40 Days for Life runs [September 25] through November 3 in 306 cities

40DaysforLife.com ^ | 0-25-13 | 40 Days for Life

[Salvation]

40 Days for Life runs through November 3 in 306 cities

Today [September 24] ... we launch a new campaign -- and a new video that shows just what God can do over these next 40 days. In this short video, you'll meet people whose lives are forever changed ... because of faithful, prayerful volunteers ... during 40 Days for Life.

There are two former Planned Parenthood managers -- and a woman who chose life for her baby, simply because there were people outside the abortion center who were specifically praying for her and her child. Hear their amazing stories in this short video ... then email this page everyone you know so they can find out for themselves just what 40 Days for Life is all about!

Find the 40 Days for Life location nearest you. Click on the city name -- and sign up to get involved!

 

HUGE news about the place 40 Days for Life started: CLOSING!

If you've followed 40 Days for Life for any length of time, you know that this worldwide movement began in Bryan/College Station, Texas. Planned Parenthood even labeled Bryan/College Station as "the most anti-choice place" in the nation.

The local Planned Parenthood abortion center there has had more 40 Days for Life vigils outside its doors than any other place in the world ... and that is the the place where Abby Johnson, the director of that facility, experienced a conversion, quit her job and joined the pro-life movement. That facility just announced it is CLOSING ... [more]

 

Four more abortion centers confirmed CLOSED

Since the last 40 Days for Life ended in March, four more abortion centers which were sites of 40 Days for Life campaigns have CLOSED their doors!

Shortly after the campaign, volunteers learned that a late-term abortion facility in Sacramento, California ... where multiple 40 Days for Life prayer vigils had been held outside ... had gone out of business.

Just a few weeks later, a Planned Parenthood abortion center in Kenwood, Washington - where two 40 Days for Life vigils have been held outside - announced its permanent closure. Then an abortion center in Toledo, Ohio ... that had seen SIX 40 Days for Life vigils in the public right-of-way outside ... turned out the lights and locked the doors. And then it was a Fairfax, Virginia abortion facility ... where TEN 40 Days for Life campaigns were held.

All four of them are CLOSED. To God be the glory! That now makes 37 abortion facilities ... where people of faith have prayed and fasted outside during 40 Days for Life vigils ... that have shut down.

 

"I knew having an abortion would scar me forever"

	"The morning after I found out I was pregnant, I started realizing what bringing a child into this world would mean for ME and MY life and MY future. "I wasn't thinking about the life being created inside of me. I started thinking about abortion.

"I have always been pro-choice, and most of the people in my life are as well. When I told the father, he said he could not have a baby - but he would pay for the abortion. When I started telling other people about my situation, most said I would be insane to have the baby. Logically, I felt like they were right ..."

[Salvation]

DAY 5: Message to “the sign people”

September 29th, 2013 by admin

Just one item today – but a powerful one. Here’s a letter that a young woman left at a 40 Days for Life vigil site – simply addressed to “the sign people.”

If this doesn’t show the importance of your peaceful witness outside the abortion centers . . . I don’t know what does!

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TO THE SIGN PEOPLE
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My friend had left me the use of her apartment as she was away … perfect because it was right where the clinic was!

The next day, I saw you people lining up with signs … I watched from the window every day and all day you were there! Different folks each time.

I had this idea in my head that abortion picketers were extremists … no “normal” person would do that sort of thing. Yet you did not look extreme … more ordinary.

Tuesday was my pre-procedure appointment. Used the wrong entrance and had to walk past you. So what, I thought. Who cares? They don’t know me or where I am going. As I walked past (hurriedly!), my legs felt like they weighed a ton. What was going on? Are these people intimidating me? Do I need to feel ashamed as I walk past? The receptionist told me to “ignore them” when I asked about you.

Every day I watched you. One day I thought for sure no one would be there. Weather forecast was calling for severe winds and rain. There in the afternoon, amid strong winds which were blowing the signs over the head and onto the grass, you stood. Three or four together. All day!

The next day I took a walk and followed you in the direction where everyone seemed to go. It was a church. After everyone left, I went inside and saw all the signs, flyer. Impressive set-up, I thought. They seem organized in their purpose!

