Glass Churches, Glass Houses

Let me start this blog by saying a small part of survival in ministry means not allowing the comments of others to get to you. You can never please everyone, someone will always complain! And so I find one of my biggest faults and flaws! I am the type of person who wears my heart on my sleeve. Because of circumstances from my past I am great at covering this up and looking very confident and full of pride when in fact I get my feelings hurt very easily and can carry a hurt or burden for far too long. In other words....I am soft! In ministry this is a very bad thing! And most recently I have found myself in a funk! (great choice of words I know!) But in all truth I find that I am carrying a sadness of spirit with me recently. Over the last 3 or so weeks I have felt like peoples comments, actions, and opinions have left me feeling beat up! Left me feeling such sadness over the current state of the church! And I don't say church and mean Crossroads or Mid-Cities or First Baptist, I say Church and I mean The Body of Christ!! Since when is it okay and acceptable to condemn or pass judgement on another church simply because you don't care for their worship or preaching or children's program? Since when do we look at another church and find all of it's flaws instead of looking at the incredible things God is doing in the lives of people! Isn't that what it is ultimately about? People! Loving people, serving people, people's lives being radically changed for HIS glory?

We are all one body! You may attend a baptist church or be a member at a charismatic church, perhaps you are currently seeking a church home. Wherever you are at this moment if you are a believer than you belong to the family of Jesus Christ. That being said let me share with you a statement we use in our family. Many years ago Scott came home from work and had had a pretty rough day and as he came in I went straight to complaining and whining at him. (I know plenty of you are thinking this can't be possible...Nikki is so sweet! HAHA!!) But before I could do too much damage he looked at me and simply said, "Nikki when I walk out these doors every morning the world constantly beats me up and berates me. Our house should be a place of safety and encouragement. Not another place where I get beaten up." Needless to say this has stayed with us for many years now and I wish that we all would adopt this attitude. It is not to say I am perfect and maintain this idea 24/7. On the contrary I have to be reminded daily as my flesh cries out to control everything! No, all I mean to say is if you are my sister, my brother in Christ let me lift you up, let me encourage and edify you so that you can be at your best serving alongside me in the Kingdom. Judging, tearing down and berating one another because I don't care for your choice in music or may not agree with the current decision you have made does nothing but create division and hurt. As Christians the world is looking at us and waiting for us to fall flat on our faces. They are waiting to beat us up and tear us down. But as a family and as a church it should be a place of safety and encouragement. A recognition that like you I am flawed, I am screwed up and fallen. I make mistakes and sometimes you may not see me at my best, but for better or worse we are in this together. We are a chosen people who are called to go to the ends of the earth with the news of salvation and hope. So instead of looking for the flaws and imperfections let us grab ahold of each other and run the race He has set for us. Let us finish with integrity and hope and joy and love. Let me leave you with this statement. The Bible says "Gentle words are a tree of life;a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. Proverbs 15:4 I want to be that tree of life. I want to build up and not tear down!

Over Analyzing!

As we continue the process of adoption of course I turn to the web searching I so love. Anything and everything I can consume with my eyes to better educate myself and hopefully find someone with more insight than I currently have. That being said, much like when I'm pregnant and go on WebMD every day and self diagnose I find myself over analyzing everything about adoption. To the point of distraction and more interference than help. During this process I think you find there are more things or factors to consider than most people think. For instance, if we adopt a child who is culturally and racially different than ourselves what does that mean and what does it look like. in our family, our community, our church? What type of transition can I expect not only for Scott, myself and our new baby boy but what about my girls? How can we afford this? Adoption although not super expensive is no where near cheap! But as Scott and I continue to discuss and analyze and ultimately pray we have come to some incredible conclusions! 1st - we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God has called us to do this! 2nd - Since we know and believe it is His will we know he will provide for everything and also direct our steps. 3rd - While we realize that there may be moments that are difficult and may be uncertain territory for us we know that as believers God calls us to do things that place us out of our comfort zone and are not always easy, but in the end we want to be found obedient to what He has called us to! We continue to be super excited about this adventure and are overjoyed and surprised to find so many other families who have or are in the process of adopting from all over the world. I believe that our generation has seen a need and God has called us to stop being complacent to the ever increasing need of the fatherless in our world. We feel blessed, humbled and privileged to show a beautiful picture of the gospel.

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15

Thanks for reading and for supporting us during this time. We will keep you updated as things continue to progress!

We're Pregnant! (KIND OF)

OK! Not really but it sure feels like it! Allow me to explain. In january of this next year Scott and I will have been married 7 years and together for 9. That being said as long as we have known each other we have known that adoption was somewhere on our timeline. Both of us have felt lead to open our home, our hearts, our lives and anything else we might give to a child/children who are without any of these things. And after God has blessed our lives with our two girls we feel as though His leading is now towards adoption.

I titled this blog we're pregnant because the excitement and anticipation of what God has in store for us and our children (known and unknown to us) feels very much like when you are expecting. Of course with the excitement and anticipation come the stress and worry over all the things we know we cannot control and the realization that our abilities as parents are limited because we are flawed and full of sin. That being said I wait with excitement to see all God is going to teach me and Scott and our girls through this process. Trusting that in the beginning of my babies lives when I was unable to be with them He was! Knowing that because God has placed this desire in our lives that when we are placed with a child/children that even distance and culture cannot fathom the love I already carry for them.

Although we are truly at the beginning of this process and are unsure of what timeline we are looking at we are confident that we are on the right path. I have not been this excited to live out scripture in a long time. James 1:27 "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you." Please join Scott and I in prayer as we continue this journey! We are in the application phase right now but will keep you updated as we know more. Thanks and we love you all!!!