There is a story in the Bible about unintended consequences....
It's about a young man named Joseph who had a dream. The devil conspired through members of Joseph's own family to destroy Joseph and his dream. Then Joseph's employer and his conniving wife were engaged in the plot. Next there was a wrongful imprisonment cut short by a God-given ability to interpret dreams. The unintended consequence of this intriguing story is seen in these words of Joseph: "But as for you, you meant evil against me; [but] God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as [it is] this day, to save many people alive." (Gen 50:20 NKJV)
I have a dream also. It goes like this: "I have a dream. I see an America where little babies in the womb are
recognized as legal persons, beginning with conception. I have a dream. I see
an America where the church, the Bride of Christ, has awakened from her slumber
and has become the strong defender of life she has been empowered to be. I have
a dream. I see an America where children are once again seen as a heritage of
the Lord and the fruit of the womb as His reward (Psalm 127:3). I have a dream." In pursuit of this dream, I began making posts on Facebook every day of 40 Days for Life Fall 2017 Campaign. Each one was labeled "Day [number] of 40 Days for Life. It would begin with a pertinent Scripture, followed by a short prayer, followed by a pertinent picture.
When the 40 Days was drawing to a close, I felt a strong urge to continue the posts, knowing full well that abortion goes on 365 days a year. So I started with "Day 41 of 365 Days for Life," increasing the first number with each post. I was committed and my commitment was public. When I reached day 359 I asked the Lord, "What shall I do when we reach day 365?" His simple response was "Write a devotional." At first I snickered, muttering that I have trouble reading a devotional every day; God couldn't expect me to write one. Again He responded with simple words: "You already have!"
Thus began the process of reviewing a year's worth of Facebook posts, pulling them into a 6" X 9" book format, editing and tweaking, changing color pictures to gray-scale, trying to find endorsers, and a myriad of other tasks that go into preparing a manuscript for publication. I worked in earnest to meet a self-imposed deadline to release the book just prior to the 46th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Decision (1/22/19). Precious endorsements were obtained; the deadline was met, and then a perfect storm hit...
At 7:03 PM on January 22, 2019, NY Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law the Reproductive Health Act. This heinous deed was Herodian in its scope, allowing abortions to be performed through all 40 weeks of pregnancy. It included provisions for permitting babies born alive during abortion procedures to just die. When the bill passed the NY Senate, the chambers erupted in cheers and loud clapping. That night, several New York edifices, including the Freedom Tower, were illuminated in pink to celebrate the bill. Imagine, using a building which marks the spot where almost 3,000 Americans were killed by terrorists on 9/11/2001 to celebrate the legal opportunity to kill innocent babies in the womb. So where's the unintended consequence in all of this?
While the state of Vermont is seeking to pass a bill similar to New York's, these heinous acts seem to have had the effect of rousing the church from its slumber. This has not only increased interest in my book, but more and more people are sharing pro-life issues on social media. And another unintended consequence has occurred. The book has proven to be a source of hope and healing to women who have had abortions in the past. Many have come forth to share their stories in hopes of encouraging those caught up in the throes of a crisis pregnancy to choose life. Here are a couple of those stories...
I purchased this book to make sense of what we are doing as a society that continues to make it easy and okay to end the lives of the unborn. I also purchased it to heal from choices that happened to me and that I made decades ago. For many years I assumed that once you choose to abort an unborn person you no longer have a voice or credibility in the debate over the sanctity of life. As a really old woman I am extremely retrospective as I juxtapose my personal choices in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s with what I’ve learned over the past thirty years.
This book is designed as a daily devotional. In my particular case it has been the book I’ve delved into to make sense of my own profoundly personal journey.
The amazing message of this book is that there is forgiveness if you are willing to give it up to the cross. Dr. Young’s daily words are a call to stand up for the unborn, and at the same time an opportunity to understand the true sacrifice of our Lord Jesus who carries our sins.
As a pragmatist I’ve intellectualized my early choices. What this book has helped me to understand is that though I am flawed I can still do something to make something great from something dark and horrible.
