October 31, 2009
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:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=487
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.
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
John, 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."
To see a picture of the 40 Days for Life vigil in
Providence, go to:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=487
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."
To see a picture of the 40 Days for Life vigil in
Honolulu, go to:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=487
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!"
To see a picture of Rocky and Isaiah, go to:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=487
Here's today's devotional from Carmen Pate, Co-host
of the "Point of View" radio talk show...
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DAY 39 INTENTION
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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.
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SCRIPTURE
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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
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REFLECTION by Carmen Pate
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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.
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PRAYER
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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.
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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/fall2009day39print.pdf
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For Life,
David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life