Courageous Mothers, Part 3: Mom Saves Her Child From Execution

Posted on May 9, 2020 by Kathy Widenhouse

For You From The Word

The woman whose son was alive was filled with compassion for her son and said to the king, “Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don’t kill him!” (1 Kings 3:26, NIV)

For You To Think About

A mother’s love is an image of God’ sacrificial love for his children.

girl cryingKing Solomon was called upon to administer justice in a dispute between two prostitutes who had just become mothers.

One son had died when his mother had rolled on him during the night. She exchanged her dead son with the live baby while his mother slept. The two women argued over the baby.

Solomon’s solution was simple: cut the baby in two with a sword and give each woman half.

The live baby’s mother could not bear for her child to lose his life. She was willing to sacrifice the opportunity to raise him and be called his mother … so he could live.

“Please, my lord, give her the living baby!” she cried to Solomon. “Don’t kill him!” (1 Kings 3:26, NIV)

She saved her child’s life. Her courage demonstrated the deep, sacrificial love of a mother – a love that desires only the best for her child.

For You To Pray

Loving Father,
Thank You for demonstrating Your love for us through the sacrificial love of a mother. Allow mothers-to-be to understand that life comes from You. Let them have courage to choose life for their children, even when that choice is difficult.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

More Stories of Courageous Mothers

Courageous Mothers, Part 1: One Mom’s Sacrifice Frees a Nation

Courageous Mothers, Part 2: One Mom’s Obedience Restores God’s House

Courageous Mothers, Part 4: Courageous Mother Gives Birth, Saves Herself Too

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Courageous Mothers, Part 2: One Mom’s Obedience Restores God’s House

Posted on April 13, 2020 by Kathy Widenhouse

For You From The Word

Hannah said to her husband, “After the boy is weaned, I will take him (to the house of the Lord) and present him before the Lord, and he will live there always.” (1 Samuel 1:22, NIV)

For You To Think About

A mother’s love is an image of God’s sacrificial love for his children.

mom holding baby with beige blanket

Hannah not only longed for a child; she was also misunderstood by people in her life. Her husband Elkanah loved her, but had other children. The mother of her husband’s children ridiculed her infertility. Eli, the priest, mistook Hannah’s intercession for drunkenness.

Hannah poured herself out to God, vowing if she had a son, she would dedicate him to God’s service.

She conceived a boy and raised him until he was weaned. Then, Hannah kept her vow to God and allowed the child, Samuel, to be raised by priest Eli in the house of the Lord.

Because of her obedience, Israel gained a great spiritual leader. Samuel took Eli’s place as high priest when Eli’s sons were brought down by evil. Hannah’s son served as a judge in Israel and became the earliest Hebrew prophet.

Hannah did not get to raise her son beyond his first few years of life, but her sacrifice helped restore righteousness to God’s house in Israel.

For You To Pray

Loving Father,
Thank You for demonstrating Your love for us through the sacrificial love of a mother. Allow mothers-to-be to understand that life comes from You. Let them hear Your voice as You speak about the children they carry.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Courageous Mothers, Part 1: One Mom’s Sacrifice Produces a Great Leader

Courageous Mothers, Part 3: A Mom Saves Her Child From Execution

Courageous Mothers, Part 4: Courageous Mother Gives Birth, Saves Herself Too

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Courageous Mothers, Part 1: One Mom’s Sacrifice Produces a Great Leader

Posted on April 11, 2020 by Kathy Widenhouse

For You From The Word

When she could hide (her baby) no longer, Jochebed got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. (Exodus 2:3, NIV)

For You To Think About

A mother’s love is an image of God’s sacrificial love for his children.

mom and baby

Jochebed, a Hebrew slave, gave birth to a son during a time when the Pharaoh ordered male Hebrew newborns to be killed. Her son would die.

Jochebed and her husband hid the child for three months. Then Jochebed placed her son in a basket in on the Nile River – strategically – so that the Pharaoh’s daughter discovered him. The baby was raised in the palace. Jochebed was hired to be his nurse.

Although she played a large part in raising her son Moses, Jochebed relinquished the right to be publicly acknowledged as her child’s mother.

Yet because of her sacrifice, Israel gained a great leader. Moses delivered the Hebrews from slavery and led them through the wilderness to the Promised Land.

For You To Pray

Loving Father,
Thank You for demonstrating Your love for us through the sacrificial love of a mother. Touch hearts of mothers-to-be who are face difficult circumstances. Show them a path to take that allows them to choose life.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

More Stories of Courageous Mothers

Courageous Mothers, Part 2: One Mom’s Obedience Restores God’s House

Courageous Mothers, Part 3: A Mom Saves Her Child From Execution

Courageous Mothers, Part 4: Courageous Mother Gives Birth, Saves Herself Too

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Ultrasounds Save Lives at Pregnancy Medical Clinics

Posted on March 16, 2020 by Kathy Widenhouse

For You From The Word

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. (Psalm 98:3, NIV)

For You To Think About

Increasingly, pregnancy resource centers (PRCs) are converting to pregnancy medical clinics (PMCs).

ultrsound technician at pregnancy medical clinicThere are more than 4,000 active pregnancy resource centers across the nation, sometimes called “crisis pregnancy centers” or “pregnancy care centers.” These centers provide invaluable services including pregnancy tests, education, and counseling for those who believe they may be pregnant or who have recently discovered they are pregnant.

