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Dear Mike,
The Day 1 devotional (below) begins with the words of
Scripture, "Blow the trumpet in Zion!" Well, the
trumpet has sounded and the fall 40 Days for Life
campaign has officially begun.
These next 40 days will be an awesome journey as,
together, we embark on the largest single coordinated
pro-life mission ever conducted.
Tens of thousands of people across 212 cities are
uniting in this prayerful effort -- as well as
countless others in places from coast to coast who
will be praying from their homes and churches --
imploring God to end the scourge of abortion.
For this effort to have grown to such an amazing size
-- and to have already saved 1,561 children from
abortion over the last two years -- is, to me, proof
that this is God's work.
HE is the answer to this crisis of abortion, so let's
pray harder than we've ever prayed before!
And speaking of blowing the trumpet, I can't help but
mention how effectively many of the local 40 Days for
Life campaigns are "tooting their horns" about this
effort. Media outlets across the country are buzzing
with news reports about this fall's campaign.
Here are just a few examples...
In Dayton, Ohio –- The Dayton Daily News covered the
local campaign's kickoff event. Rev. Mike Spencer of
Grace Missionary Church told the crowd about learning
the truth about abortion after he became a Christian
and decided to be "a voice for the unborn." Cincinnati
Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk led prayer and added, "If
we don't have reverence for human life, we are easing
ourselves into a society in which nobody is safe. If
you can kill little babies, you can kill anybody."
In Columbia, Missouri –- Kathy Forck is helping lead
that community's first 40 Days for Life campaign. "All
we want are prayers," she told the reporter for the
Columbia Missourian. "We just encourage people of
faith to come out here and stand up for the little
ones that can't stand up for themselves." A friend had
invited Kathy to pray at the clinic last spring and
she quickly realized she had to do more. "We can't
just stop," she said.
In the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area -- Local leaders
for two campaigns appeared on Dave Palmer's KATH-AM
radio talk show to spread the word about 40 Days for
Life. Milissa Kukla is the Dallas coordinator, and
Jeff Williams handles the Fort Worth campaign. They
were also joined by Laura Barker, who was part of the
first-ever 40 Days for Life campaign in Bryan/College
Station, Texas in 2004.
Listen to part of that interview online at:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/
40 Days for Life is the collective effort of ordinary
people asking the Lord to act in an extraordinary way.
What will He do through YOUR prayers, fasting, and
participation in 40 Days for Life this fall?
I don't know, but I can't wait for you to let us know!
Here's today's devotional from David Brandao, the
communications director for 40 Days for Life...
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DAY 1 INTENTION
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That we may use these 40 Days for Life to plead for
God's mercy and grace upon all those involved in the
sin of abortion.
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SCRIPTURE
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Blow the trumpet in Zion! Proclaim a fast, call an
assembly. Gather the people, notify the congregation.
Assemble the elders; gather the children and the
infants at the breast... Let the priests, the
ministers of the Lord, weep and say, "Spare, O Lord,
your people."
-- Joel 2:15-17
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REFLECTION by David Brandao, 40 Days for Life
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The toll of abortion cannot be measured. We hear
estimates of almost 50 million innocent victims, but
that's only one aspect of the harm that has unfolded
in abortion's wake. There are also the mothers and
fathers of these millions, as well as the
grandparents, brothers and sisters, aunts, uncles,
cousins. Unborn lives destroyed. Lives of the living
shattered.
It's overwhelming and depressing, but even in the
midst of such unfathomable darkness, the church
teaches us to have hope. Yes, it was indeed Calvary
that followed Christ's 40 days in the desert, but
without Calvary there would have been no Resurrection
-- His victory over death that opened the gates of
heaven to those who believe in and follow Him.
The psalmist encourages us to go humbly before God as
we seek His will: "A clean heart create for me, O
God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me... Give
me back the joy of your salvation and a willing
spirit sustain in me... O Lord, open my lips, and my
mouth shall proclaim your praise" (Psalm 51:12, 14, 17).
We are called to be God's messengers; or as the
Apostle Paul told the Corinthians: "We are
ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing
through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: be
reconciled to God" (2 Corinthians 5:20).
That is the true message to all we encounter at the
abortion centers and in our communities who have been
deceived by the Culture of Death. We don't bring
condemnation; we bring God's good news.
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PRAYER
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Lord, we ask for the strength, courage, wisdom,
determination and stamina to carry out this mission
according to Your will.
Guide us, we pray, as we go forth and proclaim Your
truth, always doing so with a spirit of love and
compassion, as was demonstrated to us by Your Son,
Jesus Christ. In His name we pray, Amen.
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PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
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To download today's devotional as a formatted,
printable PDF to share with friends:
http://40daysforlife.com/docs/
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For Life,
David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life
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