On Friday was my scheduled appointment for my procedure. I was suddenly terrified of what was to be. My heart was almost beating out of my chest.

My boyfriend, who had promised to come the day before, did not show up to take me. Said he was tied up and that ultimately it was my choice to have it that day or wait til next week. My choice. But he’s not there to hold my hand! Lots of weighing pros and cons.

Anyhow, I want to let you know that I decided to keep my baby. The boyfriend is still a distance away but maybe he needs time to come around and see the big picture.

The reason I decided to leave you this note is to tell you that what you did was good. I felt I owed it to you for all the days you stood there in hope that others would take notice. I noticed – and in turn it gave me hope that others I know would also care to “stand for me.”

[Salvation]

©2013 — 40 Days for Life www.40daysforlife.com

Devotional for Day 6, September 30, 2013

Rev. Paul Stallsworth, Lifewatch (United Methodist Church)

Intention:

That knowing the shortness of life, all may value it more deeply.

Scripture:

Remember your Creator before the silver

cord is loosed, or the golden bowl

is broken, or the pitcher shattered at

the fountain, or the wheel broken at

the well.

Then the dust will return to the earth

as it was, and the spirit will return to

God who gave it.

—Ecclesiastes 12:6-7

Reflection:

God is giver of all life. Short lived or long lived, human lives are lived out in this world.  The metaphors for death are many. But their meaning is clear and singular: all will die. Even so, death is not the absolute end. It is not the end of the story.

For as certainly as God gave life, at death the life or spirit that God gave returns to God.  By God, we are created. For God, we live our given days. To God, we return at the end of our earthly days. And with God, we live through eternity.  Clearly, all along the way, this gracious, loving God is with us. No human life is random or alone. No human life was created without purpose. Not one human life is without destiny.  All human lives, acknowledged or not, are related to God -- from beginning, to end, throughout eternity.  Therefore, in this world, all human lives are to be respected and protected, for their lives are signs of God’s sovereignty.

Prayer:

O God, we too often try to live in ways

that ignore our coming death. We forget

that our days are numbered by You,

that at the end of our days your judgment

awaits, that You are the Lord of

our destiny.

Help us to repent daily, and then to live

each day in joyful obedience. Lead us to

live in the light and promise of eternity.

Prepare us to live fully and sacrificially.

Prepare us to die faithfully and hopefully,

so that we might live forever with

You. Through Jesus Christ, who has

gone before us, we trust and hope and

love and pray. Amen.

[Salvation]

DAY 6: 36 babies saved!

September 30th, 2013 by admin

If you need a reason to look forward to Mondays, this is it! Mondays are the days we update all the reports of babies spared from abortion during your 40 Days for Life vigils.

Thus far during this 40 Days for Life campaign, we have reports of 36 babies saved … that we know of!

Here are just a few of those stories.

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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN
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Dan noticed a young mom he had recognized from earlier in the day, sitting on the doorsteps. “I asked her if she was going to be OK,” he said. She responded, “What did you tell my boyfriend?” Dan told her, “Probably what I tell them all – go inside and get her out of there! The time is NOW to save your baby’s life!” The woman looked surprised. “Seriously? That’s all you said? Somehow, you lit him up. And it worked. He talked me out of it.”

“I was dumbstruck; but not for long,” Dan said. “I told her about the free help across the street. She said she would check it out”

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ABREPO, GHANA
—————————————————–

Edward is leading the 40 Days for Life vigil in Ghana. “God has been good to us,” he said.

“I received a phone call from a lady around 2:57 am on September 26,” he said. The message: “’I have decided to keep my pregnancy if there is HOPE!”

“After the first day, one baby saved,” Edward said. “Amen!”

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ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI
—————————————————–

Brian in St. Louis says one of the prayer volunteers approached a young woman as she was pulling into Planned Parenthood, and offered to take her across the street to Thrive’s mobile medical unit.

Patricia, the volunteer – who gives credit to the Holy Spirit for this turnaround – said the woman was surprised but grateful for the alternate opportunity provided by Thrive.

“Sometimes,” Brian said, “all it takes are the prayers of some faithful volunteers and a brochure to help women realize that there ARE other options besides the abortion agenda of Planned Parenthood.”

