Day 342
Love came down.
Love asked for nothing.
Love lived among us.
Love gave everything.Love died.
Again, Love lives.
Love lives in me.
I am free to love.
Monday, December 14, 2015
Day 342 Christmas Series: Love
December 14, 2015
Day 342
Love came down.
Love asked for nothing.
Love lived among us.
Love gave everything.
Love died.
Again, Love lives.
Love lives in me.
I am free to love.
Day 342
Love came down.
Love asked for nothing.
Love lived among us.
Love gave everything.Love died.
Again, Love lives.
Love lives in me.
I am free to love.
Sunday, December 13, 2015
Day 341 Christmas Series: Light Reading
December 13, 2015
Day 341
To just keep things real with a bit of light Christmas reading, I traveled home with two books from the library- The Crime and the Silence by Anna Bikont and ISIS Exposed:Beheadings, Slavery, and the Hellish Reality of Radical Islam by Erik Staklebek. I am one third of the way through The Crime and the Silence whereby a journalist recounts the atrocities from 1941 in Poland within the towns of Jedwabne and nearby Radzilow. This was a dark time in which people, like you and I, unleashed hate.
Last evening, as I and my family walked around IKEA, all I could think of was the burning of the wooden frame housing 1600 Jews. The screaming could be heard for three miles. S I X T E E N H U N D R E D individuals; babies, toddlers, children, mommas, poppas, grandfathers and grandmothers were burning in a very small barn.
This was a shameful day for these polish people. What made it worse was the coverup. The polish folks blamed it on the Germans. When in reality it was they who rounded up the Jews and threw them in the barn.
How can a town become so polarized? How can individuals turn on their neighbors? How can it get to a point of hate? This disturbs. Walking through the maze of goods in IKEA, looking at all the various shapes, sizes and colors of the individuals I passed, I had to think, this could
happen again. And I thought some more.
It is happening! All over the world in various forms -
there is crime committed in silence.
I have yet to dig into the ISIS book but there I
will also find the same thing; humans hating humans,
giving no room for grace or mercy. And you have to
ask - He came for this? That baby came for this?
And the clear, gospel answer from the heavens, the seas,
the earth, and the animals is a resounding and glorious,
Yes. He absolutely came for this. He came for you and me.
Day 341
To just keep things real with a bit of light Christmas reading, I traveled home with two books from the library- The Crime and the Silence by Anna Bikont and ISIS Exposed:Beheadings, Slavery, and the Hellish Reality of Radical Islam by Erik Staklebek. I am one third of the way through The Crime and the Silence whereby a journalist recounts the atrocities from 1941 in Poland within the towns of Jedwabne and nearby Radzilow. This was a dark time in which people, like you and I, unleashed hate.Last evening, as I and my family walked around IKEA, all I could think of was the burning of the wooden frame housing 1600 Jews. The screaming could be heard for three miles. S I X T E E N H U N D R E D individuals; babies, toddlers, children, mommas, poppas, grandfathers and grandmothers were burning in a very small barn.
This was a shameful day for these polish people. What made it worse was the coverup. The polish folks blamed it on the Germans. When in reality it was they who rounded up the Jews and threw them in the barn.
How can a town become so polarized? How can individuals turn on their neighbors? How can it get to a point of hate? This disturbs. Walking through the maze of goods in IKEA, looking at all the various shapes, sizes and colors of the individuals I passed, I had to think, this could
happen again. And I thought some more.
It is happening! All over the world in various forms -
there is crime committed in silence.
I have yet to dig into the ISIS book but there I
will also find the same thing; humans hating humans,
giving no room for grace or mercy. And you have to
ask - He came for this? That baby came for this?
And the clear, gospel answer from the heavens, the seas,
the earth, and the animals is a resounding and glorious,
Yes. He absolutely came for this. He came for you and me.
Saturday, December 12, 2015
Day 340 Christmas Series: Female First
December 12, 2015
Day 340
A female, not a male, was the first one in contact with Jesus. It was not even an option for any male to carry out this task, not even within the realm of possibilities. The female, also, was probably a teenager. She had no option but to be intimately involved with him. For He was in her womb. In fact, she nourished him, she protected Him, she pained him into life. She was the first to talk with Him. And she was the first to listen to Him create sounds. Mary, a female, was the first in line. She was ushered up to the head, to the banqueting table.
