LIFE LIBERTY & THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

WEEK 5 on the sidewalk:
This week I have been praying for our president and our leaders. And for the upcoming election. I voted early on Friday (and used the Texas Right to Life voters guide that lists the pro-life candidates) so my part is done!

According to our constitution,
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Merriam-Webster says unalienable means surrendered or transferred, incapable of being alienated. The first of these unalienable rights mentioned is LIFE. Life given by our Creator. Not by the government. Not by a mother. By God.

Psalm 51:5
For I was born a sinner—yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there.

As a nation, we are not respecting the life of a helpless baby in the womb when we silently watch as 1.2 million abortions are done every year. We are choosing which lives we will end; so essentially we are playing God.

This chart is based of abortions in the US in 2011:

Gestational Age	Percentage	Yearly Total
Less than 9 weeks	61.8%	749,232
9-10 weeks	17.1%	207,312
11-12 weeks	9.1%	110,324
13-15 weeks	6.6%	80,015
16-20 weeks	3.8%	46,069
21+ weeks	1.5%	18,185

Many Germans quietly watched as the Nazi's killed the Jews. They chose to not object or take a stand for what they believed in because of fear or maybe just not wanting to get involved. But closing your eyes doesn't make the problem go away. How are we any different? Are we afraid of offending someone who feels differently or are we not wanting to get involved in something that is political? By not standing up for these little ones, are we partially responsible for allowing their deaths to occur?

Many people who are pro-choice will argue, that they personally would never have an abortion, but they say they can't tell someone else what to do. This sounds fine until they are confronted with what they are really saying. If they believe the baby is indeed a baby, then morally they have to stand up for all babies. And what about partial birth abortions, where the baby survives the abortion and is still alive outside the womb and the doctor can still end the baby's life?

I hope our nation will vote for life this election and elect leaders who will protect the unborn. President Obama is the most pro-abortion president we have ever had in the White House. I hope we have not become a nation that doesn't respect life...it's a right, after all. May God have mercy on us for what we allow to take place in our nation.

Every life is precious. At every age...God breathes life into us when we are born and he decides when our last breath will be. Who are we to say that someone doesn't have the right to live? And once we start determining who gets to live, how and where do we draw the line?

Proverbs 6:16-19
There are six things the Lord hates—no, seven things he detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue,  hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest.
A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace.

BATTLEFIELD

WEEK 4 on the sidewalk:
Eph 6:12
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

This past week, I experienced a spiritual battle. I was confused and discouraged. My mind felt like it was in a fog. I was discouraged I felt beat down and couldn't put my finger on what was wrong. I know I have been through attacks from the devil before, but this time different...I wasn't able to break free. I finally shared what was going on with a friend and she prayed for me. I immediately felt peace...peace that I had been seeking for over a week. I thought back to the sidewalk counseling preparation material I had read, and I was warned to be prepared for a spiritual battle. I had no idea how real this battle would be.

Every Christian should expect Satan to attack.
Satan comes to kill steal and destroy (John 10:10)
Satan wants to sift us like wheat (Luke 22:31)
Satan is the Father of Lies (John 8:44)
Satan prowls like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8)

2 Corinthians 4:8-9
We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. 

Charles Stanley says, "Satan takes a deliberate willful moment in our life to do anything and everything he can to destroy us. It's an assault upon our emotions and an assault upon our mind. He always attacks the mind. That's his battlefield."

What God says about how to fight off Satan.
1. God's Word
Jesus showed us this when he was tempted by Satan three times in the wilderness; each time he fought Satan by quoting from Deuteronomy.
-Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God (Deut 8:3)
-Do not put the Lord your God to the test (Deut 6:16)
-Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only (Deut 6:13)

2. Armor of God
Belt of Truth - The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth (Psalm 145:18)
Breastplate of Righteousness -Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6)
Sandals of Peace - You will keep in perfect peace those minds who are steadfast, because they trust in you (Isaiah 26:3)
Shield of Faith - And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power (1 Peter 1:5)
Helmet of Salvation - But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation (Psalm 13:5)
Sword of the Spirit - For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword (Heb 4:12)

3. Prayer
We can pray and ask God to put a hedge of protection around us. We can also ask other believers to pray on our behalf and intercede for us when we are weak and not able to fight alone. When Jesus prayed for us to the Father, he asked God not to take us out of the world, but to keep us from the evil one (John 17:14-15). We are surrounded by evil in this world, but because of Jesus, we are protected and have nothing to fear.

