40 Days for Life - Day 6

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2596653/posts?page=5#5 ^ | Rev. Paul Stallsworth

[nina0113]

Day 6 - September 27

 

Intention:

That knowing the shortness of life, all may value it more deeply.

Scripture:

Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the well. Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.

-- Ecclesiastes 12:6-7

Reflection:

God is giver of all life. Short lived or long lived, human lives are lived out in this world. The metaphors for death are many. But their meaning is clear and singular: all will die. Even so, death is not the absolute end. It is not the end of the story. For as certainly as God gave life, at death the life or spirit that God gave returns to God.

By God, we are created. For God, we live our given days. To God, we return at the end of our earthly days. And with God, we live through eternity. Clearly, all along the way, this gracious, loving God is with us. No human life is random or alone. No human life was created without purpose. Not one human life is without destiny.

All human lives, acknowledged or not, are related to God -- from beginning, to end, throughout eternity. Therefore, in this world, all human lives are to be respected and protected, for their lives are signs of God's sovereignty.

Prayer:

O God, we too often try to live in ways that ignore our coming death. We forget that our days are numbered by You, that at the end of our days your judgment awaits, that You are the Lord of our destiny.

Help us to repent daily, and then to live each day in joyful obedience. Lead us to live in the light and promise of eternity. Prepare us to live fully and sacrificially. Prepare us to die faithfully and hopefully, so that we might live forever with You. Through Jesus Christ, who has gone before us, we trust and hope and love and pray. Amen.

Rev. Paul Stallsworth
President, Lifewatch (United Methodist Church)

[nina0113]

THREE ELEMENTS

Constant vigil

The visible, public centerpiece of 40 Days for Life is a 40-day, round-the-clock prayer vigil outside a Planned Parenthood center or other abortion facility in your community. Those who are called to stand witness maintain a peaceful and educational presence.

This 24-hour-a-day presence send a powerful message to the community about the tragic reality of abortion. It also serves as a call to repentance for those who work at the abortion center and those who patronize the facility.

If you do not have an abortion facility or Planned Parenthood office in your town, you can still conduct 40 Days for Life. However, you will need to select a different location which has some strategic significance ... perhaps near city hall, a courthouse, or a highly visible intersection.

Community outreach

During 40 Days for Life, the pro-life message is proactively taken to every corner of your community. This can identify hundreds, or even thousands, of pro-life supporters.

A door-to-door petition and education drive reaches out to every household in your town or city. Informational flyers are distributed in neighborhoods to raise awareness about the local crisis of abortion. Citizens are invited to sign a petition of support for the sanctity of human life, and people are given the opportunity to visibly show their support for 40 Days for Life by wearing wristbands, placing signs in their yards, or displaying bumper stickers on their vehicles.

These people can then be encouraged to pray and join in local pro-life efforts.

Church involvement begins by meeting with local pastors, other church leaders, and members of different congregations. The Body of Christ is invited to pray together and participate in 40 Days for Life, uniting in one focused mission that can save lives and make an eternal impact.

Media outreach is conducted through carefully targeted news stories, talk shows, editorials, and letters to the editor. This enables you to get the pro-life message out to many people who would never see the inside of a local church.

If your community has a college campus, many students can be impacted through an intense 40-day campus outreach. This can consist of flyer raids, sidewalk chalking, petition drives, table displays, and much more.

Local leadership with 40 Days for Life

40 Days for Life is primarily a local campaign. Yes, there is a national team that provides information, resources and encouragement, but all campaigns are based at the local level. Each community knows best when it comes to countering the damage abortion has caused in each individual city and town.

No one is appointed as a local 40 Days for Life leader; in each community, someone must step up and accept the challenge.

The campaign is also a group effort. There needs to be a main coordinator, but there is a whole level of duties and responsibilities that must be filled in addition to the director's position:

• Prayer coordinator
• Vigil coordinator
• Outreach coordinator
• Event coordinator
• Church coordinator
• Communications coordinator
• And possibly others, depending on your local needs.

A line from Scripture comes to mind: "Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will." Please pray for discernment and guidance. 40 Days for Life won't happen without somebody. "Somebody" could be you!

THREE ELEMENTS

Constant vigil

The visible, public centerpiece of 40 Days for Life is a 40-day, round-the-clock prayer vigil outside a Planned Parenthood center or other abortion facility in your community. Those who are called to stand witness maintain a peaceful and educational presence.

