Thursday, March 15, 2012

DAY 23: Thumbs up!

Wife update: I spent the day with Marianne in the ICU ward. She has her own room and was on the ventilator with many IV's attached to her. She also was in a induced coma to keep her from dislodging the air pipe. It must be very painful! The doctors are checking to see if she has a heart blockage in case they need to do a by-pass. Most of the water has been removed from her lungs and body. Fr. Gilbert stopped by and administered the Sacrament of the Sick. What a blessing that is!!! I have to work tonight at my part-time job so I'll be going back to the hospital late tomorrow. Thanks for your prayers.
Deacon John

Spring2012cincinnati4


Dear Deacon,

I just got back from visiting the Roanoke, Virginia
campaign, where 40 Days for Life is having a huge
impact in the exact spot where lives are changed --
the public right of way outside the abortion center.

The changes that can be experienced there are profound
-- and sometimes unexpected. Here are three examples.


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CINCINNATI, OHIO
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A dad wrote to say he and his teenage son were praying
outside the Planned Parenthood abortion center as part
of the 40 Days for Life vigil.

"We parked the car, crossed the street and walked up
to the black iron fence that surrounded the facility,"
he said. "Almost instantly, tears began to flow from
my eyes and would not stop; my heart felt like it was
being wrenched in my chest."

His son only had one comment the entire time they were
there: "It feels so sad." He later told this father he
did not want to speak, "out of fear that he would be
reduced to a sobbing mess on the concrete sidewalk."

On the drive back home, the teen pulled out his phone
and started calling friends. His dad heard him tell one
friend after another such things as, "I don't care what
they're telling you in school. That's a life inside a
woman, not just a blob of flesh or a tumor! Don't ever
get an abortion! Don't encourage someone to do it! Don't!”

"I was taken aback," the dad said. "I had never seen him
exhibit such a conviction. The vigil changed him. I
think it changed both of us in ways we could not have
imagined."

For pictures of the vigil in Cincinnati, please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2944


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HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSETTS
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Debbie left a note on the 40 Days for Life blog about
her conversation with a man outside the abortion
center in Haverhill, where she was taking part in
the peaceful vigil.

She spoke to the man, and he told her his daughter was
inside. Debbie asked him, "Is there any way you can
change her mind? That's your grandchild!"

As he walked toward the building, Debbie told him the
group would be praying. "He turned and gave me thumbs-up."

About 10 minutes later, the man and his teenage
daughter walked out. "I asked is she going to keep
the baby -- and he said we're still talking about it,"
Debbie said. She then gave them information about the
local pregnancy care center -- and the teen smiled.

"I'm still praying for them," she said, noting there
are so many influences in the world that will tell
them there's nothing wrong with abortion.


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FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA
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Carolyn and several others were standing in prayer
outside the abortion center in Fairfax when a woman
got out of her car and walked over to the volunteers.

This young woman explained that a year ago, she was
pregnant -- and had scheduled an appointment there for
an abortion. When she drove past the building beforehand,
she saw people praying -- and she changed her mind.

She then showed the volunteers a picture of her
4-month-old child.

She had wanted to stop by and tell her story, Carolyn
said, "and to thank us for what we were doing. It was
an amazing 'God moment,' and a very encouraging one
that I wanted to pass along."


Today's devotional is from Rev. J. Kirk van der Swaagh
of the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference.


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DAY 23 INTENTION
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For the medical community, that the truth they know
about the human body may become awe and wonder at the
God who made it.


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SCRIPTURE
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Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in
Your book they all were written, the days fashioned
for me, when as yet there were none of them.

--Psalm 139:16


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REFLECTION by Rev. J. Kirk van der Swaagh
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Human beings -- God's tapestries.

Psalm 139 is a psalm that reveals the enormity and
otherness of God. His divine attributes are on
display: omniscience (2-4), omnipresence (7-12),
loving-kindness (17-18), justice (19-20),
righteousness (23-24), and omnipotence.

Yet, when it came to express this last attribute, what
example did the psalmist use -- God's creation of
mountains, seas, or far-flung galaxies? No, he used
none of these.

To express the wonder of God's unparalleled creative
power the writer mentions the fashioning of the human
in the womb (14-16).

The Hebrew word used to express God's forming of us in
the womb, raqam, is the same term for needlework or
embroidery.

In other words, we are a tapestry that displays God's
artistic mastery.

And, like the artist who knows his creation down to
the last detail, God intimately knows us. This reality
provokes the writer to awe and wonder. He proclaims,
"I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

What is true for this psalmist is true for each human
being.

Each is fashioned by God and known by him and we can
proclaim on behalf of each, "I am fearfully and
wonderfully made."


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PRAYER
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Gracious God, help us to appreciate the wonder and
beauty of Your creation.

Help us proclaim on behalf of every one of our fellow
human beings, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

May the knowledge that we are intimately known by You
shape our lives and actions. 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/spring2012day23print.pdf


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Yours for Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: If you have stories of how praying during this
40 Days for Life campaign has impacted your life, I'd
love to hear your comments. Post them as a reply at
the bottom of today's blog entry at:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2944

 40 Days for Life

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Suite 102229
Fredericksburg, VA
22408
US