Dear Deacon John,
On Mondays during 40 Days for Life campaigns, we share the best news of the week — the updated number of mothers choosing life for their babies.
Thus far during this campaign, there have been 28 babies saved that we know of.
And that makes the number of lives reported spared from abortion ...
... since 40 Days for Life began as a coordinated effort in 2007 ...
... a phenomenal total of 9,001!
Praise God!!!
... since 40 Days for Life began as a coordinated effort in 2007 ...
... a phenomenal total of 9,001!
Praise God!!!
Here are some of the beautiful stories behind those numbers.
Savannah, Georgia
Volunteers were
praying at the 40 Days for Life vigil when a couple arrived at the
building. One of the women left the group and explained that real help was available at the pregnancy resource center across the street.
“The man did not
want to talk or get any information,” said one of the volunteers. “He
said a few choice things and they went inside.”
A short time later, he came out alone. “All of us were praying,” she said, “all thinking about how angry he seemed to be and for God to help this lady and man.”
In another 15 minutes or so, the woman came out. “You could just tell how upset she was,” the vigil participant said.
They convinced her
to visit the pregnancy center, where they left her in good hands. Half
an hour later, she walked back across the street to meet the man, who
had been waiting in his car. The two returned to the abortion center.
He kept saying that
the woman didn’t need to be listening to the vigil participants and
taking the information. The woman’s face told a different story, as she
had more of an “everything’s going to be okay” attitude.
Eventually, the
woman came out and said she was not having an abortion. “She had not
wanted it in the first place,” the volunteer said, “and he would not
listen to her. And now, her face looked so joyous compared to how she
first looked when she arrived.”
Shreveport, Louisiana
“What a day!” said
Chris, the 40 Days for Life coordinator in Shreveport. “We had two women
who said they were going to have their babies,” he excitedly explained.
“Yeah that's right – two saves!”
That knowing the shortness of life, all may value it more deeply.
Scripture
Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the well. Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.
— Ecclesiastes 12:6-7
God is giver of all life. Short lived or long lived, human lives are lived out in this world. The metaphors for death are many. But their meaning is clear and singular: all will die. Even so, death is not the absolute end. It is not the end of the story. For as certainly as God gave life, at death the life or spirit that God gave returns to God.
By God, we are created. For God, we live our given days. To God, we return at the end of our earthly days. And with God, we live through eternity. Clearly, all along the way, this gracious, loving God is with us. No human life is random or alone. No human life was created without purpose. Not one human life is without destiny.
All human lives, acknowledged or not, are related to God -- from beginning, to end, throughout eternity. Therefore, in this world, all human lives are to be respected and protected, for their lives are signs of God's sovereignty.
Prayer
O God, we too often try to live in ways that ignore our coming death. We forget that our days are numbered by You, that at the end of our days your judgment awaits, that You are the Lord of our destiny.
Help us to repent daily, and then to live each day in joyful obedience. Lead us to live in the light and promise of eternity. Prepare us to live fully and sacrificially. Prepare us to die faithfully and hopefully, so that we might live forever with You. Through Jesus Christ, who has gone before us, we trust and hope and love and pray, Amen.
There was another
woman who arrived for a pregnancy test, but she never entered the
abortion facility. She instead visited the pregnancy resource center
nearby.
“So all in all, that's three turnaways!” Chris said. “Thanks to all who are praying from home and on the sidewalk.”
Here's today's devotional from Rev. Paul Stallsworth, president of Lifewatch (United Methodist Church)...
Day 6 intention
That knowing the shortness of life, all may value it more deeply.
Scripture
Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the well. Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.
— Ecclesiastes 12:6-7
Reflection
God is giver of all life. Short lived or long lived, human lives are lived out in this world. The metaphors for death are many. But their meaning is clear and singular: all will die. Even so, death is not the absolute end. It is not the end of the story. For as certainly as God gave life, at death the life or spirit that God gave returns to God.
By God, we are created. For God, we live our given days. To God, we return at the end of our earthly days. And with God, we live through eternity. Clearly, all along the way, this gracious, loving God is with us. No human life is random or alone. No human life was created without purpose. Not one human life is without destiny.
All human lives, acknowledged or not, are related to God -- from beginning, to end, throughout eternity. Therefore, in this world, all human lives are to be respected and protected, for their lives are signs of God's sovereignty.
Prayer
O God, we too often try to live in ways that ignore our coming death. We forget that our days are numbered by You, that at the end of our days your judgment awaits, that You are the Lord of our destiny.
Help us to repent daily, and then to live each day in joyful obedience. Lead us to live in the light and promise of eternity. Prepare us to live fully and sacrificially. Prepare us to die faithfully and hopefully, so that we might live forever with You. Through Jesus Christ, who has gone before us, we trust and hope and love and pray, Amen.
Printable devotional
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For Life,
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SHAWN CARNEY
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
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