Dear Deacon John,
It's
Day 40! As another 40 Days for Life campaign comes to an end today, we
look back at all the amazing blessings God has poured out in 306
locations in ten countries around the world.
These blessings include children that were scheduled to be aborted over these past 40 days ... who are now alive because of your prayers and witness. I want to personally thank you for all of your sacrifices on behalf of those who are unable to speak for themselves.
Birmingham, Alabama
These blessings include children that were scheduled to be aborted over these past 40 days ... who are now alive because of your prayers and witness. I want to personally thank you for all of your sacrifices on behalf of those who are unable to speak for themselves.
Birmingham, Alabama
The
40 Days for Life team in Birmingham was looking for an encouraging sign
... and they unexpectedly found one taped to the door of Planned
Parenthood.
The sign announced a three-day closure. "It was a surprise," said Ed in Birmingham, "but it just gave us a few quiet days to pray for the posting of a PERMANENT closed sign."
Vail, Colorado
The sign announced a three-day closure. "It was a surprise," said Ed in Birmingham, "but it just gave us a few quiet days to pray for the posting of a PERMANENT closed sign."
Vail, Colorado
"While
the only vehicle traffic we get are folks going specifically to the
hospital, the main pedestrian path through town goes right past our
vigil," said Tara, who's directing Vail's first 40 Days for Life
campaign. "So we get lots of foot and bicycle traffic. And we're seeing
the Lord soften hearts in those around us."
As Vail is a popular vacation spot, Tara is meeting 40 Days for Life volunteers from other parts of the country - all the way from California to Pennsylvania.
"We've also been able to introduce 40 Days for Life to many people," she said. "One new friend is hoping to get involved in his local vigil back home."
Charlotte, North Carolina
As Vail is a popular vacation spot, Tara is meeting 40 Days for Life volunteers from other parts of the country - all the way from California to Pennsylvania.
"We've also been able to introduce 40 Days for Life to many people," she said. "One new friend is hoping to get involved in his local vigil back home."
Charlotte, North Carolina
For
the people kneeling in prayer outside the abortion business in
Charlotte, the encouraging sign was the decreasing number of women
arriving for appointments.
"It was the slowest I have ever seen for a Saturday," said John in Charlotte. "I sense there are cars ... that have kept on going, and have not come back. There have been 31 saves that we know of. Praise God!"
Although it is easy sometimes to get discouraged, he said, "God hears every prayer and appeal on that sidewalk. I pray many will continue to commit time to pray and witness on the sidewalk - as this battle continues every day."
"It was the slowest I have ever seen for a Saturday," said John in Charlotte. "I sense there are cars ... that have kept on going, and have not come back. There have been 31 saves that we know of. Praise God!"
Although it is easy sometimes to get discouraged, he said, "God hears every prayer and appeal on that sidewalk. I pray many will continue to commit time to pray and witness on the sidewalk - as this battle continues every day."
Here's today's devotional from Fr. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life.
Day 40 intention
Let us keep our eyes fixed on the New Jerusalem, where death will be no more.
Scripture
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!"
--Revelation 21:4-5
Reflection by Fr. Frank Pavone
Every activity we undertake in defense of the sanctity of life is prophetic, inasmuch as it points to the day when "death will be no more."
Every victory we have when an act of abortion is prevented is prophetic of that day when death itself will be definitively conquered.
Every triumph of grace in this world, whereby someone is brought to see the value of life and given the strength to welcome it, is a breaking into our history of that definitive future in which the old order of things will have passed, and all things will be made new.
As pro-life warriors, we must keep our eyes fixed on heaven, and our hearts secure in the hope that the day is coming when all evil will be conquered. It is the future that shapes the present; it is victory that informs the battle; it is the destination that determines the journey.
Daily, we are called to reflect on heaven. When we weep, we are to think of the day when every tear will be wiped away.
When we face the destructive power of death, we are to think of the day when death is swallowed up in victory.
When we labor against abortion, we are to think of the day when we will have the rest and peace of the final triumph of life.
Heaven is as real as earth, and its joys will be as real as our present sorrows.
Prayer
Father, you are the God of hope. Your word fills us with the vision of the world to come, when every tear will be wiped away, and death will be no more. Father, how we need that hope, how we are strengthened by that vision!
Keep our hearts focused on heaven, and diligent in the labors of earth. As we struggle against the culture of death, root our souls in the assurance of victory. We pray through Christ our Lord, Amen.
Printable devotional
To download today's devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends:
http://40daysforlife.com/docs/fall2013day40print.pdf
For Life,
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SHAWN CARNEY
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
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PS:
What is the greatest blessing you have received during this 40 Days for
Life campaign? Please leave your response at today's blog entry:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=5182
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=5182
