Two volunteers stood in the rain and prayed at a 40 Days for Life vigil last week as a young man drove up, got out of his car with the engine still running, and walked over to talk to them

“I just wanted to thank you for being here,” he said. “I know you know what kind of a place this is,” he said, pointing towards the abortion facility. “Can I tell you a story about it?”

The prayer volunteers nodded yes, and the young man began to pour out his heart.

He said a couple of weeks ago, his wife was not at home and he had no idea where she was — until he got a phone call from the hospital. “My wife had been admitted because she was having seizures,” he said.

At the hospital, he found out his wife was pregnant. It would be a struggle with two young children already, he said, but they’d work it out.

As he spent more time at the hospital, it began to dawn on this young man that no one was telling him the whole truth. He realized something was seriously amiss when his wife told him she’d left her car at an abortion facility.

He thinks she went there for a chemical abortion — the abortion pill. She began to have seizures and was taken to the hospital.

His wife insisted she was still pregnant, but he simply didn’t know for sure.

“I haven’t stopped crying in over two weeks,” he said. “What kind of place is this that would do this to a married woman without telling her husband, the fatherof the baby?”

“We asked if we could pray for him,” said one of the prayer team members. “As we prayed, the young man began to cry again. Just imagine how he felt — betrayed, helpless. We assured him that he will get through this trial and that God loves him.”

Vigil participants hugged him, and he thanked them for being there on this rainy day. “Please keep being here,” he said, and then returned to his car and drove away. “While we did not save a baby from an abortion,” said the volunteer, “we brought Christ to a hurting father.”

Please pray for this young man, who fears he may have lost his child to abortion. Please pray as well for his wife and for his family. Please pray that those who are deceived by the abortion industry will be awakened to the truth of God’s love — and the awareness that all things are possible with God.

“And, if you are willing,” the vigil participant said, “please consider joining us as we keep vigil for these 40 Days for Life.”

Today’s devotional is from Carmen Pate, a member of the 40 Days for Life board of directors.

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DAY 12 INTENTION
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Pray to God who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, to end abortion in America.

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SCRIPTURE
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Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

– Ephesians 3:20-21

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REFLECTION by Carmen Pate, 40 Days for Life
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God’s power working in and through His people is unlimited and far beyond our comprehension when we submit to God’s Word and Spirit. He receives glory when we are obedient to His calling and faithfully serve Him in His strength.

Consider God’s hand of providence on this nation because of the faithfulness of a few who were totally committed to God and His truths.

It is interesting to note the words of Mother Teresa of Calcutta: “Yours is the one great nation in all history which was founded on the precept of equal rights and respect for all humankind, for the poorest and weakest of us as well as the richest and strongest.”

Mother Teresa, in addressing the Supreme Court of the United States said, “Human rights are not a privilege conferred by government. They are every human being’s entitlement by virtue of his humanity. I have no new teaching for America. I seek only to recall you to faithfulness to what you once taught the world.

She continued, “Your nation was founded on the proposition very old as a moral precept, but startling and innovative as a political insight that human life is a gift of immeasurable worth, and that it deserves, always and everywhere, to be treated with the utmost dignity and respect.”

It is time to restore that dignity and respect. Our God is able. Are we willing to remain faithful until His work through us is done?

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PRAYER
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God Almighty, Who is powerful and willing to supply, our hearts cry in unison for You to restore dignity and respect to human life, not only in America, but around the world.

Lord, may our hearts remain faithful to your calling, and may You begin Your transforming work with me.

Keep me ever mindful that with You Lord, nothing is impossible; without You, I can do nothing. To You be glory forever and ever, Amen.

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

http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2010day12print.pdf

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On this, the Lord’s day, let’s also pray for healing for all those touched by the pain of abortion.

Yours for Life,

David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life

PS: If you have stories to share about your own involvement in this 40 Days for Life campaign, please respond below.

Would you believe that God sent a snowstorm to shut an abortion center? All right, I admit that wasn’t the only impact of all that snow. But it certainly put abortion out of business temporarily in Reno, Nevada.

“And for that,” said Carol Marie, the local 40 Days for Life coordinator, “we thank God.”

There was no sign of the abortionist all day … but the vigil continued. The snow delayed travel, but volunteers came from as far as 30 miles away to pray.

Snow seems to be one of this campaign’s themes in North America. In fact, there may be areas that are ready to re-name this effort “40 Days of Snow.”

It even snowed at the original starting place of 40 Days for Life in Bryan/College Station, Texas!

Eric in Indianapolis, Indiana fully expected to be standing in deep snow on the campaign’s first day. But as he arrived at Planned Parenthood, “I noticed that some Samaritans had both plowed the right-of-way parking area and shoveled the snow in the grassy prayer vigil area. What a nice surprise for those who will brave the cold air.”

