Monday, January 15, 2024 2:32 PM

The Grace of Pro-Life Warriors

Monday, January 15, 2024 2:32 PM
Monday, January 15, 2024 2:32 PM

Imagine this: You're sitting across from someone with opposing views, and instead of a heated debate, you share stories. You share why you believe in the sanctity of life. You share the truth about not only the immediate effect, but also the lifelong effect of abortion on a woman. It's not about winning an argument; it's about planting seeds of understanding.

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Wednesday, November 22, 2023 5:39 PM

A Pro-Life Standpoint on Domestic Violence and Pregnancy

Wednesday, November 22, 2023 5:39 PM
Wednesday, November 22, 2023 5:39 PM

We want every woman to know that she has a community ready to provide her with safety and health care options. She is a child of God deserving of peace. When she feels that her life is valued, she can see more easily that her baby’s life holds value, too, no matter the circumstances in which he was conceived. 

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Wednesday, November 22, 2023 5:36 PM

Navigating the Crossroads of Human Trafficking and Pregnancy: A Pro-Life Perspective

Wednesday, November 22, 2023 5:36 PM
Wednesday, November 22, 2023 5:36 PM

There is no “my body, my choice” discussion in human trafficking. There is no freedom, there is no personal opinion or values at hand. There is only violence and fear. When the pro-abortion side demands free, legal abortion on demand, they’re missing the autonomy of the most vulnerable.

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Monday, September 11, 2023 1:58 PM

Honoring Women and Children from a Pro-Life Perspective

Monday, September 11, 2023 1:58 PM
Monday, September 11, 2023 1:58 PM

Our world seems to be dominated by debates about political correctness and the pursuit of personal freedoms. What happened to conversations about morality and values that are the foundation of our society? 

The pro-life standpoint, which champions the sanctity of life and confirms the inherent dignity of every human being, including the unborn, is in the midst of the chaos. As a pro-life community, we need to be bold enough to bring back the respect and honor due to women and children. We can do this by following a few guiding steps. 

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Thursday, January 26, 2023 2:17 PM

Feminism, Reality

Thursday, January 26, 2023 2:17 PM
Thursday, January 26, 2023 2:17 PM

Women can do anything and everything. We can have it all. 

But, if we were to actually listen to modern-day feminists, we can only have it all and do it all if we don’t have a child or family. 

Remember when feminism first became a thing and someone, in all their wisdom and progressiveness, told all women that we can do anything a man can do - and more! We bought that and paid for it in full, with cash. 

We ran straight into the hyperbole of having a family and a career. We can make money just as well as men can, and we can do it while still managing the care of our children, managing our homes, cleaning, shopping, cooking, and transporting children to school and activities. 

Did we do it all and have it all? We sure did! Because we CAN do anything and everything and have it all. We can do it because we’re to be capable, creative, problem-solving, active people. 

Somewhere along the way, the narrative changed and those same feminists changed their minds and said we can do it all, but if we have a family or children, then we can’t. We can work 80 hours per week, shop, clean, have a relationship, and change the oil in our cars, but we definitely can’t do that if we have a child. Suddenly, a child ruined our ability to have and enjoy all those other things. 

Before, we could go back to college in our thirties and balance a family and a job. Now, if there’s a child in the picture, we suddenly can’t do any of that. 

Why would they have dropped a human life from the lineup of priorities? When did a job become more important than humanity? When did running ourselves into the ground become our definition of success?

True feminism should be to empower women to say yes to family, home, and faith. Really doing it all and having it all should mean our marriages are in tact, we are pursuing a relationship with God and being an example to our children of how to do that, and we view our homes as a place of safety, solitude, and where we want to spend our time pouring into the most important aspects of life: our spouse and our children. 

If women can do those things and have a career, that’s an achievement to be celebrated for sure! But the narrative needs to change to children first. We must be willing to say things like “Do you plan to continue your degree?,” instead of “Do you plan to keep the baby?”

