Writing – Page 10

[Five Minute Friday] Send

You never know what shape and sizes happiness comes in.
Sometimes it can be just a small, square piece of paper.
Filled with words of encouragement.
As much as I like email and the speed we can communicate across continents these days — there’s nothing like opening your mailbox and finding handwritten letters from friends.

There’s something about putting pen to paper.
A process of reflection takes place as I try to find the words to convey my feelings.
It takes courage to share your heart.
It takes boldness to send out a piece of yourself to someone else.

But it is such a blessing.
Someone else gets a glimpse into your heart and life.
You enter a new level of friendship, you’re not strangers anymore.
Someone else reads your words of encouragement in times when they need it the most.

But the biggest blessing returns to you as you imagine their faces light up upon your letter.
Their hearts lifted because of your words.
Their faith renewed because of the faith you have for them.
And maybe they’ll be bold enough to reply and share a bit of themselves with you.

Let’s be bold.
Let’s not hide ourselves – our discouragement, struggles, and joys – from the world.
Let’s send out a bit of ourselves to others.
Let’s speak words of encouragement where it is most needed.
Let’s send out happiness in an envelope.

Well, this is the theory.
But I decided to do this in a very practical way and will join round five of #fmfpartysnailmail by Kaitlyn Bouchillon.
You send out five cards and you’ll get five cards.
You connect with wonderful women around the world.
Just one little step, but I am excited to see what will come out of it!
If you’re ever interested in doing something similar, let me know – I would love to connect!

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It’s Friday and as usual, I am meeting up with more wonderful writers over at Kate Motaung‘s place! Come and join the writing party!

[Waiting for Him] Didn’t you see me?

This month I am doing a series on Advent and preparing ourselves for Christmas. You can find more info on the series here. Come and join us for a month of getting ready and waiting!

In diesem Monat gibt es eine Serie über Advent und wie wir uns auf Weihnachten vorbereiten können. Hier gibt es mehr Infos über die Serie. Komm und sei dabei bei den Vorbereitungen und beim Warten!

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We talked quite a bit about our expectations this Advent already. We learn to wait, but also to dream big. And most of all, that the Lord we’re waiting for knows how to exceed our expectations again and again.

But what does that mean? He doesn’t only give us more of what we want and expect, he starts by changing and moulding our expectations. He might redirect our gaze towards someone or something we wouldn’t see otherwise. He shows his strength in our weakness. His love and compassion in our coldness. His time in our stress.

When all Christmas cookies are baked and the candles are lit – then it’s time to listen to a Christmas story in our house. It’s the same every year, everywhere. We took that story to warm Uganda, where Christmas was rather about sweating than snuggling with a cup of tea. We turned it into a musical. Even though we’re no longer at home for the first Advent we take that story with us. Just yesterday I got to listen to it with friends. The message is the same: Christ is coming this Christmas, but it might be different than you expected.

So get yourself a cup of tea and a warm blanket (or a cool drink if you live in the Southern hemisphere) and challenge yourself and your view of Christmas with this story: Leo Tolstoy’s “Papa Panov’s Special Christmas”.

It was Christmas Eve and although it was still afternoon, lights had begun to appear in the shops and houses of the little Russian village, for the short winter day was nearly over. Excited children scurried indoors and now only muffled sounds of chatter and laughter escaped from closed shutters.

Old Papa Panov, the village shoemaker, stepped outside his shop to take one last look around. The sounds of happiness, the bright lights and the faint but delicious smells of Christmas cooking reminded him of past Christmas times when his wife had still been alive and his own children little. Now they had gone. His usually cheerful face, with the little laughter wrinkles behind the round steel spectacles, looked sad now. But he went back indoors with a firm step, put up the shutters and set a pot of coffee to heat on the charcoal stove. Then, with a sigh, he settled in his big armchair.

Papa Panov did not often read, but tonight he pulled down the big old family Bible and, slowly tracing the lines with one forefinger, he read again the Christmas story. He read how Mary and Joseph, tired by their journey to Bethlehem, found no room for them at the inn, so that Mary’s little baby was born in the cowshed.
“Oh, dear, oh, dear!” exclaimed Papa Panov, “if only they had come here! I would have given them my bed and I could have covered the baby with my patchwork quilt to keep him warm.”
He read on about the wise men who had come to see the baby Jesus, bringing him splendid gifts. Papa Panov’s face fell. “I have no gift that I could give him,” he thought sadly.

Then his face brightened. He put down the Bible, got up and stretched his long arms t the shelf high up in his little room. He took down a small, dusty box and opened it. Inside was a perfect pair of tiny leather shoes. Papa Panov smiled with satisfaction. Yes, they were as good as he had remembered- the best shoes he had ever made. “I should give him those,” he decided, as he gently put them away and sat down again.

He was feeling tired now, and the further he read the sleeper he became. The print began to dance before his eyes so that he closed them, just for a minute. In no time at all Papa Panov was fast asleep.
And as he slept he dreamed. He dreamed that someone was in his room and he know at once, as one does in dreams, who the person was. It was Jesus.

“You have been wishing that you could see me, Papa Panov.” he said kindly, “then look for me tomorrow. It will be Christmas Day and I will visit you. But look carefully, for I shall not tell you who I am.”

When at last Papa Panov awoke, the bells were ringing out and a thin light was filtering through the shutters. “Bless my soul!” said Papa Panov. “It’s Christmas Day!”
He stood up and stretched himself for he was rather stiff. Then his face filled with happiness as he remembered his dream.

This would be a very special Christmas after all, for Jesus was coming to visit him. How would he look? Would he be a little baby, as at that first Christmas? Would he be a grown man, a carpenter- or the great King that he is, God’s Son? He must watch carefully the whole day through so that he recognized him however he came.

Papa Panov put on a special pot of coffee for his Christmas breakfast, took down the shutters and looked out of the window. The street was deserted, no one was stirring yet. No one except the road sweeper. He looked as miserable and dirty as ever, and well he might! Whoever wanted to work on Christmas Day – and in the raw cold and bitter freezing mist of such a morning?

