DAY 25: The truth always works
Planned Parenthood slipped up.
I’m often told that abortion facilities use ultrasound to let the abortionist know how far along the pregnancy is — it apparently makes a difference in how the abortion will be performed.
But the images are for staff only — not the mother of the child whose life is at risk. So please keep that in mind.
As a 40 Days for Life prayer vigil was under way, a young woman walked towards the Planned Parenthood facility in Sarasota, Florida with two friends. She accepted some information about abortion from a sidewalk counselor — but she may have just taken it so the counselor would leave her alone.
As she entered the abortion center, she handed the packet to a Planned Parenthood staffer — who quickly tossed it in the trash.
About 45 minutes later, however, the woman and her friends came back out. “They made the mistake of letting her see the ultrasound picture,” said one of the friends, “and she couldn’t go through with it.”
The group then asked if they could have another information package. “She wasn’t planning on keeping the child,” the friend explained, “so now she needs someone to help her.” That’s exactly what happened next. The counselor told them of several nearby pregnancy resource centers that could offer assistance for this mother and her baby.
“As they left,” said Jeanne in Sarasota, “they seemed pleased. No direct action by any one of our sidewalk counselors helped save this baby. But the potential effect of the prayers of several people on the sidewalk can’t be dismissed.”
The truth — and in this case it was an ultrasound picture that was worth much more than a thousand words — cannot be denied.
40 Days for Life vigil participants in Winston-Salem, North Carolina didn’t have to say much to the woman who arrived for an abortion appointment. She was still in the early stages of pregnancy, but a counselor told her that even at 21 days, her baby already had a heartbeat.
“I had no idea,” she said. “I never thought of it that way.” She immediately changed her mind.
Two girls drove up to the abortion center in the Tri-Cities, Washington area where 40 Days for Life participants were praying — two were standing, a third was on his knees.
“They both stared at us,” said Debbie, who quickly figured out that the girl driving was bringing her friend in for an abortion. “They sat for a while in their car after they parked and then got out I turned and showed them my sign. They both looked at it and walked into the clinic.”
Debbie’s sign shared the truth: “Abortion hurts women.”
“It wasn’t two minutes later they came out and got into their car and drove off,” she said. “They smiled and waved to us as they drove off. You could tell they were a lot happier.”
Terri in Bakersfield, California received an incredible blessing during this 40 Days for Life campaign — she got to witness the birth of a baby whose mother rejected abortion during the spring 40 Days for Life effort.
A healthy baby girl was born, and the mother — in tears — thanked Terri for being there in her hour of need … with the truth.
Here’s a picture of this beautiful newborn child, who was saved by God working through a faithful volunteer during a 40 Days for Life campaign:
God bless you for standing strong in prayer and fasting, anticipating more miracles just like this one!
Here’s today’s devotional from Rev. J. Kirk van der Swaagh, Pastor, Conservative Congregational Christian Conference…
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DAY 25 INTENTION
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We pray for the conversion of all those who refuse to acknowledge that human life belongs only to God.
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SCRIPTURE
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Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
– Jeremiah 1:4-5
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REFLECTION by Rev. J. Kirk van der Swaagh
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To be or not to be? There is no question!
The question of “being” is something philosophers have long pondered.
What is the meaning of being and what is the source? In the passage before us, we have our answer. We have being because we are known by God.
For God to declare that he knows and sets apart the prophet Jeremiah even before he is conceived indicates that our being rests in God’s own being. Because He is and because He wills we, therefore, are and do.
The Apostle Paul says as much when he declares before the philosophers of his day, “In Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).
One of the tragedies of the abortion culture is that life in the womb has been so heartbreakingly devalued. To embrace the arguments of the “pro-choice” crowd one must conclude that the child in the womb doesn’t exist, isn’t there, has no being.
But nothing could be further from the truth. That child is known by God and, as such, has being.
