Is It Over Already? Beating the After Christmas Blues*

*Below is something I wrote a few years back, but is still in my heart.  I hope you are encouraged by it.

I admit it.  I’m struggling.  I hate the end of Christmas.  No more Christmas music in every store you enter.  No more cookie baking.  No more gift buying.  Undecorated Christmas trees are showing up at the end of driveways.  Gatherings with friends and family become fewer and far between.  People we meet maybe aren’t as friendly as they were.  It can really cause a person to dip down in the dumps. 

Every year I seem to fight these blues.  I love December sooo much.  I love every part of it.  Sparkling white lights everywhere you look.  Women in red glitter.  People who wouldn’t normally say 'hi' offering 'Merry Christmas'!   Christmas books and devotionals pointing us to Luke 2 and Jesus’ manger.  The shopping, baking, wrapping, partying, etc.  It’s all so stimulating and satisfying.  Except the end.  A few years ago, because he is such a good husband, Scott told me I don't have to let it end.  He doesn’t mind how long I need to keep the Christmas tree up.  He encourages me to keep watching the movies, keep listening to the carols.  And I take him up on that every January.

Still, the feelings of emptiness and sadness creep in.  What’s missing all of a sudden?  I told a friend the other day that I think I might know why.  (At least one reason).  Do you suppose it's because for the month of December (and sometimes before) we are consumed with thoughts of others?  We make lists of who we need to buy or make a gift for.  We clip coupons, look for sales, walk up and down the mall aisles, search the internet for just the right gift.  We pore over recipes and bake treats to give away.  We want to present those we love with something that will demonstrate to them how much they mean to us.  Think about it – we always have someone else on our mind.  We are generous with our time, talent, money and more.  And we feel great about it.  (The Bible backs this up in Prov. 11:25 – He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.)

Then the holidays are over and we might be tempted to go back to the same old/same old.  Back to thinking about ourselves, being preoccupied with our own lives, what we want to do, how we’ll spend our time, etc.  This has proved to be far less satisfying.  We go to work, pay the bills, clean the house.  Nothing exciting.  There doesn’t seem to be anything on the calendar to look forward to.  Setting New Year’s goals for self-improvement and such usually help get me back on track.  But this year, I'm challenging myself (and you!) to keep “the most wonderful time of the year” alive until next winter.  How?  Here are a few suggestions from "Christmas Stories from the Heart” by Alice Gray.*

Mend a quarrel.

Seek out a forgotten friend.

Dismiss suspicion.

Write a long overdue love note.

Hug someone tightly and whisper, “I love you so.”

Forgive an enemy.

Be gentle and patient with an angry person.

Express appreciation.

Gladden the heart of a child.

Find the time to keep a promise.

Make or bake something for someone else – anonymously.

Release a grudge.

Listen.

Speak kindly to a stranger.

Enter into another’s sorrow.

Smile.  Laugh a little.  Laugh a little more.

Take a walk with a friend.

Kneel down and pat a dog.

Read a poem or two to your mate or friend.

Lessen your demands on others.

Play some beautiful music during the evening meal.

Apologize if you were wrong.

Turn off the television and talk.

Treat someone to a yummy dessert.

Do the dishes for the family.

Pray for someone who helped you when you hurt.

Fix breakfast on Saturday morning.

Give a soft answer even though you feel strongly.

Encourage an older person.

Point out one thing you appreciate most about someone you work with or live near.

Offer to baby-sit for a weary mother.

Let’s make Christmas one long, extended gift of ourselves to others.  Unselfishly.  Without announcement or obligation or reservation or hypocrisy.  *(adapted from Chuck Swindoll’s Daily Gifts)

That’s what being like Jesus is all about, isn’t it?  And hopefully one of your New Year’s goals or intents is to become more like the One who came in that manger to die on that cross to save us from our sins. 

Let’s continue being generous to all those we come into contact with.  2 Cor. 9 promises that when we are, others thank God.  I want to live a life that causes others to thank God, don’t you?

I think it’s going to be a great year.  The above list gives me lots of ideas.

