Comments on: Work and Rest http://www.beenthinking.org/2009/09/07/work-and-rest/ with Mart De Haan and Friends Mon, 06 Sep 2010 16:58:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: bubbles http://www.beenthinking.org/2009/09/07/work-and-rest/#comment-9741 bubbles Thu, 10 Sep 2009 21:40:31 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=6701#comment-9741 foreverblessed, thanks for the thoughts mentioned above. that very spurgeon book is around here somewhere. will need to dig that book out. thanks for sharing the thoughts he had, it will save time this evening. i slept a little over 4 hours last night--it had nothing to do with what occurred here, however. so, thank you for taking time to share this. foreverblessed,
thanks for the thoughts mentioned above. that very spurgeon book is around here somewhere. will need to dig that book out. thanks for sharing the thoughts he had, it will save time this evening. i slept a little over 4 hours last night–it had nothing to do with what occurred here, however. so, thank you for taking time to share this.

]]> By: foreverblessed http://www.beenthinking.org/2009/09/07/work-and-rest/#comment-9730 foreverblessed Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:23:37 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=6701#comment-9730 Bubbles, you are so daring to do this, thanks a lot. Here is a thought to think about. It is part of the evening meditation of C.H. Spurgeon of september 10. (You can find it on Christian Classics Ethereal Library. Ethereal from ethernet) Because many times we are hurt by what other christians say to us, then thoughts come into our minds which haunts us. We immediately attack the person who said so to us, instead of us first going to God with it. You were not alone in that, I have done that a lot at home and in my church. And I thaught I had a right to say so. Of which I am now ashamed. Here it is: Evening wolves Habakuk 1:8 While preparing the present volume, this particular expression recurred to me so frequently, that in order to be rid of its constant importunity I determined to give a page to it. The evening wolf, infuriated by a day of hunger, was fiercer and more ravenous than he would have been in the morning. May not the furious creature represent our doubts and fears after a day of distraction of mind, losses in business, and perhaps ungenerous tauntings from our fellow men? How our thoughts howl in our ears, “Where is now thy God?” How voracious and greedy they are, swallowing up all suggestions of comfort, and remaining as hungry as before. Great Shepherd, slay these evening wolves, and bid thy sheep lie down in green pastures, undisturbed by insatiable unbelief. ... Bubbles, you are so daring to do this, thanks a lot.
Here is a thought to think about. It is part of the evening meditation of C.H. Spurgeon of september 10. (You can find it on Christian Classics Ethereal Library. Ethereal from ethernet)
Because many times we are hurt by what other christians say to us, then thoughts come into our minds which haunts us. We immediately attack the person who said so to us, instead of us first going to God with it. You were not alone in that, I have done that a lot at home and in my church. And I thaught I had a right to say so.
Of which I am now ashamed.
Here it is:

Evening wolves Habakuk 1:8
While preparing the present volume, this particular expression recurred to me so frequently, that in order to be rid of its constant importunity I determined to give a page to it. The evening wolf, infuriated by a day of hunger, was fiercer and more ravenous than he would have been in the morning. May not the furious creature represent our doubts and fears after a day of distraction of mind, losses in business, and perhaps ungenerous tauntings from our fellow men? How our thoughts howl in our ears, “Where is now thy God?” How voracious and greedy they are, swallowing up all suggestions of comfort, and remaining as hungry as before. Great Shepherd, slay these evening wolves, and bid thy sheep lie down in green pastures, undisturbed by insatiable unbelief. …

]]> By: bubbles http://www.beenthinking.org/2009/09/07/work-and-rest/#comment-9724 bubbles Wed, 09 Sep 2009 23:06:36 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=6701#comment-9724 DMG, what was said to you by me makes me so ashamed, that another apology is needed. what was said was corrupt communication, it wasn't good, it certainly didn't edify anyone here, or minister grace to you, the hearer (or reader :) The moving finger writes, and having writ moves on Nor all your piety and wit can lure it back half and line, Nor all your tears wash out a word of it--a true old poem. Again, I'm really sorry that I hurt you. DMG,
what was said to you by me makes me so ashamed, that another apology is needed. what was said was corrupt communication, it wasn’t good, it certainly didn’t edify anyone here, or minister grace to you, the hearer (or reader :)

The moving finger writes, and having writ moves on
Nor all your piety and wit can lure it back half and line, Nor all your tears wash out a word of it–a true old poem. Again, I’m really sorry that I hurt you.

