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Day 18 - October 13

Intention:

We pray for a flowering of the joy of parenthood.

Scripture:

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

-- Psalm 127:3-5

Reflection:

I still vividly remember the day my first child was born. As she came into the world I gazed upon the most beautiful little baby I'd ever seen. Later I was driving home from the hospital for a shower and a fresh change of clothes when a song came on the radio, "The Men in My Little Girl's Life" -- a ballad about being a father as he watches his daughter grow through childhood to womanhood. I wept as I listened, knowing those years would go by very fast… and they did.

Being a father, whenever I read the Psalm quoted above I'm always captivated by one word - "heritage." It basically means "something passed down from a preceding generation." That little girl I watched being born and wept for is not mine to give to God like a product of our fertility, but rather His, which he has entrusted to us. So are all her siblings.

My wife and I share a great treasure: precious lives, which are placed in our lineage that His life with us might be perpetuated. To the psalmist, this was a blessing from the Lawgiver, God Himself, who blessed Israel with another generation intended to continue their covenantal promise. For us in Christ, it is his gift of succeeding generations for His Church and her families.

These days I'm looking upon my grandchildren, and rejoicing that my children and their spouses will pass on the greatness of Christ's gospel to them and thus will continue the work of God in the world. What a blessing. What a heritage!

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, please keep me from taking for granted the gift of children. Help us to remember this heritage that you have given us. Make us faithful stewards of these precious lives, that each generation might be raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Randolph Sly
National Pro-life Religious Council

On average, there are 3,300 abortions EVERY DAY in
the United States -- but that daily number goes up
on Saturdays, the busiest day of the week at many
abortion centers.

As we near the midpoint of this campaign, today --
Saturday -- is an excellent day to participate in
40 Days for Life. Click this link to find the location
nearest you:

http://40daysforlife.com/location.cfm

When you pray at the vigil, you realize two things:
1. The abortionist doesn't want us out there.
2. Christ does.

Here’s what I mean ...

-----------------------------------------------------
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
-----------------------------------------------------

Feminist Women's Health Center is a second-trimester
abortion center where women come from neighboring
states for abortions. The staff is used to people
praying outside every week. "But they get particularly
nervous when 40 Days for Life rolls around," said
Lauren in Atlanta, "as they know our numbers jump
exponentially."

On one day recently, two women changed their minds.
One was 17 weeks pregnant; the other was 22. "These
women were met with love and acceptance from the
moment they drove onto the clinic property and it
was this love that drew them to us," Lauren said.
Volunteers assured them they would not abandon them,
but would walk with them through their pregnancies.

One of the women responded by text, "I'm just glad
to have some support. Thank you!"

The abortion center has lined the right-of-way, where
the volunteers can legally stand, with prickly yucca
plants in an obvious attempt to deter them. Lauren
sent photographic proof that the plan is not working.

"We had eleven prayer warriors from all over Atlanta
in front of the clinic this morning," she said. "We
just figure it's a sign that we are frustrating the
clinic and if God wants us to put up with the yucca
plants, so be it."

To see a photo of the Atlanta volunteers, standing
vigil next to the new landscaping, please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3462

-----------------------------------------------------
FORT WORTH, TEXAS
-----------------------------------------------------

One of the volunteers in Fort Worth, a youth director
at a local church, wrote on the 40 Days for Life blog
about recruiting new people to pray at the vigil.

One Saturday morning, a woman she invited to the vigil
arrived with her daughter. It was cold and drizzling,
but they prayed for an hour. "I could tell she and her
daughter were very moved," said the volunteer.

The following Saturday, the same woman returned -- this
time, with her husband. "Wow, there are a lot less cars
than last week," she said. "She knew something had
happened from last week to this week," the youth
director observed. Fewer cars means fewer abortions.

Later, this woman gave a short testimony to a group at
church -- and now there are about half a dozen others
who promised to pray at the vigil the next weekend.

"God is so good," said the youth director. "I know we
have saved some lives. Praise be to God!"

-----------------------------------------------------
MANKATO, MINNESOTA
-----------------------------------------------------

"I am still in awe of our awesome God," a prayer
volunteer in Mankato wrote on the 40 Days for Life
blog. "I had never been involved with this campaign
before, and I didn't know what to expect."

While praying at the vigil, "I was overwhelmed with
the presence of the Holy Spirit that morning, and
wept in worship of the Lord." People drove by, yelling
negative comments, honking their horns and expressing
support for Planned Parenthood. But she just continued
to pray quietly.

"I watched at least 15 people come and go in the time
I was there," she wrote. "I don't know what they were
there for, but God does, and it was an honor to pray
for each of them. I encourage anyone who can go, even
for just one hour, to be a voice for the unborn. It
will change your life."