Rest for the Soul...

Mmmmm.... I love the word, "REST." It is one of those words that gives humankind that sigh of relief upon hearing it and positive action upon applying it. Rest for the soul, more importantly, resting in God is THE most important thing in living the Christian life. During our free time at Niagara Falls, Shannon and I had the privilege of visiting St. Mark's Anglican Church. It was the church that Krystal (Shannon's sister) got married in and so we went in. It's an old church with traditional pews, pulpit and intricate stain glass windows. As we entered the empty sanctuary, we heard the organist playing (rather practicing) some hyms to play for Sunday Worship Service. We placed ourselves in separate pews and sat at the presence of God...stopping and being still before Him. As I opened my Bible, my cell phone rang and I went out to answer my phone. After getting off the phone, I realized that I was standing at the site of a cemetary. As I walked around, viewing (with morbidness) the tombs and grave sites of people who had once been living and walking on the earth, I realized how fleeting life on earth can be. It was a crisp cool day and my heart began to pray... The one thing I remember praying was that I would continually abide in Him. Abide in Christ always. It doesn't matter (really) what I "do" for Him. It doesn't mean that we don't "do" anything and sit still being lazy all day...but (as Shannon put it), actions should come as a result of our relationship with Christ. By being still before, abiding in Him and listening to His voice, we can be energized and refreshed daily to be a tool for Him to use. Action should come out as a result of our love for Christ. These principles are nothing new (for those that "grew up in the Church"), but truly living out the Christian life is impossible without the continual grace and mercy of our faithful Father.

Endless invention, endless experiment,
Brings knowledge of motion, but not of stillness;
Knowledge of speech, but not of silence;
Knowledge of words, and ignorance of the Word...

Where is the Life we have lost in living?
Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?
Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?