Dear Deacon John,
As this 40 Days for Life campaign comes to an end, we have reports of 546 babies saved from abortion – that we know of!
And keep in mind that these aren’t just numbers.
That’s 546 individual human beings … and their moms … and their dads … and grandparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins. Each time a mother says “yes” to life, the impact is profound.
God worked through so many faithful people during this campaign and that work goes on far beyond Day 40.
We close with a beautiful witness to what God can do, which should inspire us to consider one question:
Could this happen in your town?
Vacaville, California
“God has heard our prayers,” said Noelle in Vacaville. “He has seen our faithfulness and He has plans for our community that we never dreamed of.”
As the Vacaville team was planning this 40 Days for Life campaign, they spotted a sign in front of the office building at 600 Nut Tree Road – that’s where Planned Parenthood is located.
It was a simple real estate sign: “Space for lease.”
So on a whim, they made two calls. One was to the leasing agent. The other was to the director of a pregnancy help center. It would be a blessing, they thought, if assistance could be much closer to Planned Parenthood – and in fact, under the very same roof!
“Never did we think anything would materialize,” recalled Noelle. “It would simply be too good to be true. But, as we know, we must never underestimate the power of God.”
To make a long story short, the pregnancy center’s board of directors signed a lease, and will move into 600 Nut Tree Road – yes, the same building that Planned Parenthood is in.
And not just the same building.
They will be right across the hall from Planned Parenthood!
“This means that abortion-minded women – women who feel as if they have no other choice than to end their child’s life – will be presented with real choices and life-affirming options as they walk down the hall to their abortion appointments,” she said.
“Can you imagine the lives that will be saved? The women that will be empowered, loved and supported?”
Volunteers have prayed through 100-degree heat … high winds … heavy rains. At times, they became discouraged, and wondered, “Is this really working?”And, being human, they wondered if God was listening.
“God most certainly has been listening and He had plans greater than anything we could have ever imagined,” Noelle said. “Some might say it’s just a case of good timing, just a coincidence. But we call it divine intervention. It is with awe and gratitude that we give thanks to God for His mercy, His glory and His power.”
Amen!
Here’s today’s devotional from Fr. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life.
Day 41 intention
Pray that the witness of 40 Days for Life bears abundant fruit, and that we begin again each day to storm the gates of hell until God welcomes us into the gates of heaven.
Scripture
On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
— Matthew 16:18
Reflection
When we read this verse, we usually think that the Lord is promising that the church, which is His Body, will withstand all the attacks launched against it. Of course, that is true.
But when we think about it more carefully, we realize that in a battle, the gates do not run out into the battlefield to attack the enemy. Rather, they stand still to defend the city from the enemy attacking it.
So when the Lord says that the gates of hell will not prevail against the church, who is doing the attacking? It is the church storming the gates!
The church, all of God’s people in Christ, is called to take the offensive, to run into enemy territory, and to gain ground for Jesus Christ. We do not wait for an invitation; we already have a command. We prepare, but we do not wait for circumstances to be perfect; we already have one who has gone before us.
During these 40 days, we have stormed the gates. We have taken the offensive. We have pushed forward the boundaries of the kingdom. And we must keep doing so, in numerous ways.
Indeed, the gates of hell will not prevail. The gates of falsehood will flee in the presence of truth. The gates of sin will melt in the presence of grace. The gates of death will fall in the presence of the church, the People of Life!
Prayer
Father, we praise you. We have heard the voice of your Son, and therefore we can make our voices heard. We have done battle with the power of evil, and therefore we can have compassion on those still within its grip. We have been freed from the kingdom of darkness, and therefore we can bear witness to your Kingdom of Light.
May the witness of all your people through these 40 Days for Life bear abundant fruit, and may we begin again each day to storm the gates of hell until You welcome us into the gates of heaven. We pray in the victorious name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
Printable devotional
To download today’s devotional as a printable PDF to share with friends:
http://40daysforlife.com/media/fall2014day41print.pdf
For Life,
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SHAWN CARNEY
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
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