Making a difference begins with me
From Operation Rescue (Hat-tip to Mrs. Wilt):
Mothers, wives, grandmothers, single women, young women, and every other person who reads this blog, stop right now. Take a moment to stare at that map and let the horror of this atrocity which is happening to innocent lives every single hour sink in.
50,000,000 people. Killed. In the name of choice. In the name of convenience. In the name of no other options.
As Christians, let us not just be distraught at these horrific numbers, let us be motivated to step up, step out, and make a difference.
Let us stand up for truth even if it means we are ridiculed. Let us speak out against this atrocity, even if we are belittled and mocked by friends and neighbors.
Let us stop adopting and embracing a worldly view of children which sees them as bondage instead of the wonderful blessings they are. Let us cast off this mentality which wants to limit one of God's most precious gifts in marriage - the gift of life - in favor of what is convenient, what is easiest, what fits into our schedule, what we can afford.
Let us train up our children to love the Lord, to love His Word and His commands, to live in purity instead of promiscuity, and to fully comprehend the value of life - life that begins at conception.
Let us step out of our comfort zones to reach out to these mothers who have no hope. Let us hug the hurting, give to the needy, comfort the overwhelmed. Let us be the hands of Christ to those who only know sin, suffering, and pain. Let us show them a better way.
Let us make a difference in this sin-sick world for the glory of the Lord!
Abolishing the heinous act of abortion must begin with me.
Sometimes it is difficult for us to comprehend the magnitude of the toll the abortion holocaust has taken in America over the past 35 years. When one says that over 50 million children have been slaughtered by legalized abortion since January 22, 1973, the numbers just don't seem to register. Below is a map of the United States of America indicating the number of states that would have their populations totally wiped out if war were to come to our shores and 50 million people were killed.
Mothers, wives, grandmothers, single women, young women, and every other person who reads this blog, stop right now. Take a moment to stare at that map and let the horror of this atrocity which is happening to innocent lives every single hour sink in.50,000,000 people. Killed. In the name of choice. In the name of convenience. In the name of no other options.
As Christians, let us not just be distraught at these horrific numbers, let us be motivated to step up, step out, and make a difference.
Let us stand up for truth even if it means we are ridiculed. Let us speak out against this atrocity, even if we are belittled and mocked by friends and neighbors.
Let us stop adopting and embracing a worldly view of children which sees them as bondage instead of the wonderful blessings they are. Let us cast off this mentality which wants to limit one of God's most precious gifts in marriage - the gift of life - in favor of what is convenient, what is easiest, what fits into our schedule, what we can afford.
Let us train up our children to love the Lord, to love His Word and His commands, to live in purity instead of promiscuity, and to fully comprehend the value of life - life that begins at conception.
Let us step out of our comfort zones to reach out to these mothers who have no hope. Let us hug the hurting, give to the needy, comfort the overwhelmed. Let us be the hands of Christ to those who only know sin, suffering, and pain. Let us show them a better way.
Let us make a difference in this sin-sick world for the glory of the Lord!
Abolishing the heinous act of abortion must begin with me.
Labels: Hot Topics
posted by Crystal Paine at 11:00 AM
16 Comments:
This is grieving. Sin and it's consequences are truly heavy and painful.
Our culture demands on giving the mother a "voice" and securing her "rights", but the unborn child has been given neither. Truly, our culture's minds and hearts are blinded.
My husband asked me the other day, "Would you die for our son?" I said, "Of course! In a heartbeat!". Most mothers would say the same thing - but the pro-choice camp promotes the idea that abortion can be used to "save the life of the mother". What kind of brainwashing has been done to our young people that they would sacrifice their babies so that they can have a more "convenient" or more "comfortable" life. It goes against the "mother nature" of protection and self-sacrifice that God has implanted in women.
I wish there was more we could do. Crystal, do you know how we can all get more involved?
I really enjoy your blog, and read it every day, as I also do with Mrs. Wilt's blog.
I am not pro-abortion in anyway, and I understand why you both choose to post about this topic. I understand that the map is a power visual aid in the pro-life campaign.
I have not had an abortion, and do not know anyone who has. I can only imagine the guilt that Christians who have had abortions must feel. I also know that Christ has already forgiven them if they have chosen to seek his forgiveness.
