Obama’s Assault on Innocent Life: What Does God Say?

By Heather Mathews for PPSIMMONS

I remember voting for Barack Hussein Obama back in 2008, thinking he was going to be “The Great (Not Quite So) White Hype” and “The Nation’s Messiah.”  I, as most liberals still do, truly believed that he was going to be the one who brought peace and prosperity to this once great nation, and we would all be living in a utopian society with no more poverty or moral unambiguity.  However, as I have learned since coming to know the Lord, that that didn’t make any sense: how could I have moral unambiguity (clear sense of right and wrong) when the “free-thinkers” I associated with made most of their arguments based on moral “grey areas,” what is evil for one person may be good and even blessed for another?  They couldn’t let their yea be yea, nay be nay, without a qualifying statement or an exception, and I had fallen into this trap myself.  Who was to tell me (or anyone else) how to run my life, or how to control what goes on inside my body?  On whose standards was I to rely?  After all, if everyone plays by their own rules, it implies NO standard.  It took learning God’s Holy Word with some assistance from my (now-) husband to understand what He clearly says about right and wrong, and how obviously deluded and brainwashed I had become.

I recently received a letter from Dr. James Dobson’s Family Talk, and while I usually throw these envelopes in the trash without opening them, I felt compelled to open this one.  Inside, among other things, were quotes from Obama and some of his supporters regarding the funding of abortions (or as the left refers to it, “reproductive rights.”)  I hadn’t until now known exactly what was said by our illustrious President, and thought it would be vital to let others (like myself) know how specious his words actually are.

In Mr. Obama’s opening remarks of an address given to a joint session of Congress on September 9^th, 2009, he stated

“…we did not come here just to clean up crises.  We came to build a future.  So tonight, I return to speak to all of you about an issue that is central to that future- and that is the issue of health care.”¹

Sounds noble, right?  Later, he continues,

“And one more misunderstanding I want to clear up- under our plan, no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions, and federal conscience laws will remain in place.”²

So far, he sounds to be a stand-up guy.  But the public seems to have forgotten about a promise “The Anointed One” made while campaigning for election.  Obama had vowed, as his first act as president, to sign the pro-abortion “Freedom of Choice Act.”³ Although Congress never passes the Act, Obama would have signed it if given the chance.  In a speech to participants at a Planned Parenthood Action Fund Conference on July 17^th, 2007, he said this in response to a question during the Q&A session: 

“Well, look, in my mind reproductive care is essential care, basic care, so it is at the center, the heart of the plan I propose… But, essentially, what we are doing is to say that we’re going to set up a public plan that all persons and all women can access if they don’t have health insurance… It’ll be a plan that will provide all essential services, including reproductive services… So that’s going to be absolutely vital.”⁴

A Google search on the words “reproductive services” pulls up, as the first four results, links to affiliated clinics offering abortion services (although in the interest of full disclosure, infertility services did come up further down the list.)  Even Planned Parenthood considers abortion as just another common “reproductive service.”⁵

Considering President Obama’s pre-election speeches, it’s no wonder Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) blurted out “You Lie!”⁶ upon hearing his speech in September 2009, although he paid for his outburst via the late-night media’s O-Bots:

Bill Maher:  “What’s so ironic is that the health plan that Joe Wilson so angrily opposes would get him the Prozac he so desperately needs.”⁷

Conan O’Brien:  “One of President Obama’s advisors called Joe Wilson ‘a pimple on the [bottom] of progress’.  Then the advisor stresses that removing a pimple from the [bottom] of progress would be covered by Obama’s health plan.”⁸

Wilson’s own embarrassed party leaders forced him to apologize to the President and his congressional colleagues.

In March 2010, LifeNews’ Steven Ertelt filed a report breaking the news that the Obama Administration was starting to fund abortions:

The Obama administration has officially approved the first instance of taxpayer funded abortions under the new national government-run health care program.  This is the kind of abortion funding the pro-life movement warned about when Congress considered the bill.

The Obama administration will give Pennsylvania $160 million to set up a new “high-risk” insurance program under a provision of the federal health care legislation enacted in March.

It has quietly approved a plan submitted by an appointee of pro-abortion, Governor Edward Rendell, under which the new program will cover any abortion that is legal in Pennsylvania.

The high-risk pool is one of the new programs created by the sweeping health care legislation, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, President Obama signed into law on March 23.  The law authorizes $5 billion in federal funds for the program, which will cover as many as 400,000 people when it is implemented nationwide.

