In the image and likeness of God

All of us who are human beings are in the image of God.  But to be in His likeness belongs only to those who by great love have attached their freedom to God. 

Love your enemies...why?

But I say to you, the Lord says, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, pray for those who persecute you. Why did He command these things? So that He might free you from hatred, sadness, anger and grudges, and might grant you the greatest possession of all, perfect love, which is impossible to possess except by the one who loves all equally in imitation of God. 

Saved only by God's mercy

Even if we have thousands of acts of great virtue to our credit, our confidence in being heard must be based on God’s mercy and His love for men.  Even if we stand at the very summit of virtue, it is by mercy that we shall be saved. 

Hoe your own row

Do not be irritated either with those who sin or those who offend; do not have a passion for noticing every sin in your neighbor and for judging him, as we are in the habit of doing.  Everyone shall give an answer to God for himself.  Everyone has a conscience; everyone hears God's Word, and knows God's will either from books or from conversation with other people.  Especially do not look with evil intention upon the sins of your elders, which do not regard you; "to his own master he standeth or falleth."  Correct your own sins, amend your own life. 

Do not abandon the Physician

...should we fall, we should not despair and so estrange ourselves from the Lord's love.  For if He so chooses, He can deal mercifully with our weakness. Only we should not cut ourselves off from Him or feel oppressed when constrained by His commandments, nor should we lose heart when we fall short of our goal...let us always be ready to make a new start.  If you fall, rise up.  If you fall again, rise up again.  Only do not abandon your Physician, lest you be condemned as worse than a suicide because of your despair.  Wait on Him, and He will be merciful, either reforming you, or sending you trials, or through some other provision of which you are ignorant. 

Healthy self-talk

You may find yourself hampered by someone who sows tares of despondency. He tries to prevent you from climbing to such heights of holiness by discouraging you with various thoughts. For instance, he will tell you that it is impossible for you to be saved and to keep every single one of God's commandments while you live in this world. When this happens you should sit down in a solitary place by yourself, collect yourself, concentrate your thoughts and give good counsel to your soul, saying: "Why, my soul, are you dejected, and why do you trouble me? Put your hope in God, for I will give thanks to Him; for my salvation lies not in my actions but in God (cf. Ps. 42:5). Who will be vindicated by actions done according to the law (cf. Gal 2:16)? No living person will be vindicated before God (cf. Ps. 143:2). Yet by virtue of my faith in God I hope that in His ineffable mercy He will give me salvation. Get behind me, Satan (cf. Matt. 16:23). I worship the Lord my God (cf. Matt. 4:10) and serve Him from my youth; for He is able to save me simply through His mercy. Go away from me. The God who created me in His image and likeness will reduce you to impotence." 

An estimated 55 million people missing

Today is the 40th anniversary of the Roe vs Wade decision, legalizing abortion in every state of the United States of America.

 

From The Didache*, chapter 2

And the second commandment of the Teaching; You shall not commit murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not commit pederasty, you shall not commit fornication, you shall not steal, you shall not practice magic, you shall not practice witchcraft, you shall not murder a child by abortion nor kill that which is born.
*The teaching of Christ's Twelve Apostles, written between 70 and 100 AD

On Championing the Unborn

Someone who speaks in defense of a person who suffers injustice will find an advocate in his Creator. St. Isaac of Syria

 
Inspiring, instructive TED talk by Alexander Tsiaras:  Conception to Birth visualized:
http://www.ted.com/talks/alexander_tsiaras_conception_to_birth_visualized.html

Links worth visiting
 

Orthodox Christian pro-life organization:
http://www.zoeforlifeonline.org/

Frederica Mathewes-Green on the topic of abortion:
http://orthodoxinfo.com/general/abortion.aspx

Young women helping other young women choose life:
www.standupgirl.com

http://www.priestsforlife.org/ and related ministry, http://www.rachelsvineyard.org/

"Little Feet" silent witness pins (they give a powerful witness without a word): 
http://www.heritagehouse76.com/default.aspx?GroupID=141
Pin is the size of a child's feet at 10 weeks old.  Countless women have chosen life for the unborn as a result of seeing this pin worn on someone's clothing.

Christians who show love through prayer, fasting and peaceful vigil for the unborn and mothers in crisis pregnancy:
http://40daysforlife.com/

Post-abortion trauma is real...for those who regret their choice of abortion, both women and men:  http://www.silentnomoreawareness.org/

The link below is a tough one to contemplate, but there are survivors of abortion out there and this is just one place they've chosen to share their voices which deserve to be heard:
www.theabortionsurvivors.com/