Papa Panov opened the shop door, letting in a thin stream of cold air. “Come in!” he shouted across the street cheerily. “Come in and have some hot coffee to keep out the cold!”
The sweeper looked up, scarcely able to believe his ears. He was only too glad to put down his broom and come into the warm room. His old clothes steamed gently in the heat of the stove and he clasped both red hands round the comforting warm mug as he drank.
Papa Panov watched him with satisfaction, but every now and them his eyes strayed to the window. It would never do to miss his special visitor.
“Expecting someone?” the sweeper asked at last. So Papa Panov told him about his dream.
“Well, I hope he comes,” the sweeper said, “you’ve given me a bit of Christmas cheer I never expected to have. I’d say you deserve to have your dream come true.” And he actually smiled.

When he had gone, Papa Panov put on cabbage soup for his dinner, then went to the door again, scanning the street. He saw no one. But he was mistaken. Someone was coming.
The girl walked so slowly and quietly, hugging the walls of shops and houses, that it was a while before he noticed her. She looked very tired and she was carrying something. As she drew nearer he could see that it was a baby, wrapped in a thin shawl. There was such sadness in her face and in the pinched little face of the baby, that Papa Panov’s heart went out to them.
“Won’t you come in,” he called, stepping outside to meet them. “You both need a warm by the fire and a rest.”

The young mother let him shepherd her indoors and to the comfort of the armchair. She gave a big sigh of relief.
“I’ll warm some milk for the baby,” Papa Panov said, “I’ve had children of my own- I can feed her for you.” He took the milk from the stove and carefully fed the baby from a spoon, warming her tiny feet by the stove at the same time.
“She needs shoes,” the cobbler said.
But the girl replied, “I can’t afford shoes, I’ve got no husband to bring home money. I’m on my way to the next village to get work.”

A sudden thought flashed through Papa Panov’s mind. He remembered the little shoes he had looked at last night. But he had been keeping those for Jesus. He looked again at the cold little feet and made up his mind.

“Try these on her,” he said, handing the baby and the shoes to the mother. The beautiful little shoes were a perfect fit. The girl smiled happily and the baby gurgled with pleasure.

“You have been so kind to us,” the girl said, when she got up with her baby to go. “May all your Christmas wishes come true!”

But Papa Panov was beginning to wonder if his very special Christmas wish would come true. Perhaps he had missed his visitor? He looked anxiously up and down the street. There were plenty of people about but they were all faces that he recognized. There were neighbors going to call on their families. They nodded and smiled and wished him Happy Christmas! Or beggars- and Papa Panov hurried indoors to fetch them hot soup and a generous hunk of bread, hurrying out again in case he missed the Important Stranger.

All too soon the winter dusk fell. When Papa Panov next went to the door and strained his eyes, he could no longer make out the passers-by. most were home and indoors by now anyway. He walked slowly back into his room at last, put up the shutters, and sat down wearily in his armchair.

So it had been just a dream after all. Jesus had not come.

Then all at once he knew that he was no longer alone in the room.
This was not adream for he was wide awake.
At first he seemed to see before his eyes the long stream of people who had come to him that day.
He saw again the old road sweeper, the young mother and her baby and the beggars he had fed. As they passed, each whispered, “Didn’t you see me, Papa Panov?”

“Who are you?” he called out, bewildered.

Then another voice answered him. It was the voice from his dream- the voice of Jesus.

“I was hungry and you fed me,” he said. “I was naked and you clothed me. I was cold and you warmed me. I came to you today in everyone of those you helped and welcomed.”

Then all was quiet and still. Only the sound of the big clock ticking. A great peace and happiness seemed to fill the room, overflowing Papa Panov’s heart until he wanted to burst out singing and laughing and dancing with joy.

“So he did come after all!” was all that he said.

[Waiting for Him] A Glimpse of Redemption

This month I am doing a series on Advent and preparing ourselves for Christmas. You can find more info on the series here. Come and join us for a month of getting ready and waiting!

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“Now when these things begin to take place,

straighten up and raise your heads,

because your redemption is drawing near.”

Luke 21:28

We celebrate Advent and Christmas in December, the last month of the year.
For us it marks the end of a long year, full of work, stress, and challenges.
We met so many new people and made new friends.
Twelve months of joys and tears, of new beginnings and letting go of other things.
Some dreams might have been shattered while other new memories were made.
And now the year is almost over, after we survived the eating and present marathon at Christmas.

This is our view of Christmas.

But it might be interesting to look at where Advent and Christmas are placed in the church calendar.
What we consider the last hoorah actually marks the beginning of a new year.
The start of something new and different.
Things are not over, they might just get better.

During Advent we celebrate the coming of our savior.
It is a reminder of an old story that took place about two thousand years ago.
A story of hope.
Of restoration.
A savior was born into the ordinary, into the mess of this world.

He spoke words of hope.
Once again, the context of verse is interesting: It is part of a chapter that speaks of the end of the world and Jesus’ second return. It talks of destruction and fear. The savior who was present on earth at that time spoke about the promise that he would come back again. “When these things begin to take place…”
A God who became a humble man is the reason people lifted their heads again.

This savior didn’t just restore hope back then, he left us with an everlasting perspective. Advent is also an reminder of what’s to come.
This same savior will return someday.
He will heal and restore once again.

He will speak words of hope and encouragement in the midst of turmoil.
“When these things begin to take place…” – when you’re worn out by life’s demands.
When you feel overwhelmed by demands people have for you.
When fear paralyzes your heart.
When you experience loss.
When you feel things have come to an end.
When you’re blind for any beginnings. – “then straighten up and raise your heads because your redemption has drawn near.”

This is the hope that Christmas brought for us.
Redemption is not here yet in its fulness, but each and every day we get to see glimpses of it.
It is not the end of a year or a life – it is just the beginning of something bigger.
Something to hope for.

So lift up your head.
Some things might come to an end, but there are so many new things around you.
What areas in your life seem barren and need redemption?
Where have you looked towards the end and missed out on so many beginnings?
Allow your eyes to notice new life springing up.
And allow your heart to hope for it again.

Wenn diese Dinge zu geschehen beginnen,

richtet euch auf und fasst Mut,

denn dann ist eure Erlösung nahe.

Lukas 21:28

Wir feiern Advent und Weihachten im Dezember, dem letzten Monat des Jahres.

Das bedeutet für uns das Ende eines langen Jahres voller Arbeit, Stress und Herausforderungen.

Wir haben so viele Leute kennengelernt und Freundschaften geschlossen.

