Yesterday I prayed at the 40 Days for Life campaign at a Planned Parenthood facility in Dover, Delaware.

You will see frequent references to Planned Parenthood in these daily updates — after all, of the 301 vigil locations for this 40 Days for Life campaign, 133 of them are outside Planned Parenthood facilities.

That’s because Planned Parenthood is America’s leading abortion chain — 332,278 abortions in one year alone!

Now Planned Parenthood is trying to spruce up its image. It has to; its financial stability is at stake.

According to their own annual report, this organization took in $1.1 BILLION during that year. Of that total, $363 MILLION came directly from YOU through federal, state and local taxes.

The bible warns of those who would call good “evil” and evil “good.” As you will see, that’s exactly what Planned Parenthood does.

——————————————————-
VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA
——————————————————-

Today’s subject line refers to a banner hanging from Planned Parenthood’s Virginia Beach building. It reads: “Planning for parenthood is sacred work.”

If “planning for parenthood” means a husband and wife prayerfully cooperating with God’s will within holy matrimony, then that can be sacred.

But that isn’t what they’re talking about — not at an abortion center.

40 Days for Life volunteers in Virginia Beach gathered last Friday, as Deacon Robert Durel of Holy Spirit Catholic Church led about 75 people in prayer.

Some of the participants brought a banner of their own: “Planning to kill babies is NOT sacred work.” And they prayed — diligently — that God will overcome this darkness.

——————————————————-
PLANNED PARENTHOOD FACTS
——————————————————-

You may have been told that Planned Parenthood provides healthcare for poor women and prevents abortions — and that abortion accounts for only 3% of its services.

That is hardly the case.

Nearly every Planned Parenthood “service” may be obtained from a county health department, community clinic or private physician. All except one — abortion.

How can an organization that, by its own admission, carried out 332,278 abortions (the annual total increases EVERY YEAR), claim to prevent them?

Planned Parenthood says abortion comprises only 3% of its services. That’s true — IF you use a definition of “service” that treats abortions, birth control prescriptions and STD tests as equal.

However, when you look at clinic income, you get a much clearer picture regarding the importance of abortion to Planned Parenthood.

According to their own annual report, Planned Parenthood’s clinic income was $405 million. As noted, they performed 332,278 abortions. Assuming an average cost of $500 per abortion, that means abortion brought in $166 million.

That figure represents 41% of Planned Parenthood’s total clinic income. As always, follow the money.

I could say much more about Planned Parenthood. But for today, I would just ask you to please PRAY.

• PRAY that the light of truth shines on this organization and its activities.
• PRAY that the people who work there will see that light — and seek honorable work elsewhere.
• PRAY that the women seeking abortions there will understand — and choose life for their babies.
• PRAY!

Here’s the link to today’s devotional:

http://40daysforlife.com/docs/fall2011day15print.pdf

—————————————————–

For Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: What’s new with 40 Days for Life in your city? Please leave a comment below.

Things are moving so rapidly that if you’ve already registered for this important event, sorry for the additional message.

If you haven’t already, this is your LAST CHANCE to register for Saturday’s unprecedented “Ending Abortion” audio webcast mega-conference, where you’ll learn exactly how YOU can save lives from abortion where you live:

http://www.EndingAbortion.com

This landmark event is uniting dozens of groups across the pro-life movement, thousands of people are already registered to attend the FREE online event, and the media is buzzing with the news.

Here are just a few of the numerous news stories:

WorldNetDaily:
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=176333

EWTN:
http://www.ewtnnews.com/new.php?id=1131

LifeNews:
http://www.lifenews.com/nat6509.html

You don’t have to travel. You don’t have to stay in a hotel. You don’t have to pay a conference fee.

But tomorrow, July 10, you get to experience more than 30 top pro-life leaders and experts from the comfort of your home or office. If you have Internet — even with a dial-up connection — you can listen to the streaming audio webcast event and learn how you can make a lifesaving difference.

(Don’t worry if you can’t participate in the live webcast due to a schedule conflict. The entire event will be recorded and the audio recordings will be sent to you afterward at no charge — so REGISTER NOW even if you have a schedule conflict this Saturday.)

