Once again Blogger.com has posted one of my posts from the past. I don't know if this one ever got posted at the proper date but I'm leaving t up in case it was never published. I'm wondering if this is some sort of censorship on their part or just a glitch in their system? Deacon John
Just over the past week -- during my 40 Days for Life
visits to Louisiana, Arizona and Pennsylvania -- one
word keeps coming to mind: SACRIFICE ... YOUR sacrifice!
Every 40 Days for Life vigil is a little different. But
they all have something in common: the prayer and
sacrifice of the volunteers participating.
They come by the hundreds ... and they also come one at
a time. But they all come for the same reason -- to pray
for an end to abortion.
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SARASOTA, FLORIDA
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The 300 people who circled the block around Planned
Parenthood represented one of the largest crowds ever
at this 40 Days for Life vigil location. Bishop Frank
Dewane led the group as they prayed and sang hymns.
About 200 of the participants walked half a mile from
the respect life youth conference they were attending.
Also taking part in this event was Abby Johnson, the
former director of the Planned Parenthood abortion
center in Bryan, Texas, who had quit her job during the
40 Days for Life campaign two years ago.
This Planned Parenthood location is a three-story
building that serves as regional headquarters for a
15-county section of Florida.
Just the day before, three mothers chose life for their
babies as people prayed outside this facility.
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FORT WAYNE, INDIANA
-------------------------------------------------------Students from three schools joined the 40 Days for Life
vigil in Fort Wayne recently. As one of the schools is
just a mile away, a large group of students walked to
the abortion center.
"They carried handmade crosses as well as sharing the
burden of carrying a full size cross and stopping at
intervals to lead the group in prayers along the way,"
said Evelyn in Fort Wayne.
It was raining when they started their walk, but the
showers quickly ended and did not return until later
in the day.
"It is hard to explain the impact of seeing the kids
on such a dreary, foggy day in their matching pro-life
shirts, marching down a very busy street on their way
to the clinic," Evelyn said.
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RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
-------------------------------------------------------A number of parishioners from St. Joseph Church in
Richmond joined the 40 Days for Life vigil last
weekend, praying on the sidewalk in front of the
Planned Parenthood abortion center for about two hours.
While the large groups certainly get noticed, the prayer
makes a difference even when it’s only one person.
One Richmond volunteer wrote of praying alone one day.
"I had a very heavy heart during my prayer time," she
said. "I felt that abortions were actually being
performed during that time frame."
She watched as women arrived. Some were just dropped
off and left to enter alone.
"The darkness I felt at that building yesterday was
so great that I had a hard time sleeping last night,
but I know God will sustain me next week when I
return to pray," she said. "May God continue to bless
all the participants in this 40 Days for Life."
Here's today's devotional from Carmen Pate, a member
of the 40 Days for Life board of directors.
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DAY 24 INTENTION
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Pray that God will continue to bless the efforts that
have gone into the 40 Days for Life campaign, as we
trust Him for the results.
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SCRIPTURE
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Now these are Your servants and Your people, whom You
have redeemed by Your great power, and by Your strong
hand. O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be
attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the
prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name.
-- Nehemiah 1:10-11
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REFLECTION by Carmen Pate, 40 Days for Life
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Nehemiah provides an awesome blueprint for volunteers
in God's service, particularly those responding to
the devastation abortion has caused our nation.
Nehemiah grieved for God's reputation as he witnessed
the condition of the city walls of Jerusalem. The
walls were broken down which was seen by neighboring
people as a sign of weakness on the part of
Jerusalem's God. No wall meant no security for the
city and its people.
We learn from his story that he covered every detail
in prayer; inspired others to join the cause;
organized others to help do the work; confronted
opposition directly and turned to God when
discouraged; and finally celebrated what was
accomplished and gave God all the glory!
Like Nehemiah, we must acknowledge God's sovereignty
as we serve Him before a mocking world. We too need
to be reminded that we are "fighting" for our
families. We too must have an attitude of confession
and repentance before a Holy God. We must pray for
strength, refute slander, and not be diverted from
our work.
Like Nehemiah, we will draw attention from the enemy
when we are seeking to protect the well-being of
God's people. We too must stand firm and seek God's
help to persevere until the task is done. We too will
be victorious.
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PRAYER
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Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and
the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all
that is in heaven and in the earth is Yours. We pray
for your continued guidance and protection throughout
the remainder of this 40 day campaign.
May we be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in
Your work, knowing that our labor will not be in
vain. We pray in the name of Jesus, 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/fall2011day24print.pdf
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For Life,
Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
40 Days for Life
10908 Courthouse Road
Suite 102229
Fredericksburg, VA
22408
US
