Monday, December 20, 2010

Of Artichoke and Christmas


"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." - Psalm 37:4

Wrapped in a season of celebration, stop and notice the little bits. The gifts that a loving God adorns with bows of everyday. I am learning. I am looking. I am finding.

Over a year after returning from the mission field, we celebrated the gift of family and friends. Opening our home, we welcomed them with laughter, cherished our time, celebrated the goodness of our God.

With so many I wanted to create a evening of joy right down to the artichoke jalapeno warm spread. As people came and came, filling our home with smiles and friendships, I danced in the gift of hospitality. Sharing, welcoming, hugging, greeting, I glanced and noticed one dip was dwindling. More food abounded, no lack, yet I simply wanted everyone to enjoy well, everything. Without a worry, I simply continued to host and enjoy our time with family and friends.

A few moments later, I glanced across the kitchen to notice a friend filling a bowl to the brim of freshly warmed artichoke jalapeno spread. She had brought it to our celebration and arrived with the warm gift from a Jesus who cares even about the little things.

In that moment. In a simple act. The hand of my God providing for my every need. Giving me the desires of my heart. Answering the whisper under my breath. Wrapping His gift in warm artichoke.

It may seem trivial to some. Yet this sweet reminder, one in countless, reminded me of a God that sustains the world with His Word, sends His Son to bring me life abundant, and cares about the minute details of my life.

I can trust Him to provide for me. I can rely on His grace to sustain me. I can rest in His goodness. And when the last guest leaves, I can scoop up warm artichoke spread and smile.

What gifts (small or grandiose) has God wrapped for you this Christmas season?

And rejoice with me in 70% of our water buffalo to wrap for Jesus this year!

(We are splashing together to bless a family in India with a gift this year for Christmas. Simply click to donate as all funds will be donated to Gospel for Asia)

36 comments:

Unknown said...

A friendship that lives across the miles - a love that surpasses distance and a heart so full of His love - that I can't help but feel loved too!

You my friend are a gift He continues to bless me with every single day of the year!

LOVE YOU!
Jill

Jo-Ann said...

Thanks for visiting my site and for your nice comments -- Wishing you and yours a blessed Christmas as we celebrate the birth of our Savior.

Melissa said...

I am so thankful for the gift of friends and strangers that quilt my heart with His love and truth.

I truly love your blog! Thank you for writing and splashing His love on all who cross paths with you!

God Bless you!

Merry Christmas!

The Unknowngnome said...

A joyous Christmas blessing to you and your family!

I have been gifted with finding your words in the world.

Splashin' back at ya'!

Stacy@hiswaynotmine said...

Hi Sara,
So nice to meet you! Thank you for stopping by my blog and saying Hi. I love meeting new sisters in the Lord through this crazy place called blogging. What a gift!

I look forward to coming back and hearing more from your heart as you share God's.

Your family is just beautiful.

Many blessings to you as you celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior.

Much love in Christ,
Stacy

BTW....I love this post...yes, God is in all the details and the little things in life....meeting us in such a personal way. What a God we serve! And the dip sounds just delicious. I love, love, love, artichokes. :)

Ginny Marie said...

Now I have the song "Everybody has a water buffalo" in my head! ;) Good luck buying a water buffalo - what a good cause!

The fountain in your header looks like the one in downtown Chicago...my girls have had so much fun splashing in that fountain!

Enjoy the rest of Advent as we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ, and have a Merry Christmas!

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

Yes and Amen...I too am enjoying dancing with joy this season as we caroled in our neighborhood and released the gospel through song. God was there at each turn, with each opened door. What an awesome God we serve.
Nice to splash and dance with you through this season of celebrating His birth and all year long!

Shelley said...

Oh I love it here! I think we are a kindred spirit when it comes to missions - thanks so much for stopping by and introducing yourself - I'll be back to read more of your posts with a cup of coffee laced with eggnog! Merry Christmas to you too - Because HE lives!!!
Shelley

Sandra Heska King said...

That warmed my heart. Beautiful unwrapping. Christmas blessings to you and your family!

A multi-dimensional life said...

Sarah, first...thank you so much for your gracious comments on my blog. Even though Christmas is bittersweet, I know that we will sing and dance together before the Lord some day!

I love the look and title of your blog and your post is such a great reminder that God cares right down to the little things! (it reminds me of my message of the lost keys last week ~:)

Psalm 37:4 has always been one of my favorite verses.

I'm a follower of your blog now and I look forward to more visits!
So glad to have met you!

Merry Christmas!

myletterstoemily said...

what a precious expression of His love for
you!

have a wondrous Christmas!

Susie said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving such sweet comments:-) I hope to see you back there soon and I hope you have a GREAT holiday:-)

Denise said...

What The Lord has given me this Christmas? A peace in my soul, deep abiding love between the two of us.Something that words cannot express...a mystery that will be shown to me when I see His face.His LOVE.

Wanda said...

God is absolutely awesome. Even the trivial matters to Him because He is concerned about every detail of our lives.

Unknown said...

Thank you for visiting my blog. This is a wonderful post, and a good example of living for Him in every moment. I am now following you, and look forward to splashin' more with you.

Dorie said...

Hi Sarah,
I love how God is in not just the 'big' things, but the details of our lives. He is so GOOD!

I am so thankful you stopped by and left such encouraging words!
What a lovely place to 'splash around,' and I can't wait to read more.