Zwölf Monate voll Freude und Tränen, neuen Anfängen und Loslassen von anderen Dingen.

Manche Träume sind vielleicht zerbrochen, während neue Erinnerungen entstanden sind.

Und jetzt ist das Jahr fast vorbei, nachdem wir den Essens-und Geschenkemarathon an Weihnachten überlebt haben.

Das ist unser Bild von Weihnachten.

Es kann vielleicht interessant sein zu gucken, wo Advent und Weihnachten im Kirchenkalender verortet sind.

Was wir als letztes Hurra ansehen, ist eigentlich der Beginn eines neuen Jahres.

Der Beginn von etwas neuem und anderem.

Dinge sind nicht vorbei, es kann alles vielleicht nur noch besser werden.

Während dem Advent feiern wir das Kommen unseres Retters.

Es ist eine Erinnerung an eine alte Geschichte, die vor ca. 2000 Jahren geschah.

Eine Geschichte der Hoffnung.

Der Wiederherstellung.

Ein Retter wurde in die Einfachheit und Verrücktheit dieser Welt geboren.

Er sprach Worte der Hoffnung.

Wieder ist der Kontext des Verses interessant: Es ist aus einem Kapitel, das über das Ende der Welt redet und Jesus’ zweite Wiederkunft. Es geht um Zerstörung und Angst. Aber in der Zeit sprach der Retter zu dieser Erde über ein Versprechen, dass er wiederkommen würde. “Wenn diese Dinge geschehen werden…”

Ein Gott wird ein demütiger Mensch – das ist der Grund, warum Leute ihre Köpfe wieder erhoben.

Dieser Retter hat nicht nur damals Hoffnung wiederhergestellt, er gab uns eine ewige Perspektive.

Advent ist also auch eine Erinnerung an das, was kommen wird.

Dieser gleiche Retter wird eines Tages wiederkommen.

Er wird wieder heilen und wiederherstellen.

Er wird Worte der Hoffnung und Ermutigung in der Mitte von Anfechtungen und Problemen sprechen.

“Wenn diese Dinge geschehen werden” – wenn du von den Anforderungen des Lebens erschöpft bist.

Wenn du überwältigst bist von den Ansprüchen, die andere an dich stellen.

Wenn Angst dein Herz lähmt.

Wenn du Verlust erfährst.

Wenn du blind für Neuanfänge bist.

– “dann steh auf und heb deinen Kopf, denn deine Erlösung ist nah.”

Das ist die Hoffnung, die Weihnachten für uns bringt.

Erlösung ist noch nicht vollkommen, aber jeden einzelnen Tag sehen wir einen Funken mehr davon.

Es ist nicht das Ende des Jahres oder des Lebens – es ist der Beginn von etwas Größerem.

Etwas, worauf man hoffen kann.

Also heb deinen Kopf.

Vielleicht gehen manche Dinge um dich herum zu Ende, aber es gibt auch so viel Neues.

Welche Bereiche in deinem Leben scheinen brach zu liegen und brauchen Erlösung?

Wo hast du eher aufs Ende geschaut und so viele Anfänge verpasst?

Erlaube deinen Augen, aufspringendes Leben wieder zu sehen.

Und erlaube deinem Herzen, wieder dafür zu hoffen.

[Waiting for Him] The Best Part about Waiting

This month I am doing a series on Advent and preparing ourselves for Christmas. You can find more info on the series here. Come and join us for a month of getting ready and waiting!

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I guess as a child you have the most vivid memories of Christmas.
Waking up to the first snow in the morning.
Making presents and smiling at the thought of the receivers.
Writing your wishlist and hoping to find many of these wishes under the tree.
Crafting Christmas cards and sending happy words around the world.
Baking cookies and getting a first taste of Christmas.
Practicing a Christmas musical with the kids choir and getting more excited with every rehearsal.

Waiting seems to be part of Advent.
While you prepare you wait.
While you rehearse you wait.
This can be pretty hard, especially for a child.
It can be hard for adults, too.
We might be better at waiting, but we are so busy that we don’t even have time to wait.
We are so caught up in preparing and baking and doing that we forget to be.
Be excited for what’s to come.
Allow that Christmas joy and spirit to fill us and get us through the dark winter days, the lack of sunshine, or the business.

Waiting is not about wasting.
We are not losing time or energy while waiting.
We are actually cultivating a spirit and a habit that can be pretty helpful in life.
Using waiting time well and intentionally is a virtue worth developing.
And Advent might just be a good practice for that.

One of my favorite waiting times in Advent is Christmas Eve.
In Germany it is THE holiday when you go to church, have a fancy dinner with the family, and open presents. And in our family this also means seeing the Christmas tree for the first time.
You won’t believe it, but I’ve never decorated a Christmas tree in my life.
And I am not sure I want to. Ever since we were born my Dad would set up the tree on the 23rd and decorate at night. No one is allowed to go into the living room on the 24th.

This might sound cruel to some of you and your traditions might be different, but I kind of like it.
These hours on Christmas Eve are special. It gives you time to
reflect, to feel excitement rush through your body, to laugh out loud, to be foolish with your siblings while waiting (yes, we’re all grown-up and don’t mind at all!).

Our waiting is never in vain. The result is always worth it.
At night, after church and dinner, Dad lights the candles (yes, real candles on a real tree!) and we all go in together, singing and laying our presents under the tree. It has always been like that and there still is that kind of magic I don’t want to let go of.

What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions? How do you spend your waiting time?

Als Kind hat man wohl die lebhaftesten Erinnerungen an Weihnachten.
Am Morgen den ersten Schnee entdecken.
Geschenke basteln und mit Lachen an den Empfänger denken.
Den Wunschzettel schreiben und hoffen, dass sich viel davon unterm Baum wieder findet.
Karten basteln und Wünsche in die ganze Welt zu schicken.
Plätzchen backen und das erste Mal Weihnachten schmecken.
Ein Weihnachtsmusical einstudieren mit dem Kinderchor und mit jeder Probe ein bisschen mehr Aufregung spüren.

