Dear Deacon John,
Abortion businesses often require payment in advance … and they sure don’t like to give refunds!
Please understand that abortion is a business.
If there are no customers, they can’t keep their doors open. Some of
the most recent closings have taken place for just that reason – there
was no longer enough money coming in to cover expenses.
It’s a particular blessing when a mother decides against abortion and goes home. And it’s always especially encouraging when she is confident enough to walk back in and demand that they return her payment.
Greenville, South Carolina
Ingrid, one of the 40 Days for Life leaders in Greenville, said her prayer time ended and she was just getting ready to leave – but she noticed a car turning into the abortion center’s driveway.
“I waved for her to stop, and she did,” she said. “I asked if she had come for an abortion.”
"No,” the young woman answered. “I was going to have one … but I came to get my money back."
Just to be sure of what she’d heard, Ingrid asked if she’d planned to have an abortion but changed her mind.
“Yes,” she said. “Babies are a blessing."
“I told her she was absolutely right,” Ingrid said. “We hugged and she went inside to get her money.”
No one had spoken to this woman prior to her original abortion appointment. “The prayers and fasting are doing the work,” Ingrid said. “I was blessed to be there to hear her decision and pass it on to you.”
Cincinnati, Ohio
Mary, the leader in
Cincinnati, thanked all of the faithful volunteers who braved the
extreme cold and kept their scheduled prayer times at Planned
Parenthood.
“Your presence and prayer support are having an effect,” she said.”
One of the
counselors spoke to a mother and daughter who were on their way into
Planned Parenthood. The abortion was the mother’s idea. The daughter
didn’t really seem willing.
A short time later,
the girl’s aunt arrived, spoke to a counselor – and went inside to get
her niece. When the aunt left Planned Parenthood, the girl was with her.
“She was not going to have the abortion!”
Memphis, Tennessee
“What an amazing campaign!”
said Kathy in Memphis, thankful for the faithful volunteers who pray
outside the Planned Parenthood abortion center as part of the 40 Days
for Life vigil.
Vigil participants
spotted a young woman who got off the bus and headed towards Planned
Parenthood for an abortion appointment. One of them spoke to her – she
seemed scared – and offered words of hope, love and help.
“The young mom listened,” Kathy said, “and the two walked next door to our local pregnancy center.”
Two hours later, the previously abortion-minded woman learned she was teen weeks into her pregnancy … and was now making adoption plans. “We hugged her, gave her encouragement and told her of our continuing prayers,” Kathy said.
Today's devotional is from Rev. John Ensor of PassionLife.
Day 16 intention
Pray for the mothers going into pregnancy help centers. The personal care, the free ultrasound, the ongoing practical help is designed to deliver them from those who profit in shedding innocent blood.
Pray for the mothers going into pregnancy help centers. The personal care, the free ultrasound, the ongoing practical help is designed to deliver them from those who profit in shedding innocent blood.
Scripture
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
— Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
— Matthew 11:28
Reflection from Rev. John Ensor
“You have twins. That will be another $350.” She did not speak English. But she finally understood that they were telling her to go get more money and return for her abortion.
She had already given them her rent money. But they were not about to give her a two-for-one deal. They told her to get dressed and return with more cash.
A couple, who was praying outside, comforted her. They brought her to their local pregnancy help center.
The staff quickly saw that her personal circumstances were so desperate, and immediate, that they would need direct and ongoing help from local Christians and churches. They started making calls.
Then they did the ultrasound. It showed there was only one baby, not two. This abandoned, immigrant, powerless mother was being exploited. She would do whatever she was told. Who would know? Who would care?
God calls us to “Rescue the weak and the needy; and deliver them from the hand of the wicked” (Psalm 82:4).
When you provide an alternative to abortion you are not only rescuing innocent babies, you are delivering mothers from the wicked: those who profit in the shedding of innocent blood. Pray for those who rescue and deliver daily at your local pregnancy help center.
“You have twins. That will be another $350.” She did not speak English. But she finally understood that they were telling her to go get more money and return for her abortion.
She had already given them her rent money. But they were not about to give her a two-for-one deal. They told her to get dressed and return with more cash.
A couple, who was praying outside, comforted her. They brought her to their local pregnancy help center.
The staff quickly saw that her personal circumstances were so desperate, and immediate, that they would need direct and ongoing help from local Christians and churches. They started making calls.
Then they did the ultrasound. It showed there was only one baby, not two. This abandoned, immigrant, powerless mother was being exploited. She would do whatever she was told. Who would know? Who would care?
God calls us to “Rescue the weak and the needy; and deliver them from the hand of the wicked” (Psalm 82:4).
When you provide an alternative to abortion you are not only rescuing innocent babies, you are delivering mothers from the wicked: those who profit in the shedding of innocent blood. Pray for those who rescue and deliver daily at your local pregnancy help center.
Prayer
Father, hear our prayer! Snatch desperate mothers from the fire. Bring them out of our abortion businesses and into our pregnancy help centers. Deliver them from evil. Use us to help them chose life and see your hand of provision.
Father, hear our prayer! Snatch desperate mothers from the fire. Bring them out of our abortion businesses and into our pregnancy help centers. Deliver them from evil. Use us to help them chose life and see your hand of provision.
Printable devotional
To download today's devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends:
http://40daysforlife.com/media/day16.pdf
To download today's devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends:
http://40daysforlife.com/media/day16.pdf
For life,
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SHAWN CARNEY
President
40 Days for Life
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