DAY 39: Shine a light on the truth
Today is Day 39, and we’re in the home stretch of this fall’s 40 Days for Life effort. As we rapidly approach tomorrow’s finish line for this campaign, I just posted another short on-location video that I think you will love.
This hope-filled 4-minute clip comes from Peoria, Illinois — in the middle of the American heartland.
You’ll hear from several volunteers and the new president of the statewide right to life group about the blessings they have experienced as part of 40 Days for Life — and how they went from a previous campaign that really struggled to this fall’s effort that has involved hundreds of new people. Enjoy:
If you’ve missed any of the other short video reports (which have been getting THOUSANDS of views!) they’re all posted online at:
http://www.youtube.com/user/dbereit
Amazing things continue to happen during 40 Days for Life!
The 40 Days for Life team in Providence, Rhode Island report the story about a woman who had an abortion appointment at Planned Parenthood — and abortion facility escorts who tried to prevent her from hearing the truth.
Joanne said the woman “hesitated when she saw and heard the children praying” as part of the 40 Days for Life vigil. When she saw there was a member of the clergy praying with the children, “she stopped right in the middle of the road, her eyes filling with tears.”
Still, she permitted the escorts to hustle her into the clinic.
Fifteen minutes later, however, she walked back out. “She had found herself unable and unwilling to go through with the abortion,” said Joanne.
The escorts at Planned Parenthood didn’t like this one bit. “They shooed her away repeatedly, ending her stay by insisting that she was not to talk there,” Joanne said. “She was so unnerved at being pushed away by the escorts that she finally drove off, still crying. She remains in our hopeful prayers.”
Here’s a picture of the 40 Days for Life vigil in Providence:
People are also praying faithfully outside another Planned Parenthood center — in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Janet said the 40 Days for Life vigil participants have “shared the amazing gift of life, miracle of the preborn, and the devastating effects and aftermath that the abortion ‘choice’ has over our families and communities.”
Here’s a picture of the 40 Days for Life vigil in Honolulu:
Honolulu is also home of the “tow truck ministry.” Rocky is a tow truck driver whose job includes removing the vehicles of people who have parked in a nearby lot without paying. That often includes people who are visiting Planned Parenthood.
Rocky came to check on the vigil recently and said it was a real blessing to see everyone praying during 40 Days for Life. He also told Isaiah the story of a teenage boy who came to pick up his car, which had been towed from the lot.
“The boy was trying to reason that he only went into the clinic for a few moments,” Isaiah said. “Rocky was bold enough to admonish the boy over being too concerned over paying for his towed car rather than the life of the child that was aborted. The boy’s head dropped down in realizing the reality of what Rocky was speaking to him. We prayed for God’s blessing over Rocky as he continues to be a voice for life to those teenagers he encounters there at the clinic through his tow truck ministry. God bless you, Rocky!”
Here’s a picture of Rocky and Isaiah:
Here’s today’s devotional from Carmen Pate, Co-host of the “Point of View” radio talk show…
—————————————————–
DAY 39 INTENTION
—————————————————–
Pray that God will continue to bless the efforts that have gone into the 40 Days for Life campaign, as we trust Him for the results.
—————————————————–
SCRIPTURE
—————————————————–
Now these are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power, and by Your strong hand. O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name.
– Nehemiah 1:10-11
—————————————————–
REFLECTION by Carmen Pate
—————————————————–
Nehemiah provides an awesome blueprint for volunteers in God’s service, particularly those responding to the devastation abortion has caused our nation.
Nehemiah grieved for God’s reputation as he witnessed the condition of the city walls of Jerusalem. The walls were broken down which was seen by neighboring people as a sign of weakness on the part of Jerusalem’s God. No wall meant no security for the city and its people.
We learn from his story that he covered every detail in prayer; inspired others to join the cause; organized others to help do the work; confronted opposition directly and turned to God when discouraged; and finally celebrated what was accomplished and gave God all the glory!
Like Nehemiah, we must acknowledge God’s sovereignty as we serve Him before a mocking world. We too need to be reminded that we are “fighting” for our families. We too must have an attitude of confession and repentance before a Holy God. We must pray for strength, refute slander, and not be diverted from our work.