Humans first. When women say they abort because they’re going to school or pursuing their career, they’re simply perpetuating the narrative of modern feminists. We want to hear them say they’re delaying school so they can have their baby. 

Feminists say that men are trying to control us while feminists are the ones who’ve retained the most control over a woman’s mind. 

We think women can do it all, and if we don’t want to, there are a multitude of options that don’t have to end the life of a child. Let’s empower women for what we really can do. 

Let’s empower women to feel strong and brave about seeing through the one thing we can do that men cannot. 

We visit with so many women every day across the country. Help us continue to remind every single one of them that they can have it all. www.icumobile.org/donate

Thursday, January 26, 2023 2:14 PM

Measuring Success

Thursday, January 26, 2023 2:14 PM
Thursday, January 26, 2023 2:14 PM

In 2022, 42 abortion facilities closed, and 66 women’s health clinics stopped providing abortion. Whether these were a direct result of the overturning of Roe v. Wade or they were already on a downward spiral, we can’t know for sure. We do know that the Supreme Court decision certainly opened these providers’ eyes to the reality of their own future viability. 

Should we view closed abortion facilities as a success? Of course! The danger in placing too much weight on a few closed facilities lies in assuming that this will have a trickling effect and that, eventually, all abortion facilities will close. Ah, were that to be!

As women have a more difficult time finding access to abortion, they’re more likely to seek ways that could be extreme. They’re still vulnerable to the mobile abortion units launched by Planned Parenthood and other pro-abortion organizations. Our concern is that the mobile units getting to them first will be those that want to offer them an abortion…on a bus.

At ICU Mobile, we offer services that acknowledge, serve, and preserve life. Pregnancy tests, counseling, ultrasounds, sharing the Gospel…all speak hope and life, and those good things are appropriate anywhere! We’d do it on a rickshaw if we had to.

But abortion? A woman has made the most tragic and painful choice of her life. A choice that will end the life of her very own child, a choice that will alter her entire mental well-being, a choice that only ends in death. And Planned Parenthood wants her to do that on a bus. 

When it’s done, she’ll be sent on her way back into the lonely world that didn’t disappear just because her baby is gone. She faces new problems now that include an act of violence committed against her in a place typically used for camping and family fun. 

When she leaves an ICU Mobile unit, she leaves still in tact. Life still within her and hope renewed. When she steps out of our space, she’s reminded of the joy of family, the love of her Heavenly Father, and she is assured of a circle of support that will be there for her anytime she needs us. 

So, yes, closed abortion facilities are a success, but if they’ll just be replaced by even more mobile abortion units, then we’re only getting started again in our mission to save lives. 

We have pregnancy centers and teams all over the country waiting for an ICU Mobile unit. They’re ready to be trained and to GO into their communities and make a positive impact in the lives of women facing unplanned pregnancies. They’re ready to show them the blessing of the new life within them through ultrasound. 

Will you help us get a mobile pregnancy ultrasound unit to them? 

Your monthly sponsorship can be made at www.icumobile.org/donate 

Thank you for blessing us and the women whose lives you will change for the better!

Monday, December 12, 2022 4:19 PM

5 Ways to Handle the Pro-life Conversation with Your Kids

Monday, December 12, 2022 4:19 PM
Monday, December 12, 2022 4:19 PM

If your children rarely hear you talk about the abortion issue, they’re likely not prepared for interactions with classmates or teachers who might not share your values when it comes to human life. As parents, how do you go from not talking about it to ensuring they understand your views and are prepared to handle confrontation about it? Here are five ways to start having meaningful conversations with your children about their beliefs:

  1. Know your values.

It’s important to know what you believe about life and why. This will help you share your stance in a clear way that makes sense to your children. You may need to explain the process of a baby developing inside the mother. Talk about how life begins at conception. 

The Bible is a great way to help your children understand the sanctity of life. The Bible is full of stories that teach us about God's love for every person and the value He places on each one. 

  1. Make it personal.

It's not always easy for kids to understand these serious issues, but if you can make things personal for them by sharing your own or friend’s experiences with adoption or miscarriage, you'll be able to share your view on abortion in a more effective way. 

