| Fasting |

from july to the eve of National Day, is the 40-day period where most Christians would endeavour to sacrifice something out of their normal day-to-day lives, i.e. fasting.

as we go by our routine lives, we sometimes take things for granted and therefore this period serves as a reminder for us that all things are from God and that we should learn to give thanks as well as to give up things that we have become complacent about.

i used to fast from using the computer/internet/shopping etc, but this year, i've decided to fast from food - my lunch.

because i have pretty bad gastric problems and am rather anemic, the doc has advised that i should not go without my meals for the entire day.

anyway, there's this booklet which is given freely to Christians in Singapore during this period, to guide us who are in one body, to prayfully ask our Father to bring salvation to our family/friends and to the whole nation. today's word really convicted me.

you know how all good religions teach against murder, so when i saw the title for today's reading, i wasn't surprised.

but when i read further, i realised it was teaching against the killing of innocent lives - ABORTIONS.

not just in singapore, but in other developed countries, the abortion rate has been on the rise. and the women who had opted for abortion are surprisingly well educated!

abortion was legalised in 1970. it is available upon request up to the first 24 weeks of gestation. according to a study by NUH, about 14,000 pregnancies are terminated yearly, meaning 1 of 4 pregnancies end in abortion. there had also been a dramatic increase of repeated abortions in year 2000.

before ending an innocent life, your own flesh and blood, did you know that:
1) in week 5, the first heartbeats of the baby begin - all 4 chambers of the heart should have started functioning
2) in week 11, nearly all structures and organs are formed and beginning to function
3) at 24 weeks, the foetus is about 30 cm long with taste buds already forming, and weight is rapidly gained.

why make the mistake when you could have avoided it right from the start? tons of contraceptives are readily available in the market, dun make the mistake of conceiving only to realise you "aren't ready" for it. its not fair to the life that you have created in your folly. we as humans have no right to end a life, even if its in your tummy. God is the giver of life, He decides when to give and when to take.

my daddy is funny. he's told all 3 of us girls when we were alot younger that we should always save our virginity for the intended one who will be bound to us in marriage. however, in the event we become "accidentally pregnant", we should not abort it.

which is why i never allow myself to be sexually involved. i've witnessed how a friend went for abortion and became all weak after that. i felt her pain and i empathised with her. abortion is definitely not something pretty or glorious. most importantly, its the baby whom is connected with you directly by a tube that is in pain.

whatever your religions are, pray against all the women who have done it, the men who have encouraged it and those who are contemplating to do so. pray against this nation and the society who thinks so casually of abortion.

"For You created my inmost being; You knit me togeher in my mother's womb.
I praise You because i am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, i know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from You when i was made in the secret place.
When i was woven together in the depts of the earth, Your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be." -Psalm 139