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PRAYER
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Lord God, we confess that in You we live and move and have our being. Because You are, we are. May we find grace from You to affirm the being of every human and may we labor to make this truth known to the world around us. 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/fall2009day25print.pdf
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On a final note, many of you have been asking what’s happening with Mayor Daley and Chicago’s new “bubble zone” law meant to restrict 40 Days for Life vigils and pro-life sidewalk counseling.
Despite the thousands of calls and faxes to Mayor Daley’s office asking him to NOT succumb to abortion industry pressure, the Chicago media reports that Mayor Daley has said he will sign the censorship law.
Local pro-lifers are working with heroic attorney Tom Brejcha, of the Thomas More Legal Society, and are prepared to take immediate legal action when this unconstitutional law is enacted.
This is a disappointing setback, but righteousness and justice will ultimately prevail.
Yours for Life,
David Bereit
National Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
October 17th, 2009 at 4:44 am
Let us all pray for an end to abortion.
October 17th, 2009 at 7:08 am
REMEMBER ALWAYS THAT PHRASE “SUNDAY’S COMING’
October 17th, 2009 at 9:47 am
Look at that baby! What a beautiful picture.
Now all the potential that God put into that little girl may be fulfilled. She has her whole life ahead of her and can make it into something extraordinary……because she is here, she is here.
Carmen
October 17th, 2009 at 10:27 am
I focus my prayers on the conversion of abortionists. The reason for that is twofold:
1) If all abortionists were converted, there would be nobody to perform the abortions. It wouldn’t matter if it’s legal to get an abortion. Women wouldn’t be able to obtain them if no qualified abortionist could be found. Right?
2) I pray for their conversion in the hopes of obtaining the salvation of their souls. God loves them just as much as the rest of us. Jesus died for them as well. Let His death not be in vain for those abortionists.
October 17th, 2009 at 10:31 am
We have had a sort of bubble zone law in Springfield, Mass. for quite awhile now. We are prohibited from standing within a certain area of the driveway of the parking lot and have never been able to be anywhere near the entrance of the building because it’s set far back from the street, with the parking lot in front of it. We have not let that stop us one bit. Sure, it’s more of a challenge. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. We are still able to make an impact. Anyway, as long as they can see the people who are praying, it will have an effect.
October 17th, 2009 at 11:37 am
The picture of this baby makes our efforts all worthwhile!
Praise God!
October 17th, 2009 at 11:57 am
What a beautiful baby. Let’s keep on praying to end abortion for good. God bless you all.
October 17th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
God bless all you wonderful people who stand outside those clinics praying and carrying the beautiful message of life and love. Thanks for the many prayers and fasting for the success of the pro-life movement.
Thank you Dave for your zeal, God bless you and your family.
In constant prayer, Charlene
October 17th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Thank You Jesus, that my parents did not abort me or any of my 13 siblings, and that i am here today to be a witness to life.
Praise God for all His Works!!
October 17th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
I just came back from our prayer vigil, and looking at this picture of the baby makes it all worthwhile!
October 17th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Thank you Lord Jesus for showing me that great error
of not realizing the value of that little life I helped to eliminate
by supporting abortion. I’m sorry, but I have no picture to
show of my baby, only the dreaded memory of once making a
wrong decission! God has healed me, but my child was aborted,
so I pray for the others who still live! God Help Them!
October 17th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Although Nothing so wonderful happened on “my watch” when I was holding my sign with my granddaughter and my great, I feel just as proud as if I had been. Glory to you God our Father, for prayers answered.
October 17th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
Gary White, I feel your pain. I too lost a baby to the lie that is abortion. I know our little ones are in Heaven with the Lord. He has used our hurt to help others. Keep up the prayers and your love of the unborn and their moms and dads. You are a true blessing and can offer testimony that God can use to help others. Go to Silent No More to share your testimony. They gather testimonies of men and women to help others.
God Bless you!
October 17th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
I BELIEVE THAT GOD WOULD WANT ME TO SAY :
” THAT WE HAVE BEEN OBEDIENT ,WE HAVE BEEN WISE AND GENTLE.
