“One of the most difficult forms of fasting is
fasting from talking.”
-Msgr. Philip J. Reilly, Founder of the Helpers of God’s Precious Infants
“The most important thing to happen outside of an abortion clinic is for people to be there in prayer.
When a pregnant woman in difficulty approaches the abortion clinic and she sees people praying outside the mill, whether as part of a prayer vigil or as sidewalk counselors praying, the pregnant woman immediately- consciously or subconsciously- thinks of God.
God is made present through your prayerful presence.
And the existence of her hidden unborn baby, the potential victim, whose existence our society forgets or denies, is also made present through your prayerful presence.
Moreover your prayers are obtaining from God for the frightened mothers the trust and courage to choose life for their unborn children.
To be effective the vigil participants and the sidewalk counselors also need each other and should act as one.... It is difficult to maintain silence and prayer over a long period of time. Yet every woman is equally important whether she comes early or late. She must not be deprived of your prayerful presence.
If a volunteer or volunteers need to talk or relax, ... the person or persons should take a brief walk away from the group, rather than turning the prayerful presence into a coffee break.”
September 25, 2010
September 24, 2010
Did you hear the news?
This is one sound bite the forces at work in Planned Parenthood don't want you to hear:
After the New Jersey state Senate defeated an attempt to override the decision of Gov. Chris Christie to cut off state taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood abortion businesses, the first facility run by the national abortion giant is closing.
Praise God!!! May this be the first of many cracks in their foundation. Blow the trumpets in Jericho! The walls will come tumbling down!
After the New Jersey state Senate defeated an attempt to override the decision of Gov. Chris Christie to cut off state taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood abortion businesses, the first facility run by the national abortion giant is closing.
Praise God!!! May this be the first of many cracks in their foundation. Blow the trumpets in Jericho! The walls will come tumbling down!
September 23, 2010
Praise God!
Here is a message from the Omega House sidewalk counselors:
On this beautiful summer-like day we were able to see God working at the Fulton Clinic. This was the second day of the 40 Days For Life which meant there were more people than usual at the Omega House. It was the change of shifts for the Life Counselors and we heard someone ask a couple who had gotten out of their car if they were here to pray. Immediately when I turned around to look and saw the confused look on their face, I knew these were not people here to pray but were people coming to the abortion clinic and had parked in the wrong parking lot. We then switched gears and took our information and discussed why they were there.
They had come all the way from Traverse City and the reason was financial. She had a job but did not have a place to live. Later when I went up to her car, I saw all her belongings, pillow blankets, clothes, etc packed high in the back seat. After a discussion about the help available, the option of adoption, the effects of abortion and giving her the Pause DVD and all the information and Bible that we give, they still said they wanted to go inside. BUT within 10 minutes we saw them walking down the Omega House driveway with a much happier attitude. When I asked if they were ready to accept help she shyly said yes. I expected they would then follow me to a local crisis pregnancy center but they didn't want to and got in the car and shut the doors and windows. A little confused but certain their mind was changed, I walked up to the car with a beautiful gift bag and knocked on the window. At first she wouldn't acknowledge me but then I held up the bag and the guy motioned for her to open the window. When she looked into the gift bag the tears started but they were tears of joy and gratitude. With a hug and a promise to help they left with smiles and waves. I also told them 500 people would be praying for them!
Please pray for J and J that God would give them the courage to call and seek out help because many are ready and willing to help them, and that God would use His Word to give them Hope and show them His tremendous love for them.
Another praise - The clinic was slow today and by noon everyone (except the dr and workers) was gone and even the nurse that assists the dr. left. That too, is an answer to prayer.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
On this beautiful summer-like day we were able to see God working at the Fulton Clinic. This was the second day of the 40 Days For Life which meant there were more people than usual at the Omega House. It was the change of shifts for the Life Counselors and we heard someone ask a couple who had gotten out of their car if they were here to pray. Immediately when I turned around to look and saw the confused look on their face, I knew these were not people here to pray but were people coming to the abortion clinic and had parked in the wrong parking lot. We then switched gears and took our information and discussed why they were there.
They had come all the way from Traverse City and the reason was financial. She had a job but did not have a place to live. Later when I went up to her car, I saw all her belongings, pillow blankets, clothes, etc packed high in the back seat. After a discussion about the help available, the option of adoption, the effects of abortion and giving her the Pause DVD and all the information and Bible that we give, they still said they wanted to go inside. BUT within 10 minutes we saw them walking down the Omega House driveway with a much happier attitude. When I asked if they were ready to accept help she shyly said yes. I expected they would then follow me to a local crisis pregnancy center but they didn't want to and got in the car and shut the doors and windows. A little confused but certain their mind was changed, I walked up to the car with a beautiful gift bag and knocked on the window. At first she wouldn't acknowledge me but then I held up the bag and the guy motioned for her to open the window. When she looked into the gift bag the tears started but they were tears of joy and gratitude. With a hug and a promise to help they left with smiles and waves. I also told them 500 people would be praying for them!
