“Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting
and weeping and mourning.” Joel 2:12 The fall campaign of “40 Days for Life” begins tomorrow, Wednesday, September 28 and continues until Sunday, November 6. It is a time for the pro-life community to join together for 40 days of prayer, fasting, vigil, and community outreach. It is a time to return to the Lord with all your heart. One way is through fasting. But what exactly is fasting? Fasting is when we humbly deny something of the flesh to glorify God and go deeper in our prayer life. The purpose of fasting is to take our eyes off the things of this world and instead focus on God. Fasting is a way to demonstrate to God and to ourselves that we are serious about our relationship with Him. Although fasting in Scripture is almost always a fasting from food, there are other ways to fast. Anything you can temporarily give up (TV, radio, Facebook, snacks, chocolate, alcohol) in order to better focus on God can be considered a fast. Fasting is not intended to punish our flesh, but to focus on God. Whenever you are tempted to indulge in whatever it is you have sacrificed, fill that“void” with God by praying and you may find yourself more often in prayer than before you began your fast (depending on how often you are tempted :). Fasting strengthens us for the Christian lifestyle in which we strive to put God and others first. By fasting, you exercise your self-control and grow in self-discipline. Possibly the greatest work of fasting is quieting the body’s wants so we can be more sensitive to the Holy Spirit. Remember during these 40 days that you are fasting to grow closer to God. So if you slip up now and then, do not despair and quit. Just return to our gracious God, pray for strength, and begin anew. Use these next 40 Days to bring about change not only in the world but inside your own heart! “180” A NEW PRO-LIFE FILM: Share with your friends as part of community outreach for 40 Days for Life. There is a new short film (33 min.) available on the internet at http://180movie.com/ . It is a series of “man on the street” interviews where the interviewer changes people’s minds about abortion in a most remarkable way. You will be amazed at the simplicity and effectiveness of his approach. Wednesday, 40 DAYS FOR LIFE BEGINS! Every day until November 6th: Chicago at Albany Medical Surgical Center, 5086 N. Elston, 24 Hour vigil Sign up for an hour at http://40daysforlife.com/chicago/ Downers Grove at Access Health Center, 1700 75th St., 6:00 am – 6:00 pm vigil Sign up for an hour at http://40daysforlife.com/downersgrove/ News from last two Thursdays’ Forest View vigils: ** On September 15th, we estimate that FIVE precious infants were killed at Forest View Medical Center. ** Tempers flared as we approached a young man to offer him information and he began to yell at us. This does not happen as often as you may think at the clinic. More common is complete denial of what they are doing at the clinic. See below. **On Sept. 22nd, THREE couples brought their unborn children to be murdered at Forest View. ** One Filipino married couple was willing to talk with one of our counselors. The husband, however, did most of the talking for them. The woman stood by appearing very uncomfortable. He told us they are Catholic, have two children, and only came to Forest View because his wife “wasn’t feeling well.” When she was asked, she just shrugged. Hours later they exited the facility with the wife in very bad shape as many women are after an abortion. They would not stop on the way out to get a Project Rachel brochure. As they lie to us, they must be also lying to themselves about the truth that abortion kills a human being. ** Special Request: Are you a knitter? No one has yet responded! We are almost out of baby booties to give to mothers entering or leaving the clinic. These small tokens of love are a powerful physical symbol of the life inside which they cannot yet see. Would you be willing to knit some pink or blue booties? Please let us know. Your handiwork could make the difference between life and death. News about your spiritually adopted baby: ** Your spiritually adopted baby is 30 weeks old (32 weeks LMP). The mother is probably feeling VERY pregnant these days and may be uncomfortable. Pray for her to embrace this time of preparation and look forward to the day she will hold her baby in her arms. And, of course, pray every day for your spiritually adopted baby. For more information on Spiritual Adoption see www.spiritualadoption.org. Would your parish, prayer group, Bible study, youth group, etc. consider a group spiritual adoption during Respect Life month this October? Bob Paige will send you everything you need (and more!) to get started. You can email him at [email protected] or check out the website above. See our upcoming events page for more!
