'We Declare that Mothers are Heroes'

That was The Washington's Post's headline yesterday. Other comments from other news organizations said, "In a pivotal year in the legal battle over abortion, crowds estimated at over 100,000 of anti-abortion activists gathered in Washington, D.C., on Friday for the annual March for Life that featured President Donald Trump as the first sitting president to appear in person at the event in its 47-year history." I heard the sound of a heavenly army of angels singing "Glory to God in the highest!" Calling it a “profound honor" to be the first president to attend, he said that "unborn children have never had a stronger defender in the White House," citing his own actions. Of course the other side sites his words are for politcal gain, I wouldn't care if he was. He's putting his words to action.

My post today is dedicated to heroes of a different kind. They are the ones who put actions to their words. They, “literally” walk-the-walk, NOT, just talk-the-talk. I can’t begin to thank God enough for being alive to see God's love-in-action like I saw in those supporting the right to life yesterday. Lovers love by fearless, uncompromising love-in-action actions. Can’t you see what love looks like in these marchers? And, our President? Well, his actions are speaking for themselves. Who would want to be on a side that doesn't defend life? I can’t put it into better words than what Tulsa’s Bishop David Konderla says here:

“You are my heroes! You inspire me and make me proud! You are young and old, but mostly young, carrying the future in your pockets. You come from all over the country enduring long bus rides and trips in cars and sleepless nights. You brave freezing cold and possible rain or snow, standing and walking for hours. Many call you the Pro-Life Generation; I call you heroes. You come to witness and to celebrate and to mourn and pray.

Witness to the dignity of every human life from conception to natural death. Celebrate the turning of the tide of our nation as we grow in numbers and move ever closer to overturning the stain that is Roe v Wade. Mourn for the lives lost and the hearts of parents broken because of a choice they wish they could take back. Pray for the healing of all and the conversion of those who still cling to the tired, old propaganda of choice. How sad for them, growing old and facing the end of their lives or political careers trying to defend the indefensible. How could anyone plan to explain to God that to the end of their life they clung stubbornly to the idea that freedom means being able to take the innocent lives of those He loves?

You are going to win! But you won’t win through marches. Marches are for witness and celebration and mourning and prayer. You will win through lives committed to God, the giver of life. You will win through the timeless beauty of modesty and chastity which prepare the heart and the soul for faithful marriage open to the gift of all the children that God desires to give. These children raised to know and love God and coming in ever greater numbers will be heroes too and will take their faith and their place in the public square and will win our nation for life. So march, heroes of life, and live Godly lives and receive the blessings of God and the thanks of a grateful nation.”

A Value-Added Life is an Empowered Life

My daughter is the director and founder of a faith-based, non-profit organization called EMwomen (Empowering Women) that exists to embrace, educate, equip and empower women and girls who have been impacted by some of life’s greatest challenges. Many of these gals have come from lives of abuse, homelessness, addiction, abortion, and hopelessness. Now, they are transformed women as they turned those pains into blessings through the power of Jesus Christ in their lives. It is a honor to join with these precious women every week. Eleven of these gals met on Monday night, me included, and I was the honoree because it was my birthday. I was also the guest speaker. When Staci first asked me to speak on my birthday, my initial response was “No, I want to just chill on my birthday – not be thinking about speaking.” She understood. Our conversation ended. But, Holy Spirit nudged me to share, because IT IS my birthday. I quickly called her back and recanted.

I’m so happy I accepted “the call”. These precious women celebrated me by their presence AND their presents of themselves, beautiful cards, hand-written notes and precious gifts. In my talk I shared about my “empowered” life that started with a praying mother and becoming well acquainted with her value system. Those values included honesty, integrity, character and following the leading of my conscience when choosing right from wrong. She explained that our conscience is the Holy Spirit Who takes up residence in our hearts when we ask God to be the center of our lives through His Son, Jesus Christ. So, when I would head out with my friends or my boyfriend, her parting words of “Let your conscience be your guide!” stuck with me like glue. I heard her voice in my ears when I was choosing integrity, honesty, and character. Character is doing the right thing when no one is looking – and when she wasn’t looking!