Here are prayer volunteers standing in the snow in Indianapolis:

Sandy in Toms River, New Jersey reports that snow-covered ground and below-freezing temperatures could not keep a group of 40 people away from the 40 Days for Life vigil site recently.

During their prayer service, people were reminded that “our prayers should be focused not only on saving the lives of the preborn children in danger of death, but also on the women who are entering the clinic who may be losing their spiritual lives.”

Here are prayer volunteers standing in the snow in Toms River:

Volunteers at one 40 Days for Life vigil had an unusual snow story to share. Someone at a Planned Parenthood facility called the police because vigil participants were on the sidewalk in front of the building … shoveling snow!

“We thought we were doing them a favor,” said one volunteer, who never thought that clearing the sidewalk would be considered a “bad deed.”

So they stopped shoveling and continued praying.

40 Days for Life in Spring Valley, New York has certainly seen its share of snow as well. But there, too, people just bundle up and keep praying.

Here are prayer volunteers standing in the snow in Spring Valley:

“Every prayer is heard,” said Eileen in Spring Valley. “Every hour makes a difference. Lives are saved. Wounded hearts are healed. And the power of love touches those who are looking for their Creator.”

And that’s true … come rain or come shine. Or snow!

Today’s devotional is from Fr. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life.

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DAY 11 INTENTION
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Pray that people of faith will have their strength renewed even in the face of the violence of abortion.

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SCRIPTURE
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The favors of the Lord are not exhausted, his mercies are not spent. They are renewed each morning, so great is his faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait in silence for the saving help of the Lord.

– Lamentations 3:22-26

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REFLECTION by Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life
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The Book of Lamentations, a short book of only five chapters, contains some of the most poignant expressions of human grief.

These verses are used in many Churches on Good Friday, since they can be seen to express a prophecy of the suffering of the Lord and the lamentation of his followers on that dark day.

But in the midst of his grief, Jeremiah writes the verses quoted above. “The favors of the Lord are not exhausted.” It is a call to hope that no matter how much violence there is, life will prevail in the end.

Why does he say, however, that God’s mercies are renewed each morning?

Because early in the morning, on the first day of the week, the women came to the tomb — and they found that the events of that morning changed everything.

Christ’s victory over death came in the morning, and therefore each day we can renew our confidence that life has the final victory.

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PRAYER
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Lord, look kindly on your people who weep and mourn amidst the vast devastation that abortion has brought upon our land. We cannot even count the children killed, and the mothers and fathers wounded.

We cannot measure the devastation and corruption abortion has brought upon the very fabric of our society. But we declare today that your favors have not been exhausted, your mercies have not been spent. They are renewed each morning.

Give us new strength today in the resurrection of Christ your Son, that we may bear effective witness to the victory of life! In His name we pray, Amen.

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

http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2010day11print.pdf

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Yours for Life,

David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life

PS: Has overcoming weather challenges been one of the blessings at your 40 Days for Life campaign? If you have any good news to share, please leave a comment below.

I’m inspired by all the local TV reports about 40 Days for Life! In two minutes or less, they can show your entire community the true nature of your peaceful, prayerful outreach.

Often, these reports will feature only a written statement from the abortion center staff. They’re not always eager to appear on camera.

One exception, however, is William Harrison — a Fayetteville, Arkansas abortionist whose appearance on a local TV newscast offers an interesting insight into his mindset.

What does Harrison think of 40 Days for Life? “I think it’s silly,” he told the reporter. “Standing across the street and praying to end abortion — that doesn’t work.”

He “thanked” vigil participants for pointing out his location, because he doesn’t advertise and claims that people praying outside will help newcomers find him.

He also advised local 40 Days for Life coordinators to look more serious and to bring a priest with them.

Harrison said with a laugh, “You know, if they’re going to be praying and fasting, they ought to take this job seriously.”

They ARE serious about this, said Juliet Cassell, one of the local coordinators. “We want this to be a positive, peaceful event and really call attention to what’s going on across the street. Children are losing their lives,” she told the reporter.

And … they’re praying for Harrison.

“One of my biggest prayers is that he would have a conversion of the heart and he use his medical skills and knowledge to promote life, not death,” said Tiffany Dickinson, another of the 40 Days for Life coordinators.

Watch the TV report online (there’s a short commercial first):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UCxtLSMM5g

I personally pray for everyone involved in the abortion industry — including William Harrison. He may seem determined and unwilling to even think about quitting. But then again, so did someone I know — Abby Johnson.

For eight years, Abby worked at Planned Parenthood in Bryan, Texas. She rose to the position of director and was the Planned Parenthood affiliate’s employee of the year.

She watched the first-ever 40 Days for Life campaign from her office window in 2004 — and kept watching as five more peaceful, prayerful campaigns unfolded over the next several years.

Last October, during the fall 40 Days for Life, she had a change of heart … and quit her job.

