Week 5: Last chance to be faithful!!

 

We have only 10 days left before the end of this year's 40 Days for Life!

I've done this week's devotional in a "Q + A" style - they represent the vast majority of questions I get. I hope you'll contemplate both the questions and the answers and how they apply to you in these last days of the prayer vigil:

Q: Can I just pray from home / it's hard to get to the prayer vigil

A: In response, I reflect upon how important it is for me to get to church each Sunday - can I just pray to God from home? [No!] The blessings of making it to the prayer vigil and being a visible sign far outweigh the difficulties and the inconveniences.

Q: The vigil schedule doesn't seem like it's full, looks like it isn't going so well

A: This is an important comment and it reflects how we think as humans. We often see output as the measure of success. But in this case, it's all about input! I believe we all need to ask ourselves individually - "Am I being faithful to what God has called me to do this Lent (ie. inputs)?". If God calls me to do 5 hours a week and I do 2 hours a week, then I'm not being faithful to His call, even though it looks like a lot of time! But also, if God calls me to do just 1 hour over the entire 40 Days for Life and I don't do it, that's also being unfaithful. What you're being called to do can only be answered through prayer.

Q: It's too late to be involved; the vigil is almost over, I'll just wait until next year (or the year after)

A: It's not too late! The need for people to pray at the abortion mill is greater and more urgent than ever. During the time between this prayer vigil and next year's another 50 million children will be killed! It's an unfathomable number. And I've heard so many stories about people who've joined late in the vigil who've had amazing experiences during their prayer time. And lastly, you might be the one person who speaks to a woman and stops her from making the most horrible decision she'll ever make in her life - you could be the difference between life and death.

Lastly, don't forget this is a spiritual battle! Only the devil could make a mother turn from this:

"Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb?" (Isaiah 49:15)

into someone who could contemplate and carry out the murder of her own child. Be prepared for spiritual attacks (depression, anger, helplessness, etc.) and the physical ("bad luck" such as car troubles, late trains/buses, things going wrong that normally don't, etc.) and remember that through prayer, God is on your side!

 

Week 3: BIG PLANS for the Year's Midpoint Rally

BIG PLANS for this Year’s Midpoint!

Our Midpoint Rally is only days away, and I’d like to share the BIG PLANS that we have for this year!

Not only will we have the opportunity to meet each other, encourage each other, share our stories with one another, and welcome newcomers to 40 Days for Life, but we will have the opportunity to PRAY TOGETHER at the vigil site!

Let's show up in big numbers to show our faithfulness to God's calling!

Stories to Share

Thank you for sharing your story! Michael shares how God uses his prayer to pray for the unborn.

 

“I simply wanted to say how well I feel praying non-stop for two or one hour slots
non-stop. Often there are blank bits of course and I am happy to just be there as I
pray about what is happening inside the building.

I usually don't block out any subject for prayer. I might pray for an adult for
freedom in their life; but often the Lord leads me to relate that same prayer to unborn
children –that somehow they experience from God some freedom.”

 
A note from Judy

Perhaps you’re like me – you’re praying and fasting for an end to abortion, but you’re doing this mostly from home because your time is devoted to raising your very own precious little ones. I often feel that during this season of my life (being a young mother with very young children), a great deal of my pro-life work involves loving, teaching and nurturing the precious gifts of life that God has entrusted to my care.

At the beginning of each and every 40 Days for Life campaign, I seem to struggle to find a suitable time to just ‘get out there and pray!’ From a safety point of view, the busy intersection in front of the abortion clinic is not an ideal place to be with toddlers who won’t sit still in a pram. So for me, I have to find a time when my family members can care for my little ones.

Well the opportunity arose, and I managed to – for the first time during this campaign – get out there and pray (on Day 10 of the 40 Days). I am glad that I did – for it is when I am at the place where precious lives of infants are taken from the comfort of their mothers’ wombs that my prayers are more fervent. My prayers feel really needed, and my faith is deepened.

While I was on the footpath and praying, I knew I was answering God’s call to be there, and I didn’t want to leave. Only when I am at praying at the vigil site, do I gain a better understanding of the urgency of our visible, prayerful presence. Prayer outside of the abortion clinic in Brisbane is needed! Prayer outside the abortion clinic is necessary for God to transform hearts and minds!!!!

