This post contains affiliate or associate links with several businesses (which means if you shop through the links, I earn a small commission). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

A Group of Loving, Passionate, Talented Women Want to Give You the gift of HOPE, HEALTH AND HEALING!

We are all created by God and called to something.

He has blessed each of us with our own feminine genius, and it is our job to share it.

Join the Ladies from “Ladies Love Life” to hear about their “Yes” and begin to reaffirm your own.

Each speaker will provide you with a small, impactful story and 3 points that they wish you to take on your journey to hope, health, and healing.

Awesome, I want to attend, what do I do!!???

Go to: zoom — https://bit.ly/3cL2Oek
Password: 465254

See more details on this Event Page: YES! May Your Yes Bring Hope, Health and Healing

Conference Begins Friday, May 1st at 4:00 pm!

Speakers include:

Abby Johnson

Dr. Monique Ruberu

Amy Brooks (yes, me!!!)

Each day starts at 4pm to 7pm on zoom — https://bit.ly/3cL2Oek
Password: 465254

The idea of this FREE ONLINE Conference came from Dr. Monique Ruberu (Author of Rising With Roses)

I asked Dr. Ruberu a few questions about the Conference and she was happy to discuss the event and share it’s mission, goals and hope for all who attend!

The first question I asked Dr. Ruberu was:

Why did you decide to organize it?

Dr. Ruberu: I felt called to ask amazing women to allow God to speak through them and help other women..

The intention of this conference is to provide an opportunity to give a “Yes” to Him… even if we are insecure about how this YES would impact others.

Which talk is your favorite so far?

They are all such amazing, authentic, soul surrendering shares… I honestly can’t say that one is better than another. Every story is so important!!!

Who are some of the speakers?

Abby Johnson, Paula Peyton, Toni McFadden, Amy Brooks, Cecilia Escobedo, Rachel Guy, Suzanne Guy, Hyacinth Hermida, Karen Rinehart, Karen Cruess, Cherilynn Holloway, Jenna Mary, Emily Colmenar, Sara Bible, Jeannine Peters, Miranda Smith, Monique Ruberu

What do you think women will walk away with once they attend?

I hope that the women will be filled with hope, good health and healing.

The first talk will be around 4 pm EST.

The topic is Hope is Essential: 3 Ways to Cultivate Hope in Your Life

Somehow, I ended up being scheduled for the first talk of the Conference!

I’m so excited!  Pour yourself a glass of wine and let’s start happy hour together!

We’ll chat about:

*tricks we can use when we feel ourselves falling into despair

*what to do when we feel overwhelmed

and

*discuss all the strategies we can utilize to cope with life when it’s not going well at all.

My wish is that you will smile, laugh and know that you are not alone.

You will walk away with something useful – I promise!!

Here are more details about the Conference!

Awesome, I want to attend, what do I do!!???

Go to: zoom — https://bit.ly/3cL2Oek
Password: 465254

Friday at 4:00 pm EST

I am so excited and can’t wait to see you there!!!

The post Say Yes to Hope, Health and Healing: A Free Virtual Conference appeared first on Prayer Wine Chocolate.

This post contains affiliate or associate links with several businesses (which means if you shop through the links, I earn a small commission). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

***SPOILER ALERT*****SPOILER ALERT***

***If you have not yet seen THE RISE OF SKYWALKER and you don’t want me to spoil any parts of it before you see it . . . read this later.***

Years ago when my husband and I started the adoption process a co-worker and friend approached me and said something like,

“I have to tell you what you are doing is beautiful.  In the Jewish faith, adoption is one of the greatest things you can do.”

As a Catholic school teacher, this friend and co-worker was a rare find.  She practiced her Jewish faith but taught math in a Catholic school. I always remembered that moment she shared with me.

Those kind words were not only a compliment and blessing from a friend, but a glimpse into the faith of modern Judaism . . . and roots that remain from ancient tradition.

