Day 5 - Kick off rally today from 2-4pm!

I wanted to repost this beautiful, encouraging message about one of our previous rallies. They might seem like, "one extra thing" to do or to show up to - but really our gatherings with fellow prolifers are few - and these meetings are deeply encouraging! So, please, if you can make it - we'd love to see you there!

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God- this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12-1&2

"Dear Lord, give me the strength to set aside my own fears, desires, aspirations, and plans and conform to your perfect will. Help me with priorities- when it's a choice between some new comfort or diversion for myself and the possibility of saving a life, help me to see that choice in clear terms. And remind me to be grateful for all you're already doing, not only for me and my loved ones but for the unborn and the desperate families searching for answers. Help them to find the right ones. Amen." (from the book _40 Days for Life_ available on amazon).

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by fawne

This battle we face--the fight for life--is often hard and lonely and even downright discouraging at times. I stand on the small space of sidewalk across from the abortion clinic and wonder if my prayers are doing one single thing. Often, there is no evidence of change. Despite my begging prayers that this woman, the next woman, the woman after her, will not open that door and walk inside...most of the time the door still opens and shuts behind her. I am across the street and cannot hear the dull thud of it closing...but I do not need to be over there to feel it right down to my core. Bang. Another death. Bang. Another defeat. Bang. Another loss.

The other day you gathered....those of you who ache to see abortion end....





And you worshiped God together.....



And shared the joys you have experienced and the change you have seen through prayer.



And I witnessed your faithfulness...and today as I sit and pound out words I think about twelve men who are a lot like you.

These men were asked to go on a mission. Is it not the same with you? With me? Hasn't God asked us to go on a mission for the unborn? To be a voice? To intercede with prayer? To plead for justice and to show love and mercy? Did you begin this mission with zeal and excitement?

These twelve men did. They charged into their "calling" and were faithful for 40 days. 40 DAYS! And then ten of them stopped focusing on the greatness of God and started focusing on the seemingly insurmountable walls of the enemy. (Numbers 13, 14)

Can you relate to that feeling? I sure can.


Sometimes I want to quit. I don't want the weight on my shoulders anymore. I don't want to pray without seeing results any longer. The wall I am asked to scale seems to high. The burden I'm called to bear feels too heavy. I cannot see the greatness of God anymore because I'm focused on the impossible-ness of the mission.

I have forgotten who my God is. I have quickly forgotten the way He rescued me from my enemy. I have forgotten that I use to be in BONDAGE but now I am FREE. I have forgotten the miracles, the parting of the Red Sea, the manna on the ground and the water gushing from the rock.



And here....in this hard place....this place of decision....what will I do? Will I choose to believe that the God who sent me on this mission is accomplishing His purpose or will I only see the clinic door as it opens and shuts....yet again?!

I want to be a Joshua. I want to be a Caleb. I want to believe, to be fully confident that the God who sends people on missions (whether it is to spy out a land or whether it is to pray for a miracle across the street from an abortion clinic)....this God, is the God of the impossible.

Last Saturday, I saw some Calebs and some Joshuas....and I take courage from their example. The "walls" we attempt to scale may be high. The enemy we fight against may be strong. But all my fears and insecurities crumble in the presence of the great I AM!

day 4 - kick off event!

A message from our campaign director!

 

Hi all,

Just a reminder about our Kick-off celebration this Sunday, Feb 17, from 2-4 pm.

We will meet at the West Hillhurst Community Center (1940 6th Avenue NW), down the street from the Clinic, at 6th Ave and 19th St. Use the Arena entrance off the parking lot and immediately go up the stairs to the Arena viewing room.

 

There will be refreshments at the community center, and a great chance to fellowship and share. We have a lot of information we will be able to provide that I just can't do it any justice in an e-mail.

 

Folks have done a wonderful job maintaining a peaceful prayerful manner. Thank you. This is how we conduct ourselves. It diffuses all tension by calling upon the only true peace through Jesus, who suffered and died for us, and already has won our ultimate victory.

If we don't see you this Sunday, I hope you have a great weekend celebrating Family Day.

 

Dave

 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. - Hebrew 12:1-2

 

Thank you, Lord, for the many ways you provide for me. For your daily provision of food, shelter, and other of life's necessities that, even if it doesn't come easily, does come when I need it. Thank you for the provision you make when I'm called to special challenges, such as 40 Days for Life. Continue to meet the needs of 40 Days for Life for financial support and for the energy and emotional resilience to stand and pray for long hours, often in the face of adversity. Help me to not take your provision for granted but rather to feel anew a humble and loving gratitude each time I experience it. Amen. (from the book, 40 Days for Life)

Day 3 - whose plans?

At our last organizational meeting, our campaign director asked a couple of new faces to introduce themselves and explain a little bit why they were involved in prolife. It's an interesting question - one that i ask myself constantly, 'Why this little bit of the battle, Father? Why the littlest ones? Why such an uncomfortable, controversial place for me to stand?'
These are common questions for most people involved in prolife work, i've found. Most of us understand the delicate place we've been asked to stand, and the vulnerability of all those involved in the battle. The scripture and prayer included in the book, 40 Days for Life for day three speak directly to that questioning of a gentle Father - who so tenderly leads us...