“The Obama Administration will give Pennsylvania $160 million in federal tax funds, which we’ve discovered will pay for insurance plans that cover any legal abortion,” said Douglas Johnson, legislative director for the National Right to Life Committee.

Johnson told LifeNews.com:  “This is just the first proof of the phoniness of President Obama’s assurances that federal funds would not subsidize abortion- but it will not be the last.”⁹

This means that just six months after Obama promised Congress that federal funds would not be used for abortion, federal funds were authorized for just that.  There was no outcry from the media, and most conservative Christians and politicians remained silent.

A few weeks ago, Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced an expansion of Section 1303 of ObamaCare¹⁰:  all employees paying for health insurance would be required to pay surcharges (minimum: $12 per year) for contraceptives and abortion services whether or not they receive or even want them.  Because there was to be no exception or opt-out provision for churches and Christian organizations, and such places objected, Obama announced an “accommodation”: the insurance companies will be required to pay for such services (and the costs will be passed along to their customers- those same customers who did not want to pay for them in the first place!)  Now colleges and universities, even Christian institutions, will be required to provide abortfacient medications!  The insurance companies are not allowed to disclose that this coverage is included and are forbidden from disclosing the abortion surcharge due to a gag rule.^11,12

Back to Obama’s speech to Congress on September 9^th 2009, particularly one point:

“…and federal conscience laws will remain in place.”¹³

Another duplicitous statement by our Commander-in-Chief:  On February 18^th 2011, he cancelled President George W. Bush’s Executive Order guaranteeing that healthcare professionals would not have to violate their beliefs.¹⁴

The abortion components of the healthcare bill will be universally in effect as of January 2013 and everyone will be required to unwittingly support the killing of babies.

As of this past February, Obama also defunded a program to aid in the adoption of frozen embryos, also known as “Snowflake Babies.”  Most will die waiting for adoptive parents.¹⁵

There comes a time when we have to decide when the rule of law is diametrically opposed to the laws of God.  He has made it abundantly clear that He will not look favorably upon those who unrepentantly promote and participate in the ending of innocent lives.  His love of the unborn, in His own words:

Genesis 1:28- And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it…

Exodus 20:13 and Deuteronomy 5:17- Thou shalt not kill.  Repeated by Jesus in Matthew 19:18, notice he mentions that commandment first.

Jeremiah 1:4-5- Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Job 31:14-15- What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?  Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?

Psalm 127:3- Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

Psalm 139:13-15- For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.  My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Luke 1:15 states that John the Baptist will be “great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.”

The killing of children is especially condemned by God through the prophets. In the land God gave his people to occupy, foreign nations had the custom of sacrificing some of their children in fire. God told His people that they were not to share in this sin. They did, however, as Psalm 106 relates: "They mingled with the nations and learned their works…They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons, and they shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and their daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, desecrating the land with bloodshed" (Psalm 106:35, 37-38).¹⁶

This sin of child-sacrifice, in fact, is mentioned as one of the major reasons that the Kingdom of Israel was destroyed by the Assyrians and the people taken into exile. "They mutilated their sons and daughters by fire…till the Lord, in his great anger against Israel, put them away out of his sight" (2 Kings 17:17-18.)¹⁷ In fact, when babies are aborted they, if not sold and used for medical research¹⁸, or illegally dumped in landfills (whether or not buried,) ¹⁹ are indeed thrown into the fire (cremated as “medical waste.”)²⁰

The Book of Revelation affirms that (unrepentant) murderers cannot enter the kingdom of heaven (Revelation 22:15).²¹

The Bible teaches that human life is different from other types of life, because human beings are made in the very image of God.  It also teaches that children are a blessing, that the child in the womb is truly a human child, who even has a relationship with the Lord.  Scripture repeatedly condemns the killing of the innocent.  God is a God of justice.²² Mr. Obama, you said that you do not want one of your daughters to be “punished with a baby.”²³ Tell me, Mr. President, were YOUR baby daughters a punishment to you?  What is it that makes your daughters “miracles,” versus punishments? ²⁴

Jesus Christ paid special attention to the poor, the despised, and those whom the rest of society considered insignificant.  Scripture teaches us to love, and that life is victorious over death. ²⁵

Abortion is death. Christ came to conquer death, and therefore abortion.²⁶ "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10).

"There shall be no more death" (Revelation 21:4).

And the people said “Amen. “ Come, Lord Jesus!

