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As this 40 Days for Life campaign continues, one
thing is clear — prayer outside the abortion center
touches consciences.

Sometimes, the reaction is anger. Sometimes,
it’s tears.

The peaceful prayer presence disrupts the comfort
that the abortion industry depends on in order to
survive in a community.

Your prayers and presence give hope to the women
entering the facility, call passers-by to action
and remind the workers in that facility of the evil
reality of their work.

More than anything else, it shows that people DO
understand what abortion is all about — even if they
don’t always want to admit it. But they know.

McALLEN, TEXAS

Nancy in McAllen, Texas has seen first hand that the
40 Days for Life vigil is having an impact. There’s a
big, new sign over the abortion center’s door:

“Good women have abortions.”

(There’s a similar sign at this abortion chain’s
location in Beaumont, Texas — which is also a 40 Days
for Life vigil site.)

“What’s up with that?” Nancy asked. “No one — at any
time — has said anything or held any sign up that
said women are bad.”

So they continue to pray — that women will make
good decisions.

And it’s working!

A woman pulled up to the traffic light at the
corner and rolled down her window. “You saved my
grandbaby!” she called out. “Thank you!”

About two weeks ago, a volunteer spoke with her
daughter and shared pro-life information. “She
decided to keep her baby,” said the woman in the car.
“Thank you for being there!”

“And THAT,” said Nancy, “is why we are here.”

To see pictures from the 40 Days for Life vigil in
McAllen, please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2418

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA

A woman approached the vigil participants in Winnipeg.
She said she wanted to talk. “I saw the immense pain,
hurt and shame that she was carrying,” said one of the
volunteers.

All of a sudden, the woman broke into tears and said,
“I had an abortion and it’s killing me inside ... it
haunts me every day. I know what I did was so wrong.
I just didn’t know what else to do.”

“Tears were now pouring down her face and I felt
compelled to extend my hand to comfort her. That’s
when she just gave me the biggest hug as she cried on
my shoulders,” said the 40 Days for Life volunteer.

The woman was offered information about Rachel’s
Vineyard retreats for healing after abortion — and
the vigil participants promised to pray for her and
her child.

“You have no idea how brave and courageous you are,”
the woman responded. “To stand here and offer help
and love is the most courageous thing anyone can do.”

As for the volunteers, they realized they’d been
blessed — that they were present when this woman
began to set herself free from guilt and take her
first steps toward healing and freedom.

“It affirmed that our presence there is much needed,”
said the prayer team member, “and that God will use
every single person in the most powerful of ways.”

She felt honored to be part of that woman’s life.

“I ask you all to pray for this woman,” she said, “as
well for all the other women who are living lives of
quiet desperation and shame.”

Day 22 - October 19

Intention:

May those who hold life as trivial realize that we live because God wills it so.

Scripture:

Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this, in His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.

-- Job 12:9-10

Reflection:

Job was a man acquainted with grief, trials and tribulation. He had everything taken from him, including his family. He endured sickness, ridicule and judgment from his friends. Everyone gave him advice about his situation, questioning his spirituality and his God. Job's circumstances were bad but he never loses faith. Why? Because "the hand of the Lord has made all life." Created by God, he knows his life has meaning and purpose, regardless of the circumstances.

In our present culture, we've lost that basic truth; every life is made and allowed to live by God's sovereign authority. As people who pride ourselves on our independence, we have a hard time acknowledging our dependence on God. From our creation, when we were knit together in our mother's womb to our last breath, God's word is clear that "in His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind."

It's time for us as individuals, and as a society, to recognize that we exist by God's grace and turn back to Him, honoring His word and His teachings. Why? Because our world is full of Jobs, people who are dealing with trials and tribulations and hurting desperately. Job's response should be ours as well. Regardless of what we face (even an unplanned pregnancy) God in His wisdom and mercy will redeem it. How do I know? Job's friends who doubted God's sovereignty cry out to God asking for help, God instructs Job to pray for his friends and after he does, God restores all that Job had lost. In other words, because Job never lost faith and knew and trusted His Creator, the Lord blessed Job.

Prayer:

Thank you Father God for being the Creator of my life and every life. Please give me, and the society in which I live, an appreciation for your gift of life. Please help us set aside our pride and acknowledge that we need you. Show me how I can honor you today in response to all the blessings you bestow so freely. In the name of Jesus, amen.

Georgette Forney
President, Anglicans for Life