Grace Archives - Kristin Saatzer

The Opposite of Romans 6:13

September 14, 2018 By Kristin Saatzer 4 Comments

Give yourselves to God…

surrender your whole being to Him to be used for righteous purpose.

Romans 6:13 TEV

The day was toast. I was toast. In an almost vegetative state, lounged across my bed with phone in hand, I scrolled through Instagram. I barely registered my son’s voice as it echoed in my ear. How long had he been sitting there? I sat up as it dawned on me that Micah had walked into my room earlier, and talked to me the entire time. As if not noticing him wasn’t bad enough, I had actually responded to him as I scrolled (“uh huh”, “really”, “wow”, “that’s funny”). I stopped my multi-tasking and stared at my child.

Now, this boy has an advanced degree in the spoken word, and he’s only 14. Micah thinks verbally and needs to dump about 100,000 words per day. In the summertime, without his classmates around, I am usually the “dumpee” for the much of those words. Just sayin’. Still, pretending to listen and focusing elsewhere is the opposite of the way I want to mother him.

Anyway, as conviction bubbled in me, I apologized to this great kid of mine and he forgave me. Then, without missing a beat, continued his story.

I confess this is not an isolated occurrence, neither are the many “unrighteous” actions or choices I make. That is why the verse above, Romans 6:13, is a surrender scripture I memorized this year, my year of Surrender.

The Lord continues to show me areas where I have not yielded my “whole being to Him“. I want to “be used for righteous purpose“. In whatever big or small ways the Lord may lead.

There are days when my life, my brain, or my actions look the opposite of Romans 6:13: my whole being is sure not surrendered to Him and I ain’t being used for a righteous purpose.

Besides ignoring my kid, lately, I have struggled with anxiety. My mind and stomach bubbling with “what ifs” and “how is this going to work?”. This summer, I exhausted heaps of emotional energy trying to figure out “how it was going to work” with my dad’s health and healthcare needs. I also worried about one of my sons, asking myself “what if?” repeatedly. After I relinquished these heavy loads at God’s feet, I would sneak back in and haul them out again.

My friends, this verse from Romans whispers to my heart. I crave the freedom my Savior gives. I dislike the burden of worry I sometimes carry. So, why do I do the opposite of what I want to do?Continue Reading

Can We Talk About Offendability?

July 19, 2018 By Kristin Saatzer 3 Comments

Junior High School called and it wants its hurt feelings back.

Oh, Middle school. This demographic gets a bad rap sometimes, but I (usually) enjoy these humans, even though extra grace is often required.

This stage of life is challenging for most. Many kids ooze insecurity, hold grudges, exaggerate stories, gossip, bully, and think narrow-mindedly.

Hmmm… Sounds like some grown-ups, doesn’t it?

Those of us active on social media see this type of behavior daily. It is oftentimes a mean scene on the World Wide Web, and in Junior High. Offense Gone Wild. Only, from my perspective, the kids aren’t as jaded as the adults and they forgive easier.

I was unfriended on Facebook for not liking someone’s celebration post, for not inviting someone to lunch, and blocked because I left an organization. I was reviled for my Christian faith and shunned because of a misunderstood family dynamic. Ah… the fun of social media.

My internet and other “real life”experiences, trained me to tiptoe around certain people, to consider my message at length before I speak, post, or send a text or email. I find myself worried that I might cause hurt feelings, even by the most casual-type of spoken or written word. I am a pleaser peacemaker and I fret that I may unintentionally offend these persons by just being me.

It is exhausting.

Most of us have experienced, seen, and yes, inflicted offense in life and online. One of my favorite books is Unoffendable by Brant Hansen. Here is the quote from the dedication page of the book:

“To all those who want grace for themselves but struggle to extend it to others.

Wait: that’s everybody.”

