Relax, don't do it....

So, yep,  it's been a month.

A stressful month at that. I feel like I've been going, going, going for the past several weeks. Most of it was getting ready for our first ever Fam Jam at church. All of that preparation was definitely worth it though! It was such a blast and we had over 500 people there. It feels like it's been ever since I've been able to get up on a stage and do some acting. We will have 3 more Fam Jams this year and I'm the Comic Host (as opposed to my co-host, the Credible Host), which basically means I'm pretty....umm....let's just say silly. We have a great cast with some really talented people so it's a lot of fun! I'm still hearing great things from the kids and the parents who came to be a part of it and they can't wait for the next one. Neither can I! Although I will say I'm grateful for the little break we get before practice starts for the next one.  

I've started taking part in a Restorative Yoga class on Thursday afternoons at the church. Our lead pastor's wife leads it and does a phenomenal job. I was a little skeptical at first but the more she kept talking to me about it and how much I would benefit from it, I decided to give it a shot. I think it's really been helping my mood and my stress level recently. Even if it just an hour out of the week, it's ME time. No distractions. Just a time to relax, focus on me and God and what He wants me to get out of that time. And so far, I've always walked away feeling refreshed, reenergized, and even a little bit lighter because of stuff I've let go. This last Thursday was the day before Fam Jam and I was also on the praise team last weekend so I went into the class pretty crazy stressed and my mind was all over the place with all sorts of worries and thoughts. But, ya know what? God is awesome! And Dede is awesome for allowing God to say just the right things I needed to hear through her. She reads scripture over us during some of the yoga poses, more like paraphrases of scripture I suppose. Language that you can easily understand. I guess more devotional type stuff. Anyways, this is what she read over us on that crazy, hectic Thursday of mine. 
 
"Lie down in green pastures of Peace. Learn to unwind whenever possible, resting in the Presence of your Shepherd. This electronic age keeps my children 'wired' much of the time, too tense to find Me in the midst of their moments. I built into your very being the need for rest. How twisted the world has become when people feel guilty about meeting this basic need! How much time and energy they waste by being always on the go, rather than taking time to seek My direction for their lives. 
I have called you to walk with me down paths of Peace. I want you to blaze a trail for others who desire to live in my peaceful presence. I have chosen you less for your strengths than for your weaknesses, which amplify your need for Me. Depend on Me more and more, and I will shower Peace on all your paths." 
Psalm 23:1-3; Genesis 2:2-3; Luke 1:79
 
Maaaaaaan. I was like THANK YOU for that Jesus! *HUGE sigh of relief* 
 
I think a lot of the times, when you serve in the ministry, or in our case have a career in the ministry, we push ourselves to our limits. Piling on service on top of service, ministry team on top of big church events, running here, having this meeting then running to the next one. But God didn't create us to run ourselves ragged even if it is in His Name and for His Kingdom. He KNOWS that we need to rest, He knows that we're gonna need a break. He made us that way! We shouldn't feel bad in saying no to a volunteer opportunity every now and then. We shouldn't feel bad about needing to just take a nap! If you'd rather spend time with your family during a certain event at church instead of volunteering like you do ALL of the other events, don't feel guilty! Do it! Seriously. You're gonna get burnt out on ministry. It happens, I've seen it! Experienced it. You don't wanna go there. We need to get our rest periods and our refreshers whenever we can and as soon as we feel like we need it....so that we can be ready for the next opportunity that God hands us, the next family that needs to be ministered to, the next event or worship service that needs volunteers. Don't you think we'd have more to give if we were truly happy to be there? Truly ready for whatever He needs us to do as His Bride. 
 
Not exactly sure why all of this has spilled out of me now but it did. Maybe it's because I've got a few things that are gonna be added on to my "ministry plate" coming up and I'm just trying to constantly remind myself to breathe, to rest. To focus on what He wants me to do. Otherwise, I'm gonna end up running around with all of these great opportunities and being able to touch lots of people with these ministries, but then get so caught up in all of that that I'll forget that I need to take care of myself as well, to unwind spiritually AND physically. 
 
Anyways, I think I will leave it at that. I'm ready for the weekend, we've got some fun stuff planned and then next Friday I'm headed to Salem with the boys for a weekend getaway. Yay for breaks!!