Monday, October 10, 2011

DAY 13: 122 spared!

2423sy

Dear Deacon,

On this Monday morning, more good news to report!

Thus far during this 40 Days for Life campaign, we
are aware of ...

... 122 babies spared from abortion! And of course,
those are only the ones we know of.

Here are just a few of the stories behind that number.


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PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY
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A married couple was headed into the abortion facility.
They have two small children and they're in a bad
financial situation. They thought that abortion would
be the best way to go.

After talking with one of the vigil participants, they
kept their appointment at the clinic only to emerge
45 minutes later. During their appointment they learned
that the doctor, who normally doesn't do abortions on
Thursdays, said that they should do it right away and
that he could be there in an hour.

Instead, they decided to leave. A volunteer called
another doctor who was able to see them right away
and do an ultrasound.

40 Days for Life volunteers are working on getting
support for them so that they are not alone.


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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
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Two volunteers were praying at the Planned Parenthood
abortion center in Indianapolis when a young man came
out to meet them.

The man and his wife were expecting their fifth child.
At first, they panicked at the thought and had scheduled
the abortion.

But when he met the vigil participants, he was smiling.
He told them his wife was inside, but they had decided
not to go through with the abortion. He accepted a bible
and a baby gift and left for work.

A short time later, his wife walked out. She still
seemed a bit unsure. But when the volunteers told that
her husband strongly supported the choice for life, she
appeared greatly relieved.


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ANCHORAGE, ALASKA
-------------------------------------------------------

A 40 Days for Life volunteer was praying in front of
Planned Parenthood praying when a vehicle drove by
and someone threw a bottle at him. His first thought
was, "Time to leave!"

Instead, this faithful volunteer stayed there and kept
praying. A while later, a woman came out of Planned
Parenthood and looked at the prayer volunteer and simply
said: "I'm going to keep mine."

"We don't know how many factors contributed to her
decision to carry her child to term, but we do know
that faithful prayer warriors are making a difference,"
said Haylee in Anchorage. "What a miracle to know that
a life has been saved!"


-------------------------------------------------------
WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS
-------------------------------------------------------

While volunteers prayed outside, a woman walked into
the abortion center for a scheduled appointment -- with
her boyfriend and 9-month-old son in tow. As she didn't
know how far along in her pregnancy she was, she was
prepared for an ultrasound.

After seeing the ultrasound image, the woman changed her
mind and is now very excited about having her baby.

It's worth noting that children are usually not allowed
in abortion center waiting rooms -- for a reason.

While the boyfriend and son were there, the child made
his way over to another woman, who was waiting for an
abortion. The baby boy pulled himself up on his knees
and smiled at her. The woman got up and hurried out
the door.


Here's today's devotional from Randolph Sly of the
National Pro-life Religious Council...


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DAY 13 INTENTION
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For all fathers who are terrified of being fathers.

Courageous

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SCRIPTURE
-----------------------------------------------------

A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, is
God in His holy habitation.

-- Psalm 68:5


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REFLECTION by Randolph Sly
-----------------------------------------------------

I had a friend many years ago who confided in me that
he was terrified of being a father. He and his wife
already had two children when this revelation came
forth. "I never knew my father," he explained, "and I
have no idea what a father is supposed to do."

We continued to share about this, as well as pray
together. He began to see he had a father's heart for
his children. His biggest problem was not a
limitation on love but not knowing how to act out
this love.

One day we talked about the verse quoted at the top
of this page. I shared that he did know his Father...
not his biological father but his Heavenly Father,
who had rescued him from a life of destruction not
many years before.

"How did your Heavenly Father guide you?" I asked. He
talked about the ways he had seen God's love offered
to him and the way the Lord had used circumstances
and the Scriptures to mold him and mature him. "Well,
the Lord wants to do the same thing through you for
your children. Be available to His love and available
to your kids. You'll do fine."

How wonderful it is to know that God takes a personal
interest in each of us, many times using His faithful
people -- the Church -- as channels of this love. No
one is fatherless who lives in the Lord. His fatherly
care begins at the moment of our conception, as it is
written, "you knit me together in my mother's womb"
(Psalm 139:12), and continues to be poured upon us
throughout our lives.


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PRAYER
-----------------------------------------------------

Heavenly Father, we thank you for caring about each
of us so deeply. Help us to see and know you as our
Father in heaven each and every day of our lives.

Your loving hand also rests on every child today
carried in its mother's womb. May they be born into
this world and come to know fully and personally your
endless love. We ask this through Jesus 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/fall2011day13print.pdf

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For Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: What can you share about 40 Days for Life in
   your hometown? Please post a comment on today's
   blog entry at:

   http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2347


 40 Days for Life

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