Monday, November 30, 2009

Come & Receive

If I'm honest, I'll admit that growing up, my Christmas was about 98% Santa and about 2% Nativity.

Make that 99%, 1%.

Between chocolate-filled advent calendars, the latest Toys R Us ads, and wish-lists longer than our fridge, I didn't have much leftover room in my heart or mind for Christ. In fact, the only thoughts I gave Him were selfish/irritated ones that I was born on December 22nd, and wondered why He and I had to share our birthdays so close together.

On Christmas Eve, the classic book we read from was "Twas the Night Before Christmas," and not the chapter of Luke.

The last thing I was thinking about on Christmas morning was a baby in a manger.

**

This may very well be the first year I'm learning to re-orient my mind.

If you've ever found yourself in a similar situation, perhaps I can extend an invitation.

I will be speaking at Lake Sawyer Christian Church this upcoming Friday, December 4th. They have an annual Womens Christmas gathering, and I was honored to be asked to be a part of it this year! A fabulous dinner is included, plus carols and cheesecake.

Most importantly, I'm looking forward to going because this year, I want to have a fresh outlook on this season that we are all so familiar with. I want to see things a little differently than I have in years past. I'm looking for a different kind of joy. Perhaps, together, we can find a new perspective with which to navigate this busy month.

Doors open at 6:15 pm. The theme is "A Gift Worth Giving." Hope to see you there!

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yay! Sarah Taylor, your blog is so inspiring!

"I'm looking for a different kind of joy. Perhaps, together, we can find a new perspective with which to navigate this busy month."

I love it! I don't live in the Seattle area, but I pray that hearts may grow in like situations around the globe.

anne said...

Sarah, Ben and I were so excited when we saw your name on the flyer at church (we go to LSCC). However, the demand for this event was so great that it sold-out. In fact, this Sunday they were asking if anyone who reserved tickets had changed their mind - or their plans had changed - because the waiting list is getting longer and longer. How cool is that? Unfortunately, I didn't get my ticket in time (and as a man, Ben was never eligible). But, I'm anxious to hear how it all goes. :)

What an exciting adventure to have you out at LSCC. I can't wait to hear all about it!

Anonymous said...

Hey Sarah I want to thank u for coming to speak at your church on friday. It is cool that u are doing that. It is going to be a awsome eventing

Nancy Oren Wilson said...

I was talking to your MOm yesterday about this and I told her I wished I was there to tag along...since 2400 miles separate us, I will do the better thing. I will spend portions of my day praying that God will fill you up with Him and use you to touch women's lives that have a deep need for a word from HIm this season.

Anonymous said...

How was the evening of "Come and Receive"?

Your Love, Your Life said...

Sarah -

Thank you for coming to our church for our Women's Christmas dinner - you made it a very special evening and it funny how listening to you on the radio all these years, hearing all the stories of Olivia from pregnancy till now - listening to you that night - felt like I was listening to a friend. Your story about the stones and giving us that gift was very inspiring.

So...I went and got jar, it sits so nicely on my bathroom countertop and I see my stones each morning, and the shiny one lays right on top rimnding me each morning how Jesus covers me. So - one thing missing from my jar is the passage of scripture that you quoted - I would love to have that on the top of my jar!

Thanks for your service, for sharing your life with us, making us laugh and helping us draw close to Jesus each and every day!

Sarah Taylor said...

Hi Linda,

Here you go...

Joshua 4:5-6

"... and Joshua said to them: “Cross over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.”