In the recent film of the Star Wars franchise, the infamous Luke Skywalker states:

“Some things are stronger than blood”.

Once again, my heart strings felt a tug.

Adoption in Sacred Scripture

For some, adoption is not a thought that runs across the mind on a regular basis, if at all.

For the Christian, it may be a topic glazed over or pondered upon when Scripture readings like

Romans 8:15 

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”

Ephesians 1:4-5 

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.  In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will…

Maybe we thought a little about adoption when we hear the story of Saint Joseph and the birth of Jesus.

For me, I have scratched my head when I noticed that when Jesus’ roots are traced back to David, they are traced through Saint Joseph – we know and are clearly told that Joseph is not the biological or natural father of Jesus.  We often hear the term “foster father”.

But the answer lies in the beauty of adoption my Jewish friend Lisa was referring too.

As stated in a homily written by Father Joe:

But the Gospel also makes it clear that Joseph was not the natural or birth father of the Lord.  Mary was a Virgin.  The child was conceived through the Holy Spirit.  So, why is Jesus seen as part of the line of David through Joseph?  This is because Joseph names the child.  For the ancients this meant he had made the child his own.  We can even say that he adopted the child.  Now we view adoption as a legal procedure.  The ancients viewed adoption as both a legal act and a spiritual act.  When a man adopted a child, all that made that man who he is, his background, his ancestry, all of this poured out upon the child.  When Joseph named the child, adopted the child, King David, King Solomon, and all that was part of Joseph’s ancestry became part of Jesus’ ancestry.  The prophets predicted that the Messiah would come through the line of David.  This takes place through Joseph.

Look at what adoption encompasses both in the Jewish tradition . . .

When a man adopted a child,

all that made that man who he is,

his background, his ancestry,

all of this poured out upon the child. 

When Joseph named the child, adopted the child,

Kind David, King Solomon, and all that was part of Joseph’s ancestry became part of Jesus’ ancestry. 

Joseph became so much more than a foster father.  In adopting Jesus, he not only gave Our Lord himself as a parent, but his father and mother became Jesus’ grandparents, and their parents became great-grandparents and all the way back to David became Jesus’ family.

The Significance of a Name

Now back to Luke Skywalker.

Luke was speaking to Rey when he said,

“Some things are stronger than blood”.

Rey was not the biological daughter of Luke.  She’s not the daughter of Leah. But both Luke and Leah, in a sense, adopted her.

Rey eventually takes on the name, Skywalker.

When Luke assures Rey that she has all she needs to defeat the Dark Side, he gives her the lightsaber of Leah to use in addition to his own.

Luke assures Rey all of the Jedi will be with her.

In her final battle with the Emperor, you hear the voices of former Jedi.

Yoda, Obi Wan and all who were a part of Jedi history become part of Rey’s history.

The Spiritual Realm of adoption is made visible to the viewer. The reality of that history helped her to defeat the Dark Side and become a Jedi herself.

Spiritual Traditions and Adoption

We witness:

The beauty of adoption.

The bond greater than blood.

The fact that family transcends time.

The power of those who have come before us.

The Parallels in the Jewish and Jedi Traditions seem undeniable. (And parallels have been written about by others in general – just google Judaism and Jedi and you’ll see what I mean)

Now think about this . . .

In observing the beauty of adoption, we do not downplay the importance of the natural/biological family.

Rey’s parents sacrificed for their daughter to have life.

Rey’s life wasn’t full of wealth or absent of hardship.  But her life was of great value.

Mary is not dismissed or made less important because Jesus’ lineage is traced through Joseph.

God does not deny His Son.

Valuing adoption.  Recognizing it’s beauty, does not threaten anyone.

Don’t let those who don’t want to hear about it make you believe that.

So what do both Saint Joseph and Luke Skywalker teach us about adoption?

