Dear Deacon John,

Since it’s Leap Day … here’s something worth leaping for!

During this 40 Days for Life campaign, we have reports of 196 children spared from abortion – that we know of!

We have seen a surprising number of situations this campaign where mothers with five or more children have shown up for abortion appointments.

Mother Teresa said, “How can there be too many children? That is like saying there are too many flowers.”

Our culture often views children as burdens to our time and money. But there is nothing burdensome about the joy, courage and sacrifice of mothers and fathers who put their children before the pressures of the world.

Their sacrifice is real – and so is their love. 
 

Temple Terrace, Florida

Kim watched as an SUV pulled into the parking lot and a woman walked into the abortion center.

Over the course of the next hour, she came out … and went back in. “A pastor from a local church was praying with me on the sidewalk,” Kim said, “and I told him she is struggling.”

Finally she came out and got in her car to drive away. “They slowed down when they drove past and I asked if I could give them a brochure – and they said yes.”

They told Kim they didn’t know what to do. They already had ten children. She was there for an abortion … but just couldn’t go through with it. They were thinking now of adoption.

Falls Church, Virginia

One of the leaders in Falls Church walked up to a mother and her daughter outside the abortion center, offering to help them.

“The mother came forward and took the pamphlet,” she said, “saying she wanted to keep the baby. But it was her daughter that didn’t want the baby.”

So the volunteer turned to her daughter and asked, “Are you considering an abortion?”

She said yes – she already had a child … and she picked up the baby who had been sitting in the car.

“Well,” said the leader, “you now have two – and this baby is precious, too.”

The young woman said she’d had an abortion previously – and wasn’t affected.

As the mother and daughter walked away – and into the abortion center – the volunteer started to text a handful of friends to pray for the young woman, that the Holy Spirit would touch her heart.

Two hours later, she came out and was asked if she decided to keep her baby.

She smiled and said, “Yes.” 

The 40 Days for Life volunteer responded, “Seriously?”  She repeated, “Yes!”

What made her decide to keep her baby? “Mom.”

“Yay Mom! You did a great job! Praised be to God!”

Her mother was happy to have another grandbaby. “A mother’s love and the power of the Holy Spirit conquered death!” 

Today’s devotional is from Rev. Ben Sheldon, president emeritus of Presbyterians Pro-life

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SHAWN CARNEY President 40 Days for Life www.40daysforlife.com

Dear Deacon John,

“Abortion clinics are closing at a record pace.”

That’s the panic headline in a recent Bloomberg Businessweek article that warns “abortion access” in the United States is rapidly “vanishing.”

We know that to be true … since one of those closed abortion centers is the Planned Parenthood facility where 40 Days for Life began – the place that now serves as our headquarters in Texas.

According to the article, many of the closures are credited to legislation that established legal and safety requirements that the facilities couldn’t meet. Most importantly, they also acknowledged that “changing demographics and declining demand were also behind the drop.”

It’s good to see the secular media picking up on this growing trend.

We know of 67 abortion centers where 40 Days for Life vigils took place  that are now closed. We are confident that as we pray, fast and offer loving alternatives at the abortion facilities, even more will close.

Perhaps the one in  your town will be next!
 

Fayetteville, North Carolina

A man and two women walked up to one of the 40 Days for Life prayer volunteers … and one of the women spoke: “I just want to hear your opinion.”

She began a discussion about pregnancies that were the result of sexual assault, and why women who were in that situation should not be “forced to keep their baby.”

The volunteer noted that it was without a doubt a painful, traumatic experience … but that the baby, who had done nothing wrong, should not have to die.

“Oh yeah,” the woman said, “you are right about that. I just didn’t realize that.”

She thanked the vigil participants and noted that she’d thought pro-life people were judgmental and hated those who disagreed with them.

“We are doing a peaceful prayer vigil as part of the 40 Days for Life campaign,” the volunteer explained, “and we are here to truly reach out to these women, not judging them, because we ourselves are also sinners and are not in any position to be judging others.”

“I will definitely spread the word,” the woman said.

Tempe, Arizona

“By the grace of God,” said Lisa in Tempe, “we are seeing people approach us to ask for information regarding alternatives to abortion.”

Two women pulled into the Planned Parenthood parking lot and just sat in their car … watching vigil participants pray for about ten minutes.  When they finally got out of the car, they headed straight over to ask the 40 Days for Life team if they had any information regarding pregnancy.

They learned that the two women were aunt and niece. The niece was considering abortion … but it was her aunt doing all the talking.

After the volunteers gave them information regarding local pregnancy centers and the development of the baby, they started walking back to their car. They stood beside the car … talking for another ten minutes before they got in and started the engine.

“As they drove by us with their windows rolled down and smiles on their faces,” the volunteer said, “they both began to wave and thank us. Praise the Lord!”

Today’s devotional is from Rev. Rob Schenck, president of Faith and Action.

Day 19 intention

We pray for a renewal of our zeal to offer generous help to the unborn and their families.

Scripture

If I have despised the cause of my male or female servant when they complained against me, what then shall I do when God rises up? When He punishes, how shall I answer Him? Did not He who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?

— Job 31:13-15

Reflection by Rev. Rob Schenck

The ground is level as we stand before God.

