Dear Deacon, Reports of saved babies are starting to pour in! Yesterday as I was traveling to the 40 Days for Life
campaign in Helena, Montana, I got an e-mail that
really caught my eye. It was from Lisa in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The
subject line read: "40 Days for Life baby saved!"
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GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN
----------------------------------------------------- "Alison, one of our core team members, said this save
took place in the very first hour the abortion clinic
was open after our campaign began," Lisa said. This
is the fifth 40 Days for Life vigil at this location. Lisa also sent along a photo of an art class project
at a local Christian school. Each student created an
individual panel that helped build a room-sized, heart-
shaped display -- all in keeping with the theme of
praying for an end to abortion during 40 Days for Life. To see the picture of the art project, please go to: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2261
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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
----------------------------------------------------- "The Body of Christ in action" is Eileen Hartman's
description of 40 Days for Life -- and the assistance
offered by other pro-life ministries in the
Indianapolis area. "We are blessed in Indianapolis to be able to share
the love of Christ as we help women who have chosen
life under difficult circumstances," she said. "We
don't walk away from these women after they have
given birth. They know they can call on us long
after their baby is born." 40 Days for Life volunteers in Indiana's capital
city are a determined group. They gathered to hear
inspirational speakers at the local kickoff event --
then walked through a heavy rainstorm to pray at
their vigil site outside a Planned Parenthood
abortion facility. Click this link to see a photo of the rainy
procession to Planned Parenthood: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2261
STERLING HEIGHTS, MICHIGAN
----------------------------------------------------- Sterling Heights is hosting its seventh 40 Days for
Life campaign. "With each kickoff," said Maribeth,
one of the local leaders, "the Holy Spirit infuses
us with the energy, encouragement and strength to
endure what the next 40 days will bring." At the Sterling Heights kickoff event, "we asked God
to bless and protect this ground that we will claim
as ours over the next 40 days and we prayed for
protection for all of the prayer warriors who will
come and walk in silent prayer as they lift up their
cries to the Lord for the unborn," said Maribeth. "We know we will continue to make a difference in
our community," she said, "as we stand together to
proclaim that life is a gift and it needs to be
protected." To see a photo of the kickoff event in Sterling
Heights, please go to: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2261
Here's today's devotional from Dennis DiMauro of
Lutherans for Life...
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DAY 3 INTENTION
----------------------------------------------------- We pray for God's gift of strength as we strive to
protect human life during these 40 Days for Life.
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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
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REFLECTION by Dennis DiMauro, Lutherans for Life
----------------------------------------------------- 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.
"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.
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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.
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PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
----------------------------------------------------- To download today's devotional as a formatted,
printable PDF to share with friends: http://40daysforlife.com/docs/fall2011day03print.pdf
For Life, Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life PS: Please let me know what's new in your local
40 Days for Life campaign! You may leave a comment
at today's blog entry: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2261 40 Days for Life 10908 Courthouse Road
Suite 102229
Fredericksburg, VA
22408
US
