Thankfulness

This post started out as something I was going to share on our church's app called Communion, an app that we use to share announcements and prayer requests with the rest of the church community. But, I decided that I would post it on my blog instead because it is so long and I wanted others to read it as well!



Hello church family!

Covid-19 has been a strange and hard time for all in so many ways but I’ve been amazed and encouraged to see that though Birth Choice has also been so affected by the change, we still have about the same number of clients coming in and mamas changing their minds to chose life for their babies! It’s truly incredible!


Even last week, 3 women who were seriously considering abortion changed their minds to choose life for their unborn children! We call these babies diamonds because their worth is more precious than jewels, so that’s 3 diamonds preserved last week!


Our very own Ranelle was telling me that she talked with a client a couple weeks ago who had changed her mind because she is having twins! (I absolutely love when work and church overlap- I love sharing these things with all my people!)


I was very encouraged by Lee’s sermon and the Nettles small group discussion concerning thankfulness to the Lord and have been convicted and reminded: He is at work. And I’m so thankful for glimpses that are seen here and reminded to pray and watch to see what He does and whatever He does and whatever He shows us, to thank Him.


Even now, I just got off the phone with a client who came a couple years ago and wanted to strongly to be connected with the client advocate who she met with because it had such an impact on her. And it made my heart so very thankful and then reminded me that this is the Lord’s work and by the Holy Spirit that this is possible.


I just wanted to share with you because many of you have encouraged, donated, inquired and prayed for Birth Choice and continue to! Thank you. I love you all! Please continue to pray for us and inquire after us and I am so thankful that you do already! Praise our great and kind God for what He does!


Just Wednesday night, Dr. Nettles and his wife, Alice, my mentor and dear friend, were reminding me to stay present and awake in reality, not being distracted by the what-ifs, but seeing things as they are now! To remember what God has done and dwell on the Word because by the power of the Spirit and through the love of Christ, we are a new creation, given a sound mind with self discipline and self control. It takes work but we have control of our own thoughts and actions and the glory and honor goes to God who gave us these things by the fruit of His Spirit indwelling us. So praise God for eyes that are learning to better see what He is doing!!! What grace!


With these gifts, we are called to remember. So I reflect on this time at the beginning: Around this time 4 years ago, we moved into the new church building in early October. Then, in mid October 2016, I started at Birth Choice! What a contrast to now! And our same God reigns and is still at work. In October 2020, by the Lord’s grace, I will be starting my 5th year at Birth Choice. I don’t want to take it for granted and I only want to boast in thankfulness to God because it is only His grace and preservation that I am here and with you all. Y’all know what a hot mess I can be ;) He gives and takes away, blessed be His Name.

I am so very thankful for you all and praying for our church in this strange time!

Love, Kait

Voting For Life

Throughout the day on Thursday, fire welled up in my chest. It was building from reflections during the in-between moments, posts on social media, situations we see at work and conversations with people during the day. I dumped out my words. And then, I looked at the time: "1:30am," and told myself, "Okay, Kait, just go to bed." 
But, I woke up with the heaviness holding down the smoldering in my heart and decided, no. I need to say something.  

Just yesterday evening I was talking about why voting pro-life in local, state and federal levels matters with some friends. Here is an example of how they effect each other. 
Synopsis: Restrictive abortion laws that were signed by Gov. Bill Lee have been blocked by Federal Judge saying that they are "unconstitutional." 
(An article concerning this ruling was posted by Birth Choice yesterday and can be read here.) 

Samuel Sey succinctly says, "One of the most disturbing signs about our ignorance and apathy about abortion is that many of us believe legalized murders against pre-born babies are equally or less concerning than the socioeconomic gaps between two privileged groups." 
(Read more from him on his blog, Slow To Write.)

