Here we are another year, another campaign and our nation run rampant with sin. Sins of idolatry (the worship of something other than God,) sexual immorality, murder and the list can go on and on. Sin entered the world in the garden when Adam and Eve were deceived and ate the forbidden fruit. Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
I attend Bible Study Fellowship, which is amazing and I would highly recommend it. We are in the book of Isaiah. Isaiah 5:20 says, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” We see this everywhere in our culture and especially in front of PP in Pittsburgh, where the workers really do believe they are helping women, but we all know they are deceived and leading people astray.
Proverbs 24:11 says, “Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.” God has called us to do this work because we join in the words of Isaiah: Isaiah6:8 “And I heard the voice of the lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then I said, ‘Here I am.'”
We’ve all heard the saying: God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips those He calls. Isaiah 7:9 “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.” God has equipped us for this work. He is with us and strengthens us with perseverance.
I am amazed every time I am on the sidewalk, He always sends people to encourage us to persevere in this battle. I thank God for each and every person I meet and every conversation. And we can persevere through His strength knowing the battle is not over and it belongs to the Lord. Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” I thank God for each and every one of you standing in the gap for those who cannot stand for themselves. We are all on this journey home together. We know time is short and Jesus can return at any time. Judgement Day will come when we all have to stand before the Lord Almighty and give an account for the things we have done and those things we have left undone. We know every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. God does not want anyone to perish, but all to come to know Him as Lord and Savior. And that is our prayer to all those who cross our path in downtown Pittsburgh and everywhere the Lord takes us. In the words of the Apostle Paul, “I am servant of the true and living God, I am an ambassador for Christ.” May this be said of us.
2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face an turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Lord, You are Sovereign over all things and nothing is hidden from your sight. We know You will right every wrong when You return. We repent of our waywardness and our halfhearted ways and ask You to reveal our wicked ways to each of us. Help us, Lord, as we seek to do Your will and walk in Your ways. We thank You and praise You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to live as one of us. You defeated sin and death by dying on the cross, and were resurrected on the third day so that we could have eternal life with you. Your promises are true and we trust only in you, Jesus. We stand on your Holy Word, the Sword of the Spirit. Help us to boldly proclaim your Gospel to the ends of the earth. Lord, we lift up all those who do not know you and pray for their salvation. Let our hearts be pure, our words be sweet, and help us to put on love first. We love because you first loved us. We thank you, Lord, for all the lives that are saved and will be saved this campaign. We thank you for the breath and life you have given us this day. We ask all this in the Mighty Name of Jesus, our Rock, Redeemer, Defender, and Friend on who we can always depend. Amen.
-Donna
SIDEWALK REPORTS
7-9 AM +++ Peggy and Conrad
The 7-9 shift was quiet, almost all the abortion workers going in, perhaps one or two clients at the most. I would expect the later shifts to be busy. I hope I am wrong.
Conrad
9-11 AM +++ Judy
Our shift today was filled with Pastor Joe and Judy, Lori and Chuck from Lincoln Place Nazarene, Meredith from Covenant, Ken from St. Germaine, Phyllis from Bridge City, and Bill joined us for a while.
The weather was beautiful and welcoming!!!
Right off the bat, we had a lady drive by yelling at us very loudly all the way to the corner. But the next two people that went into PP graciously accepted materials from us before going in.
Later a passerby had some choice nasty words for us, so we blessed him and prayed for him. God is able!
We were feeling the presence of God as we prayed together during the morning.
We had a lady looking for PP and we were able to intercept her and she spoke to us and took our resources. She was seeking an abortion. We spoke with her a while but she said she would continue in to PP and think about it. So we just continued praying for the Holy Spirit to change her heart and mind.
We had several people walk by or drive by with words of encouragement.
The presence of the Lord was powerful among us. The prayers and praises were going up and the presence and the glory were coming down. The revival wave is hitting the streets of the city.
Judy
11 AM-1 PM +++ Beth Ann
The day started out so sunny and cheerful. How can you not relish the beauty that God provided on the first day of the campaign we stood vigil? But before attending morning Mass, I got news of a loved one that passed today. We said a prayer for John on our way to the vigil. Nothing out of the ordinary happened today. We had some passersby who were nice and others who were not so nice. More than a few entered the abortion clinic without returning quickly, which is never a good sign, and no one was truly interested in taking much literature. The meter attendants questioned the guard who had his car parked on the street. They asked that he move it when a paid spot opened across the street. The wind blew gently during our many rosaries, all for the needs of the girls entering to change their minds…but we did not see that happen. About an hour after our shift more news of passing came. Truly a community loved one, Amber VanVickle has gone to see the face of God, and we pray for her family so deeply. Does God answer our prayers? Yes, but in his own time and in the circumstances that He decides are best for all of us. Until then, we continue to praise him and pray for the girls to change their minds.
Beth Ann




1-3 PM +++ Carolyn and Cecilia








3-5 PM +++ Pete and Nikki


We had beautiful weather to pray today! The streets and sidewalks were bustling, and it was just workers leaving. It is difficult to concentrate on prayers with so much activity and noise around, but we prayed all four mysteries of the rosary and a Divine Mercy chaplet and talked a bit with our security guard who is a really nice guy. A young boy stopped to check out the baby models and ask some questions about why we were there. It was a blessing to be there as a witness to precious unborn life! Thank you to Christine and Pete for being there with me!
Nikki


Yesterday I posted that the Sisters of the Holy Spirit will be praying for the success of this Lenten observance for 40 Days for Life. That babies would be saved and mothers helped and participants be safe. It may not have come through. I had problems with the email. Lenten blessings,
Sr. Jolenta
Thank you, Sister!!! That means a lot! God bless you and the sisters!!!