we always like to start off the week with great news.
And today is no exception. In response to your prayers and sacrifices, God has
answered with grace and mercy. There have been ... ... 38 babies -- that we know of -- spared from abortion
since this campaign started last Wednesday! Praise God! Here are just a few of the stories behind that number.
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DALLAS, TEXAS
------------------------------------------------------- The first day of the 40 Days for Life vigil, three
mothers chose life for their babies! In the words of the Dallas prayer coordinator, "There
was a steady powerful prayer presence non-stop as
people came 'passing the baton.' The prayer chain
was unbroken." Earlier in the week, nearly 300 people joined in the
nearby park to raise their voices in praise and worship
during the Dallas kickoff event. Ramona Trevino shared her journey from Planned
Parenthood manager to pro-life witness. "Ramona's
testimony lit up the night as a shining example of
what God's people can do when they show up and put
their trust and faith in God almighty," said
another member of the Dallas leadership team. "Thank you to all those who have sacrificed, prayed,
fasted and come to the sidewalk for their little
brothers and sisters who are yet to be born. Thank
you, Holy Spirit, for moving hearts so miraculously
and so wonderfully." To see a photo of the Dallas vigil, please go to: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2292
-------------------------------------------------------
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK
------------------------------------------------------- Syracuse also reported a life saved in the campaign's
early hours. "On this very first day of our fall campaign, one of
our faithful prayer volunteers ministered to a woman
coming to Planned Parenthood," said Jeanie in Syracuse. The woman had come for an abortion. But following her
discussion with the 40 Days for Life volunteer, the
woman chose life for her baby and accepted an invitation
to go to a pro-life pregnancy care center. "Praise God! To Him be the Glory!" said Jeanie. "May we
continue to be vessels of His love and mercy!" We've posted a picture of the kickoff event in Syracuse.
You can see it at: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2292
-------------------------------------------------------
HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA
------------------------------------------------------- "We had a blockbuster first day," said Major in
Huntsville. Prayer volunteers were at the clinic all
day -- including 20 who joined a local pastor for prayer
early in the afternoon. "That's an excellent showing," Major said, "but it
gets better." One of the counselors on the sidewalk struck up a
conversation with a woman who was thinking about
abortion. It turns out the woman was married and had
a son who was not quite two years old. "The counselor was finally able to convince her to
keep her baby," he said. "She accepted one of our
baby gifts. Her husband came and picked her up and
they left. Glory be to God! What a great first day!"
Here's today's devotional from Rev. Paul Stallsworth,
president of Lifewatch (United Methodist Church)...
-----------------------------------------------------
DAY 6 INTENTION
----------------------------------------------------- That knowing the shortness of life, all may value it
more deeply.
-----------------------------------------------------
SCRIPTURE
----------------------------------------------------- Remember your Creator before the silver cord is
loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher
shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the
well. Then the dust will return to the earth as it
was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. -- Ecclesiastes 12:6-7
-----------------------------------------------------
REFLECTION by Rev. Paul Stallsworth, Lifewatch
----------------------------------------------------- God is giver of all life. Short lived or long lived,
human lives are lived out in this world. The
metaphors for death are many. But their meaning is
clear and singular: all will die. Even so, death is
not the absolute end. It is not the end of the story.
For as certainly as God gave life, at death the life
or spirit that God gave returns to God. By God, we are created. For God, we live our given
days. To God, we return at the end of our earthly
days. And with God, we live through eternity.
Clearly, all along the way, this gracious, loving God
is with us. No human life is random or alone. No
human life was created without purpose. Not one human
life is without destiny. All human lives, acknowledged or not, are related to
God -- from beginning, to end, throughout eternity.
Therefore, in this world, all human lives are to be
respected and protected, for their lives are signs of
God's sovereignty.
-----------------------------------------------------
PRAYER
----------------------------------------------------- O God, we too often try to live in ways that ignore
our coming death. We forget that our days are
numbered by You, that at the end of our days your
judgment awaits, that You are the Lord of our
destiny. Help us to repent daily, and then to live each day in
joyful obedience. Lead us to live in the light and
promise of eternity. Prepare us to live fully and
sacrificially. Prepare us to die faithfully and
hopefully, so that we might live forever with You.
Through Jesus Christ, who has gone before us, we
trust and hope and love and pray, Amen.
-----------------------------------------------------
PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
----------------------------------------------------- To download today's devotional as a formatted,
printable PDF to share with friends: http://40daysforlife.com/docs/fall2011day06print.pdf
----------------------------------------------------- For Life, Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life PS: So what do you think of the campaign so far?
Please leave your comments on today's blog posting: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2292
40 Days for Life 10908 Courthouse Road
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