Thank you to all of you who are participating in this 40 Days for Life, and thank you to those who are getting to the vigil site to pray. I am praying that all of us can respond more deeply to this urgent call. May we become the hands and feet of Christ, in a place that so desperately needs His healing love.

Week 2 - Connectedn​ess: Let us build each other up!

Story Time!

We all like to hear a good story – especially one that is filled with encouragement! If you have a story to share from your experience at the vigil site this year, please e-mail it to us (with the Subject Line: Story to share from [your name].)

In 1 Thessalonians 5, we are reminded that we are each other’s strength… “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up…”

Let us build one another up by unifying our efforts and staying connected, as we pray for an end to abortion.

Updates from Around the World

Did you know that this 40 Days for Life campaign is currently taking place in 261 locations worldwide? Here in Brisbane, we are just some of the many members of the Body of Christ who are answering the call to pray for an end to abortion. I’ve signed up to receive the e-mail updates from Shawn Carney, campaign director for 40 Days for Life. Each day, I feel connected with 40 Days for Life by reading the updates, praying for the daily intention, and reading the Scripture and reflection. If you’re not already signed up to receive these updates and would like to, simply go to http://www.40daysforlife.com/ Next, 1.) find “Get the Latest” fill in your details, and click on “Send me updates!” or 2.) Follow the blog space on http://40daysforlife.com/blog/

Vigil Calendar

A sincere thank you to all who are currently signed up for vigil hours.

There are still plenty of hours that are in need of prayer. To offer your prayerful support:

1. Visit http://www.40daysforlife.com/brisbane/index.cfm?load=page&page=3 to view the read-only calendar.

2. E-mail us at 40daysbrisbane@gmail.com (with the Subject Line: [your 3 initials] and time slot) to let us know when you are able to pray outside the abortion clinic at 8 Campbell Street, Bowen Hills.

3. Be sure to turn up and Pray, Pray, Pray!!! Pray like you've never prayed before. A great way to get others involved in joining the 40 Days for Life campaign is to invite someone personally to pray with you at the vigil site. It’s also a great way to ensure that you’ll have a prayer partner during your time of prayer.

(Kindly note that all vigil participants are required to sign the Statement of Peace. If you invite someone along, be sure to direct them to http://www.40daysforlife.com/brisbane/index.cfm?load=page&page=151where they can read and sign this statement online. Thank you.)

 

Lent 2013 Week 1 - A Child WANTS to be born!

 

Our theme for this year's 40 Days for Life is "A Child is Born". The team came up with this theme as we were reflecting on how close Lent 2013 is to Christmas 2012.

So soon after celebrating the Child of all children, Jesus, being born, we are faced with the tragedy of 100,000 Australian children being killed in the womb each year.

That's each and every year. Not just a once off.

But let's not lose hope! This Lenten period is about reaching out to God to beg him to end abortion. It's about praying and fasting with all our might. It's about spreading the word, even if to just family and friends or fellow parishioners that abortion is happening and it has to be ended! And it's about praying at the abortion mill at Bowen Hills to offer Christ's love and hope to anyone entering the building. Our prayerful witness will save the lives of some babies, but there could be mothers who will walk past us and go in anyway. In this situation, we will be the last person that a baby will have pray for them before he or she is killed.

I also want to include this picture that I received a few weeks ago for you to reflect upon over the next 40 Days. This picture represents all the children that want to be born (this may be an attachment in your email):

 

 

This is a beautiful baby at just 12 weeks old. This is the average age of a baby that is subjected to abortion. I don't see a "bunch of cells" or a "foetus". I see a child crying out to be born.

I see a baby I want to pray for over the next 40 days.

Prayer

"Dear God, help us to remain focused on the work You want us to carry out over the next 40 days of prayer. Be with us as we stand outside in prayerful vigil at the abortion mill at Bowen Hills. Give us the words to say when we speak of this tragedy to the people we meet. And most of all, let us pray and fast fervently to bring the end to abortion as soon as possible. In your precious name Jesus, Amen."

