Lingering in the Season Part 5

December 24, 2014 By Kristin Saatzer 1 Comment

nativity reflection

What can I give Him,

Poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd

I would bring Him a lamb,

If I were a wise man

I would do my part,

Yet what I can I give Him,

Give Him my heart.

Christina Rossetti

Savor the Saviour

“I thank God for His gift that words cannot describe.” 2 Corinthians 9:15

Dear Lord,

Thank you for Jesus, the gift that words cannot describe. In response, please accept the offering of our hearts. Lord, touch the spaces rooted within us that need healing. Have your way in us this Christmas God. “…Yet what can I give Him. Give Him my heart.”

Happy Birthday Jesus.

“…FLING WIDE THE PORTALS OF YOUR HEART; MAKE IT A TEMPLE SET APART…” George Weissel

only love background and manger

Photo Credit: Google Images

Lingering in the Season Part 4

December 18, 2014 By Kristin Saatzer Leave a Comment

Lingering-in-season-part-4

SAVOR THE SEASON WITH BOOKS

Books are my thing. I adore the smell, the way treasured favorites fit in my hands, the site of books stacked on a coffee table, oh what joys these bring. Couple books with Christmas and I am giddy. Our Christmas book collection has grown over the years because of my passion, ok yes, my addiction to books, books, and more books.

Carving out time to read stories (and especially THE STORY) is a huge part of the Christmas season for me and my family. Lingering in the season with a book in front of the tree is pure pleasure. Here are ELEVEN of my favorites Christmas reads…

Christ in the Carols (devotional) by Christopher and Melodie Lane

52 Ways to Make Christmas Special Thomas Nelson Publisher

Christmas Stories for the Heart compiled by Alice Gray

The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans

Christmas in my Heart (series) by Joe L. Wheeler

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (funny-PG rated) by Barbara Robinson

Jotham’s Journey A Storybook for Advent (family read aloud-series of three) by Arnold Ytreeide

The Very First Christmas (beautiful family picture book) by Paul L. Maier

The Nativity (gorgeous pop-up book) by Francesca Crespi

The Legend of the Candy Cane (picture and storybook) by Lori Walburg

The Jolly Christmas Postman by Janet and Alleb Ahlbery (fun family activity and storybook)

“This is the irrational season

When love blooms bright and wild.

Had Mary been filled with reason

There’d have been no room for the child.”

Madeleine L’Engle

Lingering in the Season Part 3

December 15, 2014 By Kristin Saatzer Leave a Comment

SAVOR THE SEASON BY FORCING YOURSELF TO SAVOR THE SEASON

That sounds weird doesn’t it? Let me explain…

I am a “to do list” kinda gal. And this time of year, there are a multitude of tasks on my list (just like yours). There are lists for my lists. There are subcategory lists for those lists… you get the picture.

The act of crossing off a chore on my slate feels ALMOST as good as a piece of dark chocolate melting in my mouth. That good! The feeling of accomplishment is a huge rush for me and I suspect it is for you too. As hard as it is, we must instruct ourselves (in a bossy voice) to put the lists down and let them wait for a bit.

Sometimes we need to force ourselves to jump off the hamster wheel. Let’s not allow this beautiful Advent season to run away with the hamsters. How about giving ourselves permission to stop and smell the Christmas pines? Remembering our theme from the first two posts: lingering in the season requires deliberateness on our part.

How about putting “savoring the season” on your list for today? Won’t it feel good to cross that one-off?

Here is your assignment:

1. Put down your list and jump off the wheel

2. Put on some Christmas music

3. Light a scented candle

4. LINGER in and SAVOR this moment

AHHHH… good job.

Now WHERE did I put that list?

“And I know that my redeemer lives, and at the last He will stand upon the earth.” Job 19:25 ESV

PC: Google Images

Lingering in the Season Part 2

December 9, 2014 By Kristin Saatzer Leave a Comment

Christmas Cookies christmas sights

“O renew us, Lord, we pray,
with thy Spirit day by day,
That we ever one may be
With the Father and with thee.”
Wordsworth

SAVOR THE SEASON WITH WORDS

Years ago, I was given a tacky-looking Christmas journal. Instead of re-gifting it,

I picked it up and began filling the pages.

Recording the season with words has been a lovely way of lingering in Christmas for me.

I journal about…

~Things that I LOVE about the season:

Smells– Christmas trees~cookies baking~candles…

Sights– a tree in the back of a truck headed home for decorationg~babies in Santa suits~neighborhood lights…

Sounds- favorite Christmas carols being played in PUBLIC~Salvation Army bells…

~Things that I’ve done:

the annual Christmas dessert~a choir concert~parties with friends~feeding the homeless…

~Things that speak to me in my Advent readings (Scripture, songs. words and poems):

“Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift.” 2 Corinthians 9;5

Jesus– For He will save His people from their sins

Emmanuel– God with us

~Things that I’m struggling with:

financial challenges~walking through loss with grieving loved ones~time crunches~overspending…

~Things that I’m thankful for:

God’s precious gift~my healthy kids~a warm home~my bible~my church~a fun day with friends

Writing suspends time somewhat. It slows us down, allowing us to reflect on the preciousness of this time of year.

It enables us to glance back through the years, to remember things we may have forgotten. Buried nuggets from seasons’ past.

Reading my 2011 entries, I recalled the financial struggles of that time. God was faithful to our family. He loved and provided for us in the midst of a crazy period. How grateful I am to see those provisions in print.

Reading words expressed when my boys were little. I desired to spend meaningful time with them and pull off the holidays too. The Lord carried me those days.

Reading favorite scriptures, cherishing how they’ve spoken to me these years.

I challenge you to write in your own way and in your own time about your own things.

May journaling decrease your pace and be a sweet way of lingering in the season.

My wonderful, tacky-Christmas journal- so glad I didn’t re-gift it!

“O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel.” Phillips Brooks