40 Days for Life runs [September 25] through November 3 in 306 cities

40 Days for Life runs through November 3 in 306 cities

Today [September 24] ... we launch a new campaign -- and a new video that shows just what God can do over these next 40 days. In this short video, you'll meet people whose lives are forever changed ... because of faithful, prayerful volunteers ... during 40 Days for Life.

There are two former Planned Parenthood managers -- and a woman who chose life for her baby, simply because there were people outside the abortion center who were specifically praying for her and her child. Hear their amazing stories in this short video ... then email this page everyone you know so they can find out for themselves just what 40 Days for Life is all about!

Find the 40 Days for Life location nearest you. Click on the city name -- and sign up to get involved!

HUGE news about the place 40 Days for Life started: CLOSING!

If you've followed 40 Days for Life for any length of time, you know that this worldwide movement began in Bryan/College Station, Texas. Planned Parenthood even labeled Bryan/College Station as "the most anti-choice place" in the nation.

The local Planned Parenthood abortion center there has had more 40 Days for Life vigils outside its doors than any other place in the world ... and that is the the place where Abby Johnson, the director of that facility, experienced a conversion, quit her job and joined the pro-life movement. That facility just announced it is CLOSING ... [more]

Four more abortion centers confirmed CLOSED

Since the last 40 Days for Life ended in March, four more abortion centers which were sites of 40 Days for Life campaigns have CLOSED their doors!

Shortly after the campaign, volunteers learned that a late-term abortion facility in Sacramento, California ... where multiple 40 Days for Life prayer vigils had been held outside ... had gone out of business.

Just a few weeks later, a Planned Parenthood abortion center in Kenwood, Washington - where two 40 Days for Life vigils have been held outside - announced its permanent closure. Then an abortion center in Toledo, Ohio ... that had seen SIX 40 Days for Life vigils in the public right-of-way outside ... turned out the lights and locked the doors. And then it was a Fairfax, Virginia abortion facility ... where TEN 40 Days for Life campaigns were held.

All four of them are CLOSED. To God be the glory! That now makes 37 abortion facilities ... where people of faith have prayed and fasted outside during 40 Days for Life vigils ... that have shut down.

"I knew having an abortion would scar me forever"


	"The morning after I found out I was pregnant, I started realizing what bringing a child into this world would mean for ME and MY life and MY future. "I wasn't thinking about the life being created inside of me. I started thinking about abortion.

"I have always been pro-choice, and most of the people in my life are as well. When I told the father, he said he could not have a baby - but he would pay for the abortion. When I started telling other people about my situation, most said I would be insane to have the baby. Logically, I felt like they were right ..."

Devotional for Preparation, September 24, 2013

Carmen Pate, Truth in Action Ministries

Intention:

For God’s blessing upon the coming 40

Days for Life campaign.

Scripture:

If My people who are called by My

name will humble themselves, and

pray and seek My face, and turn from

their wicked ways, then I will hear

from heaven, and forgive their sin and

heal their land. — 2 Chronicles 7:14

Reflection:

Not unlike God’s chosen people of Israel,

we must humble ourselves, pray,

seek His face, and turn from our wicked

ways, if we expect God to hear from

heaven, forgive our sin, and heal our

land. The need for repentance has not

been greater since the Supreme Court

decision of Roe v. Wade in 1973.

The number one cause of death in

America is the needless sacrifice of our

children at the altar of convenience

called abortion. Conservative estimates

put the number of deaths at nearly 48

million.

And lest we think this is an issue outside

the church walls, 43 percent of

women obtaining abortions identify

themselves as Protestant, and 27 percent

identify themselves as Catholic.

One in four women has at least one

abortion by the age of 45 – both non-

Christian and Christian alike. Where

was the voice of Truth – the church?

Mary Comm of In Our Midst Ministries,

Inc. sums up the issue best as she

writes, “We (the church) have been an

unintentional accomplice to the millions

of lives lost and to the multiplied

millions of lives devastated by abortion.

We didn’t want them to abort. We

didn’t mean for them to abort. But, because

of our lack of knowledge, because

of our fear, we have continued to

stand by and do nothing.

“We, God’s hands and feet in this dark

and hurting world, have been unintentional,

unknowledgeable accomplice,

but an accomplice nonetheless.”