Our Christmas in Pictures

We started out with some tree trimming the day after Thanksgiving

My favorite early morning spot

The tree is wonderful to look at, but our decorating that is most meaningful comes in the form of our nativity collection.  This one came from friends who bought it in Kenya while on a missions trip.

This was my grandfater's nativity...many more pieces not pictured here - he made the stable too

Not many years later we got to go on our own mission trip to Kenya and purchased this one!

December was not without it's mishaps, like a maimed toe.  For the record, if you rip the big toenail clean off, you will experience pain and swelling EVERYDAY for about 3 weeks especially at night.  Who knew?

We did some entertaining....table all set

sometimes you just need to wear something sparkly

We received carolers who sung and brought cookies

We made some of our own cookies

This was a tiring day, but oh so worth it

And when we ran out, we replenished the stash - only of these, everyone's favorite

One of my favorite things to do is give homemade gifts.....I started "brewing" these babies back in June.

Love looking at them all wrapped

Nothing like the top half of the lights going out on Christmas morning

This was a wishful thinking gift...bought before I knew whether or not we would receive what we would need to brew them.  You've gotta have faith!

Some of the gifts were picked out and tried on in advance, but somehow not quite right...

Ahhh yes, that's better.  Hey, even Moms forget who's is who's.

But could it happen twice.....?

YUP.  Don't for a minute think that went un-teased.

But sometimes I nailed it!

Nothing like a shiny pair of red boots!

But are they for wearing....or for decorating?  BOTH!

The after shot!  Abundance.

Speaking of abundance....there is no end to the candy and goodies that keep appearing in our kitchen!

This is one of my favorite spots....hot drink anyone?

Some sweet, thoughtful, fun gifts I received

And a few of my favorite people all ready for church

What's the problem?

So thankful that God let me be this man's wife and the mother of these 3 kids

Christmas Love

It is our hope that you, too had a beautiful Christmas with your family and friends.  There is so much more I could mention that made our season special, but I didn't document them all in pictures.  If you didn't tune in earlier in the month to read about our Christmas miracle you can here and here. (it's so good it's in 2 parts!) And actually, Christmas for us, like many of you probably, is not over yet - still a few more family gatherings to attend.

Of course, the main thing about Christmas is always the same main thing.  Jesus came to earth to save us from our sins.  This is so important to celebrate.  But more importantly, to live all through the year.  Every year.  Until we see Him face to face.  Oh, Lord I hope it's this coming year!!

We pray that all those who know His Name will have strength to run the race all the way to the end.  And to do so with JOY, peace and victory.  

Much love - thanks for sharing a few fun moments with my family.

Christmas...A Time to Treasure

Have you ever seen the movie “The Nativity Story"?  I remember the first time I saw it.  We went to the theatre to see it.  I asked God to make the story a permanent mark on my heart and my kids’ hearts forever.  Did He ever!

If you haven't seen it (yet), I won't spoil it with too much detail as long as you promise to find yourself a copy before Christmas (you can borrow ours).  I could write ten pages here of my observations, but will try to stick to the most powerful.   

During the intense birth scene, I found my emotions rising.  Thoughts flooded my mind like “He came for me because He loves me.” “This was all for my sin.”  “If Jesus hadn’t been born, there would have been no hope for me.”  “What would my life look like had He not been born?”

I heard the lyrics to a favorite Christmas song loudly in my ears:

“How could heaven’s heart not break on the day, the day that you came?

Salvation’s reason to celebrate on the day, the day that you came.”

That chorus always chokes me up.

What was it like for the heavenly beings who adored Jesus and loved His company to let Him go?  Imagine heaven without Jesus there. He left for me.  And for you.

Soon the wisemen showed up.  (For my husband’s sake I must tell you the wisemen did not show up at the manger in the Biblical account , but later when Jesus was a bit older.  It was just for the movie’s purposes.)  As they reverently and humbly presented their gifts before Joseph, Mary and Jesus I watched Mary’s face and remembered Luke 2:19 and 51 “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”  She treasured every observation and prophecy spoken over them.  The wise men brought their “treasure” and placed it before them.  The treasure was packaged in fancy, adorned packages.