God is funny sometimes. As I jotted down notes for this post, a discussion took place between my twenty-one-year-old son and me. He asked me to stop making dentist and doctor appointments for him, he said he wants to make them from now on, and explained his reason. I was somewhat offended! My feelings, injured for a few minutes (because Mom knows best) until I laughed at the timing, and let the hurt melt away.Continue Reading

Can We Talk About Christmas? Relationships and Christmas Part One

December 5, 2017 By Kristin Saatzer 4 Comments

Relationships and Christmas Part One

My Christmas Intention

At the end of the Thanksgiving week, I sat down with my notebook and began the Christmas giving and gift list. I aim to start the season with purpose, planning, and lists. This looks prettier some years than others. As I scribbled out ideas on what to do for and get my loved ones, I started to pray. Asking the Lord what I could give Him, I felt God nudging my focus toward relationships.

You see, I love people, and I love God, but if I’m not careful, I’m swept up in crossing off my list and the getting-things-done seasonal trap. Yes, most of the items on my list are others-focused (buying gifts, charitable giving, baking, cooking, house tasks, etc.) And I can certainly get my tinsel in a tangle when my focus is all about productivity. I want to connect deeply in my relationships this Christmas, especially in my relationship with Jesus.

Therefore, relationships are my 2017 Christmas intention.

Yes, responsibilities are important and necessary. However, I want to center in on others and invest deeply. Here are a few points and scriptures I will use to guide me along the way this Advent time. I’d love to share them with you.

~The ultimate model of a Christmas relationship (of course) is God and his son:

“...and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” Matthew 3:17 NASB

The Christmas story oozes in human dynamics: God and Jesus, Mary and Elizabeth, Mary and Joseph, Mary and Jesus, the shepherds, the Wiseman, and Herod. The Bible is replete with kinship and family ties. Relationships matter to God. Importantly, the one we share with Him is of utmost priority.

Each day of Advent, I spend time reading “God’s Story” and in prayer. This is a time of quiet focus as the dawn blooms and the morning birds chirp. Time for my Saviour and I to gel before the hustle and bustle of the day. I record my Christmas thanks and trials. I cherish this time for centering and perspective.

I heard it said once that Christmas means more of Christ. Yes, this is my craving, more of Christ, each Advent day.Continue Reading

Is Ungratefulness A Sin?

March 1, 2017 By Kristin Saatzer 4 Comments

The Practice of Gratitude Part 2

A society dwells in a dump, a cavity of stink where the city throws its trash in Tijuana, Mexico.

As a college student, I spent a day volunteering there. We administered showers to the kids. We checked for lice one family at a time and passed out toiletries to the masses. They received two meals and clean clothes. These precious ones called this horrible pit their home. The lucky ones used cardboard boxes as shelter from the rain.

Never in my young life had I seen such gratefulness, such unabashed appreciation. It was as if we had rescued them and delivered them to a mansion. Strong images, forever ingrained in my mind.

Repeated guilt ensued after my time at the dump, including an ongoing confession to God. I kept saying, “God, forgive me for my ungratefulness! Forgive me for all my stuff, forgive me, forgive me…” It felt wrong that I had so much. Wrong that I was living in a large condo, driving a great car and getting a college degree. I had fabulous clothes and a warm shower every day. No one administered humiliating lice checks and I didn’t worry when the rain came.

Was it a sin that I was born to my parents? That my folks could afford material possessions for me? A college education and housing to boot? Such extravagance compared to the mammas and daddies I’d met, wanting only to feed, clothe, and protect their children. My college-girl self lived sheltered and cared for. A gift.

In time, my grown-up self learned this truth:

Being raised with material abundance is not a sin.

My dump encounter was priceless. My experience that day eclipsed the small bit of what I did for the people I met. In the years following, I’ve had many opportunities to look at my plenty, in contrast to the lives of people living in poverty: I’ve worked in prisons, orphanages, street outreach, homeless shelters, among many. What strikes me each time I “serve” is the gratitude given. Beautiful gratitude, this is what I aspire to take from these experiences into my living. Not guilt or a feeling that my privileges are a sin.

Valuable examples for me. I’ve seem that no matter what the condition or situation, there is always something to be grateful for. If the citizens of the dump can do it, so can I.

Also valuable was coming to terms with sin and abundance. But what about sin and ungratefulness?