March 31, 2009
297 babies have been reported saved from abortion
during this 40 Days for Life campaign thus far.
297 -- Praise God!!
Here are the stories of two of those babies...
Elizabeth in Sacramento shared a report with me that
is especially heartbreaking -- a mother being told
abortion is her best option because her baby may have
medical problems.
"I am six months pregnant and am going to have an
abortion due to medical reasons," she told Elizabeth.
"I explained that her baby is precious," said
Elizabeth. But at first, the mother was not interested
in listening.
"My doctor insisted that there are multiple
deformities," she said, "including spina bifida, and
that this would be a 'special needs' baby."
"I shared how God knew from the beginning of time that
He would create this special baby and that He gave
special babies to special mothers," Elizabeth told
her. "This baby is truly a gift from God."
At this point the two held hands and prayed together.
"I pleaded with God to send her all the graces
necessary to choose life, accept God's will and to
ultimately trust that He has the best plan for her and
her baby."
As Elizabeth finished her prayer, she asked the woman
if she could kiss her baby. The thought must have come
from God, because she had no idea why she would ask
such a question. But the mother agreed, and Elizabeth
bent down and kissed her stomach.
Immediately the mother proclaimed with joy...
"I am keeping my baby! I don't care what the doctor or
what anyone else says," she said, "this is my baby!"
Elizabeth then watched as the young mother
courageously walked away from the clinic.
Your prayers and sacrifices during this 40 Days for
Life are bearing fruit!
Jennifer in Cherry Hill, New Jersey woke up the other
day, heard the rain outside, and it thought it would
be a good day go back to sleep -- but she did not --
she COULD not!
"I thought how babies are often saved when volunteers
make the sacrifice to come out in the cold rain." So
off she went to join a small group in prayer.
But only a few abortion clients took their flyers, and
Jennifer was discouraged at the end of her shift. "I
was feeling cold and wet and wishing our sacrifices
and prayers would have saved a baby."
When Jennifer went back to the clinic later, she
learned that one of the women who entered the clinic
while she and the others were praying had come out
shortly after Jennifer left. She had decided to keep
her baby!
Her discouragement vanished in an instant.
In these remaining five days of this spring 40 Days
for Life campaign, may God continue to save many more
babies from abortion and protect many more women --
and men -- from lives of regret.
Today's devotional is from Carmen Pate, a 40 Days for
Life board member and the co-host of the nationally
syndicated Point of View radio talk show...
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DAY 35 INTENTION
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Pray that all believers participating in this 40 Days
for Life campaign will make every effort to keep the
unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace
(Ephesians 4:3).
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SCRIPTURE
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And the glory which You gave Me, I have given them,
that they may be one just as We are one: I in them,
and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one,
and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and
have loved them as You have loved Me.
-- John 17:22-23
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REFLECTION by Carmen Pate, Point of View
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Christ prayed that all those who would believe in Him
would be united in single purpose and spirit, just as
He and the Father were united.
I find it convicting to consider that those who would
run to Jesus with their sins, seeking forgiveness, and
falling in love with the Savior, often run from
Christians today.
Is it because they see division and dissension instead
of unity and peace?
No doubt Christ is pleased to see the body unified and
praying together during these 40 days.
This is exactly what we see when we read about the
beginnings of the church. Both the unity and the
prayer are conspicuous, along with the results of
unified prayer.
Acts 2:46-47 tells us, "So continuing daily with one
accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to
house, they ate their food with gladness and
simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor
with all the people. And the Lord added to the church
daily those who were being saved."
No doubt the enemy is disheartened to see the unity in
prayer, fasting and peaceful vigil, and he will
continuously try to disrupt the bond of peace among
brothers and sisters in Christ.
Let us guard our hearts and minds, exhibiting the love
of Christ that He so graciously gives us, so that
those watching will see the love among us and know
that He must love them too!
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PRAYER
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Heavenly Father, give us grace in every situation to
work toward unity. With humility, gentleness, and
patience, may we endeavor to keep the unity of the
Spirit in the bond of peace.
There are hurting men and women Lord at the crossroads
of life and death who are looking for love and peace
in their lives.
May they see Christ in us and be drawn to the abundant
life that only He can give. It is in Christ's precious
name that we pray, 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/spring2009day35print.pdf
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Yours In Christ,
Shawn Carney
Spring Campaign Director
40 Days for Life