Because we honor justice and the common good, we will not comply with any edict that purports to compel our institutions to participate in abortions, embryo-destructive research, assisted suicide and euthanasia, or any other anti-life act; nor will we bend to any rule purporting to force us to bless immoral sexual relationships, treat them as marriages or the equivalent, or refrain from proclaiming the truth, as we know it, about morality and immorality and marriage and the family.  We will fully and ungrudgingly render to Caesar what is Caesar’s.  But under no circumstances will we render to Caesar what is God’s.  (Sign the Manhattan Declaration here:  http://www.manhattandeclaration.org/the-declaration/read.aspx)

¹ The White House, Office of the Press Secretary, September 9, 2009.  http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/remarks-by-the-President-to-a-Joint-Session-of-Congress-on-Health-Care/

² Ibid

³ Video of President Obama’s speech to Planned Parenthood at www.fightfoca.com

⁴ Transcript of Obama’s Speech to Planned Parenthood Action Fund, July 17, 2007

http://groups.google.com/group/talk.politics.misc/msg/d79cdf2ea46f4f79

⁵ http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/abortion-4260.asp

⁶ The White House, Office of the Press Secretary, September 9, 2009.  http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/remarks-by-the-President-to-a-Joint-Session-of-Congress-on-Health-Care/

⁷ http://www.hbo.com/real-time-with-bill-maher/episodes/0/167-episode/synopsis.html

⁸ http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/healthcare/a/healthcare-reform-jokes_2.htm

⁹ Obama Administration Oks First Tax-Funded Abortions Under Health Care Law, July 13, 2010

http://www.lifenews.com/2010/07/13/nat-6531

¹⁰ Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Establishment of Exchanges and Qualified Health Plans; Exchange Standards for Employers, Department of Health and Human Services.  http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2012-06125_Pl.pdf

¹¹ A Statement by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, January 20, 2012.  http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2012pres/01/20120120a.html

¹² Free Sterilizations Must Be Offered to All College Women, Says HHS, March 17, 2012.  http://cnsnews.com/news/article/free-sterilizations-must-be-offered-all-college-women-says-hhs

¹³ The White House, Office of the Press Secretary, September 9, 2009.  http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/remarks-by-the-President-to-a-Joint-Session-of-Congress-on-Health-Care/

¹⁴ Bush Health-Care Measure Reversed, The Wall Street Journal, February 18, 2011.  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703803904576152722411300728.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

¹⁵ Obama defunds  “snowflake babies” program aids in embryo adoption, March 4, 2012.  http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/mar/4/obama-defunds-snowflake-babies/

¹⁶ http://www.priestsforlife.org/brochures/thebible.html

¹⁷ Ibid

¹⁸ Tissues of Aborted Fetuses Used in Medical Research… and Food Testing, The Blaze, March 23, 2012.  http://www.theblaze.com/stories/tissues-of-aborted-fetuses-used-in-medical-research-and-food-testing/

¹⁹ Illinois Medical Waste Company Fined $42K for Improperly Dumping Aborted Remains, FOX Chicago News, February 10, 2012.  http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/metro/illinois-medical-waste-company-stericycle-abortion-fetal-fetus-human-remains-landfill-texas-whole-womans-health-20120210

²⁰ Aborted babies thrown out with clinical waste, The Christian Institute, May 19, 2010.  http://www.christian.org.uk/news/aborted-babies-thrown-out-with-clinical-waste/

²¹ http://www.priestsforlife.org/brochures/thebible.html

²² Ibid

²³ http://blogs.cbn.com/thebrodyfile/archive/2008/03/31/obama-says-he-doesnt-want-his-daughters-punished-with-a.aspx

²⁴ Ibid

²⁵ http://www.priestsforlife.org/brochures/thebible.html

²⁶ Ibid

All Bible verses from the King James Version, Bible Gateway.  http://www.biblegateway.com/

Angel Talks Mother out of Killing Child in Abortion Clinic - AMAZING True Story

(image - angelwallpapers.in)

I was only 17 1/2 years when I first became pregnant. All of my friends, my mom, and my boyfriend wanted me to have an abortion. I really didn't want to, but everyone kept telling me it was the only logical thing to do. So I went out, got emergency “Medi-Cal”, and made an appointment with an abortion doctor. He told me that I was so far along, and that the baby was so big, I'd have to have a saline abortion. (That's where they inject the placenta with saline and kill the unborn baby before they can vacuum it out. Often times they have to dismember the baby to get it out of the birth canal.) I made my appointment to have the abortion and left.