Warten scheint Teil des Advents zu sein.
Während man vorbereitet, wartet man.
Während man probt, wartet man.
Das kann ganz schön hart sein, vor allem für ein Kind.
Aber auch für Erwachsene.
Wir können vielleicht besser warten, sind aber so beschäftigt, dass wir gar keine Zeit zum Warten haben.
Wir sind so in den Vorbereitungen, Backen und Tun gefangen, dass wir vergessen zu sein.
Keine Zeit, um uns auf das zu freuen, was kommt.
Die Weihnachtsfreude und Atmosphäre hineinzulassen und durch die dunklen Wintertage, wenig Sonne und volle Tage zu uns durchzudringen.

Aber Warten ist keine Verschwendung.
Wir verlieren keine Zeit oder Energie, während wir warten.
Wir kultivieren eher einen Geist und eine Gewohnheit, die im Leben ziemlich hilfreich sein können.
Wenn wir Wartezeiten gut und bewusst nutzen können, ist das eine Angewohnheit, die wir entwickeln und fördern sollten.

Eine meiner liebsten Wartezeiten im Advent ist Heiligabend.
In Deutschland ist das DER Feiertag, an dem man in die Kirche geht, ein gutes Abendessen mit der Familie hat und dann Geschenke auspackt. In unserer Familie heißt das auch, dass man dann den Weihnachtsbaum zum ersten Mal sieht.
Vielleicht kannst du es dir nicht vorstellen, aber ich habe noch nie einen Weihnachtsbaum geschmückt.
Und ich weiß auch nicht, ob ich es unbedingt will. Seit ich denken kann, hat mein Dad den Baum am 23. aufgestellt und nachts geschmückt. Keiner durfte am 24. ins Wohnzimmer schauen.
Für manchnen hört sich das komisch und grausam an, aber unsere Traditionen sind eben anders.
Diese Stunden am Heiligabend ist was besonderes. Während man wartet, hat man Zeit nachzudenken, Aufregung im ganzen Körper zu spüren, laut zu lachen und Dummheiten mit den Geschwistern zu machen (ja, mittlerweile sind wir alle erwachsen, aber das ist egal!).

Warten ist nicht umsonst. Das Ergebnis lohnt sich immer.
Am Abend nach Kirche und Essen zündet Dad die Kerzen an (ja, echte Kerzen am echten Baum!) und wir gehen zusammen ins Wohnzimer, singen und legen unsere Geschenke unter den Baum.
Das war schon immer so und es ist immer noch eine Art Zauber daran, den ich nicht lüften möchte.

Was sind deine Lieblingsweihnachtstraditionen? Wie verbringst du Wartezeiten?

[Waiting for Him] What do YOU expect?

This month I am doing a series on Advent and preparing ourselves for Christmas. You can find more info on the series here. Come and join us for a month of getting ready and waiting!
In diesem Monat gibt es eine Serie über Advent und wie wir uns auf Weihnachten vorbereiten können. Hier gibt es mehr Infos über die Serie. Komm und sei dabei bei den Vorbereitungen und beim Warten!

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“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he,
humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Zechariah 9:9

Imagine this: The Israelites have had enough. For years they had lived in exile because they had been unfaithful to their Lord. They had suffered under kings and rulers of neighboring countries, lost their homes and their local identities, had to worship gods that were not their own.
Finally, after several decades they had been allowed to return home.
Home to Israel. Home to a relationship with their God and his good commandments.
The time of waiting was over.
Punishment had been served, time had been done.
Now it was enough. It was all over.
Now it was someone else’s turn.
Now the Lord would show up and payback all those that had touched his children.
He, the Almighty, would finally take a stand for his people.

Their expectations were very clear.
But things turned out to be different. Very different.
This God was just so much more than their box of expectations.

He’s not a raging warlord gathering up his army to destroy Israel’s enemies.
His weapons are not called revenge or hatred.
His plan to restore Israel does not involve guns or slaughter.
This king becomes human. Humble. Riding on a donkey.
So different and yet so much more powerful than a marching army.

This God shakes up expectations.
If you continue reading of what Jesus (the God became human) did while here on earth you see that he surprises time and time again.
He doesn’t fulfill expectations. He expands and exceeds them.

This God is still the same today.
I don’t know how your year looked like. Was it marked by stress and a lot of work? Did you face the greatest challenges ever? Did you meet God along the way or did he rather seem like a long lost friend?
I don’t know what you think about this Advent season. Whether it’s just another four stressful weeks of baking and buying presents. Whether you have any kind of expectations.

What do YOU expect of Advent?
Maybe it’s a good idea to mull over that question for a while, figuring out where you’re at and where you might have lost expectations.
Write them down. Keep them in mind. Tell God about them.
Advent is a time of waiting, but also of weighing.
Waiting reveals and refines our expectations.
It makes us aware our perspective, our needs and wants, our fears.
And it will hopefully stir our waiting hearts into the right direction, towards the One who is waiting with and for us.

“God fulfills His promises in unexpected ways, but it always gives glory to Him. Expect Him to fulfill them for you, but don’t form expectations on how He will do it.” Chris Tiegreen

This text teaches two things that might help us as we enter into this season.
God WILL show up. He has seen Israel’s distress and he also sees every busy day you’re going through. He sees your heart and your lost longings. He will come; in fact, he IS coming. Our king is never far away.
Prepare to be surprised. God’s promise of coming stands true, but he might show up in ways you never expected. He might show himself in a way you’ve never known before. He might reveal a bit of his power in a seemingly powerless way.

He is ready to meet us and exceed our expectations. Are you?

This post is also linked up with InspireMe Monday – click here for more inspirational stories!

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Stell dir das mal vor: Die Israeliten haben genug. Jahrelang haben sie im Exil gelebt, weil sie ihrem Herrn untreu gewesen waren. Sie haben unter Königen und Herrschern der Nachbarländer gelitten, ihre Häuser und ihre nationalen Identitäten verloren, und fremde Götter angebetet.

Endlich, nach vielen Jahrzehnten durften sie nach Hause zurückkehren.

Nach Hause nach Israel.

Nach Hause, zurück in eine Beziehung mit ihrem Gott und seinen guten Geboten.

Die Zeit des Wartens war vorbei. Die Strafe war vollbraacht, die Zeit war um.

Und jetzt war’s genug. Jetzt war alles vorbei.

Jetzt war jemand anders dran. Denn jetzt würde der Herr kommen und all diejenigen strafen, die sein Volk bedrängt hatten.