She was not asked, she was told. This was going to happen. There was nothing that she did to make it happen. There was nothing she could do to make it stop. She was assigned the most important task, housing and sustaining the King of Kings inside a female's womb. She had no idea, ever, that she was going to give birth to the Messiah. No idea. Isaiah prophesying about her? You must be kidding. Smack dab in the midst of wedding plans, oops, you are pregnant with someone else's child. This was not her plan.
Mary: But I'm a woman.
God: Correct.
Mary: But you are God.
God: Correct.
Mary: Inside of me?
God: Correct.
Mary: But...
God: But what?
Mary: I will.
God: That's my girl.
This begs the question - who began marginalizing women in ministry? And while I'm at it, I will ask another one, when does following God ever look like it makes sense?
Day 340
A female, not a male, was the first one in contact with Jesus. It was not even an option for any male to carry out this task, not even within the realm of possibilities. The female, also, was probably a teenager. She had no option but to be intimately involved with him. For He was in her womb. In fact, she nourished him, she protected Him, she pained him into life. She was the first to talk with Him. And she was the first to listen to Him create sounds. Mary, a female, was the first in line. She was ushered up to the head, to the banqueting table.
She was not asked, she was told. This was going to happen. There was nothing that she did to make it happen. There was nothing she could do to make it stop. She was assigned the most important task, housing and sustaining the King of Kings inside a female's womb. She had no idea, ever, that she was going to give birth to the Messiah. No idea. Isaiah prophesying about her? You must be kidding. Smack dab in the midst of wedding plans, oops, you are pregnant with someone else's child. This was not her plan.
Mary: But I'm a woman.
God: Correct.
Mary: But you are God.
God: Correct.
Mary: Inside of me?
God: Correct.
Mary: But...
God: But what?
Mary: I will.
God: That's my girl.
This begs the question - who began marginalizing women in ministry? And while I'm at it, I will ask another one, when does following God ever look like it makes sense?
Friday, December 11, 2015
Day 339 Christmas Series: Burkholder Brand
December 11, 2015
Day 339
For me, Christmas day has a particular feel. The streets are emptier, the sky is often gray beautiful and full of character, the radio station plays music that makes you feel as if you are in front of a big open fire, the shops are closed, there is mirth in the air, and everyone seems a little kinder. This is truly a day of pause.
We wake up and we just know the day is different for the night before is enchanted. We have created a christmas that is stamped: Burkholder. Even though I have bahumbug tendencies, I am grateful for the guidance I have received from the ONE. If I were alone I probably would not be decorating, the gift giving would be minimal to non existent, and I would not attend parties. But I have children and their very existence has given me reason to push past my slumpy status quo. They lead me to life. On. This. Planet.
Our morning never starts early. I am up by 6:30 am but, the children sleep in. I work in the kitchen, alone, loving the smells of the food and contemplating His human birth. These moments glisten with pretty, sparkly, tinsel. I enjoy setting the table with pretty things, lighting the candles and eating a leisurely breakfast of cinnamon rolls, quiches, fruit and bacon. I enjoy for there is much to enjoy.
We send the younger ones, though don't tell the older ones that they are included this year, on the yearly treasure hunt. They are given photo clues that finally lead them to their christmas money. I am a terrible shopper, I talk myself out of everything, and so I decided years ago to give the children money. They know what they want. But, we decided to turn it into a treasure hunt. The memories add to our christmas brand.
During Thanksgiving we exchange names and this begins the multitudinous discussions of gifts. Only recently did we learn of Kathryn's deception. She rigged the names in order to get her father every year. Lynn is the best gift-giver! She is no longer in charge. The honest one is at the helm - Nicole. (right??? Nicky Sue)
This day drips with memories we have crafted and created over almost thirty years. There is a definite brand and feel to our Burkholder time.
And we end the day with family in Fleetwood.
It is well with my bahhumbug soul. Children
and the ONE who came will do that.
Day 339
For me, Christmas day has a particular feel. The streets are emptier, the sky is often gray beautiful and full of character, the radio station plays music that makes you feel as if you are in front of a big open fire, the shops are closed, there is mirth in the air, and everyone seems a little kinder. This is truly a day of pause.
We wake up and we just know the day is different for the night before is enchanted. We have created a christmas that is stamped: Burkholder. Even though I have bahumbug tendencies, I am grateful for the guidance I have received from the ONE. If I were alone I probably would not be decorating, the gift giving would be minimal to non existent, and I would not attend parties. But I have children and their very existence has given me reason to push past my slumpy status quo. They lead me to life. On. This. Planet.
