Tuesday, February 19, 2013

40 Days For Life: DAY 7: Big and rich


Dear Deacon,

Planned Parenthood -- which received $538 MILLION of
your tax dollars, and performed 333,964 abortions in
one year alone -- operates the largest abortion
facility in the western hemisphere in Houston.

Of the 261 communities participating in this 40 Days
for Life campaign, 127 of them are holding their
peaceful vigils in the public right-of-way next to
facilities run by Planned Parenthood, the biggest
abortion chain in the United States ...

... including the one deep in the heart of Texas
that I just visited.


-----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON, TEXAS
-----------------------------------------------------

The 40 Days for Life vigil takes place outside of
this monster-sized, 78,000 square foot building. As
I explained in the new "40 Days for Life" book,
Planned Parenthood secretly used a different name
to buy this massive former bank building and turn
it into a late-term abortion facility.

What they underestimated was the size of the pro-
life response.

The location makes it very difficult to place a
pregnancy center nearby to offer free alternatives,
so Christine Melchor, the local 40 Days for Life
leader and the director of the Houston Coalition
for Life, went to work.

Christine and her team had a pregnancy center put
on wheels in a large, state-of-the-art bus --
equipped with a nurse and ultrasound machine!

To see this huge late-term abortion facility and a
picture of Christine in the mobile pregnancy center,
where hundreds of lives have been saved from
abortion, go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3973

Christine is a dedicated pro-life hero ... and her
story in chapter 32 of the 40 Days for Life book
shows what can happen when we trust God -- even
when the largest abortion facility in North America
comes to our community.

If you haven’t picked it up already, you can get the
book at http://40daysforlife.com/book


-----------------------------------------------------
RIO RANCHO, NEW MEXICO
-----------------------------------------------------

"Wow!" said Jen in Rio Rancho, a community which is
conducting its first 40 Days for Life campaign.

"We have been able to attract some attention while
standing up for life," she said. Many people are just
curious. And the reactions from passers-by? "Both
positive and not-so-positive."

Jen spoke to a young woman outside, telling her about
Planned Parenthood's abortion numbers and taxpayer
funding. The woman said she didn't believe in abortion,
but was there for other healthcare purposes.

"I encouraged her to seek the services of an OB/GYN
rather than give any money to Planned Parenthood,"
Jen explained. "She was thankful for the information."

Jen said she appreciates everyone who has stepped out
of their comfort zone to pray at the vigil. "As we
shine His light in this dark culture, there will
always be a backlash.  I am so proud of everyone
for standing firm."


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


------------------------------------------------------
DAY 7 INTENTION
------------------------------------------------------

Pray that the abortionists and all workers in
abortion facilities would be troubled in their
souls regarding their work and would seek truth.


------------------------------------------------------
SCRIPTURE
------------------------------------------------------

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor,
and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all
malice. And be kind one to another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake
has forgiven you.

-- Ephesians 4:31-32


------------------------------------------------------
REFLECTION by Carmen Pate, 40 Days for Life
------------------------------------------------------

We see the evil and oppression in the world, the
arrogance of those who mock God, the millions of
innocent lives destroyed because of the greed of a
few.

Our flesh tells us that we should take justice in our
own hands, but instead of vengeance, the Lord calls us
to love our enemy, to forgive others as we have been
forgiven.

God loves the abortionist and the Planned Parenthood
advocate just as much as He loves you.

It breaks His heart to see them in bondage to sin and
He is giving you this opportunity to introduce them to
the Savior who sets the captive free.

Though you may not experience direct interaction with
these souls, your presence will not go unnoticed. Your
non-verbal communications speak volumes about the God
you serve.

Forgiveness is an act of obedience to God (Colossians
3:13). Forgiveness is not condoning or overlooking the
wrong behavior of others, but rather it is freeing
ourselves so that God can work mightily through us to
touch their hearts for Him.

Let's join our hearts with His in recognizing that
those in the abortion industry are not the enemy, but
rather they are blinded by the enemy.

God desires that we bring them the message of truth
and hope found in Christ, but the messengers He will
use are those willing to forgive.


------------------------------------------------------
PRAYER
------------------------------------------------------

Dearest God, You tell us in Proverbs that the foolish
and the wicked lack wisdom and understanding. I pray
you will trouble the souls of those in the abortion
industry so that they hunger for truth and cry out for
freedom.

I pray that my life would reflect my redemption so
others may see it and trust in You. In obedience to
You, and by your grace, I choose to forgive others as
you have forgiven me. In the name of Christ my
Redeemer I pray, Amen.


------------------------------------------------------
PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
------------------------------------------------------

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

http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2013day07print.pdf


------------------------------------------------------

Yours for Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: Any miracles at your 40 Days for Life vigil?
Please share them with everyone by posting a comment
on today's blog entry:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3973

40 Days for Life

10908 Courthouse Road
Suite 102229
Fredericksburg, VA
22408
US