Everyone wants a piece

Just a few minutes ago I opened my email to a whole list of promotions all begging me to use up the last of my money on their products, promising that they had that perfect item that would complete my list of Christmas gifts.

They all want a piece of me this Christmas. In our materialistic, consumer-based society, it seems like everyone wants a piece! The stores want our money, our jobs want as much work as they can get - giving the least amount of holiday time possible, our friends and family want our time, the charities want our donations and volunteer hours, the special shows and concerts want our attendance, and the cameras want our smiles. 

Sometimes it feels like we aren't just doing the consuming, we ourselves are, in fact, being consumed by this holiday season. Piece by piece by piece. 

And yet, it's "the most wonderful time of the year"! The time of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. Funny that, our greatest desires during this season are usually never realized. Our hopes for a peaceful, joyful celebration surrounded by those we love, celebrating the greatest gift of all, usually go unmet. We have spent so much time consuming and being consumed, that when it all comes down to it, we have nothing left. 

Everyone around us wants a piece, but really... what we all want more is peace. Something we can't get from each other or even ourselves. We ache for that great hope of Christ's return and we pray that we will be filled with joy and love from above. 

At least I hope we do. I hope we stop and let go a little bit this season. Don't be consumed by the holiday, but rather, be filled.

For "every good thing and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation of shifting shadow" (James 1:17). 

Thursday Smiles (No. 5): Frosting

Well, it's that day again. The day of love and chocolate and hearts and cupid. You can't escape it even if you want to. It's all around us:

"St. Valentine's Day"
"Single's Awareness Day"
"I Love You Day" (as one of my good friends calls it)

or even if it's simply February 14th, you can't escape the reminders of romance everywhere you go.

I wrote about this day two years ago in my post "Happy February 14th"and I still agree with my sentiments from back then. I think it's a fine holiday to celebrate and it's fine if you don't feel inclined to do anything special. I think what's important is to be careful about the two extremes of obsessing over your Valentine...or lack of and also be careful not to hate on the holiday and mock others who like it. You don't need to send out cards and frosted cookies but you also don't have to be overtly negative. It IS a day to celebrate love, so why don't we show a little?

My best girl

Saying goodbye once again. This time to a beloved friend and four-legged member of our family. We were blessed with twelve years of furry companionship with our dear Java, and yesterday we had to say goodbye.

I hardly remember life without Java. I was only eight when Jordan brought her home, an adorable bundle of big eyes and soft paws. Ever since, her expressive sweet face has drawn friends and strangers alike to adore our beautiful girl. She was Jordan's best bud out there on the farm and running all over the mountain. She was always ready and eager for a swim in the lake, a dirt bike chase or a cuddle by the campfire. She became my best girl as we spent early mornings walking, watching the sunrise, and afternoons delivering papers together. She kept us warm in tent on camping trips, cleared the beach of rocks for us, ate up all our leftover lettuce heads, and cuddled with our kittens. Ever loyal, ever true. There is hardly one childhood memory that doesn't include her smiling face. How thankful I am for the years we had with her.

Of course she had her animal moments: tearing off after an illusive rabbit or barking throughout the night, keeping everyone up. She couldn't stand wind or thunderstorms or fireworks, poor delicate pup. Then there was the ever frustrating disappearances when she decided to wander off only to return in her own good time. But she always did return, every time. Her big brown eyes staring up adoringly even as her tail drooped in apology. It's hard knowing she won't be coming back this time.

She was our perfect dog. Loved by all the whole family and she loved us in her doggy way. Even Mom and her had an understanding I think. They loved each other in their own way, respected each other and protected each other. No other pet has really fit out family like Java and I'm sure none will.

As we continue to find little pieces of her throughout the house and yard, the constant reminder of her missing presence is surreal. The shock of saying goodbye so fast isn't easy but the years of memories are a balm to our hearts. She was truly a gift, a blessing, and a special friend.

We'll miss you Javapup.

Once upon a time...

I had a little sister who was just the cutest little person in the world. She was my best buddy and we made quite the pair. Back then I was two years taller than her, two years faster and two years smarter. But most of the time I felt that there was nothing separating us. She was my playmate, my confidant and my partner in crime. She was a goofy, squealing little child, ticklish too a fault and with a smile as wide as the horizon and bright as the sunrise. Her long blonde hair was unkept, her front teeth missing and her knees skinned but she was, even then, unbelievably beautiful.

This little scruffy sister of mine has grown up. She's still my best buddy in the world and together, we are a force to be reckoned with. Now I'm the shorter one and her long legs outrace mine but I'm pretty sure I've still got some smarts on her... There is nothing that comes between us and I trust her with my life. She's still a goof and I love to tickle her until she is in fits, if only to see that dazzling smile again and again. A couple weeks ago, I saw that unkept, skinned-knee little girl transformed into a stunning image of grace and astounding beauty. Could I ask for a more gorgeous subject for these photos???

Oh generation...

Jeremiah. A book of calamity, disaster, great sorrow and distress. A book of judgement. A rebellious, wicked nation that "had it all" and a just, perfect God that, though spurned again and again, still yearns for His people. What would it be like to be Jeremiah, a prophet of God, commanded to speak His truth to a perverse, unyielding generation? To put aside fear and believe God's word: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you..." (Jer. 1: 5). Would I have the courage to trust God's promise: "Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you...behold, I have put My words in your mouth...and they will fight against you but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to deliver you..." (Jer. 1:8-9, 19).