I wondered what treasure I would bring Him? The dictionary defines treasure as:  a thing of great value or worth, something collected in great quantity.  Matt. 6:21 says “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  What is my treasure?  Is it God?  Family?  Friends?  Service?  Stuff?  Accomplishments?    What am I teaching my children to treasure as they navigate through the self-absorbed culture they live in?

More importantly, what does God treasure?  Ex. 19:5, Dt. 7:6 and 26:18 say His people are His treasured possession.  Over and over again in Scripture we see how important we are to God.  Not to be missed in each of those verses too is the attachment of “those who keep His commands and obey Him fully”.  Aha!   

Obedience is also what God treasures.  It is impossible to keep His commands or obey Him fully unless we know what they are and what He requires of us.  The only way to do that is to know His Word.  Another treasure!  According to Col. 2:3 “…the mystery of God, namely Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”  Don’t forget John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.’  Jesus is the Word. 

Let’s go back to Matt. 6:19, 20  “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… but store up for yourselves treasure in heaven.”  It sure is easy to get caught up in acquiring treasures on earth during Christmas, isn’t it? 

So in order to find treasure that matters to God, we must go to His Word.  We must look at all of life through the filter of His Word, the absolute Truth, knowing that we have it simply because God loved us enough to send Jesus to us.  

 In 23:12, Job says “I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.”  Oh I hope you treasure God’s Word with that hunger. 

If you are new to this concept or have let your Bible reading get far away from you, decide to make a change.  All you have to do is ask God for help.  Daniel claims in 2:22 “He reveals deep and hidden things.”  That’s what a treasure is, you know.  A deep and hidden thing worth discovering.  Not necessarily visible from the surface, yet not unable to attain, but worth the digging.  So dig in today and find the treasures God wants to reveal to you.  And ask Him to fill your heart and focus with the treasure of heaven - Jesus.  Keep your eyes open – He’s everywhere!

My prayer for me, my family and for you my friends this Christmas is that we would treasure up God’s Word in our hearts and present it back to God in the form of our obedience to Him.  Surely then God will fill our treasure chests with more and more of what really matters – Him!

The same December we saw The Nativity Story, I bought something that looks like a treasure chest.  It’s made of sticks and formed in a cool shape.  It reminded me of one Mary may  have received even though it wasn't fancy.  In the movie, the wise men brought their gifts in very ornate vessels.  After seeing the ornate vessels from the movie and knowing that God is more interested in the lowly and humble, this plain chest reminds me of the treasure God revealed to me that Christmas and every one since.  Maybe I should fill it with reminders from Christmas’s past and those yet to come.   

Yes, like the wisemen I think we should give God our very best, but I also think He’s interested in us coming just as we are.  Right now, no matter what you look like inside or out.  Come to Him because He came for you.

What Smells So Good? Advent Thought for Today

Last night I spent the evening looking up my favorite recipes for December.  The traditional ones that everyone expects, my personal favorites and all the new ones I've found on Pinterest through the year.  Then I made a shopping list of ingredients.  Once I choke down how much it all costs at the grocery store, I'll be good to go.  I love the foods of Christmas.  All the wonderful smells and tastes.  Having containers full of cookies and a fridge busting with cheese, crackers and summer sausage - not to mention hot dip ingredients to whip up with little notice is very satisfying to me.  Want to drop by sometime?  After today I will be ready for you!  Hopefully the house will smell of mint, cinnamon and sugar cookies.

Did you know that smells are part of the Christmas story and Jesus' earthly life too?   Two of the gifts the Magi brought were to invoke emotional significance. Jesus' friend Mary poured out expensive fragrance to prepare Jesus for burial.  This was a gift to Jesus from Mary that spoke of her great love for Him.

Every year I read the following words from Thomas Kinkade and every year I'm challenged to smell good. He says it better than I could:

"Surely this was part of what the apostle Paul had in mind when he wrote that we, Jesus' followers, are supposed to be the fragrance of Christ in the world.  We are to live in such a way that the lovely aroma of His love floats through the air around us, attracting others by its evocative power.