1. Adoption is so much more than a legal process.
2. That in this day and age where testing our DNA and finding out our ancestral  roots and biological connections seem to become increasingly popular, “some things are greater than blood.”
3. Life is so much more than what is physical.  The values we hold dear to us are very much a part of what is real.
4. Don’t listen to the Dark Side.
5. We are not alone.We are the adopted sons and daughters of Our God.  The Creator of Heaven and Earth.The bond that love has is real.His love transcends time.

   The Communion of Saints cheer for us as we strive to fight the darkness.

Considering Adoption? Dear Couple Considering Adoption,

Want to read more about adoption?Adoption: 5 Myths Every Pro-Lifer Needs to Stop Believing

p>

The post What Luke Skywalker and Saint Joseph Can Teach Us About Adoption appeared first on Prayer Wine Chocolate.

**This post contains affiliate or associate links with several businesses (which means if you shop through the links, I earn a small commission). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.**

Many people who think abortion should be legal, or feel that abortion should be a “woman’s right” do not feel or want to believe adoption should enter the conversation.

Some pro-lifers or people in general feel strongly that a woman should NEVER place her child with an adoptive family.

And others feel as though everyone considering abortion should just start making an adoption plan.

Let me interrupt this extremely divided world to throw down some real talk.

Life is a miracle.

Not every situation we find ourselves in is easy.

Love is not easy.  Saint Gianna’s words about love hold a lot of truth:

“One cannot love without suffering or suffer without loving.”

We live in a culture that thinks we should avoid and eliminate all suffering.  But that is not how we are designed.

Abortion causes suffering to the unborn and to the mother.  It often causes suffering to the father, the grandparent (even if they are the ones who strongly suggested it in the first place). Some people embrace healing.  Others do not. A large number of abortions are done today with the idea that the child is suffering so this will end his or her suffering.

Adoption causes suffering.  It is often a choice made with a very heavy heart.  It is not easy.  It has been chosen in some cases under coercion (like some abortions).

Neither is ideal, but:

If we want to make abortion unthinkable, we need to be open to learn more about adoption.

We, as pro-lifers, need to be more educated about adoption.

Some pro-life volunteers still look down upon the idea that a woman is considering placing a baby with an adoptive family. Other pro-life advocates think they know who SHOULD place a child with an adoptive family.

We need to provide more support to women who are considering an adoption plan and to the women who have already chosen one.

We need to seek out birthmothers or first moms to volunteer at pregnancy resource centers.  We need to ask them to share their stories and listen to what they think women facing unplanned pregnancies need.

We need to remember that adoption should always be an option. We also need to learn a lot more about that option.

Adoption: 5 Myths Every Pro-Lifer Needs to Stop Believing

Myth #1: Adoption Is Not a Solution for Abortion

First of all, we all know it is not a “universal alternative to abortion” like one article suggests – but we do KNOW it is an alternative.

Let me re-assure you that adoption does save lives.  Callie Jet, Founder of Talk About Adoption, shares her story:

I walked away from my scheduled abortion procedure that day because I heard the truth about ADOPTION.”

Not only did Callie walk away from her abortion appointment because she heard about adoption, she started an entire organization because she believes whole heartedly that:

“parenting and adoption are the only rewarding options for an unplanned pregnancy”.

See more about Talk About Adoption on their website

Many people will tell you to stop talking about adoption.  If Callie’s testimony isn’t enough, Mother Teresa has some things to say about the topic too:

I will tell you something beautiful. We are fighting abortion by adoption – by care of the mother and adoption for her baby. We have saved thousands of lives

See Mother Teresa: A Saint for Adoptive Families

Now, let’s talk about foster care since I feel lots of people want to talk about that when we as pro-lifers bring up adoption.

Here’s a quote from an article titled: “Adoption Is Not a Universal Alternative to Abortion, No Matter What Anti-Choicers Say”

Currently, there are close to 400,000 children in state custody; only half have permanent plans for placement. Meanwhile, employees in protective services are underpaid and overworked, treading water to try to ensure that all of the children in their care are happy and healthy. Anyone who believes that adoption or foster care is a natural solution to growing restrictions on reproductive rights is kidding themselves.