This 24-hour-a-day presence send a powerful message to the community about the tragic reality of abortion. It also serves as a call to repentance for those who work at the abortion center and those who patronize the facility.

If you do not have an abortion facility or Planned Parenthood office in your town, you can still conduct 40 Days for Life. However, you will need to select a different location which has some strategic significance ... perhaps near city hall, a courthouse, or a highly visible intersection.

Community outreach

During 40 Days for Life, the pro-life message is proactively taken to every corner of your community. This can identify hundreds, or even thousands, of pro-life supporters.

A door-to-door petition and education drive reaches out to every household in your town or city. Informational flyers are distributed in neighborhoods to raise awareness about the local crisis of abortion. Citizens are invited to sign a petition of support for the sanctity of human life, and people are given the opportunity to visibly show their support for 40 Days for Life by wearing wristbands, placing signs in their yards, or displaying bumper stickers on their vehicles.

These people can then be encouraged to pray and join in local pro-life efforts.

Church involvement begins by meeting with local pastors, other church leaders, and members of different congregations. The Body of Christ is invited to pray together and participate in 40 Days for Life, uniting in one focused mission that can save lives and make an eternal impact.

Media outreach is conducted through carefully targeted news stories, talk shows, editorials, and letters to the editor. This enables you to get the pro-life message out to many people who would never see the inside of a local church.

If your community has a college campus, many students can be impacted through an intense 40-day campus outreach. This can consist of flyer raids, sidewalk chalking, petition drives, table displays, and much more.

Local leadership with 40 Days for Life

40 Days for Life is primarily a local campaign. Yes, there is a national team that provides information, resources and encouragement, but all campaigns are based at the local level. Each community knows best when it comes to countering the damage abortion has caused in each individual city and town.

No one is appointed as a local 40 Days for Life leader; in each community, someone must step up and accept the challenge.

The campaign is also a group effort. There needs to be a main coordinator, but there is a whole level of duties and responsibilities that must be filled in addition to the director's position:

• Prayer coordinator
• Vigil coordinator
• Outreach coordinator
• Event coordinator
• Church coordinator
• Communications coordinator
• And possibly others, depending on your local needs.

A line from Scripture comes to mind: "Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will." Please pray for discernment and guidance. 40 Days for Life won't happen without somebody. "Somebody" could be you!

THREE ELEMENTS

Constant vigil

The visible, public centerpiece of 40 Days for Life is a 40-day, round-the-clock prayer vigil outside a Planned Parenthood center or other abortion facility in your community. Those who are called to stand witness maintain a peaceful and educational presence.

This 24-hour-a-day presence send a powerful message to the community about the tragic reality of abortion. It also serves as a call to repentance for those who work at the abortion center and those who patronize the facility.

If you do not have an abortion facility or Planned Parenthood office in your town, you can still conduct 40 Days for Life. However, you will need to select a different location which has some strategic significance ... perhaps near city hall, a courthouse, or a highly visible intersection.

Community outreach

During 40 Days for Life, the pro-life message is proactively taken to every corner of your community. This can identify hundreds, or even thousands, of pro-life supporters.

A door-to-door petition and education drive reaches out to every household in your town or city. Informational flyers are distributed in neighborhoods to raise awareness about the local crisis of abortion. Citizens are invited to sign a petition of support for the sanctity of human life, and people are given the opportunity to visibly show their support for 40 Days for Life by wearing wristbands, placing signs in their yards, or displaying bumper stickers on their vehicles.

These people can then be encouraged to pray and join in local pro-life efforts.

Church involvement begins by meeting with local pastors, other church leaders, and members of different congregations. The Body of Christ is invited to pray together and participate in 40 Days for Life, uniting in one focused mission that can save lives and make an eternal impact.

Media outreach is conducted through carefully targeted news stories, talk shows, editorials, and letters to the editor. This enables you to get the pro-life message out to many people who would never see the inside of a local church.

If your community has a college campus, many students can be impacted through an intense 40-day campus outreach. This can consist of flyer raids, sidewalk chalking, petition drives, table displays, and much more.

Local leadership with 40 Days for Life

40 Days for Life is primarily a local campaign. Yes, there is a national team that provides information, resources and encouragement, but all campaigns are based at the local level. Each community knows best when it comes to countering the damage abortion has caused in each individual city and town.

