White Crosses

Reprinted with Permission from Dan Elliot:


My boy and I were riding our bikes early this morning and came across a local church that is standing up in Brandon, displaying old whitewashed wooden crosses in memory of the 748 South Dakotan children who were aborted in 2006. Just across a very narrow stretch of road on the other side of the display is a cemetery, filled not with wooden crosses, but crosses made of stone. Most are inscribed with the date that someone came into this world, then a dash that somehow represents an entire lifetime, and finally a date that they passed on. Most are decorated and adorned with flowers, frequented stops along life's busy highway for those left behind who choose to remember and celebrate a life once lived.

There's no real difference between the wooden crosses here or the stone crosses there, except that on one side of the road, those crosses are recognized to represent people, human beings who once lived. And on the other side of the road...they aren't. One side was granted the right to life, the other wasn't. Nothing separates them or makes them any less human.

In fact these crosses on this side of the road are an offense to some people. There's no flowers, no mourner to lovingly care for their upkeep. They are so abhorred that in recent years these little crosses have been yanked out of the ground in the night and thrown in the river. Do you wonder why it is that they strike such a tender chord, why some are so unable to stand for what those crosses stand for, why they are more inclined to tear them down and throw them away rather than see them for what they represent?

So what if we could give each whitewashed cross a face? What if we could see the child behind the symbol? Would we be so quick to dismiss them then, to throw them away if we could look into their eyes? If we could hear just one of them speak, just one audible giggle, would we stand up for them?

In 2003, the year my daughter was born, there were 819 abortions in South Dakota. Today, she is 5 years old. She smiles, she cries, she laughs, she loves, she mothers over her new puppy, and she is an amazing speller. She eats up attention and she's an expert at Eskimo kisses. Today she's very excited because she gets to paint her toy horse in rainbow colors. So today we see these crosses, and hundreds of choices that were made to end the life of a child, and one child who was given another choice, a right to life, just like you. In the image below, what do you see? Do you see one child or two? Of course you see that beautiful little American girl with rights, but do you see the little boy or girl that she's holding onto, that child that wasn't given the choice?

Worthy of His Reward

Revelation 5:11-13
Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands,
saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing." And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, "To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever."

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive the reward of His suffering! We are His reward! The people of South Dakota are His reward! The unborn children are His reward! All of humanity is His reward! Pray that the Lord's jealousy is ignited and, for His name's sake, He takes what is rightfully His! Please pray that a revelation of the price Christ paid strikes the hearts of South Dakotans and influences the election. "To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever!" Glorify the Lord!

Strength

Judges 6:12
"The LORD is with you, mighty warrior."
Please pray that the staff and volunteers for VoteYesForLife.com would feel the presence of the LORD and strengthen themselves in the knowledge that He is with them. Please pray that they would walk with the countenance of Christ...in love, compassion, and peace.

The Truth

2 Cor 13:8
For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.

Make sure that you know the TRUTH regarding IM 11 and pray that ALL of South Dakota sees through lies and recognizes truth.

Call to Fast!

Joel 1:14; 2:18, 25, 27
Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD. [...] Then the LORD will be jealous for His land and take pity on his people. [...] "I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten. [...] Then you will know that I am in Israel, that I am the LORD your God, and that there is no other; never again will my people be shamed."

Please humble yourself before the Lord. Scripture calls us to fast, so fast whatever you can: meat, sweets, all foods, tv, facebook, sleep, talking, etc. Spend time at the feet of the Father crying out to Him. Call forth the jealousy of the Lord for HIS land HIS people. Claim the promise of scripture that God will repay the years the locusts have eaten and that He will prove His sovereignty through bringing restoration to the land! The Lord is longing to redeem South Dakota, but will His people humble themselves and simply ask Him to do it?

Defeated Enemies

Deuteronomy 28:7
The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.

Please pray that the enemy rising against the unborn would be defeated, confused, and scattered. Pray that dissension arises in the camp of the enemy and that LIFE prevails!

Message from A Volunteer

I am writing this message to you because recently I've had a new realization of how significant the battle in our state is. The fate of thousands of South Dakotans, and poetentially millions of Americans, depends on our actions here with Initiated Measure 11.
The second greatest commandment is to love our neighbors. When Jesus was asked, "Who is my neighbor?" He told a parable found in Luke 10. The answer He gives is this: anyone in your reach. These unborn babies are being taken toward the slaughter--on our streets, in our cities, and in our nation. They will continue to be left to die if we don't act now.
Some of you might walk past this need. Maybe you're a leader (like the pries) and are afraid that getting involved with this controversial issue will stain your reputation. maybe you are too busy with more "spiritual" things (like the Levite) to help your unborn neighbors, and just pray that someone else will help them.
There are those of you, however, who will postpone your plans, give your precious time and hard-earned money, and say "if it isn't enough, I'll come back and give more." This is real compassion.
In 2006, we had the opportunity to end abortion in South Dakota. In a general sense, the church did not rise to the occasion. Many of us got involved, but only in prayer, and left the physical work to the "campaign people." Let us come out and rescue "the least of these" in their time of need. And as we go, let truth prevail. Let God arise and His enemies be scattered--right here and right now. And we will see what God can do with a willing, faithful people.

Thanks for your two minutes : )
Becky Brunz

To give to this cause go to www.voteyesforlife.com. If you live in South Dakota there are many ways to help. First send this message to others who might help. You can go door-to-door with initiative info, you can hold signs during the rush hour, you can paint your car windows and deck out your car with bumper stickers and big magnets. You can put an add in your local paper, talk about it on your local radio stations. Raise money through your youth group or church. The possibilites are endless, let God give you creative ideas and may He bless the work of your hands.

Take No Rest

Isaiah 62:1-2,6-7
For [South Dakota's] sake I will not keep silent, for [the unborn's] sake I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch. The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow... I have posted watchmen on your walls, O [South Dakota]; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes [South Dakota] and makes her the praise of the earth.

Effective Prayers

James 5:16-18 "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops."

Thank you for your prayers. They are shaking the heavens! Please keep praying for the campaign, the people of South Dakota, and the unborn!

Urgent Request

We are asking for everyone’s prayers for Dr. Allen and Leslee Unruh’s son, Cash, who was in a head on collision in Louisiana today.

Cash and the driver of his vehicle, Blake, were hit head on by a 43 year old man who crossed the median of the road. Blake and Cash were rushed to the hospital but unfortunately, the driver of the vehicle that hit them was killed.

Please keep the following individuals in your prayers:
Blake and his family – Blake is still in serious condition
Cash – while he sustained many cuts, bruises, broken nose, etc., he is doing very well
Dr. Allen and Leslee – safe travels to and from Louisiana
The family of the 43 year old driver who was killed in the accident