Pregnancy medical clinics offer basic medical services in addition to those currently provided at PRCs. Some PMCs offer sexually transmitted infection testing and even prenatal care. Significantly, pregnancy medical clinics can offer ultrasound examinations.

An ultrasound is a diagnostic procedure which determines the viability of the pregnancy and also allows the mother to see a visual image of her unborn child. It must be conducted by a medical professional. The procedure is documented to impact abortion-minded women to choose life.

The advantage for PRCs which convert to PMCs is clear: the additional medical services attract more clients and give them complete information they need to make the best decision for themselves and their babies – particularly with the use of ultrasound.

Medical licensing allows the message of life to extend further.

For You To Pray

Loving Father,
Thank You for pregnancy care centers and the support they provide to pregnant women and those who believe they may be pregnant. Provide funding these centers need to become licensed as medical clinics so they can serve more women and save more lives.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

More about Pregnancy Resource Centers

Ways Lives Are Saved: Ultrasounds

99.26% Clinics Say Ultrasounds Have Positive Impact

It Took 2 Decades, But Now Fetal Ultrasounds are Routine

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Local Employees Team Up to Renovate Pregnancy Care Center

Posted on March 16, 2020 by Kathy Widenhouse

For You From The Word

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work. (Ecclesiastes 4:9, NIV)

For You To Think About

People constructing a homeWhen employees at a South Carolina home improvement center considered what project to take on in their community, they chose a local pregnancy care center.

“To have businesses come in beside us takes a bit of burden off us,” said Lori Doehling, director of the Palmetto Pregnancy Center in Lake Wylie, SC. “That’s just amazing.”

Volunteers from the local Lowe’s Home Improvement initially responded to the center’s request for more storage shelving, but then told the center to “dream a little bigger.” In the end, volunteers painted the center interior, installed a granite countertop and toilet, added hardscape outside, and even provided a gift basket to the center with gift cards and baby supplies for clients. The Palmetto Pregnancy Center serves 500 women and families a year at its Lake Wylie location.

Each year Lowe’s employees team up to provide thousands of hours of volunteer support to local communities as part of their Heroes Employee Volunteer Program, which emphasizes how team work can impact the community.

“They did a great job,” said Lori. “It’s going to make a big difference in our clients’ lives.”

For You To Pray

Loving Father,
Thank You for those who team up together to serve those who face an unplanned pregnancy. Bless their efforts. Raise up more team-minded volunteers to work together to encourage life in their communities.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

More Local Heroes Who Stand For Life

How One Community Rallied Around a Pregnant Woman

Small Acts of Service Make a Big Difference for Single Mom With Triplets

Practical (and Pro-Life) Ministries for Your Church

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A Love Ministry, Part 3: Life-Affirming Love

Posted on February 25, 2020 by Kathy Widenhouse

For You From The Word

Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. Therefore encourage each other and build each other up. (1 Thessalonians 5:10-11, NLT)

For You To Think About

Third in a series about what it means to be a “love ministry

3 friends offering affirming love

Birthmothers is a love ministry. We spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ by offering unconditional, one-on-one support and life-affirming resources to anyone who faces an unplanned pregnancy.

A love ministry carries out its work through positive, life-affirming relationships. (An activist ministry, on the other hand, carries out its work in campaigns designed to achieve an end.)

Scripture is clear in that we are to affirm and edify others. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says it well: “Encourage each other and build each other up,” referring to those in His church.

God’s life-affirming love is not just for those who are Christ-followers, but it’s for all. That includes those who have fallen away and those who reject a biblical lifestyle.

“Christ died for us so that … we can live with him” (1 Thessalonians 5:10). Positive, life-affirming relationships demonstrate Christ, paving the way for women, men, and children to “live with him forever.”

Positive, life-affirming relationships are designed to draw others closer to God. We build up others, rather than belittling them or tearing them down. God encourages us to offer life-affirming love to all.

For You To Pray

Loving Father,
Thank You for Your life-affirming love. Help us to offer positive relationships to women, men, and children so they can be drawn closer to You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

More Devotionals about Ministering in Love

A Love Ministry, Part 1: Love Is Unconditional

A Love Ministry, Part 2: One-On-One Love

Love: The Most Powerful Weapon in the Movement for Life

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A Love Ministry, Part 2: One-on-One Love

Posted on February 11, 2020 by Kathy Widenhouse

For You From The Word

This is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. (1 John 3:11, ESV)

For You To Think About

Second in a series about what it means to be a “love ministry”

friends-2 young womenA love ministry carries out its work through positive, life-affirming relationships. (An activist ministry, on the other hand, carries out its work in campaigns.)

At least 59 places in the New Testament address how to interact with one another, specifically in one-on-one relationships.

