Don’t miss the upcoming BELOVED DAUGHTER RETREAT in August!! Slowing down this summer…

Happy June 1st!  Hello Summer! I am glad you stopped by Holy Pause today! Let’s pause and reflect for a minute on this question.

How will you begin to slow down this summer and make space for the things that matter most to you?

I don’t want you to miss an opportunity to slow down the Beloved Daughter Retreat in August! I have  some BIG news to share at the retreat. You don’t want to miss it!  Women, you are invited to come away for a day to pause, slow down and unplug! In the midst of your busy life, you can often forget the depth of love God has for YOU! A transforming day created to deepen your relationship with Christ and make space for what truly matters. When we make space for what truly matters, it impacts our relationships, how we spend our time, what we say yes and no to, and it impacts the kingdom of God. I will share more about all that is happening at Holy Pause!

 You can learn more and register here~https://www.holypause.com/about-4-3 

 Reach out with any questions. Can’t wait to see you there!

Last year, I planted some strawberry plants. Honestly, they didn’t grow much at all. Which is pretty typical for my gardening at times. I decided to just leave them in the raised garden bed all winter. I noticed throughout the winter they were continuing to grow and multiply a little bit here and there.  Before long, they began to take over the garden bed. They had room and space to grow and flourish.  Then, all of a sudden, little red berries began to burst forth.  I was amazed!

They began to multiply. Then the moment came to pick them and enjoy the taste! They were delicious!! It brought me joy to see the fruit and then taste the freshly grown strawberries. Oh, the sweetness. What a delight!  A harvest of strawberries!

I began to ponder this process with God. 

The waiting. 

The unseen fruit slowly being formed.

Then fruit bursting forth in due season.

How will you begin to slow down this summer and make space for the things that matter most to you?

Jesus had quite a bit to say about slowing down and paying attention to our lives. In order for us to make space for the things that matter most to us, we must make space. Making space and slowing down allows us to pay attention. Time to breathe. Time to name. 

Jesus uses a metaphor to tell a story to tell us about the garden, fruit, vines and branches in John 15 NIV - The Vine and the Branches - “I am the - Bible Gateway. He was sharing with His friends that He is the Real Vine and His Father is the Farmer and Divine Vinedresser. Jesus was inviting us to remember that when we abide in Him, we will bear fruit. The ESV Crossway Study Bible commentary shares, “The word translated “prunes” means “to clean” (Gk. kathairo).  “He prunes” gives us a picture of painful but necessary removal of some interests and activities in order that the remaining branches may bear even more fruit.” If you are like me, you resist this process. It is easier and more comfortable to keep doing what I have alway done. 

But the process Jesus invites us into is just that…a process of becoming. Becoming more and more like Jesus and the woman He created us to be. We often resist this process for many reasons.

What if we learned to welcome this process and not run or hide or isolate? 

The pruning process makes room for growth. It allows for those things to fall away that need to go and make space for things that need to come forth. A place where fruit is growing!  Jesus shares in that same passage that He wants to make His home in us. In order for fruit to grow,  it must be attached to the Vine. It doesn’t say we do it perfectly. It means coming to Him in our mess. You are already attached if you follow Christ. He lives in you. He is reminding us we are attached to Him. Joined with Him. In Him. This attachment is how we grow because we are the branches. Jesus asks if He can make His home in us. When He is at Home in our hearts, He says we bear fruit. He does that work. He transforms. 

The Trinity is doing something in us when we make space for Him.

He wants to remind us of His love and living into our Belovedness when we make space for Him. He also wants to share His Joy with us!

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." John 15:9-11 NIV

In this beautiful space of growing and becoming, He wants to share His Love and Joy with us so we can bear fruit. Fruit that matters in the kingdom of God. 

He wants us to open ourselves to the process, just like the strawberry plants demonstrate, of allowing Him to do a work for us and bear fruit. This process takes time and intentionality. 

How do we open our hearts so Jesus can make His home in us?

We show up as we are. We make space for God by slowing down. He meets us in the mess. He meets us in our questions. He meets us in our shame. He meets us in our brokenness. He meets us when we have screwed everything up. He comes to us. This is the story of Easter! He came out of the tomb to ‘run to us’ and remind us HE LOVES US. This isn’t a love the world shows us.  His love is perfect. He sees you not as you see yourself but He sees you as HIS BELOVED DAUGHTER! 

I have the opportunity to spend my time as a Spiritual Director and Christian Life Coach (more to come in August! BIG NEWS TO COME!) helping women grow deeper in their relationship with Christ and become more of who God created them to be by making space and inviting them to spiritual practices and tools that guide us along the way. These tools and practices help us open our hearts to Jesus in deeper ways. I do this through retreats, groups and one-on-one time with clients. I host Discernment Groups, Listening Groups, and meet one-on-one for spiritual direction and coaching. These spaces are formational in our relationship with Christ, others and personally. 

