|
|
Dear Deacon John,
A cold start
across much of the United States — weather delays forced me to miss
Monday’s kickoff event in Orlando. I finally got to Florida in time for
other campaign events. More on that in a bit.
First, I can’t wait to share with you the news of a tremendous setback for Planned Parenthood!
Columbia, Missouri
Kathy had wanted to
deliver the huge news at Columbia’s kickoff rally on Sunday. But the ice
and snow were just too much, so she had to settle for email.
For volunteers who’ve prayed outside the local abortion center for
years, her message was both a big victory and an answered prayer: “Columbia Planned Parenthood cannot do abortions in their facility!”
Kathy had learned that Planned Parenthood no longer had a license for
abortions in Columbia and had been removed from the state listing of
abortion facilities. Planned Parenthood quietly changed its web site to
show that it now offers only abortion referrals.
“The big giant has admitted its downgrade,” Kathy said. “Please join us in thanking God for His mighty blessing, a blessing which came after nine 40 Days for Life prayer vigils. Wow!”
The only licensed abortion center in all of Missouri now is Planned
Parenthood in St. Louis — where, of course, there’s a 40 Days for Life
vigil now under way.
The vigil will continue in Columbia as well. Babies are still being saved there, thanks to God’s mercy ... and the prayers of the volunteers on the sidewalk.
Lakeland, Florida
After my flight was
delayed and then re-routed to Tampa, I jumped in a rental car to try to
catch the last half of the kickoff event in Lakeland. As I got there
late, I was so excited to still see 80 volunteers at 8:30 pm, holding candles and keeping vigil on the dark sidewalk in front of the abortion facility.
The community has really come together with the leadership of Maryanne
and her husband, Rick. Leaders of other ministries … including the
Diocese of Orlando, Couples for Christ, and the local pregnancy center
that’s not far from the abortion facility … were all there to kick off
the campaign.
Today's devotional was prepared for you by Kevin Burke, executive director of Rachel's Vineyard ministries.
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
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:
http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2014day02print.pdf
For Life,
|
SHAWN CARNEY
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
|
PS: Just as a quick reminder, here's the link for finding a 40 Days for Life vigil near you (there are 253 of them!):
|
40 Days for Life 1511 S. Texas Ave #335 College Station, Texas 77840 United States (888) LIFE-316
|
|
|
