Dear Deacon, Have I mentioned lately that this is the largest 40 Days
for Life campaign ever? With 247 locations participating the stories are coming
in from around the world -- literally! Today, let's take a look at some of the communities
taking part in 40 Days for Life for the first time. It
takes a lot of faith to bring this effort to a community
and lead it, especially for the first time. And yet the
blessings continue to pour in. Take a look for yourself!
-------------------------------------------------------
COBLESKILL, NEW YORK
------------------------------------------------------- A group of teens has become a regular sight on Thursday
nights in Cobleskill, which is hosting its first 40 Days
for Life campaign. The vigil location is near the
busiest corner in town, with a popular restaurant and
movie theater nearby. "It is inspiring not only watching the teens pray for
the unborn in below freezing temperatures in Upstate
New York," said Pat in Cobleskill, "but to be able to
watch the impact they have on all those who drive and
walk past." To see the youth group at the 40 Days for Life vigil
in Cobleskill, please go to: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1857 
-------------------------------------------------------
WINDSOR, ONTARIO
------------------------------------------------------- Windsor is hosting its first 40 Days for Life campaign --
and has already reported that at least one baby has been
spared from abortion! From Windsor also comes one of the best letters to the
editor we’ve ever seen in support of 40 Days for Life.
It was written by Jim Armaly and published in the
Windsor Star. Jim called his first experience with 40 Days for Life
"an eye-opener because I had not realized the venom and
rudeness of the pro-abortion faction." While he was praying, he noted obscenities, rude gestures,
drivers who passed very close to the curb. "From all of this, therefore, I can only conclude that
they are not really pro-choice at all," he wrote. "How
can they be if they don't respect our choice to silently
pray and ask others to pray?" A young woman accused him -- respectfully, he noted --
of trying to force people to not abort. "Doesn't 'force' imply to most of us something physical?"
he asked. "But the signs simply ask people to pray. Isn't
this definitely a non-violent request?" For those of us who do pray, he said, "we know that
prayer is a force to be reckoned with but in an
entirely different sense. Makes me wonder if they
somehow know that." Will he go out again? "I plan to. There just may be
more unexpected experiences for me." For a link the entire letter, please go to: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1857
-------------------------------------------------------
PERTH, AUSTRALIA
------------------------------------------------------- There are six campaigns in progress in Australia right
now, covering the nation from coast to coast. Brad Taylor, the local coordinator of the initial
campaign in Perth, has posted a video inviting folks
in Western Australia to get involved in 40 Days for Life. Some of the statistics he mentions are specific to his
city, state and nation, but the message applies
everywhere that abortion on demand is legally permitted. Watch the video! You’ll be inspired to keep going for the
rest of these 40 days -- and beyond -- by Brad’s
optimistic call to action: "Let's make abortion history!" To see the video from Perth, please go to: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1857
for Life campaign ever? With 247 locations participating the stories are coming
in from around the world -- literally! Today, let's take a look at some of the communities
taking part in 40 Days for Life for the first time. It
takes a lot of faith to bring this effort to a community
and lead it, especially for the first time. And yet the
blessings continue to pour in. Take a look for yourself!
-------------------------------------------------------
COBLESKILL, NEW YORK
------------------------------------------------------- A group of teens has become a regular sight on Thursday
nights in Cobleskill, which is hosting its first 40 Days
for Life campaign. The vigil location is near the
busiest corner in town, with a popular restaurant and
movie theater nearby. "It is inspiring not only watching the teens pray for
the unborn in below freezing temperatures in Upstate
New York," said Pat in Cobleskill, "but to be able to
watch the impact they have on all those who drive and
walk past." To see the youth group at the 40 Days for Life vigil
in Cobleskill, please go to: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1857
-------------------------------------------------------
WINDSOR, ONTARIO
------------------------------------------------------- Windsor is hosting its first 40 Days for Life campaign --
and has already reported that at least one baby has been
spared from abortion! From Windsor also comes one of the best letters to the
editor we’ve ever seen in support of 40 Days for Life.
It was written by Jim Armaly and published in the
Windsor Star. Jim called his first experience with 40 Days for Life
"an eye-opener because I had not realized the venom and
rudeness of the pro-abortion faction." While he was praying, he noted obscenities, rude gestures,
drivers who passed very close to the curb. "From all of this, therefore, I can only conclude that
they are not really pro-choice at all," he wrote. "How
can they be if they don't respect our choice to silently
pray and ask others to pray?" A young woman accused him -- respectfully, he noted --
of trying to force people to not abort. "Doesn't 'force' imply to most of us something physical?"
he asked. "But the signs simply ask people to pray. Isn't
this definitely a non-violent request?" For those of us who do pray, he said, "we know that
prayer is a force to be reckoned with but in an
entirely different sense. Makes me wonder if they
somehow know that." Will he go out again? "I plan to. There just may be
more unexpected experiences for me." For a link the entire letter, please go to: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1857
-------------------------------------------------------
PERTH, AUSTRALIA
------------------------------------------------------- There are six campaigns in progress in Australia right
now, covering the nation from coast to coast. Brad Taylor, the local coordinator of the initial
campaign in Perth, has posted a video inviting folks
in Western Australia to get involved in 40 Days for Life. Some of the statistics he mentions are specific to his
city, state and nation, but the message applies
everywhere that abortion on demand is legally permitted. Watch the video! You’ll be inspired to keep going for the
rest of these 40 days -- and beyond -- by Brad’s
optimistic call to action: "Let's make abortion history!" To see the video from Perth, please go to: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1857
If you haven’t been to pray at a 40 Days for Life vigil
yet, we still have 17 more days! To find the location
nearest you, please go to: http://40daysforlife.com/location.cfm
Today's devotional is from Rev. J. Kirk van der Swaagh
of the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference.