Here’s the truth I don’t ever hear:  domestic infant adoption often prevents that 400,000 number from going up.

There are many women who had abortion appointments, canceled them and placed for adoption.

Some of those women were not going to legally be permitted to parent.  Some of these women were leaving the hospital without their babies – even though they would have been legally allowed to parent.  Those babies would have entered “the system” – but, the choice of adoption prevented that.

How come we don’t ever talk about that?  Do you doubt that happens?  Don’t.  It happens.  Trust me.

Myth 2: There is nothing you can do to lower the average cost of adoption

Pro-life groups, organizations and pregnancy centers have the capacity and the ability to lower the average cost of domestic infant adoption. How you ask?  Great question, let me explain.

The average cost of adoption using an agency is around $35,000.  The average cost of a private or independent adoption is around $12,000.

These are average costs. Some adoption agencies charge around 50 grand to match an adoptive couple with an expectant mother that chooses to place.  Some states allow potential adoptive parents to pay birthmother expenses and these numbers go up further.  Most adoption agencies do not include the cost of an adoption attorney in their cost.

Yes, adoption is expensive – but it doesn’t have to be.

Now, some states do not allow adoptions to occur without the help of an agency.  However, agencies do not need to charge over $35,000 to help a couple adopt (especially if the couple and the expectant mother found one another without the help of an agency).

Some states allow private or independent adoptions to occur without involving adoption agencies at all.

Most adoption costs with agencies go toward employee salaries and marketing and networking that goes into finding women who are considering adoption.

A crisis pregnancy center often runs on volunteers and women who desire to choose life are going there for help and guidance.  Many pregnancy centers are a part a larger pro-life group that is working hard to show abortion minded women that they can choose life. Many of them will enable women to see that not only can they choose life, but they desire to choose parenting.

But, there are some cases where a woman will ultimately decide not to parent.  Those women could be connected to couples within the pro-life community who feel called to adopt.

This connection saves couples tens of thousands of dollars.  And on top of that, the pregnancy resource center truly offered help to those who choose life and are discerning parenting and adoption.

I could write a whole post on this, but for now . . .

if you want more about adopting without an agency? Read  Pursuing an Adoption Without An Agency: What We Did Right

Dear Couple Considering Adoption

Let me talk more about that in the next myth.

Myth #3: Pro-Life leaders are properly educated about Adoption

The truth is, there is a lot the general population does not know or understand about adoption.

Mothers who chose to place their children with adoptive families are slowly emerging and speaking out.  Some felt very coerced into the choice.  Most feel judged and shamed.

Couples who choose to take the adoption route learn a lot when preparing for their home study.  Adults who grew up in multi-racial families have just recently started sharing their stories that address challenges no one thought to address a generation ago.

Almost no one truly understands that”open adoption” is a very broad term and that two “open-adoptions” can be very, very different.

If your pro-life agency, group or center has a conference this year – they should have an adoption related speaker.  They should have adoption speakers every year and at many training events.  The truth is, adoption is extremely complicated.  There are many viewpoints.  There is plenty to learn.

If you would like me to come speak, let’s connect!  See how on my About page!

Does your pro-life group know the adoption laws in your state?  Does your crisis pregnancy center have a volunteer or advocate that once placed a baby with an adoptive family?  Are volunteers still saying “give up” instead of “place?

Here is my concern: when abortion becomes more and more unthinkable, are we as active members of the pro-life community ready to support adoption?

I want us to be.

Myth #4: People only want to adopt healthy babies

Let me introduce you to Special Angels Adoption Advocates. 

Myth #5:  Coercion and other ethical issues surrounding adoption are things of the past.

It is true that a long time ago many women who placed their babies with adoptive families did so unwillingly. I would say it happens less often now – however, there are still many ethical concerns that we need to be very aware of when it comes to adoption.

