Dear Deacon,
Let's not kid ourselves. Women are the heart and soul
of the pro-life movement.
My wife got me involved by taking me out to pray at
Planned Parenthood way back when we were dating. David
Bereit, our national director, also got involved in
pro-life work through the example of his wife.
This week, the call for more men to stand and pray came
from one of the local 40 Days for Life coordinators
after a bully got vocal with a woman who was praying at
the vigil.
This is just one example of how important it is for men
to get more involved in the campaign -- and what a
difference it can make when men decide to man-up and
take Christ to the front lines of our culture war.
So thanks to all the men who are taking part in 40 Days
for Life! (And the women too, of course!!!)
Oh, by the way -- today is the day everyone gets to be
Irish. Congratulations!
------------------------------
WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS
-------------------------------------------------------
One volunteer in Worcester got involved in 40 Days for
Life after his wife asked him to pray.
He'd always been pro-life, he said, but "I have always
kept my mouth shut." After all, he's a guy, and we’re
always told that abortion is a "women's issue."
Then he visited the 40 Days for Life web site and did
a lot of reading. "I cried more than once," he said,
"for the unborn, for their moms and for my inactivity
in the past. I asked God to forgive me for being silent
these last 40 years. I was wrong to keep quiet. I will
not be quiet any longer."
This volunteer now has a plan. "I am going to fast as
often as I physically can," he said. "I will pray every
day. I will ask others to pray."
Thanks, he said, "to you all for standing up, speaking
up and doing something positive for the little ones."
------------------------------
FORT COLLINS, COLORADO
-------------------------------------------------------
This is the first 40 Days for Life campaign in Fort
Collins, and new volunteers are excited to have the
opportunity to pray for an end to abortion.
"No matter how many rude gestures and remarks we got,
we also received waves of support, honks of approval,
even a friendly hello from a mom who slowed down enough
for her two toddlers to see us," said Maria, one of the
vigil participants.
"It was truly a rewarding evening, knowing we have made
an impact."
Speaking of men joining the campaign, a local Knights
of Columbus council prayed together at the Fort Collins
vigil. I can't say enough about the Knights and the
strong, faithful support they continue to show for
40 Days for Life!
To see a photo of the Knights of Columbus in Fort
Collins, please go to:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1659
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-------------------------ANCHORAGE, ALASKA
-------------------------------------------------------
Haylee, the 40 Days for Life coordinator in Anchorage,
says she has a couple of items guaranteed to motivate
you even further.
One young man stood and prayed at the vigil for seven
hours. "And some of that time he was all alone," she
said. "That shows determination and commitment!"
Then there was a team of men who covered midnight to
7 a.m. "The temperature fell to -4 and yet they stayed
out there praying to God and putting action to their
beliefs," Haylee said. "Praise the Lord!"
To see a photo of another group of 40 Days for Life
volunteers praying in the cold, in the snow, in the
dark, in Anchorage, Alaska, please go to:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1659
Today's devotional is from Carmen Pate, a member of
the 40 Days for Life board of directors.
------------------------------
DAY 9 INTENTION
------------------------------------------------------
Pray that the post-abortive woman would be repentant,
accept forgiveness, be healed and restored, and bring
glory to God with her new life.
------------------------------
SCRIPTURE
------------------------------------------------------
I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have
not hidden. I said, "I will confess my transgressions
to the Lord," and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.
-- Psalm 32:5
------------------------------
REFLECTION by Carmen Pate, 40 Days for Life
------------------------------------------------------
Because abortion is legal in America, many have
justified their choice. "If it's legal, it can't be
wrong, right?"
We now have an entire generation of men and women who
have never known abortion to be illegal; a generation
of people who have never been broken over their sin of
abortion.
As a result, the consequences of unconfessed sin weigh
on their souls, yet they have never connected the dots
as to why their hearts are heavy. No wonder we have
millions of women who are struggling with depression,
addictions, eating disorders and more.
Post abortion syndrome is very real but recovery
begins when the individual agrees with God as David
confessed in Psalm 51:3-4, 14, "Against You, You only,
have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight --
that You may be found just when You speak, and
blameless when you Judge. Deliver me from the guilt of
bloodshed, O God, the God of my salvation."
Brokenness is the key to accessing God's glorious
mercy and healing. Christ came to heal the broken
hearted and He is waiting with open arms to take the
post-abortive woman on a glorious journey of healing
and restoration if she will only run to Him.
God will not waste any sin we lay at His feet. Imagine
millions of healed and restored post-abortive women
like myself singing aloud of His righteousness and
giving testimony of His love and forgiveness.
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
------------------------------
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.
------------------------------
PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
------------------------------------------------------
To download today's devotional as a formatted,
printable PDF to share with friends:
http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2011day09print.pdf
------------------------------
If you know someone who has experienced the pain of an
abortion, pray for them, and let them know that they
can find hope and healing.
Also, tell them about the incredibly helpful resources
available from:
* Abortion Recovery InterNational
http://www.abortionrecovery.org
* Rachel's Vineyard Ministries
http://www.rachelsvineyard.org
Yours for Life,
Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
PS: If you have stories to share about the 40 Days
for Life campaign in your town, please leave a
comment on today's blog entry at:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1659
40 Days for Life
10908 Courthouse Road
Suite 102229
Fredericksburg, VA
22408
US
