8th Day of Christmas Giveaway with Rachel Olsen
Christmas Sale: If you’d like info on getting any of my books (tax-free & with no shipping costs!) for you or as a personalized gift for someone, click here.
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Welcome to the 8th Day of Christmas Giveaway!!
Each day, December 1-12th, I am featuring a fellow Proverbs 31 sister and an aspect of Christmas. You’ll get to know her and she, in turn, will offer a fabulous giveaway! Simply leave a comment on her post to be entered in the drawing.
And, one soon-to-be-very-giddy gal who comments on all 12 posts will win the GRAND PRIZE! You may comment on all posts until Monday, December 13th at 5:00 pm EST when the winners will be announced. (to see the grand prize and get caught up on the posts click here)
Now, for our next guest, the creative Rachel Olsen!!!
Rachel Olsen leads woman to seek and savor Christ. She is on the writing team and the speaker team at Proverbs 31 Ministries. She serves as Chief Editor for the online devotions Encouragement for Today, which reach about 375,000 women daily.
Rachel lives in a coastal town with her husband and two children, where she loves to browse bookstores, sip lattes at Starbucks, and walk the beach season round. To learn more about Rachel, stop by her blog at www.RachelOlsen.com.
Little known fact about Rachel: “When I was in graduate school, I played drums for a while at my church. We needed a drummer for the Sunday night service so I bought an electronic set I could practice on in my apartment with head-phones, and I learned to play. I’m not great at it but I can do it, and it’s really fun!”
Favorite Christmas Carol
“Pa rum pa pum pum” goes the line 21 times in one of my favorite Christmas carols. You guessed it, The Little Drummer Boy. This song has a powerful way of humbling me and focusing my heart on what’s truly important.
The lyrics tell the story of a young boy who has come to see the baby Jesus. As he stands staring into the meager manger he tells the infant, “Little Baby, I am a poor boy too. I have no gift to bring that’s fit for our King.” And then he offers his services to the Lord by asking, “Shall I play for you?” Mary gives the nod and the little boy begins to play the simple drum – wanting to play his absolute best for Jesus.
I so identify with that little boy who has no fancy gifts to bring Jesus.
Like him, all I can offer is myself and what I know how to do.
For the little drummer boy, it was striking rhythmic beats on his instrument and helping people feel moved through music. For me, it’s typing on my keyboard and helping people feel moved through words.
It’s a simple thing; most everyone can write. Most everybody does.
I’m not the world’s best writer either. But words are my drum, so I play. I think we each have a “drum” to play.
As the song ends, it describes the baby Jesus smiling in pleasure at the little drummer boy. That’s my hope – that prospect sets my soul aflutter. When my breath here draws to an end and I stand before Jesus, I hope he’ll look over my life and my words, smile, and say, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”
Seriously, this song makes me cry every single time.
Rachel’s Giveaway
Being a word-girl fallen head over heels with the Word Made Flesh – of course I’m giving away words today! The winner will receive:
~ A $10 gift card to Barnes & Noble so you can buy the words of your choice.
~ A year’s subscription to the P31 Woman magazine.
~ And a copy of my new book It’s No Secret: Revealing Divine Truths Every Woman Should Know.
Okay girlfriends…..I’m sure you’ve already figured out the question! What is your favorite Christmas song or carol? Leave a comment telling us and you’ll be entered in Rachel’s giveaway.
Pa-rum-pa-pum-pum!
Blessings,
My favorite christmas song since I was a child was Silent Night. Still my favorite, but also One Small Child.
O Come, O Come Emanuel
O Holy Night is my favorite. It was made even more so, when I mentioned that to my dad. He told me that when he was a kid, his father (who passed away 15 years ago) loved that song too. He used to put on a record of it, and play it over and over. Now I think of my grandpa every time I hear the song, and imagine him listening to his record.