Monday, March 18, 2013

Day 34 - sharing your testimony


Any of us who are believers have a prolife testimony. A story that tells of a Mighty God who has created each one of us for a purpose and a plan.
This past week, when i was vigilling with a good friend, we both carried signs that told a little bit of our stories - in just a few words.
If you'd like to read more of Fawne's story - especially about her sweet son Wyatt, click HERE.
If you'd like to read more of my story - especially about my surprise pregnancy as an unmarried 19 year old, click HERE.
i really think... that there is beauty in telling our stories and declaring the faithfulness of a loving Creator - who is the giver and taker of life.

Will you ask Him to show you your prolife story?  And then share it with a world who so desperately needs to hear it?

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Day 29 - facing adversity

A repost from a previous vigil - written by  Jojo Ruba from Faith Beyond Belief .

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There are three lessons Christians need to remember about adversity.

1. We need to expect adversity. As Christians who are representing a good God to a willfully evil world, we’re not going to be popular. Christians sometimes think our job is to help people feel better but our job is to help people be better.

There was a time when the church was very powerful--in the time when the early Christians rejoiced at being deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed. In those days the church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society. Whenever the early Christians entered a town, the people in power became disturbed and immediately sought to convict the Christians for being "disturbers of the peace" and "outside agitators."' But the Christians pressed on, in the conviction that they were "a colony of heaven," called to obey God rather than man. Small in number, they were big in commitment. They were too God-intoxicated to be "astronomically intimidated." By their effort and example they brought an end to such ancient evils as infanticide and gladiatorial contests. Things are different now. So often the contemporary church is a weak, ineffectual voice with an uncertain sound. So often it is an archdefender of the status quo. Far from being disturbed by the presence of the church, the power structure of the average community is consoled by the church's silent--and often even vocal--sanction of things as they are.
Martin Luther King Jr., Letter from a Birmingham Jail.

2. Adversity should not come because of bad character but because of good character. There is no command that says though shall be nice but we are to love. True love means we speak truth and are willing to offend.Don’t we do that with those who we love the most?

3. Facing adversity is a privilege. God only brings adversity to those who can handle it and those who He wants to use to show His power:

“In selecting his witnesses, God looks for loyalty. Some of Daniel’s friends didn’t make it. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were chosen out of a group (Daniel 1:6). The other ten or twenty do not appear on God’s lists. They sink into self-chosen anonymity. They have allowed the world to decide their lifestyle and to set their standards of right and wrong. They have willed to sacrifice their distinctive marks because they can’t bear to be different from the word.

The lion’s den is not for them. The lion’s den is only for those with lion’s den loyalty. We need to ask ourselves, Am I living with the world or as its victim? Am I unnamed on God’s lists, or am I willing to be his chosen representative in some dark place?”
R. Arthur Matthews, Born for Battle

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Day 28 - one voice

Elizabeth Rundle Charles:

If I profess with the loudest voice and the clearest exposition, every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christianity. Where the battle rages, the loyalty of the soldier is proved; and to be steady on all the battlefield besides is mere flight and disgrace to him if he flinches at that one point."



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Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. John 16:22-23

Almighty Father, you are the author of life. It's easy to become discouraged as I see evil becoming commonplace around me. Remind me when discouragement takes over, that you have promised to give us what we ask in your name. That gives me, and those of us who serve you, the capacity to change the world and trust you with the results. Let me use that privilege in such a way that the world may see you glorified. Amen. (Prayer an excerpt from the book, 40 Days for Life, available on Amazon).

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Day 26 - encouragement from the pulpit...

From a friend:

I had a 'great' time at the clinic on Friday. It was mucky and wet, but the sun was warm and shining down on us. It was such a busy spot and the clinic was a revolving door. There were few other older ladies there praying the rosary so I joined them.

Yesterday we were in the NW all day visiting friends and ended up going to St. Peter's for Mass. Fr. Jerome in his homily (which is always so powerful!) mentioned that as a country we are in the same company as China and North Korea when it comes to unrestricted abortion. We were so astounded! How can this be??!! Two countries known for their atrocious human rights and there we are, right along side them. It was really an eye opener. We know the laws are liberal here, but to hear it in those terms was tough.

Just an early morning thought!


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The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. - John 1:5

Father of mercy and grace, thank you for the gift of children. Grant that every fiber of my being may rejoice when i a new baby is born into the world. Help me to be, for those newborn, a light shining in the darkness, welcoming them as I would welcome you. For whenever a new baby is conceived, another life to bear your image and another voice to praise and worship you is beginning. Amen.
(Prayer an excerpt from the book, 40 Days for Life, available on Amazon).

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Day 25 - bible and prayer

"What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid." Matthew 10:27-28

Lord, help me to be faithful and to overcome whatever challenges come my way as I seek to protect the well-being of God's people. I pray for your continued guidance and protection. May I be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in your word, knowing that my labour will not be in vain. Amen.

"This is what is written: The messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things." Luke 24:46-48

Dear Jesus, what can I say in response to your sacrifice on our behalf? The pain you bore, the anguish of spirit - and you did it all so that we could be reconciled to your father. Thank you for daily reminding me of this, of all the benefits I have in life - and the life to come - because of that sacrifice, and of my privilege to bear witness to the world of all that I have seen. Amen.