Friday, 23 October 2009

• Rest

  Well, everyone must know when they are beat; Walgreens Financial Analysis report of 2008 has beaten me... for now.  So, at 2:30 AM I am temporarily resigning my Analysis until a later date at which I will, hopefully, complete my assignment and be just that much closer to graduating. 

  For the moment, since I still have about 30 or 40 minutes of Energy Drink derived energy left in me, my mind has turned again to my Lord, Jesus Christ. 

  Partially inspired by receiving a new CD from my grandma by the Ottawa Suzuki Strings ensemble.  (When I was in high school I had received a invitation to play as a violinist for the Ottawa Suzuki Strings and [to my instructors outrage] I refused the offer [to my never-ending regret]).  If it weren't for the fact that my wife is sound asleep I think I would pull out my old violin and see how much I've lost in these years past.

  Anyway, back to the point.  As my mind has returned to thinking about the Lord, Jesus, I have 3 thoughts in my head;

  1. Rest & Peace
  2. Grace
  3. Repentance

  "⁷And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  ⁸Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.  ⁹The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." Phil 4:7-9

   

  The reason why this music CD has inspired these thoughts is because, well, I'm tired right now; I'm worn out from being a full time pastor, full time husband, and full time student (the last of which seems to be sucking in way too much time as it is).  I remembered how I used to sit down with  my violin and play for hours upon hours-- the absolute rest and peace my mind used to find in my music.  The "horrors" of my teenage years would fade to the beauty of the gift I know God gave to me to get me through those times in my life.  With a swift stroke or a soft melody I could let my thoughts and emotions through no matter how strong they were. 

  As beautiful as this gift was I have found a far more powerful peace and greater rest than music could ever offer.  It is a peace... a settling and contentment that is indefinable.  In equally or even more stressful times of my life now, I know my heart is safe and secure in Christ- my mind has one purpose in him. 

  What better resting place is there than in the Word of God? For the Holy Spirit speaks saying;

   ¹Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it.  ²For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.  ³For we who have believed enter that rest,⁹So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.  ¹⁰For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.  ¹¹Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience."  Hebrews 4:1-3 & 9-11.

  Finding rest in God's Holy Word. 

  About this I only wish to add one more thing; the days have grown evil and are already filled with darkness, therefore there is time for training.  There is a time that each one must study diligently the sound doctrines of the Word of God as revealed to us through the Word By the Holy Spirit.  But, as the days are evil, so are we also weak in our flesh!  There comes a time, also, that after having believed and obeyed Gods Word we each must also now allow ourselves to find rest in His Word.  Each and every one of us needs to be ministered to.  For this reason it is so important to find time, or make time to allow Gods Word to minister to our spirits so that we can be strengthened and refreshed.

  Put down the regiments of training that each of us must do, and take up a time to simply read, listen, hear, and be ministered to by the Spirit.

  ~ ~ ~ ~

  Grace

  It can be manifested in a plethora of ways and is not restricted to the mighty works of salvation and the grand scheme of Gods plan for the world and his children.

  At times when you feel as though neither measure of effort, nor any cosmic force can lighten or overcome the burdens placed before you, then you are sure to find measures of God’s grace that will bring incomprehensible measures of peace to you; it is this grace that I speak of.  For it was God at the creation of the world, years before man would ever experience music, that God programmed and designed within our brains coping mechanisms that spring into action when certain kinds of music are played.  A classic composition can be therapeutic; in fact I went into hospitals to as a high school student and played for patients with heart problems. 

  When one begins to “think on these good things” that God has done for us, since the creation of the world, I do not believe one who has truly loved God in his heart can turn a cold shoulder and not be deeply touched!

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  “Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?” Romans 2:4

  What kindness indeed! 

  Only when from short and narrow-mindedness does a man say in his heart “why me! O God!”  Or does the Child of God say “where is the Fathers Kindness now?”

  With measures infinitely more abundant than most have ever considered, God has been kind to us!  As the creator of the universe his deeds of Love and compassion in the physical realm have extended into the realms of virtual innumerability! 

  If a person made resolute to say nothing but the graces of God that lead us unto repentance, his entire life would be a perfect blossom in the many seasons of the earth’s short existence.

  In a matter of moments spent in sincere and deep contemplation of these things any person should be inspired into great acts of repentance indeed!  Even the most sincere and developed Christian Saint should eagerly cast himself to the floor in repentance when he considers the many kindnesses of God!

   

  As the Holy Spirit has spoken to me, so I hope you find yourself in the same mind so that in every season of your life, whether plenty, scarce, smooth, or rough, you will have reason to rejoice and glorify the name of God the Father!

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