Foster Care

My heart is so shaky. When Trey and I were first married, I remember having this feeling.  It happened when God radically said Now!  We knew we were called into the ministry, but we were in school and ministering here and there and then He said Now! I remember because we were in church that Sunday morning and I was broken. I went forward because hearing the "Now"! Scared me to death. I knew we were in need of prayer. I wanted to fall on my face and just cry.  Not that I didn't already know it was coming but it was a surrendering of the reigns.  I was not, Trey was not, in control of what was going to happen next. God says I'm in control of this. I've called you, now I'm going to lead you. Not scary in the normal sense of the word.

Kinda like Moses at the burning bush. A crazy Holy encounter with The Living God! All I wanted to do was fall down, weap and worship.

I can look back on my life and see how God has shaped my heart in this direction. Trey can too. Little things here and there that have caused us to desire to do this, shaped us so that we know what to expect -kinda. 

This is not a job choice for us but a devine appointment. We started this process back in December. Ha! We have talked and prayed about it since we were dating, but in December God gave us a little -now. And so we went through the classes and then we were faced with a Ridiculous amount of stalling. Pretty funny how God works, but having been here before we just took care of what we could take care of and have waited for the Lord to open the next door.  I knew that God was going to lead, stall and direct until the child we are supposed to have in our home is needing us.

I remember being pregnant for the first time with Jaxson. When I saw the ultrasound and saw a glimpse of his face, this child I've prayed about my entire life, the child I daydreamed about and knew that God had designed me to be his mother. I was so broken, proud, blessed beyond measure, to see this child's face (even though it was just his profile) for the first time.  That's how I feel about this child(ren) that will come into our home. God has designed us to be their place of refuge, "Parents", if only for a little while. I do not take it lightly at all.

This past week the Lord started reminding me about fostering.  I told them I would call as soon as we were settled and moved in, but like me I forgot. The agency called the very next day and wanted to do a visit.  They wanted to introduce us to our new case worker.

She came by and we took care of a few more items. Paperwork etc. We still have a few more details to take care of, mostly involving money to purchase different things. But this week, I cannot go into detail about what happened, God said clearly it's time to move forward. No more stalling.   I know He's going to clear the debris from our path.

I just think it's so funny how God does that. When He's called you and He puts barriers up, and removes them and along the way He keeps the passion lit. He does ALL of it to keep you moving at His pace, and not on your own.  Right now it looks like we may begin in mid-September.

Please keep us in your prayers as the Lord leads us into this next phase of ministry.

Isaiah 41:9-13(NIV)

 I took you from the ends of the earth,
   from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, ‘You are my servant’;
   I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
So do not fear, for I am with you;
   do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
   I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

 “All who rage against you
   will surely be ashamed and disgraced;
those who oppose you
   will be as nothing and perish.
Though you search for your enemies,
   you will not find them.
Those who wage war against you
   will be as nothing at all.
For I am the LORD your God
   who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
   I will help you.

At War With Myself

Warning The Following Information May be filled with Run-On Sentences and a Bizarre amount of Grammatical Mistakes. Read at your own Risk: :)

(Also this is in no way a reflection of anyone but myself. I am Not preaching at anyone but this is what I've seen in my life and if this is you, too. I pray that this will open your eyes as much as it has mine.)

This is a response to my "Head Knowledge" vs. my "Life Outpour" following the Post "Lord of the Pawn".  

I came to the dramatic reality of how Poisonious Cultural Christianity is to todays American Churches, only a few years ago. My entire life I have been blinded to the reality of the call that Christ has laid on the hearts of His children. 

I have attended church my entire life. For years, because I was so used to sitting in the pew and hearing the word preached, I Knew when I heard a good message, because it was like heart medicine. Even the ones that stepped all over my toes.  It was like finally getting a cold cup of water on a hot Southern day.  It was good!
 But that was as far as it went - HEARING it. 

It's so frustrating to hear a good word but ok what next. How do I Live it out? How do I become Salt and Light?  How do I preach the Gospel to all nations? 