If someone has been adopted into your family, talk about that person and how much he means to everyone else. If there was a miscarriage, talk about how sad this loss of life is and that all babies are created for a purpose, even in miscarriage.

  1. Look for teachable moments.

When it comes to the topic of abortion, there are many opportunities to have this conversation with your kids. You can begin by asking them about their thoughts or feelings on abortion or simply ask them if their friends are talking about it or if they’ve seen things online.

By gently incorporating the conversation at logical times, it will feel more natural and your child may feel more open to talking about it. 

  1. Be prepared for resistance. 

Most children will resist talking about things that make them uncomfortable or feel like a subject is being forced on them. If your child does resist discussing their thoughts and feelings about abortion, don't force them into having such conversations. Instead, look for other teachable moments when you could talk more openly about this sensitive subject.

  1. You want to make sure your kids understand the sanctity of human life in all its stages.

You want them to know that a fetus is still a person, just like you and me. Your child may not be able to fully grasp everything you say, but at least they'll have an idea of what's going on. The more comfortable you are discussing the topic, the better able they'll be to understand later on when they're older and more mature.

Abortion isn’t an appropriate topic for all ages. You know when your child is ready for that conversation. Until they are ready, you can impact their views on the sanctity of life through positive talk about each of us as God’s children. 

Let them hear you talk about scripture that describes God’s purpose for us; let them hear you talk about the blessing of babies and what a joy children are; let them see you donate diapers and formula for women’s shelters so they know babies needs should be cared for; and let your children know that they’ve made a beautiful difference in your life. 

Positive conversations around life are an impactful way to build up the next pro-life generation.

Monday, December 12, 2022 4:17 PM

Self Care Isn't a Catch Phrase

Monday, December 12, 2022 4:17 PM
Monday, December 12, 2022 4:17 PM

You've heard this so many times, but it's always true: self-care is important. It's not something that should be done once a week or when you're feeling particularly low. Self-care doesn't have to be something that costs money or requires a lot of time either. If anything, you should try to make it as easy as possible on yourself because making time for yourself is important and you don’t want self-care to feel like one more thing on your to-do list!

Self-care is an ongoing process that requires consistent practice to be effective. Think of self-care as the foundation of your wellness routine—one that should be built up over time so that it becomes the solid base from which all other aspects of your life are built.

Self-care doesn't have to be something that costs money or requires a lot of time.

Self-care isn't just a catchphrase or trendy phrase. It's a way of life that can be as simple as taking a walk and listening to music while you do it. Self-care doesn't have to be expensive, nor does it require a lot of time.

Self-care can come in many forms, but what matters most is your willingness to make self-care an integral part of your routine. You can’t take care of others if you don’t take care of yourself first. If you are constantly giving and giving and giving, with no attention to your own needs, burnout is inevitable. 

Take time to reflect on what makes you happy and fulfilled in life (it might just be spending time with your dog). What are your hobbies? How do they make you feel? Do they remind you of something positive from the past or help bring out skills or talents that make them enjoyable? If they do, consider how these activities could be incorporated into your life so that they become part of your rhythm again.

Self-care doesn't mean neglecting your responsibilities and obligations as a parent, student, employee, or friend. Self-care isn't selfish. It's about making sure that we are able to carry out our responsibilities at our highest ability possible! 

In reality, self-care is about gaining an understanding of yourself and your needs. It's not just about being kind to yourself, but also about taking care of yourself — your physical health in addition to your mental health. The two go hand-in-hand; you can't neglect one without affecting the other.

Here is one way you can practice true self-care:

  • Practice good sleep hygiene by carving out time for relaxation before bed each night and keeping electronics out of the bedroom (or at least keep them at arm's length). Try reading a book instead — chances are it'll be more relaxing than scrolling through Instagram!

Self-care is not a one-time thing. It's not a luxury, and it's certainly not selfish. Sometimes all it takes is reminding yourself that you're important too!

