40 Days for Life: It all starts today! Prayer, fasting, and peaceful vigil -- Ending March 20

40 Days for Life.com ^ | 02-10-16 | 40 Days for Life

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Day 17 Devotional

https://40daysforlife.com/media/day17.pdf

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Mexico City, Mexico

February 27, 2016

The campaign in Mexico City’s Roma area began with a group of more than 50 … and strong encouragement from a local pastor that they work as missionaries of the Gospel of Life.

Lourdes, the Mexico City leader, said that in spite of cooler-than-usual weather, they continue to stand in front of the Marie Stopes abortion center, “praying and showing the mercy of God.”

The volunteers have seen a number of couples arrive … stop for a time right in front of the abortion business … and leave. “We hope those will be lives saved from abortion,” she said.

Media reports are accusing the vigil participants of harassment … which of course is simply not true. Lourdes said it is obvious that the pro-abortion side does not want them outside Marie Stopes. “They know prayer is powerful.”

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Day 18 devotional

https://40daysforlife.com/media/day18.pdf

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DAY 19: Closing at a record pace

February 28, 2016

“Abortion clinics are closing at a record pace.”

That’s the panic headline in a recent Bloomberg Businessweek article that warns “abortion access” in the United States is rapidly “vanishing.”

We know that to be true … since one of those closed abortion centers is the Planned Parenthood facility where 40 Days for Life began — the place that now serves as our headquarters in Texas.

The abortion business is hurting — and the statistics tell the story.

According to the article, many of the closures are credited to legislation that established legal and safety requirements that the facilities couldn’t meet. Most importantly, they also acknowledged that “changing demographics and declining demand were also behind the drop.”

It’s good to see the secular media picking up on this growing trend.

We know of 67 abortion centers where 40 Days for Life vigils took place that are now closed. We are confident that as we pray, fast and offer loving alternatives at the abortion facilities, even more will close.

Perhaps the one in your town will be next!

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Day 19 devotional

https://40daysforlife.com/media/day19.pdf

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196 children spared from abortion – that we know of!

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Falls Church, Virginia

February 29, 2016

One of the leaders in Falls Church walked up to a mother and her daughter outside the abortion center, offering to help.

“The mother came forward and took the pamphlet,” she said, “saying she wanted to keep the baby. But it was her daughter that didn’t want the baby.”

So the volunteer turned to her daughter and asked, “Are you considering an abortion?”

She said yes – she already had a child … and she picked up the baby who had been sitting in the car.

“Well,” said the leader, “you now have two – and this baby is precious, too.”

The young woman said she’d had an abortion previously – and wasn’t affected.

As the mother and daughter walked away – and into the abortion center – the volunteer started to text a handful of friends to pray for the young woman, that the Holy Spirit would touch her heart.

Two hours later, she came out and was asked if she decided to keep her baby.

She smiled and said, “Yes.”

The 40 Days for Life volunteer responded, “Seriously?” She repeated, “Yes!”

What made her decide to keep her baby? “Mom.”

“Yay Mom! You did a great job! Praised be to God!”

Her mother was happy to have another grandbaby. “A mother’s love and the power of the Holy Spirit conquered death!”

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Day 20 devotional

https://40daysforlife.com/media/day20.pdf

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Glasgow, Scotland

March 1, 2016

“We are gathering so many stories from people coming over to talk to us outside of the hospital,” said Rose in Glasgow. “It is very inspiring.”

This vigil takes place outside a brand new hospital that draws traffic from all parts of central Scotland.

“While it true to say that we have had the occasional aggressive comment,” she said, “we realise that behind such experiences often there is deep pain and so we continue to pray.”

One doctor told Rose that there were many conversations going on inside the hospital about 40 Days for Life. Patients looking out the window often see the volunteers praying in the cold and the rain.

“It rained practically non-stop for a full week,” she said, and people have offered them coffee, food – and even new umbrellas.

“Without exception, when we explain what the scale of the abortion crisis is in Scotland – 900 children dying each month – people are shocked and horrified,” Rose said. “We ask them to reflect upon this information. It can truthfully be stated that 40 Days for Life in Scotland is helping to raise awareness about abortion.”

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https://40daysforlife.com/media/day21.pdf

Day 21 Devotional

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DAY 22: Peace silences anger

March 2, 2016

Angry. Bigoted. Intimidating. Rude.

Those are the stereotypes that the media — and the abortion industry — give to those who peacefully pray outside abortion facilities.

And how we respond either validates or refutes those stereotypes.

Today we all get a textbook lesson in how to share the love of Christ … and how to respond to the anger that abortion causes in our world.

The example comes from some I know and respect very much. Planned Parenthood can’t help but know him; he practically lives his life praying for them where they work!

Meet Joe … learn his story … and see how God works through those who are peacemakers.

Montgomery County, Texas

“Clients began gathering at Planned Parenthood’s front door,” said Joe, one of the volunteers, “waiting for them to open. And that’s when it happened.”

A driver passing by yelled angrily – then took a U-turn at the corner and returned to yell some more. But she wasn’t finished.

“She got out of her car with eyes flashing and lit into me,” he said. “She was so angry her face was red as a beet.” Even Planned Parenthood’s clients were now watching.

“I didn’t know what to say or do,” Joe said. “God took over.”