Personally, I have learned a lot in the past 8 years about how the line of ethics is skirted and crossed within adoption agencies.  I am not anti-adoption agency, but I have found that independent social workers and adoption attorneys label some agencies as ethical – which means some they view as unethical.  I’ve learned that even ones considered ethical do things like advertise counseling to potential birth mothers but in reality “have them sign a paper” which stated counseling was offered.  In my opinion, and I hope in yours, that should NEVER be the extent of counseling someone discerning an adoption plan should receive from an agency.  And again – that was an ethical agency!

This reason alone makes me want to invite and encourage crisis pregnancy centers to reach out more to women who want to seriously consider adoption.  Women choosing life need the counseling, guidance and support from centers that work to empower women to parent if that is their desire. Pro-life advocates can and will help them to truly see what help they can receive and what help they will need to seek elsewhere.  The adoption world needs these centers to get on board and be educated.

As for ethical issues, you don’t have to take my word for it.  The organization Arrow and Root recently published this blog post 3 Things to Ask an Adoption Professional.

This article is not for potential adoptive parents but for women considering an adoption plan for her unborn child. The goal of this post is to help the expectant mother find and work with an ethical professional.

I also suggest following adoptwell on Instagram.  I have more resources for you . . . again, another post or course session!

Would you like me to come speak at your pro-life conference?  I’d love to help your group start prepping for a nation and world that shouts their adoption plan rather than something else! Let’s talk! More details here: About Amy Brooks

Stay tuned.  I could write a blog post on each of the myths. I’m thinking and praying over creating a series on the blog, a course or a resource guide for crisis pregnancy centers and pro-life advocates.Let me know what you want and need . . . and sign up here to stay connected!

The post Adoption: 5 Myths Every Pro-Lifer Needs to Stop Believing appeared first on Prayer Wine Chocolate.

This post contains affiliate links.  Please see my About Me page for more details.

A few years ago our family hung a prayer up on our refrigerator as a reminder to pray it each night before dinner (after Grace Before Meals).

That prayer saved the life of an unborn child.

If you have never had the chance to read the story, here it is: God Hears Us: A Spiritual Adoption Miracle.

It is still making me say wow a few years later.

This is the prayer we hung on our “fridge” that allowed us to witness a miracle.

You can get a copy of this prayer for free when you subscribe to prayerwinechocolate.com

Once we experienced that first miracle, we continued to pray the Spiritual Adoption prayer almost every single night before dinner.  Once 9 months go by, we start again. We choose another name and continue to pray for an unborn child.  One time we decided to pray for twins – we chose a girl’s name and a boy’s name.  During the 7th month of praying for those twins we received a call – a woman was in labor.  She was having twins and wanted to place them with an adoptive family.

She ended up delivering a boy and a girl.

Those two little loves our now our son and daughter.

If you want to read more about that miracle – check out this article: Our Lady of Guadalupe: Her Image Still Appears.

We are currently praying for a little boy named Dave.  My husband chose that name because apparently the name I picked for our last spiritual adoption, Darius Anthony, was too long (haha).  The Holy Spirit works in mysterious ways.  We choose the name, but it is definitely led by the Holy Spirit.

I once posted about this prayer on Facebook and others chimed in to share how they once prayed it or used to pray it with their family.  I remember one woman said she would let her children pick the names and they would often pick very unusual names, like Cloud.  Then, another woman replied to that comment, “I taught a Cloud!!”.

You just never know . . .

It is my hope that every Catholic in America hang this prayer on their fridge and say it every night – or day.  It only takes about 20 seconds to pray.  It is a beautiful act of faith.

It’s also an opportunity . . .

An opportunity to share

how your family prays,

what your family prays and

why your family prays – if anyone were to visit your home, see the prayer and ask about it.

We look at our refrigerators every day.

We also look at our phones every day.  We take them with us everywhere.

