Dear Deacon John,
We’re almost two weeks into this 40 Days for Life campaign and we have more good news to share. So far … there have been 86 babies saved from abortion – that we know of.
Praise God!
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Kathy in Memphis sent a quick note with great news: “Three babies saved!”
A volunteer spoke to a young couple who were on their way into Planned Parenthood. They listened, but kept on going into the building. Before too long, though, they came back out.
“We took the young couple into the mobile unit, and they saw the ultrasound,” Kathy said … and the baby was saved.
A vigil participant said she had just arrived for her prayer shift when a woman walked out of Planned Parenthood and announced that she would not be going through with the abortion. A short time later, volunteers reported a third woman also decided to turn away from Planned Parenthood.
A volunteer spoke to a young couple who were on their way into Planned Parenthood. They listened, but kept on going into the building. Before too long, though, they came back out.
“We took the young couple into the mobile unit, and they saw the ultrasound,” Kathy said … and the baby was saved.
A vigil participant said she had just arrived for her prayer shift when a woman walked out of Planned Parenthood and announced that she would not be going through with the abortion. A short time later, volunteers reported a third woman also decided to turn away from Planned Parenthood.
Wilmington, Delaware
“I am happy to report,” Julie said, “that two little lives have been saved from abortion at the Planned Parenthood in Wilmington!”
One woman told counselors she had to abort her baby for the sake of her other two children – she didn’t think she could handle another. The volunteers gave her information about a nearby pregnancy center … and bus fare to get her there. She seemed quite relieved. "Thank you for being here,” she said. “I'm not going to do it!"
Volunteers drove another woman to the pregnancy center after telling her she had better options. “She was under a lot of pressure to abort,” Julie said, “and said if she could just get some help she would choose life for her baby”
A young man who joined the vigil confided that during a previous campaign, his wife was having pregnancy complications and made an appointment for an abortion – and she threatened to call the police if he tried to stop her.
So he prayed, asking the Lord to show his wife a sign at the abortion center that would change her mind.
Of course, when she got there, she saw people praying and realized that she was about to make a terrible “choice.” Their son is now 10 months old.
“He was so grateful that we had been there,” Julie said. “He wanted to join us and perhaps help save someone else's child.”
One woman told counselors she had to abort her baby for the sake of her other two children – she didn’t think she could handle another. The volunteers gave her information about a nearby pregnancy center … and bus fare to get her there. She seemed quite relieved. "Thank you for being here,” she said. “I'm not going to do it!"
Volunteers drove another woman to the pregnancy center after telling her she had better options. “She was under a lot of pressure to abort,” Julie said, “and said if she could just get some help she would choose life for her baby”
A young man who joined the vigil confided that during a previous campaign, his wife was having pregnancy complications and made an appointment for an abortion – and she threatened to call the police if he tried to stop her.
So he prayed, asking the Lord to show his wife a sign at the abortion center that would change her mind.
Of course, when she got there, she saw people praying and realized that she was about to make a terrible “choice.” Their son is now 10 months old.
“He was so grateful that we had been there,” Julie said. “He wanted to join us and perhaps help save someone else's child.”
Germantown, Maryland
A young man rode up on a bicycle and stopped to talk to a volunteer. He said that when he and his wife were expecting their third child, and had seriously discussed the idea of abortion because of family finances.
He said that they saw people standing in prayer outside the abortion center ... and that made them think about what they were about to do. Their baby girl is now one month old.
“You never know what impact you will have,” said Andrew in Germantown. “The simple act of standing on the sidewalk and praying for an end to abortion can save a life.”
A young man rode up on a bicycle and stopped to talk to a volunteer. He said that when he and his wife were expecting their third child, and had seriously discussed the idea of abortion because of family finances.
He said that they saw people standing in prayer outside the abortion center ... and that made them think about what they were about to do. Their baby girl is now one month old.
