Generous Spirit (Psalm 51:12) by Karen Patnaude

04 Mar Generous Spirit (Psalm 51:12) by Karen Patnaude

“Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” ~ Psalm 51:12
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Reflection: Children can be incredibly stubborn, but no matter how much they push back our love for them as their parents is unwavering.  God loves us this much and so much more, that is an incredible thought!  Even as Israel kept turning their back on God He never left them or stopped loving them.  Like a parent he disciplined them, but the very moment they came to Him with repentant hearts He didn’t just forgive them, He blessed them beyond measure!  That is a love that knows no bounds!  Todays women fight a battle, the battle to fit the mold.  They are told that women can do anything, be anything, and yet sometimes the same people rallying for them to be all they can be tell them that in the case of an unplanned pregnancy they are not strong enough.  These women have been broken by this lie and those who have believed it are hurting.  They often attack us because we threaten the very unstable notion that they were justified in the taking of their unborn’s life.  As we walked the streets in San Francisco’s West Coast Walk for Life I knew we would face angry women who did not want us there.  It is easy for me to get defensive so I had to spend time in prayer to prepare my heart to be at peace.  God provided and as we passed these hurting women I was not stirred by their chanting, but instead my heart began to break for them and I cried out in prayer over them.  Sometimes it is hard to see these angry, broken women in the loving light we need to see them.  They don’t need us to fight against them, they need us to love on them.  God is beckoning them to return to Him, to let Him bless them in their healing and repentance.  You may be the one person He puts in their path, so we must come to them with gentle, loving spirits that have no hint of judgment.  Let us be abounding in grace and mercy the way God pours His abundance onto us.
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Challenge: When you know that you will face an angry pro-abortion advocate pray in advance for God to cover you with peace and foster a chance for open communication where you can have the opportunity to just love on them the way Christ would.  Be willing to put aside your own pride and be willing to face them with an open heart.
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Pray LIFE Runners Creed to End Abortion. Add to Prayer Wall.
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Inspiration: “But I tell you not to resist and evil person.  But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.” ~Mt 5:39
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All In Christ for Pro-Life,
Karen
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* Karen Patnaude serves on the LIFE Runners Board as the Communications Officer.  Karen loves being a stay at home wife and mother as it affords her to be able to spend time caring for their miracle daughter, Ella Mae.  Her husband Ryan, gave his career as a pilot to God many years ago and they have since been blessed with the opportunity to travel the world.