Well, we returned from a very good holiday yesterday, delighted that the weather didn't prevent our journey home. It was good having a few days "off" to concentrate on family and to catch up with extended family we don't have the opportunity to see much of these days.
Alas, although I chose to take a few days off, my email box has been open for business...! One of the many messages I received was a bit sobering (even enraging!), and as much as I hate to, I must share it with you.
The following link is one you might not want to read, but I recommend it anyway. It is the story of a doctor in Arkansas -- an abortion doctor -- and the "noble" deed he has performed for girls and women over the past few decades. There is much to see in this story that is not written with words; the messages are nonetheless there for those who are able to "read between the lines."
Do we have our work cut out for us? YES! Yes, indeed....
O God, have mercy on us...!
 I found an interesting article on the Pro-Woman Pro-Lifer blog a couple of nights ago pertaining to abortion and the church. In it the author shares a startling perspective of how the church sometimes (unknowingly and unintentionally) impacts the decision to abort that a lot of people would rather not look at.
Kudos to this Pro-Woman Pro-Lifer for having the courage to tell this side of the story.
From our hearts to yours....
We at In Our Midst wish you the happiest of Thanksgivings!
We serve an AWESOME God!
So much to be thankful for...!
You are my God, and I give thanks to You;
You are my God, I extol You.
Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 118:28-29
 I just read the most fascinating, most heart-warming story I've seen in a while. In our world of "it's all about me--and me winning a lot of money" "reality" shows, this story is a bite of reality that truly will satisfy!
I mentioned recently that abortion isn't political, it's personal. This story shows yet another side of the pro-life vs. pro-choice debate...and yes, it is entirely personal! Read it. You will be inspired.
Abortion has been politicized since Margaret Sanger began her legacy in the early 1900's. For those of you unfamiliar with Ms. Sanger, she was the founder of and inspiration behind Planned Parenthood. Even Ms. Sanger, were she alive today to interview, would tell you that although it has become political, abortion is and always will be first and foremost personal. (Of course that would probably be the only thing we would agree on!)
Sadly, those of us who have not directly experienced abortion have missed the personal aspect of it. We have acted with dogged determination in our desire to see Roe v. Wade overturned and to "save the babies" however we can -- whether by voting pro-life, holding prayer vigils, or protesting abortion and/or abortion clinics. For all intents and purposes abortion has been political to us.
But the Church...ah, the body of Christ.... Within the walls and community of the Church abortion should be treated as the personal issue it is. For those that have experienced it, our focus should be on loving them as Jesus loved the woman caught in adultery. Our responsibility is to be Christ to them, to restore them gently [Galatians 6:1].
Too many of our churches, pastors, and ministry leaders see abortion as a political issue and as such, they opt to distance themselves from it. I encourage them, however, to look at abortion as a personal issue and to treat it accordingly.
And lest I be misunderstood here, let me say how very much I value those who deal with the political side of abortion. People at organizations like National Right to Life that has fought for life issues with perseverance and integrity; LifeNews.com that keeps us informed of what's going on politically so we can be intelligently involved; Concerned Women of America that also informs and lobbies; Priests for Life that remains on the frontlines, standing for the cause of Life in Jesus' name in the public and political arenas. Each of these organizations has an inestimable value in the political arena, standing strong for the cause of Life. I shudder to think where we would be without these and other like-minded organizations.
However politics should never overshadow the personal aspect of abortion within the Church. That's where we have been, whether due to lack of information or due to God's silence.... But let it be known He is silent no longer. Those of us at In Our Midst and similar ministries across this country will testify that the voice of God is no longer silent on this issue. His heart cries out through our own. Abortion is personal. It is affecting God's people in destructive and detrimental ways and the time to begin the healing is now.
Let the healing begin!
 I just learned about a web site everyone should be aware of. It's called Family Watchdog and has to do with convicted sex offenders residing in your area. You simply put in your search area information and hit enter.
The sad thing about this list is that so many of these people look like really nice folks...and they probably are. Nice folks with a serious problem that happened to get caught. So many sex offenders have either been sexually abused themselves or have become addicted to pornography. I believe most people probably don't realize how an addiction to pornography can be a slippery slope into more destructive sexual behaviors.