It’s easy to forget things.  It’s certainly easy to forget to pray.  I mean, I can’t tell you how many times I started a novena and had to start it all over again because I forgot to pray it one day.

Since I know we are all busy, I had to share this wonderful product made by Lindsay, owner of Just Love Prints.

Lindsay, like myself, feels compelled to share this prayer and encourage others to pray it. In fact, Lindsay feels so strongly about this prayer that she has started a whole new platform called Formed and Favored.  Lindsay has created a line within her Just Love Prints shop that she dedicates to the unborn in danger of abortion.  Check out those products here: The Formed and Favored Collection

I can’t tell you how many times a day I look at my phone.  I can tell you it is probably more than I should.

This phone wallpaper created by Just Love Prints is such a simple beautiful purchase and such a powerful way to show love to the unborn.

What if we all put this prayer on our phone and on our fridge?

I think most people consider themselves “pro-life”.  This action of displaying this prayer on your phone and refrigerator is an act of love, a way to remind us to pray and an act of evangelization.

This is a small act, but according to Mother Teresa:

There are no great acts, only small acts done with great love.”

I believe we all want to love.

Let’s call upon our friends and family to put this prayer on their phones and fridge – and then let’s sit back and watch the miracles.

If you think this is a great idea – do these three things:

1. Get your free Spiritual Adoption Print by clicking here and subscribing to prayerwinechocolate.com
2. Purchase the phone wall paper here: Spiritual Adoption Phone Wallpaper from JustLovePrints
3. Share this post and call your friends to act!  Simply hit share below and say “join me”!!!

And before you go, I’d love to invite you to “Not give up wine for Lent!!!”

I’m not giving up wine for Lent – I’m doing something more meaningful.  I’d love for you to join me, because honestly I need the support and I’d love to provide some support too!

Let’s make this the most meaningful Lent ever – and do so by “not giving up wine’!!!!

The post From Your Phone to Your Fridge: This little prayer can make a big difference appeared first on Prayer Wine Chocolate.

This post contains affiliate links.  Please see my disclosure policy on the About Me page.

1. Be open minded.

Pro-life does not mean anti-choice.

Not everyone with an abortion appointment is a person with no faith in God.

Some people walking into the clinic were told it was best to terminate the pregnancy by a doctor and do not know about organizations like Be Not Afraid or Lily’s Gift.

The people standing outside the clinic are not pro-birth. They offer real help for after the child is born as well as during the pregnancy.

Don’t be afraid to listen to the other side and truly act and think – lovingly.

2. Give of yourself. Donate your time.

Go on the March for Life.  Before you say, “I can’t” . . .think about it, pray about it and consider it.  People have marched in Washington for extremely meaningful causes and made history.  This is definitely a meaningful cause and you could help make history.

Go on a “mission trip” . . . . for an hour . . . in your own community. Stand in front of a clinic and pray.  Pray the Rosary.  Pray, “Jesus, help them to hear Your voice”.  Pray for the moms, the dads and the grandmothers.  Pray for the employees that work there. Hold a sign. Don’t hold a sign.  Pray with others. Pray alone.  But GO.  It matters.  It helps.  Women have been helped and feel eternally grateful for witnesses standing outside the clinics.  Lives have been saved.

3. Buy Hot Chocolate.

Yes, you read that right.

An amazing thing happened last winter . . .

It was an extremely cold day.  I had a million things to do and an hour and a half to do them in.

Still, it was Friday, and I knew full well what happens on Friday at the Planned Parenthood just 10 minutes from me.

I knew some people would be standing outside praying.  I thought, I’d like to go . . . but I just can’t.  I don’t have the time.

But, I really felt compelled to do something.  It was so cold . . . I thought the least I could do is buy a big thing of hot chocolate.  I thought, I’ll give it to those who are praying, and suggest they offer it to the women walking in for an appointment.

So that’s what I did.