A few weeks later I was in the same office waiting to be called back into the operating room to have my abortion. I was sitting right up front next to the reception window. There was a row of people to my left waiting in the same room with me. A woman opened the door to the clinic, walked past the whole row of people to my left and walked right up to me. She was pushing a stroller and turned the stroller around so that the beautiful baby in the stroller would face me. The lady looked at me and asked me: "Is this where I come to get my baby her vaccinations?" I looked back at her and said: "Lady - have you got the wrong building, they don't care for babies here, they take their lives." To which she gave me a gruesome look and left. I walked to the receptionist and cancelled my appointment, and ran out after the woman. When I got outside she was nowhere in sight. I looked up and down both sides of the street but she was nowhere, she just vanished. There was no parking on that street so she couldn't have gotten in a car, and no other offices or buildings she could have walked into.

Anyway I got onto a bus and went home. My mom and my friends were ashamed of me, and told me I was stupid. But April 16 the following year I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. I thank GOD in heaven for sending that lady into the abortion clinic that day. People I've told this story to have assumed the lady and her baby were Angels. That's what I think too. I'm just so grateful that I never had that abortion.

Canadian woman chooses life against doctor's advice with no regrets

Reggie and I had discussed starting a family together. Soon after this discussion I found out I was pregnant. We were so excited! I went to my first doctor appointment with Reggie's mom and the doctor's first question was "are you wanting to schedule an abortion". I was shocked because it was very apparent that both my mother-in-law and I were very happy about my pregnancy. Needless to say my mother-in-law arranged to have me registered at her family doctor's office and I never looked back.

During my first trimester I experienced some complications and after a visit to the emergency room I was told that I had an "implantation Bleed" We were told that we had a "threatened miscarriage". Reggie and I wanted to have this baby so badly that we decided I would do absolutely nothing for the following month - feet up - rest and pray that I would not miscarry.
At my follow-up appointment we were told that our pregnancy was normal and there was no longer a threat regarding the implantation bleed. Phew!

We were scheduled an ultrasound and excited to get an opportunity to see this little miracle. While at our ultrasound appointment the technician had noticed a "flicker" in the heartbeat. She seemed a little stumped and called for another doctor to join her in our room. He seemed concerned and scheduled us for an ultrasound in London.

At that point Reggie and I were both feeling overwhelmed. We had already been through a miscarriage scare and now told that there was an abnormality in the baby's ultrasound? Still hopeful and very much in love with baby we travelled to London back and fourth for what I remember to be around 4 times - all consisting of confusion about this "flicker" in baby's heartbeat. One of these trips to London was regarding an abnormality in my gynecological exam showing abnormal cells in my cervix that could possibly be cancerous. All the while I felt only one concern and it wasn't for my own behalf but for this baby that Reggie and I already claimed our own and had been determined to be a boy!

Since nothing could be done about the possibility of the cells being cancerous until after baby boy was born the focus returned to the "flicker" in his heartbeat. We were called to attend another ultrasound and meeting with doctors in London. During this meeting the doctors (there were three) told us the concern regarding the "flicker" was that our baby boy (who's name we decided was Haydn) had a high percentage of being born with some kind of abnormality (undetermined). In all of their doctor language and medical terminology we were handed a pager, asked to go and get some lunch and encouraged to decide upon termination of our pregnancy.

Reggie and I headed down to the cafeteria, sat down, and immediately decided that there was no room for discussion. Haydn was a gift to us from God and we were going to treasure that gift and love him, regardless.

On November 14, 2002, Haydn was born - a healthy 7lb, 11 oz baby boy. At his follow up doctor's appointments no abnormalities were ever discovered. Now almost 9 years old, Haydn is a wonderful, smart, kind, loving, amazing little boy and he is the reason - everyday - why I am pro-life.

Oh, and regarding the abnormal cells in my cervix (thought to be cancerous). After Haydn was born I was scheduled an appointment in London to be tested again, the results came back that there were NO abnormal cells remaining. God is good. If we trust in Him, believe in Him and go to Him He promises good results and faithfulness to His people.

God's faithfulness during tough pregnancy

During both of my pregnancies I have battled pre-eclampsia. Our son, was born around 35 weeks due to how severe the illness had become and the risk that I was under. During our second pregnancy with our daughter, we battled this again, but in more ways then one.