Just four months later, the very same Abby Johnson stood outside the abortion center she once directed — speaking at the local 40 Days for Life kickoff event, encouraging people to come out and pray for an end to abortion — as her former co-workers watched.

Here’s a short video of her kickoff remarks at:

If God can reach Abby Johnson, you know He can do the same for everyone in the abortion industry — even someone as hardened as William Harrison.

Pray hard!

Today’s devotional is from Georgette Forney of Anglicans for Life

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DAY 10 INTENTION
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May those who hold life as trivial realize that we live because God wills it so.

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SCRIPTURE
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Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this, in His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.

– Job 12:9-10

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REFLECTION by Georgette Forney, Anglicans for Life
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Job was a man acquainted with grief, trials and tribulation. He had everything taken from him, including his family. He endured sickness, ridicule and judgment from his friends.

Everyone gave him advice about his situation, questioning his spirituality and his God. Job’s circumstances were bad but he never loses faith. Why? Because “the hand of the Lord has made all life.” Created by God, he knows his life has meaning and purpose, regardless of the circumstances.

In our present culture, we’ve lost that basic truth; every life is made and allowed to live by God’s sovereign authority. As people who pride ourselves on our independence, we have a hard time acknowledging our dependence on God.

From our creation, when we were knit together in our mother’s womb to our last breath, God’s word is clear that “in His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.”

It’s time for us as individuals, and as a society, to recognize that we exist by God’s grace and turn back to Him, honoring His word and His teachings. Why? Because our world is full of Jobs, people who are dealing with trials and tribulations and hurting desperately.

Job’s response should be ours as well. Regardless of what we face (even an unplanned pregnancy) God in His wisdom and mercy will redeem it.

How do I know? Job’s friends who doubted God’s sovereignty cry out to God asking for help, God instructs Job to pray for his friends and after he does, God restores all that Job had lost.

In other words, because Job never lost faith and knew and trusted His Creator, the Lord blessed Job.

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PRAYER
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Thank you Father God for being the Creator of my life and every life. Please give me, and the society in which I live, an appreciation for your gift of life.

Please help us set aside our pride and acknowledge that we need you. Show me how I can honor you today in response to all the blessings you bestow freely. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

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

http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2010day10print.pdf

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Please pray for a change of heart for all those who work or volunteer for abortion facilities, their financial supporters and political advocates, and their customers.

Yours for Life,

David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life

PS: What’s the latest on 40 Days for Life in your community? If you have stories to tell, please respond below.

Do you know how important your presence in front of an abortion center can be? Here are a few reports from local 40 Days for Life campaigns that just begin to tell the story.

One of the prayer volunteers in Houston, Texas says a mom and her young son arrived to pray at their vigil in front of Planned Parenthood. The woman had aborted her first child at that very location.

She HAD to be there to pray, she said. “I can’t help but think that if some pro-lifers were here” when she had the abortion, “maybe I wouldn’t have gone through it.”

Those sentiments were echoed by BJ, who posted a comment on the 40 Days for Life blog.

If only there had been someone praying outside Planned Parenthood in her city, 19 years ago, “it would have made all the difference in the world to me and my boyfriend,” she wrote. “I regret every day what occurred in that cold winter morning.”

Just BEING THERE can have a profound impact.

Joanne tells of a mom who brought her children to the 40 Days for Life vigil in Cranston, Rhode Island. While they were praying, her son noticed a woman sitting in a car in the parking lot. He looked in her direction once, and then again.

The woman looked at him, and their eyes locked.

“The woman began sobbing,” Joanne said. “Something in her heart moved.”

We pray that God’s healing love will touch women contemplating abortion — and all whose lives have been touched by past abortions. The suffering can go on for years.

Dorothy, who left a note on the 40 Days for Life blog, said she still thinks of the “horrific decision” she made 26 years ago, when there was no one there to tell her she could choose life for her child.

She had never healed from the pain of that abortion — until recently.

“When I stood and prayed in front of Planned Parenthood, I was flooded with emotion,” she wrote. “Holding the sign that ‘women regret abortion’ empowered me, along with the wonderful people that surrounded me in prayer.”

Sadly, not all of the women who see her sign take heed.

“A young woman leaving Planned Parenthood looked away in profound sadness after reading my sign,” Dorothy said, “and I thought, ‘Dear God. Her life will never be the same.’ The impact on women is so understated.”

Still, she said, thanks to you and all 40 Days for Life participants, “I am now on the road to healing.”

Please pray for all those who seek healing — and especially for those who would deny that abortion leaves a lasting impact.

Today’s devotional is from Carmen Pate, a member of the 40 Days for Life board of directors.

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DAY 9 INTENTION
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Pray that the post-abortive woman would be repentant, accept forgiveness, be healed and restored, and bring glory to God with her new life.

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SCRIPTURE
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I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.

– Psalm 32:5

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REFLECTION by Carmen Pate, 40 Days for Life
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Because abortion is legal in America, many have justified their choice. “If it’s legal, it can’t be wrong, right?”

