Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Day 22: God won't be blocked, Fr. Pavone audio

A California 40 Days for Life campaign reports today:

"Planned Parenthood has hired a fence company to build
a fence blocking off our view of the parking lot and
building."

In one Texas town, the Planned Parenthood abortion
business put giant black tarps across the fence in
front of their parking lot to block customers from
seeing or talking with 40 Days for Life participants.

Numerous locations have reported abortion escorts
swarming around customers the moment they get out of
their cars and physically blocking them to prevent any
contact with 40 Days for Life prayer volunteers.

40 Days for Life is obviously having a profound impact
on these abortion facilities for them to resort to such
tactics...

...But what is it that the abortion industry is trying
to shield people from?

Truth.

Love.

Prayer.

Alternatives that DON'T lead to a lifetime of regret.

But as the following example from Lufkin, Texas shows,
God won't be blocked when He wants to touch someone
through 40 Days for Life:

"An older man named Jim heard about 40 Days for Life
here in Lufkin but did not know how to contact me. So
guess who he called for information? PLANNED
PARENTHOOD!!!

He called but was only able to talk to the security
guard. The guard was very kind and told Jim he should
try contacting our Pregnancy HELP Center for
information.

Now, Jim could have just hung up at this point but he
decided to have a conversation with the guard
instead.

At some point in the conversation Jim asked him if he
had a church he attended. The guard told him that he
did not go to church because he did not think a
church would have him because of his job with Planned
Parenthood. (How sad to feel that way.)

So Jim invited him to his church. (Praise God!)

Jim then got in touch with me through the Pregnancy
HELP Center and is ready to help with our 40 Days.
(Praise God!)

I just think this story is a wonderful way of showing
that we do not know how we impact those around us
when we are involved in this 40 Days for Life.

God is so awesome. That is why, when we leave it to
Him to handle the situation and we just become a tool
in this spiritual battle to end abortion, SO MUCH
MORE than we can imagine takes place."

What a great reminder to us that no matter how much the
abortion industry tries to thwart the efforts of
faithful people, God is still ultimately in charge.

One quick thing -- I had the opportunity to visit with
Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for
Life, while in Washington, D.C. earlier this evening.

He shared a few words of encouragement to those praying
and participating in 40 Days for Life efforts across
the country, and I have posted the 4-minute audio at:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=27 <------------------

Enjoy, and here's today's devotional...

*******************************************************
40 DAYS FOR LIFE: DAY 22, OCTOBER 17
Daily Devotional by: Carmen Pate
*******************************************************

INTENTION:

Pray that our focus remains on Christ and the good work
He has called us to do as we stand in the gap for the
unborn in the days of adversity.

SCRIPTURE:

"One thing I do, forgetting those things which are
behind and reaching forward to those things which are
ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the
upward call of God in Christ Jesus." -- Philippians 3:
13b-14

REFLECTION:

We have passed the halfway mark of the 40 Days for Life
campaign. We can look back and see the accomplishments
thus far: babies saved, lives transformed, abortion
facilities cutting back schedules, new pro-life
volunteers, post-abortion healing, and unity in the
body of Christ.

Wow! Haven't we done enough?

Wouldn't everyone agree that if we stopped today, it
was all worth our time and effort? It is so tempting to
rest on our laurels and call the campaign a success.

The Apostle Paul had touched two continents for Christ
as he penned the words of Philippians 3, yet he knew
there remained much land to be possessed. His calling
was quite unfinished -- indeed, barely begun!

He made a commitment to start in that moment as if
nothing had been accomplished and to set his sight on
the goal ahead. God told Paul to spread the gospel of
Christ.

Would Paul see the entire world evangelized through his
efforts? No, but his accomplishments were great as he
pressed on day by day. He concentrated all his energy
on the one goal he had set for himself. Nothing could
distract him.

God has called us for 40 days of prayer, fasting, and
peaceful vigil with the purpose of ending abortion in
America.

Will we see the end of abortion on day 41?

The bigger question is, will we stay focused on the
goal to win the prize?

What is the goal? Uncompromising dedication to Christ
and His purposes for you and me during these 40 days
and beyond.

What is the prize? The high calling of God - to be
called out from the rank and file of those ascending on
high to hear, "well done, my good and faithful
servant".

Our God can end abortion with a word and we pray that
He will, but He gives us opportunity to get in on the
great work He will do.

Though we may or may not see the results in our
lifetime, our obedience to His calling will not go
unnoticed by the Master. Let's go for the prize!

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, You are indeed the Master, and we
praise Your Holy name for the miracles we have already
seen during these 40 days. Thank You for allowing us to
be a part of this great work You are doing.

Help us to stay focused on Christ and Your purposes
that unfold before us day by day. May every last ounce
of energy in us be spent to win the prize and when our
day of reckoning is here, may you find us faithful.

By His grace alone we stand, AMEN.

*******************************************************

Your Brother In Christ,

David Bereit
National Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
3515-B Longmire #316
College Station, TX
77845

No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.488 / Virus Database: 269.14.10/1070 - Release Date: 10/14/2007
9:22 AM

No comments: