Rest for the Soul

Some Keys to Spiritual Refreshment / Rest for your soul – Matthew 11:28 Jesus’ Yoke

Get the code to add this video to your MySpace profile / website.

Greetings from Indianapolis, IN! I may be new to you, so let me introduce myself. My name is Crystal Brim, I’m 25 years old, and I first met people in this ministry one and a half years ago at Indiana University.

I was raised in a traditional Christian denomination—I loved God, I loved the Word, and I was well-versed in the doctrine of the Trinity: I was taught that one has great faith when he/she believes in the mysterious “double nature” of Christ and his personage in the Trinity. However, a friend challenged me to dig into Scripture to see for myself who Jesus Christ is. After months of spiritual unrest and searching the Word, I finally relinquished my inherited tradition of the divinity of Christ and sought to embrace him as the sinless Son of God who sacrificed his life for me! [For further study read Who is Jesus?]

This has caused much angst between my family, friends, and me, but it has also driven me to the Bible for truth, and I have found more rest in the Word of God than I have ever felt before. Searching for peace, I found seven things in the Word that bring rest to the soul: Music, Sleep, Nature, Humor, Friends, Prayer, and Scripture. I invite you to explore them with me.

Music: In 1 Samuel 16:14-23, King Saul was troubled because the spirit of God had departed from him, so he had David play the harp until “relief would come” and he “would feel better” (v. 23). David continued playing the harp and composed many of the Psalms while Saul persecuted him. For example, he cries out for help in Psalm 143, while in Psalm 145 he sings a song of praise to God. As David shows us, songs help us connect with God and the strength He offers. Godly music soothes the soul.

Sleep: Rarely can our souls find peace when our bodies are exhausted. God has prescribed sleep and physical rest from the beginning of Creation. In Genesis 1, He created the Earth and everything in it in six days, but on the seventh day God rested from all His work (Gen. 2:3). Therefore, our Father has modeled that work should be followed with a proper time of rest. Accordingly, we see that He designed the tilt of the earth to produce a time of day with a matching time of night. As we sleep, our pulses slow down, as do our controlled cognitive activities. Thus, sleep provides a time to physiologically and emotionally “re-charge.” [1]

Nature: We experience the majesty of God in nature or, more accurately, “creation.” In Psalm 23:2 and 3, the “green pastures” and “quiet waters” literally restored the soul of the psalmist. In addition, the grandeur of mountains and the power of the sea reveal the awesomeness of God, which no human could ever duplicate. It is comforting to know that this mighty God is the One who fights for you and me! Scripture demonstrates that God powerfully reveals Himself in the quiet beauty of nature. In Luke 1:80, 4:1 and 2, both John the Baptist and Jesus spent time in the wilderness before beginning their public ministries. Jesus continued this practice during his ministry as he withdrew to quiet places such as gardens.

Humor: In Ecclesiastes 3:4, God reassures us that though there is a time to weep, there is also a time to laugh. Samson is a good example of using humor under pressure. In Judges 1 and 2 the Israelites disobeyed God by failing to drive the Canaanites from the land Promised to Abraham. Furthermore, they intermarried with the pagans and assimilated their gods. In this disobedient culture, only Samson fought the pagans as God had commanded. In addition to Samson’s enemies hating him, his countrymen betrayed him because they feared Canaanite retaliations (Judg. 15:11-13). Under such pressure, Samson found a humorous way to destroy the crops of his enemies (Judg. 15:3-5): He caught 300 foxes and tied them “tail to tail in pairs.” Samson then fastened a torch to every pair and set them loose in the standing grain, vineyards, and olive groves of the Philistines. It would have been much easier to just set the fields on fire with a torch, but Samson needed some relief from all of the stress of leading Israel single-handedly. Similarly, he amused himself in Judges 16:1-3 by removing the colossal city gates from Gaza in the middle of the night. He then carried them to the top of a hill 6-10 miles away, for all of Gaza to see. [2]

Friendship: David’s friendship with Jonathan brought comfort to his soul while Saul was trying to kill him. In response, David sought Jonathan’s council and companionship (1 Sam. 20); they vowed oaths of brotherhood, kissed each other, and wept together. Likewise, Jesus spent time with his disciples the night of his betrayal. He told them, “…I have eagerly desired to eat…with you before I suffer” (Luke 22:15), because they had stood by him in his trials (v. 28). Jesus looked to his closest friends, Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, for companionship and support. They went to the garden, where Jesus confided to them, “…My soul is overwhelmed…Stay here and keep watch with me” (Matt. 26:38).

Prayer: In the garden, Jesus prayed when his soul became “…overwhelmed…to the point of death….” He was under the greatest physiological state of stress known. Jesus was so honest before God with his needs that he prayed three separate times, “…Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matt. 26:39). As Jesus modeled, when we are troubled or weary, we should pray. God promises that He hears our cries, and He answers them!

Scripture: The Word of God keeps us centered on the promises of God and Jesus Christ and anchored in truth. In Matthew 4:4, Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 8:3—“…Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Here, Satan tempted Jesus in the desert and Jesus fought back with the truth of God’s Word: “It is written.” He committed himself to knowing Scripture, and therefore could endure the Cross because he knew the “joy set before him” (Heb. 12:2). He had studied God’s promises in the Messianic prophecies, and in those words Jesus found strength and solace.

Music, Sleep, Nature, Humor, Friends, Prayer, and Scripture each bring rest to our soul. The first five are important, but prayer and Scripture are indispensable. Scripture is our anchor, and prayer is communication with God and the Lord Jesus, the Captain who calms our hearts through every storm.

New International Version (NIV)
Cornelius Calls for Peter

10 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”

4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.

The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”

7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.

Peter’s Vision

9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. 13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”

15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.

17 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. 18 They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.

19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three[a] men are looking for you. 20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”

21 Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?”

22 The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.” 23 Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.

Peter at Cornelius’s House

The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along. 24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26 But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”

27 While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”

30 Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”

34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues[b] and praising God.

Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

A NUH WE A TALK DOE

International artist Mr Vegas announces a new charity concept auction, “Turning Dust Into Bricks”.  After experiencing a very public break-up and turmoil in his personal life during the later part of 2012, Mr Vegas aims to make 2013 a year of turning negatives into positives. Like the phoenix that rises from the ashes, Vegas hopes to set an example and be a voice for many broken people who have given up on healing both mentally and physically from emotional stress.

Mr Vegas hopes this new concept auction of the furniture that were part of the much publicized controversial Wedgewood home that he shared with his ex, will help raise money for the charities he supports and create an awareness for “Turning Dust Into Bricks”.

When asked why he would auction such pieces, Vegas responds  ‘’I cannot bare to see them and after throwing away the bed I thought about the pain versus the waste . In thinking, I realized I was being selfish and there were many ways that people could benefit from this. One being the children from the Mustard Seed Community, which is a charity I support. Also, in doing this I would hope to teach men who have been in my position, that all is not lost, a little laughter will help.  Try turning your bad situation or circumstance into a good one, this world is about healing’’.  Vegas went on to say that if he had thrown the furniture away, people would be unaware of his healing process and he wishes to motivate people who feel there is no hope in coming out of a negative situation.

The first auction includes pieces of the much publicized bedroom set: two matching night tables, a 6 drawer dresser with a decorative mirror and a chest of drawers, all pieces crafted of oak wood.  The “Turning Dust Into Bricks” auction will open at a bid of $9.99. http://tinyurl.com/BedroomFurnitureSaleForCharity

The second “Turning Dust Into Bricks” auction, will also open with a bid of $9.99 and consists of a 3 piece taupe micro-fiber and leather living room set – sofa, love seat and recliner chairhttp://tinyurl.com/LivingRoomSetSaleForCharity

Among the highlights of Sting 2012 was deejay Flippa Maffia scattering thousands of dollars into the crowd during an entertaining set. It has become the norm for the flamboyant entertainer, known in dancehall circles as the ‘Flossin king’. Theatrics aside, Flippa Maffia says he is pleased with his performance at the annual Boxing Day show. “For the past three years I have grown a lot in terms of my music and my spiritual being. No longer am I offended and affected by negative criticism as I have come to understand that people are always going to talk,” he said. After doing the songs Dem Ya and Real to The People, Flippa Maffia popped a bottle of champagne, poured it on the stage then dipped in his suitcase for a handful of cash and hurled it into the crowd. “It is not about the hype but if one is singing about a particular lifestyle his/her actions should portray that,” said Flippa Maffia, who insists he does not ‘throw cash’ in order to ‘buy’ fans. “I have been throwing cash for years so if that was the case there wouldn’t be a need to be doing it now. There are some entertainers who will ‘floss’ their money, take drugs among other things. I just do whatever makes me happy,” he said. But what is the source behind all this money? He says he is not involved in illegal activity, pointing out that he owns a banquet hall and nightclub in Philadelphia where he has lived for some time. Maffia grew up in Waterhouse, and attended Norman Manley High school in Kingston. Some of his better known songs are Unfinished House, Star ah Star and his most recent, Hear mi Hear.