================
With all of the spiritual skirmishes going on lately, I thought it necessary to report on positive experiences that a couple of us had in the wee hours of the morning.
Last night, I was with two other guys from the Knight Shift. Shortly after I got there, a van pulled into one of the driveways close to where we were praying. A man got out of his van and asked if we needed coffee or hot chocolate or anything like that. He said that he’d seen us praying the nights that he’d driven by. He’d seen the people praying and doing spiritual battle with the protesters during the day. He felt compelled to stop and encourage us. After a few minutes of conversation he thanked all of us for taking a stand against this terrible tragedy and then left.
About an hour later, a young man was walking down the street. As he passed us, he made a point of patting each of the three of us on the shoulder. One of my fellow Knights observed that there are a bunch of men who appreciate what 40 Days is doing.
There are many people watching us pray. It’s difficult to see the effects of what we’re doing especially when horns are blaring and signs are being waved and we’re being mocked. Our silent prayers in the middle of the night and humble postures of prayer during the day remain in stark contrast to the hoopla that our friends are generating with their signs, coat hangers, show tunes, dancing and cheering. Seems that this is pretty characteristic of spiritual warfare. The most logical and rational arguments will not achieve what is possible with prayer and humility.
================
God Bless,
Michael A. Dupont
October 20, 2010
October 19, 2010
Foment is momentum
When you get a scraped knee, what do you do? You pour some hydrogen peroxide on it and it foams and stings at the site of the wound. The fomentation is a signal that cleansing is taking place. When a wound heals, it expels pus, also a good sign, however icky it might be.
Likewise, when Christ began his public ministry, espcially as recorded in the Gospel of Mark, each time he set forth, he cast out demons. It was such a commonplace activity that the Gospel writer stopped mentioning it or seems to toss it in with other healings, almost with a nonchalance, as though that's just an average day in the life of a Messiah.
Think about that for a minute. Wherever Christ went, what announces his arrival in many cases is the screaming anguish of a possessed individual as the demons flee. There were some dramatic scenarios in which the person foamed at the mouth, yet in every instance, the demons cowered before the God-Man, acknowledging His power over them.
It had to have been quite a spectacle, not unlike what some of us have witnesed at 320 Fulton. People screaming, confrontations, all signals that healing work is being done. As the Body of Christ, we should come forward expecting these kind of results. It's what happens when Christ steps into a place of sin and woundedness. He heals, He casts out demons, and there may be fomentation, but that precedes the miracle of healing that follows.
The dispossessed in Mark's Gospel not only were restored in their body, they were now cleansed, free to move about society once again, restored to personhood, with dignity. They could stand whole and hale once more.
We yearn for this outcome at 320 Fulton- do we dare question God's ways when our prayers are clearly being answered? Healing will come. The restoration of dignity and personhood will come. The demons will be driven away and their wrath will be powerless. Let us continue to invite the Prince of Peace, who no power on earth could overcome, to restore 320 and the souls therein. May His will be done! AMEN! Peace be with you~
Likewise, when Christ began his public ministry, espcially as recorded in the Gospel of Mark, each time he set forth, he cast out demons. It was such a commonplace activity that the Gospel writer stopped mentioning it or seems to toss it in with other healings, almost with a nonchalance, as though that's just an average day in the life of a Messiah.
Think about that for a minute. Wherever Christ went, what announces his arrival in many cases is the screaming anguish of a possessed individual as the demons flee. There were some dramatic scenarios in which the person foamed at the mouth, yet in every instance, the demons cowered before the God-Man, acknowledging His power over them.
It had to have been quite a spectacle, not unlike what some of us have witnesed at 320 Fulton. People screaming, confrontations, all signals that healing work is being done. As the Body of Christ, we should come forward expecting these kind of results. It's what happens when Christ steps into a place of sin and woundedness. He heals, He casts out demons, and there may be fomentation, but that precedes the miracle of healing that follows.
The dispossessed in Mark's Gospel not only were restored in their body, they were now cleansed, free to move about society once again, restored to personhood, with dignity. They could stand whole and hale once more.
