Book Review: The Serpent Slayer

“The Serpent Slayer and the Scroll of Riddles” presents the overview of Biblical narrative through two kids plunging into the scriptural narratives themselves. It’s creative, and though the writing did not grab my attention until later, the storyline was compelling. 

4/5 stars 🌟 

 *This was read as a pre-release to review for the book's launch. This is my honest opinion. 

My Good Reads CR/reviews here 

Click here for book link on Amazon

Click here for book link on New Growth Press website.

Be Still My Soul

Sometimes it feels as though you have just figured out how to tread water when something else cuts like a riptide that knocks the breath out of you, catches your failing appendages, yanking you down to where you are wondering which way is up and whether or not you will make it back. And if you do, did you alone survive and who did not?

Moments like that are hard to focus your mind on what is true, love, commendable, excellent, pure, just, good, and not the ugly, impossible and yet all of the possible worst-case-scenario what-ifs that seem to acupuncture all of your muscles so you feel frozen in fear and then forced into an acceleration of panic. 

But, the truth - 

"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10 

"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock." Isaiah 26:3-4 

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, what is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me--practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:4-9 

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing... Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him." James 1:2-4, 12

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." Romans 12:12

"Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good." 1 Peter 4:19 

So many times over the weekend, I have felt the Lord quiet my anxious heart with what is true- His Word. 

We gathered for my papa's funeral, and it was beautiful, sad, and hard. At one point, much later, some of the cousins were together, and I sang part of "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus," with one of the girls. We went on talking a bit more, and then started mentioning going inside, but one of my cousins quietly murmured, "Let's sing one more hymn first." He picked out "Be Still, My Soul." 

"Be still, my soul, the Lord is on thy side

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain

Leave to thy God to order and provide 

In every change, He faithful will remain 

Be still, my soul, thy best, thy heavenly friend

Though thorny ways leads to a joyful end. 

Be still, my soul, thy God doth undertake

To guide the future as He has the past 

Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake 

All now mysterious shall be bright at last 

Be still, my soul, the waves and winds still know 

His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below." 

It could not have been a better selection then, and to have to reflect on today. I didn't plan on going to church because I didn't think that I would make it back for the service on this Sunday after my flight into Tennessee and drive back. I glanced at the time as my car warmed up on this chilly February morning, and I plugged in the destination from the airport to my church on the maps app on my phone. I realized that even though I would be about 30 minutes late to the service, I would probably make it in time for the sermon to start. "That's fine, I will get to sing with everyone at the end and be with my church family as we hear God's Word together. I think I need this right now." So I sang and drove my way back to Jackson, TN from the airport (not without some tears and prayers as I wound down from the weekend alone on the drive) and walked in just at 10:40am. I went up in the balcony, and sang the part of the last song in the set before we laid hands on those joining and a young missionary couple we were sending back out to Peru. As we settle back in our seats, ready to read part of the passage for the preaching, Pastor Lee announced that my small group leader was at the ER with a brain bleed and that we would pray for him as we prayed through our passage. This is man who is like a father to me in Tennessee (his wife, my mentor), and he had taught me much about learning what is true, to dwell on it. and to be honest when I was feeling otherwise, repenting and turning back to the Lord for the past ten and a half years. He is very honest about these things himself. I did not know what to do with this news and I just felt panic start to flood me, and fought to not let it consume me. I was trying very hard not to think on the worst case scenarios of all the unknown circumstances. We now know that he is stable, but there are many uncertainties. 

I can only say that, in many ways and through many means, the Lord continually calmed me with his Word throughout the week and this Sunday with what is true. Because it is only in Him that we will find rest for our souls and our thoughts will quiet with peace beyond all understanding. The weekend has been a whirlwind of emotions, but as Lee said in his sermon (part 5 of 7) on Job today, God is in the whirlwind; He made it, and He is always good. There are so many things that happen that we do not want to happen. Some are just terrible things, and our God is always in control and He is always good. He is not far off; He is near. Be still, my soul, the Lord is on your side. His purposes are always good even when we cannot see it and one day, we will be with Him, and all now mysterious shall be bright at last. And even if we still do not understand the circumstances, we will see Him and we will know, without any shadow of doubt, that He is always good and always right. 

A Life Well Lived - in honor of my Papa, William (Bill) Moore (1932-2022)

Papa and I at Jennifer's (my cousin) wedding in 2018

With Papa and Grandma Moore when visiting in 2020

“That’s good that you believe Jesus is love, Kaitlyn, but you have to remember He is Lord and is He your Lord? Is He the Lord of your life?” I was having dinner with my grandparents back at the beginning of undergrad during the summer once and they asked me this. It is even more striking and thought provoking to me now than then. My papa is a man who lived in the fear and admonition of the Lord and he didn’t pull punches. Even in pain and suffering, he wanted to trust in the work of Christ- his verses were Isaiah 40, specifically verses 28-31: ““Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” 

At Jennifer's wedding in 2018

The example, even in his pain and struggle for most of the years of my life, of trusting the One true God who saves those who trust in Him is such a testimony. He was married for 66 years to my wonderful grandma, he raised my mom who they adopted with the love of Christ, seeking to raise her in the way she should go to where my dad said that he was not only drawn to her but also drawn to her family because he saw the way that her parents lived.

My Grandma and Papa at their wedding in 1955

My dad and Papa in Deep Creek, MD at my great grandparent Moore's anniversary.
(Maybe1988 before my parents were married. I just love this picture.) 

