“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30
Several years ago, our grandson Park asked us if he could share a playlist of Christian songs that he loved. We said of course, so he took our phones and downloaded his list. For years now, Park has felt closest to God when he is listening to music, and it was heartwarming for him to share his joy with us. We were thrilled!
This past year has been filled with so many emotions as we all lived through extremely challenging days making significant decisions for the future of St. Luke’s.
One day I was especially discouraged and exhausted from the stress and emotion of this season in the life of our church, certainly a time in our ministry that I never anticipated. Frequently, I would have trouble falling asleep or wake up in the middle of the night with a troubled heart. As I continued to listen to some of the songs from Park’s playlist, I was deeply moved by the Scripture Lullabies album Hidden in My Heart, and the song, The Peace of God.
Don′t you worry about anything. Instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done. And the peace of God far beyond what we can understand will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.
The writer and producer originally wrote these lullabies for children, but what they discovered was their songs, all based upon scripture, also instilled a calming presence in people across all generations. They have a full orchestra playing in the background that brings such richness to the scriptures. Now with many albums to choose from, I find that these lullabies are something that can immediately calm my soul, help me find rest, and bring me back to Christ and to what is really important.
We all have an image embedded in our hearts of the first Christmas that includes baby Jesus. Christ came to fulfill many promises, including His promise of rest. He set the perfect example for us by living a deeply restful way of life. During this season of Advent, I pray that we are all able to follow His example of peace by allowing our souls to rest in His presence. May you prepare your hearts to receive this gift that was so richly given to each one of us, remembering that He is the greatest gift of all.
Marsha Long, Director of Hospitality Ministry