Like Nehemiah, we will draw attention from the enemy when we are seeking to protect the well-being of God’s people. We too must stand firm and seek God’s help to persevere until the task is done. We too will be victorious.
—————————————————–
PRAYER
—————————————————–
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in heaven and in the earth is Yours.
We pray for your continued guidance and protection throughout the remainder of this 40 day campaign. May we be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in Your work, knowing that our labor will not be in vain. We pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.
—————————————————–
PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
—————————————————–
To download today’s devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends:
http://40daysforlife.com/docs/fall2009day39print.pdf
—————————————————–
For Life,
David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life
October 31st, 2009 at 6:18 am
Deacon Ludano say’s my recitation of the Holy Rosary helped a lots for you my Brothers and sisters to end your 40 Days Pro-Life Campaign, and those volunteers made a wonderful gift to God.
“Before you were born in the Womb I Knew you” and quote, this is what God said. How wonderful life is because life is the Image of God, the eternal life. No one could refute this what God. He is the creator blest.
May God bless you all.
Deacon Ludano
Toronto, ON Canada
(416) 767-7773
October 31st, 2009 at 7:15 am
Let us all pray for an end to abortion.
October 31st, 2009 at 8:10 am
I am particularly encouraged by Pat’s remark to pray, fast and hold vigils until
abortion is outlawed in this country, not just during this 40 days for life. That’s the spirit! It was the NY video that got me out of my chair and to an abortion clinic out of state where I had the privilege to participate in Falls Church, VA. I am a Christian out of the church and have really enjoyed my Catholic brothers and sisters in Falls Church participating. Repent America!!!
October 31st, 2009 at 8:28 am
Dear David,
The videos are so powerful it makes me cry because I feel the love for human life is so proclaimed in the service, prayers and fast of the 40 Days for Life.
I was given this prayer from Catholic City and felt it was powerful. As a nation we have failed to save our babies but 40 Days For Life is doing a wonderful service to our nation to get us back on track.
God have mercy !
God Bless you on all of your works!
Mary Alice lw/ol
Deo Omnis Gloria!
“Dear Father in Heaven,
We have failed you in the US. We have not prayed enough, sacrificed enough, paid enough attention, fasted enough, or worked hard enough to end the scourge of abortion in our country, and now we face being forced to provide, pay for, and support abortions in Your hospitals. Look not on our sins and failings, O Lord, but on the faith You provided us during our baptisms, when we ourselves were most vulnerable. Like the Good Thief, we admit our failures, yet we cannot take our eyes away from Your Son on the Cross, and with the encouragement of our bishops call to action this very week, we beg You to unleash Your Most Powerful Angels and give them the greatest possible leeway and authority to change the course of human history in the United States so that it cannot unfold except in perfect accord to Your Divine Will. Unleash them! Unleash your Angels, O Lord, we beg You! Amen.”
October 31st, 2009 at 9:55 am
I am literally brought to tears as I see the beauty of Christ reflected in the faces of so many of my brothers and sisters. Each of them so precious in the eyes of the Father and so much more so as they courageously defend the innocent unborn. May God bless them even much more than He already has. May God bless us all. Hail Queen of Mercy, protect us from our enemy and receive us at the hour of death.
October 31st, 2009 at 10:44 am
Please pray that Saint Gabriel The Archangel Parish in Upton, MA will embrace Gods call for all of us to come to the aid of the unborn and thier mothers and fathers. That we as a parish would overcome our fears and answer his call. May God bless everyone who prayed, fasted and held prayer vigil this campaign. May the next campaign be blessed and fruitful beyound any of our expectations.
God Bless you
Mike
October 31st, 2009 at 10:54 am
Last night in Dallas, a lone trumpeter played “Ave Maria” to a closed and empty building. The notes entered through the cracks and filled that sad place where nine mothers lost their children yesterday.
Later he played “Silent Night”, and the final words rang out to me as I sang them. He also played “Braham’s Lullaby”. On that one night those babies were prayed to “sleep in heavenly peace” and “lullaby, and good night.”
God bless the daddy with the trumpet, and Praise God for being the Father who loves all His children.
