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,
O Holy Night is my favorite, and now I am blessed to hear my oldest son play it on the trumpet for us at church. He has a beautiful gift; I’m so glad he is using it to bless others. We all have gifts that God can use to His glory! Merry Christmas! Thank you for your wonderful giveaway.
“O Holy Night” is my favorite. I remember as a child my mother singing this song in the kitchen while making up the cookie trays for our neighbors. I still enjoy hearing her sing this in Church.
jenbrandes(at)frontiernet(dot)net
I love all Christmas carols, but one of my favorites is O Tannenbaum. The reason is my dad would walk around the house and sing it in German. It still makes me smile and remember.
OH HOly Night
Oh Holy Hight, and Carol of the Bells. Thanks
O Holy Night
Mary Did you know! and Silver bells
I’m in.
O Holy Night
Silent Night!
O Come All Ye Faithful
My favorite is Silent Night…..
My mom died when she was 54 – just 4 months before my wedding and before any of her 3 grandchildren were born. She worked full time and was also our church organist and choir director for 30+ years. She always played “O Holy Night” every Christmas Eve. It was just magical especially during the 11:00 pm candle light service. She’s been gone for 13 years now and last Christmas was the first time I didn’t break down hearing that song.
O Little Town of Bethlehem….I’m in!
I love O Come All Ye Faithful and Silent Night as traditional carols, but also have been encouraged by I Need A Silent Night from Amy Grant’s last christmas album lately
O Holy Night is my favorite. The line “Fall on your knees” gives me chills every time, and reminds me that I am to focus on worship this time of year (and all year).
Sleigh Ride for fun and O’ Little Town of Bethlehem for the song that really brings the meaning of Christmas to me.
Has to be “Mary Did You Know”! Being a Mother of two I can’t but think what if, just what if that had been me! Brings tears to my eyes everytime I hear it.
I love the Little Drummer Boy also but one of my other favorites is Mary Did You Know? Now that brings tears to my eyes every time!!
My heart beats with Rachel’s. Love the sound of the ‘drumming’ of the computer keyboard. The steady beat of words finding rhythm in sentences, phrases and paragraphs. (Rachel was also my “She Speaks” speaker leader this past summer…LOVE Rachel!)
My favourite Christmas song is so hard. For this year, my heart has been captivated by the new release, “Where’s the Line to See Jesus?” I’m sure many of you have seen it floating around on Facebook and GodTube. It’s a beautiful song based on a true story. Just in case you’re one of the few who has missed it, click here: http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=76LY6GNX
Keeping Christ in Christmas,
Joy
Joy to the World, the Lord has come!
I’m in! Thanks!
I’m in!
Oh Holy Night and Silent Night are the two songs that make me feel Christmas-y. Reading your blog made me realze how I’ve become desensitized to the traditional songs. I’ve heard that song tons of times,but it was like hearing it again for the first time in your blog. I was convicted to stop, slow down and enjoy Christmas. Thank you for helping me to see and hear Christmas again for the first Time.
Rachel–This blog really touched my heart…as I too have often felt that I have nothing to give the Lord but myself. So that is what I have chosen to do…He saved my life…I give Him mine, now the fun of waiting to see what He does with it! One of my favorite Christmas songs is JOY to the WORLD!