignore protesters — just pray
silently and “stand firm in the truth of what we are
doing together — saving lives.”
At the 40 Days for Life vigil in Providence, Rhode
Island, Joanne said a Planned Parenthood worker
confronted a prayer volunteer who was carrying an
“I regret my abortion” sign. The employee argued that
this woman had no “right” to regret her abortion!
“The employee joined the escorts near me to ridicule
her for having had eight children,” Joanne said,
“even saying vulgar things against her motherhood.”
As the worker and the escorts continued to mock the
woman with the sign, Joanne pulled her aside “to
assure her that God was blessing her greatly.”
Just at that moment, one of the women that the escorts
had been trying to “protect” came bursting out of the
abortion center.
“It’s so scary in there,” she said. “This is the
second time I’ve come for an abortion and couldn’t
do it. I was in the room and on the table, and I
couldn’t do it — so I left. Thank you for being here.
God bless you!”
“What would we do without the courageous and charitable
witness of faithful volunteers?” asked Joanne. “I am
always awed to stand with you who are sent by the Lord
for this work!”
Day 30 - March 18
Intention:
Let us pray that pastors may not be distracted from the priority of caring for human lives.
Scripture:
Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.
-- Acts 6:1
Reflection:
More folks learning left some yearning.
It is the dawning of a new day. There is much excitement in Jerusalem. Many who dedicated themselves to the faith became disciples (the word disciple means "learner"). The unprecedented church growth was miraculous and undoubtedly brought much satisfaction to the new leadership. The apostles, however, were about to experience growing pains in their master plan of evangelism.
Projects that engage the community, especially those that are evangelistic in nature, are high on the list of priorities for every duty-bound pastor. Church attendance is a constant concern for every pastor and often his or her worth is measured by it. Unfortunately, just as the original twelve pastors in Acts, they can be so focused on getting people in that they inadvertently end up pushing some people out.
Murmuring is a deplorable deterrent to a harmonious fellowship, yet God used it to get the disciples attention. Those that needed daily attention due to their age and social status were being neglected. This neglect of the Hellenist widows during the daily distribution of food was causing undue grief and needed to be corrected by the leadership. By God's grace the problem was dealt with, but the lesson remains.
And during these 40 days, let us pray that today's church not make the same mistake of forgetting the contributions of our seniors, or the needs of the weakest among us, the unborn.
Prayer:
Father, in the Church's desire to engage our communities with the gospel let her not disengage from those who need their care and company the most. Let us gain wisdom from those who have gone before us and cherish their experiences and perspectives. Help us to appreciate every soul in the body of Christ and minister properly to everybody. Amen.
Rev. Clenard Childress
LEARN (Life Education and Resource Network)
Today’s email! Hooray more mothers and babies are saved!
Last Saturday’s message dealt with the presence of
children at 40 Days for Life prayer vigils, and how
some people question the idea of having children pray
outside the abortion centers. As always, the Holy
Spirit has provided the final word: Bring the kids!
Ernie and Mary Beth are the coordinators of 40 Days
for Life in Pensacola, Florida. And wherever you see
Ernie and Mary Beth, you see their four children. And
of course, they were at the abortion facility this
past Saturday — the day that our e-mail message was
about children praying at the vigils.
The first good sign on this very windy day in
Pensacola was the fact that the abortion center’s
parking lot was half empty. It’s usually jam-packed.
So that means fewer abortion appointments.
Before the day was over, FIVE MOTHERS decided to
reject abortion and spare their children!
In one instance, a group of women drove up in two cars.
One got out, turned towards the vigil participants and
asked, “Why do you have children out here?”
Ernie replied, “They are here praying for you and to
remind everyone that children are a wonderful gift.”
She stomped away.
Just a minute later, one of the women from this group
drove away — very angry. The others from the first
car came out the front door with a woman who had been
inside the abortion facility.
Ernie said that’s another good sign. “Anyone that
comes out the front door has NOT had an abortion.”
The same woman who questioned the presence of the
children did so again: “Why don’t you get these kids
away from here?”
Ernie answered, “We love you! We are here praying for
you and your friends.”
As they drove out, the young woman who had left the
abortion facility gave a big thumbs-up outside her
open window. She had indeed chosen life!
“This spring, my four children, who have been with us
every day during all four 40 Days for Life campaigns
in Pensacola, have begun to understand the importance
of prayer in front of the abortion facility,” Ernie
said. “My two oldest — 8 and 6 — have really been
praying a lot this spring with us.”
