Archives for October 2015

Can We Talk About Christmas?

October 26, 2015 By Kristin Saatzer 2 Comments

Two of my friends complete their Christmas shopping and wrapping by August every year. That’s four stinkin’ months early! Impressive. Not me.

But, I did purchase my first gift the other day. I texted my sister to tell her and we were pretty proud of me.

We have two months People and I, for one, want to walk intentionally into the upcoming holiday season. I want to simplify yet again this year and my way of doing that is by beginning with a plan.

My initial step is to get my Christmas notebook down. I know, I’m a nerd. I put this together a few years ago and it’s where I house my lists, stamps, ideas, gift receipts, Christmas quotes, verses and past Christmas card letters that I have sent. Nerdy but incredibly helpful.

First, I’ll make my “giving” Christmas list- there are oodles of opportunities to give during the holidays. But I can’t give to every need that crops up can I? Can you? No. So, here I list the charities we usually give to. Then, I will talk with my family and see where they would like to give monetarily and physically this year.

Second, I’ll write the “buying” list- brainstorm ideas for my friends and family and budget amounts for each one. My boys don’t know what they want for Christmas yet, so I write stocking ideas and add those to my weekly shopping. Socks and underwear are always a staple as are fast food gift cards (how thrilled they’ll be to know I added the underwear thing).

Third, I make a preliminary budget. Then I scrap the preliminary budget because I can’t and shouldn’t spend that much and do it again.

Once this initial planning takes place, I can build on it. I can look at the upcoming holidays with a sense of peace and tackle a project every week or so, Lord willing.

Are you ready to think about Christmas? If not, I get it and that’s cool. My nerdy notebook and I are going to move ahead with intention and take Christmas by storm, we’d love to have you join us.

“We are ready for any unforeseen event which may or may not happen”

~G.W. Bush

On the Fringe

October 14, 2015 By Kristin Saatzer 4 Comments

With a writing idea brewing in my brain, my fingers touched the keyboard. I paused, asking God to speak to me and through me as I usually do.

Breathing deeply, I sighed as I looked at my screen.

I’m tired. Spent. Oversensitive and on the fringe between functionality and a semi-catatonic state. Maybe I’m not alone? Thus, I’m feeling like the Lord wants me to share about this today instead of my original idea.

My schedule and that of my people’s is cooking this fall. On top of this, three of my sons have been sick, one with a funky infection that almost landed him in the hospital. My output exceeds my input and it shows.

Do you relate? Are you on the fringe of your own? Tired? Too busy?

Let this verse speak to you – breathe it in:

Jeremiah 31:25
“I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”

To get off the fringe, I’m going back to the basics. I go back to Him who refreshes the weary and satisfies the faint. I take the time to rest and go to bed earlier. I check my schedule and take out what I can. Delegate. Simplify.

Let this verse sink deeply. Let it travel to the place where peace and rest awaits.

Examine your plate and I will do the same:

~Is it overflowing with too many “to do’s”?

~What can I take off my too-full plate?

~How can I invest in more time with God to study His peace-giving Word?

~What changes can I make in my time budget to get more rest?

~Is there a friend whom I can share my burden with? Someone who can pray for me?

I would love to pray for you, friend. Feel free to leave your request in the comments of this blog or message me through my website.

Let’s join hands, breathe deeply and step out of the fringe together.

Synonyms for fringe: periphery, edge, rim, verge

Antonyms: center. inside, stable margin

Freedictionary.com and The Synonym Finder

But My Light Has No Shine

October 7, 2015 By Kristin Saatzer 2 Comments

Not all of us can do great things.

But we can do small things with great love. ~Mother Teresa

During a trying time around nine years ago, my light lost its shine. I was in the abyss of homeschooling three wild boys and trying to keep one indescribable toddler alive (no joke). The world has yet to see another child like him.

Anyway! I knew my light was sorta shining in my home and that it would prayerfully pay dividends in the lives of my sons someday (particularly the one who would be alive to tell). Yet, I became compelled to shine that light to the “outside” world in some small way. With limited time and energy, my first priority was the fam. But in reflecting on my circumstances, I realized I had let the shine go out of my light because of self-imposed limitations and the oh so familiar companion named Discouragement.

So, what did I do with this compulsion? Did I start a street ministry feeding fifty homeless people a day? No. Did I sign a recording contract and tour the land singing for the masses? No. Did I pray that God would lead me and show me how to get my shine on? Yes.

And He did.

The Lord opened my eyes to neighbors needing a touch of encouragement via prayers, words or notes. There were families on my boys’ teams needing a listening ear. I met strangers needing a meal or a momentary friend. Such small, simple acts, laced with intentionality.

Guess what? The shine in my light returned.

It began with a prayer. It began with the baby step of sharing my heart with God; He gave me eyes to see and ears to hear. God gave me the heart to see needs in the world beyond my home and the wild ones living in it.Continue Reading

This Little Light of Mine

October 1, 2015 By Kristin Saatzer 4 Comments

“A single candle can both defy and define the darkness.”

Ann Frank

Imagine throngs of people standing in an eerily moonless night, surrounded by every form of Evil. The sound of striking matches quickens as the smell of sulphur wafts through the air.

One by one, candles flicker as the light grows brighter and brighter. Together, the candles resemble an exquisite flame: expansive and powerful.

And Evil flees in fear.

God has much to say in His Word about His children and Light. Here is a sampling:

~Believers are Sons and Daughters of Light:

“While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he went away and hid himself from them. ~John 12:36 NET Bible

~For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! ~Ephesians 5:8 New Living Translation

~You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. ~ 1 Thes. 5:5 New International Version

~Disciples are Light Bearers:

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. ~Math. 5:16 New International Version

But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. ~Proverbs 4:18 ~King James Bible

~The Church is a Collective Light:

~14“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ~Math. 5:14, 15 New American Standard Bible

so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world. ~Phil. 2;15 Holman Christian Standard Bible

How amazing that we, His church, are Children of the Light? We are His Light Bearers and City on a Hill. Individually and collectively as we shine for Him, Evil flees.

So shine for Him precious Light Bearer. AND may we shine together as one mighty flame on a moonless night and rejoice as Evil flees.