Dear Deacon John,
We’re still going!
After four weeks of non-stop vigil, it may seem quite natural to feel a bit tired or weary. This is the time to keep your perspective and reflect on the example of the apostle Paul:
“I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God’s upward calling, in Christ Jesus.”
— Philippians 3:14
In addition to that, have some coffee! I know I’ve had my fair share during this campaign.
Steve Karlen, our North American outreach director, shared some words of encouragement recently at a stop in Birmingham, Alabama.
Click the image below to watch a quick two-minute video ...
Steve Karlen, our North American outreach director, shared some words of encouragement recently at a stop in Birmingham, Alabama.
Click the image below to watch a quick two-minute video ...
... or go to:
Check it out … recharge your batteries … and let’s see what else God has in store to help end abortion where you live!
Fort Collins, Colorado
Fort Collins is
conducting its tenth 40 Days for Life campaign. Linda, the local
coordinator, tells of a mother of three young children who came from out
of town ... to abort her fourth child.
Volunteers offered to help, so she came over to talk. “One of the sidewalk counselors told her a story from the Bible that brought her to tears,” Linda said, “and she decided to keep her child. But her needs are great. She is a single mother. Her other children are all under the age of four.”
This is where the community rallied around her. Though the woman lives several hundred miles away, volunteers were able to find someone in her home town to mentor her, and others will check on her weekly. She was also offered supplies and gift cards to help her take care of her family … and more gift cards have been set aside to assist her in the future.
“This is what a pro-life community does,” Linda said. “Even when someone comes from far away, the pro-life network can reach out to help her. This we will be happy to do for any mom who chooses life.”
Charleston, South Carolina
Volunteers offered to help, so she came over to talk. “One of the sidewalk counselors told her a story from the Bible that brought her to tears,” Linda said, “and she decided to keep her child. But her needs are great. She is a single mother. Her other children are all under the age of four.”
This is where the community rallied around her. Though the woman lives several hundred miles away, volunteers were able to find someone in her home town to mentor her, and others will check on her weekly. She was also offered supplies and gift cards to help her take care of her family … and more gift cards have been set aside to assist her in the future.
“This is what a pro-life community does,” Linda said. “Even when someone comes from far away, the pro-life network can reach out to help her. This we will be happy to do for any mom who chooses life.”
Charleston, South Carolina
“We’ve had a save!”
said Shane in Charleston, where 40 Days for Life prayer volunteers
witnessed an inspiring change of heart in a young couple – through an
unlikely mediator.
An older woman accepted a pregnancy resource information sheet from one of the vigil participants. She was at the abortion facility because her abortion-minded daughter was inside. She brought that flyer in, and noticed a young couple in the waiting room that seemed quite troubled.
She passed the information along to them.
“We would like to say that the woman’s prayers for her own daughter were answered,” Shane said, “but we just don't know. We do know, though, that the young couple to whom she reached out – complete strangers – left the clinic soon after … and they elected for adoption.”
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
An older woman accepted a pregnancy resource information sheet from one of the vigil participants. She was at the abortion facility because her abortion-minded daughter was inside. She brought that flyer in, and noticed a young couple in the waiting room that seemed quite troubled.
She passed the information along to them.
“We would like to say that the woman’s prayers for her own daughter were answered,” Shane said, “but we just don't know. We do know, though, that the young couple to whom she reached out – complete strangers – left the clinic soon after … and they elected for adoption.”
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
A woman in her
mid-30s stopped at the 40 Days for Life vigil in Lancaster. She had
noticed the signs the prayer volunteers were holding … and asked for
more information about the campaign.
She chatted with vigil participants for a while. They gave her a copy of the campaign flyer, and she continued her walk up the street. But after walking a short distance, she turned around … headed back to the vigil … and asked the others if she could lead them in prayer!
“Of course,” said one of the team members, “all agreed, and the woman gave heartfelt praise to the Lord and passionately asked for His help in ending abortion in our community and nation. This is just one of many moments that Lancaster vigil volunteers will long remember.”
She chatted with vigil participants for a while. They gave her a copy of the campaign flyer, and she continued her walk up the street. But after walking a short distance, she turned around … headed back to the vigil … and asked the others if she could lead them in prayer!
“Of course,” said one of the team members, “all agreed, and the woman gave heartfelt praise to the Lord and passionately asked for His help in ending abortion in our community and nation. This is just one of many moments that Lancaster vigil volunteers will long remember.”
Here’s today’s devotional from Rev. Ben Sheldon, President Emeritus of Presbyterians Pro-life
Day 28 intention
We pray for the conversion of abortionists and all abortion advocates.
We pray for the conversion of abortionists and all abortion advocates.
Scripture
“Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow.”
— Isaiah 1:16-17
“Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow.”
— Isaiah 1:16-17
Reflection
God is just.
Inscribed around the inside of the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC, are the immortal words of Thomas Jefferson: “I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just.”
If the deist, Jefferson, knew in the depths of his being that God is just, how much more ought we Christians to reflect on this profound truth?
The justice of God, like his holiness and his purity, encourages us to seek justice for all people. It is the evil deeds and wrong, selfish attitudes of our modern society that have led to the cavalier acceptance of abortion and euthanasia.
But, as Jefferson also said, “his justice will not sleep forever.”
God is calling us today to seek justice, to encourage the oppressed, and to defend the orphans and widows of our society.
It is a noble calling! It is one which every true believer, every God-fearing man and woman, should heed with no hesitation and no reluctance.
To follow the God of justice and truth is to stand unequivocally for the right to life of everyone, especially the unborn, the physically disabled, and the terminally ill.
God's word through the prophet Isaiah is as relevant in today's 21st century world as it was in Isaiah’s 8th century BC world. May God's grace help us to defend the unborn’s right to life as well as that of the already born.
God is just.
Inscribed around the inside of the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC, are the immortal words of Thomas Jefferson: “I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just.”
If the deist, Jefferson, knew in the depths of his being that God is just, how much more ought we Christians to reflect on this profound truth?
The justice of God, like his holiness and his purity, encourages us to seek justice for all people. It is the evil deeds and wrong, selfish attitudes of our modern society that have led to the cavalier acceptance of abortion and euthanasia.
But, as Jefferson also said, “his justice will not sleep forever.”
God is calling us today to seek justice, to encourage the oppressed, and to defend the orphans and widows of our society.
It is a noble calling! It is one which every true believer, every God-fearing man and woman, should heed with no hesitation and no reluctance.
To follow the God of justice and truth is to stand unequivocally for the right to life of everyone, especially the unborn, the physically disabled, and the terminally ill.
God's word through the prophet Isaiah is as relevant in today's 21st century world as it was in Isaiah’s 8th century BC world. May God's grace help us to defend the unborn’s right to life as well as that of the already born.
Prayer
O God, our heavenly Father, give us courage and wisdom as we seek to eradicate the evil in our society. Help us to realize that your divine Spirit alone can change hearts and minds so that all your human creatures may enjoy the fullness of life you intended for them. I pray this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, Amen.
O God, our heavenly Father, give us courage and wisdom as we seek to eradicate the evil in our society. Help us to realize that your divine Spirit alone can change hearts and minds so that all your human creatures may enjoy the fullness of life you intended for them. I pray this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, Amen.
Printable devotional
To download today’s devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends:
http://40daysforlife.com/media/day28.pdf
To download today’s devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends:
http://40daysforlife.com/media/day28.pdf
For life,
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SHAWN CARNEY
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
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