DAY 41: True colors
It’s now the day after the end of the fall 40 Days for Life campaign.
Go ahead and take a deep breath — you need it! It’s important to re-charge after 40 intense days of prayer, fasting, vigil and outreach.
But you know what? Your efforts are working. So after you catch your breath, please don’t stop!
All the reports are still coming in, but as of now we know of at least 534 babies — and their moms — spared from abortion during this fall’s campaign!
The credit belongs to God — and YOU!
A report from Houston, Texas shows just how much the abortion industry hates it when there are people on the sidewalk praying and offering real alternatives to women.
There’s a pro-life pregnancy resource center around the corner from the Planned Parenthood facility where the Houston 40 Days for Life vigil was conducted. A counselor met two women outside the abortion facility recently — and convinced them to go to the pro-life center rather than entering Planned Parenthood.
The clinic escorts were furious.
The head escort told the women that if they didn’t move their cars out of the Planned Parenthood parking lot, she would have them towed.
Our Houston team reports, “The chances of these two women ever returning to Planned Parenthood are probably pretty slim based on the behavior of the escort. It is great when people are able to witness for themselves some of Planned Parenthood’s true colors.”
Planned Parenthood wasn’t the only one whose true colors were on display this fall. YOUR true colors also shined brightly for all to see! And we have pictures that tell the story.
Here’s a photo taken outside of Planned Parenthood in Phoenix, Arizona. The building’s on a corner, so the 40 Days for Life vigil was able to almost surround the place with prayer.
St. Cloud, Minnesota conducted its first 40 Days for Life campaign this fall. Here’s a picture of a faithful group praying outside Planned Parenthood (photo courtesy of Sue Schulzetenberg of The Visitor, the Catholic newspaper in St. Cloud):
Also along for their first 40 Days for Life campaign this fall was the team in Kitchener, Ontario — where it started getting chilly as the days got shorter:
“We continue to be a small group, but we are strong and do our best to be a witness to those who come to Planned Parenthood,” said Michelle in Lufkin, Texas. “We are confident that our prayers change lives even when we do not know the outcome. We will continue to pray in front of Planned Parenthood throughout the year.”
Here’s a picture of Lufkin’s 40 Days for Life vigil:
Sandy in Toms River, New Jersey tells a story that sums up 40 Days for Life and explains why your presence at the abortion facility for 40 days — and beyond — makes such an important difference.
A woman stopped her car at the vigil and told two volunteers that what they were doing is not in vain.
“My daughter was impressed that you are out here in the rain and cold and asked why,” the woman explained. “We had a good talk about standing up for what you believe in and what abortion means. A few days later my 16-year-old told me she is pregnant and wants to have the baby. I know that seeing you all helped her to make the right decision, so thank you for being here!”
The woman asked for prayers for her daughter. She also asked that her story be shared with other volunteers.
“We won’t even know until we meet the Lord how many more lives we have touched because of the continual presence at the abortion clinic during these 40 Days for Life,” Sandy added. “What enormous graces we have received!”
Over the coming days, I’ll have more stories to share from the conclusion of this 40 Days for Life — and I’ll be sharing other ways you can speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves.
Thanks again for all you’ve done, and may God bless you richly for having answered His call.
Here’s today’s “bonus” devotional from Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life and President of the National Pro-life Religious Council…
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DAY 41 INTENTION
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Pray that the witness of 40 Days for Life bears abundant fruit, and that we begin again each day to storm the gates of hell until God welcomes us into the gates of heaven.
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SCRIPTURE
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On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
– Matthew 16:18
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REFLECTION by Fr. Frank Pavone
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When we read this verse, we usually think that the Lord is promising that the church, which is His Body, will withstand all the attacks launched against it. Of course, that is true.
But when we think about it more carefully, we realize that in a battle, the gates do not run out into the battlefield to attack the enemy. Rather, they stand still to defend the city from the enemy attacking it.
So when the Lord says that the gates of hell will not prevail against the church, who is doing the attacking? It is the church storming the gates!
The church, all of God’s people in Christ, is called to take the offensive, to run into enemy territory, and to gain ground for Jesus Christ. We do not wait for an invitation; we already have a command. We prepare, but we do not wait for circumstances to be perfect; we already have one who has gone before us.
During these 40 days, we have stormed the gates. We have taken the offensive. We have pushed forward the boundaries of the kingdom. And we must keep doing so, in numerous ways.
Indeed, the gates of hell will not prevail. The gates of falsehood will flee in the presence of truth. The gates of sin will melt in the presence of grace. The gates of death will fall in the presence of the church, the People of Life!
