DAY 28: Divine providence
College Station, Texas and Madrid, Spain have very little in common.
But this fall, the simple campaign of prayer and fasting that started in Texas is having a profound impact in Spain — and in other nations around the world.
The international expansion of 40 Days for Life was unexpected. But it is now one of the many blessings God has given to indicate that abortion is a crisis wherever it takes place.
We have multiple campaign locations in both Spain and Canada this fall. Here’s a story from each country.
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MADRID, SPAIN
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On one of the early days of the campaign, a man approached the 40 Days for Life vigil in Madrid and read the sign one person was holding: “Pray for an end to abortion.”
He stared for a moment, then unleashed a tirade of rude words and gestures — and passersby reacted by laughing. The vigil participants just kept praying — and the man kept hurling insults.
It appeared he had been drinking for some time. He was carrying a beer — which he tried to pour on the volunteers. They responded by praying for protection from evil.
At that point, things changed. Another man came along and told the guy with the beer to move along. Instead, he broke the beer bottle against the ground. The plaza then cleared out, leaving only the vigil participants and the man who had stepped in to help.
They had witnessed spiritual warfare — but God had come to their rescue.
Two weeks later, the man with the beer bottle was spotted again — sober and well-dressed, this time. He was seen in church — on his knees … and in tears.
“This strikes us as quite noteworthy,” said Frank in Madrid.
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FREDERICTON, NEW BRUNSWICK
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A woman passed the 40 Days for Life volunteers in Fredericton and called out to them. “My husband made me have an abortion,” she said. “It’s never over.”
To make sure she was heard, she came closer and repeated herself. The volunteers then began to pray for her.
A little while later, a young man approached. He had just received a text message from his wife announcing she’d had an abortion.
He did not want the abortion. His wife apparently felt she couldn’t handle a fourth child. They were supposed to discuss it further. He was shocked by the news.
The mother said the pregnancy had been terminated at seven weeks. The volunteers carried an image of a baby at eight weeks. He was very much moved. He said, “I knew we shouldn’t do it.”
In her text message his wife had mentioned that said she had been assured her it was “just a bunch of cells.”
“How unconscionable,” said Peter in Fredericton. “How could anyone who cares about women lie about anything so fundamental?”
The volunteers and this distraught young dad had a prolonged conversation. They told him about the help available for post-abortion counseling. The young dad and volunteers parted with hugs. “God bless you,” he said.
“Our 40 Days for Life volunteers were exactly in the right place at the right time, both for the hurting mom and the young dad,” Peter said. “It was divine providence — the grace of 40 Days for Life at work. Praise God!”
Here’s the link to today’s devotional:
http://40daysforlife.com/docs/fall2011day28print.pdf
Yours for Life,
Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
PS: What’s new with 40 Days for Life where you live? Please share your stories below.
October 25th, 2011 at 6:03 am
Let us all pray for an end to abortion.
October 25th, 2011 at 6:47 am
God Bless the volunteers in Spain; God is wonderful and so quick to come to our aid. The man with the beer wasnt bad just mistaken and realised it and repented, by the Grace of God. Thanks be to God. Let us pray for all abortionists for if there are no abortionists Abotion doesnt exist
October 25th, 2011 at 7:38 am
I was touched by this story in Fredericton. How could his wife decide to do such a horrible action against the will of his husband? With the feminisim mouvement, the husband has lost his status of chief of the family. Abortion has been push into our throats by these feminists who were also lesbians. Their gold was to destroy the family. Now we see the devastating effects by the legalisation of abortion! We also must pray the end of feminisim
October 25th, 2011 at 7:56 am
Today’s devotional is so appropriate around the world. Please pray for the owner of the strip mall where our campaign is being held. He rents to Planned Parenthood, and we have asked him on several occasions to end the lease, but he told us “They are my best customers, they always pay on time.” His wife has been going to church and we pray that God in His mercy will bring them both to repentence. Tragically, their son was just recently killed in a car accident. Please pray for the entire family, that God would touch their hearts and have mercy on all of their souls.
October 25th, 2011 at 9:09 am
“This strikes us as quite noteworthy,” said Frank in Madrid.
I smile at Frank’s UNDERSTATEMENT! What an amazing example of God’s might and power working through His praying people.
It makes me think of the phrase: “God writes straight with crooked lines.”
Our God is an awesome God!
October 25th, 2011 at 4:39 pm
Daily, I take in with great peace and hope the many stories and pictures you have been sending, Shawn. Thank you so much. I
pray and fast and when a story suggests extra prayer, I feel a
special part of it and join them in praying for what is needed. In
praying, sometimes, I see the whole abortion industry as just a
giant “paper tiger” that the finger of God just has to touch and
with one fell swoop…topples over. However, I know that even
more time and healing must take place afterwards. We need
to pray for the post abortive men and women, the beer bottle
breaker(s), the “choice” tolerant and even voters; the “my hubby
made me do, its never over”, sufferers, etc.
Here in Banning, CA we have no close abortuary to contend with. We
have 7 within 35-55 minute drives. They are located in Palm Desert
and Indio to our East, two in San Bernardino to our North and West,
One in Moreno Valley (we were happy when the abortuary closed
permanently in M.V., but now they are performed in a dr’s office),
which is West and South of us, and finally two in Riverside furthest
West and South of us. Our closest 40 days for Life campaign is in
Riverside. We have gone with carloads the past few years, and are
on their website, etc. I went to a small cafe near the Riv. vigil and
when I chatted excitedly with the wattresses there, (about our
prayer, fasting and vigil participation, they responded, “Oh, that’s why we have so much more business these days! They said they wanted
to participate and got all the details. Other people were listening and it was the greatest “coffee break” ever!
October 25th, 2011 at 7:41 pm
It is wonderful how God is moving. I pray that I will be able to be at the Houston Planned Parenthood again for 40 days of life.
Sincerely,
Louise Phillips
October 25th, 2011 at 9:54 pm
Twin Tiers Rosaries for the Unborn will be praying 9am Saturday, 29 Oct 2011 in front of the Planned Parenthood in Corning, NY. Corning is the home of Margaret Sanger and the Planned Parenthood is named after her. Please keep and include them in your prayers.
October 26th, 2011 at 12:33 am
Let me recommend a book by Father Frank Pavone, M.E.V.: Ending Abortion, NOT JUST FIGHTING IT. I have read about three-quarters of it so far, and I must admit, it is LOADED with useful information! Please read this book.
October 30th, 2011 at 5:16 pm
I was usually really confused at how most of the statements on these articles were about how so many people who were for abortion would try to attack people who were peacefully protesting abortion. Until the time when I went to an anti-abortion meeting and saw first hand how people get so upset at people against abortion when we show up at abortion sites with pro-life signs.