Er, der Allmächtige, würde für seine Leute aufstehen.

Ihre Erwartungen waren klar.

Aber alles kam anders. Ganz anders.

Dieser Gott war einfach so viel mehr als ihre Box voller Erwartungen.

Er ist nicht der wütende Kriegsherr, der seine Armee sammelt, um die Feinde Israels zu vernichten.

Seine Waffen heißen nicht Rache oder Hass.

Sein Plan, Israel wiederherzustellen, hat nichts mit Morden und Waffen zu tun.

Dieser König wurde Mensch. Demütig. Er reitet auf einem Esel.

Das ist anders, aber so viel kraftvoller als eine marschierende Armee.

Dieser Gott bricht mit Erwartungen.

Wenn wir weiterlesen, was Jesus (der Gott, der Mensch wurde) hier auf dieser Erde tat, sind wir wieder und wieder überrascht.

Er erfüllt keine Erwartungen. Er erweitert und übertrifft sie.

Dieser Gott ist auch heute noch derselbe.

Ich habe keine Ahnung, wie dein Jahr aussah. War es stressig und voller Arbeit? Bist du großen Herausforderungen gegenübergestanden? Hast du Gott dabei getroffen oder schien er weit weg zu sein?

Ich weiß nicht, was du über Advent denkst. Ob es nur weitere vier stressige Wochen voller Backen und Geschenke kaufen sind. Ob du überhaupt Erwartungen hast.

Was erwartest DU vom Advent?

Vielleicht ist es gut, mal kurz über diese Frage nachzudenken, zu gucken, wo du stehst und wo du vielleicht deine Erwartungen verloren hast.

Schreib sie auf. Merk sie dir. Erzähl Gott davon.
Advent ist eine Zeit des Wartens, aber auch des Abwägens.
Warten offenbart und verfeinert unsere Erwartungen.
Es macht uns offen für unsere Perspektiven, unsere Wünsche, unsere Ängste.
Und hoffentlich drängt es unsere wartenden Herzen in die richtige Richtung, zu dem hin, der mit und auf uns wartet.

“Gott erfüllt seine Versprechen in unerwarteter Weise, aber es dient immer seiner Ehre. Erwarte, dass er Dinge für dich erfüllt, aber nagele ihn nicht fest, wie er es tun wird.” Chris Tiegreen

Dieser Text sagt uns zwei Dinge, die uns in dieser Jahreszeit vielleicht helfen.

Gott WIRD kommen. Er hat Israels Not gesehen und er sieht auch jeden vollen Tag, den du vor dir hast. Er sieht dein Herz und deine verlorenen Sehnsüchte. Er wird kommen; ja, er kommt. Unser König ist nie wirklich weit weg.

Erwarte überrascht zu werden. Gottes Versprechen zu kommen ist wahr, aber vielleicht kommt er in einer Weise, die du nicht erwartet hättest. Er zeigt sich vielleicht in einer neuen Weise, die du noch nicht kanntest. Vielleicht zeigt er dir ein bisschen mehr von seiner Macht in einer scheinbar machtlosen Weise.

Er ist bereit, uns zu begegnen und unsere Erwartungen zu übertreffen. Bist du bereit?

[Advent] New Series: Waiting for Him

No matter how hard I try and work it’s the same thing every year: It’s Christmas and I can’t wait for it to be over.
It gets dark around 5pm already, the air is colder, and you can see your own breath.
You start putting on layer after layer before you go outside.
You walk around town, which is decorated with beautiful Christmas lights and somehow sets the stage for another round of hectic and exhausting shopping for Christmas presents.
You wrack your brain trying to find the perfect gift for everyone in the family and wonder which friends are close (and get a present) and which ones will get a card.
You bake cookies and eat a lot of sweet stuff.
You listen to Christmas music, but by the time Christmas Eve is here you can’t stand the tunes anymore.

You sit down at the tree and realize: It’s Christmas.
But where is your heart? Where has it been all these weeks before?

In Germany the season of Advent is quite important.
Christmas is not just an event happening out of the blue; it is a season and starts about four weeks before the actual event.
Advent is a time of waiting.
A time of preparation.
A time of excitement.
A time of Vorfreude (a German term, meaning “pre-joy”, the joy and excitement building up to an event).

This year I don’t only want to celebrate Christmas, I want to live Advent, too.
Wait intentionally. Because in the end, waiting might be about something bigger.

I want to discover what I am waiting for and what my expectations are.

I want to observe what I do while I’m waiting and see how waiting is also a reminder of the bigger picture we live in.

Waiting is a spiritual discipline we might have to relearn, and our waiting is ultimately a yearning for the day when all promises and expectations are fulfilled, joy is complete, and fellowship is eternal.

I want to prepare myself for Christmas and feel a little bit of that joy again that is so often drowned in stress and cheap Christmas tunes.I want to rediscover a bit of that childlike spirit within me – a child that doesn’t give in to shopping pressures and exhaustion, but decides to listen intentionally, takes pleasure in the little things, and feels a certain excitement building up inside.

So today I am launching a new series: Waiting for Him.
In the next few weeks until Christmas you can expect a few thoughts, devotions, but also stories and Christmas traditions that might help us to make the waiting and preparing a bit more intentional. Why don’t you subscribe by email and read along?
I am looking forward to living Advent with you and I hope we allow our hearts to come along as well!

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Egal, wie sehr ich es versuche, ist es doch jedes Jahr dasselbe: Es ist Weihnachten und ich hoffe nur, dass es bald vorbei ist.
Es wird nun bereits um 5 Uhr dunkel, die Luft ist kälter und man sieht seinen eigenen Atem.
Man muss wieder eine Schicht nach der anderen anziehen, wenn man rausgeht. Man läuft durch die Stadt, die mit tollen Lichtern dekoriert ist und irgendwie die Kulisse bietet für eine weitere Runde vollem hektischen und nervigen Geschenke einkaufen.
Man zerbricht sich den Kopf, damit jeder das perfekte Geschenk bekommt und fragt sich, welche engen Freunde etwas bekommen und welcher Bekannte eine Karte erhält.
Man backt Plätzchen und isst genauso viele.
Man hört Weihnachtslieder, aber bis zum Heiligen Abend kann man die meisten davon nicht mehr hören.