AND THE GOD OF PEACE HAS CRUCHED SATAN UNDER HIS FEET”
OUR FAITH HAS INCREASED FOR ANOTHER TESTIMONY TO STRENGTHEN THE BODY OF CHRIST WITH MORE LABORERS.
October 17th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
WE CONTINUE TO STAND ON GODS WORD,EZEK. 36 :26, THAT A DR. IN LAS VEGAS WILL LEAVE THE ABORTION CLINIC.
HIS HEART IS CHANGING
ALSO THAT TWO OTHER CLINICS WILL BE SHUT DOWN .
October 17th, 2009 at 8:12 pm
I THANK DAVID AND ALL OF YOU FOR BEING FAITHFUL.
ALSO KEN WILSON IN LAS VEGAS
GOD IS SO PLEASED WITH ALL OF YOU
October 17th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
At this moment in history God is calling his faithful to witness for life. He has the victory. All that is required is that our faith increase. We please God when we simply show up, maybe outnumbered, maybe suffering, but never despairing. It is whatever He wants, how He wants, and when He wants. Our faithful pro-life brethern gather together in a strong cord encouraging us onward. Through God’s grace we win the race.
October 17th, 2009 at 11:40 pm
Dear David,
Thank you so much for your strong stand for the unborn.It has been fascinating to follow 40 days on the internet.My family and I are very encouraged although we have,my husband and I,only participated in one vigil in Syracuse,NY.Our prayers are with you and your family.
In Christ,for those who have no voice but a silent scream,
Veronique Bennett
October 18th, 2009 at 6:51 am
Awesome! I wish I knew how to put this on Facebook. Where’s the link?
October 18th, 2009 at 6:59 am
I took my daughters to a ballet in downtown Pittsburgh on Friday morning. Because of the full parking garages around the theater, we ended up parking about 5 blocks away. As we walked back to the car after the ballet, I noticed a white semicircle painted on the sidewalk around the front of a building, the amoral advice displayed in the window, and then “Planned Parenthood”. I turned and saw one devoted volunteer praying and holding a sign, with her toes on the edge of the circle. I knew then that I was standing in the midst of a great spiritual battlefield, unseen by most passersby. I stopped, then explained to my 8 and 6-year-old daughters what this place was and that we needed to take a minute and pray with this lady. We did, and I then learned that I need to carve time from our busy lives as a family of 9 to pray, if not at the facility, at least at home, to end this carnage. God bless these dedicated volunteers!
October 18th, 2009 at 11:00 am
Ken Boyer, you show us why Godly Men raise Godly Children,
because you took the time to listen to the Holy Spirit within you
and share its message to those God has given you.
I’m sure the Lord leads your every step when you Obey His
Commands, because you bless us all! Thank you for your Obedience.
You are what being a true loving Dad is all about, sharing
what God has put in your heart!
October 18th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Thank you for sharing this picture. This fills my heart with joy! I have been to our local vigil site a few times, mostly with my one and two year old children. I am so grateful for the sharing each day of God’s miracles in these reflections, updates, prayers and pictures. It helps me to feel connected with all of you, my brothers and sisters in Christ. I believe that God takes our prayers and multiplies them and returns them to ALL of us – just as He did the fish and the loaves. I believe my prayers, in and of themselves, may not be much, but our God receives them and uses them to bless us with miracles such as the beautiful baby girl above. Praise You Lord, for your Goodness and mercy.
November 11th, 2009 at 9:52 pm
Gary & Linda, there is a song online that would be good for you to hear. It’s all about God’s love and mercy. Those who are suffering from the effects of an abortion find healing in the lyrics of this song. It’s called “Unfathomable Divine Mercy”. You can hear the whole song, at no cost, by going to this website address: http://www.airplaydirect.com/darillyn The lyrics can also be read by clicking on the tab which says “lyrics”. The download tab is only for radio stations so they can broadcast the songs. You can hear the song by clicking on the title of it at the top part of the web page. If you know others who are suffering from having had an abortion, please share this with them.
God bless you with His peace, love, and joy.