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Day 31 - October 22

Intention:

For the medical community, that the truth they know about the human body may become awe and wonder at the God who made it.

Scripture:

Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.

--Psalm 139:16

Reflection:

Human beings -- God's tapestries.

Psalm 139 is a psalm that reveals the enormity and otherness of God. His divine attributes are on display: omniscience (2-4), omnipresence (7-12), loving-kindness (17-18), justice (19-20), righteousness (23-24), and omnipotence. Yet, when it came to express this last attribute, what example did the psalmist use - God's creation of mountains, seas, or far-flung galaxies? No, he used none of these. To express the wonder of God's unparalleled creative power the writer mentions the fashioning of the human in the womb (14-16).

The Hebrew word used to express God's forming of us in the womb, raqam, is the same term for needlework or embroidery. In other words, we are a tapestry that displays God's artistic mastery. And, like the artist who knows his creation down to the last detail, God intimately knows us. This reality provokes the writer to awe and wonder. He proclaims, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

What is true for this psalmist is true for each human being. Each is fashioned by God and known by him and we can proclaim on behalf of each, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

Prayer:

Gracious God, help us to appreciate the wonder and beauty of Your creation. Help us proclaim on behalf of every one of our fellow human beings, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made." May the knowledge that we are intimately known by You shape our lives and actions. Amen.

Rev. J. Kirk van der Swaagh
Pastor, Conservative Congregational Christian Conference

Friday’s email:

This is not going to be easy to read.

It’s about physical, emotional and spiritual pain.
This is the account of women who have had abortions.

When I was a sophomore at Texas A&M, I heard women,
for the first time in my life, give their testimonies
about their abortion experiences. One was in the
military, one was raped, one had been on drugs and
one just didn’t feel she could afford a child.

I remember being unaware and naive about how abortion
impacted women — but how could it not? Their
testimonies were powerful and led me to dive into
pro-life work even more.

Whenever I speak I always thank them for their courage
to inspire me — and hopefully inspire YOU — to do
more to end this injustice.

People with abortion experiences CAN find God’s
healing. But there’s no question, as Linda said in a
blog posting, that “women DO regret their abortions.”

“I myself had four abortions,” Linda wrote. “1976,
1979, 1982, 1985. This year — 2010 — in June, I
only have begun to feel the release of guilt, blame
and shame for what I have done. It took me 24 years
before I attended a post-abortion healing retreat.
It took me another nine years to be a part of the
Silent No More program.”

(See http://silentnomoreawareness.org)

She has now prayed in front of the facility where
she had three abortions. “I always deeply wish that
there had been someone there for me in 1976 or any
of my other desperate days,” she said. “I may have
listened. And my children would have lived.”

“My abortion was over 30 years ago,” writes P., “and
I still cry — when I know of a woman contemplating
abortion, when I have prayed outside an abortion
clinic and watched desperate women going in to kill
their precious baby.”

She thanks God for her tears. “I know this is God’s
way of keeping the memory of my child on my heart.”

“How could I have been so stupid?” Anne asked. “For
many years I have felt personally responsible for one
life being ended and a soul being sent to God. The
burden is heavy! I regret my part in this more
every day.”

Eventually, Anne turned to God for forgiveness and
consolation. Still, “I cannot undo the killing of
this precious life. Often, I think of the person he
would have been.”

Vivian’s oldest daughter had an abortion at the age
of 15. “I paid for the abortion and her father took
her to the clinic,” she wrote. “Then later on, she
had another one and I drove her there.” At the time,
she thought she was doing the right thing to protect
her daughter.

At that point in her life, Vivian was not a Christian.
“I have since become one, and I had to ask the Father
to forgive me for this horrible sin. I know He has —
and now I pray for these mothers and fathers and
especially for these precious gifts from God.”

Allison was praying in front of the Planned Parenthood
abortion center recently. “The spiritual darkness was
very apparent,” she said, “but despite this, a man had
the courage to approach us so he could share his story
after seeing a Men Regret Abortion sign.”

He had a very simple message. “I’m guilty of making
abortion happen to my girlfriend years ago before I
became a Christian,” he said. “Now I live with regret
everyday — but I know I’m forgiven. It is good you
people are out here. Spread the word!”

If you meet someone who is suffering in the wake of
an abortion experience, you might suggest Rachel’s
Vineyard, a group that offers post-abortion healing
retreats. You can find out more about this effective,
compassionate ministry at:

http://rachelsvineyard.org