Monday, March 24, 2014

40 Days For Life: DAY 20: 211 lives saved - that we know of

40 Days for Life
Dear Deacon John,
 
Here we are at the halfway point of our 40 Days for Life campaign … and God has really been generous with His blessings! So far, there have been 211 babies saved from abortion that we know of. And maybe more!

Here are a couple of stories about the impact of the peaceful, prayerful vigils.

Little Rock, Arkansas
 

Deana and other 40 Days for Life participants in Little Rock watched as three couples arrived at the abortion center – and all left without having abortions.

The first couple arrived with a child. “They were told they couldn’t bring the child into the building,” Deana said. After a short time, they exited the side door of the abortion facility and left.

A second couple arrived – and was quickly met by a security guard who said they couldn’t bring the bag they were carrying inside. They left the bag in their car and went in. “Not long afterward, they were seen leaving,” Deana said. The young woman was in tears.

As a third couple then approached the building, volunteers noticed the woman had a bewildered look on her face. They weren’t inside very long. When they came out, the woman had that same wide-eyed look on. They also left the area and did not return.

“We pray that they chose life for these babies and find the support they need,” Deana said.

Tucson, Arizona
 

Kaitlynn said as volunteers were praying outside the abortion center in Tucson, a young woman pulled up and parked – in the wrong lot. These parking spaces are very close to the vigil location, and “for that very reason, women are told not to park there.”

“She got out of the car and looked anxious,” Kaitlynn said. “She was 16 weeks pregnant and her boyfriend told her she had to get an abortion. After we informed her that no one could force her to have an abortion, we gave her information about the local pro-life pregnancy resource centers.”

After gladly reviewing her newfound options, the woman declared she would not follow through with the abortion. “A life was saved,” Kaitlynn said, “all because she chose the wrong parking lot!”
 
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

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:

http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2014day20print.pdf 

As we hit the midway point of this 40 Days for Life, let's double our efforts and finish strong!
 
For Life,
 
 Shawn Carney
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:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=5600