Hope

I was playing with my art program and this portrait slowly emerged. It sort of looks like my oldest son, who I really miss. I like the look of hopefulness in his face, whoever he is. That was what I was thinking as I drew: Hope. Hope is what I wanted to bring to those I encountered along my daily path.

I was fully armed with verses when I went to my volunteer work as a sidewalk counselor at the area's busiest abortion mill yesterday. I had a stack of verses about "the Sanctity of life", and another stack about "How God feels about willful sin when we know the truth", and a third stack about "Salvation." I figured those three major areas would cover what I needed to say. I did get on the microphone and read a few of them. It would be much better if I could memorize them, but my memory stinks.

The three major arguments we counselors get for why abortion is the best choice involve those three areas. We hear them over and over again.
Excuse #1. It's not a baby. It's a potential baby. It's not human.

Well God sure doesn't agree: Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you"

Excuse #2. God is a God of forgiveness. Yes it is wrong, but it isn't the right time for me to have a baby. God will forgive me.

Hmmm. Well what does God really say about willful sin when we know right and defiantly choose wrong? Hebrews 10:26 "For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins"

Excuse #3. I don't believe in God. I'm ok. Leave me alone.

Perhaps you think you are okay, for a season. What does God warn of those who defy and ignore His continual calls? Mark 16:16  "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."

My three stacks of verses came in quite handy. I had the opportunity to use each at some point over the course of the morning. I always do... Of course, I need a fourth stack. The stack titled "Blessings when We Follow God." The problem is that stack would use up all my printer paper.

The abortionist arrived. Four women had seen their baby on the mobile ultrasound unit outside the mill and three had chosen life for their little ones. A woman arrived and as I called out to her, telling her we had real hope, and real help, she glanced back. I urged her not to ignore her conscience, which was clearly conflicted. That was God speaking to her heart. She paused, and I thought she would come to me. But then she turned, and went in the mill.

It was time for me to go. My daughter has been sick all week and I had to get her to the doctor. Just then, the woman I had spoken to came across the parking lot. She had been in long enough to have gotten the abortion pill. I was about to tell her about the abortion pill reversal hotline, but she kept coming across the barrier of mill property, which we counselors cannot cross. I was either going to be pounded to a pulp, or spoken with. I hoped for the latter.

"Are you coming to talk to me?" I asked. (I am always a little amazed when that happens.)
"Yes," she said, "Can I have your literature?"
"Of course...did you decide to keep your baby?"
"Yes," she said.
"May I hug you?"
"Yes."
I brought her to my car and gave her piles of maternity clothes, and a gift bag filled with baby supplies. As always, as I handed her the bag I told her, "Here are many gifts for your baby, but the most important thing in here is a Bible."
"I saw that," she told me, "And I agree."
"May I text you now and then, to see how you are doing?"
"Yes," she said.
"And would it be ok if I send you Bible verses?"
"Please do, I really need that."

So do I. So do all of us. Hope. God is all about Hope. Today, I will print Stack 4- The blessings of following God.

Philippians 4:19

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.