Und dann sitzt man am Baum und merkt: Es ist Weihnachten.
Aber wo ist dein Herz? Wo war es all die Wochen davor?

In Deutschland ist Advent sehr wichtig.
Weihnachten passiert nicht einfach so; es ist eine Jahreszeit und beginnt bereits vier Wochen vorher.
Advent ist eine Zeit des Wartens.
Eine Zeit der Vorbereitung.
Eine Zeit der Aufregung.
Eine Zeit der Vorfreude.

Dieses Jahr möchte ich nicht nur Weihnachten feiern, sondern auch Advent leben.
Bewusst warten. Denn am Ende ist Warten vielleicht Teil von etwas Größerem.
Ich möchte herausfinden, warum ich warte und was meine Erwartungen sind.
Ich möchte überlegen, was ich während des Wartens tue und wie dieses Warten eine Erinnerung ist für das größere Bild.
Warten ist eine geistliche Disziplin, die wir vielleicht wieder erlernen müssen, und unser Warten ist schlussendlich ein Sehnen nach dem Tag, an dem alle Erwartungen und Versprechen erfüllt, Freude vollkommen, und Gemeinschaft ewig sein werden.
Ich möchte mich auf Weihnachten vorbereiten und ein bisschen was von der Freude zurückholen, die so oft in billigen Weihnachtsschlagern erdrückt wird.
Ich möchte ein bisschen des kindlichen Geistes in mir wieder entdecken – wie ein Kind, das nicht dem Einkaufsdruck und der Erschöpfung nachgibt, sondern bewusst hört, sich an den kleinen Dingen freut und die Vorfreude in sich aufsteigen fühlt.

Deswegen beginne ich heute eine neue Serie: Auf Ihn warten.
In den nächsten Wochen bis Weihnachten erwarten dich ein paar Gedanken, Andachten, aber auch Geschichten und Weihnachtstraditionen, die uns helfen, das Warten und Vorbereiten etwas bewusster zu machen. Warum nicht abbonieren und mitlesen?
Ich freue mich auf den Advent und hoffe, du und dein Herz sind auch mit dabei!

So…what’s next?

I had my last exam on Monday.
This means I graduated. I am done with uni.
After a year of getting up early, studying several hours a day, and exam over exam I am finally finished.

For the last few weeks people have been asking me how I feel.
Relieved? Happy? Free? Excited?
To be honest, my answer was no.
Here’s how I feel: I am afraid.
Terrified and uncertain.
Not sure of the future and myself anymore.
About to step out on the waters and doubting how crazy the waves are going to be.
Between knowing and not knowing.

I remember feeling like that after I graduated from high school.
Leaving the old, known world behind.
Stepping outside the comfortable system of school.
Leaving behind the security of knowing who I was, who those around me where, and how I was supposed to act and behave.
I thought I could never fit into another system again.

But I did.
I entered university and was shocked to hear I would have to study for five years.
Five long years in one place.
These long years became very short.
And they were filled with lots of friendships, meeting wonderful people and being incredibly blessed by what they bring to my life.
There were many hours of reading and “aha” moments along the way. I must say I liked digging into theories, exploring complexities, and ending up with new knowledge.
I liked studying and being nerdy sometimes.
There, I said it. I will miss this place.

But these years were also filled with quite a bit of challenges, disappointments and tough realizations. The growth I experienced in the last five years didn’t come cheap, but mostly through struggle and endurance.
These five years shaped me and taught me how to be, act, and behave in this new phase of my life.
And now they are over.

I am once again at a crossroads in my life, leaving behind the old and awaiting the new.
So what’s next is taking my time.
Time to look back at what I leave behind.
To be grateful for the many blessings and experiences.
To seek true rest and enough stillness to hear the Lord’s voice again. One of the hardest and most needed things. If I don’t do it now I might never do it and I will hit rock bottom again and again.

It might take some time to allow my heart to disengage from the old and prepare itself for the new.
And then hopefully the feeling of fear and uncertainty will make way for true joy and excitement. There is a new system and a new me waiting out there, and it might just get better. Even though uni is over I will continue learning. From people and from life.

I guess many of these thoughts are true for all those finding themselves at a crossroads in life. Some sort of transition into a new country, culture, or phase of life.
Know that it’s okay to take your time.
Disengage properly, so you can be ready for what’s to come.
I would love to hear your experiences!

Okay…for all who were wondering: Those are some of the thoughts floating around in my mind at the moment. I will update you shortly on what the next steps will look like in practice…

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Am Montag hatte ich meine letzte Prüfung.
Das heißt, ich habe nun meinen Abschluss, die Uni ist vorbei.
Nach einem Jahr früh aufstehen, mehrere Stunden am Tag lernen und einem Examen nach dem anderen bin ich endlich fertig.

Die letzten Wochen haben mich Leute gefragt, wie ich mich fühle.
Erleichtert? Froh? Frei? Aufgeregt?
Ehrlich gesagt, war meine Antwort nein.
So fühle ich mich: Ich habe Angst.
Ich fühle mich unsicher und fürchte mich.
Ich habe keine Ahnung, wer ich bin oder wie die Zukunft wird.
Ich fühle mich, als ob ich aufs Wasser gehe und zweifle, wie krass die Wellen um mich schlagen werden. So zwischen wissen und nicht wissen.

Ich erinnere mich, dass es mir ähnlich ging, damals nach dem Abitur.
Ich ließ die alte vertraute Welt hinter mir. Ich ging hinaus aus dem bequemen Schulsystem und ließ damit die Sicherheit zurück, zu wissen, wer ich war, wer die Leute um mich herum waren und wie ich mich zu verhalten hatte.
Ich dachte, ich würde nie wieder in ein System reinpassen.

Aber genau das passierte.
Ich begann das Studium und war schockiert zu hören, dass es fünf Jahre dauern würde.
Fünf lange Jahre an einem Ort.
Diese langen Jahre wurden plötzlich aber ganz kurz.
Und sie waren gefüllt mit vielen Freundschaften, ich habe wunderbare menschen getroffen und wurde so gesegnet mit dem, was sie in mein Leben gebracht haben.
Es waren viele Stunden voll mit Lesen und Aha-Momenten. Ich muss sagen, mir macht es Spaß, mich in Theorien und komplexe Dinge hineinzudenken und am Ende mehr Wissen zu haben. Okay, ich sag es einfach: Ich werde diesen Ort vermissen.

