Dear Deacon,
My note last week about the impact of children outside
abortion centers generated a lot of feedback -- and
more pictures!
What a joy to see children at 40 Days for Life vigils!
After all, Jesus did say ...
... "Let the little children come to me." And that's
exactly what they're doing!
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FROM THE 40 DAYS FOR LIFE BLOG
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Lisa wrote about her prayer time with her young son.
She usually brings a stroller and pushes him back and
forth along the sidewalk. But one day, she forgot to
bring the stroller.
After a while, they sat down on the sidewalk --
"a 6-foot-wide sidewalk," she said, "not blocking
anyone's way."
An employee came out of the abortion center to ask if
she was waiting for a ride, and she said she was not.
The employee then asked if she was protesting.
"No, I'm praying," Lisa responded.
The worker then said it was illegal to sit on the
sidewalk. That's nonsense, of course. But it's typical
talk from abortion center employees who just wish we'd
all go home.
It quickly became clear to Lisa that her young son
"was a threat to them; no one wants to see a child.
It makes you realize how amazing this life is. Sadly,
you can see the anger and evil in these people
who yell at us. Continue to pray and forgive them --
you’ll never know if you are changing their hearts!"
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LAFAYETTE, INDIANA
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I can only imagine what people who work at Planned
Parenthood in Lafayette think when they see young
children praying at the 40 Days for Life vigil.
"We are working very hard praying for the babies,"
said one 4-year-old, who was at the vigil with her
1-year-old sister.
"They take it quite seriously," said their mom.
"Our older daughter doesn't fully understand what is
really going on; we've simply explained that the mommies,
daddies and babies need our prayers so that the babies
can be born 'healthy and strong,' which is just what
we prayed for her baby sister."
They made a sign that said, "We're praying for you" and,
on the reverse, "We love you and baby too!"
To see a couple of photos of children at prayer in
Lafayette -- and you REALLY don't want to miss these! --
please go to:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1801
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FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS
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We have another photo of a youngster at a 40 Days for
Life prayer vigil -- in a stroller, holding a "pray to
end abortion" sign. You can see it at:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1801
He may not be able to read yet -- but the people
walking into Planned Parenthood can!
"He held it and waved it for at least 15 minutes without
dropping!" said this young guy's mom. "I'm proud of my
little social activist."
On another day at the vigil, a woman entered Planned
Parenthood with some "choice words" for a lone volunteer
who was praying near a similar sign. A while later, she
left -- still upset with the person praying.
The young woman took the "pray to end abortion" sign --
and left. Several days later, this same woman arrived,
pulled up another "pray to end abortion" sign that was
staked into the ground, tossed it in her car ... and
drove away.
"While we don't know what is motivating this young
woman's behavior," said Juliet in Fayetteville, "we now
have the opportunity to pray for her, that she will find
healing for whatever is stirring in her heart."
Today's devotional is from Carmen Pate, a member of
the 40 Days for Life board of directors.
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DAY 19 INTENTION
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Pray that when those representing Planned Parenthood
and other abortion groups see volunteers for 40 Days
for Life, they see ambassadors of Christ, and may each
volunteer be consciously aware at all times of Whom we
represent.
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SCRIPTURE
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I...beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with
which you were called, with all lowliness, and
gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one
another in love.
-- Ephesians 4:1b-2
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REFLECTION by Carmen Pate, 40 Days for Life
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When Carol Everett, a former abortionist and
post-abortive woman, was asked what turned her heart
from death to life in Christ, she said, "Unconditional
love," shown by a man who prayed daily for her in
front of the abortion clinic where she worked.
He told Carol that "God had sent him" because there
was someone in there that God wanted out.
She left 27 days later and now serves as Christ's
ambassador to help others.
We too have been sent by Christ as an ambassador to
love unconditionally those God seeks to "get out" of
their bondage and sin.
What a high calling it is -- much higher than any
presidential appointment to another country.
In his book, Fishers of Men, Dr. Sumner Wemp describes
what it means to be an ambassador of Jesus Christ, the
King of Kings: * God has chosen us (John 15:16) * We are sent into a world that is not our home
(1 Peter 2:11) * Our walk must match our talk (1 Timothy 3:7) * We must abide in Him for daily instruction
(John 15:5) * Know our purpose -- to seek and to save that
which is lost (Luke 19:10) * We are to reconcile others to God with His
authority (Matthew 28:19-20) * Do not let kindness and truth leave you
(Proverbs 3:3-4) * Our service is to be grounded and rooted in
love (Ephesians 3:17)
Pray that we each will walk worthy of the calling with
which we were called!
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PRAYER
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Dear Heavenly Father, we are humbled that you have
called us and appointed us to be ambassadors of Christ
in a world that is not our home.
We pray that your Holy Spirit will empower us to walk
worthy of the calling. We pray that Your unconditional
love will flow through us to those who desperately
need Your saving grace.
In the name of Christ who is worthy, Amen.
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PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
------------------------------------------------------
To download today's devotional as a formatted,
printable PDF to share with friends:
http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2011day19print.pdf
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May this Lord's day be filled with blessings for you
and all of your loved ones, Deacon!
Yours In Christ,
Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
PS: How has your prayer experience with 40 Days for
Life affected you? Please leave a comment with today's
blog entry at:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1801
40 Days for Life
10908 Courthouse Road
Suite 102229
Fredericksburg, VA
22408
US
