Dear Deacon, After just the first day of this 40 Days for Life
campaign, many locations are reporting record turnouts
for their opening events ... ... and babies SAVED from abortion! Here's a story of a life spared from abortion at a
40 Days for Life kickoff ...
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ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
----------------------------------------------------- More than 500 people -- including families with their
children -- came to stand and pray outside Planned
Parenthood as part of the Orange County kickoff. "As the prayer ended, we witnessed the first baby
saved of this 40 Days for Life 2013 campaign," said
Alejandra in Orange County. "A woman came out of
Planned Parenthood and as we approached her, she
told us that she couldn't abort her baby. She had
tears in her eyes. All glory to God!" The prayer volunteers learned that the woman was in
her seventh week of pregnancy. She has four other
children and thought her family didn't have sufficient
resources to care for the new baby. "We reassured her that this life was precious and
wanted by God -- and that we would be there for her
and help her," Alejandra said. "With God, everything
is possible." To see some photos of the Orange County kickoff event,
please go to: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3894
-----------------------------------------------------
LANSING, MICHIGAN
----------------------------------------------------- A record turnout of more than 170 at the 40 Days for
Life kickoff event showed the local pro-life effort
is going strong. As was the case in California,
there was a strong family presence. "Collaboration is what we need to focus on," said
Cecilia Tombelli, the local campaign director. "Alone,
we will not succeed. But with God -- and by working
together -- we will." A representative of Right to Life of Michigan shared
encouraging news. Five Michigan abortion centers
have closed in the past 15 months, including a
facility in Lansing -- a closure that followed a
three-year prayer effort.
-----------------------------------------------------
FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA
----------------------------------------------------- David Bereit, 40 Days for Life’s national director,
helped kick off the tenth campaign in Fairfax -- a
community in Northern Virginia, not far from
Washington, DC. At an event near the abortion center where the
peaceful vigil will be held, David encouraged the
volunteers to accept a challenge -- 40 hours of
prayer at the vigil over the next 40 days. "Many of us put in 40 hours a week -- or more -- at
work. Students put in around 40 hours a week on their
schooling," he said, "and we do that every week! Why
can't we make the sacrifice of coming out to pray
40 hours over these 40 days? It could be one hour
every day -- or two hours every other day. We know
the need for prayer -- here outside the abortion
facility -- is great.” Here's the link to the list of cities. Click on the
one nearest you -- and sign up for the vigil: http://40daysforlife.com/location To see a picture of the Fairfax rally, please go to: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3894
Today's devotional was prepared for you by Kevin
Burke, executive director of Rachel's Vineyard
ministries.
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DAY 2 INTENTION
------------------------------------------------------ May the King of the Universe, who entered this world
as a helpless infant, give us the humility to be
healed.
------------------------------------------------------
SCRIPTURE
------------------------------------------------------ My power is made perfect in weakness. -- 2 Corinthians 12:9
------------------------------------------------------
REFLECTION by Kevin Burke, Rachel's Vineyard
------------------------------------------------------ The great mystery of the Humility of God is very near
and dear to the mission of those serving in pro life
and in a special way, post abortion ministries across
this nation. For those wounded by their participation in abortion,
the door to healing often feels like crossing an abyss
of great fear: fear of judgment, fear of being torn
apart by the pain, by self hatred and rage at those
who hurt and abandoned you, and manipulated you in
your time of temptation. For men in particular, entering the unknown waters of
emotional vulnerability, so necessary to healing calls
for a different kind of courage that feels deceptively
like weakness. The door to healing is humility. It is born in the inability to no longer control the
pain, to live with the consequences of that tragic
decision to reject life. The hearts cries out, "I have
committed a grave offense against my Creator and I am
consumed by regret, grief and sorrow!" During these forty days let us pray for all who have
participated in abortion and with love call them to
healing and reconciliation. With healing these women
and men can become as John Paul II proclaimed in the
Gospel of Life, "the most eloquent defenders of
everyone's right to life." Jesus proclaimed, "I am the Vine, you are the
branches" (John 15:5). To bear the greatest fruit, the
branches must be pruned. Each level of pruning of the
vine requires a deeper level of humility so that we
can abandon ourselves to His will. This is not a lofty theological concept as much as it
is an earthy experience of pulling weeds, tilling
rocky soil, pruning and healing the vines. "If a man
wishes to come after me, he must deny his very self,
take up his cross, and begin to follow in my
footsteps" (Matthew 16:24).
------------------------------------------------------
PRAYER
------------------------------------------------------ Lord, during these forty days, we ask that with each
day of this sacred vigil, everything in us that
separates us from your perfect will would be pruned
from our hearts and souls. In this blessed freedom may we experience a powerful
anointing of your Holy Spirit. Filled with confidence
and trust may we proclaim with the mother of Jesus,
"Let it be done to me, according to your Word."
------------------------------------------------------
PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
------------------------------------------------------ To download today's devotional as a formatted,
printable PDF to share with friends: http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2013day02print.pdf
------------------------------------------------------ For Life, Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life PS: Is the 40 Days for Life campaign in your city
getting off to a fast start? Please share any stories
about the local campaign by leaving a comment on
today's blog entry: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3894
40 Days for Life 10908 Courthouse Road
Suite 102229
Fredericksburg, VA
22408
US