------------------------------------------------------
DAY 23 INTENTION
------------------------------------------------------ For the medical community, that the truth they know
about the human body may become awe and wonder at the
God who made it.
------------------------------------------------------
SCRIPTURE
------------------------------------------------------ Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in
Your book they all were written, the days fashioned
for me, when as yet there were none of them. --Psalm 139:16
------------------------------------------------------
REFLECTION by Rev. J. Kirk van der Swaagh
------------------------------------------------------ Human beings -- God's tapestries. Psalm 139 is a psalm that reveals the enormity and
otherness of God. His divine attributes are on
display: omniscience (2-4), omnipresence (7-12),
loving-kindness (17-18), justice (19-20),
righteousness (23-24), and omnipotence. Yet, when it came to express this last attribute, what
example did the psalmist use -- God's creation of
mountains, seas, or far-flung galaxies? No, he used
none of these. To express the wonder of God's unparalleled creative
power the writer mentions the fashioning of the human
in the womb (14-16). The Hebrew word used to express God's forming of us in
the womb, raqam, is the same term for needlework or
embroidery. In other words, we are a tapestry that displays God's
artistic mastery. And, like the artist who knows his creation down to
the last detail, God intimately knows us. This reality
provokes the writer to awe and wonder. He proclaims,
"I am fearfully and wonderfully made." What is true for this psalmist is true for each human
being. Each is fashioned by God and known by him and we can
proclaim on behalf of each, "I am fearfully and
wonderfully made."
------------------------------------------------------
PRAYER
------------------------------------------------------ Gracious God, help us to appreciate the wonder and
beauty of Your creation. Help us proclaim on behalf of every one of our fellow
human beings, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made." May the knowledge that we are intimately known by You
shape our lives and actions. Amen.
------------------------------------------------------
PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
------------------------------------------------------ To download today's devotional as a formatted,
printable PDF to share with friends: http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2011day23print.pdf
------------------------------------------------------ Yours for Life, Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life PS: Today is Terri's Day -- the 6th anniversary of
the death of Terri Schiavo, who died after nutrition
and hydration were cut off, against the wishes of her
family. It's a day to recall her story, and to pray
that all would recognize the value and dignity of all
human life. Today's devotional certainly fits; we are
all "fearfully and wonderfully made" -- from the
child in the womb to those nearing the end of this
life -- and anyone society deems inconvenient.
There's more information about Terri's Day at: http://www.terrisfight.org/terri-s-day-201
PPS: If you have stories of how praying during this
40 Days for Life campaign has impacted your life, I'd
love to hear your comments. Post them as a reply at
the bottom of today's blog entry at: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1857
40 Days for Life 10908 Courthouse Road
Suite 102229
Fredericksburg, VA
22408
US
yet, we still have 17 more days! To find the location
nearest you, please go to: http://40daysforlife.com/location.cfm
Today's devotional is from Rev. J. Kirk van der Swaagh
of the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference.
------------------------------------------------------
DAY 23 INTENTION
------------------------------------------------------ For the medical community, that the truth they know
about the human body may become awe and wonder at the
God who made it.
------------------------------------------------------
SCRIPTURE
------------------------------------------------------ Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in
Your book they all were written, the days fashioned
for me, when as yet there were none of them. --Psalm 139:16
------------------------------------------------------
REFLECTION by Rev. J. Kirk van der Swaagh
------------------------------------------------------ Human beings -- God's tapestries. Psalm 139 is a psalm that reveals the enormity and
otherness of God. His divine attributes are on
display: omniscience (2-4), omnipresence (7-12),
loving-kindness (17-18), justice (19-20),
righteousness (23-24), and omnipotence. Yet, when it came to express this last attribute, what
example did the psalmist use -- God's creation of
mountains, seas, or far-flung galaxies? No, he used
none of these. To express the wonder of God's unparalleled creative
power the writer mentions the fashioning of the human
in the womb (14-16). The Hebrew word used to express God's forming of us in
the womb, raqam, is the same term for needlework or
embroidery. In other words, we are a tapestry that displays God's
artistic mastery. And, like the artist who knows his creation down to
the last detail, God intimately knows us. This reality
provokes the writer to awe and wonder. He proclaims,
"I am fearfully and wonderfully made." What is true for this psalmist is true for each human
being. Each is fashioned by God and known by him and we can
proclaim on behalf of each, "I am fearfully and
wonderfully made."
------------------------------------------------------
PRAYER
------------------------------------------------------ Gracious God, help us to appreciate the wonder and
beauty of Your creation. Help us proclaim on behalf of every one of our fellow
human beings, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made." May the knowledge that we are intimately known by You
shape our lives and actions. Amen.
------------------------------------------------------
PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
------------------------------------------------------ To download today's devotional as a formatted,
printable PDF to share with friends: http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2011day23print.pdf
------------------------------------------------------ Yours for Life, Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life PS: Today is Terri's Day -- the 6th anniversary of
the death of Terri Schiavo, who died after nutrition
and hydration were cut off, against the wishes of her
family. It's a day to recall her story, and to pray
that all would recognize the value and dignity of all
human life. Today's devotional certainly fits; we are
all "fearfully and wonderfully made" -- from the
child in the womb to those nearing the end of this
life -- and anyone society deems inconvenient.
There's more information about Terri's Day at: http://www.terrisfight.org/terri-s-day-201
PPS: If you have stories of how praying during this
40 Days for Life campaign has impacted your life, I'd
love to hear your comments. Post them as a reply at
the bottom of today's blog entry at: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1857
40 Days for Life 10908 Courthouse Road
Suite 102229
Fredericksburg, VA
22408
US