Our morning never starts early. I am up by 6:30 am but, the children sleep in. I work in the kitchen, alone, loving the smells of the food and contemplating His human birth. These moments glisten with pretty, sparkly, tinsel. I enjoy setting the table with pretty things, lighting the candles and eating a leisurely breakfast of cinnamon rolls, quiches, fruit and bacon. I enjoy for there is much to enjoy.
We send the younger ones, though don't tell the older ones that they are included this year, on the yearly treasure hunt. They are given photo clues that finally lead them to their christmas money. I am a terrible shopper, I talk myself out of everything, and so I decided years ago to give the children money. They know what they want. But, we decided to turn it into a treasure hunt. The memories add to our christmas brand.During Thanksgiving we exchange names and this begins the multitudinous discussions of gifts. Only recently did we learn of Kathryn's deception. She rigged the names in order to get her father every year. Lynn is the best gift-giver! She is no longer in charge. The honest one is at the helm - Nicole. (right??? Nicky Sue)
This day drips with memories we have crafted and created over almost thirty years. There is a definite brand and feel to our Burkholder time.
And we end the day with family in Fleetwood.
It is well with my bahhumbug soul. Children
and the ONE who came will do that.
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Day 338 The Day Was Full
December 10, 2015
Day 338
Good night. The day was extremely full and overflowing with more than I deserve! I love how God has made my life full and content. I so desire for my children to have the kind of life I have. Only You, God, can make my days like you do.
Day 338
Good night. The day was extremely full and overflowing with more than I deserve! I love how God has made my life full and content. I so desire for my children to have the kind of life I have. Only You, God, can make my days like you do.
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Day 336 Christmas Series: Nothing Special Evident
December 8, 2015
Day 336
In the nursery on the Maternity ward there is this tiny nondescript infant. There does not seem to be anything special about this little guy. He is crying, sighing, pooping, and peeing just like the other infants in their little plastic beds. He traded in his specialness for a time and there doesn't seem to be anything unique about him now. His parents are given dreams for direction. They are led. He is not communicating anything to them except for his bodily needs. This just feels like too much humanness is going on.
The fact that he is God is not evident though he created every single infant in the nursery and beyond. He created their mothers, their fathers, their grandfathers, grandmothers, the nurses, the doctors. He also provided all the knowledge to the entire ward, let alone universe. So, what happened? Why has he ended up in a little plastic bed? ( I know, I know, I'm taking liberties here - bear with me)
The vulnerability of Jesus rubs me the wrong way. And Jesus was in need for a very long time. This move leaks weak. Our worship of the Type A individual is not fueled by this "Away in a Manger" mush. It always makes us want to do, do, do, do, do to make up for his laying around, his moving only when his mother moved him, his inability to even utter words, his willingness to be human.
There are three men from the East following a star. They carry significant gifts. But there is no noticeable"God" distinction emanating from this little face once they find him under the galactic light. If his glory would have been evident the hordes would have accumulated in droves around him. I'm convinced these three men were confused by finding a typical little toddler. But confusion did not keep them from giving gifts and worshipping Him. This little person is just so normal, his God-ness is not seen. But that did not keep them from experiencing His Deity. Though their understanding was challenged by the reality, they worshipped still. Brilliance was bowing to a toddler.
Can you and I experience Jesus despite what we see? For His sake let's bow.
Day 336
In the nursery on the Maternity ward there is this tiny nondescript infant. There does not seem to be anything special about this little guy. He is crying, sighing, pooping, and peeing just like the other infants in their little plastic beds. He traded in his specialness for a time and there doesn't seem to be anything unique about him now. His parents are given dreams for direction. They are led. He is not communicating anything to them except for his bodily needs. This just feels like too much humanness is going on.The fact that he is God is not evident though he created every single infant in the nursery and beyond. He created their mothers, their fathers, their grandfathers, grandmothers, the nurses, the doctors. He also provided all the knowledge to the entire ward, let alone universe. So, what happened? Why has he ended up in a little plastic bed? ( I know, I know, I'm taking liberties here - bear with me)
The vulnerability of Jesus rubs me the wrong way. And Jesus was in need for a very long time. This move leaks weak. Our worship of the Type A individual is not fueled by this "Away in a Manger" mush. It always makes us want to do, do, do, do, do to make up for his laying around, his moving only when his mother moved him, his inability to even utter words, his willingness to be human.
Can you and I experience Jesus despite what we see? For His sake let's bow.
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