October 17, 2010
With two weeks remaining in the fall campaign, on this
Sunday, let's pause a moment to renew ourselves
spiritually for the remainder of this journey.
Here are stories from three local 40 Days for Life teams
that provide a glimpse into what's gone on during these
past weeks. I hope you enjoy them.
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DALLAS, TEXAS
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"Prayer is not a spectator sport," reads the title of a
40 Days for Life Dallas blog entry. Here's that story:
There is prayer, and then there is PRAYER. On the
sidewalk outside Southwestern late-term abortion center,
we are witnessing PRAYER.
More than twenty students from Christ for the Nations
School of Spanish spent an afternoon facing the abortion
center in deep unwavering prayer.
It was a personal experience for each, yet united in a
communal effort, as they each recited individual prayers
aloud -- some with hands raised, others kneeling, others
rocking, many with their eyes closed tight -- oblivious
to everything except the focus of their prayers.
To see a photo of the vigil in Dallas, please go to:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1294
The only breaks they took from this intensity were for
the occasional prayer raised in song. Their visible
passion and fire was no doubt fueled by their keen
sense of the horrors that take place inside that
building every day.
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LONDON, ENGLAND
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"My friends in London have really taken this project to
heart," said Robert, the 40 Days for Life coordinator.
To say the least, that is an understatement. Robert
estimates that between 500 and 600 people have taken
part in the London prayer vigil -- maybe more.
He says the campaign has generated some 30 positive
news stories, hundreds of homes and businesses have
been visited during their door-to-door outreach, and
at least ten churches have pledged to increase their
support of the campaign.
Plus inquiries keep coming in from other countries:
Spain, France, Germany and Zambia now, in addition to
Russia, Ghana and Columbia as was reported previously.
To see a photo of 40 Days for Life in London, please
go to:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1294
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FORT WAYNE, INDIANA
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Just prior to the midpoint of this campaign, the 40 Days
for Life team in Fort Wayne held a memorial service --
a memorial for all the babies lost to abortion over the
past year.
"There were hundreds that turned out to honor them,"
said Evelyn in Fort Wayne. "As part of the ceremony,
we released balloons for each week of the year, and
then announced how many abortions took place that week."
To see some photos of the memorial service in Fort
Wayne, please go to:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1294
The event was covered by local TV crews, and even
made the front page of the local newspaper, the
Journal Gazette.
Clergy from Baptist, Lutheran and Catholic churches
spoke at the event.
"We mourn the death of these children who were denied
the right to life," said Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades, who
was quoted in the newspaper account. "Look upon their
mothers and fathers with mercy; lead them to
forgiveness."
Here's today's devotional from Vera Faith Lord,
director of the Alpha/Omega Life Ministry and
representative of the Orthodox Church to the National
Pro-life Religious Council...
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DAY 26 INTENTION
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That those who have forgotten their purpose may
discover it in God and therefore have the courage to
choose life.
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SCRIPTURE
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These all wait for you, that you may give them their
food in due season, what you give them they gather
in; you open your hand they are filled with good. You
hide your face, they are troubled; you take away
their breath, they die and return to their dust. You
send forth your Spirit, they are created; and you
renew the face of the earth.
-- Psalm 104:27-30
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REFLECTION by Vera Faith Lord
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"I am a feather on the breath of God."
As the quote above portrays, we are upheld by the
power and purpose of God. Our very existence on
earth, from our body's first breath to its last, when
we leave it to return home, is our Father's choice
and happens only by His willing to do so.
He who created the universe also created that which
is "me." I do not "have" a soul - I AM a soul, as
well as a body. My entire purpose in this life is to
find my way back to my Creator.
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PRAYER
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Beloved Father, remind us today that there is no
truth but you. Do not let us fall prey to the evil
one's lie that we may choose death. Remind us right
now that you, who created all life, are in control of
all life, and let us know right now that you who
created all life, are in control of all life, and let
us choose life always.
Father, please let us hear your voice more today than
yesterday. Keep lighting the pathway home, for us and
for all who participate in this 40 Days for Life
campaign. Father, we're on our way. Through Jesus
Christ our Lord, 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/fall2010day26print.pdf
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For Life,
Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
PS: Prayer DOES change things! What changes have you
seen through your 40 Days for Life campaign?
Please leave a comment on today's blog entry:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1294