I am a military wife. Due to this, we have the blessing of having healthcare for free (although when you count the sacrifice military families make, it is hardly free). However, this limits us with our choice of doctors, treatments, and facilities. In the world of "free" healthcare, you do what you're told, don't question it, and if you do, you risk the military member of the family getting in trouble for not following orders. Having gone through pre-eclampsia before, I knew what to watch for, and I knew when it was starting. Although we are an Air Force family, we were assigned to the Naval Hospital due to us living away from the local Air Force base. The OB doctor that I was assigned to was someone I never would have chosen. He told me that I didn't know what I was talking about, that I was asking for useless tests, and that my requests for simple tests (bloodwork, urine tests) weren't "cost effective" for the military despite my knowledge and experience with the disease. He then told me that he didn't need tests, he would just induce me at 28 weeks. Of course, maternal instincts combined with pregnancy hormones overtook me, and I was filled with anger and bitterness. I knew that I did not want to be with a doctor that regarded costs over the welfare of our unborn child, and I just wanted as far away as possible.

My husband and I prayed about this, the military wouldn't let us go to another doctor or to a civilian doctor. I was becoming more concerned as things progressed with really no idea of what was happening because testing was not being completed. My anger and frustration at this point was turning into resignation as all the fight I had was producing nothing.

We ended up going to a friend's birthday party one evening. The whole family is an amazingly strong group of Christians. I spoke at length to my friend's mother who is not only pro-life- but actually gets out there and educates and spreads the word. An amazing person. I told her of my dilemma, and the problems we were having. She gave me some Bible verses to pray over, and specifically told me to ask the doctor if he was a Christian. After all of this, my heart felt lighter and we went to the next appointment.

At this appointment, I asked the doctor specifically if he was Christian. He was not. I then asked him if he was pro-life. He was not. With these responses, I knew that I did not want these hands to be the ones to bring our child into the world. I did not want hands that supported the pro-choice agenda touching my child which was a gift from God. At these responses, it was like a fire was renewed in me. I wasn't filled with the same anger, I was filled with a more constructive determination.

Through all of this, the pre-eclampsia was slowly and quietly sneaking in like it does. That is why it is so important to trust your body, your instincts, and God to lead you through this. We finally managed to get to another base doctor. He was a Christian, he listened, did the testing, and then sent me to a specialist off base at Sacred Heart. These specialists, also Christian, were amazing. They monitored me, listened to me, and cared for our unborn child like I was their only patient. Also, during this time and under their care, progression of the pre-eclampsia slowed down. Although some may say that this was because of proper medical care, I disagree. There is really nothing that can be done for this other then induction and monitoring. I know that this was God looking out for both me and our precious baby girl. I was able to go several weeks beyond the time that military doctor said, and allow our daughter to grow and mature more, greatly increasing her odds of survival.

I did have to be induced early, but at 34 weeks. Our little girl, at 4lbs 5 ounces, had to spend a week in the NICU, but she, and I, received the care we needed.

One night in the NICU I was sitting with our little girl. It was late, and I was one of the only Mom's around. Due to her body temperature regulation problems, I wasn't able to hold her, just stick my hand in the door of the incubator for a little while at a time and talk to her. I hadn't noticed it before, but they had a Christian radio station playing in the background. Amy Grant's song, "Better then a Hallelujah" came on. When I got back to my hospital room, I broke down. It was a mix and rush of emotions that I haven't felt before. I was so thankful that God had brought us this far and that our baby girl was doing as well as she was. However, I was terrified at the same time. I couldn't hold my child, I couldn't see her at the same time as my husband, I couldn't breast feed her. She sat there so tiny hooked up to so many tubes and monitors. I haven't been so scared in my life. I took that time and handed it all over to God. The fear, the thanks, everything. I put it all in his hands. I ended up praying until I fell asleep. At that point, I truly knew what that song was and why it played then to speak to my heart. God wants it all from us, not just the hallelujahs. I needed to stop trying to carry it all by myself.

The next morning when I went to the NICU, she had improved so much that she was able to downgrade a lower level in the NICU. I was so thankful. Eventually she was downgraded to level one. I was able to hold her, dress her, and give her the love that a mother longs to give her children. Her bassinet was close to the radio, and I took comfort that even during the times I could not be there, she was surrounded by words praising God.

I truly believe that God rewards us for our faithfulness and for not trusting our little ones to the hands of those that do and support such evil things. God showed me the time to fight, and God also showed me the time to give it up to him.

This is a true story. Visit the contributor's website. Also visit our gift shop for your maternity needs.