]]> By: daisymarygoldr http://www.beenthinking.org/2009/09/07/work-and-rest/#comment-9722 daisymarygoldr Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:45:07 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=6701#comment-9722 Mart, no there is no absolutely misunderstanding and that’s why I meant to say I don’t intend to make non-fundamental matters an issue over here. Sorry, if my comment did not communicate it properly. So, despite the cold aloofness of sitting insecurely on the other side, it is the warmth of your smiles and the loving assurance of others that gives me the courage to express my thoughts on this site:) Hope you understand that I am certainly not a significant, visible member like you. Although invisible and insignificant, I am a sensory nerve ending that is highly sensitive— to pain caused by divisions that tear apart and rend the body of Christ. Thank you so much Mart, for accepting my differences… and allowing me to sit and join in the conversations at the same table:)! Mart, no there is no absolutely misunderstanding and that’s why I meant to say I don’t intend to make non-fundamental matters an issue over here. Sorry, if my comment did not communicate it properly. So, despite the cold aloofness of sitting insecurely on the other side, it is the warmth of your smiles and the loving assurance of others that gives me the courage to express my thoughts on this site:) Hope you understand that I am certainly not a significant, visible member like you. Although invisible and insignificant, I am a sensory nerve ending that is highly sensitive— to pain caused by divisions that tear apart and rend the body of Christ. Thank you so much Mart, for accepting my differences… and allowing me to sit and join in the conversations at the same table:)!

]]> By: foreverblessed http://www.beenthinking.org/2009/09/07/work-and-rest/#comment-9717 foreverblessed Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:45:15 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=6701#comment-9717 Amen DMG! Romans 14:5 One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. So some consider a day sacred, others do not. So, whether we do or we dont, we belong to the Lord. see v8 Let us all sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs together. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord. always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:19-20 Amen DMG!
Romans 14:5 One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.
6 He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord.

So some consider a day sacred, others do not. So, whether we do or we dont, we belong to the Lord. see v8

Let us all sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs together. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord. always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:19-20

]]> By: Mart De Haan http://www.beenthinking.org/2009/09/07/work-and-rest/#comment-9715 Mart De Haan Wed, 09 Sep 2009 09:37:30 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=6701#comment-9715 daisymaygoldr, I agree with your approach to the law and hope you didn't misunderstand my intended smile about often seeming to be on the other side of the same table. daisymaygoldr, I agree with your approach to the law and hope you didn’t misunderstand my intended smile about often seeming to be on the other side of the same table.

]]> By: daisymarygoldr http://www.beenthinking.org/2009/09/07/work-and-rest/#comment-9714 daisymarygoldr Wed, 09 Sep 2009 05:51:06 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=6701#comment-9714 Glad you got to enjoy some meaningful rest doing all that work in your impressive list of to-dos! Personally, words like “Labor Day”, “Union” etc hold no meaning for me and whether it is work at home or outside, all that my little mind is able to grasp is: No work, no food (2 Thess 3:10). And so here in my home, at this point of my life “honey-never-mind…”:) is practically impossible…it is more like honey do or die! Agree with, “…our work and our rest still matters to God”. True, as our Creator and Provider, He cares about the way we treat our bodies and the land. However, according to the New Covenant I do not observe Sabbath rest as dictated by Levitical laws. That was meant only for the Israelites under the old covenant. If Christians are emphasizing on rest for the Land, then they should also observe all the other ceremonial, sacrificial and dietary laws as well. …and to put this more specifically, if someone insists that farmed land be given rest then it must be insisted that they should also sacrifice sheep for every sin and refrain from eating swine and shellfish! Anyway, don’t intend to make this an issue over here. It is certainly not fun to find myself seated on the opposite side and be subjected to hateful glares from across the table on such non-fundamental matters as these. So, in extending this “work and rest” concept to the spiritual level… whether it is rest for my body or the land, for a Christian the focus is not on this physical creation but in the spiritual creation. God rested from His physical creative work but is still “always at His work to this very day” (John 5:17). His rest from physical work was merely a shadow of the reality. The reality that God is re-creating all things anew in Jesus Christ and as His new creation we are still awaiting a full and complete rest! God’s real purpose of physical rest was to provide us with spiritual rest—and as others have said above, we cannot rest until we attain the real eternal rest to enter our heavenly Promised Land i.e. the kingdom of God. In the cross, Jesus finished the works we needed for our salvation to enter God’s Kingdom. And by faith in Christ, we who have believed are born again into God’s kingdom and do enter that rest. But then, the kingdom is already, but not yet …again learned this from you MDH! Therefore, even though by faith we rest in His finished work of salvation, we also work/labor to persevere faithfully with the hope of attaining complete rest, some day in the future. “Let us therefore be zealous and exert ourselves and strive diligently to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves], that no one may fall or perish by the same kind of unbelief and disobedience [into which those in the wilderness fell].” (Heb 4:11). Just my thoughts… Glad you got to enjoy some meaningful rest doing all that work in your impressive list of to-dos! Personally, words like “Labor Day”, “Union” etc hold no meaning for me and whether it is work at home or outside, all that my little mind is able to grasp is: No work, no food (2 Thess 3:10). And so here in my home, at this point of my life “honey-never-mind…”:) is practically impossible…it is more like honey do or die!

Agree with, “…our work and our rest still matters to God”. True, as our Creator and Provider, He cares about the way we treat our bodies and the land. However, according to the New Covenant I do not observe Sabbath rest as dictated by Levitical laws. That was meant only for the Israelites under the old covenant. If Christians are emphasizing on rest for the Land, then they should also observe all the other ceremonial, sacrificial and dietary laws as well.