We now have an entire generation of men and women who have never known abortion to be illegal; a generation of people who have never been broken over their sin of abortion.

As a result, the consequences of unconfessed sin weigh on their souls, yet they have never connected the dots as to why their hearts are heavy. No wonder we have millions of women who are struggling with depression, addictions, eating disorders and more.

Post abortion syndrome is very real but recovery begins when the individual agrees with God as David confessed in Psalm 51:3-4, 14, “Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight — that You may be found just when You speak, and blameless when you Judge. Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, the God of my salvation.”

Brokenness is the key to accessing God’s glorious mercy and healing. Christ came to heal the broken hearted and He is waiting with open arms to take the post-abortive woman on a glorious journey of healing and restoration if she will only run to Him.

God will not waste any sin we lay at His feet. Imagine millions of healed and restored post-abortive women like myself singing aloud of His righteousness and giving testimony of His love and forgiveness.

What a day of rejoicing that will be!

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PRAYER
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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.

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

http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2010day09print.pdf

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If you know someone who has experienced the pain of an abortion, pray for them, and let them know that they can find hope and healing.

Also, tell them about the incredibly helpful resources available from:

• Abortion Recovery InterNational
  http://www.abortionrecovery.org
• Rachel’s Vineyard Ministries
  http://www.rachelsvineyard.org

Yours for Life,

David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life

PS: If you have stories to share about the 40 Days for Life campaign in your town, please leave a comment below.

As we open the second week of our 40 Days for Life campaign, I’d like to salute the many people around the world who have officially joined this amazing effort to pray and fast for an end to abortion.

There are six campaigns in progress in Canada: Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta; Toronto and Guelph, Ontario; Montreal, Quebec; and Kelowna, British Columbia.

In Kelowna, the 40 Days for Life vigil is outside Kelowna General Hospital, where abortions have taken place for years. There has been a regular prayer presence there — but 40 Days for Life is bringing many more people to the sidewalk to pray.

A local news report shows a typical day at the Kelowna vigil:

In Australia, Sydney has launched its first-ever 40 Days for Life campaign, and I’m really thrilled to see this mission expanding Down Under, with Melbourne also joining second-time participant Brisbane this time, and other cities planning for the future.

The 40 Days for Life team in Sydney hit the ground running, gathering the enthusiastic backing of Catholic Bishop Julian Porteous, who said, “As a society we cannot allow ourselves to accept the fact of abortion as acceptable, because we would be taking the view that human life is expendable.”

The bishop added that 40 Days for Life “is a peaceful, prayerful campaign, and has my full support.”

Here’s a photo of the kickoff event in Sydney:

Belfast, Derry and the rest of Northern Ireland are all joined with you in prayer, but with an additional intention — to protect all of Ireland, where abortion remains illegal.

Those who support abortion, of course, are vigorously doing everything they can to change that.

Just this month, the European Parliament adopted a report that says, “Women must have control over their sexual and reproductive rights, notably through easy access to contraception and abortion.”

Pressure, obviously, is building.

Please keep praying!

Here’s a photo of 40 Days for Life participants in Northern Ireland:

It’s a familiar picture, isn’t it? We are all far, far apart in terms of distance, but we are all of the same mind and heart when it comes to protecting God’s innocent children.

Our amazing God knows no bounds … and no borders.

Today’s devotional is from Rev. Rob Schenck, president of Faith and Action.

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DAY 8 INTENTION
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We pray for a renewal of our zeal to offer generous help to the unborn and their families.

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SCRIPTURE
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If I have despised the cause of my male or female servant when they complained against me, what then shall I do when God rises up? When He punishes, how shall I answer Him? Did not He who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?

– Job 31:13-15

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REFLECTION by Rev. Rob Schenck, Faith and Action
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The ground is level as we stand before God.

Job lived with an awe provoking sense of God’s expectation of him, particularly regarding his obligation to care for the weak and needy.

He knew that in God’s economy everyone stands on level ground when it comes to our status as God’s creatures. Because of that central truth, we must take care of each other.

Job also knew that he didn’t deserve any of the good things God gave to him. Instead, those blessings came to Job from God’s benevolent heart.

As an extension of that knowledge, Job instinctively linked his obligation to be generous to others to God’s kindness toward him.

As in Jesus’ parable of the unmerciful servant (Matthew 18:23-35), Job knew that it is an egregious sin to deny to others what we enjoy ourselves.

He actually calls down on his own head severe condemnation and even punishment should he fail to share with others out of his own abundance (see verses 16-23).

Proverbs 3:27 reads, “Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so.” Some things are so obvious that we don’t even need to pray except to ask of God forgiveness and the power to do what so obviously needs doing.

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PRAYER
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God, forgive us when we try to explain away the obligation we have to help others who need help.