Register now at:

http://www.EndingAbortion.com

There has never been a more important time …

52 million children have been killed by abortion since Roe v. Wade. Millions of women — and men — have been wounded and families have been torn apart by abortion. And the abortion industry is using the current administration to systematically impose its radical agenda on America.

This is clearly the time to ACT.

The “Ending Abortion” webcast event will educate, equip, and empower you by breaking the pro-life message up into ten different hour-long focused topics (in Eastern time):

• 10 AM: The Case for Life
• 11 AM: The Abortion Crisis
• 12 Noon: Planned Parenthood’s Abortion Empire
• 1 PM: The Power of Prayer
• 2 PM: Pregnancy Help Centers: Compassion in Action
• 3 PM: Saving Lives Outside Abortion Facilities
• 4 PM: Hope & Healing for Post-Abortive Women & Men
• 5 PM: Legislative & Political Efforts
• 6 PM: Pro-Life Youth Advocacy
• 7 PM: Influencing the Culture

During each topic, you will hear from 3 or 4 of the top pro-life leaders/experts in that subject area. Your registration enables you to attend as many sessions as you wish.

Be sure to get in on the excitement:

http://www.EndingAbortion.com

As moderator of the event, I’ll be interviewing a line-up of amazing presenters:

• MARJORIE DANNENFELSER, Susan B. Anthony List
• CHARMAINE YOEST, Americans United for Life
• KRISTAN HAWKINS, Students for Life of America
• TOM MCCLUSKY, Family Research Council
• GIANNA JESSEN, abortion survivor
• SCOTT KLUSENDORF, Life Training Institute
• DR. HAYWOOD ROBINSON, L.E.A.R.N.
• CAROL EVERETT, Former abortion facility owner
• DAVID KUPELIAN, WorldNetDaily
• DR. TONY LEVATINO, former abortionist
• MARK CRUTCHER, Life Dynamics
• ABBY JOHNSON, former Planned Parenthood center director
• LILA ROSE, Live Action
• JIM SEDLAK, STOPP and American Life League
• LOU ENGLE, TheCall
• JOHN ENSOR, Heartbeat International
• FR. TOM EUTENEUER, Human Life International
• MELINDA DELAHOYDE, Care Net
• TOM GLESSNER, NIFLA
• PEGGY HARTSHORN, Heartbeat International
• SHAWN CARNEY, 40 Days for Life
• ERIC SCHEIDLER, Pro-Life Action League
• CHRIS SLATTERY, Expectant Mother Care
• WENDY WRIGHT, Concerned Women for America
• THERESA & KEVIN BURKE, Rachel’s Vineyard
• GEORGETTE FORNEY, Silent No More Awareness
• ALLAN PARKER, Operation Outcry
• CARMEN PATE, 40 Days for Life
• BRYAN KEMPER, Stand True
• MATT LOCKETT, Bound4LIFE
• JIM NOLAN, Crossroads
• JASON JONES, Bella Hero
• ALVEDA KING, niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
• JILL STANEK, former nurse and pro-life blogger
• EDUARDO VERASTEGUI, actor from “Bella”

Let’s rededicate ourselves NOW to Ending Abortion:

http://www.EndingAbortion.com

For Life,

David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life

Please SHARE this message to everyone you possibly can!

Keep spreading the word — the momentum is building for this Saturday’s unprecedented “Ending Abortion” webcast mega-conference!

Thousands of people are already registered to attend the FREE online event, which is uniting more than 30 organizations across the pro-life movement, and the numbers are growing rapidly. At this rate, things could get REALLY exciting by Saturday!

You don’t have to travel. You don’t have to stay in a hotel. You don’t have to pay a conference fee.

But on July 10, you get to experience more than 30 top pro-life leaders and experts from the comfort of your home or office. If you have Internet — even with a slower dial-up connection — you can hear the streaming audio of this webcast event and learn how to save more lives where you live.

If you haven’t registered yet, grab your spot now:

http://www.EndingAbortion.com

(Don’t worry if you can’t participate in the live webcast due to a schedule conflict. The entire event will be recorded and the audio recordings will be sent to you afterward at no charge — so REGISTER NOW even if you have a schedule conflict this Saturday.)