…and to put this more specifically, if someone insists that farmed land be given rest then it must be insisted that they should also sacrifice sheep for every sin and refrain from eating swine and shellfish! Anyway, don’t intend to make this an issue over here. It is certainly not fun to find myself seated on the opposite side and be subjected to hateful glares from across the table on such non-fundamental matters as these.

So, in extending this “work and rest” concept to the spiritual level… whether it is rest for my body or the land, for a Christian the focus is not on this physical creation but in the spiritual creation. God rested from His physical creative work but is still “always at His work to this very day” (John 5:17). His rest from physical work was merely a shadow of the reality. The reality that God is re-creating all things anew in Jesus Christ and as His new creation we are still awaiting a full and complete rest!

God’s real purpose of physical rest was to provide us with spiritual rest—and as others have said above, we cannot rest until we attain the real eternal rest to enter our heavenly Promised Land i.e. the kingdom of God. In the cross, Jesus finished the works we needed for our salvation to enter God’s Kingdom. And by faith in Christ, we who have believed are born again into God’s kingdom and do enter that rest. But then, the kingdom is already, but not yet …again learned this from you MDH!

Therefore, even though by faith we rest in His finished work of salvation, we also work/labor to persevere faithfully with the hope of attaining complete rest, some day in the future. “Let us therefore be zealous and exert ourselves and strive diligently to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves], that no one may fall or perish by the same kind of unbelief and disobedience [into which those in the wilderness fell].” (Heb 4:11). Just my thoughts…

]]> By: SFDBWV http://www.beenthinking.org/2009/09/07/work-and-rest/#comment-9713 SFDBWV Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:14:31 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=6701#comment-9713 Xavier, just a follow up. I'm only 62 there are plenty of others older and more thread worn than me. I have been in the battle of spiritual warfare for most of my life, and tho weary and tired I have never quit nor given up. But life has had it's effect on me, and I am tired. I pray for Christ to return for a great many reasons. But the biggest reason is that I want an existance where there is no more sin. Where there is no more cancer, no more deaf or blindness, where there are no need for wheelchairs nor funerals nor tears of sadness. Where the only government is the Kingdom of God with Jesus on the throne. Work...As stated here many times, there is a thousand year period where we will be used by Christ to rebuild the world leftover from the great tribulation. What a joy it will be to work together for the benefit of all mankind shoulder to shoulder with Christ as King. and yes resting on the Sabat. Xavier, just a follow up. I’m only 62 there are plenty of others older and more thread worn than me. I have been in the battle of spiritual warfare for most of my life, and tho weary and tired I have never quit nor given up. But life has had it’s effect on me, and I am tired.

I pray for Christ to return for a great many reasons. But the biggest reason is that I want an existance where there is no more sin. Where there is no more cancer, no more deaf or blindness, where there are no need for wheelchairs nor funerals nor tears of sadness. Where the only government is the Kingdom of God with Jesus on the throne.

Work…As stated here many times, there is a thousand year period where we will be used by Christ to rebuild the world leftover from the great tribulation. What a joy it will be to work together for the benefit of all mankind shoulder to shoulder with Christ as King. and yes resting on the Sabat.

]]> By: pegramsdell http://www.beenthinking.org/2009/09/07/work-and-rest/#comment-9711 pegramsdell Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:38:04 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=6701#comment-9711 Xavier, I'm with you on the Romney issue, :) Peg Xavier, I’m with you on the Romney issue, :)
Peg

]]> By: wretch-like-me http://www.beenthinking.org/2009/09/07/work-and-rest/#comment-9710 wretch-like-me Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:24:34 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=6701#comment-9710 Hello, Friends: This a.m. Joe Stowell's devotion "Strength For The Journey" reminded me of the following truth that seems appropriate to our discussion. "Whether we realize it or not, throughout our lives we have been saturated with false values, and we need to be reprogrammed with truth. God’s ways and wisdom are without peer. His Word really is like a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psalm 119: 105). We need to know what to do with our time, energy, and money. We need to know what to do with our minds. We need to be taught what to do about friends and how to handle enemies. We need to be taught about family, work, and leisure. God’s Word is jam-packed with time-tested principles of success for every situation and issue of life." I pray you find these words convicting and encouraging at the same time. I know I did. Huggs frank Hello, Friends:
This a.m. Joe Stowell’s devotion “Strength For The Journey” reminded me of the following truth that seems appropriate to our discussion.

“Whether we realize it or not, throughout our lives we have been saturated with false values, and we need to be reprogrammed with truth.

God’s ways and wisdom are without peer. His Word really is like a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psalm 119: 105).

We need to know what to do with our time, energy, and money. We need to know what to do with our minds. We need to be taught what to do about friends and how to handle enemies. We need to be taught about family, work, and leisure.

God’s Word is jam-packed with time-tested principles of success for every situation and issue of life.”

I pray you find these words convicting and encouraging at the same time. I know I did.

Huggs
frank

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