Now that's an interesting thought for this Christmas season!  Can you imagine your life being as irresistible to others as the smell of bread baking...of Christmas trees...of candles and all those other Christmas smellls?  Can you imagine the fragrance of your life writing a signature of God's love in your own home, in your workplace, in your world?

It's something worth thinking about as you go about your pre-Christmas busyness.  This Advent season, in the midst of all your preparations, don't forget to breathe deeply.  Sniff for the scent of frankincense and myrrh so you can recognize the signature of God's love in your life.

And then think how you could live today so that God's signature fragrance of divine eternal love wafts gently and irresistibly toward everyone you meet."

Our attitudes can really reek.  Especially what comes out of our mouths.  Complaining and bitterness and stressing out can give off a stinky smell.  But joy, excitement, hope and forgiveness can be intoxicating.  It's our choice.  Let's choose the aroma of Christ.  Two weeks into Advent, hope you are enjoying every day.  Spread the joy and smell to everyone you meet.

To quote two of my family's favorite Christmas movies....do you smell like "beef and cheese" (Elf) or like a "cookie" (Santa Clause 3)?  haha!

Quote from Christ, Light of the World

What a Difference a Year Makes Part 1

Some of you may remember that exactly one year ago, Scott and I were packing up our home and life in Syracuse (where I grew up and we lived together for 17 years) to move to Johnson City (Endwell) and begin a new ministry.  As expected, many changes awaited us.  The kids made a terrific transition not just to a new school but to public school from a small Christian one. They also left their beloved youth group but quickly fit right in to the new church.  I credit all the prayers spoken on their behalf from both church families. We thank God for the youth staff for taking an interest and intentionally loving Ben and Ally...and Drew when he was here. We don't take this lightly.  They are gifts!

However, much to our surprise, during the summer it became painfully clear that our time here would be much shorter than we expected.  We have no satisfying explanation for this and quite frankly, have decided that a person surrendered to God's will shouldn't require one.  God has every right to do what He wants with us, when He wants and where He wants.  There is a calming effect to this heart-attitude.  God is in the driver's seat, not us.  I like how Warren Wiersbe puts it:

"People of faith don't expect trusting God to make life uncomplicated or convenient.  God has unusual ways of shaping our lives and getting us to where He wants us to be.  He doesn't tell us ahead of time what He's doing.  He wants us to rest in His hands, enjoy the adventure, and be surprised by what He accomplishes."*

We continually prayed and sought godly counsel.  Difficult decisions had to be made.  We knew then and remain confident even now that God led us here and would lead us to another ministry when the time was right, His time.

If you have known me for more than a year, you know that every Christmas I ask God to show up in a new and delightful way. Then I spend all of December looking under every festively lit tree branch for Him.  And He always does. Always. These are gifts, I suppose. (Did I mention that gift-giving is my love language?  Going both ways - giving and receiving.) God is the greatest gift giver (see James 1).  No wonder I love Him so!

Some years God shows up through a sacred concert or production that causes my heart to worship. Other times I've found Him through an Advent devotional - looking at familiar Christmas Scripture passages with fresh eyes. A favorite was the year The Polar Express came out and we went to see it on Christmas Eve.  God is in that movie...in a BIG way!  In case you think that movie is about Santa...you missed it...I saw Jesus and God the Father and the gift of salvation to everyone who believes all throughout the film on the screen that day.  Tender moments between me and the One who came as a baby for this messed up teenager. I cried in the theater and get choked up now every time I watch it. I believe! (don't get me started!)

One Christmas, God gave me my late grandfather's beloved Nativity set in a very unexpected way and I cried because there was no way other than through His intervention that I should have received it.  Still another December soon after my father's unexpected death, He showed up in relational tension and conflict where solution (and His presence) came through my radically changed attitude.  Obedience is a gift, you know.

