Seasons Archives - Kristin Saatzer

Summer of Praise

August 14, 2023 By Kristin Saatzer 4 Comments

“I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

Psalm 34:1 KJV

How are you filling your soul this summer?

I’ve camped out in the Psalms. Reading through this beautiful poetic book and praying much of the prose, I find that my soul fills with more of God.

The time spent in praise is a gift I am greatly treasuring. I’ve pondered the power of praise and noted the various ways it benefits and fills me. Here are a few of them…

Praise is worship.

The Lord is my strength and my shield;
My heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
And with my song I praise him. Psalm 28:7 (NIV)

Worship is an act of affection to God, and praise celebrates what God has done. I often read parts of the Psalms aloud to the Lord, showering love on Him with words that start in my heart. Come, let us adore Him with our voices and hearts. Continue Reading

Four Favorites for June

June 1, 2023 By Kristin Saatzer 4 Comments

Happy June, friends! Here are four fun things I’ve enjoyed lately that may heighten your summer mood…

Tis the season to grill! I gave my son this fun little gadget for his birthday, perfect for marinating your favorite meat. https://amzn.to/43izoii

Looking for a fabulous summer read? This memoir unfolds like a novel, as Beth Moore is a master storyteller. Impossible to put down: intense, funny, poignant, and profoundly moving. I am reading it for the second time with my book club. https://amzn.to/45IJLO4

Before you slather on all that sunscreen, check out this app that will tell you if it is full of chemicals or clean. Scan the product with the QR code. Household cleaners, makeup, and personal products, too. Think Dirty® Shop Clean – Clean Beauty App – Shop Clean Products – Think Dirty® Shop Clean. (thinkdirtyapp.com)

I read this book countless times as a tween and was excited to see the movie. It did not disappoint. The acting is fantastic, as is the nostalgia. Grab your BFF, sister, daughter, or mom. Pop the corn, break out the candy, and escape the heat on a hot summer night. https://amzn.to/3OTr586

What are you enjoying these days?

A Time to Reset and Refocus

March 13, 2023 By Kristin Saatzer 4 Comments

I didn’t notice until I did.

At some point, I had jumped back on the pre-pandemic hamster wheel. I tried to jump off but couldn’t keep up with the demands and commitments that got the wheel going to begin with. So, I’m back on again but working to slow it down.

It has been a wild three years, hasn’t it? So many of us have leaped into life as we knew it without intentionally thinking about how we want our life to go. There were valuable lessons in the time of the Corona crazies when life was slow, and we had no choice but to stop. The lessons I learned then are ones I don’t want to sacrifice at the altar of the busy world and its demands.

So, I am taking time to reset and refocus this year and this Lenten season. One way to do this is through quiet and solitude.

When we read the gospels, we notice Jesus often took time alone to pray and get quiet. A time to reset away from the crowds and the noise. A break from the bustle that came with His ministry and the criticisms of those who set out to cause Him to stumble.Continue Reading

The Gift of Lent

February 20, 2023 By Kristin Saatzer 6 Comments

“I have calmed and quieted myself.”

Psalm 131:2

“What are you giving up for Lint?”

I remember hearing some Catholic kids in my elementary school ask one another this question sporting what I thought was dirt smudged on their foreheads. Come to find out, it wasn’t spelled “Lint” (nor was it the same thing as the lint in the dryer).

And it turns out it wasn’t dirt on their foreheads; it was ash from an Ash Wednesday ceremony at their church.

The church of my youth was non-denominational and did not observe this practice (obviously!), and neither have the churches I’ve attended as an adult. But in recent years, I have embraced Lent and am learning more about the liturgical church calendar. There is a lovely rhythm and beautiful meaning to each season and holy day, even the period called Ordinary Time.Continue Reading