Job lived with an awe provoking sense of God’s expectation of him, particularly regarding his obligation to care for the weak and needy.

He knew that in God’s economy everyone stands on level ground when it comes to our status as God’s creatures. Because of that central truth, we must take care of each other.

Job also knew that he didn’t deserve any of the good things God gave to him. Instead, those blessings came to Job from God’s benevolent heart.

As an extension of that knowledge, Job instinctively linked his obligation to be generous to others to God’s kindness toward him.

As in Jesus’ parable of the unmerciful servant (Matthew 18:23-35), Job knew that it is an egregious sin to deny to others what we enjoy ourselves.

He actually calls down on his own head severe condemnation and even punishment should he fail to share with others out of his own abundance (see verses 16-23).

Proverbs 3:27 reads, “Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so.” Some things are so obvious that we don’t even need to pray except to ask of God forgiveness and the power to do what so obviously needs doing.

Prayer

God, forgive us when we try to explain away the obligation we have to help others who need help.

Enable us to not devalue them because they are in the circumstance that they are in, but to see them for what they are, those, who like us, were formed by your hand in their mother’s womb. Amen.

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For life,

SHAWN CARNEY President 40 Days for Life www.40daysforlife.com

Dear Deacon John,

It’s no secret that spiritual warfare can go on outside an abortion facility. Sometimes, it can be pretty obvious. But at other times, it can be a more subtle distraction.

It can often come in the form of a quick shout from a passing driver. “Get a life!” and “Get a job!” and “Do something useful!” are commonly heard.

Of course, you are doing something useful.

So don’t worry about it! Just smile, brush it off … and keep on praying!

Manchester, New Hampshire

It was five below zero and windy as the two volunteers prayed in front of Planned Parenthood. The peaceful mood was broken when a woman slowed down her car, rolled down the window, and shouted, “Don’t you have something better to do?”

“We didn’t have to think twice about the answer,” said Stephen in Manchester.

“During the first two weeks of our campaign, two mothers and their children have already been saved, and we have no idea how many hearts have been changed through our daily prayer and witness,” he said. “We don’t have something better to do.”

The mothers, babies and abortion workers all need your prayers, he said. “Can you please donate some of your time … and peacefully pray in front of Planned Parenthood?

Orlando, Florida

One of the counselors in front of Planned Parenthood was able to strike up a conversation with a young woman who accepted information about community resources.

The volunteer offered to take her to the pregnancy help center, but she said her mother could give her a ride. But first, she was going into Planned Parenthood.

As she turned to go in, the counselor suggested that she hide the list of resources she was given. Other women had reported that the center’s staff had yanked the paper from their hands, while telling them they didn’t need it.

The young woman’s mom tried her best to ignore the vigil participants. After quite some time, she went inside to get her daughter. When they came out, the daughter told the volunteers they were headed to the pregnancy help center – and that she was keeping her baby.

Mexico City, Mexico

The campaign in Mexico City’s Roma area began with a group of more than 50 … and strong encouragement from a local pastor that they work as missionaries of the Gospel of Life.

Lourdes, the Mexico City leader, said that in spite of cooler-than-usual weather, they continue to stand in front of the Marie Stopes abortion center, “praying and showing the mercy of God.”

The volunteers have seen a number of couples arrive … stop for a time right in front of the abortion business … and leave. “We hope those will be lives saved from abortion,” she said.

Media reports are accusing the vigil participants of harassment … which of course is simply not true. Lourdes said it is obvious that the pro-abortion side does not want them outside Marie Stopes. “They know prayer is powerful.”

Here’s today’s devotional from Randolph Sly of the National Pro-life Religious Council.
 

Day 18 intention

We pray for a flowering of the joy of parenthood.

Scripture

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

— Psalm 127:3-5

Reflection from Randolph Sly

I still vividly remember the day my first child was born. As she came into the world I gazed upon the most beautiful little baby I’d ever seen.

Later I was driving home from the hospital for a shower and a fresh change of clothes when a song came on the radio, “The Men in My Little Girl’s Life” — a ballad about being a father as he watches his daughter grow through childhood to womanhood.

I wept as I listened, knowing those years would go by very fast… and they did.

Being a father, whenever I read the Psalm quoted above I’m always captivated by one word – “heritage.” It basically means “something passed down from a preceding generation.”

That little girl I watched being born and wept for is not mine to give to God like a product of our fertility, but rather His, which he has entrusted to us. So are all her siblings.

My wife and I share a great treasure: precious lives, which are placed in our lineage that His life with us might be perpetuated.

To the psalmist, this was a blessing from the Lawgiver, God Himself, who blessed Israel with another generation intended to continue their covenantal promise.

For us in Christ, it is his gift of succeeding generations for His Church and her families.

These days I’m looking upon my grandchildren, and rejoicing that my children and their spouses will pass on the greatness of Christ’s gospel to them and thus will continue the work of God in the world. What a blessing. What a heritage!

Prayer
 
Heavenly Father, please keep me from taking for granted the gift of children. Help us to remember this heritage that you have given us. Make us faithful stewards of these precious lives, that each generation might be raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Printable devotional

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SHAWN CARNEY President 40 Days for Life www.40daysforlife.com