May today mark the beginning of

change within the church, as God’s

people, in unity, seek His forgiveness.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we have turned our

backs on you and your principles in

your Word. We have allowed man to

usurp Your role as God over life and

the number of our days.

But we come to you in brokenness and

repentance over our sin.

We cry out for Your mercy and ask you

to remove the scourge of abortion from

our land. Use us as your vessels, Lord,

to bring the light of Your Truth to our

nation once again. Because of Christ we

pray, amen

Devotional for Day 1, September 25, 2013

David Brandao, Communications Director, 40 Days for Life

Intention:

That we may use these 40 Days for Life

to plead for God’s mercy and grace upon

all those involved in the sin of abortion.

Scripture:

Blow the trumpet in Zion! Proclaim a

fast, call an assembly. Gather the people,

notify the congregation. Assemble

the elders; gather the children and the

infants at the breast… Let the priests,

the ministers of the Lord, weep and

say, "Spare, O Lord, your people.”

—Joel 2:15-17

Reflection:

The toll of abortion cannot be measured.

We hear estimates of almost 50

million innocent victims, but that’s only

one aspect of the harm that has unfolded

in abortion’s wake. There are also

the mothers and fathers of these millions,

as well as the grandparents,

brothers and sisters, aunts, uncles,

cousins. Unborn lives destroyed. Lives

of the living shattered.

It’s overwhelming and depressing, but

even in the midst of such unfathomable

darkness, the church teaches us to have

hope. Yes, it was indeed Calvary that

followed Christ’s 40 days in the desert,

but without Calvary there would have

been no Resurrection – His victory

over death that opened the gates of

heaven to those who believe in and follow

Him.

The psalmist encourages us to go humbly

before God as we seek His will:

A clean heart create for me, O God,

and a steadfast spirit renew within

me… Give me back the joy of your

salvation and a willing spirit sustain

in me… O Lord, open my lips, and

my mouth shall proclaim your

praise (Psalm 51:12-17).

We are called to be God’s messengers;

or as the Apostle Paul wrote:

We are ambassadors for Christ, as if

God were appealing through us. We

implore you on behalf of Christ: be

reconciled to God (2 Corinthians

5:20).

That is the true message to all we encounter

at the abortion centers and in

our communities who have been deceived

by the Culture of Death. We

don’t bring condemnation; we bring

God’s good news.

Prayer:

Lord, we ask for the strength, courage,

wisdom, determination and stamina to

carry out this mission according to

Your will.

Guide us, we pray, as we go forth and

proclaim Your truth, always doing so

with a spirit of love and compassion, as

was demonstrated to us through the

work of Your Son, Jesus Christ. In His

name we pray, amen.

Thus far, we’ve seen 83 abortion facility employees have conversions and leave their jobs during 40 Days for Life campaigns.

You heard from two of them — who not only left but then joined the vigil — in the video we sent yesterday. If you missed it (or just want to see it again), watch it and share with friends. Here’s the link:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=4655

I can’t say where, of course … but we’ve heard that abortion workers have already reached out to prayer volunteers on Day 1 so keep them in your prayers!

For these 40 days, we pray for the babies, the men and women seeking abortion — and yes — the workers in the abortion centers. Those prayers will go on day or night … rain or shine … on four continents.

Columbia, Missouri

The darkness of the night provided a solemn setting for the opening candlelight vigil in Columbia.

This location is a Planned Parenthood center that once offered abortions — but has not been able to keep an abortionist on staff. There have been no abortions here for 15 months. Prayer volunteers are hoping to see the day when this facility goes out of business.

White Plains, New York

It was sunny for the kickoff rally in White Plains. “We had a good turnout,” said Gerald. “Praise God!”

He noted with sadness that 2,257 abortions took place in the area in 2011, the most recent year reported. But “there is some good news here … the abortion numbers are declining year over year.”

Port Charlotte, Florida

It was not so sunny in Port Charlotte, where their 40 Days for Life campaign started out in the rain. They’ve had lots of rain — even flooding lately.

But after the vigil began, the rain was replaced by a rainbow. “Praise God for the wonderful sign,” said Stephanie in Port Charlotte.

Devotional for Day 2, September 26, 2013

Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director, Priests for Life

Intention:

Pray for those who work in the abortion

industry, and for those who have

repented of committing abortions and

have resolved to defend life.

