TEXAS AND ABORTION!!!

 THOUGHT THIS IS TIMELY AS TO WHAT IS TAKING PLACE IN TEXAS,  AND  FOR  THE  LAST  DAY  OF  THE  FEAST  OF  UNLEAVENED  BREAD

Choose Life

Deliberate abortion is murder!

CHOOSE LIFE By Sharon Dean Would you intentionally harm or kill your neighbor? The Bible tells us that anyone who has a need for our help is our neighbor. The Bible talks about God's love for the weak and helpless. Thousands of helpless, unborn children are killed every day, right here in America. The unborn child cannot speak for himself. The issues of today revolve around a woman's "right" of choice. Each woman does have a choice. She can choose not to engage in sexual intercourse, thus avoiding an unwanted pregnancy, but she does not have the "right" to murder her baby (Exodus 20:13). The Bible tells us of the value God .. places on our life. We are created in His image (Genesis 1:26-27). David affirms that God knew him before he was born. "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 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')." God told Jeremiah that He had a plan for him before he was born. "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations" (Jeremiah 1:5). A woman should value the life growing inside her body. Every child is a gift of God. As the psalmist proclaims, "...Children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward" (127:3). If we lose sight of the value placed on human life, we can more easily be tempted to destroy that life designed by God. Satan wants to kill and destroy those made in the image of God. He has deceived many into believing that embryos and fetuses are not human beings. When life is destroyed, we forfeit the impact of a life that could have enriched us and brought glory to God. In the movie "It's a Wonderful Life," George is allowed to see how his community would have been if he had not been born. Who knows the purpose God has for each of His conceived children? Let's review the story of the Good Samaritan found in Luke 10:25-37. Jesus tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves. The parable identifies a wounded, beaten man who needed help. A priest and Levite saw the need but looked the other way and passed by him. However, it was the Samaritan who saw the man's need and then did all that was necessary to preserve his life. Will we close our eyes or look the other way when innocent life is unnecessarily taken? Or will we recognize the unborn child as being our neighbor and do whatever is needed to preserve his life? Most Christians say they believe that elective abortion unjustly kills an innocent, defenseless human being. What are we doing to stop it? We need to move from an attitude of opposition, to a behavior of opposition. What can we do? First, you need to examine your own heart to determine how you really feel about the issue. If you are pro-choice, then you are pro-abortion. But if you are pro-life, then you are anti-abortion. Be aware of what is happening in our country. Legislation is being considered and passed regarding how we treat human embryos and fetuses. If you have an opinion, take a stand. Stand up for the helpless, unborn child. Speak up and support legislation that protects human life and oppose legislation that threatens it. We also need to teach our youth to have a respect for life. We need to talk to them and teach them about the services available that offer support to women with unplanned pregnancies. They may have opportunity to counsel others against taking the life of an innocent baby. Second, we need to do something. We can support organizations that teach the truth. First John 3:18 tells us, "...let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth." We can offer financial support and/or we can volunteer our time at a local pro-life pregnancy care center. We can get our youth and adults involved in church organized fund-raising activities, such as the "Walk for Life." Our local church supports the Pregnancy Care Center and participates in its annual 'Walk for Life' fundraiser. We need to demonstrate our love for the unborn child. Love is not a feeling but a behavior. For the future of your unborn child, grandchild, niece, nephew, neighbor, choose life. Deuteronomy 30:19 says, "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live..." ................ Sharon Dean is a retired nurse and supports the Pregnancy Care Center in Springfield, Missouri. Sharon resides with her husband, Orin, in Rogersville, Missouri. "All Scripture taken from the New King James Version. May 2007 ACTS magazine, a publication of the General Council of the Churches of God, 7th Day, Meridian, ID, USA