What I remembered most about my mom was her unwavering faith. Faith, because her values began and ended with her relationship with God. She made it through some of the most difficult times (my dad’s debilitating illness when I was just eight years old, her being our sole provider, raising me and dad’s passing when I was fifteen). My mom’s value system passed down to me. It would equip and sustain me through plenty of tough times, but none greater than when my own husband became very ill and passed away. My Mom's abiding faith was because of her God-relationship and it is what I “preach and teach” daily through my blogs and counsel to others.

That is what I wanted most for these beautiful young women to get and embrace too. I’m purposing to live each remaining day of my life as if it is my last day. I mean it. I don’t want anything to come between me and God. I say “Forgive me a lot!” when I’ve chosen my words and actions unwisely. I ask God for forgiveness when I know I’ve messed up. I endeavor to spend each day wisely, acknowledge the Lord in prayer, spend daily time with Him, and serve Him in loving others, and in making a positive impact on our generation for Him.

As an “older woman who taught the younger women” (Titus 2:3-5) on Monday night, I am impressing upon you who are younger or older than me to live with the values of serving God with all your heart, letting the Holy Spirit be your guide – your conscience, and when you face a decision, “Do I or don’t I?” – to choose life. The abundant life – that even in the toughest times – you’ll be empowered to do the right things when no one is looking, and empowered to be the example of strong values when they are looking. I’m harvesting the blessings of living that empowered life and I assure you – it is a value-added life!

Born

Yesterday my blog’s title was “Born to Create”. Today I title my blog simply “Born”. The fact that we were given the opportunity to be born is a huge accomplishment when we think of the alternatives today.

Last night, pre-opening night, we saw “Unplanned” -- the controversial movie about the true story of former Planned Parenthood Clinic Director Abby Johnson’s change of heart after witnessing an abortion firsthand. The controversy (besides the obvious pushback from Planned Parenthood and Pro-Choice advocates) was the film’s R-rating. That means that a 15-year-old girl can, without her parents' consent, choose to have an abortion, but that same girl cannot see this film about abortion.

I wasn’t too surprised with the movie’s content since we heard Abby Johnson and the brilliant actress, Ashley Bratcher playing her, speak at the recent National Pro-Life Prayer Luncheon here in Dallas. Though I wasn’t surprised at what was coming, I couldn’t hold back the tears to think that in an “In God We Trust” country, the diabolical atrocity of abortion is permitted and not just permitted, but touted, publicized and praised by activists, and those who don’t feel they have a choice, but to abort.

The most startling scene happens daily at Planned Parenthood clinics. I couldn't hold back tears. There was nothing contrived about the scene in the least. It was the reality of abortion.

I agree with author and speaker, Janet Denison in saying that older children should see this movie because it accurately and honestly reveals the truth about abortion. If our kids see that one scene, they will probably never consider abortion an option for their lives. This movie may just make our kids more responsible with their dating lives and more likely to understand and strongly consider making a biblical choice about sex and marriage.

The movie, in its entirety, isn't a "cheesy" Christian movie. The characters are superb in their acting and the movie is factual. It will rivet you. Oh, but it is so much love. Serious love of parents praying for their daughter. Indescribable love of those who are willing to sacrifice their lives for LIFE. The amazing grace of God that takes a young woman whose heart was so cold and believed she was endorsing a good thing, to at His specific, perfect timing, opened her eyes. There is laugh-out-loud humor in many scenes. And, most importantly, I believe Abby Johnson and her story is going to truly impact the high dollar abortion industry as many people's eyes are opened to the truth that has been hidden far too long.

Dear Friends, PLEASE see this movie. We have been silent far too long. The world needs to hear the truth about abortion instead of temporary compassion by those who convince a desperate, scared woman that abortion is her right to choose. Ultimately, "Unplanned" teaches that real compassion wins and is always grounded in truth. That is the theme of this movie, and it has a powerful influence. Compassionate truth should be the theme of our lives as well. "Let love be your highest goal!" (1 Corinthians 14:1)

I have several friends (mostly, Christian, church-attending) who had an abortion (some, more than one). Not only did compassionate and loving truth heal them, today they are proponents of "life" at conception. We must speak out because the lives of the unborn don't have a voice to speak. We do. Please let your voice be heard. That's why I am blogging this message today. Please see this movie and encourage others to do the same. Pray before you go and ask God to speak His truth to everyone in the theatre. Be brave and speak God’s truth with love. I hope you will choose to see "Unplanned". You will have a stronger, godlier witness on abortion if you do.

