DEACON FOR LIFE

Were there to be no support in the whole history of ethical and moral thought, were there no acknowledged confirmation from medical science, were the history of legal opinion to the contrary, we would still have to conclude on the basis of God's Holy Word that the unborn child is a person in the sight of God. He is protected by the sanctity of life graciously given to each individual by the Creator, Who alone places His image upon man and grants them any right to life which they have.

Friday, February 12, 2016

From 40 Days For Life: DAY 3: Planned Parenthood unnerved

Dear Deacon John,

$38.3 million is a lot of money.

According to Planned Parenthood’s latest annual report, that’s how much their private contributions have decreased.

For the abortion industry, when you have a drop like that you will say anything – or accuse anyone – to raise money. As this 40 Days for Life campaign begins, they’re turning their attention to those praying at peaceful vigils.

40 Days for Life campaigns are effective. When a woman chooses life, we rejoice ... and help that mother. Planned Parenthood only sees lost income. Here is the latest example.

In an email to supporters in Pennsylvania, they try to paint you as an “extremist.”

“Protesters plan to hold a vigil every day in front of our medical centers,” reads the email, “attempting to intimidate, harass and block our patients from accessing the care they need.”

Planned Parenthood then asks backers to contribute money for every “protester” who shows up during the campaign. The more people show up, the more their friends will donate – or at least, that’s the idea.

So if you see one of these “pledge-a-picket” campaigns at the abortion facility in your community, pay it no attention. Just bow your head and do the one thing that really hurts their bottom line: pray!

(Want to know what to really expect at a vigil? Listen to this week’s podcast. Here’s the link.)

Manhattan, New York

“Not even two hours into the first day of our 40-day vigil,” said Jill, the 40 Days for Life coordinator in Manhattan, “and we are already saving lives.”

Jill was just leaving her apartment, which is not far from the Planned Parenthood abortion center.

“A young woman stopped me and asked for directions to 26 Bleecker Street – an all-too-familiar address. I asked if she was going to Planned Parenthood, and told her that place was bad news.”

Jill gave her contact information for the Sisters of Life. Still, the young woman walked inside.

But she wasn’t there long. She came back out and told Jill the abortion facility was “really scary.”

She texted the Sisters of Life and made plans to meet with them.

“God wants us to know that we are doing His work,” Jill said. “He answers our prayers and rewards us for being public witnesses of His Word.”

Columbia, Missouri

“Please dress warm ... and layer, layer and layer some more!”

That was the advice that Kathy, the 40 Days for Life leader in Columbia, gave to prayer volunteers on a day where the temperature stayed well below freezing. She followed her own advice, with multiple layers topped off by a hoodie, wool sweater and warm coat – plus two pairs of gloves.

Throughout the day, Planned Parenthood had a staff of ten on the job – for a total of 12 clients.

“We are doing the right thing,” Kathy said, “and God will save many babies as together we pray on this sidewalk – God’s sidewalk – and offer up our prayers of thanksgiving and praise to Him!”

Today's devotional is from Dennis DiMauro of Lutherans for Life.

Day 3 intention

We pray for God’s gift of strength as we strive to protect human life during these 40 Days for Life.

Scripture

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

– Matthew 6:25-26

Reflection by Dennis DiMauro

Billions of dollars are spent each year on diet plans. But Jesus tells us to stop worrying so much about our bodies, and instead to trust in God’s care for our physical needs.

What would happen if the people who had started on a low-carb diet this year had instead gone on a diet of heavenly food? For non-believers that diet would include trusting in Christ for their salvation, and for believers it would include a renewed prayer life, a new Bible study, or even a spiritual fast.

This diet doesn’t include giving up on certain kinds of foods. What this diet

includes is giving up on anxiety by resting in the loving arms of Christ, trusting that He will provide. Such a spiritual diet also frees us from our worries, and allows us to freely praise Him and serve others. Christ’s words bear repeating:

This promised provision teaches us the inestimable worth of our lives. He will not allow us to go without. This intimate knowledge and care for human life on the part of our gracious God is what motivates us to seek for the preservation of human life in all its stages.

Prayer

Loving heavenly Father, help us to see the worth of all human beings by the way in which you provide for us. We would ask that you provide also the faith, grace and courage to enable us to protect that which is so precious to you. Through Christ our Lord, amen.

Printable devotional

To download today's devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share:

https://40daysforlife.com/media/day03.pdf

For life,

SHAWN CARNEY

President

40 Days for Life