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Today’s email from Shaen Carney:

Have I mentioned lately that this is the largest 40 Days
for Life campaign ever?

With 247 locations participating the stories are coming
in from around the world — literally!

Today, let’s take a look at some of the communities
taking part in 40 Days for Life for the first time. It
takes a lot of faith to bring this effort to a community
and lead it, especially for the first time. And yet the
blessings continue to pour in.

Take a look for yourself!

COBLESKILL, NEW YORK

A group of teens has become a regular sight on Thursday
nights in Cobleskill, which is hosting its first 40 Days
for Life campaign. The vigil location is near the
busiest corner in town, with a popular restaurant and
movie theater nearby.

“It is inspiring not only watching the teens pray for
the unborn in below freezing temperatures in Upstate
New York,” said Pat in Cobleskill, “but to be able to
watch the impact they have on all those who drive and
walk past.”

To see the youth group at the 40 Days for Life vigil
in Cobleskill, please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1857

WINDSOR, ONTARIO

Windsor is hosting its first 40 Days for Life campaign —
and has already reported that at least one baby has been
spared from abortion!

>From Windsor also comes one of the best letters to the
editor we’ve ever seen in support of 40 Days for Life.
It was written by Jim Armaly and published in the
Windsor Star.

Jim called his first experience with 40 Days for Life
“an eye-opener because I had not realized the venom and
rudeness of the pro-abortion faction.”

While he was praying, he noted obscenities, rude gestures,
drivers who passed very close to the curb.

“From all of this, therefore, I can only conclude that
they are not really pro-choice at all,” he wrote. “How
can they be if they don’t respect our choice to silently
pray and ask others to pray?”

A young woman accused him — respectfully, he noted —
of trying to force people to not abort.

“Doesn’t ‘force’ imply to most of us something physical?”
he asked. “But the signs simply ask people to pray. Isn’t
this definitely a non-violent request?”

For those of us who do pray, he said, “we know that
prayer is a force to be reckoned with but in an
entirely different sense. Makes me wonder if they
somehow know that.”

Will he go out again? “I plan to. There just may be
more unexpected experiences for me.”

For a link the entire letter, please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1857

PERTH, AUSTRALIA

There are six campaigns in progress in Australia right
now, covering the nation from coast to coast.

Brad Taylor, the local coordinator of the initial
campaign in Perth, has posted a video inviting folks
in Western Australia to get involved in 40 Days for Life.

Some of the statistics he mentions are specific to his
city, state and nation, but the message applies
everywhere that abortion on demand is legally permitted.

Watch the video! You’ll be inspired to keep going for the
rest of these 40 days — and beyond — by Brad’s
optimistic call to action: “Let’s make abortion history!”

To see the video from Perth, please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1857

If you haven’t been to pray at a 40 Days for Life vigil
yet, we still have 17 more days! To find the location
nearest you, please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/location.cfm

Day 23 - March 31

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

Holy God,

How it must grieve You to see Your people try to rationalize the killing of Your precious children. The lies have been repeated so often that they have been believed even by those who claim to be Yours. The great Liar stalks about, seeking to deceive especially those who call You Lord. Awaken us from our stupor, Father God, and help us to be alert and vigilant. Give us the strength and courage to stand up and declare that the killing of babies in the womb is WRONG! Inhabit our prayers, Lord, and help us to protect the children; for there can be no compromise with darkness. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.