May you and your family have a wonderful Christmas,
Dorie

Janet Rose said...

Beautiful post! Thank you for sharing how God blessed you with warm artichoke dip. His voice is in the stillness sometimes...the littlest of things. I love when He speaks volumes in the smallest of ways.
Thank you for splashing around my blog and leaving a comment. Feel free to splash all you want.
Merry Christmas!

Anonymous said...

Hello! Thank you very much for stopping by our blog! You have a beautiful and inspirational blog! I look forward to reading more and getting to know you better here on your blog!

Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Living a Healthy Beach Life

Eat To Live said...

Thanks for stopping by. What a breath of fresh air your blog is. Keep up the good work.

Janis Van Keuren said...

Hi Sara,
Thank you so much for your prayers and thoughtful comments regarding the passing of Hubby's sister into the arms of Jesus. While we sense the loss, we are overjoyed at her presence and freedom in the Lord.
The Lord always provides~and I love the way He provided the artichoke dip for you and your friends. Even the littlest detail is not lost on Him.
May your Christmas be richly blessed,
Janis

Amy said...

Hi! Thank you for stopping by my blog! I am now following you and am so excited to do so! You have a beautiful site!

Sharon said...

I'm so glad that I stopped over here today to splash around for a while!

What a blessing this story was to me. Yes, God is in the details of our lives, too. Sometimes I forget that. Sure, I turn to Him easily for the BIG stuff - but I don't always keep that running dialogue with Him about all the LITTLE things that happen in a day.

I'm joining you in being grateful for "warm artichoke dip" - and for a loving God who provides.

Wishing you and yours a WONDER-full Christmas!

GOD BLESS!

Linda said...

Blessed Christmas Sara! I am unfailingly overwhelmed at the way the Father loves us - just as though we, each of us, were His only child.
The answers to those prayers we think must surely be too insignificant; the beauty He pours into our lives; the knowing that He wants to spend time with me. Oh miracle!
Have a wonderful Christmas Sara. You bless me dear one.
I'm sorry not to be able to contribute here. We have done things in other places - our Christmas presents to one another.

Intentional Living Homestead said...

What a wonderful post....I pray you have a wonderful and blessed Christmas.

Discovering the Me in Mommy said...

Love the idea of sending a water buffalo! We've done similar things with Samaritan's Purse.

Thanks for visiting -- hope you'll be back soon!

Debb said...

Hello, Sara! Your visit and kind words on my blog blessed my day! I am now a follower and look forward to splashin' around in God's love with you!

I would say that I see God in so many of the details, but the GREATEST gift/reminder of God in the small and large things, is our adoption! Jeff and I are adopting from Ethiopia, and it never ceases to amaze me when I think of how God has known all along which child or children He has planned for us ~ and that He is currently orchestrating the details of bringing our family together, even though we are currently halfway around the world from one another!

Thank you for this post that reminds me that, even though we still have not received our referral ~ we still do not have a face or faces to look into ~ we can still cling to God and trust that He is working out the details. Have a blessed Christmas with your precious and beautiful family!

Jill said...

Hello!

Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving such a sweet comment! It's so great to meet you!

Wishing you and your family a very merry Christmas and a Happy New year!!

Many Blessings,
Jill

Miss Janet said...

That is so sweet! Our Father loves us so much, doesn't He?

Thanks for the compliment on my hair. I really like it dark like this for winter. It has a redish/purple tint to the brown.

You are almost there with the water buffalo!!!! Woo hoo!

Love and blessings,


Janet

www.homeward4.blogspot.com

Tracie Nall said...

I have been blessed by God's provision this year over and over again, always at just the right time and in just the right way. This holiday season is no exception.

Thank you for your kind words about my video when you stopped by my blog the other day.

And HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS indeed!

Michele Williams said...

Such a wonderful ministry the Lord has given you. What a blessing. Have a Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year.

Denise said...

I am fixing to chip into your Water Buffalo fund.. I guess I have not been here on this blog much but that will not be the case from now on! I have a friend in India that we have been talking to for 4 years now and he is an ordained minister now.. He has a passion for his people of India and especially the women of the slum... My ministry for years now has been to the hurting women of abuse an divorce.. God brought me and Chris together via my web site.. Over the years we have become partners in the vision that God has given him.. Me and my husband have been financially helping him for a year now and come this spring he is going to move into one of those small villages and build a mission. I send him devotionals for him to minister to the women and also we provide rice. He has honored with naming the mission and according to the scripture of the woman at the well and the heart ache that she had endured in her life the Lord has spoken to my heart and the name of the mission is Living Water Mission..... I will pray for your vision for India also....... What a gift we have to give..... Prayer....

Merry Christmas to you and your family..

Yona said...

You’ve been tagged!

It’s a Snowball style "Christmas Getting to Know You Free for All" – to learn more – check it out here – http://artpark78.com/blog1/ive-been-tagged/


PS - I just contributed to the fund. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

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Merry Christmas,
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David C Brown said...

It looks like you'll get that buffalo yet! Grace be with you all.

Debbie Petras said...

Oh Sarah, how glad I am that you are here in Arizona. But I'm also sorry I've not been so available to get together. My heart would love to do so though. What a precious post for Christmas. You have such a joyful heart and it's contagious my friend.

Love you,
Debbie

Leslie said...

An all-expense paid vacation in Nosara for the whole family with my dad and brother! A new transmission! His love is extravagant. So glad you're "back"!