Dear Deacon John,
That’s the panic headline in a recent Bloomberg Businessweek article that warns “abortion access” in the United States is rapidly “vanishing.”
We know that to be true ... since one of those closed abortion centers is the Planned Parenthood facility where 40 Days for Life began – the place that now serves as our headquarters in Texas.
The abortion business is hurting – and the statistics tell the story.
According to the article, many of the closures are credited to legislation that established legal and safety requirements that the facilities couldn’t meet. Most importantly, they also acknowledged that “changing demographics and declining demand were also behind the drop.”
It’s good to see the secular media picking up on this growing trend.
We know of 67 abortion centers where 40 Days for Life vigils took place that are now closed. We are confident that as we pray, fast and offer loving alternatives at the abortion facilities, even more will close.
Perhaps the one in your town will be next!
Fayetteville, North Carolina
A man and two women walked up to one of the 40 Days for Life prayer volunteers … and one of the women spoke: “I just want to hear your opinion.”
She began a
discussion about pregnancies that were the result of sexual assault, and
why women who were in that situation should not be “forced to keep
their baby.”
The volunteer noted
that it was without a doubt a painful, traumatic experience … but that
the baby, who had done nothing wrong, should not have to die.
“Oh yeah,” the woman said, “you are right about that. I just didn't realize that.”
She thanked the
vigil participants and noted that she’d thought pro-life people were
judgmental and hated those who disagreed with them.
“We are doing a
peaceful prayer vigil as part of the 40 Days for Life campaign,” the
volunteer explained, “and we are here to truly reach out to these women,
not judging them, because we ourselves are also sinners and are not in
any position to be judging others.”
“I will definitely spread the word,” the woman said.
Tempe, Arizona
“By the grace of God,” said Lisa in Tempe, “we are seeing people approach us to ask for information regarding alternatives to abortion.”
Two women pulled
into the Planned Parenthood parking lot and just sat in their car …
watching vigil participants pray for about ten minutes. When they
finally got out of the car, they headed straight over to ask the 40 Days
for Life team if they had any information regarding pregnancy.
They learned that the two women were aunt and niece. The niece was considering abortion … but it was her aunt doing all the talking.
After the
volunteers gave them information regarding local pregnancy centers and
the development of the baby, they started walking back to their car.
They stood beside the car ... talking for another ten minutes before
they got in and started the engine.
“As they drove by us with their windows rolled down and smiles on their faces,” the volunteer said, “they both began to wave and thank us. Praise the Lord!”
Today’s devotional is from Rev. Rob Schenck, president of Faith and Action.
Day 19 intention
We pray for a renewal of our zeal to offer generous help to the unborn and their families.
Scripture
If I have despised the cause of my male or female servant when they complained against me, what then shall I do when God rises up? When He punishes, how shall I answer Him? Did not He who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?
— Job 31:13-15
Reflection by Rev. Rob Schenck
The ground is level as we stand before God.
Job lived with an awe provoking sense of God's expectation of him, particularly regarding his obligation to care for the weak and needy.
He knew that in God's economy everyone stands on level ground when it comes to our status as God's creatures. Because of that central truth, we must take care of each other.
Job also knew that he didn't deserve any of the good things God gave to him. Instead, those blessings came to Job from God's benevolent heart.
As an extension of that knowledge, Job instinctively linked his obligation to be generous to others to God's kindness toward him.
As in Jesus’ parable of the unmerciful servant (Matthew 18:23-35), Job knew that it is an egregious sin to deny to others what we enjoy ourselves.
He actually calls down on his own head severe condemnation and even punishment should he fail to share with others out of his own abundance (see verses 16-23).
Proverbs 3:27 reads, “Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so.” Some things are so obvious that we don't even need to pray except to ask of God forgiveness and the power to do what so obviously needs doing.
Prayer
God, forgive us when we try to explain away the obligation we have to help others who need help.
Enable us to not devalue them because they are in the circumstance that they are in, but to see them for what they are, those, who like us, were formed by your hand in their mother's womb. Amen.
Printable devotional
To download today’s devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share:
Day 19 intention
We pray for a renewal of our zeal to offer generous help to the unborn and their families.
Scripture
If I have despised the cause of my male or female servant when they complained against me, what then shall I do when God rises up? When He punishes, how shall I answer Him? Did not He who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?
— Job 31:13-15
Reflection by Rev. Rob Schenck
The ground is level as we stand before God.
Job lived with an awe provoking sense of God's expectation of him, particularly regarding his obligation to care for the weak and needy.
He knew that in God's economy everyone stands on level ground when it comes to our status as God's creatures. Because of that central truth, we must take care of each other.
Job also knew that he didn't deserve any of the good things God gave to him. Instead, those blessings came to Job from God's benevolent heart.
As an extension of that knowledge, Job instinctively linked his obligation to be generous to others to God's kindness toward him.
As in Jesus’ parable of the unmerciful servant (Matthew 18:23-35), Job knew that it is an egregious sin to deny to others what we enjoy ourselves.
He actually calls down on his own head severe condemnation and even punishment should he fail to share with others out of his own abundance (see verses 16-23).
Proverbs 3:27 reads, “Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so.” Some things are so obvious that we don't even need to pray except to ask of God forgiveness and the power to do what so obviously needs doing.
Prayer
God, forgive us when we try to explain away the obligation we have to help others who need help.
Enable us to not devalue them because they are in the circumstance that they are in, but to see them for what they are, those, who like us, were formed by your hand in their mother's womb. Amen.
Printable devotional
To download today’s devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share:
For life,
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SHAWN CARNEY
President
40 Days for Life
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