Monday, October 20, 2014

From 40 Days For Life: DAY 27: 281 lives saved so far

40 Days for Life
Dear Deacon John,
 
It’s Monday ... and that means good news! After almost four weeks of this 40 Days for Life campaign, there have been 281 babies saved from abortion – that we know of!

All credit and glory go to God alone, who has heard your prayers ... and answered them! Here are just a few examples.
 
Manassas, Virginia
 

 
“We heard about a young woman who came out of the abortion clinic crying,” said Ken in Manassas. As she drove past the prayer volunteers, she stopped the car, got out and came running toward them, happily shouting that she had decided to keep her baby.

“She was embraced with great joy and then she surprised everyone by grabbing a sign, holding it up proudly … and praying with her new friends,” he said. “As you can see, your presence out there is powerful ... and you never know what good might happen!”
 
Fresno, California
 

 
Volunteers were able to speak to a woman in her 20s who had just come out of Planned Parenthood after learning she was pregnant. She was in tears.

“Her boyfriend had just gotten out of jail,” said Marcos, the 40 Days for Life leader in Fresno, “and she was told by the Planned Parenthood staff that in her situation, abortion was the best alternative and would make everything better.”

The vigil participants, however, shared information about the help that is available in Fresno.

“I also talked to the boyfriend and let him know that the child is also his … and he is just as responsible for the child as she is,” he said. “We talked for a while and at the end of our conversation they seemed more at ease.”

She had intended to make an appointment for an abortion … but after hearing that she can find real, life-affirming help, she would not be going back and would keep her baby.

Marcos said, “Women often just need to know that they are not alone.”
 
Manchester, England
 
 
John in Manchester says vigil participants give out information envelopes. The exchange can be a conversation starter … and there can be very positive results.

A woman and man arriving at the abortion facility took one of the envelopes … and when they left the building a short time later, they told the volunteers they would not be going ahead with the abortion.

“Our volunteers also gave out client envelopes and had friendly discussions with two teenagers coming for abortions,” John said.
 
“Feeling already uncertain, they finally wanted to keep their babies. One of the girls blew a kiss to the volunteers as she was leaving,” he said. “These saves were a welcome new experience for these particular volunteers.”

Here’s today’s devotional from Ernest Ohlhoff, Outreach Director for National Right to Life.
 
Day 27 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

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. Yet, 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/media/fall2014day27print.pdf
 
For Life,
 
 Shawn Carney
SHAWN CARNEY
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life