I wondered if perhaps the posts on the subject would add to the guilt these women may already feel about their choices. I have always found your blog and Mrs. Wilt's to be an encouraging place. I am concerned that these posts would put a barrier between you and any woman who has made such an unfortunate choice. I believe that your blogs can be such a place of encouragement and spiritual growth, and I wouldn't want anyone to be discouraged not to read your blog.
Thanks,
Lacey
Wow. That does put it in perspective. May God have mercy on us...
To Lacey:
I can understand your concern. I truly feel for the women who have aborted their babies. But I don't think that we should not post/discuss the horror of abortion for fear of offending someone else. By aborting a baby, a woman committed a sin. The Bible says that if we confess our sins, Christ will forgive them. But that doesn't mean we won't have reminders of them. That is one of the consequences of sin. Any woman who has had an abortion (or committed ANY sin, for that matter) can rejoice in the forgiveness found in Christ.
Crystal, I have been reading your blog for 2 years and have never commented, but this is too important.
I completely agree with you, but I think the best way is to help those mothers. I don't know how to help them. I have spoken to many women who have had abortions and this is what they told me:
"He'll leave me if I don't get rid of it" (This from amother of 6 whose husband insisted she abort their 7th child because he had Downs)
"I can't have it, my parents would throw me out."
And then there is:
"Get rid of it unless you want to ruin your/my life"
"You're too young, there is plenty of time to have a baby"
"We're not ready yet, we still need to buy a house/establish a career/pay off loans"
And it goes on and on. How do we reach these poor women? The propaganda is that having an abortion is not much different from choosing what to eat at a restaurant, and these women believe it. We need to educate and help, but I truly don't know how and it breaks my heart.
Marie (mom of 5 with #6 on the way!)
Lacey:
I appreciate your concern. Every time I post something of this nature there are always those - even very well-meaning people - who will say I shouldn't post things like this, that I should just focus on the positive, the encouraging, the uplifting.
I do try to have my blog be made up primarily of uplifting, encouraging things since there are plenty of things in the world to bog someone down and depress them. However, there are certain issues, like the issue of life, where I cannot be silent. Why? Because I believe that Christ would not be silent.
In addition, any woman who I've talked to who has had an abortion and since lived with deep regret ever since has begged me to continue to post on this subject to warn those who are considering abortion of how much grief and anxiety and sorrow you carry with you the rest of your life concerning it.
Many Christians go about their everyday lives with their head in the sand regarding such an important issue. We *cannot* be silent while this evil atrocity is going on right among us.
If Christians do not stand up and speak out for the weakest among us, who will?
I hope that you will read my post carefully and realize that I am not posting these to be judgmental towards those who have had an abortion and then repented of it and come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
I post on this topic on occasion to help wake up the Church, to spur us on to action. As I said in the post, it starts with me. I need to be constantly looking for ways to promote life, to reach out to others who are hurting in love, to start making a difference in our sin-sick culture, one person at a time.
It starts with you and me.
Blessings!
~Crystal
Amen, Crystal. Thank you for these posts today on this issue.
My husband and I long for children of our own, but God in His wisdom has not seen fit to bless us in that way. It is so hard, though, to think of those millions of precious lives being murdered while our hearts and arms ache for children.
We are currently thinking and praying about starting interim infant foster care, to help care for those infants whose parents choose life, by God's grace, but need to make final decisions regarding adoption.
There are so many things we can do as Christians; most important of course is prayer.
What's even sadder is that it's just getting easier to do it. There is a bill up in the WI assembly tomorrow to make it mandatory for medical staff to offer Plan B to any woman that has been raped or sexually assaulted regardless of the medical staff's beliefs. The pill has been slowly, quietly infiltrating everything. Doctors that can not perform conventional a abortions can offer this tragic option. One could go to their "family" practitioner and get this thing! Why can't we just let God be God and leave life and death up to him?
You're right--it begins with us, and sometimes I wonder specifically what that should look like. Shouldn't conservative, evangelical church nurseries be full to the brim with adopted and foster children? I fear the answer to that, because of what God might ask of me--yet my husband I wrestle with this all the time.
Great post.
I worked in a retail pharmacy and "Plan B" is considered OVER THE COUNTER!!! You only have to show an ID to prove you are 18 years old or older and plunk down your $49 and buy the product. There is no prescription needed!!!
(at least in VA)
If you have Medicaid and a prescription then you don't have to pay a dime. One young girl had a prescription for it WITH REFILLS.
