Dear Deacon John,
We may be entering the final days of this campaign … but if you haven’t done so yet, it’s not too late to take part in a 40 Days for Life vigil. Take an hour. Take a even a few minutes. But stretch yourself!
Find a location near you … and come pray!
Find a location near you … and come pray!
It often seems that one of the blessings of 40 Days for Life is simply having the opportunity to talk to people. Just a short conversation that corrects mistaken impressions can make a world of difference.
Here are stories posted on the 40 Days for Life blog from two California campaigns that show what I mean.
Calaveras County, California
“We are very blessed that there is no abortion center in Calaveras County,” said Judy. “Our focus of prayer and fasting is our community outreach, to be a source of information about the sanctity of life.”
One opportunity came when two young women insisted that abortion should sometimes be permitted. During the discussion that followed, one of them said a baby did not have a heartbeat until the second trimester.
“We were able to give her a brochure explaining the development of a baby in the womb with very precise information,” Judy said.
“She was genuinely trying to discern truth about serious questions in her mind,” she said. “Too many of our teens are confronted by the choice of life or death when they are in a crisis pregnancy and scared. They need truthful information before they are in this situation in order to make the truly charitable choice of life for their children. Pray on!”
Antelope Valley, California
“We are in our fourth campaign in the Antelope Valley of California,” said Lamar. “Since we started, we have seen some people come out who had never before been active in pro-life work. They heard about the prayer vigil and realized that this was something they could do and that God was calling them to join in.”
One couple prays often at the vigil outside Planned Parenthood in Palmdale – sometimes with their grandchildren.
Lamar said the man recently struck up a conversation with a young woman on the sidewalk. She said she wasn’t pregnant, but was willing to listen as he shared what was going on inside Planned Parenthood.
As she left, she told him, “You saved a life today.”
“He wasn’t sure exactly what she had in mind,” Lamar said, “but you know that it must be good news!”
“We do not claim to be Christian stars,” he said. “It is God at work inviting us to join Him. Come out and experience God at the abortion clinic in your area.”
Today's devotional is from Rev. John Ensor of PassionLife.
Day 33 intention
As we pray for the end of abortion, let us pray for the expansion of the pregnancy help center movement worldwide.
Scripture
The dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne.
— Revelation 12:4-5
Reflection by Rev. John Ensor
You don't need to be a theological scholar to get the essential point of Revelation 12. Something BIG is afoot. It has something to do with the birth of Christ and the children of God.
It involves a war in heaven, with powers and principalities beyond our expertise. But the battles are fought here on earth.
The crux of the matter centers around the babe of Bethlehem and the cross of Calvary.
It continues to unfold down through the ages, through us, the children of God, who put their faith in Christ and take up their cross and follow him.
We are waging a war of love against all things that destroy body and soul.
The intensity waxes and wanes, but like labor pains, they grow and culminate in new life.
The unleashing of legal abortion nearly 40 years ago stirred up prayer (lamentation really). Many were then led to start pregnancy help centers and maternity homes.
Today there are over 3,000 such ministries that did not exist 40 years ago.
They reflect a movement of God on our watch: Christians driven to give their time and charity to end abortion one woman at a time.
Let's pray this movement expands worldwide. Let's pray for thousands more Christians to start, serve and support pregnancy help centers.
Prayer
O God, from generation to generation, you have called your people to be the very aroma of life amidst a culture of death. Now it is our turn. Prepare me. Send me. Use me. I am eager to do my part. Stir your people everywhere to take up this great work.
Printable devotional
To download today's devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share:
http://40daysforlife.com/docs/
As she left, she told him, “You saved a life today.”
“He wasn’t sure exactly what she had in mind,” Lamar said, “but you know that it must be good news!”
“We do not claim to be Christian stars,” he said. “It is God at work inviting us to join Him. Come out and experience God at the abortion clinic in your area.”
Today's devotional is from Rev. John Ensor of PassionLife.
Day 33 intention
As we pray for the end of abortion, let us pray for the expansion of the pregnancy help center movement worldwide.
Scripture
The dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne.
— Revelation 12:4-5
Reflection by Rev. John Ensor
You don't need to be a theological scholar to get the essential point of Revelation 12. Something BIG is afoot. It has something to do with the birth of Christ and the children of God.
It involves a war in heaven, with powers and principalities beyond our expertise. But the battles are fought here on earth.
The crux of the matter centers around the babe of Bethlehem and the cross of Calvary.
It continues to unfold down through the ages, through us, the children of God, who put their faith in Christ and take up their cross and follow him.
We are waging a war of love against all things that destroy body and soul.
The intensity waxes and wanes, but like labor pains, they grow and culminate in new life.
The unleashing of legal abortion nearly 40 years ago stirred up prayer (lamentation really). Many were then led to start pregnancy help centers and maternity homes.
Today there are over 3,000 such ministries that did not exist 40 years ago.
They reflect a movement of God on our watch: Christians driven to give their time and charity to end abortion one woman at a time.
Let's pray this movement expands worldwide. Let's pray for thousands more Christians to start, serve and support pregnancy help centers.
Prayer
O God, from generation to generation, you have called your people to be the very aroma of life amidst a culture of death. Now it is our turn. Prepare me. Send me. Use me. I am eager to do my part. Stir your people everywhere to take up this great work.
Printable devotional
To download today's devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share:
http://40daysforlife.com/docs/
For Life,
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SHAWN CARNEY
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
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http://40daysforlife.com/blog/
