March 14, 2009
Several items (amidst the hundreds I receive daily :-)
in my e-mail demonstrate the importance of praying for
the people who work at abortion centers -- especially
security guards.
They are usually off-duty law enforcement officers who
may not be fully aware of what the abortion business
is all about.
Sometimes, they're doing this just for the extra money
their families need in these tough times. They DO need
your prayers -- and your kind invitation for them to
find other means to make money!
I have seen many leave after simply being asked a few
questions about what they were guarding.
Susan says she and one of her prayer partners had a
chance to speak to a security guard at their 40 Days
for Life vigil.
"He said that no one inside the clinic hates any of
us," she said. "While he was talking I was praying for
God to give me kind words to say to him. All I said
was that we don't hate them either. We love them and
are out here praying for them too." She didn't want to
say too much, but to just keep it basic and simple.
Her friend said that because he stopped to talk, he
must be feeling guilty about what he's part of inside
the clinic. "I do hope I said the right thing though,"
said Susan. "I will continue to pray for him and the
others that work there."
A clinic security guard quit his job in Sioux City,
Iowa after the last 40 Days for Life campaign. And
then a few months later, his replacement also quit!
Sue says this Planned Parenthood facility has hired
two fresh guards, but the new guards do not come
outside very much to wave cars into the parking on
abortion days as was previously done.
"Also, these guards require Planned Parenthood clients
to give up their cell phones as they enter, so once
they're inside no one on the outside can communicate
or make a direct plea for a change of heart."
Clearly, Planned Parenthood sees that it's bad for
business if there's an opportunity for sidewalk
counselors to talk to their patients -- or their
workers!
Alice in Little Rock was standing out in the rain when
a car pulled up right behind her and a man got out --
with a badge and a gun. A security guard? Not this
time. It was a law enforcement officer with something
on his mind.
He stepped up to Alice and said, "I have wanted to
stop and pray with you all forever. Here you are in
the rain and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to
pray with you. Can I please pray with you?"
"We stood under the umbrella and prayed a beautiful
prayer from his heart. As soon as he finished," Alice
said, "he thanked us and turned, got in his car, waved
and drove off. That is the power of prayer."
And that's a good thought to keep in mind as we enter
another day of prayer and fasting for an end to the
tragedy of abortion.
Today's devotional is from Fr. Terry Gensemer,
national director of the Charismatic Episcopal
Church for Life...
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DAY 18 INTENTION
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May we absorb the truth that God is paying attention
to us, and to each human life, personally and
individually.
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SCRIPTURE
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When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your
fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have
ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and
the son of man that You visit him? For You have made
him a little lower than the angels, and You have
crowned him with glory and honor.
-- Psalm 8:3-9
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REFLECTION by Fr. Terry Gensemer
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How often we ignore the phrase, "stop and smell the
roses" and instead submit to the all too "urgent" task
at hand.
Is this tendency what keeps us, at least in part, from
acknowledging that God's care for His sacred creation
is paramount in His own mind?
The Psalmist speaks of God's handiwork: the heavens,
the work of his "fingers," and then points to God's
masterpiece -- human life. He declares to us that God
is mindful of us. God keeps His masterpiece in His
thoughts.
God, the creator of the awe-inspiring heavens, is not
distracted by the tasks before Him. He is not pulled
away, as we might be, by thoughts of something "more
important."
God is paying attention to and attending to His
crowning glory, His masterpiece of creation, which
cannot be duplicated or replaced, which surpasses the
beauty of all other created things -- the human being.
There is no way to adequately describe how God feels
about us as human beings. There are no words to fully
portray His love, compassion or desire to be in
communion with us.
Perhaps, the closest we can come, is to contemplate
the thoughts of a mother as she gazes for the first
time at her newborn child.
God cares for Life. We, as His followers, should take
time to consider the life He has created and called
upon us to love and protect.
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PRAYER
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Lord, you are the creator of all things. Guide my
thoughts to consider your creation in all of its
majesty, beauty and holiness. Guide my heart
especially to your creation of precious human life.
Help me to comprehend how essential life is in your
own heart. Teach me to appreciate, love and protect
all human life through your son, 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/spring2009day18print.pdf
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Today, let's show our love to all those involved in
abortion by heeding the words of Matthew 5:16: "Let
your light shine before men in such a way that they
may see your good works, and glorify your Father who
is in heaven."
Yours In Christ,
Shawn Carney
Spring Campaign Director
40 Days for Life