Dear Deacon John,
Are you encouraged
by by these emails? One local campaign leader just wrote in saying, "One
of the joys of 40 Days for Life is receiving the daily emails showing
God's countless miracles almost daily. We are constantly inspired and uplifted by the wonderful reports.”
Please post your own feedback in the comment section of today’s blog posting ... and if you like the emails, encourage others to see what God is doing by asking them to go to our website to join our email list.
It is our joy to share those stories with you — especially the one about abortions being cancelled two Saturdays in a row in Florida!
Please post your own feedback in the comment section of today’s blog posting ... and if you like the emails, encourage others to see what God is doing by asking them to go to our website to join our email list.
It is our joy to share those stories with you — especially the one about abortions being cancelled two Saturdays in a row in Florida!
Fort Pierce, Florida
For two consecutive Saturdays, there were no abortions at the facility where 40 Days for Life volunteers are praying in Fort Pierce. Normally, they would do between 5 and 10 abortions on a typical Saturday.
“I can't remember the last time this has happened two weeks in a row,” said Jim, one of the local leaders. “I don't think that it's a coincidence that it's happening during 40 Days for Life … and God promises that our prayers and fasting will not go unheard.”
Jim said he hopes to see prayer continue beyond Day 40 “so we can keep these positive results happening.”
Norristown, Pennsylvania
For two consecutive Saturdays, there were no abortions at the facility where 40 Days for Life volunteers are praying in Fort Pierce. Normally, they would do between 5 and 10 abortions on a typical Saturday.
“I can't remember the last time this has happened two weeks in a row,” said Jim, one of the local leaders. “I don't think that it's a coincidence that it's happening during 40 Days for Life … and God promises that our prayers and fasting will not go unheard.”
Jim said he hopes to see prayer continue beyond Day 40 “so we can keep these positive results happening.”
Norristown, Pennsylvania
Rita, the 40 Days for Life leader in Norristown, reports three babies were saved outside the Planned Parenthood location there … on the day the business schedules RU-486 abortions.
One of the volunteers was able to counsel a 15-year-old girl who arrived with her mother. She was given information about the local pregnancy help center and other life-affirming options – and they decided to follow that path instead of choosing abortion.
The vigil participants watched as a young woman and her boyfriend walked into Planned Parenthood … and then came out. And then went in a second time … and came out. They entered the building a third time. But this time, they came back out and told the volunteers they were keeping their baby.
Later, another young woman drove up and asked for information about the pregnancy help center. She, too, had rejected abortion.
“Praise God!” said Rita.
One of the volunteers was able to counsel a 15-year-old girl who arrived with her mother. She was given information about the local pregnancy help center and other life-affirming options – and they decided to follow that path instead of choosing abortion.
The vigil participants watched as a young woman and her boyfriend walked into Planned Parenthood … and then came out. And then went in a second time … and came out. They entered the building a third time. But this time, they came back out and told the volunteers they were keeping their baby.
Later, another young woman drove up and asked for information about the pregnancy help center. She, too, had rejected abortion.
“Praise God!” said Rita.
Germantown, Maryland
Members of a church
youth group came to pray outside the late-term abortion center in
Germantown. The sight of the teens standing in prayer was encouraging
enough to their leader. But then a woman arrived and gave them t-shirts –
with a sonogram image of a child in the womb.
“She told the youth group they were angels for being on the sidewalk,” the leader said. It was another “angel,” she said, who caused her to think about what she was about to do … and led her to change her mind about going in for an abortion.
“She now has a lovely three-year-old child,” the youth group’s leader said. “It was a very powerful message for me and the group to hear."
“Not only did our presence on the sidewalk three years ago save a life,” said Andrew, the 40 Days for Life coordinator in Germantown, “the mother is now involved in pro-life work and is being a voice for the unborn. It’s another powerful example of how God is using our presence on the sidewalk to save lives.”
Here's today's devotional from Georgette Forney, president of Anglicans for Life.
“She told the youth group they were angels for being on the sidewalk,” the leader said. It was another “angel,” she said, who caused her to think about what she was about to do … and led her to change her mind about going in for an abortion.
