September 30, 2010
Every once in a while, people show up at a 40 Days
for Life prayer vigil who wish YOU would just go home.
In some cases, they themselves are suffering as the
result of an abortion experience. Or they may simply
want to get under your skin.
Persecution is not suggested by Jesus; it is PROMISED
if we follow Him. While seeking persecution is not
the goal of 40 Days for Life, it does go along with
standing against the evil of abortion.
If that ever happens to you, just remain peaceful --
and pray harder! The fruit is worth it.
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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN
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On my recent visit to the 40 Days for Life vigil in
Milwaukee, the abortion center put a sign in their
window asking for contributions to "pledge to end
harassment."
This tired, ineffective tactic is attempted often,
particularly by Planned Parenthood. But it doesn't
work. They do it because they don't know how to
react to peaceful opposition that speaks to their
conscience and calls them to re-evaluate their work.
This childish reaction speaks to the effectiveness
of the prayer that they view as "harassment."
To see the window of the Milwaukee abortion center,
please go to:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1046
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SANTA CRUZ, CALIFORNIA
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At their kickoff event recently, the 40 Days for Life
team in Santa Cruz was "welcomed" by a local, rabidly
pro-abortion anarchist group that was attempting to
thwart their efforts.
Most of what these abortion supporters said and did
to the prayer volunteers cannot be repeated. Suffice
it to say, it was vile and nasty.
One pastor wisely advised the prayer volunteers to
keep an air of serenity and ignore the obnoxious
behavior -- but to not back down.
And they followed that advice.
Please keep the Santa Cruz team in your prayers. And
pray for the coversion of the misguided anarchists.
There is only one picture I can show you from Santa
Cruz, featuring a small group praying. Opposing them
is a man holding a sign that reads "Abort Jesus."
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1046
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RENO, NEVADA
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Please keep Reno in your prayers as well.
When I was in there a few days ago, I witnessed what
the volunteers there have to endure -- an aggressive
abortionist with a vulgar and confrontational attitude.
One sign that he had professionally made is so vulgar
I cannot put it in an e-mail. But there are other
signs, facing the street for all to see:
* No trespassing
* God is pro-choice
* These protesters are terrorists
The abortionist also has a sprinkler system -- but not
for landscaping. The sprinklers are intentionally
pointed towards the sidewalk ... where the prayer
volunteers stand.
He also installed a sound system that he often uses to
blast out obscene music -- hoping that the Christians
praying on the sidewalk would be offended and leave.
Well, it isn't working. It hasn't worked -- ever. But
still he persists. As do the prayer volunteers!
To see photos of the Reno vigil site, please go to:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1046
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LAWRENCEVILLE, GEORGIA
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If someone does give you a hard time, pray for them!
A woman drove into the parking lot near the 40 Days
for Life vigil location in Lawrenceville and started
yelling at one of the volunteers. She was described
as very aggressive and angry, shouting things like,
"Just WHAT are you people doing here?"
The volunteer quietly explained what the vigil was
all about -- and the angry woman started to calm down
a bit. During the course of a 15-minute conversation,
she shared some personal information (we're not sure
exactly what was discussed), and finally she had made
a complete turnaround.
"She became very sweet and very supportive of what
we were doing," one of the volunteers reported.
To see a photo of 40 Days for Life participants in
Lawrenceville, please go to:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1046
The long and the short of it is PRAYER WORKS -- so
please keep it up!
Here's today's devotional from Day Gardner, president
of the National Black Pro-life Union...
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DAY 9 INTENTION
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May we grow in joy, knowing we serve a living God.
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SCRIPTURE
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And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we
beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten
of the Father, full of grace and truth.
-- John 1:14
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REFLECTION by Day Gardner
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The Word of God came to us in human form in Jesus
Christ. Every time I contemplate this fact I get
chills! And I think it is something that we, as
Christians, tend to gloss over. I can only imagine
how the first disciples felt when they were looking
into the eyes of the one and only Almighty God who
created them.
The first disciples developed a close relationship
with Him as they daily walked and talked with Him.
They ate with Him, prayed with Him and rested when He
rested. As they listened to the Word of God, who was
and is Jesus....they believed and "beheld His glory."
Today, this is something we can still do because we
serve a living God. Remember, Jesus died on the cross
but rose from the dead in victory! Jesus is every bit
as real and alive for all of us as He was to the
first disciples. He wants us to develop a close
relationship with Him in the very same way. Jesus
wants us to know Him personally. He wants us to walk
with Him and talk with Him on a daily basis.
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PRAYER
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Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for your love and
saving grace in Christ Jesus. Help us to realize
every day the great blessing we have in our Savior.
I pray that we will rise every morning with
excitement and zeal, looking forward to walking
another day in your footsteps fully knowing that you
continue to dwell among 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/fall2010day09print.pdf
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For Life,
Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life