 

May God richly bless you and your efforts over the next 40 Days!

 

Hot Cross Buns from Heaven

Here's a neat final story from one of our participants:

"Last night as we were starting our final vigil for 2012, a large car pulled up on Campbell Street and a young woman got out and walked towards us.

As we waited, wondering whether she was a supporter or not, she began to speak.

" I just wanted to thank you all for taking time out of your day to come and pray at this place." She then pulled out three hot cross buns, nicely warmed, one for each of us."Thanks for your prayers." We responded, thanking her for her prayers too. Then she left.

We know it was a message for everyone who participated in 40 Days for Life, not just us - whether they prayed at the clinic, or from home or as they travelled past. God sent us all a message of thanks."

What's the first time like?

It's been four years since my first trip to Bowen Hills to pray outside the abortion clinic, and I still remember it very clearly - daunting, powerful, humbling.

Here's another person who wrote to us to tell us what her first time this year was like:

“I had not been to pray outside an abortion clinic before. I had seen some footage and read a fair amount of news from various marches, rallies and protests for the right to life around the world, and as far as 40 Days for Life went, I did not really know what to expect.

With a little encouragement from a friend, I signed up for my first prayer shift at Bowen Hills abortion clinic. I thought that it may have been too out of the way as I was travelling by public transport, however it was only a very short walk up the road from the train station and much easier to get to than I originally thought.

As I walked towards the clinic I felt a little nervous not really knowing what to expect. I didn’t know if I was going to get abuse hurled at me from some people driving by on the busy roads or perhaps some food thrown at me! Once I arrived, I took out my rosary and umbrella (it was close to midday) and began my hour and a half of prayers for the unborn, mothers, fathers and those who work in the abortion industry. As I stood there praying, a lady driving by honked encouragingly, smiled and waved. During my shift no one went into the clinic as a patient. However, many cars drove by and some of the workers in the clinic went in and out.

Before long, my shift was drawing to a close. 3pm came and I began more prayers as I stared up at the heavily tinted windows of the clinic knowing that while the people inside may have decided to dislike me and the people driving by may have not even noticed me, to God who is bigger than the culture of death no prayer goes unheard. This gave me a new sense of hope in the fight for life and I thanked God for hearing my feeble prayers and the prayers all over the world that are saving the lives of the most vulnerable.

As I walked back to the train station, I began to think of my week ahead and when I would next be free to pray outside the clinic. Even if a piece of rotted fruit is thrown my way or I am abused by some passers-by next time, human life is worth taking it for.” - Catherine

Maybe your first time will be the same - to find out more, please go to http://www.40daysforlife.com/brisbane or send us an e-mail at 40daysbrisbane@gmail.com

"Anti-abortion fight likened to bid to end slavery"

We are thankful that the Brisbane Times has run an article entitled "Anti-abortion fight likened to bid to end slavery" on 8 February 2012. You can read the article here.

Our 40 Days for Life group in Brisbane is always pleased to get media attention - this allows the broader public to see what's going on behind closed doors in the abortion industry.

I would like to make the following comments that should be read in conjunction with that article, to clarify what we do.

• We have never been a "protest". A protest invokes images of chanting and yelling, things we have never, ever done. We are silently praying. We do not approach women, but are happy to talk to them if they need to talk to us

• In reference to the clinic director's comments, their "patients' privacy and safety" is not their number one concern. Their number one concern is making money. Ask them how many abortions they would carry out if they had to do them for free.

• In response to the headline "Anti-abortion fight likened to bid to end slavery", this is not quite what was said or intended. I made reference to the thinking on slavery being acceptable to being unacceptable, and that is what 40 Days for Life is intending - to change peoples' thinking that abortion is acceptable to being unacceptable.

• In reference to the clinic director's comment that "a woman's decision to terminate her pregnancy is a matter for her and her doctor" doesn't give any validation to the human being that is about to be killed in the womb. Science has proven time and again that a human is formed at conception and this is widely agreed by both pro-life and pro-choice debaters, especially doctors who perform abortions.

We look forward to another successful 40 Days for Life prayer campaign in 2012. If you would like to be part of our vigil or to find out more, please go to 40daysforlife.com/Brisbane