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Today’s email from Shawn Carney:

Today I’m going to the 40 Days for Life campaigns in
Winston-Salem and Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Upon hearing of my visit in Chapel Hill, the Planned
Parenthood spokesperson labeled the campaign “40 days
of harassment.”

When we pray at abortion facilities, our first goal is
to extend God’s grace and mercy to others as we stand
in vigil.

Some will ignore us. Some will be inspired. Others will
say it’s “harassment.” I’m reminded of Mother Teresa’s
assertion that Christ doesn’t call us to be successful;
He calls us to be faithful.

We usually don’t see immediate results. But be assured,
you are planting seeds. The rest is up to the Holy
Spirit. We just have to press on in faith — and faith
can remove the blinders that convince people that love
is “harassment.”

CALGARY, ALBERTA

The 40 Days for Life team in Calgary has to deal with a
court order — a longstanding ruling that forbids vigil
participants from speaking to anyone unless that person
approaches them first. It’s quite a hurdle.

The prayer team could only watch as a young couple
walked out of the abortion center and got in their truck.
“She cried and cried while he held and hugged her,” said
one volunteer, “and she could see our signs.”

The signs’ message: “Hurting after abortion?” They
offered local contact information for finding help. It
was clear that the young man was reading the signs.

“Oh, our hearts were breaking for them,” said the vigil
participant. “We hope and pray they will find help to
grieve and face their loss ... and find forgiveness.”

The court order makes things difficult. “But we will
continue,” said the volunteer. “It’s worth the
two-and-a-half hour drive that it takes us to get to
the clinic every time. May God have mercy on our nation!”

ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

A woman who prays often at the 40 Days for Life vigil
in Adelaide offered some perspectives about persisting
in faith.

“One never knows what effect God might have, through
us, on those who see us there,” she wrote. “I’m always
mindful of presenting a friendly face.”

Recently, she was able to share information with a
young woman about the development of the child in the
womb. “She seemed very appreciative of our conversation
and thanked me.” But she also kept her appointment at
the clinic.

The volunteer then offered the same material to a woman
who was in her 13th week of pregnancy.

“Where she was originally very disinterested in any
contact with me,” the vigil participant said, “by the
time we had finished talking she seemed far more at
ease, thanked me for the info and words of
encouragement, and left with a smile and a wave.”

Did either of these women change their minds? Right now,
no one knows. But this faithful volunteer hopes “our
peaceful, caring, non-judgmental, gentle presence might
bring about a change of heart and allow another little
one in imminent danger to live the life God intended.”

GLENDALE, ARIZONA

While people were praying at the 40 Days for Life prayer
vigil outside Planned Parenthood, a car with a young man
and woman inside stopped. The man asked the volunteers
what he could do.

“The Holy Spirit guided me to say, ‘You can pray with
us,’” said one of the volunteers.

He responded, “I guess I can do that,” and parked his car.

He then joined the prayer vigil on the sidewalk. He said
his girlfriend’s family is pressuring her to abort his
little daughter — and he does not want that to happen.

“I don’t know the results of our prayer,” said the
volunteer.

But hopefully, seeds were planted. Please keep praying!

Day 28 - April 5

Intention:

Pray that those standing in peaceful vigil will extend mercy and grace to others as they remember that Christ did not treat us as our sins deserve.

Scripture:

You have heard it was said, 'you shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.

-- Matthew 5: 43-44

Reflection:

Perhaps it is obvious by now that not everyone thinks this campaign is a great idea! In fact, those on the front lines standing in peaceful vigil are perhaps being cursed and hated for what God has called you to do. Because we are all fallen creatures, our natural response may not be as Christ-like as we would hope it would be.

So, how do we keep our natural response in check, while allowing the Holy Spirit to empower us to love, bless, do good, and pray for those who hate us or would do us harm?

Consider first the Holiness of God. It seems that sin has clouded our ability to think clearly about God's nature. We simply don't have a clue of how outraged God is by our sin, what an insult sin is to His person, or how sin fires the flames of His wrath. Praise God that He didn't leave us in our depravity destined for His divine wrath!

Ephesians 2:4-5 says, "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in sin, made us alive together with Christ; by grace you have been saved."

Because of God's mercy and grace towards us, we who receive Him receive eternal Hope. Those who curse you, hate you, spitefully mistreat you and persecute you need that same Hope. That is the only way we can ever expect them to behave differently. Ask the Holy Spirit to love them -- through you -- so they are drawn to the Hope that is in you, that is Christ Jesus.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, may we reflect your character of grace and kindness to those who hate us and curse us. Guard our hearts and our tongues as we respond in love to words and actions meant to rile us or cause us harm. Let others see the Hope that is Christ in all we say and do. In His precious name we pray, amen.

Carmen Pate
Co-host, "Point of View" Talk Show