"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? 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 and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn 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 (The Message)

Christmas is over for another year and we have had time away from the chalk face, time to refresh our physical batteries in preparation for the spring term. So often though, our holidays cannot revive our spiritual tiredness. Look at the words above and we can see that Jesus is challenging us to learn from Him.

All too often we can begin the term with good intentions to walk closer to Him but when the pressures of marking, preparation and behaviour control fall upon us, then our spiritual lives can be the first casualty. We're too tired to get up that little bit earlier to spend time with God before we leave for school or we're too sleepy at night to manage more than a few short sentences in prayer.

Why not accept the challenge laid before us in Matthew and make sure that we keep company with Jesus during the year ahead. We need personal time with Him but education also needs you to spend time with Him as we face a year of consultations and more changes.

We need your input, in prayer and in practical involvement in your schools. Why not get together with a few other Christian teachers in your church or area and pray for the local schools. In Limavady, we have been meeting together for many years and we have seen many answers to our prayers.

Don't let the busyness of teaching get in the way of our Father's business.