Dear Deacon,
I just got a note from a 40 Days for Life volunteer who
was overwhelmed with joy. The message read, "I'm doing
a praise dance right now!"
The reason? Another life spared from abortion!
Anyone who knows me, especially my poor wife, knows that
I can't dance. But with 178 lives saved -- that we know
of -- during this 40 Days for Life campaign, I may have
to take lessons.
We do give the praise and glory to God for these lives.
In fact, here are a few stories of babies who almost
didn't make it through the weekend but will now have
life -- Praise God indeed!
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LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY
-------------------------------------------------------
Two churches teamed up recently to pray and stand vigil
outside the only abortion clinic in Lexington.
"Usually, there are from 5 to 9 abortions on Thursdays,"
said Jayne in Lexington. "But for some reason, there
were none on that day! The only person there the whole
day was the office manager. We thank and praise God for
his many blessings and we thank everyone who came to
spend time in prayer."
------------------------------
VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA
-------------------------------------------------------
"What an encouraging day," said Marcia in Virginia
Beach. "Another couple chose life for their child!"
A man and woman drove into the Planned Parenthood lot --
right past people praying at the 40 Days for Life vigil.
One person held a sign with the phone number of the local
pregnancy resource center.
But the couple never even got out of the car. Instead,
they got on the phone -- and then turned around and left.
As they exited the driveway, they pointed to the sign --
and said they were going to the pro-life center because
they had decided to keep their baby.
"Praise God!" said Marcia.
You can see photos of the 40 Days for Life vigil in
Virginia Beach at:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1811
------------------------------
EVERETT, WASHINGTON
-------------------------------------------------------
A woman and her husband had an appointment for an
abortion one morning, but upon seeing the 40 Days for
Life prayer volunteers, the woman began to cry.
A counselor spent a lot of time talking with them and
referred them to a pregnancy resource center. Another
volunteer got a follow-up call from the woman, and she
confirmed that although she faces a number of health
problems, she has decided to keep her baby.
Please keep her in your prayers.
"Our prayerful presence outside Everett Planned
Parenthood," notes one 40 Days for Life team member,
"was critical."
------------------------------
PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK
-------------------------------------------------------
"Please keep up the prayers to close the Planned
Parenthood in Plattsburgh," said Nancy. "By the looks
of the numbers of customers going in, they are losing
business. God IS hearing our prayers!"
To see a photo of the 40 Days for Life vigil in
Plattsburgh, please go to:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1811
------------------------------ -------------------------
MOBILE, ALABAMA
-------------------------------------------------------
"A recently-divorced mother had scheduled an appointment
with Planned Parenthood to obtain an abortion," said
Fred in Mobile.
"A long-time sidewalk counselor spoke with her and
persuaded her to cross the street and visit with the
Christian volunteers at the Women's Resource Center.
She stayed in contact with them and confirmed today
that she will keep her child," he said.
"Thanks be to God!"
------------------------------
MANASSAS, VIRGINIA
-------------------------------------------------------
"I know the prayers are having an enormous effect on
those working at the abortion center," said the director
of a pregnancy help and education facility near the
abortion center.
"On a Friday, no abortions took place, no abortionist
entered their clinic -- which never happens," she said.
"I don't know what is going on, but I trust God and
know that the evil one is not happy with our presence.
Keep praying!"
To see a photo of the 40 Days for Life vigil in
Manassas, please go to:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1811
Today's devotional is from Ernest Ohlhoff, outreach
director at National Right to Life.
------------------------------
DAY 20 INTENTION
------------------------------------------------------
We pray for humility in our work for God's Kingdom.
------------------------------
SCRIPTURE
------------------------------------------------------
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ
Jesus, who being in the form of God did not consider
it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of
no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and
coming in the likeness of men.
And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled
himself and became obedient to the point of death,
even the death of the cross.
-- Philippians 2:5-8
------------------------------
REFLECTION by Ernest Ohlhoff, National Right to Life
------------------------------------------------------
There is no limit to what we can accomplish when we
don't care who gets the credit.
Jesus Christ's life on earth exemplifies a total
submission to the will of the Father. His humility,
compassion, gentleness and thoughtfulness are
reflected over and over again in the New Testament.
He was God incarnate, yet He chose to be born to a
humble, working class home.
How absurd it must have seemed to the rich and
powerful that the Son of God, the Messiah, the one
foretold by the prophets, the 'King of the Jews' was
born and raised as a simple peasant.
During His thirty-three years on earth, He sought no
riches, claimed no secular power and gathered no
possessions.
His short time on earth changed more lives, softened
more hearts, and gave hope to more people, than all
the rich and powerful human 'kings' combined.
And, at the end of His life on earth, by dying on the
cross, He opened the door to eternal life for those
who heed his words and follow in his footsteps.
------------------------------
PRAYER
------------------------------------------------------
O Lord, help us follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
Let us humbly and diligently work to restore legal
protection for the unborn, the disabled, the medically
dependent and all innocent children of God whose lives
are threatened.
Let us remember the old adage that "He can never lead
who has not first learned to obey."
And, Lord, grant us a peaceful heart as we labor in
your name, Amen.
------------------------------
PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
------------------------------------------------------
To download today's devotional as a formatted,
printable PDF to share with friends:
http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2011day20print.pdf
------------------------------
As we hit the midway point of this 40 Days for
Life, let's double our efforts and finish strong!
Yours for Life,
Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
PS: What great things are happening with the
40 Days for Life campaign in your community?
Please share the good news by replying to today's
blog entry at:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1811
40 Days for Life
10908 Courthouse Road
Suite 102229
Fredericksburg, VA
22408
US