Scripture:

Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father,

into your hands I commit my spirit.”

When he had said this, he breathed

his last. The centurion, seeing what had

happened, praised God and said, “Surely

this was a righteous man.”

—Luke 23:46-47

Reflection:

“Those of us who have participated in

the killing of unborn children are the

Centurions of today. We have dropped

our swords against the unborn child.

Now we must recognize the depth of

our guilt and deal with the ramifications...

To revitalize our humanity we

need to forgive and be forgiven, to reconcile

and be healed.”

These words come from a brochure of

the Society of Centurions, an organization

for former abortion providers.

These words convey in a beautiful and

moving way what is happening across

the nation as hundreds of abortionists

and their staff members experience repentance,

conversion, and healing.

How does this conversion begin? Dr.

Philip Ney writes, “The factors that

changed their opinion on performing

abortions, in the following order of frequency,

were: evidence of the infant’s

humanity, a spiritual experience, personal

distress, evidence of the mother’s

distress, scientific articles, being accepted

as a person, a personal relationship

with a pro-lifer, pro-life pickets.”

(The Centurion’s Pathway, p. 77).

The journey is not easy. But the Jesus

who heals us calls us to face the truth

of what we’ve done, make restitution

where possible, and engage in the hard

work of mending relationships. Let’s

pray for the Centurions; may their

numbers increase!

Prayer:

Lord, we thank you for those who have

repented of committing abortions and

have resolved to defend life. We too

repent and resolve. We repent of every

instance in which fear has made us silent

when we should have spoken.

We repent of the ongoing bloodshed in

our land, and for thinking that we can

deprive the unborn of protection but

keep it for ourselves.

We resolve that we will advance the

cause of righteous candidates for public

office, and that we will be more

afraid of offending you by our silence

than of offending others by our speech.

We resolve that we will proclaim your

name to the nations, through Jesus

Christ our Lord, amen.

Devotional for Day 3, September 27, 2013

Dennis DiMauro, Lutherans for Life

Intention:

We pray for God’s gift of strength as we

strive to protect human life during these

40 Days for Life.

Scripture:

Therefore I tell you, do not worry

about your life, what you will eat or

drink; or about your body, what you

will wear. Is not life more important

than food, and the body more important

than clothes? Look at the birds

of the air; they do not sow or reap or

store away in barns, and yet your

heavenly Father feeds them. Are you

not much more valuable than they?

—Matthew 6:25-26

Reflection:

Billions of dollars are spent each year

on diet plans. But Jesus tells us to stop

worrying so much about our bodies,

and instead to trust in God’s care for

our physical needs

What would happen if the people who

had started on a low-carb diet this year

had instead gone on a diet of heavenly

food? For non-believers that diet would

include trusting in Christ for their salvation,

and for believers it would include

a renewed prayer life, a new Bible

study, or even a spiritual fast.

This diet doesn’t include giving up on

certain kinds of foods. What this diet

includes is giving up on anxiety by resting

in the loving arms of Christ, trusting

that He will provide. Such a spiritual

diet also frees us from our worries,

and allows us to freely praise Him and

serve others. Christ’s words bear repeating:

Therefore I tell you, do not worry

about your life, what you will eat or

drink; or about your body, what

you will wear. Is not life more important

than food, and the body

more important than clothes? Look

at the birds of the air; they do not

sow or reap or store away in barns,

and yet your heavenly Father feeds

them. Are you not much more valuable

than they?

This promised provision teaches us the

inestimable worth of our lives. He will

not allow us to go without. This intimate

knowledge and care for human

life on the part of our gracious God is

what motivates us to seek for the

preservation of human life in all its

stages.

Prayer:

Loving heavenly Father, help us to see

the worth of all human beings by the

way in which you provide for us. We

would ask that you provide also the

faith, grace and courage to enable us to

protect that which is so precious to you.

Through Christ our Lord, Amen

DAY 3: I’m hooked

September 27th, 2013 by admin

—————————————————–
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA
—————————————————–

I just wrapped up a great visit to Pittsburgh, helping kick off their 40 Days for Life campaign. Here I am at the opening event with Nikki Bruni, the local 40 Days for Life coordinator.