Whenever we take a stand for God we will face a battle against darkness and evil powers. Abortion is truly is a battle between life and death, good and evil, truth and lies. This past week God showed me the amazing power of prayer in fighting these battles, the reality of Satan and the undeniable battle every believer will encounter, and the perfect peace He gives us in the midst of this battle.

Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

GOD'S PLAN

WEEK 3 on the sidewalk:
In our culture, we decide so many things for ourselves...We decide where we are going to work, where we will live, what we will buy, what we will eat, and even what Starbucks drink to order. Everything is available to us. There are some people who are not as 'fortunate'...some do not know how they will get their next meal or when they will get the next paycheck. But I wonder if they are really less fortunate when their situations cause them to more readily see their dependence on the Lord. Whether we realize our need for Him or not, God is ultimately the one with complete control over our lives. Actually everything is only available to us because God allows it.

We also decide when we will start our families and how many kids we will have. I was shopping at Target the other day and passed the aisle that said 'Family Planning.' What exactly does this mean? And there is 'Planned Parenthood.' The words sound so nice and positive, but really they missing something...Where is God in all these plans? Are we getting so good at planning our families that we don't need God?

If there was a 'family planning' aisle in the Bible, it would consist of ways to seek fertility, instead of today's 'family planning' methods, which have more to do with avoiding or ending new life. The Bible shows how fertility was a blessing from God and how infertility and avoiding pregnancy was never part of His plan.

*God blessed Abraham and said He will multiply his descendants beyond number.
(Genesis 26:24)
*God promises His people food, water, and no illness, miscarriages or infertility.
(Exodus 23:26)
*When Onon avoided creating an heir for his brother, God considered this evil and took his life. (Genesis 38:9-10)
*When Sarah lied about being Abraham's sister God cursed the land with infertility.
 (Genesis 20:18)
*God told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply.
(Genesis 1:28, 9:7)
*Jeremiah prophesied that God said to multiply and not dwindle away.
(Jeremiah 29:6)

I wonder what it would look like if our culture completely turned the family planning over to God. Would we still use birth control or other ways to avoid conception as much if we allowed God to do the planning? Our culture says it's okay to end a pregnancy if it's not in our plans. But what does God say? Have we forgotten who creates life?

We may make our plans but it is God who directs our steps. May we allow God to light our path and not close our eyes to a culture that doesn't honor or respect life.

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.

WHEN

WEEK 2 on the sidewalk:
The prayer guide I was given for the sidewalk counseling starts with a song, and the words are from Isaiah...

Isaiah 43:1-5
But now, this is what the LORD says -
he who created you...
he who formed you...

"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
 I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior...
Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you...
Do not be afraid, for I am with you..."

Sometimes as I am standing on the sidewalk, I will talk to other people praying there, or I will try to communicate with cars as they drive by. And other times it's very quiet...God's presence is so strong. When it's quiet, I meditate on these words and the part that stood out to me is this... God says when the waters get rough and when I go through the fire. Not if but when.

Often when I pray, I think I ask God to make the waters calm or to make the fire go away. I tell God what I am going through is hard. But God hasn't promised me that I won't go through difficult circumstances. Instead he promises that he will be there with me.

He tells me to not be afraid.
He will keep me safe.
I am precious to him.
He loves me.
I am his.
He created me.
He has redeemed me.

My prayer is that all will know the amazing love God has for them. That they aren't alone. And that they have a Creator. And a Savior.

ON THE SIDEWALK

WEEK 1:
I went to PP to pray three times this past week for the 40 days for Life. It was different than I had expected. There I was at 7am on the starting day and I didn't see crowds of people all praying and being passionate for this cause that is so dear to my heart. I only saw 3 or 4 people standing along the sidewalk, peacefully praying. I asked God 'Where are all the people?'

One woman came out and talked to me and Sue, the lady I had met on the sidewalk. As she approached us she started shaking her head, and Sue said 'Oh I bet she's coming to tell us what she thinks of us.' Sue has been sidewalk counseling for 5 years, every Saturday. Her dedication is amazing. Anyway, this woman starts to cry and says, 'This is affecting me so much more than I thought it would.' She explains that she tried to talk her friend Tory out of getting an abortion, but she wouldn't listen. The abortion was happening at that very moment as she stood with us in tears. The woman told us that she had had an abortion years ago and had gone through counseling afterwards. She later had two daughters and now has grandchildren. She said looking at those 11 women waiting in line to terminate their pregnancies was more than she could handle. I wonder who their babies would have been. I wonder what color their hair would have been, and what their personalities would be like. I told the woman that someday both of them would meet their babies in heaven. I bet that's the last time she drives someone to an abortion clinic.