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Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him (Peter), and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:31
This is one of my favorite Bible stories. Peter and the apostles are in a boat. They see Jesus walking on the stormy sea and, in awe, Peter calls out, “If it’s really you, tell me to come out on the water too.” And indeed Jesus does call out, “Come!” How often are we like Peter saying to God, “If you’re really there, God, then show me!” How many times in our lives do we feel Jesus calling out to us to come walk with Him in faith? We yearn for a sign of God’s presence in our lives, and yet sometimes when he does call us “out of the boat,” we are reluctant to go. We fear the storm.Like Peter, we take our eyes off of our Lord.We worry about what could happen to us if we give ourselves completely over to God’s will. What will people say if you tell them of your pro-life stance? What will happen if you go pray at an abortion mill?The “winds” of fear can whip us into staying inside the boat like the other apostles did. Decide to “get out of the boat” today. And if things get tough, cry out with Peter, “Lord, save me!” Let Jesus reach out to you in whatever challenges face you today. Allow Him to take a firm hold of your hand.Be filled with the strength of the Holy Spirit, and be brave enough to “get out of the boat.” You’ll be amazed at what you and God can do. Then you’ll wonder why you ever doubted! SPECIAL NOTICE:Parking at Forest View We can no longer park in front of the 2720 S. River Rd. building.Instead park around the back of the building or in the lot of the 2700 building to the north with gold windows.Thank you! News from last three Thursdays’ Forest View vigils: ** On August 25th, FOUR babies were murdered at Forest View Medical Center. ** We approached one man as he sat in his car waiting for his girlfriend.The man said he had “500 problems” and he was taking care of one, gesturing to the clinic.What this man failed to acknowledge is that instead of “taking care of one,” he would only be adding countless more problems to his life. **On Sept. 1st, we estimate THREE women chose to have the infants in their womb killed. ** A young Indian couple was there with their beautiful 9 month old daughter.I was able to speak to the husband who told me that his wife had miscarried and was at Forest View to endure a painful D & C (read more about D & C here http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/dandc.html ).D & C is no longer commonly used for abortions as suction aspiration is the most common.I asked if we could pray for them and he responded, “Please do!”Include his wife Toni and the whole family in your prayers. ** On Sept. 8th, SIX couples refused the gift of LIFE extended to them by God.However, ONE couple accepted LIFE! ** Stephanie and Sal, a married couple in their early thirties, arrived around 9:30.They did not want to talk to us. As we continued to pray outside, they came out before the doctor arrived and got into their car. I approached the car and asked what happened.They told me they had been seeking an abortion because their two daughters were older and they didn’t want to “start over again.” I showed them pictures of couples from a website desperate to adopt, and Stephanie blurted out, “Oh, no, I’m keeping my baby!”I gave them a Women’s Center brochure and some blue baby booties, because Stephanie said she would love to have a boy! Please pray for them, that they will have the faith in God to trust in His plan for their family. Special Request: Are you a knitter? We are almost out of baby booties to give to mothers entering or leaving the clinic. These small tokens of love are a powerful physical symbol of the life inside which they cannot yet see. Would you be willing to knit some pink or blue booties? Please let us know. Your handiwork could make the difference between life and death. ** The culture of death forced one young mother into abortion that day. Trina was unsure about the abortion after we showed her the malpractice suits, fetal development pictures, the list of prices for post-abortive baby parts, and explained the abortion process to her.She kept going back and forth to her boyfriend’s car to show him the information.A nurse was sent out of the clinic to get her.She came in and out three times, until finally the powers of death prevailed.5 hours after Trina arrived, she left without her precious baby. The change in her expression was devastating. Before the abortion, you could have powered the sun with her smile .Afterward it was as if her heart was broken. I hugged her and gave her a Project Rachel brochure.She thanked me and left. God can heal all. Pray that Trina will seek His forgiveness. News about your spiritually adopted baby: ** Your spiritually adopted baby is 28 weeks old (30 weeks LMP).It’s hard to believe but this little angel is already 3 pounds heavy and 16 inches long.Eyebrows and eyelashes are filling in, along with a bit of a hairdo! Fingernails are forming. Please continue to pray every day for your spiritually adopted baby.For more information on Spiritual Adoption see www.spiritualadoption.org. - Would your parish, prayer group, Bible study, youth group, etc. consider a group spiritual adoption during Respect Life month this October? Bob Paige will send you everything you need (and more!) to get started.You can email him at [email protected] or check out the website above. |
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