Dear Deacon, Last night, I spoke at a kickoff event near Houston ...
and David Bereit, our national director, spoke at an
opening rally in Fairfax, Virginia. Those are just two of the 261 locations that start
40 Days for Life at a time when many Christians are
entering the season of Lent to prepare their hearts
for the Resurrection of Christ on Easter Sunday. Just recently, I told you about a city where the
abortion center, where faithful volunteers had intended
to peacefully pray for 40 days, had CLOSED and gone out
of business. Well, we just confirmed that it happened AGAIN!!! This time, prayer volunteers in Greensboro, North
Carolina were getting ready for their second peaceful
vigil outside the Woman's Choice abortion facility. But
now, those plans have changed. This abortion center has also SHUT ITS DOORS and
is not relocating! "All glory to God!" said one of those volunteers. "All
the furniture is gone," she said. "They left like a
thief in the night." This now makes TWENTY-EIGHT abortion centers where
40 Days for Life vigils have taken place that are
now totally shut down. There's a second abortion facility in Greensboro,
so the local 40 Days for Life team is quickly making
plans to move their peaceful vigil to the public right
of way outside that business. "All praise and thanks to Christ our King for this
great gift," the Greensboro team announced. "Come and
pray with us at our new location!" If you've not taken part in 40 Days for Life before,
I hope this shows what can happen when you put your
trust in God and step forward in faith. Find the 40 Days for Life campaign nearest you by
going to: http://40daysforlife.com/location Look for your nearest location, click on that city's
name, and then sign up to get involved however you can. Deacon, I'd like to invite you to join the
journey -- and look forward to seeing what additional
blessings God has in store!
Today's devotional is from David Brandao, the national
communications director of 40 Days for Life.
-----------------------------------------------------
DAY 1 INTENTION
----------------------------------------------------- That we may use these 40 Days for Life to plead for
God's mercy and grace upon all those involved in the
sin of abortion.
-----------------------------------------------------
SCRIPTURE
----------------------------------------------------- Blow the trumpet in Zion! Proclaim a fast, call an
assembly. Gather the people, notify the congregation.
Assemble the elders; gather the children and the
infants at the breast... Let the priests, the
ministers of the Lord, weep and say, "Spare, O Lord,
your people." -- Joel 2:15-17
-----------------------------------------------------
REFLECTION by David Brandao, 40 Days for Life
----------------------------------------------------- The toll of abortion cannot be measured. We hear
estimates of almost 50 million innocent victims, but
that's only one aspect of the harm that has unfolded
in abortion's wake. There are also the mothers and
fathers of these millions, as well as the
grandparents, brothers and sisters, aunts, uncles,
cousins. Unborn lives destroyed. Lives of the living
shattered. It's overwhelming and depressing, but even in the
midst of such unfathomable darkness, the church
teaches us to have hope. Yes, it was indeed Calvary
that followed Christ's 40 days in the desert, but
without Calvary there would have been no Resurrection
-- His victory over death that opened the gates of
heaven to those who believe in and follow Him. The psalmist encourages us to go humbly before God
as we seek His will: "A clean heart create for me,
O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me...
Give me back the joy of your salvation and a willing
spirit sustain in me... O Lord, open my lips, and
my mouth shall proclaim your praise" (Psalm 51:12,
14, 17). We are called to be God's messengers; or as the
Apostle Paul told the Corinthians: "We are
ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing
through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: be
reconciled to God" (2 Corinthians 5:20). That is the true message to all we encounter at the
abortion centers and in our communities who have been
deceived by the Culture of Death. We don't bring
condemnation; we bring God's good news.
-----------------------------------------------------
PRAYER
----------------------------------------------------- Lord, we ask for the strength, courage, wisdom,
determination and stamina to carry out this mission
according to Your will. Guide us, we pray, as we go forth and proclaim Your
truth, always doing so with a spirit of love and
compassion, as was demonstrated to us by Your Son,
Jesus Christ. In His name we pray, Amen.
