Day 72: March 12, 2016 Elva

March 12, 2016

Day 72 Elva

I hear the call. Like a whisper from a friend. Soft but definite. It is familiar but recently it asks me to leave my home. Should I follow? Do I trust him? Is he good? Of course he is, we have never been apart. We have run in the fields and roller skated through the barn together. He has always comforted me when I hurt myself or take verbal beatings from short fused men. He has always whispered to me. I know his goodness full well. There is no fear in him, love leaves no room for it. He is the one who now calls me to follow. North he whispers and north I will go. I am but a young woman with no husband. What have you for me in the north my friend? I do not know but I will follow. Lead the way.

She loved the color pink. She loved her siblings and spoke with them often. She loved her husband and children. She loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved to ride bike. She loved to read, write and pray. She loved her neighbors. She loved birds. She loved sweet things. She loved TV. She loved the life she'd been given. She loved well.

Note: Christopher Burkholder - Elva's dear grandson wrote this last night while his mother sat sleeping beside him. I love this boy!

Day 71: March 10, 2016 Spiritual Warfare in One Word

March 10, 2016

Day 71 Spiritual Warfare in One Word

Spiritual warfare is wrapped up into one word- BELIEVE. You thought it was yelling at the enemy to be cast into hell, it might be, but it is more powerful than that. It is believing. Spiritual warfare is believing that the Trinity is who they are. God is God. The Son is God. And the Spirit is God’s spirit. 

Believe. This is the work. If you are going to do anything, this is it - believe. Believe in God and believe also in Jesus. Believe that Jesus is in God and that God is in Jesus. 

Believe is the work you have been called to do, to accomplish, because of what has been done. Do not let your heart be troubled, believe. Do not let these words swim in your mind like common, constant friends taking them for granted. Think deeply about these words, meditate on them. I do not care what spiritual practice you yank from antiquity - just start yanking and get to work. You could make up a spiritual practice for yourself, just do it. And do it quick - it imperative. Believe! Why? Because He is real and He cares for YOU!

Believing is the hard word. This is the digging of the soil that brings sweat, blood, and tears. This is pushing past all circumstances that trouble your heart - spiritual forces of darkness that deceive you into believing that something is wrong but it has nothing to do with spiritual forces. You must believe pushing past the consequences you have stockpiled by infamously bad decisions. You must believe past troubling circumstances that add up to no money, no reputation, no future.

Believe in the God who accomplishes the I M P O S S I B L E! Just do it.

When we are troubled we begin to f i g u r e  it out. What a complete waste of daylight! Rest looks like sitting and doing the hard work - believing. That soft comfy chair is a perfect place to plop and get to work. That hard floor where your knees are bent is also a perfect place. You choose. But what you do in the place is the same for everyone- believe.

Believe that the work has been done. Believe that where He is, you will be also. Believe that He is good - ALL THE TIME. Believe that He created you for a purpose ONLY He designed. Believe that He works out our stinking Land Mine for good. Believe that the reason there are still seasons is because He designed it that way. Believe that He is the creator God whether through evolution, intelligent design, the big bang, or a seven day creation. Believe.

He can do what He wants to do. He did what He wanted to do. Now, you must believe He can do, He did do, and He will do. This is the work of God. This is the work you were called to - belief in the Triune God.

Spiritual warfare distilled, wrapped up into one simple, arduous task, is - BELIEVE. Trust me - this is not for the fainthearted. This is not for the intellectual. This is not for the one in high position. This is for the one He called out of class, hovered over and tapped on the shoulder. This is for the one who heard Him say, "Come follow me." Now this is true work, real work, the work that matters, spiritual warfare on steroids - BELIEVE. Don't let your heart be troubled.

Get to work before daylights gone and we wanna go home! BELIEVE in God and BELIEVE in Jesus.  
(John 14 - and while you are there dig deep into 15, 16, and 17!)

Day 70: March 9, 2016 Life is Short

The ark, the ark that David built. 

The ark that David built that baby Lynn rode.

 The ark that David built that 

baby Lynn rode while Elva walked behind.

The traveling this family did is consistent with 

a missionarie's life.

The revered chocolate covered Ritz crackers 

that are made every Christmas. Mom and Dad did some this
Christmas, at least I think. And 

Wanita's family usually always does them, I think....

Elva had a classic look. 

There was something 

very Roman about her.

The love this lady had for children

was comforting to many a one.

Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Me. 

I can hear the melody. The amount 

of children's songs she knew...

Day 69: March 8, 2016 Body

March 8, 2016

Day 69 Body 

Over the past week we have been fed many meals by the members of Rockville Mennonite Church. This is coming after the death of my grandmother, Elva, who attended Rockville as well as her husband David. The meals have been large enough to feed 15-20 people; the preparers have served us and then stuck around to clean up as well. It feels like we're living in some sort of luxury hotel for the time being. This love that these people have shown us is common in the body of Christ for those who take His teachings seriously. It is a natural response just like a biological body sends out help to the wounded parts of the body naturally until it is restored. We are thankful for the body of Christ, the church, of which Christ is the head. 

Day 68: March 8, 2016 History Lesson

March 8, 2016
Day 68  History Lesson

Today, life is to be fully lived in the 

present with an eye to the future. 

Moments were captured that no one in 

these pictures may return to, no one. 

Did they look to the future and understand the need to enjoy

their moment?

 This little guy understood the term minority. 

He sang regardless.

The David and Elva duo loved and respected little people. 

Training them was what they were 

all about. They never spoke disparaging words

in front of little ones for fear of what they might 

sow.

These two lived an international life. 

They had places to go and people to see.

They are some of the most intelligent individuals 

I know.

David and Elva understood work.

They rested in Jesus and 

yet worked hard. The little one had to 

do his share as well. 

Day 67: March 7, 2016 Elva is Something

March 7, 2016  Elva is Something

Day 67

Life in Northeastern Ontario meant more flights than not. 

LOOK at that beautiful vista! Lynn was in

a plane before he was ever in a car.

David and Elva's Home at Pikangikum.

Their priorities were focused on people's destinies.

The Northern Light Gospel Mission was the first name of the 

Mission group they were with in Canada.

Lynn and his brave momma.

The coat, the gloves, the scarf - what a lady.

Lynn's father could be seen pulling 

the ark he made for his son, Lynn.

Elva and David would cross the frozen

lake to go to church. 

I can tell who is who, some of the time,

 because of the copious amounts

of pictures I have perused from 

1985 till 2016. Elva loved pictures.

 So, here I go from left to right as couples;

Susan and Irwing Shantz, Lilly and Johnny Stoltzfus, 

Elva and David Burkholder,

Mary Jane and Henry Hostetler and their daughter

I know that Mom and Dad are in the middle. :) 

Their lives were well spent. May Dad enjoy the rest of his days here on 

planet earth. 

Day 66: March 6, 2016 Vibrant Elva

March 6, 2016

Day 66  Vibrant Elva

Elva was a maverick.

She lived far from home at a young age.

Elva loved adventures. 

She had to, she loved God.

Elva loved children. 

She served them well.

Elva adored her children.

She knew how to play.

Elva loved her grandchildren. 

This was her first, Robyn.