I implore everyone who believes in the sanctity of life to read the words of Dr. Young. And I will add here too...it does not matter as much where you came from as it does where you are going. This book is a celebration of life. It is a call for all of us to think about what is most important. I was scared because of my personal background to read Young’s words, but I was immediately comforted knowing that no matter where we start we can always end off by living for and championing for life.
This book will heal you if you have suffered through the lies and trickery of abortion. It will also guide you if you are feeling scared and alone. This book, in my heartfelt opinion will save lives.
This book is designed as a daily devotional. In my particular case it has been the book I’ve delved into to make sense of my own profoundly personal journey.
The amazing message of this book is that there is forgiveness if you are willing to give it up to the cross. Dr. Young’s daily words are a call to stand up for the unborn, and at the same time an opportunity to understand the true sacrifice of our Lord Jesus who carries our sins.
As a pragmatist I’ve intellectualized my early choices. What this book has helped me to understand is that though I am flawed I can still do something to make something great from something dark and horrible.
I implore everyone who believes in the sanctity of life to read the words of Dr. Young. And I will add here too...it does not matter as much where you came from as it does where you are going. This book is a celebration of life. It is a call for all of us to think about what is most important. I was scared because of my personal background to read Young’s words, but I was immediately comforted knowing that no matter where we start we can always end off by living for and championing for life.
This book will heal you if you have suffered through the lies and trickery of abortion. It will also guide you if you are feeling scared and alone. This book, in my heartfelt opinion will save lives.
And another:
Les I have read some of your book, and the timeliness has me awestruck with NY new law and Vermont wants to copy the same. This is now to the level of infanticide ... an ancient practice. I can’t get my head around this. It truly sickens my heart and soul.
I was seventeen and got pregnant and I had an abortion within six weeks... I went to planned parenthood...I couldn’t afford the whole knock me out so I didn’t feel it... I could only afford I am conscious but let’s get this done... Les I felt that soul get ripped out of me every bit of it and in that moment I knew the truth and it was too late to take it back. What was don’t was done ... even at six weeks I learned the truth sadly I morn the loss of that child everyday even though I have forgiven myself ... at least I never compounded my errors. Keep doing what you are doing I'm told that neither of these two women had ever shared their stories before. This is a beautiful, yet unintended consequence of writing the book. I pray that God uses it, with your (the reader) help, to mobilize the 80 Million Evangelical Christians in the USA to take up the cause for life. Together, we can put an end to abortion by bringing the rights of Personhood to the unborn. In the process we can bring hope and healing to the living victims of abortion who are in our midst. You can obtain this valuable resource at... Devoted to Life
Our Dad, Flip Benham, has said for years, “Abortion will end when the church says so and not a minute sooner.” Francis Schaeffer used to say, “In front of every abortion clinic in America there should be a sign that reads, ‘Open by permission of the church.’” Les Young has written a devotional that points the church towards her duty to defend the pre-born, providing a roadmap of activities that are non-threatening weapons which every Christian can use to pull down the stronghold of abortion.
David &Jason Benham
The Benham Brothers
Best Selling Authors of “Whatever the Cost” and Living Among Lions”Founders and CEO’s of The Benham Companies
“Dr Les Young’s Pro-Life Devotional is an inspirational literary work which inspires and reminds us of the challenge that we face with eradicating abortion. Halting the shedding of innocent blood in
this nation may seem like an impossible task, but we need to remind ourselves that with God all things are possible and this wonderful devotional encourages us to believe for just that.”
Daniel Secomb, Founder and Director
Israel, Islam, and the End-Times MinistryCulture War Resource Ministry
Author: “The Politics of the Last Days”
In no other time of human history have so many unborn children been killed through the act of abortion. Millions are sacrificed each year on the altar of choice and convenience. We desperately
need voices calling a generation to repent, remember, and resolve that life is precious and God-given. Dr. Les Young is one of those voices. Dr. Young has been standing for life for decades and calling the church and the culture to protect humanity. In, Devoted to Life, Dr. Young encourages us to daily call on the Giver of Life as we contend for those "appointed to die."-Proverbs 31:8 (NKJV)
Jeffrey Oakes, Senior Pastor
Hosanna Fellowship
Johnson City, TN
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