Rest and Reset

It has been a couple weeks since I have last posted. Getting used to the "teaching life" has taken quite a bit out of me, and it got to the point where I just needed to rest. I don't mean sleep, I don't even mean relax. I mean taking a moment to rest in the presence of Christ. The faster and busier life gets, the easier it is to slip away from spending those little moments with Christ. Yet, it is those little moments with Christ that seem to keep me going and moving forward when I go from one thing to the next in my day-to-day life.

I actually completely forgot to blog a couple weeks ago--and at first I felt guilty. I felt like I had failed at doing something for Christ that I've always felt led to do. But then I realized that I actually really needed the time off. I needed a chance to clear my head of all the little things on my mind from teaching and everything else. I needed a time to clear my head so I could refill it with God's Word. Then, I decided to take a second blog Monday off so I could just stop thinking of all the little things I had to do.

When doing something for the Kingdom starts to feel like a chore, it may be time to take a step back and reset.

I think this goes for anything in life. Even with teaching, there are days when I just want a break and everything seems so overwhelming. And on those days, I know that I need to find a moment to rest, reset, and ask God to fill me back up with a patient and serving heart like His.

As a teacher, it is very easy to notice when a student needs a chance to reset. Maybe they are frustrated and they need a quick break from their assignment. Maybe they are having trouble focusing and they need a chance to get some energy out. Whatever it may be, resetting a student's focus, attitude, or behavior is a common occurrence in the classroom. I've wondered if God looks down and nudges me to take a moment to reset my focus, my attitude, and my behavior in my relationship with Him.

If I've learned anything over the years of crazy schedules with working, practicing, classes and so on-- it is that being busy is hard and exhausting, but being busy without Jesus is worse. Tonight, I encourage you to take a moment to reset, refocus, and realign your heart and mind to His.

"Come near to God, and He will come near to you." -James 4:8

Take Me Back

I wrote this awhile ago and just recently stumbled upon it again. It's a poem I wrote after my trip to Israel, during a time in my life where I just wanted to go back to a place where I truly felt God's presence.

To this day, I still wish I could go back to Israel and to En Gedi and experience it all over again. But, this poem and this call, "Take me back," really mean so much more. It's easy to slowly slip away from being in God's Word everyday and spending time in prayer. It's easy to unconsciously but gradually fall further and further away from a deep, intimate relationship with our God. However, it is incredible that even in one moment of asking God to be brought back to that place where our hearts are in tune with His, He can make it happen. Of course it takes more than that to build a deep and consistent relationship with Christ, but that one moment is beautiful nonetheless. Even in our weakest moments, a small glimpse of God's presence can change everything. 

As you go throughout your busy, fast-paced week, take a small moment to ask God to bring you back to Him. You are never too far out of God's reach to be brought back under the shelter of His wings. 

Take me back to En Gedi

Where your Living Water flows

Where it was easy to find you, to hear you, to seek you

Take me back through the desert

So my wandering heart breaks

So the eyes of my soul open

So I’m completely lost until I find your face

I desperately know that I need you desperately

But the things of this world won’t let me escape

Like David found En Gedi

Where Living Water overflowed

Lead me back to your embrace

Take me back to En Gedi

Bring me down to my knees

My heart is drying up quickly

Let your love wash over me

Lead me to your waterfall

I’ll dive as deep as I can

So I can immerse myself in your grace

And be near you once again

This dry and barren land

Is getting the best of me

God I need your Living Water

Rain down your love on me

Take me back to En Gedi

I’m ready to hike

I’m prepared to be broken

I’m ready to fight

To fight against my weary soul

To run from all that holds me back

To humble myself before your throne

If that’s what it takes to be brought back 

Back into your promised home

Oh Abba, Living Water

Forgive me for my wrongs

Cleanse me once again in your waterfall

Take me back to En Gedi

Now my sins are no more

My savior has freed me

I can swim in your love once more

Living Water I need you

Not just now but always

I’ll follow you through the desert

Through the valley through the storm 

Through the wadi to En Gedi

Where Living Water flows

I could stay here forever

In my Abba’s waterfall