[Salvation]

 

Day 6 - September 28

 

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.

Rev. Paul Stallsworth
President, Lifewatch (United Methodist Church)

[Salvation]

Today's miracles from emails -- don't know if any of these stories have been posted or not!

While Jackie was praying at the 40 Days for Life
vigil in GREENLAND, NEW HAMPSHIRE, a car slowly
pulled up in front of the clinic. The driver rolled
down the window and said, "I don't know what you're
doing here; but whatever it is, it's working!" The
driver went on to say the abortion center had let
employees go because business was off.

All Jackie could say was, "Praise God for victories!"

The staff at yet another abortion center has shrunk
by at least one. But this wasn't a layoff. This was a
clinic nurse who walked out and quit!

Angela of the 40 Days for Life team in GRANITE CITY,
ILLINOIS said the abortion facility nurse came out
and hugged her. "Thank you for praying for me," she
told Angela. "Your witness has been powerful to me.
This is my last day! I'm going off to do what real
nurses should be doing." With that, she walked to her
car and drove away.

This is the SECOND abortion worker to quit during
this 40 Days for Life campaign!

And yes, there are amazing stories to share about
babies saved from abortion as well.

Thus far in this fall 40 Days for Life campaign,
we've received reports of 38 mothers who changed
their minds and chose life. And of course, those are
just the ones we know of!

Here are just a few of those stories:

In HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, Al reported that while
people were praying at the 40 Days for Life vigil
across from the abortion center, a man came over with
a simple message: "Thank you!" His niece had been
scheduled for an abortion. But after seeing the group
praying, she simply could not go through with it.

In WASHINGTON, DC, Dick tells of a young couple who
walked into the Planned Parenthood abortion facility.
Volunteers at the 40 Days for Life vigil didn't have
much time to talk with them on their way in. But
after an hour or so, they came back out. "They said
they changed their minds about having an abortion."

In PENSACOLA, FLORIDA, there was another situation in
which just the sight of people praying outside made a
profound impact. Ernie said an SUV had pulled up to
the clinic entrance, where the 40 Days for Life vigil
was in progress. The couple inside just stopped, took
another look, and drove away without ever going in.

The 40 Days for Life team in EL PASO, TEXAS received
a special blessing. Sandra said a woman drove up to
the vigil and wanted to talk about the day she
decided not to have an abortion. At the time, she saw
her pregnancy as something that would just get in the
way of her promising career.

But the day of her appointment, people had been
praying outside the clinic. When she saw that, she
stopped and asked herself, "What am I doing here?
This is not right!"

As she continued her story, the young woman rolled
down her car window, pointed to the child in the car
seat and began to cry. "Thanks to you all," she said,
"I have this beautiful son!"

"You could imagine the feeling," Sandra said. "I
believe at that moment everybody was crying with
her." The group prayed for the mother, her child and
for all her family. "We ask God to continue blessing
them and thank Him for this wonderful gift of life."

Prayer DOES work. And sometimes, you don't have to
say a word.

Let's keep it up!