Please pray for J and J that God would give them the courage to call and seek out help because many are ready and willing to help them, and that God would use His Word to give them Hope and show them His tremendous love for them.
Another praise - The clinic was slow today and by noon everyone (except the dr and workers) was gone and even the nurse that assists the dr. left. That too, is an answer to prayer.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Shoo, fly
Last time I challenged you to do the Daniel fast for the entire forty days. Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness and afterward, was tempted by Satan (Matt 4:1-3; Luke 4:2). Moses fasted 40 days on Mount Horeb before he was given the Ten Commandments (Exo. 34:28-29). Elijah fasted for 40 days during a trip from the wilderness to Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:8). But forty days has biblical significance beyond this.
The flood, which cleansed the earth of wickedness, lasted 40 days. Besides Moses fast, his life could be divided into three periods of forty: 40 years in Egypt, 40 years in the desert, 40 years bringing the Israelites to the Promised Land. Jonah told Ninevah they had 40 days to repent or expect judgment from God. The people fasted (Jon 3:5).
It is interesting to note that pesticides are put on crops for forty days in order to destroy flies. If applied for less time, the next generation of flies lives. We read in Matt 12:24 that the Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons. Beelzebub means “lord of the flies.”
So how does this all relate to Forty Days for Life? Flies are just one of the animals the Bible uses to represent demons. Like the need for 40 days of pesticides, if we fast for forty days, we may help destroy the demons in our society which are destroying the unborn. Consider fasting for forty days to help destroy the “flies” in our city,
Franklin, Jentezen. “Fasting.” Charisma House, 2008. Chapter 5.
The flood, which cleansed the earth of wickedness, lasted 40 days. Besides Moses fast, his life could be divided into three periods of forty: 40 years in Egypt, 40 years in the desert, 40 years bringing the Israelites to the Promised Land. Jonah told Ninevah they had 40 days to repent or expect judgment from God. The people fasted (Jon 3:5).
It is interesting to note that pesticides are put on crops for forty days in order to destroy flies. If applied for less time, the next generation of flies lives. We read in Matt 12:24 that the Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons. Beelzebub means “lord of the flies.”
So how does this all relate to Forty Days for Life? Flies are just one of the animals the Bible uses to represent demons. Like the need for 40 days of pesticides, if we fast for forty days, we may help destroy the demons in our society which are destroying the unborn. Consider fasting for forty days to help destroy the “flies” in our city,
Franklin, Jentezen. “Fasting.” Charisma House, 2008. Chapter 5.
September 22, 2010
Let the trumpets sound!!!
The day of the Lord is here!
We have that blessed assurance that the victory already belongs to Christ.
Yet, the powers of darkness have not relinquished their hold in our temporal sphere.
They have not relinquished their hold of 320 Fulton.
So we must meet them head-on, face to the Son, with love in our hearts.
As you stand at 320 [persons with special needs may bring a chair, but they must neither obstruct the sidewalk nor infringe even one centimeter into the property of 320] ask the Lord to bathe the soil of your heart, to nourish it with the seeds of his Word, and ask that it bear fruit worthy of praise. Let YOUR light shine by allowing HIS light to shine in you as you peacefully pray for an end to abortion.
The imagery of land, soil, earth came strongly to mind as we gathered early this morning for the first prayers at 320. We prayed for all of you, dear readers, whether you stand at 320 or stand in solidarity from your living rooms, we prayed that the Lord would bless and protect you, that your heart would be the first place to heal.
320 Fulton is a plot of earth like any other, and we pray it return to mundane purposes once again. We pray that 320 become a nondescript office building where people do normal, everyday, non-perfidious activities like process mortgages or sell plastic pencaps, or whatever. That's how it looks to the average passerby.
But we know differently. What goes on at 320 is not mundane. It's a travesty. It's sinister, and it should frighten us were it not for that blessed assurance.
Jesus will reign here once more. Jesus will reign. My scripture verse this morning was from Isaiah:
"No more shall men call you 'forsaken' or your land 'desolate'
but you shall be called 'My Delight' and your land 'espoused'.
For the Lord delights in you, and makes your land his spouse."
The land in question isn't merely Israel, which was suffering after the Babylonian captivity from homesickness.
No, this land is the soil of your heart, dear reader, and the Lord wants to espouse your heart.
I thought of the plot of earth known as 320. I prayed this morning that the Lord would espouse this plot of earth, resurrect it, and claim it once again for His purposes.
We know it is not being used for His purposes- far from it!
So let's continue to pray for an end to abortion. Pray for an 'end' to 320, that a new life, a new city, a new espousal will take place here. Pray that the powers of darkness will be banished from this place. Another verse comes to mind, this time from Ephesians 6:
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on
the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the
devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,
but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of
this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the
heavenly realms.
For that armor-plating to happen, we must examine the soil in our own hearts. We cannot pray for healing to come to 320 if we have not accepted this healing within our own soul, within our own hearts. God must reign here, at the core of our being, in the solitude where there is no solitude, for God is with us there.
Have you nourished that soil with the Word?
Have you tended the secret recesses of your heart?
