From 40 Days For Life: DAY 1: It starts with prayer ... and with YOU

Dear Deacon John, This is it!   Ten years ago, the first-ever 40 Days for Life campaign kicked off in College Station, Texas. Since then, God has clearly shown what He can do when we pray, fast ... and stand vigil: Lives are saved Hearts are changed Abortion facilities close Will you join His efforts over the next 40 days ... in 297 cities in 13 countries?       40 Days for Life started in Texas ... but abortion is a global crisis. Many courageous and faithful volunteers will be meeting this enormous challenge with prayer and peaceful vigil — starting today — in these countries:  United States Canada Australia Brazil Croatia England Ghana Latvia Mexico Nigeria South Africa Spain Wales To see the full list – and to sign up for the vigil location nearest you – go to:  http://40daysforlife.com/browse-campaigns/  With that many locations, there’s going to be a lot of travel involved for the 40 Days for Life headquarters team. Without question, the man who will be logging the most miles over the next 40 days is Robert Colquhoun, our international outreach director.   Robert brought 40 Days for Life to his home country of England in 2010 ... and has since helped the mission spread far and wide.   Ghana       Robert visited with the 40 Days for Life leaders in Ghana this week. Please keep the people of this African nation in your prayers.  “We spoke to the youth group at a Presbyterian church on Sunday morning,” Robert said, “and we also did a rally in one of the poorest parts of Accra. Edward, the local leader, spoke passionately about abortion for both talks.”  Robert said abortion is, for the most part, illegal in Ghana. But they’re done anyway – slightly undercover. “A large number of illegal abortions are done with chemicals under the scenes and in secrecy,” he said, “with considerable dangers attached.”  Croatia        Efforts in Croatia continue to grow. After a very successful initial campaign in Zagreb, the Croatian capital is joined by four other cities for this campaign. The response has been most favorable. The Croatian team had some great stories to share from that first campaign, and no doubt will continue to make a difference.  But you don’t have to go to Ghana or Croatia to pray!   There may be a campaign in your hometown. You can pray wherever you are, of course, but if there’s a vigil near you, prayer on the sidewalk in front of the abortion center sends a powerful message – to the women seeking abortion, to the people on the facility’s staff ... and to your community.  Here’s the link to find your local 40 Days for Life vigil:  http://40daysforlife.com/browse-campaigns/  Pray hard!  Here's today's devotional from David Brandao, the communications director for 40 Days for Life. Day 1 intention  That we may use these 40 Days for Life to plead for God's mercy and grace upon all those involved in the sin of abortion. Scripture Blow the trumpet in Zion! Proclaim a fast, call an assembly. Gather the people, notify the congregation. Assemble the elders; gather the children and the infants at the breast... Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep and say, "Spare, O Lord, your people."  — Joel 2:15-17 Reflection  The toll of abortion cannot be measured. We hear estimates of almost 50 million innocent victims, but that's only one aspect of the harm that has unfolded in abortion's wake. There are also the mothers and fathers of these millions, as well as the grandparents, brothers and sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins. Unborn lives destroyed. Lives of the living shattered.  It's overwhelming and depressing, but even in the midst of such unfathomable darkness, the church teaches us to have hope. Yes, it was indeed Calvary that followed Christ's 40 days in the desert, but without Calvary there would have been no Resurrection -- His victory over death that opened the gates of heaven to those who believe in and follow Him.  The psalmist encourages us to go humbly before God as we seek His will: "A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me... Give me back the joy of your salvation and a willing spirit sustain in me... O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise" (Psalm 51:12, 14, 17).  We are called to be God's messengers; or as the Apostle Paul told the Corinthians: "We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: be reconciled to God" (2 Corinthians 5:20).  That is the true message to all we encounter at the abortion centers and in our communities who have been deceived by the Culture of Death. We don't bring condemnation; we bring God's good news.  Prayer Lord, we ask for the strength, courage, wisdom, determination and stamina to carry out this mission according to Your will.  Guide us, we pray, as we go forth and proclaim Your truth, always doing so with a spirit of love and compassion, as was demonstrated to us by Your Son, Jesus Christ. In His name we pray. Amen.  Printable devotional  To download today's devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends: http://40daysforlife.com/media/fall2014day01print.pdf  For Life,   SHAWN CARNEY Campaign Director 40 Days for Life www.40daysforlife.com