Well… I’m back. And it feels good to be back (so prepare yourself to read a long one… it’s been a while). If you don’t know who I am, let me introduce myself since it’s been over 6 months since you’ve received a newsletter. My name is Amber, and I’m the founder and director of SoulfulMOTION Fitness. I am a lover of Jesus, I love to learn, and I love to write when I have the time. I love to write about the small bits of life, and finding the God in them (so if you’re in my life, beware. I may write about you one day). I am a wife, a mom of 3 beautiful babes, and a leader of sorts. I also love to not dress up, wear t-shirts daily, and a warm-ish day that is semi-cloudy with light rain. Think back two days ago to August 1st… the best kind of day.
One reason that I love a light rain and clouds, is that for some reason it slows me down. When there’s sun and warmth, my brain tells me that I need to go! Be productive! Have fun! Move! The sun gives me so much energy and a sense of urgency. When the sun has to fight to peek through the clouds, I have to fight to move. On these days, I get the most reading done, maybe some housework, but most importantly… I get to rest.
Recently I was able to have breakfast with my bestie and my beloved mentor Denise. Denise started our breakfast by bringing “The Nap Ministry’s: REST DECK”. Denise instructed each of us to take a card, and read aloud the restorative meditation curated by Tricia Hersey, founder of The Nap Ministry. I read my card. I got teary. And realized that first, I don’t give myself credit for who I am in Christ, but second, that I don’t realize what rest does for me.
This summer, I’ve been moving and grooving with my family. From different sporting events, nationals dance competition, private lessons, planting, weeding, growing, etc. Although I’ve rested from my responsibilities with SoulfulMOTION this summer, I haven’t really rested for restorative purposes or enjoyment. The REST DECK reminded me of this. When I think about God, His infinite power to create order, the heavens and the earth, separate the waters, create different lights in the sky to mark time and space, make dry land appear, create the creatures of the land and sea, and finally humanity… all I can say is wow. God you are so amazing, so powerful, so beautiful, so creative. I write to you all in tears thinking about how cool God is to create seed bearing plants of all kinds. But that 7th day, God rested. And the purpose of His rest, was to dwell in His creation. Take a second to breathe that in. God rested that day to dwell or to live in and live with what He had created.
Now as a person who is supposed to create: create chorography, a commUNITY in Christ, newsletters, content, etc.; what makes me think that I am not supposed to rest? If I am created in the image of my creator, what makes me think that I should not prioritize rest if the creator of the universe did?
When God has places godly women in your life, I urge you to soak in all that you can. Denise and her REST DECK, and of course her wisdom and fear of the Lord, continue to speak and lead me in ways that I couldn’t imagine. But when you add mentors, AND the word of God, you are taken to a new level. With all of this, I am choosing to rest. I’m choosing to release the grind, release the “Sunday Reset” culture, and to rest in His presence on Sundays. My Sundays used to be filled with “get it all done before work on Monday”. Not anymore. I am choosing to surrender my Sundays to Him. Will you?
So, I’m back. Back to writing. Back to writing newsletters whether people read them or not. Because this is what I’m called to do. And in order for me to be back… I have to rest. With this in mind, I invite you all to relax to Andy Mineo’s song: “Okayyy We Back”. As I think about rest, a few lines of the song hit me hard in the heart:
“When you got bigger than life visions,
You can’t be distracted by all the side missions…”
Because I wasn’t resting… every little distraction took me away from the vision and mission that God gave me. I wasn’t able to focus.
“I took a little time for me,
Okay now it’s time to eat!”
When you’re rested… you can get to work for the kingdom!
“Okay now it’s time to eat” is slang for: “Okay let’s get back to work”. It means that a waiting period is over with, and it’s time to do something amazing!
Sometime this month, I urge you to read Genesis chapter 1. Maybe it’s been a while since you’ve read the story of creation. When reading, I challenge you to pray prior to, think about the power, the omnipotence, omnipresent, limitless, and matchless nature of God. And even in all of that, He rested. Then, I want you to read Psalms 23.
Psalms 23:1-3 says:
The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows;
He leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
Bringing honor to His name. (NLT)
How can you challenge yourself to rest this month to restore your soul? To reflect on you having everything you need, Him renewing your strength, and guiding you along right paths; bringing honor to His name. I clearly hadn’t been obedient in completing my newsletters monthly… but I also wasn’t resting to be creative and to bring honor in the way that I should. What does this mean for you?
To close, you’ll hear from me more, and I pray that you continue to join our amazing instructor team in praise, worship, and fitness weekly. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your devotion, loyalty, and presence.
May you feel, hear, and seek God all the days of your life, knowing you can only do so if rested.
Okay now it’d time to eat!
Blessings,