Today is the beginning of 40 days. You have plenty of time to begin the Beginning.
"Behold, I make all things new," says the Lord. Let it be ever so~
May the Lord delight in you, dear reader, and rest assured that I delight in you also. Peace!
We have that blessed assurance that the victory already belongs to Christ.
Yet, the powers of darkness have not relinquished their hold in our temporal sphere.
They have not relinquished their hold of 320 Fulton.
So we must meet them head-on, face to the Son, with love in our hearts.
As you stand at 320 [persons with special needs may bring a chair, but they must neither obstruct the sidewalk nor infringe even one centimeter into the property of 320] ask the Lord to bathe the soil of your heart, to nourish it with the seeds of his Word, and ask that it bear fruit worthy of praise. Let YOUR light shine by allowing HIS light to shine in you as you peacefully pray for an end to abortion.
The imagery of land, soil, earth came strongly to mind as we gathered early this morning for the first prayers at 320. We prayed for all of you, dear readers, whether you stand at 320 or stand in solidarity from your living rooms, we prayed that the Lord would bless and protect you, that your heart would be the first place to heal.
320 Fulton is a plot of earth like any other, and we pray it return to mundane purposes once again. We pray that 320 become a nondescript office building where people do normal, everyday, non-perfidious activities like process mortgages or sell plastic pencaps, or whatever. That's how it looks to the average passerby.
But we know differently. What goes on at 320 is not mundane. It's a travesty. It's sinister, and it should frighten us were it not for that blessed assurance.
Jesus will reign here once more. Jesus will reign. My scripture verse this morning was from Isaiah:
"No more shall men call you 'forsaken' or your land 'desolate'
but you shall be called 'My Delight' and your land 'espoused'.
For the Lord delights in you, and makes your land his spouse."
The land in question isn't merely Israel, which was suffering after the Babylonian captivity from homesickness.
No, this land is the soil of your heart, dear reader, and the Lord wants to espouse your heart.
I thought of the plot of earth known as 320. I prayed this morning that the Lord would espouse this plot of earth, resurrect it, and claim it once again for His purposes.
We know it is not being used for His purposes- far from it!
So let's continue to pray for an end to abortion. Pray for an 'end' to 320, that a new life, a new city, a new espousal will take place here. Pray that the powers of darkness will be banished from this place. Another verse comes to mind, this time from Ephesians 6:
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on
the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the
devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,
but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of
this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the
heavenly realms.
For that armor-plating to happen, we must examine the soil in our own hearts. We cannot pray for healing to come to 320 if we have not accepted this healing within our own soul, within our own hearts. God must reign here, at the core of our being, in the solitude where there is no solitude, for God is with us there.
Have you nourished that soil with the Word?
Have you tended the secret recesses of your heart?
Today is the beginning of 40 days. You have plenty of time to begin the Beginning.
"Behold, I make all things new," says the Lord. Let it be ever so~
May the Lord delight in you, dear reader, and rest assured that I delight in you also. Peace!
September 20, 2010
How to stand at 320
I'm not talking about keeping your toes off the grass or the driveway (you should).
I'm talking about how your heart should be as you stand.
Stand ready. Stand because you love. Most importantly-- stand because you are called.
Abbot Joseph, who publishes the Word Incarnate blog, explains:
"For if my people humble themselves...then I will hear from heaven."
I'm talking about how your heart should be as you stand.
Stand ready. Stand because you love. Most importantly-- stand because you are called.
Abbot Joseph, who publishes the Word Incarnate blog, explains:
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, says the Scripture several times, and it is also the beginning of our understanding of who we are before God. It is not the fullness of understanding, since it does not yet convey the tenderness of God’s compassion and love. Yet it is essential that we have something of this holy fear in our experience of God, for if we don’t we will never truly understand or fully appreciate the mercy and love of God. If we only project upon God our own concept or experience of human compassion and love, we will never properly know God and hence will not relate to Him as He desires. It is only when we experience that standing-in-awe before the Holy One, the trembling awareness of our sinfulness and radical insufficiency before the Mysterium Tremendum that is the ineffable glory of the Divine Nature, that we can begin to grasp the magnitude of mercy and God’s limitless love, and the incomprehensible gift of God’s desire to enter into a personal relationship with us in love and joy.Do not stand in doubt of yourself or your reason for being there. Stand boldly, in humility.
There are many who believe in God’s transcendent glory but not in his desire for intimate communion with us. Two Iranian women who became Christians were recently put on trial and imprisoned simply for converting. One of their “blasphemies” was believing that the transcendent God actually spoke to them. The Muslim prosecutor bellowed: “It is impossible for God to do such a thing!” They replied: “So are you saying, then, that God is not Almighty?” The prosecutor changed his tactic and then said: “You are not worthy.” They responded: “It is up to God to decide whether or not we are worthy.” So it precisely because God is Almighty that He can lower Himself to speak with sinful creatures. And it is not for sinful creatures to decide their worthiness or unworthiness to stand before God. We come because He calls.
"For if my people humble themselves...then I will hear from heaven."
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