I bought hot chocolate and gave it to my friend who regularly stands outside the PP.

I bought a huge container and a stack of cups and gave it to the men who were praying there, and I got a large personal one for my friend Mary.

I suggested they offer it to the women they were hoping to speak with before they entered the clinic. I thought, maybe that will be an ice breaker, and maybe it will lift the spirits of my friend freezing her butt off in the hopes of helping a young woman choose life.

Well guess what . . . it did.

Mary, my friend who was outside the clinic, called to a woman entering after I left.

She shouted, “My friend who just brought me hot chocolate will adopt your baby – you only have to take care of the baby for 7 more months”.

That woman came down to Mary on the sidewalk and spoke to her.

She ended up choosing life.

She ended up choosing to parent.

I couldn’t stand with Mary that day, but I brought the hot chocolate.

I suggest you bring the hot chocolate too . . .

or the lemonade, or just stop and say keep up the prayers, or ask them how you can help and deliver.

Your actions, no matter how small, matter.

4. Give time and resources to crisis pregnancy centers and other pro-life organizations.

The Pregnancy Center I work the most with, A Baby’s Breath, operates solely through volunteers and donations.  Find a “crisis pregnancy center” or “pro-life union” in your area. Offer to give your time.  If time is not possible, ask the centers what they need!  They might need diapers, or they might need help with marketing.  They may need a new website – donate the money or if you are a website designer, offer your services.

They may need to know who’s hiring for the families they support looking for work.

They may need gift cards to give to clients going through a rough time.

These centers and organizations are vital.  I was so unaware of all the help and love that is provided by these organizations.

Women and children need support and connection. So many of these places truly empower the women and families they serve.

They need volunteers.  They need you.  They need your friends.  It could be an hour a week.  It can be more than that.  It could be one box of diapers, or it could be a few thousand dollars.  You know what you have and what you can offer . . . bring what you are able.

5. Spiritually Adopt an Unborn Baby . . . or Two.

This prayer, authored by Fulton Sheen I believe, takes about 20 seconds to say.  It is SO POWERFUL!  The miracles my family has witnessed (God Hears Us: A Spiritual Adoption Miracle) have compelled me to share this prayer with anyone and everyone.  We pray it as a family every night after Grace Before Meals.  We now do so every 9 months.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I love you very much.  I beg of you to spare the life of (name your child), the unborn baby I have spiritually adopted who is in danger of abortion. Amen

That’s it.  That prayer saves lives.

6. Stop being silent.

A man dies when he refuses to stand up for that which is right. A man dies when he refuses to stand up for justice. A man dies when he refuses to take a stand for that which is true.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

“In some causes silence is dangerous.”
–Saint Ambrose

Speak up in loving, but couragous ways.

Speaking up doesn’t mean pointing fingers or getting political.

Speaking up can mean sharing a post about Project Rachel, running a diaper drive for a crisis pregnancy center, inviting a friend to pray in front of a clinic with you or posting a picture of you at the March for Life.

Stress mercy.  Offer solutions that empower women and cultivate love.

7. Support change.

No matter what political party you belong to – tell your representative that you are pro-life and what that means to you.  Can’t go to the March for Life?  Take an hour that day to write and send a letter to your local, state and federal representatives.

Share articles about non-profit organizations like And Then There Were None,  

which helps people working in abortion clinics get different employment.

Let the world know about people who are very active in the pro-life community and adopt special needs children or from foster care.  Make a donation to Reese’s Rainbow or Special Angels Adoption.

Stress hope and love.

More Pro-life from prayerwinechocolate:

Dear Beautiful Woman Considering an Abortion

Dear Brave Soul Standing Outside of Planned Parenthood/

Pursuing Adoption Without an Agency: What We Did Right

The Rose Garden: A Baby’s Breath Adoption Group

Terminate, Interrupt or Choose Life?

Find more inspiration on Pinterest . . . follow CSMI on Pinterest

The post 7 Meaningful Ways to Support the Pro-Life Movement appeared first on Prayer Wine Chocolate.

