Dear Deacon John,
St. Patrick’s Day should start with good news – and today we have plenty! So far during this campaign, we are aware of …
… 142 babies who, through your prayers and the Lord’s mercy, have been saved from abortion.
Praise God!
Here are more stories of lives permanently changed on the sidewalks outside the abortion centers.
Tempe, Arizona
… 142 babies who, through your prayers and the Lord’s mercy, have been saved from abortion.
Praise God!
Here are more stories of lives permanently changed on the sidewalks outside the abortion centers.
Tempe, Arizona
We’ve heard much good news from Tempe.
When prayer volunteers asked two young women if they wanted to talk, their answer was, “Yes. We heard you say you offer free ultrasounds.” Lisa in Tempe said the girls had become frustrated, as Planned Parenthood was running three hours behind schedule.
After the one who was considering abortion received information and a gift bag, she told Lisa she was going to keep her baby, “and went to one of our local pregnancy centers for genuine help.”
When prayer volunteers asked two young women if they wanted to talk, their answer was, “Yes. We heard you say you offer free ultrasounds.” Lisa in Tempe said the girls had become frustrated, as Planned Parenthood was running three hours behind schedule.
After the one who was considering abortion received information and a gift bag, she told Lisa she was going to keep her baby, “and went to one of our local pregnancy centers for genuine help.”
A mother and daughter pulled up to a volunteer holding a sign that said, “Pregnant? We can help.” As the mother got out of the car, the volunteer offered pro-life resources. She held out her hand, took the information without a word, got back in the car and drove away.
Two groups of women who were both there with friends scheduled for abortions came over and talked about options for their friends. They received literature and called their friends inside to talk to them. Both women left without having an abortion.
Lisa said, “Your continued prayers and witness will bring Christ to those who have become lost because of ‘choice.’”
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
In Cedar Rapids, a woman showed up early for her appointment at Planned Parenthood. “She was not pregnant,” Jim said, “and was going there for some other type of appointment.”
She told volunteers that she had come about a year ago, planning to have an abortion. But the sight of the people praying made her decide against it. She now has a 4-month-old daughter and is very happy.
“Although we suspect there were many other saves in the past,” Jim said, “this was the first confirmed one in Cedar Rapids. It makes us feel like the cold weather we had last spring was well worth it!”
Boston, Massachusetts
Rita tells us there were two babies saved in Boston
on one day. “Sidewalk counsellors were joined by a large group of
people praying and singing hymns,” she said, “and many were holding 40
Days for Life signs.”
Volunteers rejoiced when a woman came out of Planned Parenthood and said, “Your prayers have been answered. I’m not going to do it.” And then a short time later, it happened again!
Volunteers rejoiced when a woman came out of Planned Parenthood and said, “Your prayers have been answered. I’m not going to do it.” And then a short time later, it happened again!
Today's devotional is from Dennis DiMauro of Lutherans for Life.
Day 13 intention
We pray for the strength to love those who do not love us.
Scripture
But the Lord said "You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in the night and perished in the night. And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left, and much livestock? Should I not be concerned about that great city?"
— Jonah 4:10-11
Reflection by Dennis DiMauro
God doesn't value people and things like we do.
Jonah loved a shade tree more than an entire city of sinful people. We love our dogs more than a terrorist. We love our cars more than a beggar on the side of the road. And sometimes, we love our money more than a child growing in a desperate teenager's womb.
But God isn't like us. Genesis 1 tells us that humans were the capstone of God's creation.
We were created on the sixth day after God had completed the land, the stars, the plants and the animals. Therefore, His love for us is greater than His love for a plant, an animal, or any other created thing.
And the book of Jonah tells us that He loves even the most sinful people and seeks to bring them into His merciful arms. And it's a love that seeks to touch all of his created children: that desperate teenager, the baby growing in her womb, even tyrants and terrorists.
So it's up to us to imitate God's merciful love by helping and praying for those who persecute us, and those who don't love us back.
Prayer
Gracious God, loving our enemies seems like one of most difficult things you could ask of us. Please remind us that this is how you love and that if you ask it of us then you will give us the grace to do it. This we ask through Christ our Lord, Amen.
Printable devotional
To download today's devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share:
http://40daysforlife.com/docs/
How many more lives will be saved over the next 27 days of this campaign thanks to your prayers and faithfulness, Deacon John?
I can't wait to find out!
Day 13 intention
We pray for the strength to love those who do not love us.
Scripture
But the Lord said "You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in the night and perished in the night. And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left, and much livestock? Should I not be concerned about that great city?"
— Jonah 4:10-11
Reflection by Dennis DiMauro
God doesn't value people and things like we do.
Jonah loved a shade tree more than an entire city of sinful people. We love our dogs more than a terrorist. We love our cars more than a beggar on the side of the road. And sometimes, we love our money more than a child growing in a desperate teenager's womb.
But God isn't like us. Genesis 1 tells us that humans were the capstone of God's creation.
We were created on the sixth day after God had completed the land, the stars, the plants and the animals. Therefore, His love for us is greater than His love for a plant, an animal, or any other created thing.
And the book of Jonah tells us that He loves even the most sinful people and seeks to bring them into His merciful arms. And it's a love that seeks to touch all of his created children: that desperate teenager, the baby growing in her womb, even tyrants and terrorists.
So it's up to us to imitate God's merciful love by helping and praying for those who persecute us, and those who don't love us back.
Prayer
Gracious God, loving our enemies seems like one of most difficult things you could ask of us. Please remind us that this is how you love and that if you ask it of us then you will give us the grace to do it. This we ask through Christ our Lord, Amen.
Printable devotional
To download today's devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share:
http://40daysforlife.com/docs/
How many more lives will be saved over the next 27 days of this campaign thanks to your prayers and faithfulness, Deacon John?
I can't wait to find out!
For Life,
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SHAWN CARNEY
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
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PS: Good news from your 40 Days for Life campaign? Please share the information by replying to today's blog entry at:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/
