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| Shawn Carney with Nikki Bruni, local Campaign Coordinator at Pittsburgh event |
I just wrapped up a great visit to Pittsburgh, helping kick off their 40 Days for Life campaign.
Around 125 people turned out to hear the great praise-and-worship band, Intent ... along with Georgette Forney, co-founder the of Silent No More Awareness group. The vigil location is on a busy downtown street.
If you've never had a chance to actually pray at a 40 Days for Life vigil -- here's your invitation!
The first step is to find the location nearest you:
http://40daysforlife.com/location
And if you need a bit of encouragement, here's one first-time prayer volunteer who's now energized and ready to do even more!
Pensacola, Florida
"I'm hooked!" was the reaction of a young mom who had just finished her first-ever prayer hours at the 40 Days for Life vigil in Pensacola.
"I feel like I'm actually doing something to end abortion," she added. "It's great to do something ... instead of just talking about abortion."
She said she would commit to as many days of prayer at the abortion center as possible.
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Ethel tells me the first 40 Days for Life campaign in the Atlantic City area is off to a great start -- and the blessings are obvious, even when the abortion facility is closed.
"We had so many cars and trucks beeping and waving," she said. There was also the young woman who drove up to ask for help.
"She was 9 weeks pregnant and considering and abortion," Ethel explained. The volunteers offered God's love -- and information about how she could find assistance. The woman said she would return for more prayer ... but she had to get home, where she has four other children.
Please keep this woman -- and the many others just like her -- in your prayers.
Here's today's devotional from Dennis DiMauro of Lutherans for Life...
Day 3 intention
We pray for God's gift of strength as we strive to protect human life during these 40 Days for Life.
Scripture
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
-- Matthew 6:25-26
Reflection
Billions of dollars are spent each year on diet plans. But Jesus tells us to stop worrying so much about our bodies, and instead to trust in God's care for our physical needs.
What would happen if the people who had started on a low-carb diet this year had instead gone on a diet of heavenly food? For non-believers that diet would include trusting in Christ for their salvation, and for believers it would include a renewed prayer life, a new Bible study, or even a spiritual fast. This diet doesn't include giving up on certain kinds of foods. What this diet includes is giving up on anxiety by resting in the loving arms of Christ, trusting that He will provide.
Such a spiritual diet also frees us from our worries, and allows us to freely praise Him and serve others. "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"
This promised provision teaches us the inestimable worth of our lives. He will not allow us to go without. This intimate knowledge and care for human life on the part of our gracious God is what motivates us to seek for the preservation of human life in all its stages.
Prayer
Loving heavenly Father, help us to see the worth of all human beings by the way in which you provide for us. We would ask that you provide also the faith, grace and courage to enable us to protect that which is so precious to you. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.
Printable devotional
Day 3 intention
We pray for God's gift of strength as we strive to protect human life during these 40 Days for Life.
Scripture
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
-- Matthew 6:25-26
Reflection
Billions of dollars are spent each year on diet plans. But Jesus tells us to stop worrying so much about our bodies, and instead to trust in God's care for our physical needs.
What would happen if the people who had started on a low-carb diet this year had instead gone on a diet of heavenly food? For non-believers that diet would include trusting in Christ for their salvation, and for believers it would include a renewed prayer life, a new Bible study, or even a spiritual fast. This diet doesn't include giving up on certain kinds of foods. What this diet includes is giving up on anxiety by resting in the loving arms of Christ, trusting that He will provide.
Such a spiritual diet also frees us from our worries, and allows us to freely praise Him and serve others. "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"
This promised provision teaches us the inestimable worth of our lives. He will not allow us to go without. This intimate knowledge and care for human life on the part of our gracious God is what motivates us to seek for the preservation of human life in all its stages.
Prayer
Loving heavenly Father, help us to see the worth of all human beings by the way in which you provide for us. We would ask that you provide also the faith, grace and courage to enable us to protect that which is so precious to you. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.
Printable devotional
To download today's devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends:
http://40daysforlife.com/docs/fall2013day03print.pdf
http://40daysforlife.com/docs/fall2013day03print.pdf
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