Here are a few more of the confirmed speakers:

• GIANNA JESSEN, who survived an abortion as a baby
• CAROL EVERETT, former abortion facility owner
• LILA ROSE, Live Action
• FR. TOM EUTENEUER, Human Life International
• MELINDA DELAHOYDE, CareNet
• ERIC SCHEIDLER, Pro-Life Action League
• GEORGETTE FORNEY, Silent No More Awareness
• CHARMAINE YOEST, Americans United for Life
• BRYAN KEMPER, Stand True
• JILL STANEK, Former nurse and pro-life blogger

And that’s not even ONE-THIRD of the speakers! See the whole lineup and sign-up at:

http://www.EndingAbortion.com

The event will break the pro-life message up into ten different hour-long focused topics (in Eastern time):

• 10 AM: The Case for Life
• 11 AM: The Abortion Crisis
• 12 Noon: Planned Parenthood’s Abortion Empire
• 1 PM: The Power of Prayer
• 2 PM: Pregnancy Help Centers: Compassion in Action
• 3 PM: Saving Lives Outside Abortion Facilities
• 4 PM: Hope & Healing for Post-Abortive Women & Men
• 5 PM: Legislative & Political Efforts
• 6 PM: Pro-Life Youth Advocacy
• 7 PM: Influencing the Culture

During each topic, you will hear from 3 or 4 of the top pro-life leaders/experts in that subject area.

Be sure to get in on the excitement:

http://www.EndingAbortion.com

Hope to talk with you Saturday, David!

For Life,
David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life

P.S.- Be sure to invite everyone you possibly can to join this landmark online conference!

As promised, here is the news about the BIG PLANS for this coming Saturday, July 10:

http://www.EndingAbortion.com

This Saturday, you are invited to be part of “Ending Abortion”: a huge, day-long, webcast mega-conference uniting the entire pro-life movement to …

1. Educate, equip, and empower pro-lifers to have a greater life-saving impact right where they live
2. Increase involvement in the fall 40 Days for Life and other local pro-life activities
3. Dramatically increase the prominence of pro-life concerns prior to the fall elections

Get all the details now at:

http://www.EndingAbortion.com

Dozens of leading national pro-life organizations — and more than 30 of the top pro-life leaders and experts — are joining forces with us for this landmark event.

Here are just a FEW of the confirmed speakers:

• SCOTT KLUSENDORF, Life Training Institute
• DR. TONY LEVATINO, former abortionist
• MARK CRUTCHER, Life Dynamics
• LOU ENGLE, The Call
• PEGGY HARTSHORN, Heartbeat International
• WENDY WRIGHT, Concerned Women for America
• THERESA & KEVIN BURKE, Rachel’s Vineyard
• MARJORIE DANNENFELSER, Susan B. Anthony List
• KRISTAN HAWKINS, Students for Life
• ALVEDA KING, niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

And that isn’t even ONE-THIRD of the speakers!

With some of the groups and leaders participating in this unprecedented event, I suspect there could be thousands of attendees … including YOU!

Join the excitement at:

http://www.EndingAbortion.com

The event will break the pro-life message up into ten different hour-long focused topics (in Eastern time):

• 10 AM: The Case for Life
• 11 AM: The Abortion Crisis
• 12 Noon: Planned Parenthood’s Abortion Empire
• 1 PM: The Power of Prayer
• 2 PM: Pregnancy Help Centers: Compassion in Action
• 3 PM: Saving Lives Outside Abortion Facilities
• 4 PM: Hope & Healing for Post-Abortive Women & Men
• 5 PM: Legislative & Political Efforts
• 6 PM: Pro-Life Youth Advocacy
• 7 PM: Influencing the Culture

During each topic, you will hear from 3 or 4 of the top pro-life leaders/experts in that subject area.

If you can’t participate in the live webcast, the entire event will be recorded and made available afterward — so be sure to register now even if you have a schedule conflict this Saturday:

http://www.EndingAbortion.com

Here are the three things I would ask you to do:

1. PRAY.

Pray for God to guide this event, pray for the speakers to share the right messages, pray for all attendees to be inspired to take action.

2. PARTICIPATE.

If possible, attend some (or all) of the sessions yourself — either live on Saturday, July 10, or by listening to the recordings afterward.