Enable us to not devalue them because they are in the circumstance that they are in, but to see them for what they are, those, who like us, were formed by your hand in their mother’s womb. Amen.

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

http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2010day08print.pdf

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As we begin the second week of this 40 Days for Life, let’s pray that God continues to pour out His rich blessings on everyone involved!

Yours for Life,

David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life

PS: If you have good news to report about 40 Days for Life in your community, please post it here!

Early Sunday morning, local coordinator Ernie Cyr sent out an urgent message to 40 Days for Life volunteers in Pensacola, Florida. He had just found out that abortions were taking place at the city’s only abortion facility. Yes, on the Lord’s day.

Ernie’s request for prayer volunteers at the 40 Days for Life vigil was quickly answered.

It would soon become apparent that their prayers were being answered as well.

A woman drove up and told the vigil participants, “I called my sister and convinced her not to have an abortion!”

It wasn’t easy — her sister was already inside the building. The woman got on the phone and tried to speak to her sister, but the abortion facility staff refused to let her take the call.

Finally, the woman told the abortion center staff it was an emergency and she MUST speak to her sister URGENTLY. The staff reluctantly permitted them to talk. The woman explained to her sister that there were far better options that ending the life of her unborn child.

She listened … and called off the abortion.

The woman then went into the building, came out with her sister and returned to the pro-life volunteers.

“When the young mother came out she looked dazed and confused,” said Ernie, “like the weight of the world was upon her shoulders.”

She was still very much in shock after almost aborting her child. “It was so terrible in there,” she said. “The noise in that place was awful.”

A counselor from a pro-life pregnancy center was able to tell her about the free resources and free medical services that would be available throughout her pregnancy, as well as community services that can assist her until her child is ready to start school.

Ernie asked if she was able to get her money back. “She said she paid $525 for the abortion but they would only give her back $300 or so, so I told her that the pro-life community in Pensacola is absolutely behind her.” He’s already started a collection.

“I told her all will be well because she just made a life-giving decision,” he said. “God has put the pro-life community in Pensacola behind this woman. And we will not fail her!”

Fantastic report! But guess what? There’s more! s

“There were six — yes, six — other mothers that chose life for their babies,” Ernie said. “Praise God! Women were absolutely fleeing the abortion facility today!”

Ernie called it a “slam dunk miracle.”

“So come on out and pray in front of the abortion facility every chance you get,” he said. “Jesus is really, really using us to save lives!”

Today’s devotional is from Carmen Pate, a member of the 40 Days for Life board of directors.

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DAY 7 INTENTION
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Pray that the abortionists and all workers in abortion facilities would be troubled in their souls regarding their work and would seek truth.

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SCRIPTURE
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Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you.

– Ephesians 4:31-32

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REFLECTION by Carmen Pate, 40 Days for Life
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We see the evil and oppression in the world, the arrogance of those who mock God, the millions of innocent lives destroyed because of the greed of a few.

Our flesh tells us that we should take justice in our own hands, but instead of vengeance, the Lord calls us to love our enemy, to forgive others as we have been forgiven.

God loves the abortionist and the Planned Parenthood advocate just as much as He loves you.

It breaks His heart to see them in bondage to sin and He is giving you this opportunity to introduce them to the Savior who sets the captive free.

Though you may not experience direct interaction with these souls, your presence will not go unnoticed. Your non-verbal communications speak volumes about the God you serve.

Forgiveness is an act of obedience to God (Colossians 3:13). Forgiveness is not condoning or overlooking the wrong behavior of others, but rather it is freeing ourselves so that God can work mightily through us to touch their hearts for Him.

Let’s join our hearts with His in recognizing that those in the abortion industry are not the enemy, but rather they are blinded by the enemy.

God desires that we bring them the message of truth and hope found in Christ, but the messengers He will use are those willing to forgive.

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PRAYER
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Dearest God, You tell us in Proverbs that the foolish and the wicked lack wisdom and understanding. I pray you will trouble the souls of those in the abortion industry so that they hunger for truth and cry out for freedom.

I pray that my life would reflect my redemption so others may see it and trust in You. In obedience to You, and by your grace, I choose to forgive others as you have forgiven me. In the name of Christ my Redeemer I pray, Amen.

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

http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2010day07print.pdf

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Yours for Life,

David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life

PS: Any miracles at your 40 Days for Life vigil? Please share them with everyone by posting a comment.

Want to get your Monday off to a great start? Then here’s a praise report guaranteed to launch your week in marvelous fashion!

Thus far during this 40 Days for life campaign …

… 45 lives have been saved from abortion!!!

Here are just a few of those miraculous stories:

• Louisville, Kentucky:

  On the first day of the 40 Days for Life campaign, three mothers changed their minds!

  Tammy in Louisville said the abortion center staffers “were so mad they came out and started yelling at us. We give all the glory to our Lord Jesus Christ.”

