The Difference Between Life and Death

I was asked to bring one of the women I counseled to choose life rather than abortion to a video taping for a pro-life organization fund-raiser. I love this young lady. She has become like a daughter to me, and she agreed to do the video, despite being a very shy woman. She did great and will be a powerful addition to the video. However, I think it is safe to say that a movie career is not in my future. I got through introducing myself and faltered for a coherent thought...or really even for intelligible words. My sidekick, Mary, a fellow counselor, felt similarly. I sputtered, Mary less than me, but polish is not the first word that will come to mind to anyone watching my performance. The good thing is it was not about us, but about the sweet brave woman who chose not to abort, despite very difficult circumstances. She was sincere, and genuine, and will break a few hearts with her struggle and the desire to do the right thing despite it being very, very hard.

I won't tell you specifics. You should call Monroe HELP Crisis Pregnancy Center to see how to attend the September fundraiser to help support this fantastic ministry that provides the free mobile ultrasound for the abortion mill sidewalk counselors. Then you can watch my film debut yourself, starring in the role of "struck mute by the camera."  However, I heard God reminding me of many things through the experience. First of all, very bad choices can come from listening to others. Listen to God. He is always always directing you to the correct path, however hard it may be. Secondly, family should not step back and be silent in matters where terrible assault to God's will is impending. Family should always lovingly but without flinching direct young people on the path of righteousness before God. If family abdicates that responsibility, society crumbles. Thirdly, when we stand in the gap for God, we can change life or death outcomes. We should never fear what others think to follow Christ. He is the only one we should seek to please.

I hadn't actually known the depth of angst in the sweet woman I have counseled so many weeks now until last night. She has always been unemotional, until last night when with few words but such depth of sincerity and honesty, she remembered standing on the precipice. She was unable to speak for a moment through the tears, describing the hopelessness and despair she faced.  The challenges have not changed since that day, but she does not regret her decision to let her baby live. What she said is reverberating in my heart. What changed her mind was she discovered there were people out there who would help her, people who cared. That made the difference between her child living or dying that day at the abortion mill.

Oh Lord, I pray you  move my heart to be someone who cares, and who seeks the Glory of God, not of men. Let me commit not to my complacency and comfort, but to my Creator and Christ.

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John 5:44

How can you believe when you accept glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the one who alone is God? 

Romans 12:15 

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.