[Salvation]

Today's email: Wow!

The words a sidewalk counselor spoke to a woman
entering the abortion center in Dallas, Texas summed
things up so accurately. "I know the baby is not the
problem," the counselor said, "but it's the situation
you are in."

The woman took information from the counselor but
continued into the clinic -- while 40 Days for Life
vigil participants prayed for her and her child.

An hour later, the woman came out of the clinic in
tears. She was married, she said, but thinking about
abortion -- though she doesn't know why it got to
that point. But when she saw people praying, she knew
abortion was not the answer, and that indeed, it was
her situation that was the problem, not the baby.

There are two other stories from Dallas with a
similar theme -- and the same outcome.

A woman entered the clinic -- and left 30 minutes
later, telling people on the sidewalk she was scared,
and that the conditions in the clinic were
troublesome. She was invited to go instead to the
very clean clinic across the street -- the pro-life
pregnancy resource center. She found that help was
indeed available, and chose life for her child.

A short time later, a couple walked into the clinic
but left about 40 minutes later. The woman held her
head down and appeared quite troubled. She, too, told
the people at the vigil she was scared. But as she
kept watching the people praying on the sidewalk, she
found the courage to reject abortion as a "solution"
to her problems.

To see a picture of some of the 40 Days for Life
vigil participants in Dallas, go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=458

Choosing life -- a blessing that God has provided...

...411 times during this fall's 40 Days for Life
campaign thus far!

Here's the story behind another of those blessings:

A mom in Atlanta, Georgia went to pray at the 40 Days
for Life vigil with her 7- and 10-year-old daughters.
At the time, they were the only ones at the clinic.
But after Paige explained to her girls why they were
there, they all began to pray and sing.

When a woman got out of her car and walked towards
the clinic, on of the girls said, "Let's sing 'Jesus
Loves Me.'"

"They sounded so sweet," Paige said. "I know the lady
could hear them."

A bit later, a man pulled up and got out of his car
to talk. "He was very noticeably angry," said Paige,
and he wound up making a threatening remark before
driving off.

"I told the girls what Jesus said, 'Blessed are you
when they persecute you and falsely say all kinds of
evil against you, because of me.' But it was hard
staying there."

It's a good thing they stayed! The woman that the
girls had sung for earlier in the hour walked out of
the clinic and towards the parking lot -- all the
time, looking at a sign with the number of a pro-life
pregnancy counseling hotline. She picked up her cell
phone and made a call.

As she pulled out of the parking lot, the woman made
a point of looking right at them, giving thumbs-up
and shaking her head in an emphatic "yes." She was
smiling at them, though it looked like she had been
crying.

"The girls were thrilled," said Paige. "We really
have no idea of the good that may come of people
standing outside of clinics."

[Salvation]

 

Day 35 - October 27

 

Intention:

Pray for post-abortive women who cannot forgive themselves; may they understand that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Scripture:

Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sin is covered. Blessed is the one to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.

-- Romans 4:7-8

Reflection:

In the passage above, the Apostle Paul making a point about justification by faith, refers back to David's words in Psalm 32:1-2. In spite of the enormity of David's sin -- adultery with Bathsheba and his murder of her husband -- and the utter absence of any personal merit, David in his brokenness, understood the imputed righteousness of God. David's response was not continued guilt over his sins, but praise for his freedom from guilt, and God's power to live life differently.

Once your relationship with God has been restored, your guilt has served its purpose and should no longer be given place in your life. This is true regardless of the sin, including the sin of abortion. As a post-abortive woman, I too struggled with this issue until I realized that punishing and hating myself after receiving God's forgiveness was an insult to God.

It was as though I were minimizing Christ's work on the cross as insufficient to cover my sin. I was denying Him the opportunity to bring glory to His name for the healing and restoration He wanted to do in my life. I was giving victory to the enemy who having lost the battle for my soul, was bent on destroying my testimony as I accepted the continual guilt he heaped on my mind.

It is my joy to continually sing of God's grace rather than give the devil a foothold in my life. Don't waste God's mercy! Accept His forgiveness and forgive yourself as testimony of His amazing grace.

Prayer:

Our Most Gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for your amazing grace that saved a wretch like me. I come against the enemy of my soul who would have me feel cast down and dejected. Lord, keep your children from falling prey to the accusations of the father of lies. Turn our mourning into dancing and may we bring praise to you as we give testimony of Your healing and restoration in our lives. For by His grace we are saved, amen.

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