are taking to the streets, holding coordinated prayer
vigils outside of Planned Parenthood centers and other
abortion facilities.
Tomorrow, the 40 Days for Life campaign draws to a
close, with events and celebrations in many cities.
So, where do we go from here?
The abortion industry believes that we are going to
simply fade away. They fully expect us to settle back
into complacency, leaving them free to continue their
deadly business without hindrance.
After all of the miracles we've seen God accomplish
throughout 40 Days for Life, are we going to allow that
to happen?
Last night I spoke to a large gathering of enthusiastic
40 Days for Life participants from across the state of
Washington in their capital, Olympia, and I addressed
that exact question.
The intensity in the room was electrifying.
I want you to take a few minutes -- right now, or
before 40 Days for Life ends tomorrow -- to listen to
the audio recording of that event in its entirety:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=44 <------------------
You'll hear inspiring stories of some of the local
heroes of 40 Days for Life...
...You'll learn about many of the amazing victories God
has accomplished during this initiative -- including
some that have never been publicly shared before...
...And you'll have an opportunity to prayerfully
discern how God can use YOU to make a lifesaving impact
on days 41 and beyond.
Even if you've never done anything else I've ever
asked, please do this one thing as a personal favor
for me today.
Listen to the streaming audio online (it works even if
you have a dial-up modem) or download the MP3 audio
file to listen on your iPod or computer at:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=44 <------------------
Many, many pro-life leaders around the country have
shared with me their belief that 40 Days for Life is
just the tip of the iceberg, and that America is about
to experience a revolutionary breakthrough for life.
I completely agree.
I have never been more hopeful about the future than I
am today, and I truly believe the seeds that have been
planted during 40 Days for Life will lead to tremendous
revival across our land.
And I am deeply honored -- and humbled -- to
be working side-by-side with you in this vital cause.
Thank you for taking this amazing journey with me.
Listen to the audio recording at:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=44 <------------------
And here's your daily devotional...
*******************************************************
40 DAYS FOR LIFE: DAY 39, NOVEMBER 3
Daily Devotional by Fr. Frank Pavone
*******************************************************
INTENTION:
Pray for those who work in the abortion industry, and
for those who have repented of committing abortions and
have resolved to defend life.
SCRIPTURE:
Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your
hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he
breathed his last. The centurion, seeing what had
happened, praised God and said, "Surely this was a
righteous man." When all the people who had gathered to
witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their
breasts and went away. -- Luke 23:46-48
REFLECTION:
"The Centurion who stood at the foot of the cross of
Christ suddenly became horrified at the crucifixion he
was ordered to carry out. When Christ died, this
Centurion dropped his sword and fell to his knees
exclaiming, 'Surely, this was an innocent man!'
"Those of us who have participated in the killing of
unborn children are the Centurions of today. We have
dropped our swords against the unborn child. Now we
must recognize the depth of our guilt and deal with the
ramifications...To revitalize our humanity we need to
forgive and be forgiven, to reconcile and be healed."
These words come from a brochure of the "Society of
Centurions," an organization for former abortion
providers. These words convey in a beautiful and moving
way what is happening across the nation as hundreds of
abortionists and their staff experience repentance,
conversion, and healing.
The former abortionists you may already know -- like
Bernard Nathanson, Carol Everett, and Tony Levatino --
are only the "tip of the iceberg." There are so many
others, and more continue to come to the light of
Christ each day.
Priests for Life, which operates the world's largest
abortion recovery program, Rachel's Vineyard, likewise
assists former abortionists in their journey of
repentance.
I (Fr. Frank) will never forget sitting with a group of
these men and women for a period of several days one
Holy Week, and listening to them resolve that when they
got back home, they would attempt to contact every
woman on whom they had ever performed an abortion, and
apologize to her.
I also heard them tell of how, after their conversion,
they would dedicate each passing day to another of the
children they had killed. They would name those
children, write them letters, and pray a profound
prayer of apology.
How does this conversion begin?
My experience confirms what Dr. Philip Ney has also
found. He writes, "The factors that changed their
opinion on performing abortions, in the following order
of frequency, were: evidence of the infant's humanity,
a spiritual experience, personal distress, evidence of
the mother's distress, scientific articles, being
accepted as a person, a personal relationship with a
pro-lifer, pro-life pickets. For most...there was more
than one factor" (The Centurion's Pathway, p. 77).
The journey is not easy. There is so much pain and
guilt to deal with and so many rationalizations to undo
that the Centurion will be tempted to say, "Everything
is OK now; Jesus has healed me, and I'm just going to
forget the past."
But the Jesus who heals us calls us to face the truth
of what we've done, make restitution where possible,
and engage in the hard work of mending relationships.
Let's pray for the Centurions, and may their numbers
increase!
PRAYER:
Lord, we thank you for those who have repented of
committing abortions and have resolved to defend life.
We too repent and resolve.
We repent of every instance in which fear has made us
silent when we should have spoken.
We repent of the ongoing bloodshed in our land, and for
thinking that we can deprive the unborn of protection
but keep it for ourselves.
We resolve that we will work more generously to advance
your Kingdom.
We resolve that we will advance the cause of righteous
candidates for public office, and that we will be more
afraid of offending you by our silence than of
offending others by our speech.
We resolve that we will serve you faithfully in the
pro-life cause all the days of our lives, and proclaim
your name to the nations, through Jesus Christ our
Lord, AMEN.
*******************************************************
With Great Hope,
David Bereit
National Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
P.S.- Here's the link to that audio one more time:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=44 <------------------
When you're done listening, please post a reply at the
bottom of that page with whatever God puts on YOUR
heart. Thanks!
3515-B Longmire #316
College Station, TX
77845
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