  One woman had been given a coupon for a free ultrasound at the pro-life pregnancy center across the street. She went inside the abortion facility — but only stayed five minutes before leaving and going to the pro-life center, where she used that coupon.

  “She saw the 4-D ultrasound and changed her mind,” Tammy said. “What a blessing!”

• Reno, Nevada:

  A young woman had scheduled an abortion appointment, fully intending to go through with it. Carol Marie said, “when she heard there were other options available, she took the time to investigate for herself and realized we were correct.”

  The woman left the facility and returned later — not for an abortion, but for a refund.

  The staff saw her hugging prayer volunteers as she was approaching the door, so they refused to let her in. They made her wait in her car while they processed her refund.

  “Praise God that we had the opportunity to be there,” said Carol Marie.

• Melbourne, Australia:

  “We had a turnaround in Melbourne this morning while we were praying,” said David.

  He spoke to a couple who had arrived for an abortion appointment, asking the young woman to think about what abortion will do to her. “Already she has another little boy. She said both were unplanned.”

  They took a pamphlet with phone numbers of various support agencies. “Let’s continue praying that this young couple have the courage to continue with this pregnancy,” David said.

• The Bronx, New York:

  “We had our first confirmed turnaround of the Lenten 40 Days for Life,” said Brian.

  Here is a photo of the 40 Days for Life vigil in The Bronx:
  

  “The ability to actually see these first results of the effort to save babies is an amazing experience. The real impact, however, is impossible to know. It is a bit overwhelming to think that just one little word or one action, like handing out a flier with information on abortion can have an impact that not only touches the lives of that mother and child, but makes a change that reverberates down the generations.”

  Brian added that not only is this work life-changing, but it truly changes all of humanity — “all because of a little bundle of joy that is spared on a cold February morning in the Bronx.”

Amen! Have a great week!

Today’s devotional is from Fr. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life.

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DAY 6 INTENTION
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Pray that those tempted to abort may understand that their child is already present, and already a real person.

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SCRIPTURE
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And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.”

– Luke 1:41-44

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REFLECTION by Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life
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Jesus not only loves unborn children — He was one himself!

Think about this for a moment.

We often hear people speak of a pregnant mother by saying, “She’s expecting a child.”

Now if one is expecting a package, the package is not yet there.

As reflected in our verse for today, however, this is not the case with the mother.

Her gift is already there.

The pregnant woman, a mother already, does not have a child “on the way,” but has a child, already present and in full possession of his or her human rights, starting with the right to life.

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PRAYER
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Jesus, open my eyes to your presence in the life of every child. Open my heart to joy in the birth of every child, a birth that reflects the joy of your own birth in Bethlehem.

As you shared life in the womb of Mary, so now send your protection upon every child still in the womb, and grant to their mothers the strength and joy that comes from welcoming the gift of life. We pray through Christ our Lord, Amen.

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

http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2010day06print.pdf

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Through your prayers and faithfulness during the rest of this 40 Days for Life campaign, I know God will save many more lives. I can’t wait to learn how many more He will spare!

Yours for Life,

David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life

PS: Yesterday morning, while I was praying with the 40 Days for Life team outside the Planned Parenthood abortion facility in Naples, Florida, we were joined by two wonderful pro-life leaders: Kristan Hawkins, executive director of Students for Life of America, and Kristen Day, executive director of Democrats for Life.

Here’s a picture of the group:

PPS: What great things are happening with 40 Days for Life in your community? Please share your stories by posting a response to today’s message.

There’s no question — 40 Days for Life is not just a project, not just something to do. It’s a calling. And it’s a calling that reaches deep into your heart.

A blogger in Georgia writes that this will be her first time participating in 40 Days for Life, “and I am really looking forward to it. I have long felt passionate about the pro-life cause, but I have never extended myself.”

She explained that she is feeling called to pray earnestly — not only for the babies, but also for the women.

“I have never met a woman who has had an abortion who does not regret it,” she wrote. “They are buying a lie, and I pray eyes will be opened before it’s too late. For women who have already made the choice, I pray they will find forgiveness — it is there in Christ.”

Those “women who have already made the choice” had a profound impact on the people who attended the 40 Days for Life kickoff in Spokane, Washington.

The event was held in front of the Planned Parenthood abortion center, where a message board promoted “exceptional health care, honest education, fearless advocacy.”

John said that at the Spokane rally, two women who’d had abortions at that very facility told the story of how they had “confronted the horror of what they’d done, recounted the lies they’d been told by Planned Parenthood workers, and finally found healing.”

This was the most emotional portion of the rally, John added. “Many in the crowd were literally moved to tears as they listened to what these women went through.”

Here are photos of Spokane’s opening rally and vigil:

If you haven’t yet prayed at a 40 Days for Life vigil, please consider doing so. It is, to say the least, an unforgettable experience.

“I remember that time so very well,” an Illinois blogger writes of his experiences at last year’s 40 Days for Life campaign.