Y’all. We don’t have time to waste on not being proactive in this. Thousands die daily. Please don’t tell me you care and turn a blind eye. I’m not sorry for being passionate about this. It’s literally life or death. And if this seems too heavy, good. It is. Do something. No matter how small of a proactive thing. “Comprehensive health care for women” is a phrase that actually means: “women decide whether or not they want this one now.” We must look at all things through the lenses of scripture and then the issue of lives being taken is seen for what it is: legalized murder and marginalization of thousands for the throne of feelings and convenience. 

Even in cases of rape and incest, why in the world would we kill an innocent person who comes about from the evil act of man who needs to be brought to justice? Why would we encourage a victim to go against her very inherent nature, telling her that she should kill her own child? Telling her she can’t overcome the trauma without inflicting more trauma upon herself and killing the life of her own son or daughter? If it sounds like I’m being dramatic, you are actually hearing the weight of it rightly. 

This is something that I have grown more passionate about because it is heavy and it is dark. I get tired of thinking about it and tired of trying to talk about it and then I realize, what is the weight of my tiredness in comparison with the weight of the reality of this evil? These are hard, cold facts. But, thankfully facts are subject to change- the way they change is beginning with the truth and following with application and living out the truth. I need to let the weight of this be something that moves me to action rather than despair. Pro-activity rather than despondency. Let’s do something, people. Let’s share the truth and pray and vote. 

This is one of the issues I am most passionate about, but I am passionate about so many more. If you have questions, concerns, disagreements or anything of the like, reach out! Let's talk. You don't agree? Let's talk. I would love to be asked questions and to ask you questions and to have a conversation, listening and engaging one another. I definitely don't have it all together, and I am learning to stop pretending that I do. But, there is inerrant truth out there: the Word of God and that determines how I look and see the world. It divides and pierces, unchanging, but changing me and anyone who hears and believes in Jesus Christ. Let's come together to submit ourselves to His Lordship, getting to fight and live for Him, serving others. 

Also, if you or someone you know have had an abortion, been a victim of abuse or trafficking, there is healing and a place for you. You are not trash. You are of infinite value. If you are in Christ, you were bought with the most costly price: the death of the God-Man, Jesus Christ, and have new life in Him because He rose from the dead! None of us deserve grace and mercy because no one is good, not one! But, here, look at Ephesians 2! (vs 1, 3-5, but really, you should go read the whole passage here.) 
"And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked... carrying out the desired of the body and the mind, and were by NATURE children of WRATH... BUT GOD, being RICH in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved!"

People! This is the greatest privilege! I will not be ashamed, but proudly declare that I am His daughter! Friend, I want that for you, too! To be a daughter or son of the King! No matter what you have done or what has been done to you, nothing is greater than the love of Christ. The weight of the glory of Christ is even greater than the weight of abortion, or any sin, any darkness, any pain and any suffering, and it has the power to bring the dead to life, change those who were wicked into lovers of good, those who are selfish to those who are selfless. We cannot be the change in and of ourselves- only by the love of Christ and the power of the Spirit. And from this place of greatest privilege, we can boldly stand and boldly fight in the mundane and little things with great love- the love of God. Ephesians 2 continues in verses 8-10: "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." 

There are times to be quiet, to be slow to speak and quick to hear. Sometimes we speak without listening and truly hearing others. I can be so bad at that. And there are times to speak up. Another quote from Samuel Sey, "we sometimes confuse fear with gentleness. In fear, we refuse to speak to protect ourselves. In gentleness, we sometimes refuse to speak to protect others." I can be fearful, withholding and self-preserving, rather than drawing near in love. That reminds me of Galatians 5:13, "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But, do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love." Sometimes, we need to act and speak even when it may be misunderstood or we may be hated for it. And all needs to be done in love because Galatians 5 continues in verses 22-26, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other." 

Friends, I love you, and so I speak, because I want these things to be known. But, I don't want to just speak out in the void- I want to engage with each other, to hear you, too. Let's continue to learn and process together. There is unity in Christ Jesus.