23 Aug Rape and Incest (Ps 139:1) By Carol Everett
Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB). Leaders. Guest Authors.
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“O Lord, You have searched me and known me.” ~ Ps 139:1 (Ps 139:1-12) (full readings)
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Carol’s Reflections: We think of Psalm 139 as God’s description of when life begins. Have you considered verses 1 through 12 as speaking of the mother and answering the difficult cases of rape and incest? God knows where we are every minute. If the tragedy of rape or incest occurs, as difficult as it is to understand, God allowed it to happen. If He allows conception – the birth of new life – He has a purpose for that baby. Having the child of the rapist might at first seem difficult, but at some point the mother is going to identify with the fact that at least one-half of the baby is her. That is when she will fall in love with her baby. If she chooses not to parent, millions of couples are awaiting babies of every ethnicity. Rape is a terrible crime against a woman, but why punish her and her baby a second time by the trauma of abortion? We now understand some of the negatives associated with abortion: risk of future infertility, increased risk of breast cancer and post-traumatic stress, called post-abortion syndrome. Incest is another terrible crime against a woman, usually a young girl. A second trauma of abortion will allow the perpetrator to continue the abuse. Pregnancy will bring the abuse to light and help the victim escape. The natural end of pregnancy is birth. Even if the mother is young, under most circumstances if she can become pregnant, she can deliver the baby. Today cesarean section procedures allow mothers to give birth with little or no risk to her health.
* Carol Everett is president and founder of The Heidi Group, an organization formed to network resources for crisis pregnancy centers across the nation. As a nationally-known speaker and activist, she is committed to safeguarding the health of women and their babies all over the nation. Carol’s life story is detailed in the book, Blood Money – Getting Rich off a Woman’s Right to Choose.
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Faith Challenge: Are we as ambassadors for life encouraging others to stand for life? Our call from Genesis was to multiply. Are we multiplying pro-lifers?
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Counter-Culture News: LSN, LifeNews, Priests for Life, AFA,Vatican, Project Rachel.
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Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion. LIFE Runners Creed. Add Prayers. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.
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Feast Day: St. Rose of Lima.
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Faith Quote: “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.” ~ Psalm 139:13-16
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Through Christ our Lord,
Carol
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* Pray/Fast: Prayer connects us with God’s will and His miracles, changing us & helping others. Fast from things that take your eyes off Jesus. Those who pray together stay together, and close to God!
* Save Unborn (and families): Abortion (images) is #1 death cause (22% pregnancies). Prov 24:11 and Jer 1:5. “A great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish.” Mother Teresa.
* Evangelize: Make room for unbelievers and re-evangelization of self, by way of prayer (relationship) and following Christ’s example of love (service/sacrifice/mercy). Matt 28:19.