DAY 21: Wrong number? Or the Holy Spirit?
I know you’re familiar with the old saying, “God works in mysterious ways.” Please sit down and read this whole story. Our God of mystery has outdone Himself this time!
A young woman in Indianapolis, Indiana — we’ll call her Erin — woke up, saw her kids off to school, dropped her preschoolers at a friend’s house … and noticed that she was late for an appointment …
… at Planned Parenthood …
… for an abortion.
So Erin picked up her phone and called to see if could still come in. She thought she was calling Planned Parenthood. In her haste, she dialed a wrong number.
Instead of Planned Parenthood, she got Joseph … who was answering the cell phone that’s being used by …
… get ready for this now …
… 40 Days for Life in Indianapolis!!!
Joseph took a deep breath and tried to be as calm as possible. He took Erin’s name and number and simply said that a counselor would call her back.
So Elizabeth, the counselor, called Erin. Elizabeth begged her not to hang up, and then explained that she had not reached Planned Parenthood. Asked if she was a Christian, Erin said “yes.” So Elizabeth told her that God’s grace was at work in this “wrong number” situation.
So what had led Erin to the abortion center? Simply put — desperation. She has four children, their father is in jail, she had lost her job, her electricity is about to be shut off, and she doesn’t have enough money to pay the rent.
Later, Erin arrived at Planned Parenthood with her aunt. The aunt told counselors she opposed the abortion, but Erin’s mother and sister insist it’s the best answer. They say Erin just can’t handle another child.
In the meantime, Elizabeth had spread the word about Erin’s situation. A volunteer offered to pay her electric bill. Ten others pooled their cash to pay her rent.
Eileen in Indianapolis says a local group is now working with Erin to help her find a job. “She has a lot of potential,” Eileen said, “but needs support since her mother and sister are still encouraging her to abort the baby.”
Erin has reacted with both joy and disbelief that strangers were helping her. She has called Planned Parenthood to cancel her appointment and request a refund.
Please keep Erin and her family — and all those helping her — in your prayers.
So, you see? God DOES work in mysterious ways. There are no coincidences … and in this case, no wrong numbers!
Here’s a photo of the Indianapolis vigil:
Today’s devotional is from Rev. J. Kirk van der Swaagh of the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference.
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DAY 21 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 de-valued.
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/spring2010day21print.pdf
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Yours for Life,
David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life
PS: As always, if you have an interesting story about your 40 Days for Life campaign, please share it! You may add a reply below.
March 9th, 2010 at 7:53 am
Matthew 25: 40
” The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’
Father, we pray today for your kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven. Open our eyes and hearts Lord, that we might be able to humble our selves and accept the gift of life that you have promised to those who believe. Strengthen us that we may be able to walk in a way that is worthy of your calling on our lives. May our words and actions bring glory to your name. We ask these things in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.
March 9th, 2010 at 9:23 am
Let us all pray for an end to abortion in the world.
March 9th, 2010 at 9:30 am
Wow! Our God is truly amazing, and never ceases to amaze! Today’s story of Erin dialing the “wrong number”-how amazing is that! Let us persevere in this spiritual battle against the principalities and powers, trusting in the victory of the Lamb, fighting the good fight of faith, and never giving in to any discouragement. Thank you Indianapolis pro-lifers for being there for Erin. May she and all pregnant women choose life for their precious little ones.
Fr. Juniper
March 9th, 2010 at 10:17 am
I want to give a donation to help Erin and any other person in need. where can I send it? Thank you for your work. Mirna
Thank you for your generosity, Mirna. Erin is in Indianapolis, and the community there has opened its hearts to her. Contact information for Indianapolis is available at http://40daysforlife.com/indianapolis/
We would also suggest contributions to efforts in your own community. There are undoubtedly people just like Erin in all of our home towns. There are thousands of pro-life pregnancy resource centers who would appreciate assistance in helping mothers meet their needs. Many of those centers advertise in the yellow pages under “abortion alternatives.”
– Admin
March 9th, 2010 at 10:48 am
That is a good story, and a good reminder that we need to have a fungible answer for people who think they have to have abortions for financial reasons.
March 9th, 2010 at 11:13 am
The strength of sin is in it’s secrecy. Abortion is a terrible, horrible sin.
Pray that more women and men will confess and forsake this sin, past, present and future! Thou shalt not kill!