If someone you know has a pornography addiction, go to Pure Life Ministries , Prodigals Online, or Misty Mountain Retreat Center for advice and help. Don't wait. The time to act is now. There is help for them and for you, as their support person.
I've promised to post a new series on sharing the secret with those close to you. While we are working on that series, I would like to offer just a few things to consider before sharing the secret....
First, and most importantly, you need to go through the healing process before you attempt to share the secret with those close to you. The one person I would recommend you share it with prior to healing is someone that is trained and experienced in abortion recovery.
Second, pray before you share the secret with those close to you. Ask God to examine your heart and your motives and be willing to share if you believe He is leading you to do so. Also, pray that He will likewise prepare their hearts to receive that information. [When I say "pray" here, what I mean is fervent, heartfelt, sincere prayer over a period of time.... This is not something to be rushed, but should be done only in God's timing and through the enabling of the Holy Spirit.]
Finally, examine your motives for sharing. If you have any agenda other than a conviction that it is God's will to be used for His purposes, I would recommend you wait before telling the secret.
I will share more indepth insights on this topic in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!
In the meantime, if you have any specific questions about sharing the secret, please feel free to post them here or email us at staff@inourmidst.com.
She could have been your daughter...your sister...your friend.
On a cold autumn day, 19-year-old Arlin decided to end her life.
She tucked a tiny stuffed rabbit into one pocket and a suicide note in the other. She said she wanted to be with the baby she had aborted just two weeks earlier....
A new media blitz has been unveiled by the Elliot Institute. Click here to see what all the buzz is about. This is excellent information, expertly crafted to communicate the truth about why women sometimes choose abortion and how it affects their lives, often for many decades....
To see the complete ads, go to www.unfairchoice.info.
 Following is the fifth and final installment of the "Why Tell the Secret" series.
Why do you feel it would be harmful? This question is an important one to ask yourself. What benefit do you hope to gain by not telling the secret? If you don't feel it is important to tell, there must be a reason. Beth Moore makes a point that resonates profoundly upon this topic in her Breaking Free bible study. She says, "Secrecy is fertile ground for shame to grow."
When we keep secrets, especially from those we love, Satan is able to "water down” (dilute) our healing and freedom in Christ because of our fear of someone finding out. Fear and shame are both tools of our enemy crafted to keep us bound by our past sin and to keep us ineffective for Christ. All the healing that has taken place in this area of bondage and condemnation will begin to slip away. We will be captives still.
It is only when we completely place our past at the Throne of God, entrusting it to Him, giving it to Him to use as He will that two things happen: First our fear and shame are vanquished by His grace and mercy, and second, we are free to allow Him to use our past as He will in the lives of those around us. Who are we to tell the Lord what He can or cannot use for His glory? When we begin to understand and believe that we are who God says we are and when our past no longer controls us, the fear of someone finding out is gone. That is when we are truly free!
God does not save us from the tragedies and horrors of our lives for our sakes alone. Each of us is a living testimony to the mightiness, faithfulness, and redeeming power and love of our Awesome God! Hiding your healing under the barrel of fear, shame and/or secrecy is but another foothold for the enemy. Hold the healing of your past up to God with open hands and allow Him to use it as He will for His glory.
Telling the secret (especially to your children) is just another step in the healing process. Allow the truth of your abortion to come out of the closet of fear and shame as you continue through the healing process and allow God to use it to bring additional healing to your family and others in your sphere of influence.
Look for our new series on how and when to tell the secret in the next few days.
Following is the fourth in our five-part series on why it is important to tell the secret of your past abortion. For parts I through III see previous posts.
Your children have experienced a loss as well, even if they aren’t aware of it. The child you aborted is a member of your family. That boy or girl was a brother or sister of your living children. Telling them about that child (under appropriate circumstances) can help to bring your family together. Children often “know” or sense that someone is missing, even if they haven’t verbalized that to you. Telling them about their sibling allows them to mourn that loss with you and can help bring your family closer together.
