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"For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well."
(Psalm 139:13-14, ESV)
Sunday, February 19, 2020, was Sanctity of Life Sunday. We announced to the church that we would be participating in the Texas Rally for Life at the Capitol on the following Saturday. Each year here in Austin, TX, we have thousands who participate in the Texas Rally for Life. By the time you read this, we will have had the rally and I will have been on a pro-life panel speaking and answering questions as a local pastor regarding the subject of the sanctity of human life.
Our church is involved in many pro-life ministries. My wife, Ashley, and I have participated in multiple 40 Days for Life events where we go to abortion clinics, stand outside, and peacefully protest through prayer. Why all this involvement in pro-life activities and ministries? Well, the Bible clearly teaches that life is the work of God. He created every one of us, and we are deeply loved and valued by Him. Psalm 139 teaches many truths regarding our lives in embryonic form. In addition to our opening verses for today's devotional, the psalmist writes in verses 15-16:
"My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them."
One of the most prominent criticisms of the pro-life movement is that we try so hard to see that women do not have abortions, but we do little after that. At our church, we support ministries like Breath of Life Maternity Ministries here in Austin. This ministry encourages moms to have their babies and either keep them or give them up for adoption. Some may ask, "But what about women who have abortions? Do we try to help them?" The answer is yes, and this is one of the reasons I invited Jenifer Wakefield onto my podcast, REvangelical, last week. She has led out in this ministry to women who have had abortions.
Jenifer is also the Executive Director of a new ministry in the Central Texas area called Restoration Ranch. This ministry specializes in helping women in crisis. I serve on the board, and DFEA contributes monthly to this ministry. If you are interested in learning more about Restoration Ranch, please visit their website: https://restorationranchtx.org
Please know how much God loves you! He knows all about you and still loves you and desires that you walk in peace and victory. Please let us know at DFEA how we might be able to encourage and pray for you. You can reach me at dforshee@dfea.com.
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