We yearn for this outcome at 320 Fulton- do we dare question God's ways when our prayers are clearly being answered? Healing will come. The restoration of dignity and personhood will come. The demons will be driven away and their wrath will be powerless. Let us continue to invite the Prince of Peace, who no power on earth could overcome, to restore 320 and the souls therein. May His will be done! AMEN! Peace be with you~
October 17, 2010
Salt & Light
Our prayer vigil has begun to attract a great deal of attention. There is one young man who regularly protests our presence. Please pray for him, that his conscience will be illuminated and the Holy Spirit's gifts come upon him. We have had some pro-abortion mothers of infant children denounce what we are peacefully doing at 320. We have had some emails from people wrestling with this issue and offering various kinds of feedback, along the lines of, "What's the point of praying?"
All of these are opportunities to invite another soul into the radiance of our Loving Creator's affections. No response is needed except our continuing to quietly pray. That's precisely why we are there. If praying calls forth the anger of others, pray for healing and balm. If it calls forth fear, pray for trust. If it calls forth support, praise God! Everything that takes place on the sidewalk is cause for prayer, and every moent is one for which we should give thanks to Almighty God who has formed each of us and guides each of us and asks that we draw others to the Peace which surpasses all understanding.
Peace be with all of you at 320. Peace be with those who see you praying. Peace be with the souls affected by our prayers.
All of these are opportunities to invite another soul into the radiance of our Loving Creator's affections. No response is needed except our continuing to quietly pray. That's precisely why we are there. If praying calls forth the anger of others, pray for healing and balm. If it calls forth fear, pray for trust. If it calls forth support, praise God! Everything that takes place on the sidewalk is cause for prayer, and every moent is one for which we should give thanks to Almighty God who has formed each of us and guides each of us and asks that we draw others to the Peace which surpasses all understanding.
Peace be with all of you at 320. Peace be with those who see you praying. Peace be with the souls affected by our prayers.
October 12, 2010
From the National website
One of the most joyful things about a 40 Days for Life
prayer vigil is the sight of a family praying together.
We see it all the time. And because Jesus asked the
disciples to let the little children come to Him, we
are sure that He is most attentive to their prayers.
One family prayed at a 40 Days for Life vigil recently
... and then wrote about it on our blog!
"During 40 Days for Life, I went to a prayer tent,"
said 6-year-old Glory. "We prayed out loud from 9:00 to
10:00 so abortion will stop. We had to wake up at 7:00
in the morning. I was so sleepy, but I had to eat. Then
I brushed my teeth and changed my clothes. I am fasting
from rice milk so babies won't die."
"40 Days for Life is praying and fasting to end
abortion," said Mary Jane, who is 8. "I am fasting from
bagels because I eat them a lot. So I am fasting from
them. I think God will help us, and abortion will stop."
"For 40 Days for Life, I’m fasting from bananas because
I really like them, and we eat them a lot," wrote
10-year-old Parker. "When I want to eat them, I pray
for mothers that are pregnant so that they don’t have
an abortion and for all the people that had an abortion
so that they don’t have another one."
Thanks to Glory, Mary Jane and Parker for their
sacrifices -- and for the parents who are raising
children with a love for God
prayer vigil is the sight of a family praying together.
We see it all the time. And because Jesus asked the
disciples to let the little children come to Him, we
are sure that He is most attentive to their prayers.
One family prayed at a 40 Days for Life vigil recently
... and then wrote about it on our blog!
"During 40 Days for Life, I went to a prayer tent,"
said 6-year-old Glory. "We prayed out loud from 9:00 to
10:00 so abortion will stop. We had to wake up at 7:00
in the morning. I was so sleepy, but I had to eat. Then
I brushed my teeth and changed my clothes. I am fasting
from rice milk so babies won't die."
"40 Days for Life is praying and fasting to end
abortion," said Mary Jane, who is 8. "I am fasting from
bagels because I eat them a lot. So I am fasting from
them. I think God will help us, and abortion will stop."
"For 40 Days for Life, I’m fasting from bananas because
I really like them, and we eat them a lot," wrote
10-year-old Parker. "When I want to eat them, I pray
for mothers that are pregnant so that they don’t have
an abortion and for all the people that had an abortion
so that they don’t have another one."
