Dear Deacon,
There is no other way to say it -- abortion is an
ugly business.
That's why abortion advocates attempt to justify it
by dehumanizing the baby or giving vague arguments
about "choice." This makes abortion less personal.
The abortion industry wants you to think that the
termination of a human being’s life is a "simple
medical procedure."
They can't let you know the truth -- that abortion
is always deadly for the baby (in fact, if the
abortion doesn't end the baby's life, it is
considered unsuccessful), and risky for the mother.
One thing you come to understand if you spend time
in prayer outside of an abortion facility is that
these are simply places of death.
This is a grim reality -- but one that points us to
recognize the need for prayer and God's mercy.
-----------------------------------------------------
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA
-----------------------------------------------------
As people prayed at the 40 Days for Life vigil outside
the abortion center in Charlotte, an ambulance drove
up. There were no sirens, giving the impression there
wasn't an actual emergency. Abortion facilities usually
instruct ambulance drivers to keep the sirens off.
But there was in fact an emergency -- a woman was
brought out of the building on a stretcher and taken
to the hospital.
A similar scenario played out at Charlotte's other
40 Days for Life location during the last campaign.
In that situation, "An ambulance took a woman to the
hospital after being wheeled out of the back door of
the abortion clinic curled up in a fetal position on
a stretcher," said one of the prayer volunteers.
The abortion centers try to keep these things quiet,
but the 40 Days for Life team in Charlotte says it's
important to spread the word.
"We do this so more people can be aware that abortion
is not safe," said Gretchen in Charlotte. "Making
abortion legal does not make abortion safe."
-----------------------------------------------------
ITHACA, NEW YORK
-----------------------------------------------------
Mary Anne prayed at the 40 Days for Life vigil and
watched as a truck arrived. A man got out and made
two trips inside the abortion center. He returned
to his truck with five boxes.
The truck belongs to a hazardous waste disposal firm
that serves medical facilities. I don't know how else
to put this. The boxes the man brought to his truck
most likely contained the remains of aborted babies.
"I could not shake that image of babies made in the
image of God being hauled away like that off my mind,"
Mary Anne said. "It gives me all the more reason to
be out here praying and asking God to have mercy on
us all. It was a serene day of prayer."
-----------------------------------------------------
MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE
-----------------------------------------------------
There are, of course, signs of hope.
Two pastors helped lead prayer outside the abortion
center on a Thursday -- a day when normally, about
25 abortions are done. "However," said Julie, "on
this day the number was much closer to 15 or 16."
The day before, Julie and another volunteer were
just ending their prayer time when a young woman
approached the building. She said she had come for
a pregnancy test.
"She came out soon after and told us they wouldn't
give her one," Julie said. "She said she would never
have an abortion, although her boyfriend was abortion-
minded." The young woman was given information about
pro-life pregnancy help centers.
She told the two volunteers, "I’m so glad you were
here!" and gave them a hug. It made Julie realize
how important it is for Christians to be outside the
abortion center every day of the week, not just on
abortion days.
"We must persevere in prayer," she said, "and trust
God completely."
Here's today's devotional from Carmen Pate, member
of the 40 Days for Life board of directors...
-----------------------------------------------------
DAY 11 INTENTION
-----------------------------------------------------
Pray that when those representing Planned Parenthood
and other abortion groups see volunteers for 40 Days
for Life, they see ambassadors of Christ, and may
each volunteer be consciously aware at all times we
represent Him.
-----------------------------------------------------
SCRIPTURE
-----------------------------------------------------
I...beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with
which you were called, with all lowliness, and
gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one
another in love.
-- Ephesians 4:1-2
-----------------------------------------------------
REFLECTION by Carmen Pate, 40 Days for Life
-----------------------------------------------------
When a former abortionist and post-abortive woman,
Carol Everett, was asked what turned her heart from
death to life in Christ, she replied, "It was
unconditional love" shown by a man who prayed daily
for her in front of the facility where she worked.
He told Carol that "God had sent him" because there
was someone in there that God wanted out. She left 27
days later and now serves as Christ's ambassador to
help others. We too have been sent by Christ as an
ambassador to love unconditionally those God seeks to
"get out" of their bondage and sin.
In his book, "Fishers of Men," Dr. Sumner Wemp
describes what it means to be an ambassador of
Christ, the King of Kings:
* God has chosen us (John 15:16)
* We are sent into a world that is not our home (1
Peter 2:11)
* Our walk must match our talk (1 Timothy 3:7)
* We must abide in Him for daily instruction (John
15:5)
* Know our purpose -- to seek and to save that which
is lost (Luke 19:10)
* We are to reconcile others to God with His
authority (Matthew 28:19-20)
* Our service is to be grounded and rooted in love
(Ephesians 3:17)
Pray that we each will walk worthy of the calling
with which we were called!
-----------------------------------------------------
PRAYER
-----------------------------------------------------
Dear Heavenly Father, we are humbled that you have
called us and appointed us to be ambassadors of
Christ in a world that is not our home. It is a
calling much higher and grander than our finite minds
can imagine.
We pray that your Holy Spirit will empower us to walk
worthy of the calling. We pray that Your
unconditional love will flow through us onto those
who desperately need Your saving grace. In the name
of Christ who is worthy, Amen.
-----------------------------------------------------
PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
-----------------------------------------------------
To download today's devotional as a formatted,
printable PDF to share with friends:
http://40daysforlife.com/docs/fall2012day11print.pdf
-----------------------------------------------------
For Life,
Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
PS: What's new with 40 Days for Life where you are?
Feel to share your stories by leaving a comment
on today's blog entry at:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3380
10908 Courthouse Road
Suite 102229
Fredericksburg, VA
22408
US
