"take up your cross daily" - "Choose life"

Hard to find words flowing today, but many powerful events... Lent has begun and coinciding with that is 40 days for life...Praying across the country to end abortion ,and save lives of the unborn - as those stand outside of abortion providers across the country, and pray for the women to come to realization that there is a life there that needs to be saved and protected and given a start...How do we be a part? - As this 40 Days for Life campaign is just getting started, there's still plenty of time for you to join in -- and to spread the word to everyone you know. Here's that link to the listing of 40 Days for Life locations:http://40daysforlife.com/location.cfm

With this  wonderful picture of Ruth with her little David two years ago... He loves his mother so much that he wants to get the closest he can get to her..."Mommy, I love you soooooooo much!"

REFLECTION by David Brandao, 40 Days for Life

-----------------------------------------------------
"The toll of abortion cannot be measured. We hear estimates of almost 50 million innocent victims, but
that's only one aspect of the harm that has unfolded in abortion's wake. There are also the mothers and
fathers of these millions, as well as the grandparents, brothers and sisters, aunts, uncles,
cousins. Unborn lives destroyed. Lives of the living shattered...

It's overwhelming and depressing, but even in the midst of such unfathomable darkness, the church
teaches us to have hope. Yes, it was indeed Calvary that followed Christ's 40 days in the desert, but
without Calvary there would have been no Resurrection -- His victory over death that opened the gates of
heaven to those who believe in and follow Him.

The psalmist encourages us to go humbly before God as we seek His will: "A clean heart create for me, O

God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me... Give me back the joy of your salvation and a willing
spirit sustain in me... O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise" (Psalm 51:12, 14,17).

We are called to be God's messengers; or as the Apostle Paul told the Corinthians: "We are

ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: be reconciled to God" (2 Corinthians 5:20).

That is the true message to all we encounter at the abortion centers and in our communities who have been
deceived by the Culture of Death. We don't bring condemnation; we bring God's good news.

I am determined to go and sign up for a time slot at 40 days for life up in the Cities here in the next few days... now that I have gotten all my nights behind me.  I will let you know of the process and I am hoping to do it at a time when I can share it with my kids up there too!  Nancy with her little one in her womb, his proud and excited dad, and his proud and excited Uncle John!  We love and want to save life at all costs! Jesus, we love you and ask you to use the efforts and prayers of so many to save lives and to give the joy of that life not only to its' mother, but all those that are touched by the life of a child... grandparent, aunt, uncle siblings, father, mother... the circle is ever wider and the beauty and gift of life is one that never stops giving!  Jesus, we trust in you!  Amen and Halleluia!

Bless-bless, Barb

"If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.  For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.  What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?"  Luke 9: 22-25  The Gospel for today and Christ speaking to us and telling us how to follow Him into LIFE!