DAY 16: The Lord will provide
The idea of somebody protesting a prayer vigil may sound odd. But it does happen — because prayer is effective.
As one local 40 Days for Life coordinator said, “the protest shows so clearly that our prayer vigil has hit a nerve. It has unmasked what it is really going on.”
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HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA
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The 40 Days for Life vigil in Halifax takes place outside a hospital where abortions are done. Last Sunday, “the line was drawn clearly between good and evil,” said Julie, the local coordinator. For three hours, protesters “sat directly across from us, holding their signs and playing terrible music very loud.”
When Julie arrived at the vigil, she saw a small group of protesters — who were outnumbered by the 12 people who were praying for an end to abortion. That’s far more than had originally signed up for that hour of prayer.
“One pastor and his wife told me that they had felt God urging them to come down this afternoon to pray,” she said. “A woman told me that she had felt so restless at home, that she decided to come and pray. A man dropped by and then stayed until the last protester packed up and left the site. A group of 7 or 8 came from one church after their service. God definitely urged people to come today to pray.”
Julie said this should reassure you that the Lord will provide for our needs in this vigil. “God knew what was awaiting us there today, and He quietly stirred hearts so that more people came to pray than came to protest.”
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ANCHORAGE, ALASKA
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About 10 people were praying at the peaceful vigil when a car pulled up behind them outside the abortion center. The driver called out, “Please convince my daughter not to kill her baby!”
The volunteers looked up from their prayer and saw a woman behind the wheel, with her 16-year-old daughter at her side. The teen was quite upset that her mother stopped to talk, and she unleashed a wave of profanity as she got out of the car.
Some of the volunteers went to talk to the mother — including a couple with a one-month-old baby. They soon learned that the mother and daughter had just left Planned Parenthood, where the mother had signed a consent form permitting the girl to have an abortion.
But when the teenager’s mom saw the people praying outside, she knew in her heart that she had made a terrible mistake. She went back inside and demanded that Planned Parenthood tear up the consent form — but she said they refused.
About this time, the teen returned to the car. “The girl was a little more open to talking to us,” said Bob, one of the volunteers. “Eventually, the girl stated that she never wanted to kill her baby. But she was scared and did not know what else to do.”
The young couple then asked the girl if she’d like to hold their infant. “She held the baby for about 10 minutes,” Bob said. “A deep conversion was happening in her, too.”
Bob said the vigil participants “are all still processing what happened. But there is no doubt that we all experienced the providence of God. We will continue to pray for the mother, the girl and her baby.”
Here’s the link to today’s devotional.
For Life,
Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
PS: Please continue to share stories about the 40 Days for Life campaign in your community! You may leave a comment below.
October 11th, 2012 at 4:46 am
Looking at your photos, a thought pops into my mind. Can’t help it. A couple of scruffy-looking males protesting. Interesting. I imagine they like abortion because they want to use women for sex objects. Pray that they will discover that women are made in the image of God and they are priceless. They have a right to bodily integrity and self respect. They have a right to be protected from abortionists. They have a right to have a relationship with their baby. Pray that these men will discover that Jesus died for them.
October 11th, 2012 at 6:58 am
Prayer and fasting keep up the good work, God Bless what you are doing
October 11th, 2012 at 6:58 am
Isnt God wonderful? A God who bends down to his people to help them do his will. Praise God! I will go to Mass now to pray for all the people who are out there in the trenches. and for more babies to be saved Thank you Jesus and we ask for hearts and minds to be changed today.
October 11th, 2012 at 7:08 am
Praying for an end to legal abortion.
October 11th, 2012 at 8:13 am
We just moved to Memphis and I had no idea where abortions took place here. I had participated in a 40 Days for Life in San Marcos, Calif., but forgot it was time again. I also had never interacted with anyone who wasn’t a part of the prayers. I would have missed out completely if God had not caused a violent storm the night before, putting out the traffic light where I always turned north. Police directing traffic motioned me to go straight where one block off my beaten track I saw the clinic and two pray-ers out front. When I went back a few days later to pray my own shift, several people graciously handed me everything I needed — signs and lists of places people can go if they choose life. “If anybody looks you in the eye, you can give them one,” I was told. Sure enough, after I’d prayed for awhile, a young man who was not part of the prayers was looking right at me. I felt so grateful to be able to hand him a list and a colorful card holding two tiny bronze feet the size of those of a 10-week-old fetus. “Give these to someone,” I said. I felt so happy to meet and fellowship with such wonderful fellow believers including a sweet priest, and finally to be able to reach out and give someone valuable information that might help save lives.
October 11th, 2012 at 10:25 am
Stay strong in His love I offer all my body and mind suffering for the little babies torn from there mothers womb praying for those boys who are someones babies who survived roe v wade !Going to adoration to pray for 1 more life saved today.People are hard hearted but Gods love will win in the end. mary t
October 11th, 2012 at 10:40 am
What a great story from Anchorage!! (I was born and raised there, and I still miss it.) The Lord worked through that little infant to help that young lady see the value of life. Thank you, Lord!