“She now has a lovely three-year-old child,” the youth group’s leader said. “It was a very powerful message for me and the group to hear."
“Not only did our presence on the sidewalk three years ago save a life,” said Andrew, the 40 Days for Life coordinator in Germantown, “the mother is now involved in pro-life work and is being a voice for the unborn. It’s another powerful example of how God is using our presence on the sidewalk to save lives.”
Here's today's devotional from Georgette Forney, president of Anglicans for Life.
Day 22 intention
May those who hold life as trivial realize that we live because God wills it so.
May those who hold life as trivial realize that we live because God wills it so.
Scripture
Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this, in His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.
— Job 12:9-10
Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this, in His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.
— Job 12:9-10
Reflection
Job was a man acquainted with grief, trials and tribulation. He had everything taken from him, including his family. He endured sickness, ridicule and judgment from his friends. Everyone gave him advice about his situation, questioning his spirituality and his God.
Job's circumstances were bad but he never loses faith. Why? Because "the hand of the Lord has made all life." Created by God, he knows his life has meaning and purpose, regardless of the circumstances.
In our present culture, we've lost that basic truth; every life is made and allowed to live by God's sovereign authority. As people who pride ourselves on our independence, we have a hard time acknowledging our dependence on God.
From our creation, when we were knit together in our mother's womb to our last breath, God's word is clear that "in His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind."
It's time for us as individuals, and as a society, to recognize that we exist by God's grace and turn back to Him, honoring His word and His teachings. Why? Because our world is full of Jobs, people who are dealing with trials and tribulations and hurting desperately.
Job's response should be ours as well. Regardless of what we face (even an unplanned pregnancy) God in His wisdom and mercy will redeem it.
How do I know? Job's friends who doubted God's sovereignty cry out to God asking for help, God instructs Job to pray for his friends and after he does, God restores all that Job had lost.
In other words, because Job never lost faith and knew and trusted His Creator, the Lord blessed Job.
Job was a man acquainted with grief, trials and tribulation. He had everything taken from him, including his family. He endured sickness, ridicule and judgment from his friends. Everyone gave him advice about his situation, questioning his spirituality and his God.
Job's circumstances were bad but he never loses faith. Why? Because "the hand of the Lord has made all life." Created by God, he knows his life has meaning and purpose, regardless of the circumstances.
In our present culture, we've lost that basic truth; every life is made and allowed to live by God's sovereign authority. As people who pride ourselves on our independence, we have a hard time acknowledging our dependence on God.
From our creation, when we were knit together in our mother's womb to our last breath, God's word is clear that "in His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind."
It's time for us as individuals, and as a society, to recognize that we exist by God's grace and turn back to Him, honoring His word and His teachings. Why? Because our world is full of Jobs, people who are dealing with trials and tribulations and hurting desperately.
Job's response should be ours as well. Regardless of what we face (even an unplanned pregnancy) God in His wisdom and mercy will redeem it.
How do I know? Job's friends who doubted God's sovereignty cry out to God asking for help, God instructs Job to pray for his friends and after he does, God restores all that Job had lost.
In other words, because Job never lost faith and knew and trusted His Creator, the Lord blessed Job.
Prayer
Thank you Father God for being the Creator of my life and every life. Please give me, and the society in which I live, an appreciation for your gift of life. Please help us set aside our pride and acknowledge that we need you.
Show me how I can honor you today in response to all the blessings you bestow so freely. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Thank you Father God for being the Creator of my life and every life. Please give me, and the society in which I live, an appreciation for your gift of life. Please help us set aside our pride and acknowledge that we need you.
Show me how I can honor you today in response to all the blessings you bestow so freely. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Printable devotional
To download today's devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends:
http://40daysforlife.com/media/fall2014day22print.pdf
To download today's devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends:
http://40daysforlife.com/media/fall2014day22print.pdf
For Life,
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SHAWN CARNEY
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
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PS: Please don’t forget to share your thoughts at the end of today’s blog posting at:
http://40daysforlife.com/2014/10/15/day-22-2/
