Every Tuesday, an doctor comes over from Chicago to Niles to perform abortions. The Crises Pregnancy Center is empty on Tuesdays. The media would have us believe that the abortion debate is over, that the American public is tired of talking about abortion, that apathy is taking over the zeal that once characterized the pro-life movement. Regardless of which candidate takes office next January, we will not have a president who upholds the intrinsic value of human life from the earliest moments of conception.

From 1973 through 2005, more than 45 million legal abortions occurred in this country. 45 million. Given the infant mortality rate of .0093, that is 44.5 million children in this country that were never given the choice to live. 44.5 million people who would be my peers, my friends, my mate. That is incredibly sad.

In the book of Exodus, we read of another government who legalized the killing of innocent children. In the midst of this ancient culture that devalued human life, we see the faith of four women who cherished and defended life. Two midwives, given by name, Shiphrah and Puah, are recorded as ones who feared God and did not do as the pharaoh commanded. (I think it is interesting that the names of two ordinary Jewish midwives are mentioned by God, yet the name of the most powerful ruler on the earth at the time, the pharaoh of Egypt, is unidentified by name.)

The other women mentioned in relation to the defense of life are Jochebed, Moses’ mother, and Miriam, Moses’ sister. “The woman conceived and bore a son, and when she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months. When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank. And his sister stood at a distance to know what would be done to him.” (Ex 2:2-4)

Four women, whose faith in the God who gives life, were used by God to shape the history and destiny of an entire nation.

Today over 200 people from the Niles area showed up early on a Saturday morning to give their support to a center who is defending and cherishing human life every day. The debate is far from over; the battle is not lost. No, we may never change our government policies. Roe v. Wade may never be overturned. We will probably not be able to stop Planned Parenthood from building the largest abortion clinic in the country in Houston, Texas. Yes, we need to do our part to support our local crises pregnancy centers and participate in prolife events.

But that is not where the battle lies. The real battle lies in the hearts and minds of women and girls; women and girls who need to see and embrace the value of their life before God and the value of their unborn child’s life. We need a revival of life. And that is a supernatural work of God.

“We ask You, Master, to be our helper and protector.

Save those among us who are in distress;

have mercy on the humble;

raise up the fallen;

show Yourself to those in need;

heal the sick;

turn back those of your people who wander;

feed the hungry;

ransom our prisoners;

raise up the weak;

comfort the discouraged.

Let all the nations know that You are the only God,
that Jesus Christ is Your servant,
and that we are Your people and the sheep of Your pasture.”

And in honor of my mother’s birthday today, I present these lilies of the valley for my wonderful mother!

Happy are the pushers, for they get on in the world.

Happy are the hard-boiled, for they never let life hurt them.

Happy are they who complain, for they get their own way in the end.

Happy are the blase, for they never worry over their sins.

Happy are the slave drivers, for they get results.

Happy are the knowledgeable men of the world, for they know their way around.

Happy are the troublemakers, for they make people take notice of them.

–J.B. Phillips

About 1700 ladies came, and we’ve had some very touching testimonies come back. A pastor of a local church related this testimony to Nancy Leigh DeMoss the next Monday:

One group of six women from my church carpooled together to go to the conference. On the way home, the woman driving asked the others if they would mind if she made a stop en route. They all agreed, but were surprised when she pulled into a cemetery.

She got out and said she would return shortly. She was gone for 10-15 min. Then she told them that she had not been at this cemetery for 45 years – her dad is buried there. She said she understood he was not there, but that she really needed to speak to him. She went to his grave and prayed and expressed that she forgave her dad for molesting her when she was a teen. When she got back to the car, the other women said she looked like a “young girl”!

During the service at church yesterday morning, she stood and shared this story – she is a rather private person and not impulsive or overly expressive. This was all out of character for her! She kept saying, “I’m free, I’m so free!”

Praise the Lord! Isn’t that a fabulous story of the freedom and healing God brings to those who choose to forgive?!

If you went to the conference, I would be so encouraged if you would share a short testimony here of what God did in your heart!