Thanks to Glory, Mary Jane and Parker for their
sacrifices -- and for the parents who are raising
children with a love for God
October 07, 2010
Some ideas for fasting
from one of our prayer volunteers:
1. Wake like a hero. Get up the first time the alarm goes off. Don’t hit the snooze button, instead practice “the heroic moment"-- Roll out of bed, kiss the floor, and offer your day to Jesus.
2. Be on time. To everything . . . Punctuality shows respect for others and yourself. It’s a perfect fast because it’s a small thing, but hard to do.
3. Be cheerful even when you don’t feel like it. Every one you meet is engaged in a great struggle, not just you. Offer it up and be friendly. You might feel like an old shoe, but your attitude doesn’t need to smell like one. Smiles are free, they’re easy, and they go a long way towards boosting morale—maybe even your own.
4. Order a smaller size. This is a ridiculously simple mortification, but a surprisingly hard one to do. For whatever reason, Americans feel entitled to jumbo-sized beverages and meal portions—they don’t even have small drinks at McDonald’s anymore—so this is a meaningful act of self-denial.
5. Don't eat meat on Friday, the day our Lord gave up his life for us on the Cross.
1. Wake like a hero. Get up the first time the alarm goes off. Don’t hit the snooze button, instead practice “the heroic moment"-- Roll out of bed, kiss the floor, and offer your day to Jesus.
2. Be on time. To everything . . . Punctuality shows respect for others and yourself. It’s a perfect fast because it’s a small thing, but hard to do.
3. Be cheerful even when you don’t feel like it. Every one you meet is engaged in a great struggle, not just you. Offer it up and be friendly. You might feel like an old shoe, but your attitude doesn’t need to smell like one. Smiles are free, they’re easy, and they go a long way towards boosting morale—maybe even your own.
4. Order a smaller size. This is a ridiculously simple mortification, but a surprisingly hard one to do. For whatever reason, Americans feel entitled to jumbo-sized beverages and meal portions—they don’t even have small drinks at McDonald’s anymore—so this is a meaningful act of self-denial.
5. Don't eat meat on Friday, the day our Lord gave up his life for us on the Cross.
October 04, 2010
If he can do it, so can you
I’ll be honest: Pro-Lifers annoy me sometimes...
I wish some Pro-Lifers didn’t play fast and loose with their figures, or quote their enemies out of context. I wish some of them could afford websites that didn’t make me want to gouge my eyes out in aesthetic horror, or proofreaders for their rambling, poorly-spelled emails. I wish some of them didn’t post twenty articles to Facebook a day, all on the same subject, using an overabundance of capital letters.
[snip]
Anyway, for all of the above reasons, I was kind of surprised with myself when the email I got about 40 Days For Life somehow got me to register for a time slot in front of Planned Parenthood.
Because, you know, it’s not really my scene. I’m pretty content with just throwing out a stray Hail Mary for the cause now and then. I’ve been to these things before, because people have dragged me, but never on my own initiative.
[snip]
Pro-Lifers annoy me, sure; but, as my family will tell you, that’s not terribly hard to do. Just chewing the wrong way might be enough.
And they might have terrible grammar (some of ‘em), but while I’m sitting at home and looking at FAIL Blog, they’re out fighting the good fight. And unfortunately for me, I’m pretty sure that excellent grammar doesn’t count for much, Judgment-Day-wise. (“But Lord! When did I ever see thee dangle a preposition, or misplace a modifier, or misuse an apostrophe, and not correct thee?”)
You may want to read the rest of his entry here. I think it speaks to the magnitude of 40Days that it can draw slackers like this blogger against their baser inclinations. I think all of us can relate to his desire to simply shrug it off, that sense of responsibility, that prick of one's conscience.
40DFL succeeds because it allows people to step in quietly and do their part to help a cause that the majority of Americans know in their hearts is just. Not all of us want to be "one of those pro-life people", but all of us know that abortion is wrong. If we give God an inch, even begrudgingly, He will take us miles beyond what we thought we were able to do.
I wish some Pro-Lifers didn’t play fast and loose with their figures, or quote their enemies out of context. I wish some of them could afford websites that didn’t make me want to gouge my eyes out in aesthetic horror, or proofreaders for their rambling, poorly-spelled emails. I wish some of them didn’t post twenty articles to Facebook a day, all on the same subject, using an overabundance of capital letters.
