Dear Deacon John,
It’s Saturday – often the busiest day of the week at abortion centers. Your prayers are really needed today.
If you haven’t found your nearest 40 Days for Life camaign yet, check the list of 307 locations ... and make today your first day of prayer at the peaceful vigil.
Former abortion workers, post-abortive women and moms who have chosen life have all said that your peaceful presence does indeed save lives from abortion ... even if you never know about it.
San Ramon, California
Three 40 Days for Life volunteers were praying on the sidewalk when a taxi slowly drove up. The woman inside appeared to be reading the signs as the vehicle proceeded very slowly through the driveway – and she seemed visibly upset.
“The cab turned around in the parking lot,” said one of the vigil participants, “and they left! She did not get out of the cab!”
They don’t know why she was arriving at Planned Parenthood … or whether the taxi driver was going so slowly on purpose. “But we do know she did not go in.Please keep her in your prayers!”
Anchorage, Alaska
One of the 40 Days for Life volunteers sent along a picture from the vigil in Anchorage.
"There were ten children praying and holding signs outside of Planned Parenthood,” she wrote. “What a wonderful way to bring life to a dark place!”
She said people really responded to their smiling faces and cheerful waves. “I'm proud of these children for standing up for innocent babies!”
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
The 40 Days for Life vigil in Baton Rouge has received an outstanding response from churches in the area, as each day a different church has encouraged members to pray outside the Delta Women’s Clinic.
One recent day brought even more encouragement to this campaign. “We just got confirmation that two babies were saved,” said one of the team members. “A great group of moms, dads, babies and toddlers were out there on a Tuesday morning, a day when Delta is very busy.”
Spring Valley, New York
There have been 40 Days for Life campaigns in the Spring Valley area since the first coordinated campaign in 2007.
“For eight years we have stood on this ground because of one reason and one reason only,” said Eileen in Spring Valley. “God has sent us! Every hour, every day, the people of God are fasting and praying.”
And Eileen is convinced the prayers are being heard and answered. “We know through the New York state statistics that abortions in Rockland County have seriously dropped.”
Here's today's devotional from Randolph Sly of the National Pro-life Religious Council.
Day 18 intention
We pray for a flowering of the joy of parenthood.
Scripture
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate.
— Psalm 127:3-5
Reflection
I still vividly remember the day my first child was born. As she came into the world I gazed upon the most beautiful little baby I'd ever seen.
Later I was driving home from the hospital for a shower and a fresh change of clothes when a song came on the radio, "The Men in My Little Girl's Life" – a ballad about being a father as he watches his daughter grow through childhood to womanhood.
I wept as I listened, knowing those years would go by very fast ... and they did.
Being a father, whenever I read the Psalm quoted above I'm always captivated by one word – "heritage." It basically means "something passed down from a preceding generation."
That little girl I watched being born and wept for is not mine to give to God like a product of our fertility, but rather His, which he has entrusted to us. So are all her siblings.
My wife and I share a great treasure: precious lives, which are placed in our lineage that His life with us might be perpetuated.
To the psalmist, this was a blessing from the Lawgiver, God Himself, who blessed Israel with another generation intended to continue their covenantal promise.
For us in Christ, it is his gift of succeeding generations for His Church and her families.
These days I'm looking upon my grandchildren, and rejoicing that my children and their spouses will pass on the greatness of Christ's gospel to them and thus will continue the work of God in the world. What a blessing. What a heritage!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, please keep me from taking for granted the gift of children. Help us to remember this heritage that you have given us. Make us faithful stewards of these precious lives, that each generation might be raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
Printable devotional
To download today's devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends:
http://40daysforlife.com/media/day18.pdf
For life,
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SHAWN CARNEY
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
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