3. PROMOTE.

“Word of mouth” is the most powerful form of advertising in the world, and the key to the success of this event will be YOU. Please forward this e-mail to everyone you know so they can also participate.

David, this event could have a profound impact on pro-life work in communities across North America — and around the world — and I can’t wait to see what God has in store for this effort!

For Life,

David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life

(and Moderator for the “Ending Abortion” webcast event)

http://www.EndingAbortion.com

Today we prepare; tomorrow it begins: 40 days of focused prayer, fasting, vigil and outreach to help bring an end to the injustice of abortion.

Whether you’ve participated in 40 Days for Life before, or you’re along on this journey for the very first time, thank you taking the step of faith to join this prayerful effort.

What is 40 Days for Life? Bishop Richard Malone of Portland, Maine offered about the best one-sentence answer I’ve yet seen: “40 Days for Life is the work of the Holy Spirit, a divine inspiration in the ongoing effort to end the plague of abortion.”

And how does the Holy Spirit work? Often, in the hearts of those who join this effort to pray for others. When it comes to 40 Days for Life, expect the unexpected!

That message is clear in what people are saying about 40 Days for Life.

A blogger just posted: “As I sit here tonight awaiting the kickoff rally tomorrow, while holding my precious sleeping infant, I praise God for the gift of life.” But she writes with mixed emotions. Six years ago, she became pregnant as the result of rape. She chose life for her son, and arranged for a loving couple to adopt her child.

“Six years later,” she writes, “I still know and feel I made the right decision, but I miss him. So, tonight as I write this, I think about the women who go in for an abortion and wonder how I can make a difference. I realize that I can make a difference by being there praying for them, praying to God that their mind changes away from abortion.”

She is thankful for 40 Days for Life “because I believe it truly touches the hearts of the women who come there for an abortion. I am eagerly anticipating the Lord’s goodness in this fall’s campaign.”

Then there’s Val in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, who expressed her thoughts in a letter to the editor of the local newspaper:

Last spring I volunteered in the 40 Days for Life campaign. For 40 days I joined other volunteers to pray for the unborn in front of the Planned Parenthood clinic.

We didn’t pray only for the unborn. We also prayed for the women facing unplanned pregnancies. We prayed that those facing these circumstances would consider other alternatives such as adoption.

My family adopted a child whose mother once faced an unplanned pregnancy. After making an appointment to end her pregnancy, she changed her mind when she encountered volunteers who were present the day of her appointment, praying on behalf of the unborn.

This child has been such a blessing to our family. God has a plan for each one of us, and I’m seeing that, especially in the case of this child.

This fall from September 23 to November 1, another 40 Days for Life campaign will take place. I hope many will come and join us as we pray.

Miracles really do happen.”

If you haven’t yet signed up to participate in the prayer and fasting, vigil, and outreach for this fall’s campaign, please consider doing so. To find a 40 Days for Life location near you and get involved, you can visit:

http://40daysforlife.com/location.cfm

40 Days for Life is the work of the Holy Spirit — working in and through each of us.

May God richly bless you, and all those you will touch with Christ’s love, as you begin this 40-day journey!

Each of these next 40 days, I will send you a short update about what God is doing across America, Canada, and Denmark, along with a short devotional and prayer.

To help prepare, here’s a devotional from Carmen Pate, a 40 Days for Life board member and co-host of the nationally syndicated Point of View radio talk show:

—————————————————–
PRE-KICKOFF INTENTION
—————————————————–

For God’s blessing upon all participating in the fall 2009 40 Days for Life campaign.

—————————————————–
SCRIPTURE
—————————————————–

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and forgive their sin and heal their land.”

– 2 Chronicles 7:14

—————————————————–
REFLECTION by Carmen Pate, Co-host, Point of View
—————————————————–

Not unlike God’s chosen people of Israel, we must humble ourselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways, if we expect God to hear from heaven, forgive our sin, and heal our land. The need for repentance has not been greater since the Supreme Court decision of Roe vs. Wade in 1973.

The number one cause of death in America is the needless sacrifice of our children at the altar of convenience called abortion. Conservative estimates put the number of deaths at nearly 48 million.