Last December, He was found in a sweet, meaningful, emotional farewell from our most special congregation, family really, that we were leaving behind.  He was also in all the excitement and quick, warm acceptance of a new church family who we found so easy to love. This year, He would come as a gift of provision and answered prayers before certain deadlines.

Back at our point of decision, we treaded carefully, weighing consequences.  It was a confusing, painful time for our family. We prayed and asked God for something new if He wished, something different from what we were used to doing.  I even threw in this prayer, "God, will you Eph. 3:20, 21 us?"  (Didn't know that was a verb, did you?)  The verses read, "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.  Amen."

"God, would You do more, far more abundantly than all we ask or think (beyond our imagination) in our lives that would bring glory to You down to the next generation of Burtis's and beyond?"  We were too weak and wounded to dream up anything ourselves and we definitely didn't want to manufacture something through our own wits and understanding due to panic or worry (faithlessness).  In other words, "Would You show up for us, God?"

Just a day or so ago, I wrote this on facebook:

The angel said to Mary, "For nothing is impossible with God." Luke 1:37 Been hanging on to that for a few months. I know God can do anything, but wasn't sure when He would. My conversation with God went something like this one in Mark 9. The sick boy's father (me:) "If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." Jesus: "If you can? Everything is possible for him who believes." Me: "I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief!"

Many verses have become special to us as we have walked through a time of waiting and wondering.  We are very aware of the parallels between our waiting and the Advent season.  The waiting for God to appear.  How stunning to think that when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, His people had been waiting for His arrival in silence, no word from God, for 4oo years.  That's a long time. Waiting is hard. We prayed that we would do it well without doubt or discouragement, giving God time to show up.

I'm overjoyed to announce that our time of waiting came to an end this last weekend.  Scott and I (mostly Scott) will soon be ministering with the Feng family in Syracuse both at their business and Crossroads Ministry.  We will be doing all sorts of fun and different ministry. This is all God - three weeks before the deadline. During Christmas season. It's so like God to show up here and now like this.  My love for Him is inflated again!  Our hearts have grown more than 2 sizes!!

For the sake of your time, I won't go into how it all happened.  (If you want the whole story, invite me out for coffee - or come on over here - we'll sit and chat by my tree.) Just let me tell you this, when we heard the words, "We do not take this lightly. We believe God may be in this.", Scott and I looked at eacher other in wide-eyed wonder, not unlike children on Christmas morning, but of who God is and how He knows us, cares for us, and is truly doing what He always had planned to begin with. 

On my lowest days when the enemy tempted me to doubt and worry and second guess, I repeated, sometimes aloud, "I trust You God.  I know that You are preparing something for us and preparing us for something.  I know this is not impossible for You."  The rub was the "when". 

Romans 8:28 is a life-giving verse:  "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good."  He is always working.  He is rearranging all the "furniture" to fulfill His purpose for those of us who love Him.  Even when we are in the dark He never is - the darkness is light to Him because He is the light! (Ps. 139:12)

I write this post to both let you know what God is doing in our lives and also to thank you. It is likely that if you've read to this point you have been one who has prayed for us at some point these last months. Some of you told us and some of you didn't but we know we were sustained by prayer. Some of you went further to give us gifts of provision and of your time in friendship.  How do we thank you for that?  Scott and I praise God for you.  

Please know the power of encouragement and the strength we received that accompanied your gifts.  At times we could not have been lower, but you lifted us up in many different ways.  We want you to know that God has answered your prayers.  That He has shown up and shown up in a mighty way.  As the angel said to Mary, "For nothing is impossible with God." Lk 1:37.  And to express my heart further, I quote Luke 1:45 "And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her (all promises from Scripture) from the Lord."  Blessed. Full of wonder and praise.  Excited about our new assignment to serve Him.

Put your hope in Him today, this Christmas.  You won't be left wanting, I promise. All those verses I typed out are for you too!  He'll show up, I have no doubts - just keep looking!

*C is for Christmas by Warren Wiersbe

What a Difference a Year Makes...Part 2...The Frosting

As one of my favorite author/speaker often says, "God is better than He has to be."  Can you testify to that in your life?  I sure can.