Aber diese Jahre waren auch voller Herausforderungen, Enttäuschungen und harten Eingeständnissen. Das Wachstum, das ich in den letzten fünf Jahren erlebt habe, war nicht billig, sondern kam vor allem durch Kämpfe und Ausdauer. Diese fünf Jahre haben mich geprägt und mich gelehrt zu sein und zu handeln in dieser neuen Phase meines Lebens.
Und jetzt sind sie vorbei.

Ich stehe mal wieder an einer Kreuzung in meinem Leben, lasse das Alte zurück und warte auf das Neue.
Was also als nächstes kommt ist Zeit. Ich nehme mir Zeit.
Zeit, um auf das zurückzuschauen, was ich zurücklassen.
Um dankbar zu sein für die vielen Erfahrungen und Segen.
Um wirkliche Ruhe zu suchen und genug Stille, um Gottes Stimme wieder zu hören. DAs ist eins der meistgewollten und auch der härtesten Dinge. Aber wenn ich es jetzt nicht tue, werde ich es vielleicht nie tun und immer wieder hinfallen.

Es dauert vielleicht eine Weile, meinem Herz zu erlauben, sich bewusst vom Alten loszulösen und sich auf das Neue vorzubereiten.
Und dann wird hoffentlich das Gefühl der Angst und Unsicherheit Platz machen für wahre Freude und Spannung. Es gibt ein neues System da draußen, das auf mich wartet und es wird wahrscheinlich nur besser. Obwohl die Uni vorbei ist, lerne ich weiter. Von menschen und vom Leben.

Wahrscheinlich sind die meisten dieser Gedanken ähnlich für all diejenigen, die auch an einer Kreuzung in ihrem Leben stehen. Irgendeine Art von Übergang in ein neues Land, Kultur oder Lebensphase.
Es ist okay, dass du Zeit brauchst. Löse dich gut und vollständig, damit du bereit bist für das, was kommt.
Ich würde gerne deine Erfahrungen hören!

Okay…für alle Fragenden: Das sind ein paar der Gedanken, die mir gerade im Kopf rumgehen. Aber bald gibt’s mehr, wie das Ganze in der Praxis aussieht….

That time I participated in a blogging challenge…

If you’re used to getting a daily email from me last month you might have realized that it was a bit quiet around here for a week. I needed a break after blogging every day in October.
At first I didn’t even want to participate in this #write31days challenge. I had experienced how friends had struggled last year, how it had ‘ruined’ their passion for writing, how time consuming it was. I was in the middle of my state board exams (meaning: studying every day for the most important exam in your career) and October was just a busy month with birthdays, weddings, travels…no way I would have time for elaborate blogging.
But when Kate Motaung put out her prompt words for “31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes” I couldn’t resist. These words just started speaking to my TCK heart and stories, thoughts, ideas came to my mind. And so they ended up in this space.

It’s been an experience, and I thought I would share a few of the lessons I’ve learned from it. I’ll also share some of the blogs I’ve discovered during this challenge, which might be a good read for you, too!

No matter how busy you are, you need a creative outlet!
After a long day with my books and notes it was a really good distraction to put some thoughts on paper. Completely different topics and writing style. Some days were hard and I needed to challenge myself to put thoughts into words, other days were fun and my hands seemed to be dancing on the keyboard. Writing needs time and practice, and these 31 days definitely helped me to get some more flow in my writing.

Blogging is a lot of work.
Luckily I had about two weeks before the challenge started so I pre-wrote some posts already. Coming up with a topic and complete post everyday that fits into an overall series can be really hard sometimes. The challenge offered me a bit of a ‘behind-the-scenes’ view of the blogging world. What does it mean to have a monthly outline for your topic? Who do I link up with? What about graphics, pictures, layout? Suddenly a few written lines of a post turn into a piece of work before you hit ‘publish’. A published post is only the beginning, afterwards there are comments and questions and answers. And then obviously there are thousands of blogs out there you could read. Which ones do you pick? Some of the work I enjoyed, some made me question the concepts behind it.

How much work does it really take?
In the last few years the blogosphere seems to have exploded; everyone can write about almost everything in any space of the internet. I really enjoyed reading a lot of great posts this month, hosted in beautifully created spaces of the web, crafted with powerful words and images. But what does it take to have a blog with good traffic and readers? Simply a good layout? Relevant topics? Pinnable images and tweetable quotes?
I was a bit overwhelmed at all the “advice” other bloggers gave to increase the numbers of readers, turn your blog into a business or book and many other topics. Is it really all about self-advertisement? Do I want to sell myself in this little space I call mine?
These questions lead me back to my motivation for doing all this. Why do I write in the first place and who do I write for?
I don’t want to write for statistics, likes, or tweets. This is not a business with a product called ME. What I want to take away from this challenge is my hope to stay true to myself.
Not losing my voice in numbers of visitors, positive or negative comments, facebook pages, tweets and likes. Instead, what I want to put on paper are my passions, things I struggle with, wonder about. Unfinished thoughts, open questions, lessons learned. They might speak to you in the situation you’re in at the moment. They might say nothing at all to you right now. That’s okay. I am absolutely grateful for everyone who’s been reading along – thank you for all your comments, input, and encouragement! I hope you’ll continue this journey with me, as shaky as it might be…

There’s a blogger community out there!
I’ve linked up with other bloggers before, but this challenge really made me aware of so many amazing writers out there! I had the privilege to have some friends and fellow bloggers join me on my own blog, and I was so blessed by their words, experiences, and wisdom. In case you missed them, please go back and read their work!
Johann shared a poem he wrote on the TCK identity question, Daniel wrote about fears, Katrin contributed a poem about God in the midst of TCK life, Wera did a series on TCKs and restlessness, Rachel told us about her struggles with joining in, and Marilyn gave us an insight on returning to your host country. All of them have fantastic voices and I hope you enjoy their writings!
In the middle of studying and blogging I didn’t have much time to read many of the other bloggers’ works that participated in the challenge, too. Nearly 1600 people joined and wrote about all kinds of topics, ranging from devotions to travel secrets to pumpkin recipes. We all connected on Facebook, and it was good to receive encouragement when things got tough. Plus, I got to discover some amazing writers I wouldn’t have found otherwise! I tried to read a variety of things, but it wasn’t easy to keep up with everything and there are still about a hundred posts in my reader waiting for me. I did however choose to read a few series every day, and I am glad I did!