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PRAYER
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Father, we praise you. We have heard the voice of your Son, and therefore we can make our voices heard. We have done battle with the power of evil, and therefore we can have compassion on those still within its grip. We have been freed from the kingdom of darkness, and therefore we can bear witness to your Kingdom of Light.
May the witness of all your people through these 40 Days for Life bear abundant fruit, and may we begin again each day to storm the gates of hell until You welcome us into the gates of heaven. We pray in the victorious name of Jesus 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/fall2009day41print.pdf
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For Life,
David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life
November 2nd, 2009 at 1:25 am
Praise God, and thank you Jesus, for the blessings and graces received. Holy Spirit, Lord and Giver of Life, be with us!
November 2nd, 2009 at 4:32 am
Yes we are on the offensive and with God everything is possible.
I cannot wait to see and hear of the many more moms and babies saved and I earnestly want to see fathers who have been long forgotten become a force to be reckoned with. They along with their unborn child have also been a victim where their voices were silenced.
I am so thankful to Fr. Frank Pavone for his leadership and for the men and women who have given so very much to 40 days for life.
I personally plan to continue my prayers and fasting.
I pray that many more people respond to the next 40 days for life in the spring.
May God continue to transform the hearts and minds of all pregnant women, their boyfriends, husbands and families , the abortion providers, the clinic staff and all abortion advocates.
November 2nd, 2009 at 7:35 am
Let us all pray for an end to abortion.
November 2nd, 2009 at 7:46 am
We are, after all, the Church militant, fighting against the forces of evil; the price we are called on to pay for entry into the Church Triumphant. God bless you all as we continue to pray to Jesus and Mary on behalf of the babies formed by the Hand of God.
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:24 am
Praise God for the vision to take to the streets and be a visible witness. Another venue I was blessed to see this weekend is a dear young couple traveling and do a performance called “The Vitae Monologues”. They are doing monologues of actual testimonies from men and women involved in Silent No More speaking out about how their abortions hurt them. If you google it, you can see a clip and find out more about them. They hope to take this to high schools and colleges.
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:26 am
Thank you David Breit for taking on the outstanding job. If not for you I would not have gone to pray at the abortion clinic, I call the slaughter house.
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:32 am
Praise God for “40 Days for Life”! The Body is growing stronger as we fight against the greatest of all sins – the killing of the unborn. As more denomination and followers of Jesus Christ gather together praying and fasting against this evil, our unity becomes the driving force for reaching those injured by abortion. If there is a way to save this Nation, It is through the unity of Christ’s Church on our knees praying and being active witnesses to the lives He has allowed to be conceived. I especially thank God for those few in my denomination, PC USA, who speak out of “the darkness” for Life! You are blessed!
November 2nd, 2009 at 9:13 am
Amazing pictures of amazing people. God bless all who have given of themselves in this campaign.
November 2nd, 2009 at 9:46 am
God is Great, all the time! With Him, all things are possible!
November 2nd, 2009 at 11:40 am
Father God, you know I pray daily for Our Country and Our Leaders.
I was quite impressed to see Our President stand up for Fatherhood, with the Flags of Our Country brightly displayed and arranged all around him (visually quite enticing) until I fully realized he (also stands) up for Abortion!
He is a double minded man, supporting both life or death to all the unborn children now inside their mothers wombs, by giving only the Mother a Choice!
Dear God, help our future leaders and parents, to make better decissions and always chose life! In Jesus name I pray, “May the Light of World and His Truth, make its stand among us! Amen!
November 2nd, 2009 at 11:45 am
Oh, Heavenly Father, as I read the testimonies and prayers of these Godly Warriors, I am convinced through Faith & Patience that ANYTHING is possible through Christ who strengthens US!!! Hallelujah!, what a wonderful day for opportunities to make a difference here on Earth/Heaven. I will be standing in prayer from 12:00pm – 2:00pm, here in Seattle, at the Tabernacle Baptist Church (just a few blocks where an officer was shot & killed in his car with no known motive, only senseless violence. He had a wife & two small children.) This is also not too far from where we have stood for LIFE these past 40 Days. Is it a coincidence? Since this word does not exist in the Hebrew Language, I think not. It is systemic of the Culture of Death. YOU REAP WHAT YOU HAVE SOWN BECAUSE EACH SEED THAT IS SOWED ALREADY HAS THE JUDGMENT WITHIN IT!!! AMEN. I PRAY THAT THE SEEDS THAT ARE SOWN TONIGHT WITH THE STOP THE ABORTION MANDATE WEB CAST IS HEARD AROUND THE WORLD AND THAT THE GATES OF hell CANNOT PREVAIL AGAINST US!!!!, IN JESUS NAME, AMEN & AMEN. LET’S GO…..TEAM LIFE!!!!!!!!! WE WILL LIVE TO SEE THE END OF ABORTION, IN SHORT ORDER. HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME!
