More Americans “Pro-Life” Than “Pro-Choice” for First Time

... Also, fewer think abortion should be legal “under any circumstances”

This article is an amazing demonstration of the paradigm shift that is taking place in society regarding the sanctity of human life.  Could it be that the more a topic is discussed and debated, the more truths about the topic will surface, thereby allowing citizens to draw more informed conclusions?  I truly believe that is the case.  Many of us were disheartened at the dawning of the new U.S. administration, however, it is becoming crystal clear that, as always, the Lord's plan is perfect.  He knows what we as a society need to go through in order for the truth to prevail.

The encouraging news of more Americans being pro-life goes hand in hand with what Act of Life is witnessing on the ground.  As one of many pro-life ministries based in the greater Houston area, we are humbled and blessed to be part of a greater whole.  The Christian Agencies for Pregnancy and Adoption (CAPA) are working together to support life-affirming parenting choices.  It is amazing how life ministries are coming together to collaborate on outreach projects, touching more and more lives.  While strength in numbers is not necessarily a biblical concept (correct me if I'm wrong!), a wall of truth is a force to be reckoned with.

As more and more people accept the truth about God's heart for the sanctity of human life being from conception to natural death, we are also witnessing repentance and turning to Him for healing and forgiveness.  

Sagemont Church has just released the second part in a series for their Real Life TV program about the sanctity of human life.  Topics in this episode include abortion, adoption as a life saving parenting choice, and abortion recovery.  After the panel discussion is a closer look at Room 104; the abortion recovery class that is facilitated by Sagemont Church member, Khristey Walker, Executive Director of Pasadena Community Pregnancy Center, TX.  We are quick to tout God's heart for life, but must remember there are hurting hearts and souls of women who have had an abortion, who may feel there is no hope of healing.  Some may have been hurting for many years.  The good news is... there is hope, in Jesus Christ alone. 

View the video here.

Working together, in His service,

Lynda

Chat Room with Christian Women Today

Adoption Chat Room with Christian Women Today

People look for adoption information in many places. One such place is the Internet. A wealth of data can be obtained using a keyboard and screen in the privacy of one’s own home and after regular business hours.

We recently had the opportunity to partner with Christian Women Today (CWT), a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ Canada. Over the past decade I have had the great pleasure to work with these dedicated ladies on a variety of projects and can assure you of their effective ministry to women. One of the interesting ways they work is through Internet Chat Rooms.

A chat room is a unique place where women can log on, maintain anonymity and seek answers to questions they may be anxious to ask in traditional settings. May 4th was all about adoption. Here is what Rosemary DeFrancis (CWT chat moderator) had to say:

"Tonight we were privileged to have as our guest, Julie Stobbe. Her compassion and wisdom concerning adoption and teen pregnancy were so well received. Julie really ministered to the ladies in the room and the comments afterward were very encouraging. The chat was filled with 16 women from across North America and I know it helped those who were seeking healing and guidance. Thank you, Julie, for caring."

The Holy Spirit knows no bounds and women could sense the freedom He had to move and minister to women’s hearts. In fact, a woman named “Lisa” became a Christian because of the chat room conversation and experience. How beautiful to be discussing earthly adoption and then learn of Lisa’s spiritual adoption ~ all because women gathered in a chat room on a Monday evening!

“Hey Mrs. Julie, I heard you had been praying for me. I was a non-Christian and the other night, women from the cwt-forum led me to the Lord. There had been several people witnessing to me but I just wasn't ready. I just thought I would share that with you. Love, ‘Lisa’.”

We are thankful to have been a part of collaborating with Christian Women Today and seeing the harvest of an orphaned soul finding her forever home with God through salvation in Jesus Christ. What could be more gratifying than that??

Full of thanksgiving,
Julie

P.S. Be sure to tag the CWT chat site so you can visit ongoing chat topics.

What Are The Origins Of Mother's Day?

There are several accounts of the origins of Mother's Day in the U.S.A., but what I can be sure of, and what I am about to recount to you, is the origin of Mother's Day in my home country, dear old England.

Mother's Day in England was founded by my great grandfather, John Alexander Whitehead.   You may be as surprised as I was when I discovered this during some research into Whitehead Aircraft, the aircraft company that was founded by my great grandfather during WWI.  As an aviation enthusiast, I had always been excited about the fact that my great grandfather's factory had built many of the Sopwith Pups that were used in battle during WWI.  

About 20 years ago, my research unearthed a newspaper article from 1916, clearly outlining the origin of Mother's Day and how John Alexander Whitehead wanted to, first of all, honor his own mother, and recognized the need to honor the mothers of soldiers and sailors who were away from home, serving their country in what was to become known as the Great War. 

So, on the very first Mother's Day in England, held on Tuesday, August 8th, 1916, while sons were unable to be with their mothers, Mr. & Mrs. Whitehead 'adopted' a few hundred mothers and entertained them all with a fantastic lunch and wowed the crowd with an aerobatic display overhead.  August 8th was chosen as it was the birthday of my great grandfather, a flamboyant character to say the least, who would have enjoyed such a huge celebration on his birthday, even though it was for the moms!  On a side note, my father, also John Alexander Whitehead, was fittingly named after his grandfather as they shared the same birthday.

The Mother's Day article from 1916 has been reproduced on the Whitehead Aircraft website, along with another piece on the subject, and photographs from the 1917 Mother's Day outings.

Now that I have shared this little piece of Mother's Day history with you, and I prepare to retire for the evening before waking to a wonderful mother's day of my own, I would like to wish all moms a very happy and blessed Mother's Day!

In Him,

Lynda

Mother's Day Blessings

Phones will be ringing and florists will be delivering record numbers of bouquets this weekend since Mother's Day is Sunday. How are you planning to spend this day set aside to celebrate mothers everywhere?

Mother's Day will most likely bring up all sorts of emotions. For those of us with young children we look forward to homemade cards and perhaps piles of pancakes for 'breakfast in bed'. For others, Mother's Day may be marked with sadness due to a mother who has passed away during the previous year.

I particularly enjoy celebrating Mother's Day because I have two women to honor. My first mother, my birth mother, who gave me life and provided a family for me through adoption and my permanent mother who walked beside me each day of my life and reared me into adulthood. They are two very different women, but they are my two heroines! While I have inherited certain biological characteristics from one, I have acquired learned characteristics from the other.

However you choose to spend Mother's Day I pray you will pause to remember the birth mothers who are rarely remembered on Mother's Day. These courageous women make life possible for their children and create stable homes in the arms of loving mothers who will care for them on a daily basis. I also hope you will pause and remember the adoptive mothers who have opened their homes to children who are not born of their flesh but have been born from the love of their hearts.

No Mother's Day would be complete without the opportunity to ooh and aah a little. So, take a peek at this video which illustrates mothers come in a variety of packages. Whether a child is born into or brought into a family does not matter. Whether the child looks like the mom or not has no bearing on his or her value and place within the family. The love of a mother remains the same.




Mothers love children. It is just what they do.
Happy Mother's Day,
Julie Stobbe