And lest we think this is an issue outside the church walls, 43 percent of women obtaining abortions identify themselves as Protestant, and 27 percent identify themselves as Catholic. One in four women has at least one abortion by the age of 45 — both non-Christian and Christian alike. Where was the voice of Truth — the church?

Mary Comm of In Our Midst Ministries, Inc. sums up the issue best as she writes, “We (the church) have been an unintentional accomplice to the millions of lives lost and to the multiplied millions of lives devastated by abortion. We didn’t want them to abort. We didn’t mean for them to abort. But, because of our lack of knowledge, because of our fear, we have continued to stand by and do nothing. We, God’s hands and feet in this dark and hurting world, have been unintentional, unknowledgeable accomplice, but an accomplice nonetheless.”

May today mark the beginning of change within the church, as God’s people, in unity, seek His forgiveness.

—————————————————–
PRAYER
—————————————————–

Heavenly Father, we have turned our backs on you and your principles in your Word. We have allowed man to usurp Your role as God over life and the number of our days. But we come to you in brokenness and repentance over our sin.

We cry out for Your mercy and ask you to remove the scourge of abortion from our land.

Use us as your vessels, Lord, to bring the light of Your Truth to our nation once again. Because of Christ we pray, Amen.

—————————————————–
PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
—————————————————–

To download today’s devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends:

http://40daysforlife.com/docs/fall2009day00print.pdf

—————————————————–

Let’s pray, fast, and shape history together starting tomorrow!

For Life,

David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life

Who would have ever believed that the president of the United States would copy a page out of the 40 Days for Life playbook as a way to push abortion?

But it’s happening — TODAY.

Here’s the national news release that 40 Days for Life just sent out about this:

FAITH-BASED 40-DAY GRASSROOTS PRO-LIFE OUTREACH
GEARS UP FOR SEPTEMBER 23 LAUNCH IN 209 CITIES;
KNOCKOFF PLAN IS PUSHING ABORTION AS HEALTH CARE

WASHINGTON, DC – “With abortion advocates trying to exploit the current health care reform debate to mandate taxpayer funding of abortion,” said David Bereit, national director of 40 Days for Life, “we are incredibly encouraged to see record numbers of people in cities across America willing to take a stand by participating in 40 Days for Life to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves and seek God’s protection for innocent children in the womb — and mothers — at risk of abortion.”

40 Days for Life is now gearing up for its largest campaign to date with 209 cities in 45 American states, five Canadian provinces and Denmark poised to launch simultaneous 40 Days for Life campaigns from September 23 – November 1.

The list of fall locations is posted at:

http://40daysforlife.com/location.cfm

40 Days for Life is a groundbreaking pro-life initiative that burst onto the national scene just two years ago, mobilizing more than 215,000 people in 240 cities across all 50 states — and beyond — during four coordinated campaigns, saving 1,561 lives from abortion. The community-based 40 Days for Life campaign involves people of faith in 40 days of prayer and fasting for an end to abortion, round-the-clock peaceful vigils outside abortion facilities, and grassroots educational outreach.

Bereit served as an organizer for the Stop the Abortion Mandate coalition of more than 70 organizations which held a highly successful nationwide webcast in July, drawing an audience of more than 36,000 Americans to oppose the abortion mandates in current health care reform proposals. Over 100,000 letters, e-mails, and calls to Congress were generated in response to coalition efforts.

On the heels of these successful pro-life efforts, a much smaller coalition recently announced its own campaign called “40 Days for Health Reform” to push abortion-laden health care reform. The group has organized a series of events, including a conference call today featuring President Obama.

“Some say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but using the biblical 40-days concept in an attempt to salvage floundering health care reform proposals that would mandate taxpayer funding of abortion and force Americans into health plans with mandatory abortion coverage – we are anything but flattered,” said Bereit. “I am confident that the prayers of millions of people, imploring God to inspire people to turn away from abortion, will be a much more powerful force in shaping the future.”

Yours for Life,

David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life

P.S.- You have GOT to see this stunning new 2-minute video that shows how the pro-life movement is uniting together in an unprecedented fashion in response to these current challenges:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RD7hJhwy5g

Share this video with everyone you know — today!

On last week’s “THE NEXT LEVEL” teleconference and webcast, we announced that an incredibly generous donor made a matching challenge that would double all gifts made to 40 Days for Life within 72 hours of the call — up to $50,000.

