October 24, 2009
Today's short video report comes from the front lines
in Lexington, Kentucky:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=447
During this powerful 6-minute video, you will hear
from several faithful 40 Days for Life volunteers
about why they are involved, including:
* An Evangelical pastor whose brother was almost
aborted...
* A mother of a Down's syndrome son...
* ...And a post-abortive woman who was on the verge
of suicide before getting involved in 40 Days for
Life and finding healing in Jesus Christ
Throughout this 40 Days for Life campaign, God has
blessed us with more than 400 stories of babies
spared from abortion -- and mothers spared from
abortion's aftermath.
We also know, of course, that too many women
unfortunately continue to make a very poor "choice"
when it comes to the lives of their unborn children.
We stand and pray for them as well.
One of those women had an abortion at a Planned
Parenthood center. The very next day, a friend was at
the clinic, and spoke to the people praying at the
40 Days for Life vigil.
The woman who had the abortion, the friend said, "was
now depressed and not like her usual self at all."
Another woman arrived at the 40 Days for Life vigil
in Manchester, New Hampshire last week. Vigil
participants watched as she walked up with flowers
and laid them against the clinic fence. She had been
there just weeks before -- for an abortion.
"People praying on the sidewalk spoke to her and
offered her words of hope," said Julie in Manchester.
"It appears that this woman feels very badly about
the abortion she had. Please pray for her, and know
that your prayers may have led to her change of
heart."
From coast to coast, people with abortion experiences
are joining the 40 Days for Life campaign in an
effort to let women know that abortion leaves a
lasting imprint -- and to let those who have had
abortions know that Christ forgives and Christ heals.
To see a photo from the 40 Days for Life campaign in
Miami that illustrates this outreach, go to:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=447
Abortion is often portrayed as a "women's issue." But
of course, every abortion impacts both a mother AND a
father.
Six men were praying outside the abortion center in
San Antonio, Texas one night at 10:30. At that hour,
of course, the clinic was closed. But a car pulled
into the parking lot, and a young couple got out and
wanted to talk.
The man told the 40 Days for Life vigil participants
that before he became a Christian, he had taken a
former girlfriend there for an abortion. He is now
painfully aware that abortion is a sin.
"The man asked us to pray for him," said one of the
vigil participants. So they did, "asking that God
would grant him peace and forgiveness." The couple
then drove into the night.
Thankfully, he is on the road to healing. Others
still need to find the way.
That is one of the reasons that Operation Outcry --
http://www.operationoutcry.org -- a post-abortion
healing outreach, is calling on its friends to join
40 Days for Life vigils all across America today as
part of "Operation Outcry day" of this campaign.
Theirs is a story that must be told -- and must be
heard by those who are contemplating the life-
changing decision to abort.
We know what happens when no one is there to share
the truth.
A car pulled up next to the 40 Days for Life vigil in
Houston, Texas recently, and the woman inside
motioned for vigil participants to come over. One
person walked over, and quickly saw that the woman in
the car was crying.
When she was 27 years old, she had an abortion at
this same Planned Parenthood facility -- a decision
she regrets tremendously.
If someone -- anyone -- had been there praying, she
said, she would not have gone through with the
abortion. But no one was there.
Your presence in prayer at a 40 Days for Life vigil
really does make a difference!
Here's today's devotional from Carmen Pate, co-host
of the "Point of View" Talk Show...
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DAY 32 INTENTION
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Pray that we display an attitude of humility as we
stand in peaceful vigil, as we fast, as we knock on
doors in our communities. Though we proudly proclaim
Christ's truth, may our boasting be only in His
grace.
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SCRIPTURE
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These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an
abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises
wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil,
a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows
discord among brethren.
-- Proverbs 6:16-19
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REFLECTION by Carmen Pate, "Point of View" Talk Show
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The Lord who made us knows us well. I can't help but
think that perhaps as He inspired these words, He
knew that our tendency might be to make the judgment
call on which sins should be labeled as detestable.
He wants us to be absolutely clear, however, that the
sinfulness of man encompasses much more than the
external sins that we easily identify.
Lest we assign a particular sin as that of an
abortionist, or a worker in an abortion facility, or
an abortion activist, the Holy Spirit insured that
our sin of pride would be listed first.
In this passage that speaks of eyes, tongue, hands,
heart, and feet we realize than every part of our
being is subject to the curse of sin.
We all need Jesus Christ who saved us from the
penalty of sin, saves us from the practice of sin as
we abide in Him, and will one day remove us from the
presence of sin. Praise His Holy name!
Proper self-esteem in a follower of Christ is a
matter of recognizing and confronting yourself in
your humanity, including the tendency to sin. It is
also a matter of embracing Jesus' work on the cross
-- His grace that covers a multitude of sins.
The Apostle Paul sums it up best in 2 Corinthians
10:17-18: "But he who glories let him glory in the
Lord. For not he who commends himself is approved,
but whom the Lord commends."
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PRAYER
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Dear Father, guard my heart. Prick my conscience and
may I be receptive to your rebuke at any moment I
drift towards pride. May I remember in fear and
trembling that You cause the proud to fall, but the
humble You raise up.
Lord, may I never forget my true identity is in
Christ and that apart from Him I am nothing. By His
grace, I pray, 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/fall2009day31print.pdf
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For Life,
David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life
P.S.- I'm LOVING all of the wonderful comments about
the videos over the last few days! Keep 'em coming!
If you have trouble watching the videos or posting
comments on our blog page, you can see all the videos
and post your thoughts directly on YouTube at:
http://www.youtube.com/user/dbereit