November 2nd, 2009 at 12:05 pm
God is blessing all the 40 Days participants. He will continue and we must continue to pray from our house bound people. Could me turn the tables on the “choise” to the Choise to not get pregnant in the first place. I dod believe that should be stressed more. If the morals were better there would not be the problem of the “unwanted baby”. We need to have more pure of heart, mind, and actions.
November 2nd, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Wow!!!Praise Jesus!!Love the people who came out of the church to
take a stand for life!!!
November 2nd, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Indeed a resounding ” AD MAJOREM DEI GLORIAM !!! ” David. Thank you so much for your untiring, ever persistent leadership. May God continuously shower you and family and all pro-lifers as well our daily needs. The fight must go on…. And with God on our side, who can be against us ?
November 2nd, 2009 at 2:57 pm
David,
Sacred Heart parish in Colby, KS, participated in the 40 Days for Life Campaign by having regular up-dates in our weekly bulletin. We then had 40 Hours for Life from Oct. 26 – 30—8 hours a day, with each day beginning and ending at different times to allow for people with working schedules to participate. Our pastor, Father Dana Clark, made prayer booklets, “Prayers for Life,” compiled from “pro-Life Prayers” on Priests for Life website. Each day started with the opening of adoration with music and prayers, and ended with closing including benediction. Father conducted a half hour prayer service each day – once again at varying times – which included prayers, hymns, and benediction. There were several people in church at all times, except the morning of the blizzard. At least one person was there until the snow subsided. As a parish, we felt blessed by given the opportunity for individual and group prayer for the unborn and for the stopping of abortion. It was a very rewarding time for those who were able to praticipate.
Thank you and all team leaders for your untiring efforts on behalf of the unborn.
Joan Albers
November 2nd, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Thank you to the national leadership team, all city campaign leaders and to our local Cincinnati team. Our efforts continue to grow and at yesterday’s closing prayer service I could feel the joy and enthusiasm from those who came out to thank God for all those who took part in the Fall campaign. Those present will continue to pray, witness and press on together for that day when the Culture of Life is triumphant in our Land.
November 2nd, 2009 at 3:50 pm
Thank you David for your outstanding leadership and courage. You have led so many to go out and pray in front of the abortion clinics, something that many are afraid to do. It is however an amazing thing to do. Once you’ve done it you realize that God is with you.
Thanks to all the prayer warriors of 40 Days for Life. God Bless each and every one of you.
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:52 pm
What an honor and a privilege to be a part of such a unifying organization of the Body of Christ. It is wonderful to serve with others that have a heart for our Lord, and something so much more important than “self” .
“To God be the glory, great things HE has done.”
Psalm 96:2 “Sing to The Lord,
praise His name; proclaim His salvation
from day to day.”
Revelation 5:12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
November 3rd, 2009 at 12:22 am
Thank you David for all the work you have done and for your daily diaries of events from all over. It was inspiring. to see what God was doing all over. I attended yesterday’s rally in St. Paul and was blessed by it and by a surprise visit by Fr. West from Priests for Life. He also was there for prayer and the rally. What an honor to be part of such an organization. I thank God for all who participated by fasting, prayer and sacrifice.
November 3rd, 2009 at 12:35 am
Dear David,
Please let Abby Johnson know that we are all praying for her, and for the seven other abortion industry workers who found the COURAGE to walk away from this lucrative business, realizing they just could not keep profitting from death…
Thank you, David, and your National Team, for all your efforts to help us and to promote the Culture of Life all over this nation, and the world!
May our dear Lord richly bless you with His Peace and Joy!!
November 3rd, 2009 at 6:03 am
AMEN and Amen! Halleluia, The Lord our God is victorious. I was not an active participant this vigil, but when I remembered those who may be standing in the gap I prayed. And this issue of life versus death is still on my heart.
We Have a Savior who came “not to condemn the world, but to save it” and bring life! Though i was just a bystander, it is sooooooo awesome to see how God moves when we unite under the Name of Jesus and plead His heart for the children and generations to come as well as for the mothers, fathers and those involved with these dire decisions.
Thank you for your service in the kingdom of God. We can sow, plant, water, and feed, but it is God who brings the growth and the fruit.
Praise the Lord Almighty for the fruit that has already sprung forth and praise Him for more glorious days ahead! And praise the Lord for the followers of Christ Jesus who stand steadfast in faith of our Lord.
To God be the glory and honor forever!!!!!!Amen.
November 3rd, 2009 at 10:18 am
Abby,
I am glad to here that you now stand up for all the little ones.
May God Bless You