Life is about making choices. God knows all about tough choices. He loved us so much he chose to give us his Son. Let’s honor God with what we choose to give back.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBLWpKbC3ww

Before You Were Born, You Were Set Apart

On Fridays, I attend a Book of Galatians Bible Study. During the week before, we complete the homework of the session and during class, we go around our table and provide our answers to the questions. Yesterday, at my turn, the question was: “In verse 15 (of Galatians 1), Paul says "God chose me before I was born”. What does this teach us about the call of God?”

I was excited to respond to this question because, when I first read it, I knew the answer. Those “before I was born” words gave it away. I knew Paul often referred, in his writings, to scriptures from the Old Testament. I remembered Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Paul knew that he had been called from his mother’s womb – which meant that Paul was PRO-LIFE! I am PRO-LIFE because I believe that I, too, was called from my mother’s womb, and, so were you! My mom wasn’t excited when she heard that she was pregnant (12 years after having my sister). She thought she was done with child-bearing and could have been one of those who chose death over life. But, thank God, she chose life and not only was I her “baby” all 94 years of her life, but she was my ministry "baby" after my dad passed away. God set me apart to be her caregiver, and I thank God for that privilege.

I thought back to the National Pro-Life Prayer Luncheon that I attended on Monday. I was there to support LIFE and help provide God-given options to those who were making the decision to bring (or not bring) their baby full term to life. To say that I was proud to be counted among those men and women who are for life from conception puts it mildly. It is heart-wrenching to think that anyone could believe otherwise, especially when we read Paul’s and Jeremiah’s words that speak of the calling of God on our lives BEFORE we were we were even formed in our mothers' wombs.

A beautiful man, who is a stay-at-home dad for his family, sits next to me with his two-month-old baby girl. I chose that seat from the outset of the study. He gives me the joy of cuddling his little angel during the study. Be still, my heart! He commented after the response to my question: “Just think about the babies who have been killed by abortion whose lives were stolen from being prophets to our nation!”

You’ve probably heard about the “Unplanned” movie coming out on March 29th which reveals the story of former Planned Parenthood Clinic Director, Abby Johnson, who was responsible for convincing 22,000+ women to have abortions. She had never seen an abortion from an ultrasound until her clinic was short a staff member and needed her to hold the scope for the abortionist. She was devastated at what she saw, went on to resign, became a Pro-Life advocate, wrote a book that fully disclosed the horror and was later approached by movie directors to produce the movie. She, and the actress, Ashley Bratcher, who plays her in the movie, gave their stories at the luncheon. Most compelling was hearing Ashley tell her mother's story. She knew that her mother had an abortion at age 16, but her mother also revealed that she almost had an abortion at 19 when she was pregnant with Ashley. She said her mom was at the abortion clinic in the examination room, but changed her mind when a pregnant nurse entered the room. "I got up and I walked out and I chose you," Bratcher recalled her mom saying, "And I never knew that. It blows my mind."

I share this story with you today because my heart is so torn to know we live in a city, a state, a country where abortion is just casual conversation. It is a birth-control measure, instead of being a people who are responsible, caring about God’s Word, His words of life – like Jeremiah 1:5. "Before I formed YOU -- I set you apart......to be LIFE-GIVERS!

We Can No Longer Just Watch and Wait

This isn't typical of my usual daily posts in a story-line format because I sense a greater call today. I don’t “grandstand” too often. I fly under the radar when it comes to most political and public controversies. But my heart just won’t let me be silent when it comes to the abortion atrocities and how lighthearted so many are about it. I read in a report yesterday that there were nearly 42 million abortions worldwide in 2018.

The abortion number is incomprehensible, but each of those 42 million abortions represents a living human being whose life was violently destroyed in their mother’s womb. Each unborn baby already had their own unique DNA, making them distinct from their mother. That DNA indicated if the child was a boy or girl, their eye and hair color, their height, possible genetic disorders and other disabilities, and much more. In most cases, the unborn babies’ hearts are beating when they are aborted, too.

I am grateful and impressed with so many Right to Life and Pro-Life groups and all they are doing for life, and when I read Rev. Doug Clay’s “10 Ways to Pray”, I realized I can become more committed by taking it personally by praying. He absolutely nailed how we should specifically pray. Now, let’s NAIL abortion with our prayers and any action that we can to help. I pray our voices are heard in heaven AND on earth.

