Day 3 and I woke up to the sound of rain again at 4:30 this morning but again by 6:00 am the rain had stopped, so I thank the Lord for a dry hour to pray on the sidewalk.  Today I picked up the signs from the church before going to the clinic, just in case I was by myself again I didn’t want to be without signs.  There was another individual there to pray along side of me during the hour today.  We pray individually yet side by side.

Today did not bring any new revelations in terms of the prayers being prayed along with the meditations of Joyful mysteries that were so inspiring to me during our first two days of the campaign.  But no mind, not every day is going to be exciting and revelatory.  The key, of course is obedience and being faithful to that which God has showed us to do and so I was.  I prayed through the Joyful mysteries today as I had yesterday and the day before.

After praying through the rosary this morning I started to look around at the different offices in this particular office park.  They are mostly medical offices and one, in particular caught my eye, it was a pediatrician.  The sign above the door said – The doctor’s name – Pediatric Care – Complete Care for Kids.  It was the “Complete Care for Kids” that got me.  I thought how ironic.  Here in this office we have doctors and nursing staff who will bend over backwards if necessary to do everything they can to take care of the children who walk through their doors and right behind them in the next row of offices is a doctor and staff who do everything in their power to kill the child who is forced through the door.  I feel such sadness when I think about all that goes on within the abortion clinic, particularly with late term abortions.  It is nothing more than a greedy money making industry and yet somehow this industry has been able to deceive women into believing that this “choice” is vital to their well-being.  But our God is greater and victorious and we will see an end to abortion as He changes one heart at a time!

Before concluding my prayer time this morning I was lead to read Psalm 22.  Psalm 22 is usually associated with the crucifixion of our Lord but some of the verses of that I read in the version I read it in almost brought me to tears.  My prayer this week was focused on the aborted babies and specifically the babies aborted at the Germantown clinic.  However, my prayers were for hope and life for them, prayers about their growing up and being offered to Lord for His service, and growing strong in the knowledge of His word, but today, I heard the cries of those who do not make it the words of Psalm 22.  Look at these words from The Message:

God, God . . . my God!
Why did you dump me
miles from nowhere?
Doubled up with pain, I call to God
all the day long. No answer. Nothing.
I keep at it all night, tossing and turning.

And here I am, a nothing—an earthworm,
something to step on, to squash.
Everyone pokes fun at me;
they make faces at me, they shake their heads:
“Let’s see how God handles this one;
since God likes him so much, let him help him!”

I’m a bucket kicked over and spilled,
every joint in my body has been pulled apart.
My heart is a blob
of melted wax in my gut.
I’m dry as a bone,
my tongue black and swollen.
They have laid me out for burial
in the dirt.

Now packs of wild dogs come at me;
thugs gang up on me.
They pin me down hand and foot,
and lock me in a cage—a bag
Of bones in a cage, stared at
by every passerby.

You, God—don’t put off my rescue!
Hurry and help me!
Don’t let them cut my throat;
don’t let those mongrels devour me.
If you don’t show up soon,
I’m done for—gored by the bulls,
meat for the lions.

(verses 1-2, 6-8, 14-17,19-21)

PRAY FOR AN END TO ABORTION

Well, day 2 and I was on my own today.  I have to say it felt it a little unsettling to be out on the sidewalk by myself and with no signs to indicate why I was there and in the dark, but – I was there!  I walked the sidewalk in front of the abortion clinic and prayed the rosary. 

This week I am praying through the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary.  The first mystery is the Annunciation – the angel Gabriel comes to Mary to announce to her that she is to give birth to a son.  As I reflected on that mystery, I prayed for the women who were given that same announcement – the test is positive, you are pregnant.  Now they are scared and wondering what they are going to do, just as Mary, I’m sure was scared wondered how this was going to work out.  I prayed that these women would have the same courage that Mary had and would make the decision not to abort their child but to give life to their child.  As I reflected on the second mystery of the Visitation I was remembering in the scripture that describes the joy Mary and Elizabeth shared in each other’s visit and how they both recognized they were carrying children who were precious and special in the eyes of God.  I prayed that the women who find themselves pregnant and scared will realize that their child is also precious and very special to God and that He has many plans for the life of this child.  The third mystery is the Nativity – the birth of our Lord.  As I reflected on this wonderful mystery, I thought how every birth is miraculous and wonderful and just found myself beginning to pray that this abortion clinic that currently promotes death will begin to promote life and become a place that encourages and assists women in giving birth!  The fourth joyful mystery is the presentation of the child Jesus in the temple.  As I reflected on this mystery, I prayed that these babies are not only saved from the horrors of abortion but that they are offered to the Lord for his service.  Finally, the fifth joyful mystery is the finding of the child Jesus in the temple.  Jesus told his parents that He needed to be about His Father’s business and this was the reason why He found Himself in the temple conversing with the Rabbi’s.  My prayer for these babies grew to become that they are saved from the horrors of abortion, they are offered to the Lord for His service, and that they are given the opportunity to grow in favor and stature with God and with men through the study of His word and works of service.

Before leaving for the day, I felt lead to begin reading scripture and was lead to read in the book of Esther.  Esther is an interesting book about obedience to God rather than men during a very perilous time in Jewish history.  In the introduction to the book there was a very interesting statement which struck me as so appropriate to keep in mind during the 40 days for life campaign.  The version of the Bible that I was reading from was The Message and the statement was “There is a long history of killing men and women simply because they are perceived as reminders or representatives of the living God, as if killing people who worship God gets rid of God himself.”  Isn’t that all a part of Satan’s plan here?  We, human beings, created in the image and likeness of God, are the ones that Satan is trying eliminate.  If he can continue to destroy babies, he thinks he can kill God himself.  But nothing could be further from the truth.  God is and will be victorious in all things!  Let us always remember the words of Psalm 20:

May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble;
May the name of the God of Jacob defend you;
May He send you help from the sanctuary,
And strengthen you out of Zion;
May He remember all your offerings,
And accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah

May He grant you according to your heart’s desire,
And fulfill all your purpose.
We will rejoice in your salvation,
And in the name of our God we will set up our banners!
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.

Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed;
He will answer him from His holy heaven
With the saving strength of His right hand.

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses;
But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
They have bowed down and fallen;
But we have risen and stand upright.

Save, Lord!
May the King answer us when we call.