Hopefully if you're reading this post, you've already read part 1.  You know that my Hero has made Himself known, given me my Christmas gift early this year. But the story isn't over!!  If you haven't read it, click here immediately and catch up.

Ok, are we all together?  I'm continuing this post because I just have to brag on God some more.  But first, can I tell you that I love chocolate cake?  Chocolate cake w/white frosting. mmmm mmmm.  To be precise, my favorite is Wegmans chocolate cake with white frosting. Ok, to be honest, it's just the frosting I really desire. Who needs the cake?  In fact, when Scott and I share a piece (rare - only happens in public to be polite), I eat the top half.  I could eat that stuff by the tub. Did you know you can buy it without the cake?  I didn't either until one of my young girlfriends who knows me pretty well gave me a container of it for my birthday one year.  And yes, I ate the whole thing.  Not in one day.  Gotta savor it.

Our experiences the past few days have been like that frosting on a piece of rich chocolate cake.

Not only do we have our new ministry assignment, which in it's timing is HUGE enough, but check this out:

• These last few days, when we may have been given to doubting our own worth or value, we have received countless gifts of love, affirmation and provision that remind us who we are and how God has used us.  This cannot be taken away but Satan sure wants to convince us otherwise - or should I say confuse us otherwise?  God is in charge of it.  Period.

• We knew moving would again be in our future, but did not pursue or imagine we would be moving back to Syracuse. This likely won't happen until after Ben graduates in June, but in my mind, this is so good because moving back to a familiar place will minimize the trauma on our kids of yet another move. Alas, it also means we are going back to our land....where the snow piles up feet at a time. Oh glory!  And back to our people....our longtime friends and family who we love.

•  We will be attending and serving at North Syracuse Baptist Church, our kids' beloved home church. We've been assured that we are welcome...and expected.

•  Ally will be back as a part of the CORE youth group.  And when the boys come back from college, they will be greeted by those who have watched them grow up and know that they are "kind of a big deal" (at least to us).

•  Are you ready for this one?  The Feng Family (our new bosses/partners in ministry) raise chickens on a lakeside property.  CHICKENS!  Seriously?  If that isn't God's wink and smile to me, what else could be?  I love His humor.  He gets me.  Not too sure how that theology fits into Scott's un-desire for chickens, but I'm not going to explore that today.  We won't actually be raising the chickens....yet, anyway.

•  And the real icing, the over the top blessing, that big blob of sweet frosting, the flower from a sugary birthday cake, came when Jake and Liz Sorber invited our kids to accompany the group on CORE's upcoming mission trip to Dominican Republic in March.  We had sadly counted that opportunity and perhaps future mission trips as a loss and grieved it, but God is writing the story of our lives.  He did not close the door and has given our kids the most amazing Christmas gift this year - the desire of their hearts to serve in missions with childhood friends.  Remember this passage from Luke 5:4-8?

"When He (Jesus) finished speaking, He said to Simon, 'Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.'  Simon answered, 'Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything.  But because you say so, I will lay down the nets.'  When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.  So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.  When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, 'Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!'"

This was exactly my response in that moment.  "Go away from me, Lord; for I am a sinful woman!" We don't deserve how good God is.  Imagine two parents sobbing at the goodness of a God who is blessing their little family so much more than He has to.  It happened.  It does again as I'm trying to write through the mist.  I feel like He's just showing off now....and I love it!  If this isn't Eph. 3:20,21 (see part 1) I don't know what is!

Jesus' job description is prophesied in Isaiah 61

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord God is upon Me,
because the Lord has anointed Me
to bring good news to the poor;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn...
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit....
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.
They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations."

Jesus read these words from the scroll in the temple in the Gospel of John.  As I read these words today, I worship....He came to do all that for this family when we were broken and brokenhearted and most needy.  He is rebuilding the ruins.  He came to do it for you and yours as well.   O Come Let Us Adore Him, Christ the Lord.  Are you broken and needy this Christmas?  Do not fear....the Lord is with you.