[Salvation]

©2013 — 40 Days for Life www.40daysforlife.com

Devotional for Day 7, October 1, 2013

Fr. Terry Gensemer, National Director, Charismatic Episcopal Church for Life

Intention:

May we have a heart and a zeal to save

the poor and release the oppressed.

Scripture:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because

He has anointed Me to preach the

gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to

heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim

liberty to the captives and recovery of

sight to the blind, to set at liberty those

who are oppressed.

—Luke 4:18-19

Reflection:

This passage is a very familiar one. It has been preached on many occasions, even made popular in books and songs.  Though the quote is about Jesus, all Christians take this commission seriously as a directive on how to reach the world with the gospel.  We, like our Savior, are to bring the good news to the poor, the broken hearted, those in captivity, those who cannot see, and the oppressed. 

The commission given to us in this passage is clearly a charge to care for those for whom God cares the most. I wonder though, whom do we look for to be touched by the Holy Spirit as we go out into the world?  Who are the poor, if not those unborn children who have been abandoned by their parents before they ever leave the womb? Who are the broken hearted, if not those unborn children whose only example of love is having their mother take them to an abortion clinic to be destroyed, or the mother of a child who has been deceived by everyone around her into believing that what she is doing is best for her and her child?  Who are the captives, if not those unborn children who are bound over to death by the “choice” of abortion?  Who is more blind than an unborn child in the darkness of a womb that has become a waiting room for their death?  And who is more oppressed than those unborn children whose oppression has been legitimized by their government, their church and even their family and loved ones.

Prayer:

Lord, You empower us with Your Spirit

to do your will in the earth.

Send us to the poorest, the most broken,

the most captive, the most blind

and the most oppressed in the world,

the innocent pre-born children in their

mother’s wombs that are scheduled for

destruction.

Help us to bring them healing, liberty,

sight and justice through Jesus Christ

our Lord, Amen.

[Salvation]

DAY 7: “Let’s get off and join them”

October 1st, 2013 by admin

It’s now a week that this campaign has been under way in 306 cities in ten countries on four continents.

Even with all of those locations, you probably participate in the one closest to you. But some travelers have visited vigils in other cites — and some, even vigils in other countries!

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MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE
—————————————————–

Stephanie in Memphis says their 40 Days for Life vigil got off to a great start – boosted by some visitors from Australia.

She said a man on a bus waved at the prayer volunteers – which isn’t unusual. But a few minutes later, she saw that same man and a companion approaching on foot.

“He said he knew as soon as he saw us,” she said, “that he and his traveling partner had to get off and come and pray with us. So they got off at the next bus stop and walked all the way back.”

Michael and his friend Terese are both from Australia and have taken part in 40 Days for Life at home. As the bus drove past Planned Parenthood, they saw the people praying outside.

“Within ten seconds, we said ‘let’s get off and join them,’” Michael told her. “It was the Holy Spirit.”

“You know sometimes people don’t appreciate the gift of life,” Therese said. When she saw the group praying, she said, “What a great job these people are doing. It’s hard work.”

Not long afterward, word reached the volunteers that a young mom had rejected abortion.

Stephanie said, “I stand in awe and in amazement of how God uses us on the sidewalk!”

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SARASOTA, FLORIDA
—————————————————–

A group of more than 60 helped launch the 40 Days for Life vigil in Sarasota, praying in front of the largest Planned Parenthood abortion center in Florida – a building that also serves as Planned Parenthood’s state and regional headquarters.

The opening event was a show of Christian unity, with six members of the clergy from different faith communities sharing reflections and leading prayers.

[Salvation]

©2013 — 40 Days for Life www.40daysforlife.com

Devotional for Day 8, October 2, 2013

Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director, Priests for Life

Intention:

May the spirit and example of the Good Samaritan fill the hearts and minds of all our citizens.

Scripture:

Jesus said: “A man was going down

from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell

into the hands of robbers. They

stripped him of his clothes, beat him

and went away, leaving him half dead.

“A priest happened to be going down

the same road, and when he saw the

man, he passed by on the other side.

“So, too, a Levite, when he came to the

place and saw him, passed by on the

other side.