Also, realize that if your children belong to God through Jesus they will someday meet their sibling in heaven. Give your living children the gift of looking forward to meeting that brother or sister. Sharing this information with them can also help them to see their own lives as well as the deaths they encounter later on (grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.) in a whole new light. Death is not to be feared. It is not the end of life, but only a transition from one realm (the physical) to another (the spiritual). Again, allow God to bless your children through your abortion experience. Allow Him to take what was meant for evil to be used for good in their lives.
Look for the final entry in this series tomorrow.
Following is Part III of our "Why Tell the Secret?" series. For Parts I and II, see previous entries on November 1st and 2nd.
Sharing the secret can strengthen the bond between you and your children and between them and God. Your abortion experience has had a major impact on your life, on who you have become. Allow your children to know you for who you are, why you are the way you are, and testify to what God has brought you through and how He has blessed your life as a result of having laid this sin at His feet. Telling your children of your abortion lets them know that there is nothing they could do that God won’t forgive nor is there any situation He can’t redeem for His glory when it is surrendered to Him.
Family secrets are often destructive. Even after having gone through the healing process we often continue to respond to issues, many of which involve our children, based on our abortion experience. Being able to talk freely with your children about those things – letting them know why you feel the way you do about certain things because of your abortion experience – can help them to understand you and your rules, etc., which in turn can help to minimize conflict (especially during the teen years).
Even if your children are grown with kids of their own, telling them the truth about your abortion can explain a lot of things from their childhood that they may not have previously understood. Don’t allow the secret of your abortion to hinder the relationships with your living children.
Look for Part IV of this series tomorrow.
Following is Part II in our series "Why Tell the Secret." See yesterday's post for Part I.
We are to magnify God’s glory, not mask it. We find purpose and meaning in the tragedies of our lives whenever we allow God to use them for His glory. Second Corinthians 1:3- 4 speaks of comforting others with the comfort with which we ourselves have been comforted. How much more relevant would it be if you were able to prevent your children from following the same path by relating your abortion story to them?
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Abortion is one of those sins that is often repeated in subsequent generations. The bible speaks of generational sins and abortion is certainly no exception. Again, knowledge and experience are vital to dispelling the deceptions perpetuated by our society. Most people believe so many things about abortion that simply are not true. The truth has been kept at bay and so often by those who have been wounded by it the most. With truth comes the ability to make an informed choice based on reality, not upon the carefully constructed campaigns built by the pro-choice crowd. Telling your children the truth about abortion from the voice of experience gives them a firm foundation upon which to not only make wise decisions for themselves in this area, but also to be a positive and life-affirming influence upon the lives of those around them.
Look for Part III of this series tomorrow.
Of the top ten needs of the evangelical church, abortion is the low man on the totem pole according to Discipleship Journal's most recent issue (Nov/Dec 2005). "More ongoing, passionate prayer in both personal and church life" won the spot for the greatest need of the Church according to the pastors that were polled. Only three "social" issues made the list: marriage ranked seventh, homosexuality ranked ninth, and abortion barely made the cut filling the number ten slot.
...Further evidence that we have our work cut out for us.
I encountered a post-abortive woman recently that asked me that question. She had been through the “healing process” and wanted to know why it was important to tell her children of her abortion. I have thought about that question several times since that encounter. Is it enough just to be healed? Or are there valid reasons why we need to tell others? Over the next few days we will visit this topic as we examine why it is indeed important to tell the secret to certain significant people such as our spouse, our children, and others. (Of course there are other criteria that should be considered before telling the secret. Look for more on how and when to tell the secret in the coming weeks.)
Knowledge gained at such a high price should be shared, not hidden. If you knew then what you know now about abortion, would you still have chosen it? Knowledge gained from books and from the stories of others is valuable, but knowledge gained from personal experience is of inestimable value. To be able to say, "I've been there. I know." is knowledge bought with experience and bears an authority unlike any other. Knowledge is power, especially when the topic is one where misinformation (and deception) is more plentiful than truth. Don’t waste the knowledge you gained from your experience by keeping it secret. What you have in your abortion experience – from the point of view of having been through the healing process – is like a diamond that was mined at one of the greatest costs to mankind. Don’t keep that gem hidden away. Bring it into the light so it may reflect the light of God’s love and forgiveness, and so it may be useful to your children.
Look for Part II of this series tomorrow.
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