Friday, February 5, 2016

The Masquerade of Abortion

I was a senior in high school when the Supreme Court lowered the gavel, dooming unborn babies to death and moms to further hurt and confusion. 

Since that time 44 years ago, I've been a strong advocate for life, at all stages. 

God provides clear direction on how we should view the harming of babies and mothers. 

"Vindicate the weak and fatherless;
Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.
Rescue the weak and needy;
Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked" (Psalm 82:3-4)

In this passage, the writer notes that God judged in the midst of His judges, who, by the way, had abused their privileges. "How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked?" God poses to these wayward rulers.  

Strikingly relevant to our day, don't you think? Ungodly judges who should be serving the interests of the Most High God have capitulated to the cries of the wicked rather than listened to the cries of innocent babies. 

And the masquerade goes on . . . 

In the form of Planned Parenthood, who according to a CSN report net $1.21 billion in its organizational fiscal year ending on June 30, 2013 with approximately 45% of that revenue--$540.6 million--provided by taxpayer-funded government health services grants. In the same report, Planned Parenthood reported that they performed 327,166 abortions from September 30, 2011 to September 30, 2012. And it only gets worse . . . the CSN report mentions Planned Parenthood's celebration of "the NBC series Parenthood depicting 'the first abortion on a major network entertainment program in years.'" (http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/barbara-boland/planned-parenthood-got-5406-million-government-grants-fy-2013)

And PP thinks this stuff is good, that's it's doing women/kids a favor (while they line their pocketbooks). This deception brings to mind the biblical admonition: Woe to those who call evil good.

How God weeps over this blatant disrespect for life created in His image (Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 139:13-16). Indeed, when we set out to destroy human life, we slap God in the face.

A pregnant woman duped by Planned Parenthood into believing a lie--that what she carries is simply a blob of tissue easily discarded--often times does not realize the gravity of her decision to terminate her pregnancy.

The help she seeks in the form of Planned Parenthood provides a smokescreen, covering the truth . . .

That her baby's heart is beating by the 8th day of gestation
That by 8 weeks, all her baby's organs are functioning
That by 9 weeks, her baby has individual fingerprints
That by 10 weeks, her baby can feel pain
That by 12 weeks, her baby can smile 
Prenatal Development

Not only is the woman deceived about the true nature of her baby's development, but she is also deceived about her recovery after an abortion. The harsh and untimely termination of a pregnancy can have serious ramifications on a woman's health, physically and emotionally.

The organization Prolife Across America reports that "94% of women regret their decision to abort."  (https://prolifeacrossamerica.org/baby-developmental-facts/)

For my fictional character, Celeste, in Masquerade, both physical and emotional pain keep her locked up in secrecy. Her husband, Joe, wants a baby, but he doesn't know about his wife's past abortion nor that it has rendered her infertile.

Just when she works up the courage to tell him about the abortion, tragedy strikes, changing the landscape of their relationship and future together.

Until the unexpected happens . . .

My goal in writing Masquerade (formerly Laughing with Lily) is to encourage women who've experienced abortion to seek healing from God, to receive His forgiveness and move forward with their lives. I also want to encourage others who haven't experienced an abortion to extend grace to those who have.

How many women sit in our church pews who've put their masks neatly in place for fear someone will discover they've had an abortion? They already experience pain from the past, and now think they will experience the further pain of rejection if found out.

As with so many of my stories, my desire is to lead the reader on a path of healing, wherever s/he may be in life, to build awareness and move to action where/when needed.

A portion of proceeds from Masquerade goes to support my local crisis pregnancy center, (http://blueridgewoman.org/), who has been reaching out to hurting women with physical, emotional, and spiritual help for over 30 years. They have witnessed many women turn their lives over to Christ, as well as many babies rescued from Planned Parenthood.

Blue Ridge Women's Center

Would you help me spread the word about my novel, Masquerade? My prayer is that through story I might assist hurting women in their quest for God's healing in the aftermath of abortion.

Thank you, faithful readers, for your support of my writing ministry!

Masquerade on Amazon

Masquerade on Kindle

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