“But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came

where the man was; and when he saw

him, he took pity on him. He went to

him and bandaged his wounds, pouring

on oil and wine. Then he put the man

on his own donkey, took him to an inn

and took care of him. The next day he

took out two silver coins and gave them

to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he

said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse

you for any extra expense you

may have.’

“Which of these three do you think was

a neighbor to the man who fell into the

hands of robbers?”

The expert in the law replied, “The one

who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him,

“Go and do likewise.”

—Luke 10:30-37

Reflection:

Here Jesus commands us to show mercy to the victims of the culture of violence and death. But why did the priest and Levite fail to show mercy? Perhaps they feared that the robbers were hiding just around the next corner to attack them. They asked themselves, “If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?”  The Samaritan, however, reversed the question, and asked, “If I don’t stop to help this man, what will happen to him?” In working to save the unborn, let’s not worry about what will happen to us if we act; let’s worry about what will happen to the unborn if we don’t.

Prayer:

Father, we are moved by the lesson of

the Good Samaritan, who allowed

compassion to influence him more than

fear. Give us the same heart. Grant that

we may never count the cost of standing

up and speaking out for the unborn.

We pray through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

[Salvation]

DAY 8: One week, two California trips

October 2nd, 2013 by admin

Last week, I started off with campaign rallies in California on Sunday … and then spoke at events in Texas and Pittsburgh before heading back to California for another kickoff event and a march this past Saturday. Here’s a quick look at my second California visit of the week.

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SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA
—————————————————–

Why two trips to California? Well, it’s not only a big state … it’s a big state for 40 Days for Life as well. There are 38 California campaigns going on right now – more than any other US state.

I visited the 40 Days for Life vigil site in San Luis Obispo … and took part in a march to Planned Parenthood led by Bishop Richard Garcia of the Catholic diocese of Monterey.

Bishop Garcia led the people in prayer and asked God’s blessing over those who gathered – and over Planned Parenthood as well.

—————————————————–
FLINT, MICHIGAN
—————————————————–

In many of the communities where 40 Days for Life vigils are held, people aren’t aware that there’s an abortion facility in their neighborhood. That’s the case in Flint.

“The clinic is only labeled with an address,” said Tina. “That’s why many do not know about it. Our peaceful witness during the vigil is helping change that.” People who’ve driven by and seen volunteers praying have now signed up to be part of 40 Days for Life.

The abortion center is so well hidden that even a local pastor who lives right down the road had no idea it was there until he was invited to lead prayer at the vigil.

“We are required to stand across a parking lot and cannot get any closer to the clinic,” Tina said. But in the past year, they have still had five mothers that they know of choose life at this clinic – including one with twins.

[Salvation]

Sorry, everyone, my computer went down. I’m back.

[Salvation]

©2013 — 40 Days for Life www.40daysforlife.com

Devotional for Day 9, October 3, 2013

Day Gardner, President, National Black Pro-Life Union

Intention:

May we grow in joy, knowing we serve a living God.

Scripture:

And the Word became flesh and dwelt

among us, and we beheld His glory, the

glory as of the only begotten of the Father,

full of grace and truth.

—John 1:14

Reflection:

The Word of God came to us in human form in Jesus Christ. Every time I contemplatethis fact I get chills! And I think it is something that we, as Christians, tend to gloss over.  I can only imagine how the first disciples felt when they were looking into the eyes of the one and only Almighty God who created them.  The first disciples developed a close relationship with Him as they daily walked and talked with Him.  They ate with Him, prayed with Him and rested when He rested.  As they listened to the Word of God, who was and is Jesus, they believed and “beheld His glory.”  Today, this is something we can still do because we serve a living God. Remember, Jesus died on the cross but rose from the dead in victory!  Jesus is every bit as real and alive for all of us as He was to the first disciples. 

He wants us to develop a close relationship with Him in the very same way. Jesus wants us to know Him personally.  He wants us to walk with Him and talk with Him on a daily basis.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I thank you for your

love and saving grace in Christ Jesus.

Help us to realize every day the great

blessing we have in our Savior.

I pray that we will rise every morning

with excitement and zeal, looking forward

to walking another day in your

footsteps fully knowing that you continue

to dwell among us. Amen.