Thursday, September 29, 2022 11:16 AM

Embracing the Church

Thursday, September 29, 2022 11:16 AM
Thursday, September 29, 2022 11:16 AM

Church is not just a building where we go on Sundays. It's not just the people who go to church, and it certainly isn't only answering the question of "Are you going to church this weekend?" with a yes or no. Church is something that you embrace. It is an attitude, a lifestyle, and an idea of what it means to live as followers of Christ.

It is a community where believers gather together regularly in order to support each other and encourage one another in their faith (1 Corinthians 14:26).

Church should be about serving God by serving others (Matthew 25:35-36), and being willing to help those in need regardless if they are part of our congregation or not (Luke 10:25-37).

Over the past couple years, many of us stopped going to church in person, we ceased our volunteer work, and we pressed pause on our fellowship practices. It became commonplace to watch services online, meet with small groups via Zoom, and we achieved quite a comfort level with not being in the same room with each other. These options for worship were a blessing, but leaving your comfort zone is a must if you want to make progress in your spiritual life.

As a Christian, it's important to remember that our job is not just to grow ourselves, but also to help others grow as well. If all we did was focus on ourselves, it wouldn’t be so bad to enjoy church from our living room sofa, but we'd miss out on many opportunities for personal growth and transformation, and we'd fail to reach people around us with the good news of Christ's love and grace.

We’ve come full circle and it’s time to leave your comfort zone behind when it comes to your faith life. Leave it behind when you're serving others; leave it behind when you're learning more about God; leave it behind when you're helping someone else learn more about God; leave it behind when striving for holiness (which requires cutting out sin from our lives). Leave your comfort zone for the sake of returning to the church body that sustains each other. 

Embracing church will help you get plugged into a community of believers that will build you up and keep you on the right path. God created us for relationship and community. The believer’s experience has so much more depth when we pursue God alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ. It allows us to have others around us when we’re struggling, and for us to give back to them in their time of need. Of course, we all need these relationships and encouragement even when things are great in our lives.

If you're new to church or if it’s just been awhile since you’ve shown up in person, look for ways to get plugged in by connect with church leaders. One of the best things about going to church is that it's a place where you can connect with other people and enjoy discipleship opportunities such as small groups where friends can encourage one another along life’s journey together while learning more about Scripture itself.

Monday, September 12, 2022 2:13 PM

Value & Purpose

Monday, September 12, 2022 2:13 PM
Monday, September 12, 2022 2:13 PM

If you ever wonder whether you matter or whether God sees you, the answer is definitively found in Psalm 139:13-16. While it may be easy to breeze through this scripture because, as Christians, we’ve seen and heard this time and again, let’s pause and be reminded of the deep meaning within the words. You matter and the Creator of All sees you and knows you better than you know yourself. 

Let’s take a look…

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.  Psalm 139:13-16

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb…

God formed every single aspect of our being. Everything inside us was formed by His hands with precision.

God combined every aspect of our being to form us into a person in His image. From our internal organs to our skin and hair, using the female womb, he knit us into being.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…

It should be our joy and blessing to praise and worship God for making us to fear Him and for making us wonderfully in His image. He made us for His purpose and His glory.

Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well…

We have an innate awareness of God’s creativity and perfection in the way He created our bodies. Our organs work in harmony, our brains make connections for us, and our souls are created just for Him.

My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth…

We are reminded that from the dust of earth we gained our humanity and only God could have constructed us from mere particles. Even though the moment of our conception is not known, God saw because He made us. 

Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

God saw us and knew us before our conception. He knew who we would be, He knew when we would come into being, and He knew the purpose He had for us before we ever took our first breath. 

Hallelujah! It is our prayer that after considering this Psalm more deeply that you feel a renewed closeness to your Heavenly Father. His very breath is in your lungs. He made us to bless Him, yet His blessings overflow into us. How much easier is it to understand the importance of sharing the Gospel when you realize how much every single one of us means to the One who made us? 

May you be blessed and renewed for the sake of Jesus.

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