He is inviting us to a deeper journey with Him and to accept this beautiful, messy process.  “Jesus said, “I CHOSE YOU!” 

"You didn’t choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won’t spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you.”  John 15:16 MSG

He put us here to BEAR FRUIT! What fruit are we to bear?

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Galatians 5:22-25 NLT

He is inviting us to be Fruit Bearers. He is inviting us to crucify our flesh and walk in the Spirit. This invitation is the most transformative in community. The Holy Pause Community is for women ready to go on a deeper journey! Will you come and join us? The retreat is a great place to begin or reach out for a free coffee chat online or in person about one-on-one spiritual direction or life coaching. Visit holypause.com to learn more about Holy Pause. Gardening is messy!  So is life! Holy Pause is a space to come as you are. Simply show up. 

Holy Pause Practice for the month for you to print off and spend time with God reflecting and growing. May this bless you as you journey with Christ. You can also do it with a friend or group. 

Holy Pause… Pausing to notice what is going on in and around you. Jesus is with you. 

Take a couple of deep breaths. Pause. Notice your thoughts, emotions and your body. God invites us to love Him with our heart, soul, mind and strength. Maybe your thoughts are around a situation or a person. Remember to come into this pausing just as you are. Allow Jesus and the Holy Spirit room to be with you and speak to you. 

Reflect on this question. 

How will you begin to slow down this summer and make space for the things that matter most to you?

Take a sheet of paper and divide it in half and write down What Matters Most to Me at the top. (Example~family, friendships, family time, ministry, dreaming, gardening, running, reading, reading scripture, peace, taking my kids to a park, painting, hiking, reconciliation, date nights, etc)  Spend some time writing what matters most to you! Is there a fruit of the Spirit He wants to cultivate in you. Write it down. 

Reflect on the verses below. What stands out to you? Circle it. Highlight it. 

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Galatians 5:22-25 NLT

At the bottom of the page, write My Next Steps. Pick two or three of those things and write what steps you would like to take to make those things happen. (Example, Date Nights~Schedule a date night each week.  Exercise~Schedule and put on my calendar the three days a week I will go to the gym, Love~become more loving in everything I do and people I meet, etc.) 

Wouldn’t it be a gift to look back at the end of the summer and make some progress in making space for God and the things that matter most to you?

Praying… Invite the Lord into a conversation.

Light a candle. This represents God’s presence with you. Sit in silence for five minutes. Simply listen. Imagine holding your list out to God. Imagine Him receiving it. Is there anything you want to say to Him?  Share your heart with Him. Allow Him to make His home in you! Allow Him to show you what might be your best yes and best no for the summer? Pay attention to what matters to you. It matters to Him too and maybe He gave you those desires. 

LORD, I long to make space for what matters to me because I trust that it matters to you too. You actually give me desires and longings. I want to pay attention to those desires. I want to be a Fruit Bearer. I want to impact the kingdom of God. Thank you for choosing me. Thank you for loving me just as I am and inviting me to grow deeper. Help me to pause and notice you are doing something in me in the waiting, pruning, and growing. Fruit will come forth in due season. Help me be ok in the mess and imperfections. Help me be curious what you might be up to in this process. 

Following…Help me go where you go. 

How will you begin to slow down this summer and make space for the things that matter most to you? 

This is a process with God. 

The waiting. 

The unseen fruit slowly being formed.

Then fruit bursting forth in due season. 

Is it time to take some steps to follow where you are inviting me, Lord? Put your list on the refrigerator for the summer and reflect each week and ask yourself if you are making space for what is most important to you. 

Remember, nothing is perfect. Show up and follow the Spirit’s leading and trust God to meet you there. Receive the process. Wait. Watch. Begin to see the fruit growing in you! I already thank God for the fruit that is growing in you and is to come. You are a Fruit Bearer!

“Fruit is an image of good results coming from the life of a believer, probably in terms of bringing benefit to the lives of others and advancing the work of God in the world.” (Crossway ESV Study Bible Footnotes)

Let's go advance the work of God in the world!!!

Visit holypause.com to learn more about what is happening around here! I would appreciate you sharing this post with a friend if it was meaningful to you. I am on the journey with you! 

Welcome to the family, Ava!!!! We are celebrating the arrival of our new grand daughter…Ava!! She has stolen our hearts and I continue to process what a gift she is to our family! More writing to come on being a grandparent! Gigi is quite smitten:)

Finding beauty in the small things,

Tracie Tackett

Spiritual Director/Coach

holypause,com