October 31st, 2009 at 11:15 am
David, Shawn, and all site leaders, and prayer warriors. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking and spreading this beautiful prayer campaign throughout our country. I have learned much about the evils of abortion that I had no knowledge of.
My biggest contribution was in joining with you in prayer. Our parish had a 40 Hours for Life in the presense of the Blessed Sacrament this past week. We are blessed to have a pastor who encourages praying to Stop Abortions.
I wrote to local newspapers asking everybody to join this prayer crusade. I will now send a quick note with the number of “known” baby saves. God bless all of you and Mary keep you always.
October 31st, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Oh, Heavenly Father, I just want to say: thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, & thank you!!!!!!! Amen & Amen.
October 31st, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Oh , God most benevolent and gracious Father— thank you for hearing the prayers of your people and accepting our sacrifices to save unborn babies and their moms from abortion.
Thank you for raising up strong and courageous leaders to lead us.
Thank you to the priests and Bishops who participated and gave example for their flock.
Let us all continue to pray and fast!!!!
Let us also pray for all those mothers and fathers who have participated in their child’s abortion, that they find forgiveness and healing through Jesus, and may God give them courage to raise their voices like a mighty army to conquer the evil of abortion–
October 31st, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Almighty Father, may all your creation bring to you the Joy that you created it for. May all those who hear and respond to your voice today
be blessed by you for our obedience to your word. May life always be the better choice for all mankind, and for every believer, may they make that choice today. As I prayand obey, in Christ Jesus, I choose life! Amen!
October 31st, 2009 at 10:31 pm
My heart is full of gratitude for those of you who sacrifice your time and energy, and my heart and prayers are with all of you! Because of my health, I’m not able to participate physically, but I am thankful for this web site that enables those like me to be involved emotionally and spiritually. God bless you for what you’re doing, and praise our faithful and loving Father and of course, our Lady. Peace to all!
November 1st, 2009 at 12:20 am
Please join me in prayer,
Dear Heavenly Father, please have mercy on us & for us to humble ourselves enough to say “yes” to your tender & tremendous love for each one of us. Grant us your peace & grace & to have the courage to always stand up united for what is pleasing in your eyes. We beg you for the conversion of every soul on earth as only you can, that we may all accept your Gospel of Truth & Gospel of Life whether we feel like it or not, as we are all equal yet your unique & precious creations, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
November 1st, 2009 at 8:37 pm
God Bless all you wonderful brothers and sisters in your continuous prayers to end the artocity of abortion. Prayer is the answer.
And I am so pleased to see my kama’aina friends in Hawaii doing God’s work on behalf of the unborn. I am Hawaii born and raised, only been in Connecticut for the past three years.
Aloha Ke Akua,
God Bless
November 2nd, 2009 at 2:19 am
It gives my heart so much joy to witness what is being accomplished by all the prayers,fasting and vigilance of everyone at the prayer sites. This is truly the way to save all the precious little babies, our gifts from God from being aborted. May God bless us! Let us all keep up the fight and never give up defending our poor helpless children. With God on our sides we can’t lose. It is truly the beginning not the end. Let us go forward in Christ!
November 2nd, 2009 at 2:46 am
Praise the Almighty Father, have Mercy on us, because your enemies want lost us and destroy our christian heritance.
For the sake of His sorrowfull pasion, have merce on us and the whole world.
Amen
November 2nd, 2009 at 1:17 pm
thank you ,i am glad that dr. stan from bufflo let me be apart of his team i have meet lots of wounderfull pople out there in bufflo ny ,noramly other minsters do not let me work with them or be apart of them for i am very hard core bible like a jew
November 2nd, 2009 at 2:27 pm
God is Amazing….If my people who are Called….I am glad you heard the
call……
November 16th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Praise God for abortion places closing, BUT…. out here in Pasco, Wa. we have a different scenario. Planned Parenthood is desperately fighting to open a new clinic in one of our lower income neighborhoods. They were voted down by one point and have appealed and the appeal will be discussed at city council meeting tonight, Monday November 16th. Please pray for large support of pro-lifers outside the meeting and that the permit is denied again.