Not in February in Michigan! Try a scarf, hat, gloves, and boots!

Last Saturday was an absolutely GORGEOUS day. After two weeks of fog, snow, sleet, and dreary, gray skies, I woke up Saturday morning to radiantly blue skies and sunshine! (The weather hasn’t bothered me too much, but the incessantly gray skies, bitterly cold wind, and mountains of gray snow for months on end starts to catch up with a person around the middle of February.)

I couldn’t let a beautiful day like that be wasted by being in my apartment doing laundry! Who cares about clean clothes, anyways? :-)

I hopped in my trusty 4Runner and drove up to the beach front in St. Joseph, MI. I have NEVER seen anything like Lake Michigan in the winter! The beach was covered in snow, and as I walked along, I suddenly realized that I was walking on the frozen lake! About a hundred yards out, I walked to the edge of the breaker line, where the water seemedly froze in mid-wave. It was really amazing.

Walking out to the lighthouse, I met a couple who knew about Life Action, so we had a nice chat. Then it got really COLD with the wind blowing across the lake and pier, so I “ran” back to the car as fast as getting across a frozen lake would allow.

St. Joe was having their annual ice-sculpting contest, so I meandered around the town for awhile, got a cup of hot chili, and watched the people. Then I stopped at a Christian bookstore and worked on my Bible study homework. All-in-all, it was a wonderfully refreshing day that energized my spirit for the coming week.

Make time to get out and enjoy God’s beautiful creation this week. Reveal in the beauty and wonder of our Lord who riches gives us all things to enjoy!

That’s all for now, folks!

As much as I’m learning to love my new friends here in Indiana/Michigan, there is something very special about old friends who have known me many years and about family who loves me despite the fact they have lived with me for many years.

We had a lot of fun times . . . watching movies, going shopping, sitting around and talking, eating, and just being together! It was a great Christmas, one that I looked forward to more than any other year. There’s something neat about going home for Christmas!

Enjoy the pictures of my family and friends from my trip “home”!

Kathryn and I. She is my favorite LITTLEST sister!

Matthew . . . and yes, that smile on his face tells you he would LOVE to sneak up behind you and scare you!

Kristin and I enjoying a day with friends at Market Street

Grandma and Grandpa Ringsmith

Two of my favorite friends: Aaress and Melanie!

My friend, Haley . . . We met at a children’s conference 3 years ago
and have continued being friends ever since!

Yes, I do get fashion tips from my younger sister, Deborah!

As I’ve seen the rise of blogs of all shapes and sizes (anything from, “what I ate for breakfast this morning” who cares? to commenting on current events or sports news to personal ramblings), my reaction to blogs has evolved. At first I thought they were another evidence of our narcissistic culture and really wanted nothing to do with them.

But then a lot of my friends started getting blogs, and I was able to keep in touch with people through the internet from around the country that I would have completely lost track of otherwise. What a blessing!

God then changed the current of my life, moving me to northwest Indiana to work with the Revive Our Hearts ministry and giving me dozens of prayer and financial supporters. The blessing of keeping in touch with family, friends, and supporters can be a challenge sometimes, and I trust this medium will help. THANK YOU to my good friend, Joshua Wychopen, who designed and developed this website!

So this blog is for you: my family, friends, supporters, and prayer warriors. I promise you will not find narcissistic ramblings about my breakfast menu here!

You will read about the passions God has placed on my heart . . . about the ministry at Revive Our Hearts and Life Action . . . about my family and friends . . . about what God is doing in my life. I trust what goes on here will be an honor to Jesus Christ and will encourage both author and reader to press on to know Him.

Thank you for stopping by my blog. I am truly grateful for YOU! Comments are always appreciated, although I may choose to moderate them before allowing them to be posted.

About the Name of the BlogThe title of this blog “The Heart of the Matter” is what I chose to name my bimonthly newsletter to my supporters. However, the URL is www.laurashaffer.com. I will be posting electronic versions of my newsletters on this website. If you are a supporter, you will still get a hard copy in the mail.