-----------------------------------------------------
PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
----------------------------------------------------- To download today's devotional as a formatted,
printable PDF to share with friends: http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2013day01print.pdf
----------------------------------------------------- For Life, Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life PS: How do you intend to participate in 40 Days for
Life? Please respond by leaving a comment below today's
blog entry at: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3872 PPS: For even MORE inspiring stories and surprising
details of abortion centers and Planned Parenthood
facilities closing down following 40 Days for Life
campaigns -- and to learn how to make that happen in
YOUR city -- read chapters 19, 24, 26, 29 and 37
of the new "40 Days for Life" book: http://40daysforlife.com/book
40 Days for Life 10908 Courthouse Road
Suite 102229
Fredericksburg, VA
22408
US
and David Bereit, our national director, spoke at an
opening rally in Fairfax, Virginia. Those are just two of the 261 locations that start
40 Days for Life at a time when many Christians are
entering the season of Lent to prepare their hearts
for the Resurrection of Christ on Easter Sunday. Just recently, I told you about a city where the
abortion center, where faithful volunteers had intended
to peacefully pray for 40 days, had CLOSED and gone out
of business. Well, we just confirmed that it happened AGAIN!!! This time, prayer volunteers in Greensboro, North
Carolina were getting ready for their second peaceful
vigil outside the Woman's Choice abortion facility. But
now, those plans have changed. This abortion center has also SHUT ITS DOORS and
is not relocating! "All glory to God!" said one of those volunteers. "All
the furniture is gone," she said. "They left like a
thief in the night." This now makes TWENTY-EIGHT abortion centers where
40 Days for Life vigils have taken place that are
now totally shut down. There's a second abortion facility in Greensboro,
so the local 40 Days for Life team is quickly making
plans to move their peaceful vigil to the public right
of way outside that business. "All praise and thanks to Christ our King for this
great gift," the Greensboro team announced. "Come and
pray with us at our new location!" If you've not taken part in 40 Days for Life before,
I hope this shows what can happen when you put your
trust in God and step forward in faith. Find the 40 Days for Life campaign nearest you by
going to: http://40daysforlife.com/location Look for your nearest location, click on that city's
name, and then sign up to get involved however you can. Deacon, I'd like to invite you to join the
journey -- and look forward to seeing what additional
blessings God has in store!
Today's devotional is from David Brandao, the national
communications director of 40 Days for Life.
-----------------------------------------------------
DAY 1 INTENTION
----------------------------------------------------- That we may use these 40 Days for Life to plead for
God's mercy and grace upon all those involved in the
sin of abortion.
-----------------------------------------------------
SCRIPTURE
----------------------------------------------------- Blow the trumpet in Zion! Proclaim a fast, call an
assembly. Gather the people, notify the congregation.
Assemble the elders; gather the children and the
infants at the breast... Let the priests, the
ministers of the Lord, weep and say, "Spare, O Lord,
your people." -- Joel 2:15-17
-----------------------------------------------------
REFLECTION by David Brandao, 40 Days for Life
----------------------------------------------------- The toll of abortion cannot be measured. We hear
estimates of almost 50 million innocent victims, but
that's only one aspect of the harm that has unfolded
in abortion's wake. There are also the mothers and
fathers of these millions, as well as the
grandparents, brothers and sisters, aunts, uncles,
cousins. Unborn lives destroyed. Lives of the living
shattered. It's overwhelming and depressing, but even in the
midst of such unfathomable darkness, the church
teaches us to have hope. Yes, it was indeed Calvary
that followed Christ's 40 days in the desert, but
without Calvary there would have been no Resurrection
-- His victory over death that opened the gates of
heaven to those who believe in and follow Him. The psalmist encourages us to go humbly before God
as we seek His will: "A clean heart create for me,
O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me...
Give me back the joy of your salvation and a willing
spirit sustain in me... O Lord, open my lips, and
my mouth shall proclaim your praise" (Psalm 51:12,
14, 17). We are called to be God's messengers; or as the
Apostle Paul told the Corinthians: "We are
ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing
through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: be
reconciled to God" (2 Corinthians 5:20). That is the true message to all we encounter at the
abortion centers and in our communities who have been
deceived by the Culture of Death. We don't bring
condemnation; we bring God's good news.
-----------------------------------------------------
PRAYER
----------------------------------------------------- Lord, we ask for the strength, courage, wisdom,
determination and stamina to carry out this mission
according to Your will. Guide us, we pray, as we go forth and proclaim Your
truth, always doing so with a spirit of love and
compassion, as was demonstrated to us by Your Son,
Jesus Christ. In His name we pray, Amen.
-----------------------------------------------------
PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
----------------------------------------------------- To download today's devotional as a formatted,
printable PDF to share with friends: http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2013day01print.pdf
----------------------------------------------------- For Life, Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life PS: How do you intend to participate in 40 Days for
Life? Please respond by leaving a comment below today's
blog entry at: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3872 PPS: For even MORE inspiring stories and surprising
details of abortion centers and Planned Parenthood
facilities closing down following 40 Days for Life
campaigns -- and to learn how to make that happen in
YOUR city -- read chapters 19, 24, 26, 29 and 37
of the new "40 Days for Life" book: http://40daysforlife.com/book
40 Days for Life 10908 Courthouse Road
Suite 102229
Fredericksburg, VA
22408
US
