Obedience is easy when life is going well.
It’s a hindrance when it goes against what we want or
when all comfort is removed. Still nothing is more
freeing or liberating than obedience because it always
points us to God’s love.
Today’s prayer intention is, “That God will bless us
with His gift of strength as we respond in obedience
to His call.”
As the final two weeks of this 40 Days for Life campaign
approach, I wanted to share stories about a couple of
people, who despite the obstacles, are responding to
God’s call.
Please keep our friend Chris Slattery in your prayers.
In addition to coordinating 40 Days for Life in New York
City, Chris directs the EMC Frontline chain of pro-life
pregnancy resource centers.
Recently, burglars broke into EMC’s South Bronx clinic
— a center that’s right across the street from a
Planned Parenthood office. Chris says the EMC clinic
was virtually destroyed.
“The rampage of these heartless criminals shattered
windows, stole all of our audio visual equipment,
destroyed displays and supplies, tore up the ceiling,
doors, and floor,” Chris told Life Site News. “They
even broke into our supply closet and stole our Pampers.”
He suspects the burglars were drug addicts looking for
quick cash.
Meanwhile, the work goes on. One of the EMC Frontline
bloggers wrote about taking part in 40 Days for Life
for the first time.
“The opportunity for prayer is astounding in helping
the effectiveness of my work throughout the rest of my
week,” she wrote.” It fuels the passion and the drive
necessary to reach the women I work with every day.
Community outreach has truly been the most visibly
fruitful.”
To see a photo from 40 Days for Life in New York City,
please go to:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1882
While a 40 Days for Life volunteer was praying with her
daughter at the vigil in La Puente, a young mom came by
“with the most gorgeous baby,” said one volunteer.
The volunteer asked the mother if this was her first
child. At first, she didn’t answer. She just started
to cry.
Prior to this child’s arrival, she said, she had an
abortion. “It took me eight years wanting another child.
But I wasn’t able to conceive. Then one day, I passed by
the abortion clinic and noticed the 40 Days for Life
campaign. I told my elder sons, ‘We’re going to pray.’
A few months later, I was expecting my third child.”
The young mom’s family would tell her, “Be quiet! You
can never talk about your abortion!” But now, she says,
“After eight years I will no longer keep quiet. Although
I didn’t save my baby, I can help save the lives of
babies to come.”
For a couple of pictures of 40 Days for Life in
La Puente, please go to:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1882
I know I’ve mentioned families praying at the 40 Days
for Life vigil a couple of times already during this
campaign. But every time I do, I get e-mail affirming
the great blessings that children bring to the sidewalk,
and I get pictures of families in action outside the
abortion centers.
Therese in Portland sent a great photo of a family that
prays together often at their vigil. There are nine
children in the family. Not all of them are able to
come on every family visit, but Therese says there are
usually at least seven, all carrying their custom-made
signs. She describes them as “a family of love.”
To see a photo of these children and their messages at
40 Days for Life in Portland, please go to:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1882
Day 24 - April 1
Intention:
That we may realize the generational impact of abortion.
Scripture:
Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife because she was barren; and the Lord granted his prayer and Rebekah his wife conceived. The children struggled together within her, and she said," If it is thus, why do I live?" So she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples, born of you, shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the elder shall serve the younger."
-- Genesis 25:21-23
Reflection:
Human beings -- God's tapestries.
What an answer to prayer!
Who dares to say that the unborn are not human, with distinct personality and character right from the moment of conception? This account emphasizes the vitality and uniqueness of the twins who, because of Isaac's prayer for his wife, were conceived in Rebekah's womb.
When Rebekah was told by the Lord that the older would serve the younger twin, God already knew that Jacob and Esau would lead turbulent and conflicted lives. God knows us and knows all about us, including our personality and disposition long before we are actually born, indeed, from the moment we are conceived in our mother's womb.
What a tragedy of gargantuan proportions that babies, planned and endowed by the Creator, with distinct and unique personalities and with, perhaps, a future and destiny intended for greatness, have their lives snuffed out by cruel abortionists before they ever see the light of day! May our prayers that the dreadful scourge of abortion in our land may vanish be as fervent as Isaac's were for Rebekah.
Prayer:
O, God, you formed us in our mother's womb and planned a unique and special life and purpose for each of us, and we do thank you. Grant that we may pray and work for an end to abortion, especially in these 40 Days, so that no unborn baby you have made may fail to achieve your divine intention for him or her because of intentional abortion. We pray this for the sake of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Rev. Ben Sheldon
President Emeritus, Presbyterians Pro-life and National Pro-life Religious Council