February 26, 2009
"Persevere" is a word that aptly describes what we
are called to as we make our way through 40 days of
prayer, fasting, vigil and outreach through 40 Days
for Life.
It was just the word I was looking for when I got this
message from Janet in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada:
"Tomorrow in Edmonton, with our prayer service at St.
Andrew's Church and our walk to the abortion clinic,
it will be -20 degrees Celsius with a wind chill
that will make it feel like -30 or even colder at 7
am. Please pray that we will be able to persevere!"
Absolutely, Janet!
Edmonton is the northernmost city participating in
this 40 Days for Life campaign, so perseverance takes
on a whole new perspective!
For Tim in Massachusetts, perseverance means
continuing to get the word out to the community about
40 Days for Life.
"We have ten churches and two organizations signed up
already," he said. "Last time, we only had three or
four churches for the whole 40 days."
His team has two young women who hope to reach out to
100 churches over these 40 days. Tim added, "I'm not
kidding! God is great!"
While there are no abortion clinics in Toccoa,
Georgia, persistence fueled their burning desire to do
40 Days for Life.
Upon discerning for a location a Christian businessman
offered space near his store, which just happens to be
across the street from a rapidly-growing Baptist
church where the volunteers now gather outside to pray
for an end to abortion and things have taken off
according to Andrea...
"Wow, what an awesome evening we had with our kickoff
rally! We had over 70 people of all ages to support
and sign up for 40 days of prayer and fasting for
the ending of abortion. There was such excitement,
and enthusiasm. The presence of the Lord was
awesome!"
Catholic Bishop Joseph Galante of Camden, New Jersey
noted the hard, sometimes frustrating efforts that
often accompany pro-life work when he wrote this note
endorsing the 40 Days for Life campaign, reminding us
that the Lord is indeed present:
"We surely have experienced great challenges in our
effort to give witness to the dignity and value of
human life. These challenges naturally test our
patience and commitment. We may hunger for quicker
progress and tire of the journey. Yet, recalling
God's fidelity, and strengthened by His grace, we do
not grow discouraged or weary, but carry on with
quiet humility and prayerful perseverance. In this
spirit, may the 40 Days for Life campaign open the
hearts and minds of people everywhere."
Bishop Galante is scheduled to pray at one of the
local 40 Days for Life prayer vigils today. We thank
him -- and all of you -- who persevere in this battle!
Today's devotional was prepared for you by Kevin
Burke, executive director of Rachel's Vineyard
ministries...
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DAY 2 INTENTION
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May the King of the Universe, who entered this world
as a helpless infant, give us the humility to be
healed.
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SCRIPTURE
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My power is made perfect in weakness.
-- 2 Corinthians 12:9
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REFLECTION
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The great mystery of the Humility of God is very near
and dear to the mission of those serving in pro life
and in a special way, post abortion ministries across
this nation.
For those wounded by their participation in abortion,
the door to healing often feels like crossing an abyss
of great fear: fear of judgment, fear of being torn
apart by the pain, by self hatred and rage at those
who hurt and abandoned you, and manipulated you in
your time of temptation.
For men in particular, entering the unknown waters of
emotional vulnerability, so necessary to healing calls
for a different kind of courage that feels deceptively
like weakness.
The door to healing is humility.
It is born in the inability to no longer control the
pain, to live with the consequences of that tragic
decision to reject life. The hearts cries out, "I have
committed a grave offense against my Creator and I am
consumed by regret, grief and sorrow!"
During these forty days let us pray for all who have
participated in abortion and with love call them to
healing and reconciliation. With healing these women
and men can become as John Paul II proclaimed in the
Gospel of Life, "the most eloquent defenders of
everyone's right to life."
Jesus proclaimed, "I am the Vine, you are the
branches" (John 15:5). To bear the greatest fruit, the
branches must be pruned. Each level of pruning of the
vine requires a deeper level of humility so that we
can abandon ourselves to His will.
This is not a lofty theological concept as much as it
is an earthy experience of pulling weeds, tilling
rocky soil, pruning and healing the vines. "If a man
wishes to come after me, he must deny his very self,
take up his cross, and begin to follow in my
footsteps" (Matthew 16:24).
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PRAYER
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Lord, during these forty days, we ask that with each
day of this sacred vigil, everything in us that
separates us from your perfect will would be pruned
from our hearts and souls.
In this blessed freedom may we experience a powerful
anointing of your Holy Spirit. Filled with confidence
and trust may we proclaim with the mother of Jesus,
"Let it be done to me, according to your Word."
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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/spring2009day02print.pdf
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Let's persevere through these 40 days together!
Yours In Christ,
Shawn Carney
Spring Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
P.S.- We're amazed at the number of news reports about
40 Days for Life already pouring in from city after
city! To see just a few of them, visit:
http://www.40daysforlife.com/news.cfm
And if you haven't been part of a 40 Days for Life
campaign yet, the video on the top right of the page
from this local Fox TV news story in Little Rock,
Arkansas shows a great perspective:
http://tinyurl.com/btc7mb