Around 125 people turned out to hear the great praise-and-worship band, Intent … along with Georgette Forney, co-founder the of Silent No More Awareness group. The vigil location is on a busy downtown street.

If you’ve never had a chance to actually pray at a 40 Days for Life vigil — here’s your invitation! The first step is to find the nearest location.

And if you need a bit of encouragement, here’s one first-time prayer volunteer who’s now energized and ready to do even more!

—————————————————–
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA
—————————————————–

“I’m hooked!” was the reaction of a young mom who had just finished her first-ever prayer hours at the 40 Days for Life vigil in Pensacola.

“I feel like I’m actually doing something to end abortion,” she added. “It’s great to do something … instead of just talking about abortion.”

She said she would commit to as many days of prayer at the abortion center as possible.

—————————————————–
ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY
—————————————————–

Ethel tells me the first 40 Days for Life campaign in the Atlantic City area is off to a great start — and the blessings are obvious, even when the abortion facility is closed.

“We had so many cars and trucks beeping and waving,” she said. There was also the young woman who drove up to ask for help.

“She was 9 weeks pregnant and considering and abortion,” Ethel explained. The volunteers offered God’s love — and information about how she could find assistance. The woman said she would return for more prayer … but she had to get home, where she has four other children.

Please keep this woman — and the many others just like her — in your prayers.

Devotional for Day 4, September 28, 2013

Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director, Priests for Life

Intention:

We ask God that we may understand

the concept of justice, as a gift he gives

and as a responsibility that shapes our

work.

Scripture:

Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness

like a never-failing stream!

—Amos 5:24

Reflection:

Justice, a key theme of the Scriptures, is

something God does and that we too

must do.

When God intervenes to save his people

when they are helpless and in slavery

in Egypt, he “does justice.”

He manifested his justice in the plagues

that were sent upon Egypt, whereby

Pharaoh was convinced that he must

let the people go.

Justice is manifested as, in awe and

wonder, God’s people see the Red Sea

open before them, allow them to pass

without even getting their feet wet, and

then close again to drown their powerful

enemies.

God is a God of Justice; he rescues us

when we cannot save ourselves.

His justice, above all, is seen in Jesus

Christ, who, when we could not save

ourselves, rescued us from the kingdom

of sin, Satan, death, and hell.

The mighty work of Christ on the cross

and in the resurrection is the perfect

manifestation of God as the God of justice.

We, then, are to be the people of

justice; we are to “do justice” by intervening

to save the helpless in the name

and by the power of the God who saves

us who are helpless ourselves.

That’s why we have a pro-life movement;

that’s why we have a 40 Days for

Life Campaign; that’s why saving the

unborn is our business.

Prayer:

Loving heavenly Father, help us to see

the worth of all human beings by the

way in which you provide for us.

We would ask that you provide also the

faith, grace and courage to enable us to

protect that which is so precious to

you. Through Christ our Lord, amen.

DAY 4: Off and running

September 28th, 2013 by admin

Today, I speak at the Central California Walk for Life — an event that 40 Days for Life volunteers helped organize. More than 1,000 people are expected to pray at an abortion facility and then march. I’m looking forward to a very inspiring day!

I’m turning the rest of today’s report over to our national director, David Bereit, as he describes his whirlwind visits across two Southern states in the first 24 hours of this campaign:

—————————————————–
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
—————————————————–

Upon arriving in Birmingham, I met with numerous local pro-life leaders, as well as EWTN radio show hosts Jim and Joy Pinto, at a local pregnancy center. Then we all headed out to join the big crowd of excited volunteers at the local 40 Days for Life kickoff event.

It was raining until minutes before the event, when the rain stopped and the sky cleared. Many clergy were in attendance, including the retired Catholic bishop of Birmingham, David Foley, as well as Charismatic Episcopal Church Bishop Chuck Pierce.

The event was a top story on the local television news.

—————————————————–
TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA
—————————————————–

After the rally, I drove an hour to Tuscaloosa, where a Knights of Columbus hall was packed with local pro-lifers and students from the University of Alabama for breakfast and to kick off their 40 Days for Life campaign — which is being directed by a dynamic college student named Claire.

—————————————————–
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA
—————————————————–

Next, I drove two hours to Montgomery, where a large group from numerous different churches gathered across the street from a facility that has been aborting children in Alabama’s capital city for 30 years. It was amazing to meet local volunteers from many different faith traditions all working together for a common cause!

