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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 God's commandment to multiply and fill the earth has never been withdrawn.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

Today's email:

Every day, we update a number on the top of the 40 Days
for Life web page. Every day, that number gets larger
and larger. Every day, I am humbled and amazed at what
God is doing during this campaign of prayer and fasting.

As of today, that number has grown to ...

... 298 babies ... and their mothers ...

... spared from abortion -- that we know of!

People praying at a 40 Days for Life vigil outside an
abortion center in Mission Hills, California watched
as a woman arrived for an abortion appointment.
Volunteers spoke to her briefly as she walked toward
the building.

"The woman seemed upset with what she was about to do,"
said Patti, "but went in anyway."

When she came out a bit later, a pro-life counselor
asked if she had changed her mind. "No," she said.
"I forgot my Medicare card at home and I have to go
get it.

The counselor responded, "You know, that's just God
telling you that you're not supposed to be here.

"The woman acknowledged the comment," Patti said,
"and left crying. She did not return!"

"A young lady came up to ask what I thought about
abortion," said Shannon, who coordinates the 40 Days
for Life campaign in Memphis, Tennessee.

Shannon asked if she was pregnant, and she said "yes."

The woman then asked Shannon how long she would be out
on the sidewalk. "I told her as long as she needed me
to be there."

The young woman went into the facility ... and later
walked back out.

Shannon then gave her information about pro-life
options. She said she had nowhere to go. "She actually
seemed relieved," Shannon said, "like a big weight was
taken off of her to know there was another alternative."

"Part of our community outreach this campaign is
focusing on getting the word out about the
disproportionate amount of abortions performed on
minority women," said Jeanie, one of the leaders of
the 40 Days for Life effort in Syracuse, New York.

She was able to speak to a couple of women who were on
their way into the Planned Parenthood abortion center.

"I explained that abortion is the leading cause of
death for African-Americans," said Jeanie. "They were
obviously surprised by this information and readily
decided to seek the help offered at the crisis
pregnancy center next door."

One of them walked by a little while later and simply
said "thank you" as a big smile came across her face.

"Yes, there is help and hope," Jeanie said, "and we can
offer this hope to women in very desperate situations."

Thank you for everything you're doing to support this
outreach of prayer and fasting for an end to abortion.
It's working -- one life at a time.