The Moore Legacy when I was about 6 years old
(This was taken maybe around 1999?)

These pictures are a treasure because they are glimpses of his faithfulness and influence because of the love of Christ in him. The Lord does not want our sacrifices and rituals; he wants our hearts and our lives- our complete devotion. That was my papa- one of the sweetest last memories I have with him was during the summer when we were able to pray together about his pain from his ongoing battle off and on with cancer and then his sheer joy of sharing with his grandchildren and children who were present his favorite hymns. In the past, as a high schooler I’m ashamed to say that this is something that I would’ve been annoyed at, but then I felt that it was a precious moment that we might not have again and what an incredible gift to see his delight in the true words and worship of believers singing together to the Lord. He shared hymn after hymn with us, wanting us to try to watch congregational singing of the hymns. I don’t want to lose my wonder in the Lord and the beauty He is creating, even in the hard things of the world- just like my papa. And while death is an enemy until Christ returns and this is much harder than I even realized, I’m so thankful that he is now with his Lord face to face worshiping without pain, fear, or tears. And that one day I will do the same with him, whole of body and heart, without any pretense or hindrance to the focus on Jesus our Lord and Savior. 

Papa and Grandma Moore (around 2018)

Papa and Grandma during Christmas time 2021

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. 

I am small and ordinary... and that is okay.

Sometimes there are those days that you feel out of place. 
Like what you thought you knew has been wrong and you don't know what is real anymore. 
You see glimpses of the "real," but the technicolor of life has faded so that mostly everything is gray and blurred and you feel like you are just hanging on. The bursts of "real," the flash of "color" are so dim that you aren't even sure if they are real. You feel like if you say anything you will just be mellow-dramatic and they will try to talk you into feeling better. But, that's what you are trying to do for yourself. You're past that point; you are just surviving now. 
The cynic is in. The hope is scarce or maybe even just lost. And you have no idea where to find it. 

But, sometimes in the surviving, you start to see the others. Those who are trying to survive, too. Most of us are or have been there. Those moments that innocence has been stolen and reality of the cruel world has shattered the rose colored glasses you wore. And it's hard not to doubt all the goodness that you still do see. 
And there are so many tears and lonely nights and it feels as though an ocean is under your skin. You may love to sing, write, paint, play, and be... but it feels as though those things are empty and not real anymore. That you are drowning under the mask of "just do the next thing." Get up, do the thing, see some people, go to bed. Repeat. But, sometimes it's in "just doing the next thing" that you start to see the glimmer. And it begins to grow.  

Joy has to become something more than a feeling. It's a knowing. Trusting even when the feeling is gone and has been for a while, you have learned that it is so much more than a feeling. And in the resting and trusting, a seed of hope has been planted and begun to grow. Truth is more than wishing, wanting... it is steadfast and unmoveable. It is strong, but gentle. It is real. Because real joy can only come from and be tethered to what is true. So sometimes you have to hold on in the dark and remember that the light will come, because darkness is the absence of light. It's not a pervasive force that takes over, it is the absence of light. So you look for what is true. Not just what people say is true. But, what is true. 

Because what is true is already existing and revealing itself. The Person. He is showing Himself to you before you even know that you have been looking for Him or before you even knew that you had been filling yourself with what you wanted to believe rather than what was true... which really, isn't true: really, you know what is true... but, you didn't want to face it, because in the actual truth, you are much more ugly and repulsive than you ever wanted to face, and YOU changed you to be that way. And your pride is what kept you there. And then, waking up slowly is SO painful. Much harder work than you ever wanted to sign up for. But, you are awake and to go back to being asleep means going back to a lie. So you ask Him to help you press in and keep you. And the Keeper is faithful, He will do so much more than we can ask or think. 

Because, really, it's been me. And this me... has been lost and gets lost so very easily. And I have never felt so small and He has never felt so big. And, truly, that's not even close to the reality of it. I have been so terrified of that in the past... but, when I have started to find and beg that this little self be kept in the cleft of Him, and to see and know His goodness, He shows Himself in the Words and the Pages of the Secrets revealing Who He IS. And, it's not that He suddenly is doing it because of my asking, He always has been showing Himself there. And the Spirit whispers in the quiet, "I AM." Because He is eternally showing Himself, progressively revealing Who He Is in the Word. And He formed me and found me, I am eternally found. And even though I don't always know who I am, who I will be, and I really often don't like who I have been, it's the best thing in the world to be eternally found by the Keeper who will keep us, His kept. This is love. To be eternally found and kept and loved. 

Who Faithfulness Is

I love to write. 
But, sometimes... when there are stretches of wilderness... of surviving... 
the will to write is lost there in the wilderness that I wander... somewhere I cannot find it and sometimes I have even been at points of even wondering if I will again or if I even want to... 

But, thanks be to the Father, my God, He is slowly healing those broken, untouched spots of the heart... of all those who seek Him. And my will to write comes back in those times when I am aware of it.  


(I am) Ever changing 
(I am) Ever breaking 
(I am) So mistaken 
(And) I've been faking me 

You have found me 
You unwound me 
You have bound me 
Ever surrounding me 

(for) I've been trying 
Ever lying 
Slowly dying 
Now slowly flying free

Do not leave me 
(Soul) keep believing 
(Lord) Keep me cleaving 
From lies deceiving me 

Before, behind me 
Between, unwinding 
Love so binding 
Keep on finding me