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).
Sunday, March 10, 2013
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.
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.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
day 23 - joy & brokenness
by heather
My heart is joyful and yet broken at the same time. We are in the midst of 40 Days for Life. 40 Days for Life is a worldwide event where people pray, for 40 days, for the end of abortion. It is moving and powerful and wonderful stories of lives saved always come from these events.
And then there is this story The story of a surrogate mom who was faced with the choice to flee her state or be forced into an abortion. I am thankful that the woman carrying this baby values life and was able to find wonderful parents for this child. I am broken at the choices of the biological parents.
Pray to end abortion. If you are close to a 40 Days for Life event, volunteer. If not, just pray. God is not held to our locations. Prayers from around the world can make an impact.
My heart is joyful and yet broken at the same time. We are in the midst of 40 Days for Life. 40 Days for Life is a worldwide event where people pray, for 40 days, for the end of abortion. It is moving and powerful and wonderful stories of lives saved always come from these events.
And then there is this story The story of a surrogate mom who was faced with the choice to flee her state or be forced into an abortion. I am thankful that the woman carrying this baby values life and was able to find wonderful parents for this child. I am broken at the choices of the biological parents.
Pray to end abortion. If you are close to a 40 Days for Life event, volunteer. If not, just pray. God is not held to our locations. Prayers from around the world can make an impact.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Day 22 - fearfully and wonderfully made
The last will be first,
and the first will be last.
Matthew 20:16
Oh Father, fill me anew with your Spirit. Renew my mind, strengthen me in righteousness, help me and all those who join in this battle for the unborn to be people of salt and light. May every human being, from conception to natural death, be treated with the respect due those made in your image. Amen.
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i opened up my instagram account this morning and was greeted with 2 separate posts from mamas with delicious three year old children. One was a dark haired boy - the other a honey blonde girlie. Both had Down Syndrome... Both mamas had posted to remind the world about National Spread the Word to End the Word Day...
i love advocate mamas.
And then the reading in our 40 Days for Life devotional was about people with special needs... and how God has used so many in such powerful ways.
We are all created for a purpose - with care and a plan.... Fearfully and wonderfully made.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Day 21 - precious life
Repost - from a previous vigil - which life is valuable?
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by becky
I grew up in a home where the value of life was taught and modeled every day. Such as caring for elderly grandparents, or giving a home to a pregnant teen, volunteering as a family in a pro-life demonstration, and my parents adopting my two sisters. I am thankful for all of this and how it has impacted my life.
I was 24-That's the day we were challenged about the value of life. We had been married for a few years and had a little girl who was 18 months. On May 28, 2005, our world changed. I gave birth to our second daughter- Kelly Hadassah. She was only 2 pounds and not breathing on her own. When she was three days old, the doctor came and explained to us that she had a chromosome disorder called trisomy 18 (also known as Edward's syndrome).
I remember my dear husband asking "this won't affect how you treat her will it?" The doctor responded by recommending that we take her off of life support right away. She will have no quality of life he said, won't walk or talk. But who are we to decide which life is valuable, which life is worthy of love and of fighting for? We strongly believe that God is the author of life, and the one who numbers our days. We did not feel that that was our decision to make.
We never thought that we would make good parents for a handicapped child. But here we were praying that ours would live. We found ourselves stopping to talk with other peoples' children with severe handicaps, smiling at them, hoping that someday, someone would do the same for our daughter.
And so began the ten weeks of our tiny little girls' life. Each day we sat with her, holding her when we could, singing to her, praying for her, hoping and grieving each day. My mom made her special little doll clothes. She was the only NICU baby who wore dresses everyday! We found that as we treated her so special, doing all the things we would have done for a healthy baby, that the nurses also started to change how they treated her, doing special little things for her too.
We were not the only families with tiny sick babies there. I was amazed at how young some of the babies were who survived. Some were only 1 pound, and only 24 weeks. But they were very real. They had heart beats and fingernails, and NAMES! Here in this room the doctors and nurses did everything they could to save those little lives. On another floor of the hospital those same babies could be aborted as "tissue".
Please, remember that every life is unique and valued by God.
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To read more of Becky's incredible story, click HERE.
***********************************************
by becky
I grew up in a home where the value of life was taught and modeled every day. Such as caring for elderly grandparents, or giving a home to a pregnant teen, volunteering as a family in a pro-life demonstration, and my parents adopting my two sisters. I am thankful for all of this and how it has impacted my life.
I was 24-That's the day we were challenged about the value of life. We had been married for a few years and had a little girl who was 18 months. On May 28, 2005, our world changed. I gave birth to our second daughter- Kelly Hadassah. She was only 2 pounds and not breathing on her own. When she was three days old, the doctor came and explained to us that she had a chromosome disorder called trisomy 18 (also known as Edward's syndrome).
I remember my dear husband asking "this won't affect how you treat her will it?" The doctor responded by recommending that we take her off of life support right away. She will have no quality of life he said, won't walk or talk. But who are we to decide which life is valuable, which life is worthy of love and of fighting for? We strongly believe that God is the author of life, and the one who numbers our days. We did not feel that that was our decision to make.
We never thought that we would make good parents for a handicapped child. But here we were praying that ours would live. We found ourselves stopping to talk with other peoples' children with severe handicaps, smiling at them, hoping that someday, someone would do the same for our daughter.
And so began the ten weeks of our tiny little girls' life. Each day we sat with her, holding her when we could, singing to her, praying for her, hoping and grieving each day. My mom made her special little doll clothes. She was the only NICU baby who wore dresses everyday! We found that as we treated her so special, doing all the things we would have done for a healthy baby, that the nurses also started to change how they treated her, doing special little things for her too.
We were not the only families with tiny sick babies there. I was amazed at how young some of the babies were who survived. Some were only 1 pound, and only 24 weeks. But they were very real. They had heart beats and fingernails, and NAMES! Here in this room the doctors and nurses did everything they could to save those little lives. On another floor of the hospital those same babies could be aborted as "tissue".
Please, remember that every life is unique and valued by God.
**********************************************************************
To read more of Becky's incredible story, click HERE.
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