Days Gone By...

I was so excited about blogging. I thought that I would wind up my day with an entry more often than not. Once again I have failed my own expectations. Much has happened during the past few months since I have lasted posted, but I failed to sit down and record it. This post will consist of highlights from my ordinary life during the previous holiday season...

Thanksgiving was a nice event. I always enjoy that holiday. Giving thanks, in my opinion, is one of the tragically lost arts in our culture. We always seem to be demanding more and forgetting to be truly thankful and content with what we have... which, to be honest, is an awful lot. I was able to spent some really good time with our children retelling the original Thanksgiving Story. It hit me that these people, the Pilgrims and the Indians were not like us today. They did not sleep in elaborate homes with refridgerators stocked to the brim with food. They had to literally "work their fingers to the bone" just to survive.

The Pilgims were coming to a brand new land in order to worship the Lord according to the way they viewed proper worship in the Bible... they gave up all their original comforts in order to love the Lord their God with all of their hearts, souls, minds and strength. They came to this land sick, tired, scared, lonley and grieving for family members that were lost on the journey. They had to start from scratch... falling trees, making boards, building shelters, planting whatever seeds they had left, hunting foreign game, and worrying about the threat of those who inhabitated the land before them. Giving thanks under those circumstances was truly an act of the will... focusing on the things in their lives that were good, honorable, and praisworthy (Phil. 1:8). They chose to be thankful.

The Indians on the other hand, though I do not agree with their religious views, were none the less to be admired for their ability to give thanks. They were content in their hard lifestyle for they never new anything different. But as of recent months their homes were being disrupted by nosy foriegners who came waving guns and often shouting orders. The white man moved onto this land like it was theirs for the taking. The Indians had a lot of things that they could have complained about... but they chose to trust those who were moving in and share their commodities and knowledge inorder to help them get their "new start". Again, a chosen state of thanksgiving.

Lord, that I may be able to give you pure thanks...

Christmas was really nice. We were able to visit with almost all of our family on both sides. In a matter of 18 days we traveled to Chicago, Milwaukee, Moline, IL, Nebraska, and Northern IN. Yes, we were a bit road weary, but we had a nice time seeing all the people that we love so much.

Not many musing during this time that are worth reciting, but I must say that I always leave Christmas a little bit convicted. I feel like no matter how hard I try and can't seem to get enough Jesus in Christmas... does that sound silly. I desire to saturate myself with the FACT that God Almighty sent His Son into the world, Emmanuel, God with us! The fullness of the godhead bodily was given to us... what a monumental event. I can't even describe to you what I wish my heart could hold... I only know that when Christmas time is over I always feel like I missed something! Maybe that is one of the drawbacks of being clothed in flesh... I wonder what it will be like to celebrate the incarnation in glory. I am pretty sure that will be a theme for all eternity! Oh, that my heart could fathom some of that now...

New Years was kind of a "none-event" in the Ziegler home. We finished up our travels on New Years Eve and found ourselves with out plans for the first day of 2008. I went grocery shopping... actually that was kind of nice. Nobody else was doing what I was... I was kid-less and the aisles were free of all other human "clutter" (I am not saying that I think humanity is a bad thing... but sometimes it does hinder smooth shopping:)). I took my time and didn't forget anything on my list... amazing! Other than than, no big hooplah.

As I lookforward to what the Lord has planned for us in 2008 I can't help but remember these verses from Psalm 139...

"Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast." vs. 8-10

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in you book before on of hem came to be." vs. 13-16

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting." vs. 23-24

May we know the rich love of God this year. May we love Him with all our beings. Be He be pleased with our lifes as we live them according to his purposes.

Happy New Year to you!