This morning at church, we took time to be still as our speaker walked around anointing each of for the New Year. He used sweet oil and prayed over us speaking blessings into our lives.
This time of year is crazy. After being up since 5:00 a.m. preparing food for the special fellowship after service, this reprieve brought peace to my soul.
I find stillness and blessings in this Advent season. Christ came to bring peace, love, and salvation for all.
As the speaker said the story did not stop with the birth of the babe in a manger, but continued with his growth and then ultimate sacrifice. He made that sacrifice that we might know forgiveness, but even more than just forgiveness. He came that we may find abundant life. He came to prosper us and to help us fulfill our dreams and goals for the furtherance of His kingdom.
I pray this Christmas season that you find abundant life and a chance to be still and know the Christ Child and the God who gave His all for us.
I wrote this post for the Five Minute Friday community where this week’s word prompt is still and to continue my my yearly Advent series where I reflect on the true meaning of the Christmas season.
Now on to our weekly linkup. First, please follow me on your social media. I love to hear from you:
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Next, lets review last week’s linkup.
Last Week’s Top Clicked
InLinkz switched over to their new system. For some reason, I could not determine which post had the most clicked. Hopefully, the officials at Inlinkz can work out this bug as they switch to their new system.
My Favorite Post
“The Best Way to Spread Christmas Cheer…”
Lauren reminds us that circumstances can evade our peace at Christmas and make it less than joyous and peaceful. How do you return your focus to the true meaning of Christmas during these real times of stress and problems? In this poignant post, Lauren gives us some unique insights. I hope you enjoy.
Want to be the next to be featured! Just link up a post and if you are read the most, we will feature you. Also please make sure you link back to our community so others will know about our link up and join in. I will try to make it worth your while to linkup by promoting your posts across my social media networks. I will also pin my most clicked and featured posts to our #LMMLinkup Pinterest Board each week!
Remember to grab your button if you have been featured:
Now, it is time to link up to the Literacy Musing Mondays hop!
Linkup Rules:
- Include a link back or the blog hop button linked to this hop on your posts.
- Link up the urls to your posts not to your blog.
- Please remember this is a family-friendly linkup. Although we believe in the right for adults to read whatever they want to read, we prefer to read wholesome posts that feature literature that edify and uplift families. We reserve the right to delete any posts that are not family friendly. We love all kinds of literature and genres including family-friendly inspirational romances, fantasy, or science fiction. We do not welcome any posts that feature excessive violence, sexual content, or any cursing. This rule also applies to book review posts that feature books that are not family-friendly. These posts will be deleted without notice to the blogger or explanation. While we believe in the right for all adults to read whatever they want, we feel our linkup is for family-friendly posts only. Thank you for understanding.
- We also want to be loving community by supporting one another. Please make a point to do this this week! Visit the two posts before yours and at least one other blogger’s post of your choice! I want to see lots of clicks on everyone’s posts. Remember it is also nice to follow them on their social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook.
- Also note periodically I will send everybody updates on the linkup using your contact information you provided when you linked up. At the bottom of the notifications you will be able to unsubscribe if you do not wish to receive these notifications.
- Tweet about the link up too.
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Thank you for hosting each week! I pray that your new year is filled with the closeness of the Holy Spirit as he guides you through the trials of life.
Anita,
Thanks so much for your continued support. Merry Christmas.
Thank you so much for featuring me this week! What an honor.
Lauren Sparks recently posted…2018 in Review – or Our Christmas Newsletter
Lauren, you are so welcome. Thanks for your support.
Lauren, you welcome. Merry Christmas.
I’m seeking moments of stillness and quiet this season. Merry Christmas to you!
Prasanta recently posted…still
Prasanta,
I pray you find those. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Hi Mary,
Stopped by to join in the community & so many changes, ran into some clitches 🙁
Will try again next week 🙂
Blessings,
Jennifer
Jennifer recently posted…High Tea at Christmas
Jennifer,
I hope all is working well now. Merry Christmas.
Mary Hill recently posted…LMMLinkup: Ringing in New Year 2019
Sometimes being still is the most difficult thing to do. We fidget, squirm, and cannot just sit with an open heart. Trying to practice this every day!
Merry Christmas to you Mary! Stopped by to link up but ran into some glitches too. The Book Nook at Create With Joy is back when you get everything worked out.
Thanks for a wonderful year – praying for you and your family for a better 2019! 🙂
I love the intentional stillness you and your church are pursuing!
Rebecca Hastings recently posted…Change Is On the Horizon
Praying the same for you too, Mary!
I’m glad God gives us pockets of quiet moments in which to be still and truly consider His gift to us.
I’ve noticed a lot of trouble with InLinkz over the last several days. Hopefully they’ll get all their bugs out soon. Right now, at 10 a.m. EST, it’s saying the link-up opens in 2 hours, so I’ll come back by later to link up.
Barbara Harper recently posted…Christmas Grief, Christmas Hope, Christmas Joy
I am going to schedule in a little “Stop and Be Still ” time today to reflect on the true meaning of the season. Thank you for prompting me.
Maree Dee recently posted…Do You Long to Be More like Mary? – Grace and Truth Link-Up
Oh, Mary, everyone seems to be having trouble with this link party.
Apparently it has been “deleted by user.”
Thank you for all you do here, and I’m thankful that you have found some moments of stillness during a busy Advent season.
Michele Morin recently posted…When God Asks for More but it Looks Like Less
Michele,
Hi, it was not deleted? Not sure what happen. I think it is there new format. It must have glitches. I will check with them. Thanks for letting me know. I hope you will try again.
Mary Hill recently posted…#LMMLinkup: Be Still and Meet the Child of Advent