[snip]
Anyway, for all of the above reasons, I was kind of surprised with myself when the email I got about 40 Days For Life somehow got me to register for a time slot in front of Planned Parenthood.
Because, you know, it’s not really my scene. I’m pretty content with just throwing out a stray Hail Mary for the cause now and then. I’ve been to these things before, because people have dragged me, but never on my own initiative.
[snip]
Pro-Lifers annoy me, sure; but, as my family will tell you, that’s not terribly hard to do. Just chewing the wrong way might be enough.
And they might have terrible grammar (some of ‘em), but while I’m sitting at home and looking at FAIL Blog, they’re out fighting the good fight. And unfortunately for me, I’m pretty sure that excellent grammar doesn’t count for much, Judgment-Day-wise. (“But Lord! When did I ever see thee dangle a preposition, or misplace a modifier, or misuse an apostrophe, and not correct thee?”)
You may want to read the rest of his entry here. I think it speaks to the magnitude of 40Days that it can draw slackers like this blogger against their baser inclinations. I think all of us can relate to his desire to simply shrug it off, that sense of responsibility, that prick of one's conscience.
40DFL succeeds because it allows people to step in quietly and do their part to help a cause that the majority of Americans know in their hearts is just. Not all of us want to be "one of those pro-life people", but all of us know that abortion is wrong. If we give God an inch, even begrudgingly, He will take us miles beyond what we thought we were able to do.
October 03, 2010
I really like this one
-----------------------------------------------------
DAY 12 INTENTION
-----------------------------------------------------
May the King of the Universe, who entered this world
as a helpless infant, give us the humility to be
healed.
-----------------------------------------------------
SCRIPTURE
-----------------------------------------------------
My power is made perfect in weakness.
--2 Corinthians 12:9
-----------------------------------------------------
REFLECTION by Kevin Burke, Rachel's Vineyard
-----------------------------------------------------
The great mystery of the Humility of God is very near
and dear to the mission of those serving in pro life
and in a special way, post abortion ministries across
this nation.
For those wounded by their participation in abortion,
the door to healing often feels like crossing an
abyss of great fear: fear of judgment, fear of being
torn apart by the pain, by self hatred and rage at
those who hurt and abandoned you, and manipulated you
in your time of temptation.
For men in particular, entering the unknown waters of
emotional vulnerability, so necessary to healing
calls for a different kind of courage that feels
deceptively like weakness.
The door to healing is humility. It is born in the
inability to no longer control the pain, to live with
the consequences of that tragic decision to reject
life. The hearts cries out, "I have committed a grave
offense against my Creator and I am consumed by
regret, grief and sorrow!"
During these forty days let us pray for all who have
participated in abortion and with love call them to
healing and reconciliation. With healing these women
and men can become as John Paul II proclaimed in the
Gospel of Life, "the most eloquent defenders of
everyone's right to life."
Jesus proclaimed, "I am the Vine, you are the
branches" (John 15:5). To bear the greatest fruit,
the branches must be pruned. Each level of pruning of
the vine requires a deeper level of humility so that
we can abandon ourselves to His will.
This is not a lofty theological concept as much as it
is an earthy experience of pulling weeds, tilling
rocky soil, pruning and healing the vines. "If a man
wishes to come after me, he must deny his very self,
take up his cross, and begin to follow in my
footsteps" (Matthew 16:24).
-----------------------------------------------------
PRAYER
-----------------------------------------------------
Lord, during these forty days, we ask that with each
day of this sacred vigil, everything in us that
separates us from your perfect will would be pruned
from our hearts and souls.
In this blessed freedom may we experience a powerful
anointing of your Holy Spirit. Filled with confidence
and trust may we proclaim with the mother of Jesus,
"Let it be done to me, according to your Word."
-----------------------------------------------------
PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
-----------------------------------------------------
To download today's devotional as a formatted,
printable PDF to share with friends:
http://40daysforlife.com/docs/fall2010day12print.pdf
DAY 12 INTENTION
-----------------------------------------------------
May the King of the Universe, who entered this world
as a helpless infant, give us the humility to be
healed.
