spring break is here!

Can you tell I'm just a tad bit excited that Spring Break is finally here???  This morning is the first time where I feel like I can actually breathe.  Life has been going non-stop.  This past week we had the privilege of going to a conference at our church.  It was Thursday and Friday evening and all day Saturday.  We got so much out of it, SO much, but the whole time I was just so tired and ready for life to slow down.  I learned so much and the first thing that I wanted to do was share it with you.  The one huge thing that I love about my blog is encouraging others, sharing my faith, and journaling what I'm going through.  So I'm not going to keep it all to myself!  

On Saturday we chose three different workshops to go to, and my first one was yoga.  This was really interesting to me because I was curious to see how they were going to incorporate worshiping our God in yoga.  I loved every second of it.  Just slowing down, listening to my breath, stretching out teeny tiny areas in my body, and just praying to God the entire time.  It was beyond soothing.  The next workshop I went to was on rest, and that's what I want to share with you today!

"Are you tired?  Worn out?  Burned out...?  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 an work with Me-watch how I do it.  Learn from me 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

As I began reading this passage in the workshop I could hear myself saying "yes, yes, yes".  Are you tired- YES.  Are you worn out- YES.  Are you burned out- YES.  

Our culture is a culture or "doers".  Even in the church there is a culture that doesn't encourage rest, but DOING.  Resting is a spiritual act, a form of worship, a declaration of trust, an assertion that God cares, an affirmation that we are valued and loved for who we are and not for what we do.  

As I was thinking back on my notes and outline from this workshop two big things stood out to me:

1) Resting is an act of worship, where I find my identity in Christ and rest in who I am in Christ.

2) Why is it so hard for me to rest?  Why do I think that I always need to DO?

Our speaker asked us "what's the rush?"  He then went on to share how he got his masters in 15 years and had four beautiful children in the course of that time.  I'm in my masters and want kids so badly, and feel like there is such a pull between what I think everyone expects me to do and what the big picture is.  I realized that so many of my choices and actions are because I think that it makes me look good in others' eyes.  If I do something against the grain then I will be a failure.  If I take a semester off then I'll be a failure.  If I get pregnant before finishing school then I'm weak.  These are my perceptions and what keeps me from resting.  Sometimes I am convicted of looking at people and thinking they're not doing enough, wow.  I'm slowly learning that I need to value what God thinks of me over what other people think of Me, put life into perspective, and live my life for God not others.  

Whew!  That was really therapeutic.  This is a daily struggle but I'm definitely working through this.  

To help life slow down a bit I'm going to Utah with a close friend.  I'm so excited!  We plan on fully relaxing as much as possible, and my suit case is filled with so many workout and lounge clothes-I'm just in heaven.  Whenever I travel it is not relaxing as much as I hope it will be, so this trip is something I'm really looking forward to.  We're going to hike, run, read, and just hang out.  

I hope you all have a beautiful and restful Monday!