March 9th, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Just goes to show God is in control! His sovereignty be praised!
March 9th, 2010 at 1:45 pm
I’ve wept for Erin’s situation, for I was in the same situation some 30 years ago. I thank GOD that this beautiful ministry exist and will continue till the end of abortin comes to pass. I wish someone had intervined then but I was to go a different route. I was filled with such unimaginable guilt that going to confession three times in one day didn’t help. I had vowed never to commit another abortion and I didn’t. Seven years later, I heard GOD tell me He had forgiven me why couldn’t I forgive myself. My financial situation hadn’t changed, I had two more children but I had received peace and prayer is my daily love several times a day. This is my third 40 days for life in which I fast and pray, as well as, extending it to everyday of my life. There are no wrong numbers cause love and forgiveness is forever with GOD.
March 9th, 2010 at 1:56 pm
How can we help this lady? How can we give for her financial needs?
March 9th, 2010 at 2:04 pm
Wow! What a story! Thank you for sharing it! I just read Psalm 25 and it seems the perfect Psalm for Erin. Prayin for her and the folks in Indianapolis.
March 9th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
Yes, thank you Lord for showing that the prayers of the righteous avail much. THis testimony has caused me to support my local pregnancy resource center, so that the body of Christ can show people the love of Christ spiritually and physically.
March 9th, 2010 at 3:40 pm
HOW TO HELP ERIN AND OTHERS IN HER SITUATION-
God is amazing. Many seeming “coincidences” happened that day. When Erin left Planned Parenthood and spoke with the sidewalk counselors, one of the 40 Days prayer partners came over and gave her $200 for her light bill, right on the spot. He happened to have the cash!
If you don’t know about the Gabriel Project, or want to help women like Erin, please go to: http://www.gabrielproject.com . Donate or learn how to help women in your community- if you don’t know about Gabriel, it is amazing.
40 Days for Live loves the babies AND the mothers!
We love the people who work in abortion mills, too, and pray for them!
March 9th, 2010 at 4:14 pm
isn’t God awsome!
kim
March 9th, 2010 at 4:31 pm
I just can’t pass commenting on this! God is AWESOME! With God all things are possible. Our minds can’t even imagine what He can and will do. II Chronicles 16: 9 says,”For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him.” Amen! Watch and see what He will do!!!!
March 9th, 2010 at 4:33 pm
This is a heartwarming story. This is one of the reasons I want to open a pregnancy resource center here in my city. The closest one is 210 miles away. We do have limited assistance through a program here, but it does not include ultrasounds or follow-up support. Christians stepping up with practical help is an inspiration. It’s the Biblical way to live. Sad to say that a lot of churches are more concerned about the fancy buildings than helping people with real needs. God help us all!
March 9th, 2010 at 5:17 pm
Conception occurs at a wonderful moment of union, in God’s design. Why not promote for engaged and married couples the positive ideals of fertility awareness for women –the several days each month when conception is most likely? “Co-creation” of a human soul for Heaven, by responsible persons. If we pray to “end abortions” –why not help tell “when” the wonder of co-creation may occur only on several days of each month. Contraceptives fail, and the fact is, abortion can also take the life of a mother. Solzhenitsyn distilled from Gulag horrors that after all, “Freedom is self-restriction.” Self-control. Near-zero divorces, too!
March 9th, 2010 at 10:57 pm
A lady called Catholic radio today and told this story- :>)!!!
I was perusing the forum at a young women’s website recently and found some common themes:
Some girls consider abortion to avoid angering or shaming their parents,
some girls are coerced, and threatened with being kicked out of their house if they don’t get one. We must pray very hard for the grandparents of the unborn, that they will be softhearted and loving, that they will be welcoming and encouraging.
March 9th, 2010 at 11:23 pm
“…Praise God from Whom all blessings flow…”
March 10th, 2010 at 11:20 am
” Nothing is impossible with God “
March 13th, 2010 at 7:01 pm
That was so inspirational, we have our Parish 24 hr vigil on March 24th, I am praying that the lord will inspire a huge turn out, Thank you 40 days for life, God has inspired great things from you all, most of all courage to stand in the breach, then the compassion to help the vulnerable woman, probably one of the most inspirational organizations that I can be apart of, praying for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit to have a concrete 40 days for life participation, not just 24 hours, Thank you, thank you, God please help us to follow your lead and courage to do so, thank you, Pat.