| Dear Deacon, Here we are – Day 20. I can’t believe we’re at the halfway point already! There’s still a lot of praying to be done, but it’s OK to pause briefly and count the blessings God has already provided. As of today, we have reports of … … 245 babies (and their mothers, of course) spared from abortion – that we know of! Here are some of their stories. MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN  “I finally met my match,” said Dan in Milwaukee. “I had completely dressed for the worst – but this snow came down fast and hard – and then kept coming,” he said. “At times, it seemed like it was coming down sideways! I would have understood if our vigilers had stayed home – but they kept showing up!” Around 7:30 that evening, a woman struck up a conversation with one of the volunteers. “How many babies have you saved out here doing this?” she asked. “Are you really doing any good harassing women?” Dan provided the answer – 294 saves in the past three years. She said, “I’ll believe it when I see it.” Dan responded, “Let’s hope so.”  Five minutes later, a young mom and her support person came out. She looked lost, so Dan asked her if she was going to be OK. She said, “I’ll be fine.” Dan then asked, “Is the baby OK?” She said, “Yes – baby is good, too … yeah – I’m keeping him.” Twenty minutes after that, a young mom came out in tears. “It’s going to be OK,” she said. “I’m keeping the baby.” When Dan encouraged her to seek help at the pro-life pregnancy center, smiled and said, “Thank you – thank you for being out here for us.” Dan responded, “You and your baby made it all worth it – all of it!”
Monica had some terrific news to pass along from the 40 Days for Life vigil in Glendale. “Within a week we have had 10 turnarounds!” For reasons unknown, Planned Parenthood was closed on Monday, Tuesday and Saturday of the previous week. “They are normally open on those days,” Monica explained. Six of those turnarounds took place on those days the facility was not open. “The sidewalk counselors were able to help and give information to the local crisis pregnancy center,” she said. “I praise God and thank all the people who are praying to end abortion.”
“My family and I just witnessed a turnaround!” wrote an excited 40 Days for Life volunteer in Pensacola. They watched as a young couple drove into the abortion center parking lot – but never got out of their car. After a while, they backed up to where the vigil participants were praying … and took their picture. The woman rolled the window down, and announced with a big smile, “I didn’t do it! I’ll bring the baby by to show!” “Praise almighty God!” the volunteer said. “Peaceful, prayerful witness works!” Today's devotional is from Ernest Ohlhoff, outreach director at National Right to Life.
We pray for humility in our work for God's Kingdom.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. -- Philippians 2:5-8
There is no limit to what we can accomplish when we don't care who gets the credit. Jesus Christ's life on earth exemplifies a total submission to the will of the Father. His humility, compassion, gentleness and thoughtfulness are reflected over and over again in the New Testament. He was God incarnate, yet He chose to be born to a humble, working class home. How absurd it must have seemed to the rich and powerful that the Son of God, the Messiah, the one foretold by the prophets, the 'King of the Jews' was born and raised as a simple peasant. During His thirty-three years on earth, He sought no riches, claimed no secular power and gathered no possessions. His short time on earth changed more lives, softened more hearts, and gave hope to more people, than all the rich and powerful human 'kings' combined. And, at the end of His life on earth, by dying on the cross, He opened the door to eternal life for those who heed his words and follow in his footsteps.
O Lord, help us follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Let us humbly and diligently work to restore legal protection for the unborn, the disabled, the medically dependent and all innocent children of God whose lives are threatened. Let us remember the old adage that "He can never lead who has not first learned to obey." And, Lord, grant us a peaceful heart as we labor in your name, Amen.
To download today's devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends: http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2013day20print.pdf
Yours for Life, Shawn Carney PS: What great things are happening with the 40 Days for Life campaign in your community? Please share the good news by replying to today's blog entry at: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=4167
| |||||||||
40 Days for Life
10908 Courthouse Road
Suite 102229
Fredericksburg, VA
22408
US