Dear Brave Soul Standing Outside Planned Parenthood,

When you stand outside Planned Parenthood:

You are judged.

You are judged by people who feel very strongly that abortion should be legal – and legal with no restrictions.

You are judged by people who rarely think about abortion.

You are judged by people who think abortion is bad, but Planned Parenthood provides other services besides abortion.

You are also judged by Pro-Lifers who feel strongly against abortion; but have never stood outside a clinic to hold a sign or pray.

You are even judged by the person that is also standing outside Planned Parenthood, but not doing it the same way you are.

So, since you are judged by so many, yet you choose to stand there for a cause that many people avoid discussing – you are certainly brave.

Well brave one – I am going to challenge you to put your thick skin on, because this message isn’t going to be a “let me just congratulate you” post.

I am going to ask that however you stand there,  whether it is with a rosary, a sign or just a quiet presence; whether you sidewalk counsel or silently make a statement . . . I am calling you to  “add more Mercy”.

I ask that you consider . . .

• Not holding a sign of a bloody baby.  I know someone said, “until America sees abortion; they will not reject it”.  BUT, the women showing up for their appointment need to see other signs.  They need to see a sign saying, “we can offer help” and perhaps state one way you can help.  If you can’t offer help, hold up a sign that says, “Unplanned Pregnancy? We want to adopt . . . look us up on Facebook“.  That way, even if they go in, maybe they will look on their phone while they are there and start to see other options.  Make your sign show there are other options! Also, consider holding a sign that says, “WE CAN GET YOU ANOTHER JOB!”  I mean, lots of people hate their jobs!  I’m sure abortion workers do too!

• Going to Mass and Confession or Chapel beforehand.  Pray for the workers, pray for the patients, pray that you only show God’s mercy and love while you are present there.
• Leave the judgements at home. Maybe you don’t need to hear this, however . . . if you are standing next to someone who is yelling at people walking into the building – call them on it.  Tell them to stop, tell them that is not helping.  In some way, ask them to “add more mercy”.
• Invite someone to come with you. You never know who may say yes.

• Ask your guardian angel for help. Padre Pio used to tell people to “send your guardian angel” to him if they could not physically get to him.  Saint Bernadette once said “When you pass before a chapel, and do not have time to stop . . . tell your Guardian Angel to carry out your errand to Our Lord in the tabernacle.”  And Saint Thomas Aquinas wrote, “[T]he swiftness of the angel’s movement is not measured by the quantity of his power, but according to the determination of his will (Summa Theologica, I, 53, 3, ad 1)”.  You can ask your Guardian Angel to help someone – ask your angel to help the woman change her mind.  What have you got to lose?

• Pray the Spiritual Adoption Prayer daily. This prayer is extremely powerful and does save lives.  I feel like God wants me to tell you that.  If you haven’t already, I urge you to read the experience my husband, son and I had with this prayer God Hears Us: A Spiritual Adoption Miracle {Free Printable}
• Talk to the Dads (if you can). Who knows, maybe they are there because they really feel they can’t afford to buy more diapers – tell them where they can get free diapers, formula and so much more.  Most people have no idea all the help crisis pregnancy centers provide.  Share that information – share it whenever you can to whoever will listen! If you are wondering what resources are out there, here is a start.Dear Beautiful Woman Considering an Abortion You probably know more than me – please feel free to add links in the comment section!

• Continue to offer HOPE, and peace. The women going in there for abortion appointments don’t feel hopeful.  Ask God to help you show these women that there is hope.  And when someone gives you the finger – because I noticed that does happen, just say a prayer for them. Don’t give up.  Lives are saved by people like you.  I hope one day you get to experience that (if you haven’t already)!

P.S. Thank you

<3 Amy

The post Dear Brave Soul Standing Outside Planned Parenthood appeared first on Prayer Wine Chocolate.