Finding Rest in the Family Tree

Today this quote came through my email: “The oak indwells the acorn.” and referred to a book titled “Read Your Life Backwards” by Max Lucado. I haven’t read the book yet, but I have been reading my life this way ever since I read a book titled ‘Meeting Jesus Again For The First Time’ by Marcus J. Borg. Reflecting on my life this way has given me a more profound understanding and respect for the faith of my mother and father.  And the words “The oak indwells the acorn.’ remind me  of times I used to sit under the old oak tree with my grandfather and later in a different place with my children.

The oak indwells the acorn reminds me of the words: The Tree of Life which reminds me of a Family Tree. The oak indwells the acorn.

When you read your own life backwards you cannot avoid reading into the lives of those people who came into the family tree before you. The Tree of Life exists for the church as well as individuals. The congregation you have become a member of or are considering becoming a member of has a family tree. Even if you are ‘planting’ a new church, there already exists a Tree of Life, a church that has been dwelling within an acorn.

Just like Oak Trees, churches grow in both forest and field, in the country and in towns and cities. Sometimes when an acorn falls from the tree it remains where it fell and grows very near to the ‘parent’ tree. Some acorns are harvested by squirrels that pick them up and carry them off to hide them in the ground somewhere else. The squirrels might forget about that acorn or they hid so many they didn’t need that one and so it lays still. While forgotten by the squirrel it is still fed and nourished by the earth around it and the rains that fall from the heavens and heat that radiates through the ground from the sun and is cooled when the sun sets and moon lights up the night sky. That acorn is growing and soon become a small planting that grows and becomes a mighty oak surprising everyone when suddenly its leaves appear, first blending in with the green and brown and then bursting forth in color.

Perhaps you have members like this in the midst of your congregation. Perhaps you’ve been nurturing a mighty oak all along and were never noticed because you were busy looking at your own leaves or the trunks of other mature oaks that surround you.

Some acorns are harvested by people who are in the landscaping business. These businesses are aware of the wide variety of oaks, where they come from and where they are best suited to grow according to the climate and conditions. They harvest sort them, name and identify the acorns. Then meticulously plant and purposefully nurture them so they are healthy and strong. Then the trunks are tethered so they stand straight, not leaning too far in any one direction so their branches will not weigh them down causing a split or fracture. These oaks are then sold to organizations that are looking to improve the landscape their property. They are now nurtured and appreciated by a family, community or organization. They provide shelter of many kinds, for people and for animals. They grow and soon they produce acorns and more oaks indwell them.

Perhaps seminaries are a little bit like tree farms full of acorns wherein the oaks dwell. Perhaps the church with all it’s various denominations is a little bit like a forest full of many varieties of oaks, none better than the other just different. Standing side by side, blocks or miles apart, they make our communities and our country more beautiful than if we only had one kind of oak or one kind of tree. Yes, the oak indwells the acorn, but from which oak has the acorn come from?

Looking at the following verses from Genesis, Luke and Revelation, it seems to me that God is the Oak and Jesus is the first Acorn . . .
God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so. Genesis 1:28-30 (NIV)
“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:43-45 (NIV)
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. Revelation 22: 1-3 (NIV)
Yes, it does seem to me that God is the Oak and Jesus the first Acorn. . . This is the family tree I’m a member of . . . The family of God. The Apostle Paul said that through Jesus, everyone has been given the right to become children of God; people can be grafted into the family through him.
And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. Romans 11:23
And yes, there are many stories about branches (individuals, families and churches) being grafted into the Family of God through Jesus Christ, who founded the church by grafting into his heart a man who had denied him knowing him before other people.
We cannot judge ourselves, each other or our churches. We can only proclaim the gospel message of Jesus Christ, through whom we have all been redeemed and called to be in a loving relationship with God and one another in the power of the Holy Spirit.
© June G. Paul, November 5, 2009
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Thoughts on Matthew 11:28-30

In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus calls out to ‘all who are weary and burdened’ saying we should take his yoke upon us and learn from him because he’s gentle and humble in heart.  And he says we will find rest for our souls.

He’s not talking about egg yolks, he’s talking about a piece of equipment that is placed over the head, around the neck and shoulders of work animals – horses, mules, oxen, cows, even dogs and I don’t know what other kinds of animals.  Some people work their animals to death and animal rights activists really oppose this kind of mistreatment.  There are some people who feel as if they are being worked to death by their employers.  There are some people who work themselves to death thinking they have to do everything they think of that they see or hear needs doing.  They are their own worst bosses. 