Chief among those was Jesus’ command to “love one another.” God has a tremendous love for the world, but also a deep love for the individual. Jesus demonstrated this personalized approach love should take: he shared faith one-on-one with the woman at the well (John 4) … offered grace one-on-one to the woman caught in adultery (John 8) … encouraged Mary Magdalene one-on-one in the garden after His resurrection (John 20).

Love offered one-on-one shows the importance of the individual. Each person is unique. Each person matters to God.

Birthmothers spreads the Gospel of Jesus Christ by offering unconditional, one-on-one support and life-affirming, adoption-informing resources to anyone who faces an unplanned pregnancy.

By offering one-on-one love to those we serve, we demonstrate how valuable each person is to us and to God.

For You To Pray

Loving Father,
Thank You for Jesus’ personalized approach to love. Help us to offer one-on-one love to women and men who face an unplanned pregnancy.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

More Devotionals about Ministering in Love

A Love Ministry, Part 1: Love Is Unconditional

Love Series, Part 1: This Is the Way of Love

Love Series, Part 2: “Agape” Is Love

Love Series, Part 3: Love Is a Decision

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A Love Ministry, Part 1: Love Is Unconditional

Posted on January 31, 2020 by Kathy Widenhouse

For You From The Word

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:7, ESV)

For You To Think About

First in a series about what it means to be a “love ministry”

women helping womenBirthmothers is a love ministry. We spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ by offering unconditional, one-on-one support and life-affirming, adoption-informing resources to anyone who faces an unplanned pregnancy.

A love ministry carries out its work through positive, life-affirming relationships. (An activist ministry, on the other hand, carries out its work in campaigns designed to achieve an end.)

In His ministry, Jesus Christ modeled unconditional love. He demonstrated how to serve others with a love that had no limits. Jesus loved others freely regardless of the beneficiary’s status, circumstances, situation, or response.

Paul described such love: it “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:7).

In ministry, unconditional love is offered to a woman or man who faces an unplanned pregnancy. This love is given consistently regardless of the person’s social, financial, religious, or educational status … it is love given regardless of the circumstances of the pregnancy or situation the person now faces … it is love given regardless of the woman or man’s response.

Our core ministry focuses on offering unconditional love to those we serve.

For You To Pray

Loving Father,
Thank You for sending Jesus to model unconditional love. Help us to offer love without limits to women and men who face an unplanned pregnancy.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

More Devotionals about Ministering in Love

Love Series, Part 1: This Is the Way of Love

Love Series, Part 2: “Agape” Is Love

Love Series, Part 3: Love Is a Decision

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What Is the “Right to Life”?

Posted on January 12, 2020 by Kathy Widenhouse

For You From The Word

I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live. (Deuteronomy 30:19, NIV)

For You To Think About

newborn baby on rugThe unchallenged acceptance of the term “right to life” defines it as a political party or social movement.

Yet at its core, the term begs an understanding of human rights.

Human rights are a set of fundamental privileges granted to every individual simply because he or she is a human being. Human rights are universal. They are protected by national and international law.

The right to life is acknowledged the world over as a basic human right. It entitles a human being the freedom to live.

International law declares the right to life as a basic human right: “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.” The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Section 3 , adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948

American law declares the right to life for its citizens: “All men are created equal … they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” The Declaration of Independence , adopted unanimously by the thirteen United States of America, 1776

Specifically, the right to life maintains that a human being should not to be unjustly killed by another human being.

For You To Pray

Gracious Father,
Thank You for creating us and giving us life. Allow all people of the world to respect the right to life for every human being. Move hearts and minds to respect and honor this privilege.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

More about the Right to Life

What Pro-Life Really Means

Millennials: Today’s Most Pro-Life Generation

3 Changes in Pro-Life Trends

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What Pro-Life Really Means

Posted on January 2, 2020 by Kathy Widenhouse

For You From The Word

I came that you might have life and have it to the full. (John 10:10, NIV)

For You To Think About

Baby hand in parent hand: represents pro-life values

The prefix “pro,” placed in front of another word, means “in favor of” or “on the side of.”

It follows then that to be pro-life means you are in favor of life. 

To be in favor of life means to be in favor of …

  • Babies. They are the key indicator that life is a circle and that circle continues to go on.
  • Quality of life. Who among us does not desire to live a healthy, significant, fulfilling life? It is God’s desire for us as well. Jesus said, “I came that you might have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10).
  • Renewal. The cycle of seasons … second chances … recovery from an illness or affliction … physical, emotional, and spiritual regeneration represent hope.
  • Eternal life. God has made a way for us to live with Him forever (John 14:2-3).

When viewed this way, it is rare to find someone who is not pro-life … in favor of life.

For You To Pray

Heavenly Father,
Thank You that You are in favor of life. You bring babies into the world. You renew us when we’ve been ill or hurt either physically, emotionally, or spiritually. You desire that we have lives lived to the full now and for eternity. Let me be pro-life in these ways that count to You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

More Devotionals that Support Life

Your Prayers for Life Save Lives

Concerned Citizens Like You Make Up the Pro-Life Movement

Millennials: Today’s Most Pro-Life Generation

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