Dear Deacon John,
Saturday is often the busiest day of the week at abortion centers. Some estimates say that there are as many as 8,000 abortions in the United States alone on any given Saturday.
If you’ve never been to a 40 Days for Life vigil, make this Saturday your first time to go and pray. Find your nearest location here:
http://40daysforlife.com/browse-campaigns
Steve Karlen, our North American outreach director, knows the impact your presence can make every day of the week. He recently traveled south from his home in Wisconsin to several locations in Alabama ... but warmer weather was nowhere to be found. Here’s Steve’s report.
If you’ve never been to a 40 Days for Life vigil, make this Saturday your first time to go and pray. Find your nearest location here:
http://40daysforlife.com/browse-campaigns
Steve Karlen, our North American outreach director, knows the impact your presence can make every day of the week. He recently traveled south from his home in Wisconsin to several locations in Alabama ... but warmer weather was nowhere to be found. Here’s Steve’s report.
The Birmingham
kickoff was a great event in freezing cold weather, so it was extra
encouraging to see our Alabama friends turn out in force for this
candlelight vigil. The volunteers pray outside a Planned Parenthood
center that had been closed for nine months before reopening. It no
longer does surgical abortions, but lives are still being lost to chemical abortions.
Both Bishop Robert
Baker and Bishop Emeritus David Foley came out to pray. Joy Pinto of
EWTN was at the event, and Fr. Terry Gensemer of the Charismatic
Episcopal Church was the MC.
The evening started with a short prayer service including readings from scripture. It ended with the signing of Amazing Grace as the participants laid flowers on the sidewalk in front of the abortion center.
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, on
Alabama’s Gulf Coast, was also pretty brisk with a cold wind coming in.
We had quite an enthusiastic crowd for the event at the vigil location
outside a Planned Parenthood abortion center.
I was told there is a law still on the books that dates back to the civil rights movement, limiting the number of people
who can stand together on the public sidewalk. If that’s true, no one’s
trying to enforce that law … and the attorneys who work with the local
team here believe the ordinance is basically unenforceable.
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
As I pulled up to the Tuscaloosa kickoff rally, I assumed I’d be alone. It was in the 40s and pouring rain! Nevertheless, we had about 20 people, mostly University of Alabama students, out for a somewhat truncated kickoff event.
A local priest
opened us in prayer. There was music provided by some students who
brought a guitar out in the cold, rainy weather. I even got splashed by a
passing car.
What is great about this vigil — in addition to people coming out in cold rain — is that the abortion center is temporarily closed. But the faithful still came out to pray with the goal of a permanent shutdown.
Thanks to Steve Karlen for today’s report!
Today’s devotional is from Carmen Pate of Alliance Ministries.
Day 4 intention
Pray that we each will daily put on the full armor of God, so that we are strong in the Lord and the power of His might.
Scripture
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
— Ephesians 6:12-13
Reflection
I am confounded to see how the battle over the issue of life is perceived more often in churches today as political rather than spiritual.
Ironically, the enemy has used this twisted perception to silence many in the body of Christ.
We must see the battle for what it is and we must daily put on the armor God has given us:
Gird your waist with Truth (vs. 14) — Commit your emotions to believe truth and to speak truth, regardless of the repercussions.
Put on the breastplate of Righteousness (vs. 14) — It will protect our hearts — the innermost springs of our beings — from all unrighteousness so evident in this fallen world.
Shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace. (vs. 15) — Preparation is vital if we are to be effective in God’s work.
Put on the breastplate of Righteousness (vs. 14) — It will protect our hearts — the innermost springs of our beings — from all unrighteousness so evident in this fallen world.
Shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace. (vs. 15) — Preparation is vital if we are to be effective in God's work.
Taking the shield of faith (vs.16) — The Accuser will instill doubt, fear, and guilt. Faith acts as an invisible shield that deflects such false accusations.
Taking the Helmet of salvation (vs.17) — A helmet protects the head, the brain and in turn our mind and thoughts. Satan hopes we will set aside divine revelation for human reasoning.
Taking the sword of the Spirit (vs.17) — The Word of God, the only offensive weapon in this armor, was used by the Lord Jesus against Satan. The living Word is powerful and effective.
Our armor is complete. We are ready to wage war, and the next verse tells us how, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit.” (vs.18)
Prayer
Our armor is complete. We are ready to wage war, and the next verse tells us how, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit.” (vs.18)
Prayer
Dear Lord, as you lead us into the spiritual battle of abortion may we be reminded that the battle is truly Yours. Thank you for hearing our requests for direction and protection. Thank you for the victory that is ours because of Your Son Jesus, Amen.
Printable devotional
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For life,
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SHAWN CARNEY
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
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