[Salvation]

Great story about an ultrasound tech here.

Prayer, persistence and the power of pregnancy centers
are the theme of today’s message.

After speaking at a pregnancy center banquet in Michigan,
I was sent this story from Grand Rapids.

This amazing story shows what can happen when a
40 Days for Life vigil works with a pregnancy center
to save lives that would otherwise become statistics.

“This is the day the Lord has made,” we read in
Psalm 118. “Let us rejoice in it and be glad!”

---

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

---

A visibly upset young woman and her mother had just
walked out of the abortion center where the 40 Days
for Life vigil is going on — and walked right up to
one of the prayer volunteers.

She had been advised to have an abortion because she
had difficulties in her life.

After a short discussion, the two women seemed
interested in the offer of a free ultrasound at
a local pregnancy care center. But there were two
challenges.

First of all, it was 8:30 in the morning — and the
pregnancy center wouldn’t open til 9:00.

The volunteers decided to take the young woman and
her mom to breakfast; that would help them settle
down a bit, and it would let them wait until the
doors were open at the pregnancy center.

The second challenge seemed a bit more formidable.
While an ultrasound MACHINE was available, there
might not be an ultrasound TECHNICIAN available.

So they all went to the pregnancy center to wait —
and pray.

Within the hour, another couple arrived at the
abortion center. They had been told to abort
their baby because of possible disabilities.

They had doubts about going through with it — so
they, too, were offered a free ultrasound.

“Can you get us that ultrasound right now?” the
couple asked.

About the same time, yet another couple arrived for
an appointment. They had significant financial
challenges — and they, too, had been encouraged to
abort. “And yes,” said the volunteer, “couple number
three also wanted a free ultrasound.”

Meanwhile, back at the pregnancy center, a car had
entered the parking lot. None of the volunteers
recognized the car. A woman got out. They didn’t
recognize her, either.

She walked over and introduced herself. “I’m an
ultrasound tech and I have nothing to do today,”
she said.

“Do you know of anyone that could use my skills?”

“Seriously!” said the volunteer. “Just like that!”

Three young women saw ultrasound images of their
babies that day. And despite all the reasons each had
been encouraged to abort — they each chose life for
their children.

Each of these mothers has a long road ahead and many
challenges to overcome. But they’ve taken a wonderful
first step. Please keep them in your prayers, and ask
Christ to guide them on their way.

“Before I knew the difficulties of this day, God had
planned for our needs to be met,” said the 40 Days
for Life vigil participant. “Three couples who had
planned on ending their babies’ lives today are still
pregnant tonight. Praise God!”

She added that the overwhelming feeling “is one of
both personal humility and awe for our God who did
so much today. What a blessing! We praise and honor
the Creator tonight. He has done marvelous things!”

[Salvation]

Day 15 - October 12

 

Intention:

May God's people awaken to the fact that we are our brothers' keepers.

Scripture:

Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?" And He said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground."

-- Genesis 4:8-10

Reflection:

"Methinks he doth protest too much ..."

The Bible is filled with passages that speak to our obligation to care for our fellow human beings. From the many commands in the books of Moses enjoining love of family, neighbors and even strangers, to Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan, the injunction to care for others is inescapable.

In this account, the guilt-stricken Cain tries to shrug off his obligation to his own kin by dismissing it as an unreasonable duty. A la Shakespeare, though, "methinks he doth protest too much." Cain's objection doesn't stem from his sense of proper boundaries of responsibility, but from his own self-centered sense of self-preservation.

Christ said, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends" (John 15:13). This is the standard of divine love. It required God to sacrifice what was most precious to Him for the temporal and eternal well being of all humankind (see John 3:16). Though on a much-reduced scale, he expects us to do the same.

Trying to duck our obligation to others is futile. We can't get away with simply dismissing others, especially the most vulnerable among us: the pre-born, the disabled, the sick and the aged. As with Cain, God sees and hears their suffering and will call us to account for what we do -- or do not do -- for them.

Prayer:

Father, help us to embrace the fact that we are our "brother's keeper." When, due to selfish motives, we try to cast off this responsibility please call to us to account. We would be pleasing to you and to our "brother." Through the help and grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Rev. Rob Schenck
President, Faith and Action