Inhabiting God's Story
- Tracie Tackett
- 3 days ago
- 7 min read
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! There is a lot happening around here with Holy Pause for 2026! I will be slowing down this month to discern and pray about offerings for next year. Stay tuned as we are growing and continue to invite more and more women into learning to Pause in the midst of their busy lives and pay attention to where God is in their life and where they are in His Story! Reach out if you would like a free 30-minute coffee chat on Zoom or in person to learn more about Holy Pause. Visit holypause.com to set up a time.
This is truly my favorite time of the year! This season brings a sense of pause and wonder. Celebrations. Gatherings with those we love. Oh, it isn't easy to slow down this time of year. By November, the year has held ups and downs. Joyful and painful moments. Maybe for some of us, we are grieving the loss of someone we love. Yet, we turn our eyes to a baby being born in a manger, Christ the LORD, coming to earth to save us, to be with us! God in flesh!
"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."
Isaiah 7:14 ESV
TO BE WITH US! Immanuel, incarnate, in the flesh, to walk with us and REDEEM us and show us how to live life abundantly through Him. That is the greatest gift ever given.
Grab your cup of coffee, your favorite blanket, and nestle into your favorite spot. My friend calls this "a sacred place and a sacred space." For me, I enter most days with a cup of coffee, and in the winter, I go to a room in my home where stories are shared, a candle is lit, and a pause with God is my first invitation. It is a sacred place and sacred space for me.
As I enter this space, I pause to meet with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. I long for this beautiful season we are entering to allow space for me to be present, to know Christ in deeper ways and the power of the gospel story. I long to share that with others.
Read this passage slowly. Invite the Holy Spirit to be with you and speak to you through God's Word. Circle or highlight what you are drawn to or notice. Reread the passage again. Slowly.
"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
Luke 2:8-15 NIV
What did you circle? Sit with God here for as long as you need. Offer a prayer.
What is one way you are slowing down this holiday season to pause and wonder and make sacred space for the advent, the "coming" of Christ the Lord?
Today, marks the start of the Christian Liturgical Year! If you aren't sure what that is, please keep reading. I didn't know what that was either until a few years ago. My husband and I just started reading, Living the Christian Year by Bobby Gross this week. We have decided to spend this next year learning about the seasons of the church's calendar (Liturgical Church Calendar) that Christians have followed for centuries. Liturgy means "the work of the people."
The author, Bobby Gross, of Living the Christian Year, shares, "You are a part of a larger Story. And the One who began the Story is at work today in the midst of your meetings and bills and family activities that make the days rush by and blur together. In these pages, Bobby Gross opens to you — and opens you to — the liturgical year, helping you inhabit God's Story every day.
"Rehearsing God's creation, Christ's life story, and the Spirit's coming will change you, drawing you into deeper intimacy with God and pointing your attention to the work of the Father, Son, and Spirit in and around you.
"Whether you're familiar or unfamiliar with following the liturgical year, this book makes it easy to do, offering the significance and history of each season, ideas for living out God's Story in your own life, and devotions that follow the church calendar for each week of the year."
I invite you to join us and many around the world who are stepping into following and practicing the Christian Liturgical Year!
December is a beautiful time to look back and look forward! I pray that this month is a time to wait on the coming Christ and enter Advent with AWE and WONDER! Maybe you want to pause and make time throughout your day to turn your gaze to Bethlehem and the coming Christ.
Looking for a thoughtful gift? Check out Kaylie Polk's beautiful artwork on Etsy, Designs of a Daughter.
Nativity set my dad got us in Israel a few years ago.
"But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told."
Luke 19:20 NIV
Mary took time to pause! She treasured all these things and pondered them. The shepherds returned... glorifying and praising God! This is one of my favorite verses in the Bible. Jesus' mother took time to pause and treasure and ponder all God did in her and through her.
Let's take a minute to Pause, Ponder, and Treasure all these things and return to God glorifying and praising Him.
Here is our Holy Pause Practice for the month. You can print this off and use it as you spend time with God reflecting and growing. We practice Pausing, Praying, and Following. May this bless you as you journey with Christ. You can also do it with a friend or group.
Holy Pause… Pause to notice what is going on in and around you. Jesus is with you.
Breathe in and breathe out a few times. Slowly. Notice that this is the breath God gave you. It is a gift today. To do His work and serve His people. Imagine Jesus sitting with you. He is simply being with you. Imagine Him as a tiny baby. His presence is peace, love, and gentleness.
I invite you to reflect on the verses above again and a poem I wrote a few years ago.
Be
by Tracie Tackett
Be Still and Know that I am the LORD. Psalm 46:10a
Be.
Such a small little word.
Filled with such wonder.
Silent Night bursting forth with a language,
A new presence, holy and tender.
The world watched, curious, eyes wide open.
Be and know…
There He was one silent night,
Fully God and Fully Human.
Shepherds were watching,
Wise Men were awestruck,
Tiny yet full of gifts…
Power unthinkable,
Peace passing all understanding,
Love the world didn’t understand.
God stopped the waiting,
The wondering, the bondage.
A promise fulfilled.
An invitation to come and
Simply be.
Be?
No working, no striving, no perfection?
His ways were an upside down
Kingdom.
“Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30 MSG
Shepherds, angels, fear, glory.
He lay in a dirty manger,
Swaddled with cloths.
This holy one would
grow up and invite us,
“Come and Be.
I will provide for every need,
Wipe every tear,
Cover every sin,
Show you love like you’ve never known...
Simply Be.
Believe.
Out of this ‘being’ with me,
You will hear my voice,
Receive the rest you need,
Find strength for the journey ahead.
Then you will KNOW.
Know that I am God!
I am with you."
Immanuel
What might God want to highlight for you today or for this month? Where are you invited to spend some more time with Him? Is there something you feel He is saying to you or inviting you to notice this December month as you spend time in Advent?
Pray… Invite the Lord into a conversation or sit with Him in silence listening.
Lord, I can't begin to wrap my heart and head around your coming to earth for me. It is so hard for me to be still, yet my soul longs to be still and know you. Know more of your presence, more of you. Keep my eyes open throughout this day for small moments that I can turn my gaze to you. Quiet my restless heart to be still and know you. Hold and care for the things that worry me or weigh me down. I long to embody more of you each day. Help me to look for ways to share this Good News with others in small and big ways.
Follow… Help me go where you go.
Where is God inviting you to experience more of Him and HIs loving presence?
Who is He inviting you to share His love with?
Carry with you whatever resonated. Continue the conversation with God!
I pray you and your family and friends have a wonderful Christmas! Look for Him in your everyday life, listen for His gentle whispers, and experience more and more of Immanuel... God with us. Grateful to pause with you! Looking forward to sharing with you all that will be going on around here at Holy Pause!!!
Finding beauty in the small things,
Tracie Tackett
Spiritual Director/Life Coach
Invitations to a holy pause ~ holypause.com
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