DAY 30: Guided by the Holy Spirit
Last Saturday’s message dealt with the presence of children at 40 Days for Life prayer vigils, and how some people question the idea of having children pray outside the abortion centers. As always, the Holy Spirit has provided the final word: Bring the kids!
Ernie and Mary Beth are the coordinators of 40 Days for Life in Pensacola, Florida. And wherever you see Ernie and Mary Beth, you see their four children. And of course, they were at the abortion facility this past Saturday — the day that our e-mail message was about children praying at the vigils.
The first good sign on this very windy day in Pensacola was the fact that the abortion center’s parking lot was half empty. It’s usually jam-packed. So that means fewer abortion appointments.
Before the day was over, FIVE MOTHERS decided to reject abortion and spare their children!
In one instance, a group of women drove up in two cars. One got out, turned towards the vigil participants and asked, “Why do you have children out here?”
Ernie replied, “They are here praying for you and to remind everyone that children are a wonderful gift.” She stomped away.
Just a minute later, one of the women from this group drove away — very angry. The others from the first car came out the front door with a woman who had been inside the abortion facility. Ernie said that’s another good sign. “Anyone that comes out the front door has NOT had an abortion.”
The same woman who questioned the presence of the children did so again: “Why don’t you get these kids away from here?”
Ernie answered, “We love you! We are here praying for you and your friends.”
As they drove out, the young woman who had left the abortion facility gave a big thumbs-up outside her open window. She had indeed chosen life!
“This spring, my four children, who have been with us every day during all four 40 Days for Life campaigns in Pensacola, have begun to understand the importance of prayer in front of the abortion facility,” Ernie said. “My two oldest — 8 and 6 — have really been praying a lot this spring with us.”
It was Ernie’s children that the angry woman was complaining about. And it’s no wonder. The children’s prayers may have made a world of difference to that young mother who left the abortion center, determined to let her own child live.
“I believe my children were used by the Holy Spirit to change this woman’s mind,” he said. “Children do have a tremendous impact on the mothers and fathers that enter abortion facilities. Thank you, God, for the wonderful gifts you have given me in my life — my wonderful children and wife. I am so proud of them all!”
Today’s devotional is from Rev. Clenard Childress of Life Education and Resources Network.
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DAY 30 INTENTION
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Let us pray that pastors may not be distracted from the priority of caring for human lives.
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SCRIPTURE
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In those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.
– Acts 6:1
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REFLECTION
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More folks learning left some yearning.
It is the dawning of a new day. There is much excitement in Jerusalem. Many who dedicated themselves to the faith became disciples (the word disciple means “learner”).
The unprecedented church growth was miraculous and undoubtedly brought much satisfaction to the new leadership. The apostles, however, were about to experience growing pains in their master plan of evangelism.
Projects that engage the community, especially those that are evangelistic in nature, are high on the list of priorities for every duty-bound pastor.
Church attendance is a constant concern for every pastor and often his or her worth is measured by it. Unfortunately, just as the original twelve pastors in Acts, they can be so focused on getting people in that they inadvertently end up pushing some people out.
Murmuring is a deplorable deterrent to a harmonious fellowship, yet God used it to get the disciples attention. Those that needed daily attention due to their age and social status were being neglected.
This neglect of the Hellenist widows during the daily distribution of food was causing undue grief and needed to be corrected by the leadership. By God’s grace the problem was dealt with, but the lesson remains.
And during these 40 days, let us pray that today’s church not make the same mistake of forgetting the contributions of our seniors, or the needs of the weakest among us, the unborn.
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PRAYER
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Father, in the Church’s desire to engage our communities with the Gospel let her not disengage from those who need their care and company the most.
Let us gain wisdom from those who have gone before us and cherish their experiences and perspectives. Help us to appreciate every soul in the body of Christ and minister properly to everybody. 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/spring2010day30print.pdf
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Yours for Life,
David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life
PS: Have children made an impact at 40 Days for Life in your community? Please share your story by replying below.