I have felt God's presence there so strongly while we stand and pray. I wave at every car that passes by, and I sometimes get a wave back from, both PP employees or people going into the clinic. As I stared at the six-story building, the verse that came to my mind was 'Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.' The grandmother I met is forgiven. And her friend Tory is forgiven. Jesus already died for their sins (and thankfully mine as well). He said 'It is finished.' But that doesn't take away the pain that mothers, fathers, generations even, will go through because of their choices.

I just began to pray that God would open their eyes to the truth of what abortion does. It stops a baby's beating heart. I pray for their hearts to be changed. It is amazing to see God moving and be a part of His work along that sidewalk on the Gulf Coast Freeway. He is truly bigger than that 78,000 square foot building. And even though I only saw four people there that first day, I know his armies of angels are mightier than my eyes can see. Maybe it's my eyes that need to be opened...

Luke 23:34
Then Jesus said, 'Father forgive them, for they know not what they do...'

2 Kings 6:15-17
When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. 'Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?' the servant asked. 'Don't be afraid,' the prophet answered. 'Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.' And Elisha prayer, 'Open his eyes, LORD so that he may see.' Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he look and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

LIGHT

Jesus said he is the LIGHT of the world. He is light...the opposite of darkness. He brings life with his light...the opposite of death. (John 8:12) The first part of creation was creating life. Without the light of the sun all life would cease on earth.

Jesus also said we are the LIGHT of the world. When his Holy Spirit dwells within us, we are able to radiate His light. Just like the moon reflects the light of the sun, we don't produce our own light but we reflect the light we see from God (Matthew 5:14).

I want to be a light for Jesus...a light in this dark world...a light that leads to LIFE.

Planned Parenthood is the largest provider for abortions in the United States, and the Houston PP building is the largest abortion facility in the nation. This Wednesday, the Coalition for Life will stand for LIFE outside the PP building for 40 days. They will be there to pray and intercede for life. It is estimated that 78 abortions occur every day in Houston. Over a million each year in the US. It actually beats breast cancer and even stroke for the number one killer. It's actually the largest genocide in human history, with over 50 million babies aborted since 1973.

This year, I'll be joining the fight and will stand with them. I will ask God to have mercy our country for what we as a people have chosen and pray for Him to heal our land.

I want to be a light for Jesus...a light in this dark world...a light that leads to LIFE.

Ephesians 6:12
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the ruler of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places.

John 8:12
I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.

THORNS

There are three ways Satan takes me away from God and His word...

1. Cares, worries, being overwhelmed in this world, this age, this life
-Let's see, my worries are basically dating, dealing with drama in my family, thinking about growing old alone

2. Wealth, riches...they lure, tempt, make false promises, seduce
-I am always wanting to buy things I don't need (right now it's a new car!), or I see things that others have and want it, or I think my savings account is my security

3. Our own desires, lusts, longings, evil desires, and many other things that take us away from God
-I desire to be in a relationship and belong somewhere; I long to not suffer or be in pain. And even though God gives us desires, that desire become evil when it becomes more important to us than He is.

The result of these distractions is...

1. They crowd in, choke God's message, choke His word.
2. Keep the teaching from growing and producing fruit, strangles what I have heard.
3. Nothing comes of it, and I am unfruitful.

I may hear the word, but the seed among thorns of distraction prevent me from growing. Without connecting to Jesus, the vine, I can produce no fruit. Watch for the thorns in your life that are disguised as something good but can take us away from God.

So this made me question what do I really desire?

So besides a great guy in my life, a BMW, and a Marc Jacobs handbag, this is what I really want...
-to know God
-to believe His promises
-to have faith in what I cannot see
-to feel His presence
-to serve in His kingdom
-to see God's wisdom, not my own
-to have peace and to be still
-to love others and not judge them
-for others to experience Jesus' amazing love
-to set my affections on things above, not things in this world
-for our nation to respect the life of the unborn
-for my words and thoughts to be pleasing to God
-for my life to glorify God and be an offering to Him
-good, encouraging, and uplifting friendships
-to know God's word so I can be armed
-the Lord's will to be done in my life
-to find joy in suffering, knowing this grows me and He never leaves me
-all my loved ones to know and walk with Jesus
-to really know and understand God's deep and unconditional love for me
-peace, patience, rest, hope

Matthew 13:22 
Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

Mark 4:19
...and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.