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Day 13 - October 4

Intention:

For all fathers who are terrified of being fathers.

Scripture:

A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy habitation.

-- Psalm 68:5

Reflection:

I had a friend many years ago who confided in me that he was terrified of being a father. He and his wife already had two children when this revelation came forth. "I never knew my father," he explained, "and I have no idea what a father is supposed to do." We continued to share about this, as well as pray together. He began to see he had a father's heart for his children. His biggest problem was not a limitation on love but not knowing how to act out this love.

One day we talked about the verse quoted at the top of this page. I shared that he did know his Father… not his biological father but his Heavenly Father, who had rescued him from a life of destruction not many years before. "How did your Heavenly Father guide you?" I asked. He talked about the ways he had seen God's love offered to him and the way the Lord had used circumstances and the Scriptures to mold him and mature him. "Well, the Lord wants to do the same thing through you for your children. Be available to His love and available to your kids. You'll do fine."

How wonderful it is to know that God takes a personal interest in each of us, many times using His faithful people - the Church - as channels of this love. No one is fatherless who lives in the Lord. His fatherly care begins at the moment of our conception, as it is written, "you knit me together in my mother's womb" (Psalm 139:12), and continues to be poured upon us throughout our lives.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we thank you for caring about each of us so deeply. Help us to see and know you as our Father in heaven each and every day of our lives. Your loving hand also rests on every child today carried in its mother's womb. May they be born into this world and come to know fully and personally your endless love. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Randolph Sly
National Pro-life Religious Council

Today’s email: (and late note)

NOTE: Because of technical difficulties with our e-mail
service, today’s message is going out late. As a result
of these problems, it is possible that you may receive
two copies of this message. If that is the case, we
most sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.
*******************************************************

Everyone appreciates a little good news to brighten
up a Monday, so here goes!

Thus far during this current 40 Days for Life
campaign, we have reports of ...

... 138 lives that have been saved from abortion —
that we know of!

Take a look at the stories behind those numbers.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

The 40 Days for Life vigil in Las Vegas is held
outside an abortion center that is on a cul-de-sac.

Just next to the abortion center is First Choice
Pregnancy Center. Anyone going to the abortion
facility has to drive right past this pregnancy
center first.

A young couple drove through the parking lot ...
slowly — TWICE! — checking out both First Choice
and the abortion center. The second time through,
one of the pro-life volunteers told them they could
get a free ultrasound at First Choice.

They accepted the offer, saw the ultrasound — and
confirmed to vigil participants that they are
choosing life for their child.

“Our prayers were answered,” said the volunteer.
“Thank you, Lord!”

NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK

The 40 Days for Life team in Niagara Falls is aware
of one baby that has been saved from abortion during
this campaign.

Vigil participants prayed as a young woman walked
into the abortion center — prayed that she would
still find it in her heart to change her mind.

Then, said one of the volunteers, they watched in
amazement a bit later as the woman “literally bolted
from the facility and ran away.” She wanted out of
there — as quickly as possible.

The vigil participants tried to find out more, so
they ran after her. Before they could catch up, a
car stopped and picked her up. She did not return.

DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA

“We had one woman and two couples change their minds
and left the abortion site with peaceful faces,” said
Patti in Downey. “Praise God for them — and for the
young woman the previous day who changed her mind.”

That’s four babies saved in Downey, “and our team is
rejoicing!” Patti says the word is getting out and
more people are coming to stand and pray.

“It is our first campaign and the Lord is moving
before us,” she said. “The church is opposing the
gates of hell ... and some day this abortion site
will be closed. Amen!”

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

The 40 Days for Life team in Nashville saw firsthand
that it pays to remain faithful and trust in God. It
was a busy day at the abortion center — cars started
streaming into the parking lot at 7 am and volunteers
counted more than three dozen clients entering the
building.

It just seemed bleak. No one wanted to talk. No one
wanted to take any of the prayer volunteers’ pro-life
literature.

Later that day, though, their prayers were answered.

“A mom and her daughter came out the door with the
young girl’s ultrasound picture,” said Marilyn. “She
was smiling at me and said, “You keep praying! I’ve
decided to keep my baby.”

Marilyn then asked if they could pray together in
thanksgiving. “Thank you, Lord, that she has chosen
life,” she said. “We give You all the glory!”

Our national director, David Bereit, will be
visiting 40 Days for Life locations in El Paso,
Texas and Albuquerque, New Mexico today.

My family and I will be visiting the 40 Days for
Life vigil in Cherry Hill, New Jersey tomorrow
morning. If you’re nearby ... please stop in!