Dear Deacon John,
… 87 babies have been spared from abortion – that we know of!
Now that is a wonderful answer to prayer!
Many 40 Days for
Life prayer volunteers work closely with nearby pregnancy help centers,
where young women can find free medical care and material assistance – a true blessing for so many moms who choose life.
Here’s how God has saved lives through this wonderful partnership!
St. Louis, Missouri
Brian in St. Louis reports three turnarounds
on one day … “including one in which a Planned Parenthood security
guard was attempting to interfere with sidewalk counseling and another
which saw a young, abortion-minded college student cancel her
appointment at Planned Parenthood to receive pregnancy help across the
street at the Thrive Mobile Medical Unit.”
The operations coordinator there shared her gratitude to all of the 40 Days for Life prayer volunteers who “make turnarounds possible through their powerful presence and encouragement.”
“God continues to shower us daily with new mercies and new victories,” Brian said.
Santa Rosa, California
In Santa Rosa, a woman had just learned she was pregnant ... and had serious doubts about having another baby. So she scheduled an abortion at the local Planned Parenthood facility.
But when she
arrived at Planned Parenthood, people were praying outside at the 40
Days for Life vigil. She was immediately reminded of the abortion she’d
once had … and knew at that moment that she couldn’t go through it again.
One of the volunteers held a sign with the name and phone number of the pregnancy center. So she went there instead of Planned Parenthood … and learned about the spiritual and practical support they are able to offer.
She chose life!
Orlando, Florida
While the 40 Days
for Life team was praying and singing, a young couple outside the
abortion center in Orlando agonized over whether or not to go through
with a scheduled abortion.
As they did, a counselor reached out to them with offers of help. The young couple went into Planned Parenthood briefly, but when they came out, they were all smiles.
As they drove away from Planned Parenthood, they said they were keeping the baby. The counselor could see the relief and joy all over their faces.
Volunteers were
pleased that students from the University of Central Florida joined them
in prayer at the vigil. “They left before finding out about the saved
baby,” said Irene, the local leader, “but no doubt their prayerful presence helped inspire the young couple to make the right choice! Please be a part of this peaceful vigil in defense of our most defenseless brothers and sisters.”
Today’s devotional is from Dennis DiMauro of Lutherans for Life.
Day 13 intention
We pray for the strength to love those who do not love us.
Scripture
But the Lord said “You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in the night and perished in the night. And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left, and much livestock? Should I not be concerned about that great city?”
— Jonah 4:10-11
Reflection by Dennis DiMauro
God doesn’t value people and things like we do.
Jonah loved a shade tree more than an entire city of sinful people. We love our dogs more than a terrorist. We love our cars more than a beggar on the side of the road. And sometimes, we love our money more than a child growing in a desperate teenager's womb.
But God isn’t like us. Genesis 1 tells us that humans were the capstone of God's creation.
We were created on the sixth day after God had completed the land, the stars, the plants and the animals. Therefore, His love for us is greater than His love for a plant, an animal, or any other created thing.
And the book of Jonah tells us that He loves even the most sinful people and seeks to bring them into His merciful arms. And it’s a love that seeks to touch all of his created children: that desperate teenager, the baby growing in her womb, even tyrants and terrorists.
So it’s up to us to imitate God's merciful love by helping and praying for those who persecute us, and those who don't love us back.
Prayer
Gracious God, loving our enemies seems like one of most difficult things you could ask of us. Please remind us that this is how you love and that if you ask it of us then you will give us the grace to do it. This we ask through Christ our Lord, Amen.
Printable devotional
To download today’s devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share:
Day 13 intention
We pray for the strength to love those who do not love us.
Scripture
But the Lord said “You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in the night and perished in the night. And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left, and much livestock? Should I not be concerned about that great city?”
— Jonah 4:10-11
Reflection by Dennis DiMauro
God doesn’t value people and things like we do.
Jonah loved a shade tree more than an entire city of sinful people. We love our dogs more than a terrorist. We love our cars more than a beggar on the side of the road. And sometimes, we love our money more than a child growing in a desperate teenager's womb.
But God isn’t like us. Genesis 1 tells us that humans were the capstone of God's creation.
We were created on the sixth day after God had completed the land, the stars, the plants and the animals. Therefore, His love for us is greater than His love for a plant, an animal, or any other created thing.
And the book of Jonah tells us that He loves even the most sinful people and seeks to bring them into His merciful arms. And it’s a love that seeks to touch all of his created children: that desperate teenager, the baby growing in her womb, even tyrants and terrorists.
So it’s up to us to imitate God's merciful love by helping and praying for those who persecute us, and those who don't love us back.
Prayer
Gracious God, loving our enemies seems like one of most difficult things you could ask of us. Please remind us that this is how you love and that if you ask it of us then you will give us the grace to do it. This we ask through Christ our Lord, Amen.
Printable devotional
To download today’s devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share:
How many more lives will be saved over the next 27 days of this campaign thanks to your prayers and faithfulness, Deacon John?
I can't wait to find out!
I can't wait to find out!
For life,
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SHAWN CARNEY
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
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