Let’s face it. We need the full armor of God!
With some of the things people have had to deal with
while peacefully praying for an end to abortion, it’s
important to remember this is a spiritual battle.
People praying at the vigil have seen the occasional
negative reaction — rude words and gestures from
people driving by, for instance. But thankfully, the
Lord provides His grace so we may respond to such
anger with Christ-like love.
CANTON, OHIO
There’s a sign-carrying protester who yells at vigil
participants in Canton. Among other things, he insists
that Planned Parenthood does not do abortions.
True, Planned Parenthood does not do abortions at all
of its facilities — but the nation’s largest abortion
chain most certainly refers abortion-minded women to
other locations ... and its annual abortion toll is
330,000.
Volunteers tried to explain Planned Parenthood’s
agenda, but he wouldn’t listen. “The devil is lying
to you,” he screamed. “They do good things here.” He
refused to take literature — “propaganda,” he called
it — and shouted that people praying outside the
abortion center faced eternal punishment “for bearing
false witness.”
When a large prayer group’s vigil time ended and
they were preparing to go, he yelled at them, “Is
your party over?”
Linda, the coordinator in Canton, said this man
clearly “needs our prayers. We pray that the Holy
Spirit will enlighten him to the true purpose of
Planned Parenthood,” she said. “Pray that we continue
to show the love of Jesus with everyone we meet at
Planned Parenthood.”
To see one of the signs the Canton protester carries,
please go to:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3512
SEVILLE, SPAIN
A woman walked up to one of the prayer volunteers and
looked at her “pray for an end to abortion” sign. “How
brutal,” she said. “The law is the law.”
The woman grabbed the sign, snarled that this was
harassment — and broke the sign. “I said that I was
not harassing anybody, but was only peacefully praying,”
the volunteer said.
As she went into the abortion center, the angry woman
said she was going to call the police. “I called the
police,” said the vigil participant, “and they told me
I wasn’t infringing any law.”
After a while, the woman came out. “She told me she
was a psychologist and that we were inflicting a lot
of damage on women who were going to freely abort
their children with defects,” said the 40 Days for
Life participant.
“In Seville we are very much alone,” she said. “I
saw the devil in the eyes of those people and in the
people at the doorway who laughed at me while shaking
their heads with hateful grimaces.”
RENO, NEVADA
Last week, I mentioned the pointy yucca plants
outside an abortion center in Atlanta. That reminded
me that the abortionist in Reno has a row of very
prickly cactus plants along the fence at his business.
Despite the cactus — and professionally-printed signs
with messages such as “Pray to end sidewalk bullying”
— praying, even at this place, can be a very peaceful
experience. The presence of the Holy Spirit can be
felt despite it all.
To see the fence, the cactus plants — and young people
peacefully praying at the Reno vigil along with a baby
in a stroller, go to:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3512
Day 22 - October 17
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