Author: Wick

“PRAXIS” – 1. practice, as distinguished from theory; application or use, as of knowledge or skills.

We’re in the midst of an international adoption from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  We began this journey for many reasons, among the top being God’s call for His followers to care for the orphans and widows.  Also, the call in Deuteronomy to pass on foundational God-Love to our children using every moment of our existence.  These are formative years in the greater life and testimony of our family, and there’s a little girl out there somewhere in her formative years who needs a family to love her and reveal God’s love for her.  Why international, and why the DRC?  There’ve been many answers to those questions, all leading to the path we’re currently on.  God is already using this journey to reveal Himself and transform hearts, confirming that we’re following His lead.  We continue to yield our plan to His, and are open to whatever He has in store for us.

In the midst of learning all we can about the aspects of this journey, we continue to hear an ugly truth.  There are people out there, both parents and orphanages/organizations – who would put financial/personal gain as a priority in the midst of the orphan crisis.  Parents who’ve paid thousands, only to find out the child they’re holding has parents or grandparents who were paid to let their child go “to be in a better place”…yet they continue forward in adoption.  Orphanages that are paid generic “fees” to go out and locate a specific orphan to meet the qualifications of those paying.  We’re thankful for the path we’re on, and the openness of all involved.  We’re able to ask questions every step of the way, meet everyone involved, and investigate anything we think might not be kosher.  Some in the adoption process are not given such opportunities, and are in fact often discouraged from asking questions or doing their own investigating.

You don’t have to search long to find stories of adoption corruption and mis-using children for personal gain.  There are great voices emerging as those who have grown from such experiences of investigating and learning the truth about the situation they were in.  Stories they are passing down to future adoptive families of how to be faithful in this journey of earnestly wanting to join the body of Christ in caring for those God’s heart aches for.

For me, it’s definitely been a reminder of the importance to yield our plans to Gods on a daily basis.  To have the humility, and courage, to follow God and Truth over what I think should happen right now, or even next.  Yes, we believe this is the path God is calling us toward.  In reality, it may be more a situation of “God gave us several trees in the garden to choose from, and we love what we ‘re tasting of this fruit called ‘Loving the people and children of the DRC.'”  But it certainly seems like God was at least leading us into the garden, with a grin on his face saying, “Hey Anderson’s….why don’t you try tasting this?” in a way that He knows it’s about to transform our lives, and possibly others as well.

So how is this all an update?   It’s not really.  No new facts.  It’s me pausing in a moment of difficult waiting, to reflect on the journey we’re on.  To offer Him this journey once again.  To testify that we still don’t know exactly where this will all lead, but we know who we depend on every step of the way.   Our family is so glad He is with us…

Here we go again with another “Five Minute Friday” post!  To learn more about “Five Minute Friday” (FMF), check out the linked image here.  Basically, each week there’s a word given for you to write about.  You start writing, no back-tracking, editing, etc.  At the end of 5 minutes, you stop.  Then you post it, and share in the community of words that were birthed during these 24-ish hours.  It’s cool stuff.
So here’s this week’s response to the word: “ cherished  ”

I’m still only  beginning a new understanding of the amazing capacity for Love God has given me.  Here we wait, documents all prepared, approved by State and Country, money…well, still in the process of being raised.  We are waiting for our daughter.  Waiting to hear her name.  To see her face.  To know her story.  To bring her home from Africa.

Where is she right now?  I’ve no idea.  In a country where children are being turned soldiers.  Where women are being abused at young ages in horrible ways.  Where infants are dying of malnourishment and abandonment.  Where even those who want to adopt are unfortunately inadvertantly involving themselves in perpetuating a system of corruption and valuing money over loving the orphans and widows.

Somewhere in the brokenness, a child waits.  She doesn’t know it either.  That she has a mommy and daddy.  She has 3 sisters waiting for her, racing to be the first to name her as our first “prayer request” tonight.  That she is incredibly cherished, even before I can hold her close, look deep into her eyes, and convey it with word and presence.

To think that all of this barely scratches the surface of my fathers love for me.  My father who adopted me into his loving family.  Who rescued me, and gave me to share His name….so that I could join his loving movement…

Grr…probably good to only have 5 minutes on this one.  If you’d like to help us in our fundraising – you can click the link on the right side of this page….”Both Hands”. 🙂  Any amount adds up.  But even more so….if you could add us to your prayers….we need His peace and patience…and doors to be opened. 🙂  Thanks friends!

I have a picture in my office, of my ordination as an elder in the Free Methodist Church a few years ago. It means a lot to me, even if I can’t explain and wouldn’t dare boast of what God was accomplishing in that precise moment. But what I do know, is this:

Hearing a lot of what is said in this passage (Acts 8:14-17), it’s tempting to focus on the “laying on of hands”. To want that to happen, as a way of magically “unlocking” some hidden Holy Spirit potential in our lives. That maybe that thing we’ve been wanting to do, or happen, isn’t happening precisely because we’ve not had someone who officially represents God come and lay hands on us in the name of the Holy Spirit. I want to tell you, I don’t think that’s why this story is in the Bible. Yes, there are times and places that call for those moments to happen.  But the truth is, we have less in common with Samaria that we do with Jerusalem. We are the place where the activity and Spirit of God is already at work among us. We have several in our midst who have had “the laying on of hands”. People who have received the Spirit of God for purposes of ministry and living a transformed life. We are community that is characterized by being a place where the Holy Spirit dwells and moves. As a community – we have received the Spirit of God.

But perhaps some of us have lived in Jerusalem for so long, we’ve forgotten how incredibly important this gift is. It’s important for us to hear the story of the Holy Spirit in Samaria, to be reminded of God’s presence in our own lives. To receive the Spirit that we’ve been offered. The gift we’re being offered even now.

Do you hear him speaking to you in these words you’ve read?

Do you hear his voice, telling you the story you’ve become a part of?  The work He’s been accomplishing through His people for thousands of years, this family of God that’s larger and tighter knit than any family bond we’ve ever known.  We’re surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, and connected both to them and God Himself by a Spirit that wants to do so much more than just “be with us.” It’s a living, active, transforming, freeing Spirit that wants to go far beyond “get us into Heaven someday”.  The Spirit of God desires to move in your life even now in new ways.  To free you from sin.  To release you from addictions.  To fill you with a love that is more powerful than whatever difficult situation you have in your life.  To enable you to forgive someone you’re holding captive in debt to you. To free you from living captive in debt by your offense to others or God.  To empower you to carry such a Spirit with you into the world – loving, forgiving, releasing, and transforming as you go.  From Jerusalem, to all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.  Will you receive the Spirit He is giving?

Do you hear his invitation to you, specifically?  Yes, he’s powerful.  Yes, he can accomplish great things because that is his nature. But quietly, even now, do you hear his invitation – hand outstretched – to have you join in a new work of His Spirit?  To take his presence into a place or situation that needs Him in a way they’ve not experienced before?  Will you respond to his invitation even now?

Do you hear the foundational truth in this passage – that God desires more for you than simply “getting you in the family”?  That he wants to connect you to this community of believers deeply in relationship.  That he wants to bring New Life to you that only His Spirit can bring.  That accepting Christ was merely the implanting of a seed that God wants to grow through you, branching out in some great, mysterious, and beautiful new ways…..on behalf of all of creation?  Will you let His Spirit reign in your life?

God’s Spirit has been given. Is being given. Will be given.

Will we live as those who have received? As those who are receiving? As those who will receive?

May His Spirit move in our midst this week…