Don't get me wrong, I think the IMB in the beginning was a Great Idea, and it still is. However, I am afraid that too many of us have adopted that as a,
"Well, I'm funding them to go and do what I've been called to do." 

Or even
"Well, don't we pay the pastor and church staff to do that?"


You may not have said these exact words but is "That" what your life is living?

It has been mine. Think about it... You're trusting in these pastors who have also been brought up the same way, alot of words about outreach but very little, if any, out pour.  Alot of conviction but little, to no, Action.

What do we do? How do we do it? How do I become Salt and Light? How do I minister at every oppurtunity I have. And Its not by sneaking Tracks in toilet stalls. Do you think "that's" what Jesus would Do? Run, drop and hide?  Christ wasn't sneaky at all. He was compassionate and His words spoke deep to the heart!

I am not Ashamed of the Gospel because it is the Power of Christ unto Salvation! (Romans 1:16)
Tracks arent all bad, used correctly but have a relationship first. Build a relationship! Even if it is just a 5 min totally out of your comfort zone conversation.

Because frankly "christians" have given "Christianity" a bad name, and most anyone can spot a Fake from a mile away.  And if we're saying one thing and living another, "whats so great about what we're saying?"
Not many in our society are going to respond well to a secret bathroom stall cheesy track that falls out of your toilet paper roll. Because your too scared to open your mouth and talk with them personally.  I have yet to see or hear of a toilet stall convert.

The biggest, scariest, thing about what we're facing in this war with ourselves is - Where Do We Start?  We've not seen it modeled in our churches, or much around us. So we're learning from scratch. It's exciting to see God sparking a light in hearts around the world and friends around the world but you know what.  When you see Truth clearly, and you have no one to follow...it means God's Calling you to be a Leader!

The church has got to quit with the mindset of, "well they'll come to us. maybe if we have a great program, fun games, exciting activities. Ooo, Power Point, no media shout, no a Great worship leader, well it must be, this or that or maybe so and so isn't doing such and such." All of that bogs us down from the truth of the call. Christ called us to be "Fishers of men" What are YOU doing?

Does a fisherman sit on the shore, get a well decorated, state of the art boat, push the boat out and hope that the fish jump in? Heck No!  Go, Tell, Preach! Come on!  If you don't see someone else doing it, you think it needs to be done...it may be God calling You to do it!  Quit waiting for someone else to pick of the reigns of what you've been called to do.  If your scared EVEN Better! If God's calling you to do something and your scared it means, He's ready to rock your socks off! If God's calling you to do something and you think you don't have the time, the skill or it might make you uncomfortable or excuse, excuse, excuse...get ready for God to rock your socks off!
Remain in the word. Learn how to trust Him and Him only! Learn how to hear His Voice, Learn how to notice His hand at work around you.
 It is time we stop waiting for others to fulfill our calling!

Being a Fisher of Men means NOW! Not when it's convenient or during quarterly organized ministry church projects. NOW! Today! 

My biggest struggle right now is figuring out all the little ways God's wanting to use me in my everyday life, with 2 tiny, precious anchors at home.  Anchors: is in no way a derogatory term, it just means that it limits me.  Pulls me back home :) Yes, little things I am cool with, but full-time commitments to different ministries; it is impossible for me to remain consistent in.  Doesn't mean it's stalling me, it means I've got to find out how it all fits together, and I'm about to start stalking some missionaries. 

I've got to get out of this "Church Mindset", quit labeling full-time missionaries as "the Missionaries" and realize "Hi my name is Melissa Bradley, I live in Danville, Ky and I have been Called by God to be a Missionary in this town and everywhere these feet take me!

Lord, Use me however You chose. Move me out of the way. Move my weakness out of the way and fill me with Your strength. May I be Your vessel to be used however You desire!  Clear the path ahead of me. Fill my mouth with Your words. May Your words, Your desires speak Loudly from my life!

Your Clay,
Melissa