“It was probably the closest time I have spent with God in my entire life,” he wrote. “I walked and prayed in the Spirit more than I can ever remember and know that my life was forever changed.”

I am genuinely moved when I read a statement such as that.

This writer knows what’s at stake in the battle against abortion. He’s seen the big picture, and he understands.

“Jesus has won the victory,” he wrote, “and the gates of hell shall not prevail.”

Today’s devotional is from Rev. John Brown, the director of United Friends for Life.

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DAY 5 INTENTION
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May God’s justice sober our society; may mercy triumph over judgment.

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SCRIPTURE
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Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man’s brother I will require the life of man.

Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man.

– Genesis 9:5-6

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REFLECTION by Rev. John Brown, United Friends for Life
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The value of every human being can hardly be seen more clearly than with this verse. God, the King of the universe, has created all human beings in his image, and declares forthrightly that shedding the blood of any individual will require the blood of the one who shed it.

God’s concern for human beings is not limited to any particular group. Indeed, his concern is universal, and includes male and female, young and old, born and unborn, disabled and able-bodied, the citizens of every nation on earth.

Abortion, the deliberate killing of the unborn, is the shedding of innocent blood. Surely the blood of millions upon millions of innocent children cries out to God.

It is true that we live in an age of grace, and yet this passage (among many other texts which express similar sentiments) should give every thinking Christian pause.

Christians of all people, entrusted with the Word of God as we are, must take a stand. We must speak out. We must do all that we can to protect the innocent, to pursue justice, and to encourage the repentance of all those who bear responsibility for this great evil.

Only in this manner can we hope to forestall the judgment that must otherwise surely come.

This passage should also be seen as an encouragement to educate and disciple our children and grandchildren about what it means to be human and the responsibility that will become theirs in this ongoing struggle.

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PRAYER
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O Father, forgive us for our lack of courage and our want of compassion for the unborn and for those lost and hurt by abortion. Fill us anew with your Spirit.

Renew our minds, strengthen us in righteousness, help us be people of salt and light within our nation.

May every human being, from conception to natural death, be treated with the respect due those made in your image.

We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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

http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2010day05print.pdf

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Yours for Life,

David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life

PS: Have you received any special blessings as a result of your 40 Days for Life participation? I so, please share them by posting on today’s blog.

Another 40 Days for Life has begun — and that means abortion-supporting bloggers are, in the words of one of our Southern friends, “having a hissy fit.”

• According to Socialist Worker, “anti-choice bigots kicked off 40 Days for Life as part of a national attack on women.”
• RH Reality Check (the RH stands for “reproductive health”) mentions “the annual anti-choice campaign ‘40 Days for Life’ — an intense harass-a-thon happening at reproductive healthcare clinics across the country.”
• Another pro-abortion blog calls 40 Days for Life “a campaign of escalated harassment outside targeted reproductive health clinics” orchestrated by “anti-choice bullies.”

That’s erroneous, of course. In fact, if there’s a “harass-a-thon” going on, it generally appears to be the abortion center staff that’s trying to antagonize the prayer volunteers.

Carol Marie said that right before the 40 Days for Life kickoff event in Reno, Nevada, large trucks with trailers showed up to park in the lot across from the abortion facility, taking up as much space as possible in the area where the rallies are usually held.

While this was going on, an employee came out of the building to tell a truck driver where to park — and to make rude comments to the prayer volunteers.

It was only a minor inconvenience. The kickoff rally was merely moved a short distance down the block.

“For all their effort,” said Carol Marie, “they simply improved our event, as we were able to gather in peace, outside of the range of the foul noises that are broadcast from the speaker system installed at the front of the property of the abortion site.”

The Christ-like response of 40 Days for Life volunteers, in the face of abortion supporters’ crude accusations and tactics, speaks volumes.

The abortion industry is built on deception; its survival depends on its ability to hide the truth.

A woman arrived for an appointment this week at the Austin, Texas abortion center where a 40 Days for Life vigil is being conducted. One of the pro-life sidewalk counselors told her that if she was at this facility for routine healthcare, there were other places she could go — places that did not do abortions.

The young woman was stunned. “I had no idea my OB/GYN did abortions,” she said. “I definitely do not want to come back!”

This is one of the reasons 40 Days for Life is important. Many people don’t realize abortions are being done in their own cities. Many women don’t realize abortions are being done by their own doctors. When they find out, many have exactly the same response as this woman in Austin.

Truth is bad for the abortion business. Please keep praying — and keep spreading the truth!

Today’s devotional is from Carmen Pate, a member of the 40 Days for Life board of directors.

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DAY 4 INTENTION
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Pray that we each will daily put on the full armor of God, so that we are strong in the Lord and the power of His might.

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SCRIPTURE
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For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

– Ephesians 6:12-13

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REFLECTION by Carmen Pate, 40 Days for Life
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I am confounded to see how the battle over the issue of life is perceived more often in churches today as political rather than spiritual.