-----------------------------------------------------
SCRIPTURE
-----------------------------------------------------
My power is made perfect in weakness.
--2 Corinthians 12:9
-----------------------------------------------------
REFLECTION by Kevin Burke, Rachel's Vineyard
-----------------------------------------------------
The great mystery of the Humility of God is very near
and dear to the mission of those serving in pro life
and in a special way, post abortion ministries across
this nation.
For those wounded by their participation in abortion,
the door to healing often feels like crossing an
abyss of great fear: fear of judgment, fear of being
torn apart by the pain, by self hatred and rage at
those who hurt and abandoned you, and manipulated you
in your time of temptation.
For men in particular, entering the unknown waters of
emotional vulnerability, so necessary to healing
calls for a different kind of courage that feels
deceptively like weakness.
The door to healing is humility. It is born in the
inability to no longer control the pain, to live with
the consequences of that tragic decision to reject
life. The hearts cries out, "I have committed a grave
offense against my Creator and I am consumed by
regret, grief and sorrow!"
During these forty days let us pray for all who have
participated in abortion and with love call them to
healing and reconciliation. With healing these women
and men can become as John Paul II proclaimed in the
Gospel of Life, "the most eloquent defenders of
everyone's right to life."
Jesus proclaimed, "I am the Vine, you are the
branches" (John 15:5). To bear the greatest fruit,
the branches must be pruned. Each level of pruning of
the vine requires a deeper level of humility so that
we can abandon ourselves to His will.
This is not a lofty theological concept as much as it
is an earthy experience of pulling weeds, tilling
rocky soil, pruning and healing the vines. "If a man
wishes to come after me, he must deny his very self,
take up his cross, and begin to follow in my
footsteps" (Matthew 16:24).
-----------------------------------------------------
PRAYER
-----------------------------------------------------
Lord, during these forty days, we ask that with each
day of this sacred vigil, everything in us that
separates us from your perfect will would be pruned
from our hearts and souls.
In this blessed freedom may we experience a powerful
anointing of your Holy Spirit. Filled with confidence
and trust may we proclaim with the mother of Jesus,
"Let it be done to me, according to your Word."
-----------------------------------------------------
PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
-----------------------------------------------------
To download today's devotional as a formatted,
printable PDF to share with friends:
http://40daysforlife.com/docs/fall2010day12print.pdf
October 01, 2010
Note from a former team member
I went to pray at the clinic at about 4:30 p.m. today. There was a protester with a sign "Pro-Child, Pro-Choice". The protester stood directly in front of the clinic. I took my position west of the protester - closer to the clinic drive. I stood there and prayed, and must admit to feeling slightly discouraged by the drivers who honked and waved in support of the protestor.
I continued to pray. A car pulled into the clinic drive and stopped right at the entrance. A young woman got out and addressed me. She said she wanted to thank us for being there. Four years ago, she came for an abortion and did not go through with it because we were there praying. She pointed to her son in her car. Then she hugged me. Praise God!
We all know that our presence and our prayers and fasting make a difference, yet we don't always see it. Four years ago was the first 40 Days for Life campaign in Grand Rapids - and now we can count one more save that we didn't know about.
And isn't it just like Him to reveal this to me today, when I was feeling discouraged! What an incredible grace! (Or maybe He's just showing off!)
Thank you to all of you who continue in your faithfulness. And a special thanks to the team from 2007 who brought 40 Days to Grand Rapids!
I continued to pray. A car pulled into the clinic drive and stopped right at the entrance. A young woman got out and addressed me. She said she wanted to thank us for being there. Four years ago, she came for an abortion and did not go through with it because we were there praying. She pointed to her son in her car. Then she hugged me. Praise God!
We all know that our presence and our prayers and fasting make a difference, yet we don't always see it. Four years ago was the first 40 Days for Life campaign in Grand Rapids - and now we can count one more save that we didn't know about.
And isn't it just like Him to reveal this to me today, when I was feeling discouraged! What an incredible grace! (Or maybe He's just showing off!)
Thank you to all of you who continue in your faithfulness. And a special thanks to the team from 2007 who brought 40 Days to Grand Rapids!
September 30, 2010
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