Responsible to His Holy Calling Not The Results

I have been sick, really sick. I thought it was a cold but nausea was accompanying it so it is some sort of ick beyond the common cold. Anyway, I have been spending most of my time resting, taking slow walks in the sun between the long stretches of misery on the couch. Two nights ago, I dragged myself to bed and checked my email before turning out the light.

Oh no. A woman I have followed for a year or so in my Cities4LIfe pro-life work wrote to me. She would be homeless at 11:00 the next day. Did I have any ideas for her? I had known she was looking for housing and had already sent her our housing list of all the resources I knew. With dismay, I tossed and turned all night. Not only from the illness but wondering how I could help this woman.

When I first met her, she chose life, but then the boyfriend pressured her to abort. She told us she miscarried, but we saw her at the abortion center. We knew she’d aborted. That didn’t affect my desire to continue helping her. I still bought her a winter coat as she had only a threadbare sweatshirt, and Cities4Life has reached out to her to try to help her with our mentorship program through Love Life Charlotte time and time again. We have gotten her supplies as she has expressed needs, and I send her daily Bible verses. I knew she was quickly pregnant again. This time, she would keep the baby. I was glad that she had chosen not to abort. I was not glad she was unmarried and pregnant with no change in her situation. A not uncommon after effect of abortion is mourning the lost baby and quickly getting pregnant again in an attempt to assuage the sorrow and guilt. Of course, if the circumstances that led to the consideration of abortion in the first place are not changed, the outcome will likely not be good.

We have done all we know to do to help this woman, but when we offer ideas that will really change her life, she balks and disappears. Until a new need arises.

With this woman heavy on my heart, I woke yesterday, still nauseous and sick. I began making calls to the housing resources I knew about. Then when they told me they could not take this woman, I asked if they knew someone who might. In this manner, I got the names of two resources I had not known about. I called them. BOTH would take this woman. I emailed, called, and texted her with the two resources names, contacts, and phone numbers to call. No response. Again, help is offered and she appears to have disappeared. Again.

This is the sad nature of our work. Sometimes, every effort is made to help and it is rejected. But the truth which all people who remain very long in ministry MUST understand is we are called to be obedient to do what God asks us to do. We are NOT responsible for the results. That is up to God and the women themselves.

So many volunteers begin with boundless enthusiasm, filled with expectations of changing the world when they step out in faith with God. However, they quickly become discouraged when the work is messier, less obviously glorious than they had anticipated. They trickle away, give up.  God calls but no one answers. 

I am not immune to discouragement, but the “success” of what we do is NOT dependent upon me. It is dependent upon God. If I can find satisfaction knowing I am pouring myself out in obedience to Him, no matter what the consequence, I will be the servant He calls me to be. 

Inspired? Good. We need volunteers.  If sidewalk counseling sounds too scary but you want to be a real help in the pro-life movement, another family I work with needs help. For over six months, since choosing life, they have been in temporary housing, at times living in their car with several kids. We have finally found a GREAT program that will take them, complete with housing and programs to change their lives. The problem was, as it is with so many ministries, they did not have the funds to prepare and fix the apartment to code. I asked what it would cost to do so, and if we raised the money, could they take this family? Soon. She is due in one month.

They agreed.

Folks, we have only $700 to go. Over half the money was raised in an hour with my Facebook plea. If you are able and eager to help, message me at vkaseorg@cities4life.com with your pledge. The family has one final meeting to sign their papers committing to the program requirements. Once they do that, they will be in housing for the next year within two weeks! We will not have you send your donation until all is finalized, but we need to know we have the fund so only pledge what you are firmly committed to give.

Bless you.

Please click HERE if interested in volunteering with our life-affirming ministry.

PS- I awoke today feeling MUCH better. Not all the way better, but on the way!

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Ephesians 4:1 

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

John 6:44 

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

John 3:16 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Jeremiah 1:5 

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

2 Timothy 1:9 

Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,