“Nicki’s book is a joy to read; it is warm and inviting, just like her home. She reminds us of the importance of ministry, of using all
that God has given us to minister His love to others. You will receive a gentle nudge to do what God’s word commands us in Romans
12:13, ‘practice hospitality.’ You will come away ready to
host your next, or first, guests. For some of us, it isn’t as easy as she makes it
seem, but she reminds us
It’s Not about the Pie
. It’s about the heart.”
Patrick and Tonya Ireland, Military Chaplain, US Army; former missionary and military wife
“Nicki has a track record of demonstrating hospitality. Her words are valuable to us, not only because they are needed but because she
has put them into practice. Our own personal memories of enjoying her hospitality are precious and I know these wonderful words will
inspire others to practice hospitality in new and efective ways. Thanks for sharing your insights and experiences with us all, Nicki.”
Pastor Geof Williams
“Nicki skillfully and creatively encourages each one of us to joyfully embrace the unique space that God has given us
and to never
underestimate the power of His love shown through the way we share our homes and our lives with others.”
Marissa Dickey, Missionary to Colombia, South America
“In this day and age when, with the flick of a finger, Pinterest provides thousands upon thousands of ideas and images, it is easy
to become overwhelmed when gathering inspiration to decorate, put on parties or pull together diferent ways to help others.
The desire to be perfect causes me to sometimes freeze and not do anything at all in helping people to feel warm and welcomed
because I am measuring myself against what I deem perfection. Nicki’s book, It’s Not About the Pie, provides warm, sound guidance
that hospitality is a mindset and ‘that God can use imperfect people to perfectly bless other imperfect people with everyone having
a good time in the process.’ I relish reading those words as they remind me to relax, be my imperfect self. and show warmth and
compassion to everyone God puts in my path.”
Sarah Zimik, Chief Development Officer at Boise Rescue Mission Ministries; Co-Owner of Empty Hand Combat;
and Co-Founder of International Missionary Network
“Too many of us have grown up thinking that only some people have the gift of hospitality. Nicki is giving that gift to all of us who
long to create a home where people feel welcome, loved and valued. She makes is easy to see the heart of hospitality is within reach.
Her book is a joyful discovery of how-to’s and heart.”
Dee Sarton, News Anchor for KTVB News Channel 7
Introduction
“We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry,
naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted,
unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty.
We must start in our own homes to
remedy this kind of poverty.”
—Mother Teresa
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We’ve all been there: you walk into her home and are instantly amazed by its
refreshing scent. It appears to be without fault in every way. The colors in her interior
decorating palette flow beautifully. If you are a creative sort who has been fascinated
with decorating, entertaining, and interior decorating from childhood like me, a
hundred new decorating ideas you want for your own home pop into your head.
I am an artist. I have always made things for my home and love decorating but
I am also a busy person and not a perfectionist. Sometimes my home has that
lived-in look—most the time, actually. I would like to think it’s my heart-attitude of
hospitality, of trying to bless from the heart, that is what I hope everyone feels when
they enter my home today. You will notice I use the word
home
and not
house
; a
house is just a building, but to my mind, a “home” is a happening, an ongoing place
of feeling embraced.
What about my home? Well, I have many interesting items. Maybe I have painted a
mural on the wall or made a new floral arrangement, but I have also been busy in
the kitchen or studying at the table. People often comment on how much they love
my home, but many people have also said to me over the years, “Your house looks
so
comfortable
, Nicki.” What does that mean, exactly? My house does not always
look great. I know I have stacks of stuff here or there and I am always in the middle
of a project. My best friend has an amazingly gorgeous home, and I do wish I could
always have mine ready for guests. She is an inspiration to me so that I may be able
to also have my home ready for people to enter. Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpens
iron.” In this case, I’d say that seeing my friend’s immaculate, heaven-smelling house
motivates me every time I visit and causes me to work on those areas where I am not
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gifted. I’ve learned that an immaculate house is not a sometimes thing; you’ve got
to work at it. However, knowing I will never realize perfection, I have to acknowledge
that my best efforts at entertaining are going to be “imperfect.” Despite this, I intend
to entertain with a heart full of love. My aspiration is to have Christian love be what
they notice and remember most after a visit! Meanwhile, I still want to serve others
and use my home as a welcoming place. This has been a passion of mine for the
past thirty years. How can I embrace who I am and the gifts that I have and use them
to the fullest? Since we are all gifted in different ways, let us use what we have to
welcome others. I love decorating. I love having people over. I love helping others and
welcoming people into my