Welcome to A Sacred Pause. Each Sunday of Advent you will receive an email of devotions, prayers, and going deeper all with the intention of shaping and refining your time of waiting in this Advent season.
If you are like me, you are familiar with the practice and season of Advent but find as you get older there is a desire to go deeper and prepare your heart for the coming of Jesus. Maybe, you also grew up with an Advent tradition in your church that marked the four weeks before Christmas with the weekly lighting of a candle on the Advent wreath. Or maybe, instead, Advent is a new concept to you and you want to know what all the buzz is about.
Wherever you may be in your understanding of Advent or willingness to learn more, this journey is for you. It is an invitation to pause, be still, and listen in the waiting. This is your personal invitation to allow God to work in your heart as you open yourself up to the gift that He gave you in His son, Jesus. It is a slowing down of your thoughts, heartbeat, and a chance to add new rhythms to your day as you prepare for Jesus’ birth.
Wikipedia states that:
“Advent is a season observed in many Christian churches as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for both the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas and the return of Jesus at the Second Coming. The term is a version of the Latin word meaning “coming”.
Let’s give ourselves a gift this Advent season. One that looks like hope in the hard, rest in the waiting, and the renewal of our heart as we prepare to receive the knowledge that Christ is the answer.
Beginning on Sunday, December 1, you will receive an email in your inbox with weekly reflections, verse of the week, prayer and so much more. (Sign up below so you don’t miss a week.) Then each Sunday for the four weeks in Advent you will receive your email for the week. This is yours to dive into as much or little as you feel led. My prayer is that you allow yourself to slow down and know that God is with you and desires nothing more than for a bit of your time this busy holiday season.
Will you join the journey to slowing down and living with expectancy this Advent season? The doors are open and this is your invitation to step through and seek Jesus with intentionality. Hop over to the blog. #ASacredPause Share on XThank you for joining me on this journey to discovering “a sacred pause.” May you find peace, hope, and a new rhythm for your soul this season.
In the stillness,
To my friends new and old. I spent time preparing this series with lots of resources and the chance to really slow down this season with all of you in mind. It is my prayer that you sense the hope and expectancy of this season as you choose to press pause on some of the busy that accompanies the holidays.
It is my pleasure and honor to join you on this journey to “A Sacred Pause” this Advent season. In order to keep in line with this season of slowing down, there will be no linkup for the Tell His Story community until after the 1st of the year. Let’s embrace the invitation to live with expectant joy for all God is going to do.
If you are new to this online space, welcome. If you are looking for weekly encouragement in your inbox plus an Advent freebie, sign up today in the box below. Finally, I know that there are others that would love to join the Advent journey. Will you please share this post and invite others to join us?
Love this idea and the name! laurensparks.net
Thank you, Lauren! I pray it blesses you.
I’m looking forward to a sacred pause this Advent… thank you for preparing these devotions for the next four weeks. Do I need to sign up again, or if I’m already a subscriber, will I automatically get the posts?
Blessings, Joan
You’re welcome! It is such a sweet time with God and I pray it blesses you. Thank you for joining the journey.
Come again Lord Jesus! His voice is loudest in the quietest moments of our hearts! I love that you are preparing others to quieten their hearts too!
Bless you Mary,
Jennifer
Yes! Come, Lord Jesus! May we hear and know God is in our midst as we slow down and accept the invitation to sit with God.
Enjoy your season of slowing down and expectation. May your time with family bring peace and joy.
I will and I pray you experience a time of slowing down and intimacy with God.
I can’t believe this Sunday will already be the first day of Advent. 2019 has been the shortest year ever. I do want it to slow down and live with more expectancy. Thanks for this reminder, Mary. May I keep it in my heart all season!
Advent definitely snuck up quickly. May your heart be filled with expectancy and joy during this Advent season and throughout the year.
Thanks for reminding us to slow our hearts and minds in preparation for the celebration of Christ’s birth, Mary! It’s actually the hardest time of year to do this! Lol! But with my recent surgery, God has kept me slowed in more ways than one! Happy Thanksgiving, my friend!
It is the hardest time of year to pause but it is where God meets us so intimately. Praying for you as you slow down to hear from God. Also, I hope you are healing well.
Slowing down in this busy season and being refocused on what’s most important. I am on board. Thanks for taking the time to develop this resource that will minster and speak to our hearts.
Slowing down this time of year is such a gift for me. I pray that it blesses you too as you pause and hear from God.
Dear Mary,
I so look forward to your Sunday Sharing series. Thank you for taking extra time to help us find time to pause. Blessings and prayers for you this Season of Thanksgiving!
I am looking forward to it too. It is such an honor to share this season of Advent with you. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
I’m in, friend. I come thirsty.
Bless you for ministering to our waiting souls …
May you feel God’s presence in deeper and newer ways this season. Many blessings on this journey.
What a sweet gift, my friend! Sharing 🙂
You are a sweet blessing to this community. Thank you for your continued support.
Mary, this sounds like just what I need. A sacred pause . . . to prepare my heart. Every year at this time, I intend to slow down. And every year it’s such a struggle. Thanks for creating such a wonderful resource and for the invitation to be still and prepare my heart.
I know having teen-age sons doesn’t allow for a lot of downtime, but God is with you every day of this season and throughout the year. Praying you experience a feeling of peace this year you didn’t know was possible.
I am so on board with this invitation to pause, to pull out of the fast lane, and to focus on the season of waiting. Blessings to you, Mary, as you share your heart in this very specific way. I’m looking forward to the journey with you.
It is such a personal invitation but one that is worth a resounding “yes.” I look forward to hearing your thoughts along the way.
This sounds like a wonderful series, Mary! I’m looking forward to following along! Advent is an important time of year for me, spiritually. <3
Advent is my favorite. It has been an evolution of learning what the true focus should be. I saw you are offering a chance for your readers to go deeper too. May God bless all who press pause this Advent season.
Mary,
As I try to slow down and prepare my heart for Christ’s coming, I look forward to receiving a “Sacred Pause” in my week. May we all slow down long enough to appreciate what this season is all about. Thanks for taking the time to minister to us!
Blessings and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Bev xx
It is my honor and God’s invitation to pause during Advent. May you discover a new way of worshiping this year.