It was Ernie’s children that the angry woman was
complaining about. And it’s no wonder. The children’s
prayers may have made a world of difference to that
young mother who left the abortion center, determined
to let her own child live.
“I believe my children were used by the Holy Spirit to
change this woman’s mind,” he said. “Children do have
a tremendous impact on the mothers and fathers that
enter abortion facilities. Thank you, God, for the
wonderful gifts you have given me in my life — my
wonderful children and wife. I am so proud of them all!”
Day 31 - March 19
Intention:
Pray for opportunities to share with an abortion-minded woman that the newness of life she is seeking is found only in Christ.
Scripture:
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.
-- 2 Corinthians 5:17
Reflection:
An unexpected pregnancy is perceived by many young women as the end of their life as they know it. News of an unexpected pregnancy pulls the rug from under her well laid plans. Sadly, these women may choose abortion as a matter of self-preservation, believing that an abortion will help return life to normal and give them opportunity to start anew.
They don't see abortion as killing a child, but rather as saving their own life. Of course, abortion will not bring the newness of life they are seeking, but instead will bring death to their child, lifelong regret, and unexpected -- possibly devastating -- consequences to their own life. But abortion will be the choice made if we don't meet them at the crossroad between life and death with a better way.
Almost without exception, these young women are looking for love, acceptance, and to be valued. In their efforts to have those needs met, they have become promiscuous. Most, if honest, will admit the needs were only met momentarily, if at all, during their brief encounter, and afterward the needs returned unmet.
The truth is, only Christ loves them unconditionally with an everlasting love. Only Christ will accept them as they are, and only Christ sees them for their true value in Him. He has a perfect plan for each woman and her child if only she will allow Christ to transform her life as she surrenders to Him. No, an unexpected pregnancy is not the end of life, but rather can be the beginning of two beautiful lives if God's plan for them is given opportunity to unfold.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, you give us a new song, a new purpose, a new direction, a new perspective. You remind us that the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but Christ came that we might have life, and have it more abundantly. Give us boldness to share this Good News with those who are at the crossroads and may they choose life for their children and enjoy newness of life in You. Because of Christ we pray, amen.
Carmen Pate
Co-host, "Point of View" Talk Show
From today’s email:
For a day when abortions are typically scheduled, last
Saturday was, by usual standards, not very busy at the
abortion center in Raleigh, North Carolina where a
40 Days for Life prayer vigil is taking place.
One vigil participant noted there were only six
clients. In fact, the facility had more employees
on hand than clients.
The day before, it appeared that there was a staff
meeting in progress at the abortion center and the
number of clients was — ZERO!
“Fridays and Saturdays are typically their busiest
days,” said Mary in Raleigh. “To have maybe six
clients on Saturday and zero on Friday is very
interesting to me and makes me wonder if the dynamics
are changing.”
It is very clear, however, that the dynamics OUTSIDE
are changing. Two area churches adopted the 40 Days
for Life vigil during the day last Saturday.
Thanks to these two churches ...
... 213 people turned out to pray on the sidewalk ...
... on this one day alone!
“After four campaigns — this one being the fifth —
the increase of prayer warriors has been phenomenal,”
Mary said. More vigil hours are being covered, and the
number of full days adopted by churches has increased
by 40 percent.
“For this I thank you,” she said. “Your prayers are
working. We don’t always see them, but they are
working. I can say this with confidence because God
desires this from each of us.”
God indeed desires this from each of us. That is what
is drawing people to the 40 Days for Life vigils. And
He responds with His grace to let you know you’re
making a difference — even if the only creatures that
seem to notice are the animals.
“There is a large yellow or orange cat that keeps
vigil with me on the sidewalk at nights,” said a man
who frequently prays from midnight to 6 a.m. at the
40 Days for Life site in Reno, Nevada.
“An owl perches himself on the power pole across the
street and hoots at me every pass I make in front of
the clinic,” he said. “I pace while I pray — and he
continues to hoot, as if in agreement. I want to
report to you that it is very powerful at night.”
Praying at the very doorstep of the places where
innocent lives are destroyed is indeed very powerful.
40 Days for Life taps into the spiritual value of
covering these abortion centers in prayer — 24 hours
a day, seven days a week. When you make that sort of
sacrifice, it DOES make a difference!
God hears your prayers — and answers them when, where
and how they’re needed most.
Have you had an opportunity to pray at a 40 Days for
Life vigil yet? There’s still plenty of time!
Please click here to find the location nearest you:
http://40daysforlife.com/location.cfm
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