At first he just let her vent. Then she started flinging questions. Why wasn’t he doing something useful like helping the homeless? Why was he trying to cause trouble for a provider of affordable healthcare like Planned Parenthood? Who will take care of the babies if women don’t have “choice”?

“I waited for opportunities to respond as quietly and objectively as I could,” Joe said.

And then he talked about his daughter … her abortion, her resulting depression and the taking of her own life.

There was an instant change in the agitated woman.

“She was no longer angry with me,” he said. “She looked at me with compassion and hugged me. Said she gained a peace from me. She said she believes in a woman’s right to choose but now sees another side and will have a different opinion about us standing out there.

She took a gift bag and gave Joe her card.

“My dear God,” he thought, “only You could reach the heart of a very upset pro-choice person and compel her to hug a pro-lifer and accept a gift bag filled with alternatives to abortion!”

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https://40daysforlife.com/media/day22.pdf

Day 222 devitotional

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Jacksonville, North Carolina

March 3, 2016

Volunteers in Jacksonville thought they would be in for a long battle in their community.

When the local TV station did a report about the start of campaign, the owner of the abortion center where they’re praying appeared in the story … promising he would always be there for “the patients who choose to come to him.”

He had been in business for decades – and according to state health department records, almost 58,000 abortions were performed there over the years. So last month, volunteers launched their fifth 40-day vigil … praying on the sidewalk outside and serving as a witness to their city.

Not quite a week later, it was a very different story. The owner said that because of “unforeseen circumstances,” he would be closing his business.

“A miracle has happened!” said Theresa, the local 40 Days for Life coordinator in Jacksonville. The closure was totally unexpected.

At a rally outside the center after its final day in business, she told reporters, “We’re just glad the abortions are going to be over … we’re just thanking God that this day has come!”

At the celebration, local volunteers were joined by 40 Days for Life board members Matt Britton and Tibor Baksy.

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Augusta, Georgia

March 3, 2016

In so many words, Planned Parenthood blamed economics for the closure of its Augusta facility.

It used the words “fiscally responsible decisions.”

Quite likely … they simply weren’t making enough money at that location.

People had prayed in front of this business since it opened more than 35 years ago. During that time, there were also ten 40 Days for Life vigils.

“God has answered many prayers of the Augusta people by closing Augusta Planned Parenthood,” said one Georgia volunteer. Another noted that Planned Parenthood had “long preyed on vulnerable women.”

Over the years, the facility had cut its operating hours. 40 Days for Life volunteers considered that a hopeful sign that Planned Parenthood would one day close. And now it has!

A news account of the closure explored the question of where women will receive medical care now that Planned Parenthood is gone. A representative of one medical center, which receives federal funding to help low-income patients, said it offers every service that Planned Parenthood did, except one – abortion.

So the argument that poor women will suffer if there’s no Planned Parenthood just doesn’t hold up.

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https://40daysforlife.com/media/day23.pdf

Day 23 devotional

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DAY 24: Persistence pays off

March 4, 2016

Just yesterday, we focused on two 40 Days for Life vigil locations where abortion facilities have closed their doors and gone out of business – in Jacksonville, North Carolina and Augusta, Georgia.

In other cities, we have seen 40 Days for Life campaigns where the abortion staff packed everything up and moved to a new location.

Without fail … the peaceful prayer vigil followed them to the new spot.

That type of persistence has paid off … as seen in this exciting development in Georgia.

Marietta, Georgia

From Marietta comes the very encouraging news that the abortion center where the 40 Days for Life vigil takes place has stopped doing abortions … and announced closure plans.

The daily prayers in front of this facility are being answered!

This abortion center was in another location previously. It closed there … then reopened in a different site. And faithful volunteers brought their prayer vigil to this new location.

Colleen, the 40 Days for Life coordinator, said the ending of abortions is a tribute “to all the hard work that pro-life folks have done … arriving daily at 5 am and not relenting.”

According to media reports, the owners never disclosed that the new location would be used for abortions. There were also accusations that they performed medical procedures they were not licensed to do.

Until very recently, the center had done between 6 and 10 abortions on a typical day – but not anymore.

“We are celebrating that no babies are dying there now!” Colleen said.

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Day 24 devotional

https://40daysforlife.com/media/day24.pdf

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Mendoza, Argentina

March 5, 2016

Carmen says the first-ever 40 Days for Life campaign in Mendoza got off to a fantastic start.

People are coming forward to take part in prayer and fasting as well as community outreach.

The awareness that they are part of a worldwide effort is an incredible encouragement … and stories from campaigns in countries near and far have helped motivate others to participate.

Churches are organizing groups to cover full days of prayer.

“Really,” Carmen said, “this is a campaign that joins hearts and wills.”

 

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Day 25 devotional

https://40daysforlife.com/media/day25.pdf

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Munich, Germany

March 6, 2016

Robert Colquhoun, our international campaign director, just took part in the midpoint rally for the first 40 Days for Life campaign in Bavaria.

“I was really impressed with the campaign that they have there,” he said. “Boris, the local leader, has filled his vigil well.”

The vigil is outside a referral office where women are issued certificates.

“Women must get a certificate in order to have an abortion,” he said, “and I believe counseling centres must provide this certificate. It makes pro-life counseling very difficult.”

Nonetheless, it seems the referral office would prefer not to have a 40 Days for Life prayer vigil outside.

“They had placed up paper in the window to block out the view of the vigil,” Robert observed, “and had also written ‘a woman’s right to choose’ in the first floor windows.”