— Pray for a spiritual awakening in our nation. "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14).

— Pray for expectant mothers who may be facing horrific circumstances. Pray that God will bring peace to the anxieties and fears they may be facing. Pray that the church will rise up to address the needs young mothers are facing. "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds" (Psalm 147:3).

— Pray that America will repent of injustice on behalf of the most vulnerable among us. "But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!" (Amos 5:24).

— Pray that abortionists will come to know Christ as Savior. "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

— Pray that abortion facilities will close. "He thwarts the plans of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success" (Job 5:12).

— Pray that the hearts of lawmakers and judges will be awakened to the value of human life from conception to death. "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 36:26).

— Pray that Christians can be an example of love and peace. "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love" (1 John 4:7-8).

— Pray for churches to continue providing life-sustaining alternatives, including foster or adoptive care. "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you" (James 1:27).

— Pray for those considering abortions to have divine encounters that will give them hope for their future. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11)

— Pray for women who have been the victims of abortionists, that they will experience spiritual, emotional and physical healing. "The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love" (Psalm 145:8).

May we join together in earnestly praying for God’s mercy and God answers our prayers and we see a swift turnaround in the enemy’s tactics. "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective" (James 5:16).
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
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The Right to Abundant Life

The Right to Abundant Life
Today marks the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade legal decision, issued on January 22, 1973, that legalized abortion in the U.S. I wanted to take my thoughts a step further than the two March for Life videos that I posted last week of hundreds of thousands of pro-life advocates, many of whom were high school and college students, marching to defend the rights of the unborn.

I am a woman (so clearly I am pro-women) and I’m a Christian who believes in life at conception to the grave, so clearly I am Pro-Life. I am so proud of those who marched for life last week. I was thrilled to see them carrying signs that read “Choose love, Choose life,” “I am the pro-life generation". God bless President Trump for announcing during the march that he will reject any efforts by pro-abortion leaders in Congress to weaken pro-life laws. He said, ” If they send any legislation to my desk that weakens the protection of human life, I will issue a veto and we have the support to uphold those vetoes.”

I don’t get on a soapbox when it comes to political issues, but when it comes to the sanctity of life, I can’t stay silent. In this case, silence is not golden! I’m not qualified to speak to the scientific debates and arguments going on between the pro-life and pro-abortion camps so I won’t attempt to go there. But I do believe I am qualified to provide what God says from His Holy Word that undergirds pro-life and right-to-life arguments.

1) I am pro-life because men and women are made in the image and likeness of God. "Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness.” (Genesis 1:26). God’s choice at the time of creation. One of the Ten Commandments is: “You shall not kill.” (Exodus 20:13). Why? Remember, God has made man in His image. Abortion is the calculated taking of a life created in God’s image.

2) I am pro-life vs. pro-choice because God is the author and giver of life. "You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.” (Nehemiah 9:6) "Life comes from God; God is for life — that is, God is “pro”-life.

3) I am pro-life because the alternative is death. "This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. For the LORD is your life…” (Deuteronomy 30:19-20) The abortion industry is a culture of death. The sanctity of life movement is a culture of life. What a contrast!
• God says, “Choose life!” That is God's "choice" — life!
• Death is an enemy! Post-abortion counseling reveals that many women have been traumatized by the later realization that by having an abortion they have opted for death rather than life for their unborn babies.

4) I am pro-life because there is abundant evidence in the Bible that God looks upon unborn children in the womb as human persons, with human emotions. "At that time Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice, he exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped FOR JOY. (Luke 1:39-44). John
the Baptist, while still in his mother’s womb, “leaped for joy” as Mary, pregnant with Jesus, approached.

5) I am pro-life because every child in the womb has the potential for being used by God to declare His love and to serve Him. "The word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:4-5) God called Jeremiah to his future ministry as a prophet before he was born.

6) I am pro-life because children are a God-given blessing, a source of happiness, a reward and a heritage from God. “Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from Him. (Psalm 127:3-5)

Two naive, young and completely unskilled in parenting, my husband and myself, started our family at ages 18 and 19. I continually thank God for my two biological children and my two children they married, and my seven grandchildren. I pray for them all daily. Indeed, “The fruit of the womb is God’s reward” (Psalm 127:3). They are a heritage from God, a reward from Him, a God-given source of blessing and happiness. How could anyone think anything otherwise?