Pregnancy improbable - then God stepped in

I never thought I could have kids. I had an ovary removed when I was 3 due to a large cyst. When we decided to have a child, I was skeptical. When I did become pregnant, I was astounded! My one ovary apparently was a "double barrel" shotgun! I was carrying twins!
I already knew one was a boy because the Lord told my husband "I have already named him Joshua for the Lord will provide." He did. I had so much stuff I was giving things away (new) 3 years later.
My other baby was a girl--the perfect instant family. We have had our ups and downs as a family, and I have had episodes where I thought I was not good enough for them. One night, around 1 am, I was getting ready to leave my house. I believed they would be better off without me.
At the moment I was getting ready to go, my son Josh; age 4, got up and said to me "Don't go Mommy. We Need you. Come lay down with me." Now how did he know??
I have had many encounters like this, when I was in my teens and well afterward.
Latest one, again, I was feeling depressed and thinking I can't take this anymore. I actually was going to go in the garage, turn the car on and close the windows. (Am I under attack?? Certainly) Praying Ps 91 and Eph 6 daily!!
My son, now 22, comes in and shows me some videos about what's going on in the world, NWO, Elenin, Bible teachings and so forth.
I forgot I was depressed. We watched these videos and discussed them and how awesome God is.
Needless to say, my children have saved my life; particularly my son. My daughter, Jordan, is a jewel. She lives in Kansas now and goes to school.
I am very close to both of them. They both trust in the Lord as Savior as does their father.
Blessings, Diane Audette

This was a true story. The author can be reached at her website. Please visit our gift shop as well.

Pregnancy a joyful thing - especially in God's timing

My husband and I had been trying to get pregnant for a while. It wasn't yet at a point where we were concerned, but it was getting tiring to keep seeing negative tests. We kept reminding ourselves that this wasn't going to happen on our schedule, but in God's perfect timing.

My mother came for a visit. Upon "happening" on a pregnancy test still in its box in our bathroom cabinet we spilled the beans that we were trying for a second child. Of course, you know how Moms are, and it was the highlight of her visit, and topic of conversation from there on out and she was CONVINCED that I was pregnant then despite me having a negative test just a few days before.

After a day of shopping, we all ended up at a local Chinese restaurant. Of course with Mom, the conversation turned to granbabies. "What names do you like?" "Do you think you will have a boy or girl?" At that point though, we really got into the conversation and got stuck on names. Both my husband and I emphatically agreed that we wanted our child to have a strong Biblical name. I stated that I really wanted "Grace" as part of the name if we had a girl. I knew I wanted this because without God's grace, where would we be? It is vital, and such a blessing. I also felt compelled to have that because as a child I always remembered my Mom singing "Amazing Grace" to me and of course that's always been a special song because of that. My husband piped in the conversation that he wanted her to be named "Abigail Grace". We agreed that was a beautiful name and decided on that if we had a girl.

At the end of an enjoyable meal, we got the normal fortune cookies. We had literally spent the entire meal talking about babies. Now I want to say that I do not put any stock into fortunes, or any similar things. I do however believe that God has a sense of humor, and that sometimes he literally "writes it down" for you! My Mom was first to open her cookie, and her fortune said, "An unexpected event will make your life more exciting." Of course, she proclaimed "see I told you!". My husband was next with opening his which said, "A short stranger will soon enter your life with blessings to share". Admitting this was a bit odd, I opened mine. To my surprise, mine stated, "Good things come in small packages. One is coming to you."

Now of course my Mom's insistence that I was pregnant was in full swing. I ended up taking another pregnancy test after that, and to no surprise of my Mom, it was positive. We later looked up the name "Abigail" which had seemingly just "popped" in my husband's head during our lunch. Come to find out that Abigail means "Father's joy". Our blessing seemingly fell into place completely. We got to share a great memory with my Mom, we literally had a wonderfully powerful Biblical name handed to us, and I think God got to have a laugh while doing all of this.

Abigail Grace was born on February 11, 2011. A beautiful, and happy baby girl. We did save those "fortunes" and they are now saved in her baby book as a reminder to us to always be on the look out for different ways that God might speak to you.

So even when things seem like God may not be listening to your prayers, remember it is all in his timing. He has not forgotten any of his children. Never be deaf to things that God might be telling you either, you never know the ways that he will choose to get the message across!

This story was true. The author can be reached at their website. You can also get great maternity items at our gift shop. God bless you.