But it was more than just the command to preach and speak for God. The words Jeremiah was commanded to say, were hard words. How did it feel to tell others of their impending doom? To give a message of despair and judgement to your own people? For there is very little hope in Jeremiah's words. There wasn't much hope left for Judah at this time, a treacherous, evil nation full of people who were "walking according to the stubbornness of [their] own evil heart[s]" (Jer. 16:12).

As I read through Jeremiah, feeling his despair and gloom, I am struck by how much this nation reminds me of my own generation, of the people who live in our world today.

"They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water" - Jer. 2:13

We have indeed turned to our own ways. We have relied on our own strength, built our own "cisterns" so to speak: profitable careers, life insurance, social status. Material things which can profit us nothing. They offer only a superficial safety while we turn our backs on the One who can truly save us. And we don't even see it. This generation is blind to the truth of their situation. Everyone feels assured in their own strength.

"Yet you said, 'I am innocent; surely His anger is turned away from me.'" (Jer. 2:35)

People don't see their sin. They don't believe in a just God who must mete out judgement. They believe only in a loving God of forgiveness, if they believe in one at all. And God is loving, more than that, God is love! But I think we do not truly understand love, and for sure, we don't comprehend true justice and even more, we cannot fathom how justice and love and mercy can all coexist in perfection in God. And so we try to clean ourselves up as best we can and hope it is good enough.

"'Although you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain of your iniquity is before me,' declares the Lord God" (Jer. 2:22)

But it's not. Yet there is still hope. For God, in His justice, is also merciful and welcomes us to return. If Israel was given this hope, surely we have it too. In Christ, we can be made new and nothing is too big for Him to forgive.

 "Return, faithless Israel...I will not look upon you in anger. For I am gracious...I will not be angry forever...Return, O faithless sons, I will heal your faithlessness..." (Jer. 3:12, 22)

God can heal it. And just as Israel was surely judged, so was she brought back. God did restore His people and He can restore us as well.

"Oh generation, heed the Word of the Lord..." (Jer. 2:31)

if only...

Kaitlyn and I were talking today, about giraffes (I don't actually remember what got us onto this topic) and as some of you may know, and if you don't this is an essential tidbit of information about me that you SHOULD know (so PAY ATTENTION!!), I have had a dream since about grade 6...er... 6th grade for all you American readers, to ride a giraffe. Yep, that's right. I mean, riding any sort of exotic African animal would be cool but giraffe is definitely at the top of my list. So we were wondering if people do this, and if not, why? are giraffes endangered? violent? and then we got onto the topic of baby giraffes being born and dropping like 5 feet to the ground and maybe they didn't often survive this, making them endangered...so I had to do some googling.

I found out that people don't ride giraffes...I mean, there were some pics but I am pretty sure they are photoshopped...and they aren't endangered - well some subspecies are but as a whole, I guess the giraffe population is doing okay. The mothers will violently kick predators to protect their young but even when the males 'fight' each other, usually no one gets hurt. Oh and I didn't read anything that indicated that the babies are hurt in any way, actually they can stand within half and hour and run within 10 hours!

cutest little mommy-baby EVER

Other interesting facts:
- they walk moving both right legs and then both left
- drinking water is dangerous because of the position they have to put themselves in - easy to attack. Fortunately they can survive several days without drinking due to the moisture from their food
- way back when people thought they were a cross between a camel and a leopard...however that works
- their "horns" are really there to protect their heads not to fight
- babies can grow an inch a day!
- people poach giraffes for their hides, meat and tails - that's right, tails. In many African cultures they are used as good luck charms, fly-swatters and thread...
- no two giraffes have the same pattern of spots

So basically, giraffes are AWESOME and I love them and I still really want to ride one though I don't think it is going to happen. God is seriously so amazing! I mean, just looking at the world around us is inspiring enough but when you do even a little research into something, the details and magnificent intricacies of the earth and universe are astounding. I am constantly becoming more and more in awe of our amazing God.

partially albino giraffe!!

Happy February 14th!!

So basically I have the best family EVER! I love my box of Valentine's treats and had to show you all what my talented sisters and Mom created for me!

Reflecting upon Valentine's Day I have discerned that there are really three main responses to this day celebrating love and relationships. One: joy, anticipation and excitement to share love, flowers, and chocolate. Two: Despair or pessimism or anxiety over the lack of love in your life or about love in general. And three: ignoring or mocking the holiday. I'm sure there are other responses but I have noticed these three most often in people through the years.

Though I have never really loved Valentine's Day, I appreciate the occasion which so many people use to actually tell people that they love them. But Jesus commands us to love one another - not just on Valentine's Day, birthdays, Christmas and anniversaries but always. Most people would recognize the passage in 1 Corinthians 13 as one of the most beautiful definitions of what love truly is. As many people have said before, love is not a feeling but an action! As Paul writes in Colossians, love binds all the rest of the characteristics of godly living together,


"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." - Colossians 3:12-14

We are called to more than just the feeling of affection towards other but to actions - service, selflessness, forgiveness, humility. This is what it means to love; this is how to show love, this is how to understand love. Jesus commands us to love each other as He loved us - which was to the death. His love was an action of sacrifice for all mankind. He gave His life away! How can we not show love for those around us as well!

For those of you who love Valentine's Day and all the lovey stuff and chocolate, thank you for sharing love with others, at least on this day - please don't put a time limit on it. For those of you who get anxious or pessimistic, see this as an opportunity to serve - everyday. For those of you who mock or ignore it, shame on you - love is a command, try it - a whole day devoted to it is an great opportunity.

And moreover, I encourage you all to do something special for someone tomorrow, and the next...and the next - out of love - when it's NOT Valentine's Day.