Please pray that someone will step forward and lead a 40 Days for Life in Gilroy, CA. Thanks! :>}
October 11th, 2012 at 12:29 pm
When you Here My voice today harden not your hearts, says the Lord.
God Bless all of you who heard the Lord and answered His call.
October 11th, 2012 at 12:31 pm
Jody — that someone to step forward – seems like it might just be you – the woman with a heart for Life.
October 11th, 2012 at 12:52 pm
For the mother in Anchorage who brought her daughter
by the 40 Days for Life campaign and effected a decision in
her daughter to NOT abort. Does Anchorage not have a vehicle
to protest publicly Planned Parenthood’s refusal to tear up the
consent form? The parents should sue Planned Parenthood, and
that institution should be held up to the light of public
scrutiny.
God bless the parents and the young, pregnant daughter who
made the right choice to allow God’s creation to be born, and
to the wonderful people who dedicate themselves to God’s
service participating in prayer to end abortion.
October 11th, 2012 at 12:59 pm
Very Powerful images and stories posted here, very Powerful.
The story of the Sixteen year old girl being calmed in her plight… by holding an Infant. And the Photo of the ”ole Fisherman” quietly and stoically standing on the stret Praying the Rosary. Wow… Really Amazing.
Thank you SO Much for posting these Stories and Photos.
God’s grace is Definitely flowing in these Prayer Vigils ! –Rich in Phoenix
October 11th, 2012 at 1:00 pm
Every time I see a photo of protesters they look like they belong to the devil. The contrast between the people praying and the protesters amazes me. The good and evil is so obvious. I pray for the conversion of those walking in darkness. May they be given the Light of Truth.
October 11th, 2012 at 6:02 pm
This story in Anchorage should be published far and wide. What a denial of freedom to refuse to give the mother back her signed consent form! That’s what the place is all about, ‘freedom’, so why should one be shocked? It does show that there is only one solution – prayer. So keep up the good work.
October 11th, 2012 at 11:55 pm
What a blessed God-filled day! I am a college freshman and just decided to go pray after classes for a while, right after I finished my rosary this lady walked out of the clinic and started to yell in the direction of the five of us praying. When she drove out of the parking lot she stopped in front of us and started to yell that thanks to us she couldn’t go through with it and lost all her money! She seemed so mad I was not sure what to do but since no one else moved I spontaneously jumped up and hurried over to give her some of the resources I had found. I had no idea what to say. She has a family at home and can afford another child but when she saw our ‘your baby loves you too.’ and other signs she couldn’t do it. I have been participating for four years and this has never happened! I am just so happy I have to share my joy with the world! please pray for the mother and baby!
October 12th, 2012 at 3:30 pm
On Wednesday afternoon, October 10th, I went to meet a friend at the 40 Days For Life in Tulsa, OK. I was late, and was feeling bad, but when my mother and I drove up, I saw my friend standing by a car on the side of the road, the side of Life, and she was talking to the woman in the drivers seat. I suddenly got excited, and when the woman left, I went to my friend, who was beaming ear to ear and practically skipping. She said the woman had pulled into the abortion clinic across the street and had gone in, and came out a little while later yelling at the people in the clinic, and at the volunteers across the street. She’d gotten in her car and drove across the street, and she was angry. Her story was this: She knew it was wrong but was going to have an abortion anyways because she couldn’t afford the extra mouth, but as she drove up to the abortion clinic, she saw the signs across the street at the 40 Days For Life and the volunteers there, and she couldn’t do it. She made the choice. She chose life!!
So when she went back that afternoon, she went to ask for her money back, but the clinic refused. That’s why she was angry and yelling. So my friend consoled her and gave her information, letting her know how happy we all were, and how happy she would be with her baby, and how much God loved her.
Sing YAY! for a baby saved!!
This had never happened to my friend or me before, and it showed us even more just how amazing prayer, example, and 40 Days For Life are!!!
October 12th, 2012 at 7:57 pm
Right to Life vigil held at a busy crossroads in Manorville, Long Island, NY last Sunday. About 85 people showed up in the chilly, rainy afternoon to pray silently, reverently. Drivers passed by mostly honking their horns in support of our signage. So when we heard a car honking repeatedly while driving we started to wave back till we realized there was a middle finger coming out of the rain-drenched driver’s side window. We could see it was a woman in her 20s. I, for one, suddenly understood this woman was possessed by Satan, a power greater than what she had the strength to fight. What coercive evil had happened to this woman! I felt sorry for her and, at the same time, so sad she’s living a bewildered, treacherous, sinful life. Come home. Come home to God.
October 20th, 2012 at 1:28 pm
SIOUX CITY, IOWA
Our David vs. Goliath battle continues. About two years ago we obtained property adjacent to Planned Parenthood and we are getting under their skin. This week they began construction of a 10′ high 230′ long fence between our properties and we believe we are effectively lowering surgical abortions and the need for other “services”. We have been counseling women and men beside the their parking lot, broadcasting a 2 hour long “Tuesdays with Mommies” radio program and keep the center open for 24/7 prayer in our chapel so people may come inside during cold, windy and rainy/snowy weather. Please pray with us that what the devil intends for evil, God will provide for good.