Dear Deacon,
40 Days for Life often feels like a sprint -- but
it's really a marathon!
Marathons take discipline ... and often it can be
hard to tell if you're really getting anywhere. As
we enter the last quarter of this effort, many
campaigns are just now seeing the impact they have
had over these past few weeks.
It takes a steady, faith-filled, Christ-like mind
to stay the course and not get distracted. As the
Apostle Paul put it, "Run so as to win. Every athlete
exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win
a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one"
(1 Corinthians 9:24-25).
These campaign stories illustrate that point.
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JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA
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Trudy reports that the 40 Days for Life campaign is
going very well -- and that's no surprise. But this
campaign is different. The volunteers in Jacksonville
are praying in front of a vacant building.
"Our pro-life presence in front of an empty facility,
whose owner, Planned Parenthood, plans to abort
babies in this building, delivers our message to
passersby better than an ad in the local newspaper,"
Trudy said.
"If you really want a treat, join us at 1:45 pm any
day, Monday through Friday, to see all of the school
buses lined up on the street in front of the new
Planned Parenthood," she said. "Children, with their
arms hanging out the windows, joyfully wave to us
when they see our display of banners."
Traffic often slows in front of this location. One
woman called out from her car, "I didn't have an
abortion. I kept my baby!" The volunteers responded,
"God bless you!" The man in the car behind her heard
all of this and added, "I don't believe in abortion
either!"
Pray that Planned Parenthood never opens an abortion
center in this location!
To see pictures of the vigil in front of the future
Planned Parenthood location in Jacksonville, go to:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3611
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PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA
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Faithful prayer volunteers continue to bring the
pro-life message to the street in front of Planned
Parenthood in Pittsburgh -- despite a couple of area
businesses that would like to see them leave.
One store owner has even posted a sign for the past
two campaigns, calling them hypocrites. "He needs
prayers," said one participant.
Another volunteer told of "a heartbreaking scene that
was observed when a woman walked out of the Planned
Parenthood strongly stating to a young woman behind
her (her daughter?) 'I don't care what you want.'
Please pray for them."
Nikki sent some photos from the vigil. In one, you
can see a mobile ultrasound unit parked across the
street from Planned Parenthood. "One girl went into
it for sure instead of going in to Planned Parenthood,"
Nikki said, "but we don't know the details yet of what
happened after she got on board."
To see the pictures of 40 Days for Life in Pittsburgh,
go to:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3611
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PHOENIX, ARIZONA
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Lisa in Phoenix is thankful for the many volunteers
who "continue to stand witness through many difficult
situations in Phoenix." They will keep praying at
this site even after the 40 days are complete.
"The community has become more aware of the evil
surrounding their neighborhood," she said. "People
are sharing stories of healing and reaching out to
those in need. Local churches have taken on full
vigil days to witness and pray."
Vigil participants watch every day as women come and
go. "From my years praying on the sidewalk of abortion
clinics," a volunteer said, "this is the first time
where the girls are so sedated they have no tears ...
but this is a battle God will win. Continue to be His
voice for the voiceless."
To see a photos of the prayer vigil in Phoenix, go to:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3611
Here's today's devotional from Carmen Pate, a member
of the 40 Days for Life board of directors.
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DAY 29 INTENTION
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Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing
over the transgressions of the remnant of His
heritage? He does not retain His anger forever,
because He delights in mercy. He will again have
compassion on us; and will subdue our iniquities.
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SCRIPTURE
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"Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the
evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do
evil, Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the
oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the
widow."
-- Micah 7:18-19
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REFLECTION by Carmen Pate, 40 Days for Life
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Micah had been sent to declare God's judgment and
call the people of Judah to repentance. The people
had become spiritually and ethically corrupt.
Prosperity had hardened the rich, the poor were
oppressed and the heirs to David's throne were
practicing abominations and idolatry.
Is it not easy to see the parallels of God's people
in Micah's day and God's people today in America?
Through Micah, God corrected His people by demanding
justice, not burnt offerings and sacrifice. He told
them to love mercy, and to walk humbly with their
God.
In speaking of Old Testament stories of God's people
turning from God to sin and idolatry, Paul wrote in 1
Corinthians 10: 11, "Now all these things happened to
them as examples, and they were written for our
admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have
come."
Many biblical scholars believe God has removed His
hedge of protection around our nation in response to
our sins of immorality and abortion. Let us cry out
in repentance for His mercy once again. And may we
honor His faithfulness by doing justly, loving mercy,
and walking humbly with our God.
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PRAYER
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Heavenly Father, eternal, changeless, and faithful
Lord, we recognize that we are in need of forgiveness
as a nation, for turning our hearts away from you.
Hear our prayer of repentance Lord and cleanse us
from all unrighteousness. We praise you for your
tender mercies and your compassion that never fails.
Lord, it is only by Your grace that we can live lives
that are just, and merciful. May Your Holy Spirit
enable us to walk humbly in Your presence and may You
be pleased to restore America so that a generation
not yet born may praise you. In the name of Christ
Jesus, who has done great things for us, 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/fall2012day29print.pdf
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-----------------------For Life,
Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
PS: Are you a first-time participant in 40 Days for
Life? If so, I'd love to hear about what you've
experienced. Please leave a comment on today's
blog posting at: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3611
40 Days for Life
10908 Courthouse Road
Suite 102229
Fredericksburg, VA
22408
US