We had hoped to double that $50,000 in 72 hours, but instead you helped to nearly TRIPLE it!

The grand total after the match came to…

…$148,035!!

All this while the economy is taking a beating.

Clearly God wants this work to expand this summer and into the fall!

We are now rapidly moving forward with the plans for the fall 40 Days for Life campaign and the new “Ending Abortion” initiative that will educate, equip, and empower pro-lifers in cities across North America — and around the globe.

(If you didn’t have a chance to contribute last week but still wish to make a gift to 40 Days for Life, just visit:
http://www.40daysforlife.com/donate.cfm )

Here’s my solemn promise: every penny that has been given to 40 Days for Life will be used in the most effective and efficient way possible to save the maximum number of innocent lives from abortion.

Thank you. We are so blessed to have your prayers and help!

In Christ,

David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life

God is amazing, and He continues to shower blessing after blessing upon this 40 Days for Life campaign.

Since this initiative began just 13 days ago in 135 cities across 43 states, Canada, Australia, and Northern Ireland, the number of confirmed reports of lives saved from abortion has already climbed to…

…92!!

(And those are just the ones we know about!)

Here are a few of the inspiring stories…

Susan in Houston says she’s on cloud nine. And she should be — because by answering God’s call to pray at the 40 Days for Life vigil, she was in the right place at the right time.

“I was standing outside of the Planned Parenthood facility,” she said, “about to light my vigil candle in the dark, when I noticed a young girl walking down the sidewalk. I thought she might be homeless because she was carrying her pillow and quilt.”

Susan asked if she needed some help and the girl said no, but Susan suggested she go to the pro-life pregnancy resource center around the corner. The girl thanked her, but said her mom and dad wanted her to have an abortion.

She told Susan she was afraid she would be kicked out of her house if she didn’t follow through with this.

Susan saw an opening when she asked this frightened teen what SHE really wanted. “I don’t want to have an abortion,” the young woman told her. “I would like to have the baby and give it up for adoption.” Susan explained that she’s seen a lot of coercion from parents who think abortion is the best option.

So Susan asked the young girl, “How about seeing what your options are? You have plenty of time before the abortionist shows up. Would you like me to walk with you to the pregnancy center?” She agreed. “Thank the Lord for using me to do good!”

Bev in Orange, California says she really needs to learn more Spanish. But the Spanish literature her 40 Days for Life team keeps at their vigil site was all the help she needed when a young Hispanic couple drove into the parking lot at Planned Parenthood.

“The woman was obviously crying,” she said. “The driver rolled down the window and took my Spanish material with local phone numbers of pro-life centers. I kept saying, ‘We’ll help! We’ll help!’ I couldn’t remember any Spanish.”

At any rate, the couple drove into the parking lot, made a U-turn and came back out. As they drove away from Planned Parenthood, the woman rolled down her window and was smiling. “All I could say,” Bev added, “was ‘God bless you. ‘”

Paula in Abilene, Texas reported a life saved.

Her 40 Days for Life team feels blessed after a young woman went into Planned Parenthood with the intention of having an abortion. “She soon came out and told one of our volunteers with tears in her eyes, that after seeing all of us out there praying and sacrificing, she had changed her mind and decided to keep her baby,” said Paula. “We are all so very excited and thankful to God.”

These victories belong to God, but YOU share in all of them due to your prayers and faithful efforts. From the bottom of my heart, thank you!

Today’s devotional was prepared for you by Dennis DiMauro of Lutherans for Life…

——————————————————
DAY 13 INTENTION
——————————————————

We pray for the strength to love those who do not love us.

——————————————————
SCRIPTURE
——————————————————

But the Lord said “You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in the night and perished in the night. And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left, and much livestock? Should I not be concerned about that great city?”

– Jonah 4:10-11

——————————————————
REFLECTION by Dennis DiMauro, Lutherans for Life
——————————————————

God doesn’t value people and things like we do.

Jonah loved a shade tree more than an entire city of sinful people. We love our dogs more than a terrorist. We love our cars more than a beggar on the side of the road. And sometimes, we love our money more than a child growing in a desperate teenager’s womb.

But God isn’t like us. Genesis 1 tells us that humans were the capstone of God’s creation.