Ironically, the enemy has used this twisted perception to silence many in the body of Christ.

We must see the battle for what it is and we must daily “put on” the armor God has given us:

• Gird your waist with Truth (vs. 14) — Commit your emotions to believe truth and to speak truth, regardless of the repercussions.
• Put on the breastplate of Righteousness (vs. 14) — It will protect our hearts — the innermost springs of our beings — from all unrighteousness so evident in this fallen world.
• Shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace. (vs. 15) — Preparation is vital if we are to be effective in God’s work.
• Taking the shield of faith (vs.16) — The Accuser will instill doubt, fear, and guilt. Faith acts as an invisible shield that deflects such false accusations.
• Taking the Helmet of salvation (vs.17) — A helmet protects the head, the brain and in turn our mind and thoughts. Satan hopes we will set aside divine revelation for human reasoning.
• Taking the sword of the Spirit (vs.17) — The Word of God, the only offensive weapon in this armor, was used by the Lord Jesus against Satan. The living Word is powerful and effective.

Our armor is complete. We are ready to wage war, and the next verse tells us how, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit.” (vs.18)

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PRAYER
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Dear Lord, as you lead us into the spiritual battle of abortion may we be reminded that the battle is truly Yours. Thank you for hearing our requests for direction and protection. Thank you for the victory that is ours because of Your Son Jesus, Amen.

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

http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2010day04print.pdf

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Let’s press on with the truth!

For Life,

David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life

PS: As always, if you have a story to share about the blessings of 40 Days for Life, please post a reply at the bottom of today’s blog entry.

As you pray and fast for an end to abortion, please be aware that your prayers ARE being answered.

Early Wednesday morning — the first day of this campaign — 40 Days for Life vigil participants were praying for a young woman who arrived for an abortion appointment in Cleveland. On her way towards the building, she stopped and talked to one of the counselors on the sidewalk.

The vigil participants feared the conversation had not made an impact. Still, they kept praying.

A short time later, the young woman left the facility in tears. She could not go through with the abortion, thanks to the conversation with the counselor — and the prayers.

Michael in Cleveland says a second life was saved around lunchtime on Wednesday. 40 Days for Life participants were praying as a woman left the abortion center … smiling. The man with her — the baby’s father — was also smiling.

She walked over to the people praying and said, “Don’t worry. I didn’t do it!”

The young couple drove away, happy … and still smiling. Said Michael, “Our God is awesome!”

On Day 1 in Huntsville, Alabama, vigil participants were praying for two young women. One had arrived for an abortion. The other was doing her best to try to talk her friend out of aborting her baby.

The two went inside together while the people on the sidewalk continued to pray …

… and pray …

… and pray!

They were inside for two hours, which could have been seen as a discouraging sign. But finally, the friend came out. “Did you see how long I was in there?” she asked … and then she announced the good news.

“I talked her out of it!” she said.

“Thanks for everything!”

“Everything,” of course, included two hours of praying intently that God would touch this young woman’s heart — and inspire the friend who desperately wanted to see the baby live.

Prayer indeed works!

People praying at the Planned Parenthood abortion center in Providence, Rhode Island learned that as well. A woman drove up, eager to talk.

“You were out here praying two years ago when I went in to have an abortion,” she said. “I just want you to know that I came out of the clinic that day. I decided to have my baby. I love her and I wanted to thank you.”

Thank YOU … and thank our amazing Heavenly Father, who hears each word of prayer.

Please keep praying!

Today’s devotional is from Fr. Frank Pavone, the national director of Priests for Life.

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DAY 3 INTENTION
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May God’s people understand that the Lazarus of the 21st Century is the unborn child, and respond accordingly.

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SCRIPTURE
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There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.

So he called to him, “Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.”

But Abraham replied, “Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.

“And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.”

– Luke 16:19-31

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REFLECTION by Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life
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The rich man did not go to hell because he was rich. He went to hell because he ignored the other man. He thought that because Lazarus had less, that he was worth less.

He failed to recognize that Lazarus was his brother. Lazarus was waiting at the door of the rich man for scraps of food; the Lazarus of our day, the unborn child, is waiting at the door of the womb for birth itself.

God does not only prohibit aborting the unborn; he prohibits ignoring them.

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PRAYER
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Father, I thank you for the life that I possess, and for the birth that you granted me. I hear the cries of the Lazarus of our day; I see them sitting at the door.

Grant that I may never ignore them, and that through this 40 Days for Life campaign, I may stir many others to pay attention to them as well. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

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

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

http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2009day03print.pdf

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Maybe YOU will be the next person to witness a mother choosing life for her baby as a result of 40 Days for Life!

Yours for Life,

David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life

P.S.- Have a story to share of how you’ve seen God working through 40 Days for Life? Please post a reply!