Here are a few of my picks…

…Kate Motaung: the host of Five Minute Friday wrote on her life in South Africa, which was like homecoming for me. So many stories to relate to and so much to laugh about!

…Liz von Ehrenkrook: We had briefly connected before, but her series really challenged me! She wrote on 31 Days of Breaking Religion, questioning why we believe what we believe and what faith is all about. We had some great discussions and I am so glad we “met”!

…Shelly Miller: Shelly shares the story of her family moving to London, including all the delays, open questions and life’s beauty in between. She has a talent of putting things into beautiful words which often spoke to me. Shelly also hosts “The Sabbath Society” and her emails on Fridays are perfect to start off Sabbath (whatever day you decide to take it).

…Christy Campbell: Christy is a traveler and her series was all about secrets to more adventures in life. Some really great advice in there and even better stories! I am also featured with a guest post.

…Renee Emerson: I am not even close to finishing this series, but the start was so good! Renee and Brian write about writing as an act of worship. Lots of good input and some great practical exercises. Definitely want to continue reading!

…Kristin@theincrediblek: Kristin had 31 days of encouragement on her blog, and even though I haven’t read all of them yet they are really good! Many stories and practical ideas to encourage other people and change your own life on the go.

I hope you have some time to check them out!
31 Days are over but blogging isn’t, and I will continue writing. Not every day, but whenever I feel I need processing…:) So stay tuned for more thoughts soon!

[Five Minute Friday] Leave

It’s the last Friday of October and as usual, I am linking up with Kate Motaung and a fantastic writer community. It’s also the last day of October, which means it’s Day 31 of the 31 Days in the Life of a TCK series! You made it to the end, yay! If you’re just starting now, you can find more info on the series here. Don’t forget to subscribe!

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We went to see the animals at Lake Victoria.

We went to sit at the beach.

We went for dinner at a nearby hotel.

It all seemed unreal. Our last day in Uganda.

And finally, finally we went to the airport.

I watched my parents check us in, drop off our luggage, say goodbye to friends and teammates. And then we walked down to the gates.

I felt like in a trance.

This was happening, but not to me.

We were just dropping someone off and tonight I would sleep in my bed in our house in beautiful Namutamba and everything would be alright.

It was already dark outside when we walked onto the airfield and towards the plane.

The tender summer breeze brought the smell from the Lake and you could see the lights glitter on the water’s surface.

We boarded the plane, had layovers in Nairobi and Amsterdam, and then we were home.

Really?

I didn’t realize what had happened to me until a week later.

I asked my mom when we’d be going back, but she said, “We’re not going back.

We will stay here now.”

That’s when it hit me.

I had really left.

And I hadn’t even said goodbye.

I am not a cryer normally. Which doesn’t mean I am not sad.

But now I cried.

For all the friends I hadn’t hugged one last time.

For my best friend who I had left the day before as if I didn’t know we wouldn’t meet again the next day.

For the village I had called my home.

For all the memories I had made there and would never be able to repeat.

For the piece of my heart I had left in the Pearl of Africa, Uganda.

I have had to leave quite a few other places since then.

My family, South Africa, my teenage years, the US, university.

Familiar faces, cozy houses, a certain lifestyle.

Dreams of how my life should look like, dear relationships, broken hopes.

I’m sure if you added your losses we’d get an entire novel together.

Make sure you say goodbye.

You never know if you’ll have the chance again.
Make sure you cry.

Crying is a way to cleanse the soul and I have come to appreciate my tears sometimes. After the tears have ceased, another feeling wells up inside of me: thankfulness.

My heart is overwhelmed with deep gratitude.

For the beautiful places I got to live in.

For the amazing people I had the privilege of meeting and who continue to be in my life. For the sweet memories I could make and can now hold on to.

For God, who continues to walk with me and already knows where I’m heading to next.

Well, and now I am leaving this series.

It’s been a great month and I’ll surely reflect a bit about it after I had a short blogging break. 🙂

THANK YOU for staying with me on this journey, for your comments and thoughts, all your encouragement!

I am leaving you with hopefully a lot of impressions, things to ponder, and the wish to embrace your TCK life a bit more…

What did you learn in the course of this series?

[31 Days] Day 30 Unite

It’s Day 30 of the 31 Days in the Life of a TCK series! Welcome! You can find more info on the series here. Don’t forget to subscribe!

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A few weeks ago I was at a friend’s birthday party when it happened.

We were having a barbecue in the park and some friend had brought another friend.

We introduced ourselves and started talking.

We had just met and yet we felt like we had known each other for years.

And so we spent the evening talking about our lives, exchanging fun stories and challenges.

Because we knew the other would understand.

This immediate connection is something so special among TCKs.

It unites us no matter the countries we lived in, no matter the amount of time we spent abroad, no matter the place we’re in right now.

It fascinates me every time I meet a TCK.

May it be on a TCK camp where it takes one night of games and introductions to form intimate bonds with “strangers” that have become my second family over the years.

May it be in unexpected places, like birthday parties, train rides, university seminars.

In our globalized world there are more and more TCKs around us – missionary kids, diplomat kids, business kids, immigrant kids or people growing up around many cultures.

We are all united by this one bond: we’ve seen what’s out there.

It doesn’t have to be far, it just has to be outside our own little world and comfort zone. Once you’ve been out there, you feel a connection to others who have gone, too.

Whenever I meet a TCK my heart rejoices (and sometimes I also break into a smile, hehe). Here is this one person who gets me, who can laugh at the fun stories and won’t look away at the hard ones.

Here is this one person who can relate my stories to their own and it helps, encourages, maybe even comforts.

Meeting a fellow TCK is sometimes like meeting a friend for the first time and the sudden depth doesn’t feel awkward at all.

I hope for every TCK out there that you meet others with similar stories, that you find out about who you are and have others around you to connect to, to share with, to bond with.

A big shoutout to my TCK friends all around the globe – it is a blessing knowing you and walking a bit of life together!

Can you relate to this? It might also be true for other relationships when both aren’t TCKs. Any thoughts on this?