Not of Our Doing -- The Gift of God

It will never grow old, this seeing babies in the womb and watching their little hearts thumping like pulsars, and the mama's face slowly transformed by wonder and love. I paid for my return to the sidewalks of the abortion center with a painful arm and upper body from my recent mastectomy, but it was worth it. The mom chose life (as did four others Monday!) but there was something even more precious that transpired.

I asked the Mom and her two friends for permission to talk to them about God. They knew God, but really didn't know the Bible at all. They had no concept of what the Bible said about sin, (other than don't do it...), or what repentance and redemption were all about. Only one (E) spoke English fluently. So I told them the story of Salvation while E translated for the others.

When I explained sin, they were all quick to admit they were all sinners. When I explained the penalty for sin is death, all of their faces fell. As I spoke of how dreadful sin is in God's eyes, and how critical repentance is, tears welled in the corner of their eyes. When I said God had provided a wonderful plan to rescue us from that penalty of death, hope blazed in all their faces. When I told them about the simple but profound gift Christ offered us on the cross, and all they had to do was accept it, they began to smile. When I told them they could do that immediately, right now, E translated, and they all nodded eagerly. E asked if she could pray in her own words, and I said of course. I prayed out loud, she translated, or used her own words. (I don't speak Spanish, so have no idea what she said...)

As we closed our prayer, all three said, "Amen." I opened my eyes. All three were crying, dabbing at their eyes with tissues that the sweet nurse, Sherry, handed them.
"Something very special just happened to you, didn't it?" Sherry asked.
They all nodded.

Then I gave E a Spanish Bible, and had her read John 3:16 out loud. Her friends huddled around her. "I don't have a Bible. This is my first one," said E, and then she threw her arms around me and hugged me. You may remember that 2 1/2 weeks ago, I had a mastectomy. Hugs hurt. But I hugged her back. Ouch, and Praise God.

The two friends could hardly contain themselves. They asked if there was any chance they too could have a Spanish Bible? We happened to have two more. Exactly two. Almost as if it had been pre-ordained. They all clutched their Bibles to their hearts.
"Now you can all do Bible studies together," I said.

"Now that I know Jesus," said E, "I cannot kill my baby."

AMEN.

While I was counseling on the RV, the rest of my team was speaking the truth of God's love and hope in Him over the microphone just outside the abortion center. Five women chose life for their babies Monday. Three chose Jesus. My arm and chest really hurt when I finally headed home, but my spirit was dancing with joy.
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Titus 3:5 

He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

Romans 10:9

Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Ephesians 2:8-9 

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Matthew 7:21 

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

John 14:6 

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.