Wednesday, March 23, 2011

DAY 15: Through the eyes of a child

Dear Deacon,

There is NEVER a dull moment during a 40 Days for Life
campaign.

I am writing this message from an airport. I looked up
a few moments ago and I saw someone wearing a 40 Days
for Life shirt.

As he got closer, I noticed he looked familiar.

It was David Bereit, our national director!

We both just laughed when we saw each other. With 247
cities participating in 40 Days for Life right now, I
guess it was only a matter of time until David and I
ran into each other at an airport.

As David and I get ready to jump on planes, I wanted
to share two beautiful stories about children helping
save the lives of other children.

The abortion industry doesn’t like it when we talk about
children -- it reminds everyone what this so-called
"choice" is all about.

So let’s keep talking about children!


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PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA
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A small group was quietly praying at the 40 Days for
Life vigil in Pittsburgh when a van pulled into a
parking place near Planned Parenthood.

There was a little girl in the van who kept looking at
the people praying, and talking to her mom. This went
on for about five minutes.

The woman and her daughter finally got out of the van
and headed towards a nearby business. As they passed
the people praying, the little girl handed one of the
volunteers a dollar.

She had mistakenly thought the volunteer’s sign said
“PAY to end abortion”!

Of course, that brought smiles to everyone’s faces.

“Thank you, but you don’t have to pay us,” the volunteer
told the child. “In fact, there‘s something far more
important and special that you can give. You can pray
to God that He will put an end to abortion.”

The mother then talked about that conversation in the
van -- explaining to her daughter what abortion was.
Her daughter could not understand why a mother would
throw away her own child.

The girl then asked if she could have the sign -- the
one that really says “PRAY to end abortion.”

As they drove away, one of the volunteers noted, “God
is so amazing the way He uses the little children to
teach us so much about child-like faith.”

To see pictures of the 40 Days for Life vigil in
Pittsburgh, please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1736

Spring2011pittsburgh4

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SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN
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Mike in Southfield also has a story involving a child --
an 11-year-old who owes his life to people praying on
the sidewalk in front of the abortion center.

He came along with his mother, who wanted to join the
volunteers in prayer and to thank them for their witness.

“She had come to this abortion facility 11 years ago
to abort her son,” Mike said. “At the time, she was
fearful of being pregnant and thought of abortion as
her only answer.”

When she arrived for the abortion, there were people
praying on the sidewalk. One of them told her that
Jesus wanted her to keep her baby – it’s better to
trust in the Lord.

“Well, she got real mad at this lady for telling her
these things and interfering with her plans,” said
Mike, “but she did change her mind about having an
abortion that day. Today, she is a living testimony
to the hope that we can bring to the sidewalk during
our vigils.”

Mike also thanked the clergymen from several Christian
churches who’ve led hours of prayer during the 40 Days
for Life vigil. “These times are always encouraging for
 us because there is great comfort in the support of
the clergy for the work of 40 Days for Life,” he said,
“and because a clergy member usually draws additional
people to the sidewalk to join in the prayers.”

To see a photo of the 40 Days for Life vigil in
Southfield, please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1736

Spring2011southfield

Today's devotional is from Carmen Pate, a member of
the 40 Days for Life board of directors.


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DAY 15 INTENTION
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Pray that we will not become defeated by the enemy's
attacks but rather call on the name of the Lord who is
on our side and our help in time of trouble.


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SCRIPTURE
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What if the Lord had not been on our side when people
attacked us? They would have swallowed us alive in
their burning anger.

Praise the Lord, who did not let their teeth tear us
apart! Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and
earth.

-- Psalm 124:2,3,6,8


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REFLECTION by Carmen Pate, 40 Days for Life
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The enemy attacks in many ways, but one of his
favorites is to slander us with hopes of tarnishing
our reputation and character, and ultimately to defeat
our good work for the Lord.

It is interesting to note however that it is usually
not the slander that causes harm to our testimony, but
our response to the slander.

Proverbs 24:10 says, "If you faint in the day of
adversity your strength is small."

If we are applying God's truths to our lives moment by
moment, we are not swayed by the lies of the enemy and
we will be strong. Standing on the front lines, armed
with God's truth, places you in the battlefield for
the mind.

As you are prepared to present words of love, for the
sake of the unborn and for the distraught and confused
women and men who are entering the abortion
facilities, know that the enemy has prepared his
forces to attack your mind.

Unkind words from a protester, or vicious lies in the
local paper about who you are and what your mission
is, can indeed be hurtful.

But rather than give in to defeat, that is the time to
shine for the Lord, standing firm, as you call on Him
to defeat the enemy.

Remember the words of Romans 8:31, "If God is for us,
who can be against us?" Let's stand strong for those
who need us most.


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PRAYER
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Dear Lord, help us to ignore the verbal attacks of the
enemy and instead turn to You, our refuge and
strength.

Help us to find shelter in the blessed promises and
provisions of Your Word.

Thank you that no enemy can defeat us, and we praise
You knowing that nothing can separate us from Your
love. In the name of Jesus, we come to You, Amen.


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PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
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To download today's devotional as a formatted,
printable PDF to share with friends:

http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2011day15print.pdf


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Yours for Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life


PS: Please share the good news! Stories about your own
40 Days for Life experiences are always welcome. You
may post a response to today's blog entry at:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1736


 40 Days for Life

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