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9

"Father, never let me doubt your power to accomplish your will. And remind me to not try to limit the breadth and grandeur of your vision. My dreams and aspirations may be modest, but yours are sweeping, majestic, and awe-inspiring. Give me the courage to dream big along with you. Amen."

The stories that unfold from the question, "why are you involved in prolife work?" point to the obvious leading of a Holy God who has a plan, and a deep love for human kind. He longs to see the prolifers engaging in this issue changed by their involvement and prayers. He longs to see reconciliation, salvation, lives changed... lives saved.
We all have a part to do - if you listen carefully, He's giving you your instructions...

Day 2 - why do we vigil?

It made me uncomfortable, the first time i went to vigil outside our city's large abortion clinic.
i knew that there were around 5000 little ones that lost their lives there every year... i knew that young children were ushered through those doors and coached without their parent's consent or knowledge through a procedure that would end the child's life growing within the child. i knew that women travelled from out of province to visit this clinic that specializes in death...
But it made me uncomfortable to stand there and vigil.
Throughout the years that i have been involved in prolife, though, some of my thoughts on the presence of those who vigil outside the clinics and hospitals that offer abortions have begun to have more clarity, and i want to share some of those thoughts with you today.

We vigil at the abortion clinic because that's where abortions happen. We could have a prayer meeting at our local churches - and yes... our Heavenly Father would hear those prayers too... but when you've gone to the clinic, and made eye contact with those parents going through those doors, your prayers change in quality, your compassion is roused and your heart cannot help but be broken. Abortions aren't happening at our local churches... in Calgary, they're happening on 5th Ave... and they're happening a lot.

We vigil at the abortion clinic because we want to be a sign of hope for those little ones. Is there hope at an abortion clinic? Yes. There is. God has not turned his back, or forsaken those tiny ones... and neither have the prolifers who are there, who even in those last moments are offering the mamas a chance to change their minds and let their little ones continue to live in peace. At the time of this writing, 40 Days for Life has heard stories of almost 7000 children being saved from abortion worldwide during our campaigns. Our presence at the clinic, and our voice of hope is saving lives.

We vigil at the abortion clinic because we want to be a sign of mercy for those mothers and fathers who have scheduled an appointment with death at that clinic. And we are also there to extend mercy to the abortion workers who make their living taking the lives of our most vulnerable citizens. After an abortion has taken place, we need mercy more than ever... The bible tells us in Micah that God requires us to love mercy... and love her we do. Because of our presence and our cry for mercy during 40 Days for Life, abortion workers have left their jobs and refused to take part in abortion any longer, women have found healing from their past abortions - and the sign of mercy that our presence brings, allows our communities to draw closer to the Father who loves us all.

We need prolifers. We need them to be praying, fasting, reaching out in our communities and churches - gently speaking the truth in love.
And we need people who are full of love who are willing to stand on a cold sidewalk outside the building where abortions are happening to be a sign of hope and mercy to a culture that desperately needs us.

Day 1 - We Open!

Here we go again!
i prayed today at the Kensington abortion clinic - and as the sun broke through the thick clouds and hit my upturned face, i knew that i was right where i was supposed to be. This vigil will be it's own unique transformative experience and i cannot wait to see what my Father has in store.
For anyone that is new, today i'd like to just share a few resources with you and welcome you as we undertake this beautiful, prayer-filled journey together.
If you are going to be taking part in our vigil, it would be great for you to take a look at our WEBSITE. We are hoping that our volunteers will read and agree to our CODE OF CONDUCT and make themselves aware of the limitations that are placed upon our vigil by the court injunction that limits our numbers and the locations we are allowed to pray. (For a copy of the court injunction, feel free to contact us! Or attend our opening celebration where we will go over the court injunction in detail.)
We are planning our opening celebration for this Sunday, February 17th from 2-4pm at the West Hillhurst Community Center (right down the road from the abortion clinic). Please come and join us as we go over some common questions and encourage each other in this beautiful time of outreach in the city of Calgary. (To help you find us, take the entrance just off the parking lot and climb the stairs to the viewing area above the arena - same location as in previous vigils!)
During the 40 days, i've decided to read and follow along in the new book by David Bereit and Shawn Carney titled, 40 Days for Life. It's a book of true stories that is beautifully encouraging and uplifting. i'll try to share some of what i glean from it here too as the opportunities arise.
As usual, we are accepting submissions to this blog - and we will be blogging daily throughout the 40 days as we seek to bring God glory as we pray for an end to abortion in Calgary where over 5000 abortions take place annually.

"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." - Romans 12:9-12

Heavenly Father, fill me with your zeal and fan the flame of my spiritual fervour, so that my heart is aligned with your heart. You are the God of life and the giver of life. You create life in the mother's womb. Every life is precious to you, fearfully and wonderfully made. For each of these next forty days, dear Lord, keep me joyful in hope and faithful in prayer for the unborn and for all those affected by the tragedy of abortion. Amen
(prayer excerpt from the book, 40 Days for Life)