We were created on the sixth day after God had completed the land, the stars, the plants and the animals. Therefore, His love for us is greater than His love for a plant, an animal, or any other created thing.

And the book of Jonah tells us that He loves even the most sinful people and seeks to bring them into His merciful arms. And it’s a love that seeks to touch all of his created children: that desperate teenager, the baby growing in her womb, even tyrants and terrorists.

So it’s up to us to imitate God’s merciful love by helping and praying for those who persecute us, and those who don’t love us back.

——————————————————
PRAYER
——————————————————

Gracious God, loving our enemies seems like one of most difficult things you could ask of us.

Please remind us that this is how you love and that if you ask it of us then you will give us the grace to do it. This we ask through Christ our Lord, Amen.

——————————————————
PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
——————————————————

To download today’s devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends:
http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2009day13print.pdf

——————————————————

How many more lives will be saved over the next 27 days of this campaign, thanks to you?

I can’t wait to find out! :-)

Yours For Life,

David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life

P.S.- Yesterday I got back from speaking at events in Corpus Christi, Texas, and while driving home from the airport I spoke with Shawn Carney on the phone and heard amazing reports from his trip to Colorado over the last couple of days. We are seeing unprecedented levels of excitement and involvement all over the country, and both feel that the best is yet to come!

I have some GREAT news for you…

Over the last few weeks, while the 40 Days for Life national team has been busy planning exciting things for this fall — and beyond — we’ve joined forces with a nationally respected Christian leader and numerous other pro-life organizations to prepare for a huge event that could be a major turning point for the pro-life movement.

At the event later this summer — which is expected to draw over 100,000 people — a unified call will go out to all attendees, challenging them to go home and launch 40 Days for Life efforts — praying, fasting, and taking action for 40 days leading up to the national elections…

…And you are about to be among the VERY FIRST to learn all about it!

Watch this 5-minute video where you can find out more:

You are invited to join me, Lou Engle of TheCall, and national pro-life leaders on a one-time-only teleconference and web simulcast where we will be discussing the strategic pro-life event that will happen later this summer.

It’s absolutely FREE to participate in the live call, and here are the details…

WHAT: “Help Shape History” Teleconference and Webcast about major pro-life gathering

WHEN: Thursday, June 5, at 9 PM Eastern (8 PM Central, 7 PM Mountain, 6 PM Pacific)  

FORMAT: Simulcast! (Attend via phone or webcast – it’s your choice)

HOW: Register online at: http://www.HelpShapeHistory.com 

In addition to me, on the live call you will learn from:

LOU ENGLE, the visionary co-founder of TheCall solemn assemblies, a movement of prayer gathering believers to pray and fast for breakthrough and revival. TheCall began in Washington, DC in 2000 gathering over 400,000 people to pray and fast for the United States. Since its beginning, TheCall has gathered hundreds of thousands of additional people to pray nationally and internationally.

FR. FRANK PAVONE, national director of Priests for Life and one of the most prominent pro-life leaders in the nation. Fr. Frank has traveled to all 50 states and to five continents, preaching and teaching against abortion and helping other priests do the same.

Register now to join us on next Thursday night’s LIVE call:

http://www.HelpShapeHistory.com

It’s going to be exciting!

Yours for Life,

David Bereit
National Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

P.S.- Can’t make the live call due to a schedule conflict? Register anyway. The entire event will be audio recorded and we’ll let you know as soon as the recording is ready for you to listen.

P.P.S.- Please help spread the word about this teleconference by encouraging others to visit: http://www.HelpShapeHistory.com

Several days back, Carmen Pate — member of the national 40 Days for Life team — was scheduled to visit the 40 Days for Life locations in Oregon. Unfortunately, a freak snowstorm in Texas canceled all flights and prevented Carmen from coming.

She was very disappointed, and as a small way of saying “thank you” to the people of Oregon for their efforts during this campaign, Carmen just recorded a 3-minute audio especially for the faithful Oregon 40 Days for Life participants.

Here it is…

Listen online (click “Play” button):

Download MP3 (right-click to save to your computer):

http://www.40daysforlife.com/blog/audio/oregon.mp3

Blessings,

David Bereit
National Campaign Director
40 Days for Life