March 18th, 2010 at 9:44 am
Let us all pray for an end to abortion.
March 18th, 2010 at 9:49 am
Today my grandson is with me because my son said no to abortion, and I said
yes to my only son’s life along time ago. They give me hope. Thank you 40 days for life and silent no more.
March 18th, 2010 at 11:18 am
At a half way rally, a gentleman stood to give testimony of taking his wife and eight children to pray at the abortion facility in Hagerstown, MD. There was a save that day. Some days later his little four-year-old boy said, “daddy we saved a baby, when are going again?”
March 18th, 2010 at 12:32 pm
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, today we bow before your throne. Through the power of your word and your Holy Spirit grant us the grace to be at peace even with our enemies. Help us to live our lives in such a way that brings honor to your name. Help us to stand strong against the enemy that seeks to destroy our unborn children until this holocaust of abortion is ended in our nation, once and for all. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
In the Holy name of Jesus we pray, always! AMEN.
March 18th, 2010 at 2:52 pm
Most definitely, children make a difference at the abortion mills. My four children, ages 5 to 19 have come with me to pray. Both my 13 year-old daughter and 5 year old son created messages in chalk about Jesus and saving babies, where anyone could see driving in or walking out. Children bring joy, laughter and provide a powerful message to those considering ending life.
March 18th, 2010 at 5:37 pm
My question for the woman who asked why the children were present would be, “Why what’s wrong, is there something happening here that is to awful for them to see?”
Children are a powerful testament to the truth of what the abortion issue is all about. They are, for the women entering these places a glimpse into the future of who they are carrying in side them.
Jesus bid the little children to come to him and held them up as an example to faith. Let the little children come, they are probable closer to Jesus in front of the abortion clinic than almost anywhere else.
March 18th, 2010 at 7:51 pm
Children always have a horror of abortion, the more so the younger they are. The reason is simple: the younger they are the closer to death they feel.They love life and cannot understand abortion. They are unwilling to live a lie. Adults lie about abortion, not children.
March 19th, 2010 at 6:04 am
Need prayers for this librarian
Sunday, February 28, 2010 – Mary Theresa wrote on the whiteboard at St. Mary: “Jesus is the Holy One.” She erased it and then wrote: “Jesus is the Son of God.”
Tuesday, March 2, 2010 – Mary Theresa wrote on the whiteboard at the Dormont Public Library: Reasons not to have an abortion: 1) Give your baby life through adoption. 2) Pray for mothers not to do [sic] abortion. 3) Pray for doctors not to have [sic] abortions. 4) Be a good mother and raise your baby.
One week later, she asked for the dry erase markers again, and the librarian told her to make sure that she “wrote something appropriate.”
March 19th, 2010 at 8:28 pm
Prayed at an abortion center today, it’s sad that a few angry men passing by in their cars honked and gave an obcene gesture to us prayer warriors. I earnestly prayed for their conversation and salvation. There were also many positive gestures from other people in their cars showing support.
March 26th, 2010 at 12:39 am
I am a ministry leader for a Post Abortion ministry at my church. I was so happy to hear the story about the children at the prayer vigil outside the abortion clinic and how the Holy Spirit used their presence to touch the hearts of the women who wanted to abort. I know the power of the beautiful innocent faces of a child and how years after my abortion I could not look at a baby without breaking down in tears. Even now though the Lord has healed me and led me to help other women. a baby’s face still has an impact on my heart….I thank God for that because I will never, ever forget how precious is the life in the womb.
March 27th, 2010 at 3:14 pm
Rejoice! The battle is being won this very day in Hackensack, NJ…when all seemed bleek for this seasons campain Our Loving Redeemer Interveened. A couple with the initals J____ And C____(you fill in The Blanks) came for an abortion, but seeing a devout servant of Holy Mother Church praying together with other 40daysforlifers the young man called out to her, Sr. Emmily’s presence there was a great blessing.
There were others present with very interesting names… Sal(SALVATION), Vivian(LIFE), Rose(ROSARY). So, thanks be to God for His Love is Everlasting!!!