From 40 Days For Life: DAY 11: Planned Parenthood, Congress ... and you

Dear Deacon John, A lot of myths were uncovered this week as Planned Parenthood’s CEO, Cecile Richards, testified before Congress and admitted what many already knew ...  ... mainly, that Planned Parenthood makes a fortune from abortion despite their misleading claim that it only represents 3% of their services ...  ... their cancer screenings have dropped by 50% as abortions have increased ...  ... and finally, Planned Parenthood does not own one mammogram machine. Not one.     Yet Cecile Richards told CNN in 2011 that Planned Parenthood did perform mammograms.  Planned Parenthood also launched a “pink-out” promotion asking people to wear pink, carry pink signs and join “I stand with Planned Parenthood” events. A few local media outlets covered the pink-out ... and actually got Planned Parenthood managers to speak on the record.  The quote of the day comes from Kim Atkins of Planned Parenthood Mohawk-Hudson in New York.  Atkins told the Glens Falls Post-Star that the baby body parts scandal was a“smear campaign” and said the people like you who are praying with 40 Days for Life were merely “uninformed protesters” ... adding that “federal funding to Planned Parenthood supports direct vital health services for women, many of whom have low or no income.”  Meanwhile, here are two examples of what Planned Parenthood is doing with your tax dollars.  Winston-Salem, North Carolina   While one of the volunteers was praying at the 40 Days for Life vigil, she noticed a young couple and another woman outside Planned Parenthood, engaged in a rather animated conversation. She asked if the three needed help,and they said they did.  The driver said she’d brought the couple for a pregnancy test – they’re homeless and stay in a tent in the woods. They left Planned Parenthood after they were told pregnancy tests were only available for a fee.  The volunteer quickly gave them information about pregnancy help centers where there’s no charge for the test … as well as information about shelters in the area.  “They were very grateful and drove right off to go to the pregnancy care centers,” the volunteer said. “I assured them of our prayers and told her to call if there is anything else we can do, that we have a large network of folks willing to help.”  The vigil participant then reflected on what just happened. “They went for help at a place that is supposed to be an advocate for poor or low income women and families … and they were turned away. There was no room for them at the non-profit, taxpayer funded ‘inn’ of Planned Parenthood without money.”   Houston, Texas   Even as Cecile Richards was trying to defend Planned Parenthood before Congress, Planned Parenthood of the Gulf Coast organized a pink-out day at their huge abortion facility in Houston.    The 40 Days for Life team says sidewalk counselors and prayer partners continued to offer assistance to the women entering the building. “Any and all interaction between groups was positive and peaceful,” one leader said. “We were grateful for the police and the media who were both on site.  But just hours after the media had retired and the pink signs were gone, three emergency vehicles arrived and a person on a gurney was whisked away from Planned Parenthood by ambulance.    “This makes the tenth ambulance we have seen at this Planned Parenthood in nine months,” the volunteer said. “Please pray for all involved!”   Here's today's devotional from Carmen Pate of Alliance Ministries. Day 11 intention  Pray that when those representing Planned Parenthood and other abortion groups see volunteers for 40 Days for Life, they see ambassadors of Christ, and may each volunteer be consciously aware at all times we represent Him. Scripture  I...beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness, and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love.  — Ephesians 4:1-2 Reflection When a former abortionist and post-abortive woman, Carol Everett, was asked what turned her heart from death to life in Christ, she replied, "It was unconditional love" shown by a man who prayed daily for her in front of the facility where she worked.  He told Carol that "God had sent him" because there was someone in there that God wanted out. She left 27 days later and now serves as Christ's ambassador to help others. We too have been sent by Christ as an ambassador to love unconditionally those God seeks to "get out" of their bondage and sin.  In his book, "Fishers of Men," Dr. Sumner Wemp describes what it means to be an ambassador of Christ, the King of Kings: God has chosen us (John 15:16) We are sent into a world that is not our home (1 Peter 2:11) Our walk must match our talk (1 Timothy 3:7) We must abide in Him for daily instruction (John 15:5) Know our purpose -- to seek and to save that which is lost (Luke 19:10) We are to reconcile others to God with His authority (Matthew 28:19-20) Our service is to be grounded and rooted in love (Ephesians 3:17) Pray that we each will walk worthy of the calling with which we were called! Prayer Dear Heavenly Father, we are humbled that you have called us and appointed us to be ambassadors of Christ in a world that is not our home. It is a calling much higher and grander than our finite minds can imagine.  We pray that your Holy Spirit will empower us to walk worthy of the calling. We pray that Your unconditional love will flow through us onto those who desperately need Your saving grace. In the name of Christ who is worthy, Amen. Printable devotional  To download today's devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends: http://40daysforlife.com/media/day11.pdf For life,     SHAWN CARNEY Campaign Director 40 Days for Life www.40daysforlife.com