“You never know what impact you will have,” said Andrew in Germantown. “The simple act of standing on the sidewalk and praying for an end to abortion can save a life.”
Here's today's devotional from Randolph Sly of the National Pro-life Religious Council.
Day 13 intention
For all fathers who are terrified of being fathers.
For all fathers who are terrified of being fathers.
Scripture
A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy habitation.
— Psalm 68:5
A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy habitation.
— Psalm 68:5
Reflection
I had a friend many years ago who confided in me that he was terrified of being a father. He and his wife already had two children when this revelation came forth. "I never knew my father," he explained, "and I have no idea what a father is supposed to do."
We continued to share about this, as well as pray together. He began to see he had a father's heart for his children. His biggest problem was not a limitation on love but not knowing how to act out this love.
One day we talked about the verse quoted at the top of this page. I shared that he did know his Father... not his biological father but his Heavenly Father, who had rescued him from a life of destruction not many years before.
"How did your Heavenly Father guide you?" I asked. He talked about the ways he had seen God's love offered to him and the way the Lord had used circumstances and the Scriptures to mold him and mature him. "Well, the Lord wants to do the same thing through you for your children. Be available to His love and available to your kids. You'll do fine."
How wonderful it is to know that God takes a personal interest in each of us, many times using His faithful people -- the Church -- as channels of this love. No one is fatherless who lives in the Lord. His fatherly care begins at the moment of our conception, as it is written, "you knit me together in my mother's womb" (Psalm 139:12), and continues to be poured upon us throughout our lives.
I had a friend many years ago who confided in me that he was terrified of being a father. He and his wife already had two children when this revelation came forth. "I never knew my father," he explained, "and I have no idea what a father is supposed to do."
We continued to share about this, as well as pray together. He began to see he had a father's heart for his children. His biggest problem was not a limitation on love but not knowing how to act out this love.
One day we talked about the verse quoted at the top of this page. I shared that he did know his Father... not his biological father but his Heavenly Father, who had rescued him from a life of destruction not many years before.
"How did your Heavenly Father guide you?" I asked. He talked about the ways he had seen God's love offered to him and the way the Lord had used circumstances and the Scriptures to mold him and mature him. "Well, the Lord wants to do the same thing through you for your children. Be available to His love and available to your kids. You'll do fine."
How wonderful it is to know that God takes a personal interest in each of us, many times using His faithful people -- the Church -- as channels of this love. No one is fatherless who lives in the Lord. His fatherly care begins at the moment of our conception, as it is written, "you knit me together in my mother's womb" (Psalm 139:12), and continues to be poured upon us throughout our lives.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank you for caring about each of us so deeply. Help us to see and know you as our Father in heaven each and every day of our lives.
Your loving hand also rests on every child today carried in its mother's womb. May they be born into this world and come to know fully and personally your endless love. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
Heavenly Father, we thank you for caring about each of us so deeply. Help us to see and know you as our Father in heaven each and every day of our lives.
Your loving hand also rests on every child today carried in its mother's womb. May they be born into this world and come to know fully and personally your endless love. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
Printable devotional
To download today's devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends:
http://40daysforlife.com/media/fall2014day13print.pdf
To download today's devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends:
http://40daysforlife.com/media/fall2014day13print.pdf
For Life,
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SHAWN CARNEY
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
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My add:
As I prayed the above devotional, I thought about my own life as a father. I too grew up without a father to guide me, my dad died when I was about 5 years old. I always felt he was looking out for me from heaven. As I grew older and married, I prayed to St. Joseph for guidance, asking for the grace to be a good father and husband. After 50 years, I still pray for this grace! Finally, for the past few years, I also pray to God the Father, thanking Him for loving me with an 'everlasting love,' forgiving me my sins, and drawing me to His Divine Son, Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary. I may not have been a great father, but at least my children know that I love them, like Our Father in heaven, with an 'everlasting love!'
Deacon John