No one is appointed as a local 40 Days for Life leader; in each community, someone must step up and accept the challenge.

The campaign is also a group effort. There needs to be a main coordinator, but there is a whole level of duties and responsibilities that must be filled in addition to the director's position:

• Prayer coordinator
• Vigil coordinator
• Outreach coordinator
• Event coordinator
• Church coordinator
• Communications coordinator
• And possibly others, depending on your local needs.

A line from Scripture comes to mind: "Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will." Please pray for discernment and guidance. 40 Days for Life won't happen without somebody. "Somebody" could be you!

[nina0113]

ping

[Faith]

Holy God,

As long as we have breath, may we praise You and seek Your intervention in our beloved nation. Restore us as a country that truly values life and that honors You as our Creator. Until the time when every child is loved and wanted and brought to birth, we shall continue in prayer, both sure and steadfast. We exalt You, Great God, for Your powerful answers; and we thank You as we come to Your Holy Throne of Grace, seeking Your very best, and standing in the gap for these precious little ones. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

[rbmillerjr]

Here is an amazing article on the Early Church Fathers and Apologists as they discuss Abortion and Life.

http://www.incommunion.org/2004/11/28/abortion-and-the-early-church/

[Salvation]

Today’s email:

I’m in California today, visiting the 40 Days for
Life locations in Sacramento, Vallejo, Santa Rosa and
Napa. Tomorrow, it’s on to Santa Cruz and San Jose.

I have a question for you: Will you be speaking at
a 40 Days for Life kickoff event with the director of
your local abortion facility at this time next year?

That’s what I just did!!! And I have the video for you.

This video was recorded in Fayetteville, Arkansas —
where former Planned Parenthood director Abby Johnson
and I spoke outside of the Planned Parenthood
facility there.

This time last year, we were both at the 40 Days for
Life kickoff event in College Station, Texas — but on
opposite sides of the fence!

See our talks and learn how your peaceful presence led
to her conversion. Enjoy this video and know that with
God all things are possible:

To see the video, please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1037

The subject line of today’s message no doubt got your
attention. It’s the one thing EVERYBODY always wants
to know — “How many babies have been saved?”

As of the time I’m sending this, the total is indeed ...

44 ... that we know of.

We always add “that we know of” because no one other
than God Himself knows exactly how many lives He has
spared in response to your prayers and fasting.

With that in mind, here are some wonderfully
encouraging reports from local 40 Days for Life
campaign coordinators:

---

EVERETT, WASHINGTON

---

Friday is an abortion day at Planned Parenthood in
Everett, the site of a 40 Days for Life vigil.

This past Friday, however, the abortion total at
this facility was ZERO!

The place was CLOSED!!!

That was most unusual. No one really knows why.
And no one knows for sure how many lives may have
been saved. Women whose appointments were rescheduled
now have more time to think — and reflect on what it
is that they were about to do.

Keep praying!

---

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA

---

TWO women rejected abortions on the first day of
the campaign in Birmingham.

One young woman went into the Planned Parenthood
center — and turned right around and left within
15 minutes. She spoke to one of the volunteers
and followed her to the pro-life pregnancy center
nearby, where she decided to keep her baby.

Later, a couple took information from a volunteer,
but entered the Planned Parenthood building and
stayed for hours. It didn’t look good. But finally
they walked out — with huge smiles — and told
the people praying they canceled the abortion.

---

TOLEDO, OHIO

---

While several people were praying at the 40 Days
for Life vigil, a young woman drove out of the
abortion center and pulled up to the volunteers.
She rolled down her window and told them she had
changed her mind.

“Our prayers and presence make a difference,”
said one of the volunteers. “Christians of different
faith backgrounds coming together for the same
purpose! What a witness!”

---

CHICO, CALIFORNIA

---

Early one morning, several 40 Days for Life vigil
participants watched — and prayed — as a woman
entered Planned Parenthood.

They kept praying, hoping for a miracle.

After a while, the young woman exited the abortion
center, turned towards the prayer volunteers ...
and gave them a big thumbs-up.

“Be encouraged,” said Mary in Chico. “We most
often do not see the results, but know that each
and every prayer is touching someone.”

I couldn’t have said it any better!

[Kitty Mittens]

Amen, and Amen.

[wagglebee]

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