Devotional for Day 23, March 27, 2014
Rev. J. Kirk van der Swaagh, Conservative Congregational Christian Conference
Intention: For the medical community, that the truth they know about the human body may become awe and wonder at the God who made it.
Scripture: Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. —Psalm 139:16
Reflection: Human beings -- God’s tapestries.
Psalm 139 is a psalm that reveals the enormity and otherness of God. His di- vine attributes are on display: omniscience (2-4), omnipresence (7-12), lov- ing-kindness (17-18), justice (19-20), righteousness (23-24), and omnipotence.
Yet, when it came to express this last attribute, what example did the psalm- ist use God’s creation of mountains, seas, or far-flung galaxies? No, he used none of these. To express the wonder of God’s unparalleled creative power the writer mentions the fashioning of the human in the womb (14-16).
The Hebrew word used to express God’s forming of us in the womb, raqam, is the same term for needle- work or embroidery.
In other words, we are a tapestry that displays God’s artistic mastery.
And, like the artist who knows his creation down to the last detail, God intimately knows us.
This reality provokes the writer to awe and wonder. He proclaims, “ am fear- fully and wonderfully made.”
What is true for this psalmist is true for each human being.
Each is fashioned by God and known by him and we can proclaim on behalf of each, “ am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
Prayer: Gracious God, help us to appreciate the wonder and beauty of Your creation. Help us proclaim on behalf of every one of our fellow human beings, “ am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
May the knowledge that we are intimately known by You shape our lives and actions. Amen.
It's always a huge blessing when God answers your prayers ... and a mother chooses life ... and spares her baby. But how about when the Lord hears those prayers ... softens one woman's heart ... and saves two babies!
Well, that's exactly what happened ... warming up the volunteers in one of the coldest vigil locations.
Here's the story!
Anchorage, Alaska
It's always great to get an email like the one I got from Jerad in Anchorage. "I have some really exciting news!" he said. "I am so joyful right now I can hardly stand it til I tell everyone!"
The news was the first save of this 40 Days for Life campaign. Actually, Jerad said, it was the first two saves. "She was carrying twins!"
Two volunteers were praying at the vigil outside Planned Parenthood when a woman drove up and stopped. She told one of the men, "I need you to know something."
Needless to say, he stopped to listen very closely. "I was going to have an abortion," she said, "but I saw your signs. Now ... I'm having twins!"
She was just coming from an ultrasound appointment, and wanted to say thanks to the volunteers, whose peaceful prayer presence led her to her rethink what she was about to do.
"I have been praying and claiming that if all our efforts, blessed by God, saved just one life, it would all be worth it," this man said. "Well, we know that so far, there have been two lives saved!"
"What a gift, to be honored with such news!" he said. "Praise God!"
Nashville, Tennessee
A woman who was on her way inside the abortion center in Nashville saw the people peacefully praying at the 40 Days for Life vigil.
"Once inside," said Roy, the local coordinator in Nashville, "she found that she herself was praying. She realized that she needed to think about this a little bit more, and decided to step outside."
She spoke to volunteers, who encouraged her to visit a pregnancy resource center, where she received a free ultrasound and counseling. She decided to keep her baby, and then returned to the vigil site to thank all the people praying for her.
"Your presence out there made a difference," Roy said. "It makes a difference ... and it keeps on making a difference in the lives that are saved. God asks us to be faithful — and that is what we need to do."