—————————————————–
COLUMBUS, GEORGIA
—————————————————–

From Montgomery, I drove 90 minutes and across the state line to Columbus, Georgia — also in a different time zone! I prayed with the group of volunteers and shared encouraging stories of some of the earliest victories that have already been happening during this campaign.

—————————————————–
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
—————————————————–

Then it was a two-hour drive to Atlanta, where I met with many local and state pro-life leaders for a brief dinner before going out to a large kickoff rally outside a notorious late-term abortion center.

Once again, I was blessed to see tremendous diversity at this event — people from different churches, races and backgrounds, all standing arm in arm to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.”

—————————————————–
MARIETTA, GEORGIA
—————————————————–

The day ended with a 30-minute drive to Marietta, a suburb of Atlanta, where the 40 Days for Life vigil is being held outside an office park that houses a large abortion business.

More than 100 joyful people were gathered in the dark along the very busy road with candles. Nearly half of them were Spanish speaking! Fortunately, the local leader and others were able to translate the message of hope to all attendees.

In just the first 24 hours of this campaign, I drove 408 miles with stops in 6 cities to meet hundreds of amazing people with ONE focused mission — ending abortion. I have GREAT hope for our future!

—————————————————–

Thanks to David Bereit for all that good news!

Devotional for Day 5, September 29, 2013

Rev. Ben Sheldon, President Emeritus, Presbyterians Pro-Life

Intention:

May the truth of the final judgment

shape our thoughts, priorities, and

choices here on earth.

Scripture:

The King will answer and say to them,

“Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as

you did it to one of the least of these

my brethren, you did it to me.”

—Matthew 25:31-46

Reflection:

Jesus’ picture of the final judgment

concludes with this sobering word: the

wicked, who failed to care for others in

their various needs (the hungry, the

thirsty, the aliens, the naked, the sick,

the imprisoned) will go away into everlasting

punishment, but the righteous

who did seek to meet those needs will

end up with him, enjoying eternal life.

We know that this was no mere parable!

Jesus has given us fair warning!

Everything in God’s Word points to the

truth that compassionate concern and

practical care for all people, especially

for the poor, the destitute, the weak

and needy is required of us, if indeed

we hope to escape the punishment of

the fire of hell.

And who are the poor and needy, if not

helpless, unborn babies, as well as the

aged and infirm at the other end of life?

Surely the “least of these” embraces not

only those at both ends of the continuum

of life, but all others in between.

Just how we, as Christ’s true followers,

respond to his admonition “inasmuch

as you did it to the least of these, you

did it to me” will determine whether

we enjoy eternal bliss in his presence

or the bleak and dreadful reality of

eternal punishment in hell.

Caring for others is not optional. Nothing

in God’s Word could be clearer!

Prayer:

Gracious and merciful Father, we gladly

embrace your Word, in which you

counsel us to care for the least of your

children.

We renew our dedication to defending

the unborn and all whose right to life is

compromised by our godless society’s

selfish lack of concern.

Free us from our own failures and sins

so that we will be truly pro-life in every

area of our lives. Through Jesus Christ

our Lord. Amen.

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If you've followed 40 Days for Life for any length of time, you know that this worldwide movement began in Bryan/College Station, Texas. Planned Parenthood even labeled Bryan/College Station as "the most anti-choice place" in the nation.

Shortly after the campaign, volunteers learned that a late-term abortion facility in Sacramento, California ... where multiple 40 Days for Life prayer vigils had been held outside ... had gone out of business.

"The morning after I found out I was pregnant, I started realizing what bringing a child into this world would mean for ME and MY life and MY future. "I wasn't thinking about the life being created inside of me. I started thinking about abortion.

The 40 Days for Life campaign is firmly rooted on a foundation of prayer and fasting. To help maintain focus on the Lord and stay in tune with His guidance, we have prepared a series of daily devotionals — one for each of the 40 days of the spring 2013 campaign.

DAY 3: I’m hooked

DAY 4: Off and running

"The morning after I found out I was pregnant, I started realizing what bringing a child into this world would mean for ME and MY life and MY future.

"I wasn't thinking about the life being created inside of me. I started thinking about abortion.