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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

Today's email:

Over the last few days, I was on a whirlwind tour of
Southern California -- from Fresno down to San Diego.
In addition to speaking at two pregnancy center banquets,
I was able to visit numerous 40 Days for Life sites and
meet for dinner with several dozen local 40 Days for
Life campaign leaders. It was a very hope-filled trip!

I brought along my pocket camcorder and shot footage
all along the way -- and just posted a highlight video
online for you at:

-----

* Photos of two baby boys saved during a previous
   40 Days for Life campaign who were born a week
   ago -- on the same day ...

* A 40 Days for Life location where 22 babies have
   been saved and the abortionist resigned ...

* A small group of faithful volunteers who had two
   women change their minds and choose life shortly
   after I left their vigil site ...

* A campaign that has seen 7 lives saved thus far ...

* And much, much more!

------

As you can see, there are miracles taking place in
many, many places were people are joining together to
pray and fast for an end to abortion.

As they pray outside the abortion centers, people are
beginning to understand that the woman who seeks an
abortion is often a woman who has simply run out
of hope.

One such woman saw people praying at the 40 Days for
Life vigil recently in Indianapolis, Indiana. She got
out of her car, walked up to them at a rapid pace ...
then hugged one of the vigil participants and started
to cry.

This prayer volunteer -- Kathy -- called Eileen, the
local coordinator, for help. At Eileen's suggestion,
Kathy then handed her phone to the sobbing woman.

"She then started telling me that she had done
something terrible," Eileen said, "and that the father
of the baby -- her daughter's boyfriend -- told her
that she must get an abortion."

Eileen told her that if she did, she would feel even
worse and would regret it forever. "I tried to
encourage her that at this point," she said. "She
could still do the right thing -- the thing her heart
was telling her to do -- and that God would take care
of her and the baby."

After lunch with Kathy, the woman went home. She
called Kathy later to thank her -- and to say she was
not going to abort her twins!

"I have never met a woman who WANTED to have an
abortion," said Eileen.

The volunteers didn't know it at the time, but this
woman had sat alone in her car outside of Planned
Parenthood for two hours -- crying.

When Kathy drove up, the woman saw a sign on Kathy's
car that said, "Pregnant? Need help?"

"It gave her hope," said Eileen. "She jumped out of
her car to run to Kathy for help. We never know what
God will use to reach out to us."