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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.

March 16, 2010

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