It is held behind the pharmacy counter, but only because of the age limitations. That of course does not stop an older boyfriend or friend from purchasing it for underage girls.
I received some ridicule for refusing to sell the product or even touch the box it came in, but some things are non-negotiable.
Be in prayer, ladies, because these things are more readily available than you may think.
Glad you're being bold on the topic Crystal!! I am a "glad she chose life" success!:) I was an "on the side fling sort of thing" for my mom, who wasn't even married to begin with and only 19. My father was 34 at the time and obviously that was not an acceptable situation. He tried like crazy to get her to have an abortion. And, to make the long story short, I have four beautiful children right now and have totally forgiven my father for his actions/intentions although he chooses not to have an active role in my life. I still strive to show him love and kindness and he responds to me, but without any regret at all. I know several people who have had abortions and their grief, I believe, is greater than the hardships or inconvenience that they would have had if they had continued with pregnancy.
Excellent post Crystal. Prays for all those babies lost to abortion, and the many who will follow. May God forgive us as a nation!
I think that ladies, if they can, try to find a pro-life doctor. I remember when I was pregant with my little girl, I was horrified that the doctor casualy mentioned "termination", if she ended up having down syndrome. Needless to say, I'm in search of a pro-life doctor who doesn't perform abortions. They are harder and harder to find though :-/
Aisha
To "a new life": Midwives don't perform abortions :D
Crystal, thank you for posting on this important topic. I grew up in a pro-life politically active family, and this has always been a topic near and dear to my heart.
I have to say this - that you can't quit posting things like this. The Christians of America need to WAKE UP and see what really is happening.
Personally, I know a lady who had an abortion years ago. She literally had to fly to New York to have the abortion, because they were not legal all over then. She was without Christ, and after the abortion felt miserable, didn't like her children or her husband...was alway angry, upset, crying. Then a friend asked her to come to church with her. She heard the story of salvation and came to know the Lord.
Of course today she is always talking about life, and said that we need to speak life to people. It was her decision, but at the same time when she found out the results that she was pregnant - the doctor said "are you that unhappy? why don't you just have an abortion?" That doctor spoke DEATH to her, instead of speaking LIFE and encouraging her in that way.
So, I don't believe that people who have had abortions, wouldn't want us to be silent about it. It is a very tragic thing, and we have to, as you said Crystal, not be silent on such issues as we know the Lord would not be silent on.
Thank you for your post! I so appreciated all your posts on the Sanctity of Human Life - and watched Ninety-Nine Balloons several times. In this past 6 months, we have had 2 families in our church lose a child. One was born prematurely and lived for 22 days. The other one was 2 weeks overdue, and the mommy went in to have a regular checkup with the midwife, and they found no heartbeat. This was just 2 weeks ago...and it has hit so close to home. We can NOT take life for granted. You can't just say "well I'm 9 months along so I'll have my baby" - life is in the Lord's hands. We are not to just act like we will have tomorrow, because we do not know. And in these past 6 months I have had this come closer to me. HOW CAN THESE BABIES BE KILLED????? It is awful.
These 2 families will never be the same and will always remember their precious sons who are now safe in the arms of Jesus. As for me, I pray that I will remember the short lives of Noah & Jacob and not take life for granted. We do have the blessed assurance that they are with Jesus, but at the same time it is hard.
So thank you again. I hope you at least get to read this Crystal, I just wanted to say something!
THANK YOU!
In Christ,
Ruth Ann
Dear Crystal.
I am so glad that you posted this. I will never look at a map of the United States of America the same way ever again!
I read through this list and read where you were replying to Lacey about how this is a subject we NEED to discuss.
I posted on my blog this week about how it is TIME to end abortion.
My byline for my website is "Writing to Encourage You", and as you can surmise from the title, I try to be as positive and uplifting as possible. However, the Bible tells us that there is a time and a season for all things, and NOW is the time to talk about it so we can end it.
I did a research paper on why we need to end abotions. I was shocked at the results of how clinics are run. I found out in most states, there are stricter regulations reguarding how veteranarian clinics are run , than how these abortion clinics are. So, I guess that dogs and cats are more valuable than women's health and babies are not valuable at all. So, for all those who want to argue about how great this is for the women, and her health, all I can say is boy have they ever pulled the wool over your eyes. There is much, much research showing otherwise!
God bless,
Elaine
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