[Salvation]

Devotional for Day 16, October 10, 2013

Rev. John Ensor, President, PassionLife

Intention:

Pray for the mothers going into pregnancy

help centers. The personal care,

the free ultrasound, the ongoing practical

help is designed to deliver them

from those who profit in shedding innocent

blood.

Scripture:

Come to me, all who labor and are

heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

—Matthew 11:28

Reflection:

“You have twins. That will be another $350.” She did not speak English. But she finally understood that they were telling her to go get more money and return for her abortion.  She had already given them her rent money. But they were not about to give her a two-for-one deal. They told her to get dressed and return with more cash.  A couple, who was praying outside, comforted her. They brought her to their local pregnancy help center.  The staff quickly saw that her personal circumstances were so desperate, and immediate, that they would need direct and ongoing help from local Christians and churches. They started making calls.

 

Then they did the ultrasound. It showed there was only one baby, not two. This abandoned, immigrant, powerless mother was being exploited. She would do whatever she was told. Who would know? Who would care?  God calls us to “Rescue the weak and the needy; and deliver them from the hand of the wicked” (Psalm 82:4).  When you provide an alternative to abortion you are not only rescuing innocent babies, you are delivering mothers from the wicked: those who profit in the shedding of innocent blood. Pray for those who rescue and deliver daily at your local pregnancy help center.

Prayer:

Father, hear our prayer!

Snatch desperate mothers from the

fire. Bring them out of our abortion

businesses and into our pregnancy

help centers. Deliver them from evil.

Use us to help them chose life and see

your hand of provision.

[Salvation]

©2013 — 40 Days for Life, Inc. www.40daysforlife.com

Devotional for Day 17, October 11, 2013

Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director, Priests for Life

Intention:

May all understand more deeply that

the pro-life message is rooted in two

basic truths of life:

1) There is a God

2) He isn’t me

Scripture:

And the Lord God formed man of the

dust of the ground, and breathed into

his nostrils the breath of life; and man

became a living being.

—Genesis 2:7

Reflection:

From the beginning of the Bible until the end, the theme is echoed that God alone has dominion over human life.  He made it; shared it; died to save it; will raise it up forever.  The act of creation described in Genesis 2:7, and earlier in Genesis 1:26-27, is a sovereign act. God did not have to do it, and would have been happy forever without us. Yet without our asking for it or earning it, God brought us out of nothingness and into life, and sustains our existence at every moment.  And He does so in Christ: “For by Him all things were created…in Him all things exist” (Colossians 1:16-17).  “You are not your own,” Paul declares in 1 Corinthians 6. God alone owns us.

While He entrusts us to the care of one another, He does not allow any human being to own another.  A Southern California abortionist, James McMahon, once explained how he justified killing children after 20 weeks gestation by the process known as partial-birth abortion.  He did not deny that this was a child, but rather asked, “Who owns the child?  It’s got to be the mother.”

The struggle over abortion is really a struggle over the dominion of God.  The Christian individual, and the Christian Church, cannot sit idly by when others declare that God is not God.

Prayer:

Lord, we are yours. Thank you for

breathing into us the breath of life.

Thank you for claiming us as your own.

May our words and actions in defense

of human life proclaim to all the world

that you alone are Lord of life and

death, Lord of our freedom and of our

choices.

We pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

[Sun]

Here’s an interesting 40 Days for Life story, which tells about two pro-life buildings surrounding Planned Parenthood:

http://wnyt.com/article/stories/s3200811.shtml#.Um328ntzPF4.twitter

Read the lame comments following the article from PP supporters.

[Salvation]

I’m undertaking to post all the blog entries. We’ll see how far I get today.

[Salvation]

Day 9

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?paged=4

[Salvation]

Days 10-19

[Salvation]

Days 10-19
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?paged=3

[Salvation]

… 135 babies have been saved from abortion – that we know of!

Oct. 13th

[Salvation]

There’s one thing you can say about praying and fasting for an end to abortion. It works! So far during this 40 Days for Life campaign, we are aware of 213 babies who have been saved from abortion!

October 14

I think the previous date was a week earlier.

[Salvation]

Day 20-29

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?paged=2

[Salvation]

DAY 27: 311 saved — that we know of