Life Chain '10

I want to start this entry by saying first, there is no inconsistency with the title of this blog, "garments of praise," and the subject of this entry, which is abortion. The way I see it, fighting for the defenseless and taking a stand to stop violence against women is an act of worship. I am God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for me to do. (Ephesians 2:10)
I am not about to let my life go to waste just because standing up for what's good and true and right is uncomfortable and makes people angry. As Gianna Jessen says so perfectly,

"I didn't survive so I could make everyone comfortable. I survived so I could stir things up a bit!"

I just finished watching 22 Weeks...



...and I am terribly angry. I must be careful of what I say right now because I am angry not only at what is happening to women and babies out there, but because the vast majority of WE CHRISTIANS are ignoring it altogether.
I just think, how easy it is to be a self-righteous hypocrite. We are so self-deceiving the way we justify our apathy. We say we love, but then we completely ignore those all around us in our country whose need is most urgent.
I really don't believe we will have an excuse when we stand before the throne. We could see the humanity of the unborn very clearly now through modern technology. There's no excuse. And I am so discouraged at the way we judge all those Christians who lived in the middle of the holocaust and did nothing...and yet we are the same. The holocaust of unborn babies is so cloaked that we do pretty much nothing to defend them. Not only that, but then when other Christians speak up, we get mad at them and tell them to stay out of political issues. That is the biggest load of crap I've ever heard! Defending helpless human beings is NOT a political issue. It is a God issue.

I'm really trying not to judge my brothers and sisters in Christ--I am no better I'm sure--but I just don't think we really believe what we say we believe. If we *really* believed these were babies, why no action on their behalf? Because we are lying to ourselves.

That said, I was really encouraged at Life Chain this year. Not only was there a wonderful turn out as compared to other years, but I really felt hopeful this year that God is moving. I don't know how exactly, but I am convinced He is and He will just for the fact that we are asking Him to and moving out in faith so He can use what little we give Him.
TBT news was there and it provoked some good dialogue. That's always a good thing.

So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up. Galatians 6:9 NLT

You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? ... You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:13-16

Some say it is a waste of our time--a futile cause. I say since we have a high and lofty God we owe it to Him to believe Him for high and lofty goals. He will never be disappointed in us for believing too much, but He will be if we believe too little.

we will probably never know this side of eternity the impact these few hours of our lives have made and how far it has rippled out to touch the lives and hearts of others.

"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven." Matthew 18:10

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Matthew 25:40

One of the highlights of going to Life Chain each year--Isn't she beautiful?

 

My buddy.

Bella Donna

very hopeful that God will use whatever little bit we give Him in faith for His infinitely wise purposes, and His ultimate glory.

want to see some signs reading Jesus forgives and heals.

Abortion Survivor Gianna Jesson Shares Her Story

I posted this on Casualties but thought I'd share it here too.

__________________________________________________________________



On Focus on the Family.

"If abortion's about a woman's rights...

...what were mine?"





Timely conversation indeed.

I just love her humility and thankful spirit. God be praised for giving this world the gift of Gianna Jesson. She speaks a gentle truth that cuts deep into the heart. It's hard to be self absorbed and stay in your pity party after listening to her.

I am thankful to God that He is using Gianna to remind the world that these unborn babies are real human beings. Gianna is the reality of that life we are snuffing out and that blessing we are depriving the world of because of abortion. How we need God to make that connection within us. May we all be convicted by this living "statement" God has made. May we never even have a thought that children with "disabilities" will somehow have sub-optimal lives.

The Bible says,

Behold, children are a gift of the LORD,The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like
arrows in the hand of awarrior,So are the children of one’s youth.

After listening to her and being so truly blessed by her, I wonder...

How many times has God placed a blessing like this in our hands only to have us destroy it before we have a chance to witness God's grace and love for us?

How many rape victims did God, out of His love, give a child to in order to be an arrow for that woman to fight off the pain and shame of what has happened to her?

How many gifted children have been aborted who God gave to make the world a better place and teach us more than we can imagine?

How many times has He, in His grace, blessed the fornicator or the adulteress with a child, instead of condemning and pouring down His wrath on her as she deserves, so that she might repent because of the goodness and love He bestowed upon her?

Could it be that the very things we perceive as being curses and hindrances to us are actually the very things that God is giving us to bless us abundantly?

"do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering,
notknowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?"(Romans 2:4)

Strong's definition of 'riches' (ploutos) says "valuable bestowment".
He has given the unborn child as a valuable bestowment upon us out of His goodness so that His gentleness, kindness, patience, and tolerance will lead us to repentance, because He is not willing that any should perish but that all might come to repentance... And we despise His gift?

In so doing, our calloused and unrepentant hearts store up even more wrath for the day of judgment. And then we foolishly assume He would not condemn us because He is a God of love? It's because He is a God of love that He will condemn us. The blood of the children He has given us cries from the abortion clinic and hospital trash cans and sinks. He loves these children. They belong to Him. He knows them. His eyes are constantly beholding them.

What have we done, Lord? Forgive us. We know not what we are doing.