DAY 6: 35 saved already

Dear Deacon,

When people hear about babies saved from abortion, it
motivates them to trust God -- and participate in
40 Days for Life.

After all, how often do you have an opportunity to
literally help save a life just by peacefully praying?

It's already happened in this campaign ...

... 35 times (that we know of)!

Here are just a few of the miracles that God has
granted ...

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ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
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Prayer volunteers at the 40 Days for Life vigil in
Orange County were caught by surprise as the doors of
the abortion center flew open and a frightened young
woman literally ran out as fast as she could ...

... barefoot!

A young man came out looking for her. The barefoot
runner was his girlfriend, and she was there for an
abortion.

Eventually, she was found nearby, and vigil participants
offered to get her something to eat. When they sat down
to their meal, the young woman told her story.

She was six months pregnant and was already on the table
at the abortion center. She had an IV and was in the
process of being sedated. But she was still alert enough
to realize ...

.. she simply couldn’t go through with it.

"God's grace poured into her heart," said one of the
40 Days for Life volunteers. The young woman found the
strength and courage to remove the needle from her arm,
to quickly get dressed (except for her shoes!) and run
out to safety.

"Our prayers from outside helped her get that courage
to leave the table and run away," said the volunteer.
"I realized how important our role is."

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HOUSTON, TEXAS
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40 Days for Life participants in Houston say the campaign
has been quite eventful already.

There's a mobile pro-life pregnancy counseling center
in Houston, and it is often parked outside Planned
Parenthood's huge abortion facility.

Women arriving for appointments at Planned Parenthood
are offered assistance in this vehicle, and volunteers
say many of these women are willing and eager to listen.

"This was possible through the grace of God," said
one volunteer, "even with several Planned Parenthood
escorts on the scene."

Two abortion-minded women visited the mobile center.
One of those two made a huge turn around after seeing
her unborn child on the ultrasound image and chose life.

The other simply said she would think about it, so she
was given information about pro-life resources. Please
keep her in your prayers.

To see photos of the 40 Days for Life vigil at Planned
Parenthood in Houston, please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1605

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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN
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One of the 40 Days for Life volunteers in Milwaukee
watched as a couple pulled into the parking lot at the
abortion center. The woman got out and walked into the
building while the man remained at the wheel of his
truck. So one vigil participant walked over and struck
up a conversation.

Eventually, the volunteer started talking about his
dad, who was born during the Depression, less than nine
months after his grandparents got married.

"I couldn’t think of a worse time to have to worry
about feeding another mouth," he said, "but my
grandparents did the right thing."

The driver then opened his door and said, "OK, then
I'm going in. I'll talk to her."

He came out later, but shrugged his shoulders and
said, "I tried, but she ain't with it."

But the prayer volunteer encouraged him, "Go back and
try again. You have nothing to lose!"

The man went back inside again, and finally the couple
came out together -- smiling -- and got back into
their vehicle.

"We didn't get it!" he said.

"Amen!" said the 40 Days for Life volunteer.

"Amen!" replied the guy in the truck.

Today's devotional is from Fr. Frank Pavone, national
director of Priests for Life.

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DAY 6 INTENTION
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Pray that those tempted to abort may understand that
their child is already present, and already a real
person.

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SCRIPTURE
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And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of
Mary that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth
was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said,
"Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit
of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the
mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as
soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears,
the babe leaped in my womb for joy."

-- Luke 1:41-44

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REFLECTION by Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life
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Jesus not only loves unborn children -- He was one
himself!

Think about this for a moment.

We often hear people speak of a pregnant mother by
saying, "She's expecting a child."

Now if one is expecting a package, the package is not
yet there.

As reflected in our verse for today, however, this is
not the case with the mother.

Her gift is already there.

The pregnant woman, a mother already, does not have a
child "on the way," but has a child, already present
and in full possession of his or her human rights,
starting with the right to life.

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PRAYER
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Jesus, open my eyes to your presence in the life of
every child. Open my heart to joy in the birth of
every child, a birth that reflects the joy of your own
birth in Bethlehem.

As you shared life in the womb of Mary, so now send
your protection upon every child still in the womb,
and grant to their mothers the strength and joy that
comes from welcoming the gift of life. We pray through
Christ our Lord, Amen.

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PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
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To download today's devotional as a formatted,
printable PDF to share with friends:

http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2011day06print.pdf

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Deacon, through your prayers and faithfulness
during the rest of this 40 Days for Life campaign, I
can't wait to learn how many more lives God will spare!

Yours for Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: What great things are happening with 40 Days for
Life in YOUR community? Please share your stories by
posting a response to today's message at:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1605