When Jesus called his disciples to follow him, they followed him while he worked and when he rested. They saw him seek times of rest and refreshment.  He did not overwork them.  When he told his disciples to look at the birds he must have been wanting them to notice that they took times of rest.

I looked up the word rest in a bible dictionary as it is originally used and learned there are different connotations.  The original Hebrew word for rest in this verse is connected to another verb that means to assure, to have confidence, make friends, persuade, trust, inward certainty.

It’s easy to get confused by all the voices in the world around us.  Everybody thinks you should be or do something different than who you are or what you are doing.  This makes us think we are guilty and feel ashamed. We separate ourselves from people when that happens.  Everyone has their personal opinion about what should be done.   But the truth is, we don’t have all the answers.  God does.  He knows the plans he has for our lives, the spiritual gifts and talents and skills he has given us. Do we? He knows who we are and what we have been created to do. He unites us in purpose, through a spirit of truth, love and grace.

There are so many voices in the world, prophetic and social justice voices, telling us to hurry up and that there is a lot of work to be done.  But work that is done by physically, emotionally and spiritual exhausted people is not of good quality. Sound growth in body, mind and spirit requires rest.  Good work does also.

Jesus said he was humble.  Part of humility is knowing what and how much we can and cannot do and recognizing when we need to rest, our bodies and in the word. Jesus modeled going away to a quiet place to pray and be still. When we are weary and burdened do we find a place where we can rest, yoke ourselves with Jesus and learn from him?  Or do we just run off somewhere for awhile and come back without a solution of how to deal with the burden and so we become weary even before our vacation ends.

 Whenever we’re confused, when we’re weary, when we’re burdened we can turn to Jesus in a number of ways. We can search the Scriptures, we can seek Christian friends. If there is no place else to go we can at least find a church to sit in and be still before the Lord.  There we can search our own hearts and mind first. We can ask ourselves; Why am I in a state of unrest? What burden am I carrying and why am I so  weary?  Then we can search the Scriptures and learn from them, we can talk with a Priest, Pastor, Counselor or Spiritual Care Director so we can have rest for our souls. 

Where do we go if it seems as if there is unrest in the world, at home and in the church? Retreat centers, monasteries, convents all offer places to rest in body, mind and spirit.

I have learned that what Jesus said is true and that being yoked with him and taught from His words is a good thing for me.  Perhaps you will learn this too. 

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Restful Waiting

About 24 years ago I began meditating on Isaiah 40:31 and it’s meaning in my life.   Depending on what version of the bible you are using the verse could read 

Those who hope/wait/ long for or look for the Lord will rise . . .

Twenty four years ago I was a tuckered out young mother who was finding her back to the Lord and the faith that had been instilled in her as a young child.  I was in a new town and the only people I knew there were my husband and our four children who were  4, 2 and twins that weren’t quite 1 year old.   I had sleepless nights and busy, busy days.

I went to church on Sundays and the Priest and Warden came to visit me and welcome me to the community and to the church family.  They became an extended family to me.  Because of their ministry, instead of crying when I was tired and lonely I began reading my Bible again. 

One night, when the children had all been sick with the  flu and earache’s and whatever else and my husband was working double shifts and I was so exhausted that I was unable to sleep.  When I picked up my bible I came across Isaish 40:31 and it caused me to think about how many times Jesus was tired during his times of ministry to so many people. So tired that sometimes he had to go away to a quiet place.  And sometimes even though he tried the people would follow him around, much like my children were following me around and calling out for help.  He always had compassion on them and ministered to them.

I thought about Mary and the fact that she had more than one child and managed to raise them all according to God’s plan for her life and theirs.   She was able to do this, I believe, because she pondered often the word of God that had been spoken to her.

I thought about the woman who had been sick at home.  When Jesus left the temple and came to her house He touched her and the fever left and she was able to get up and began waiting on him and other people.  She had not only been touched, she had been filled by him, by his caring, by his presence, by his words. (Matthew 8:14-15; Mark 1:29-31; Luke 4:38-39)

I realized I needed to be touched by the Living Word of God so that I could have the emotional, spiritual and physical strength to take care of the family I had been given – my husband and my children.  I realized I needed to be filled with the Love and Life of God through the power of the Holy Spirit.

I fell asleep that night with my cheek resting on the pages of a Bible my sister had given me years before. Resting in the knowledge that I didn’t have to be a perfect wife or mother, I just needed to rest in the Word of God more frequently and allow Him to rest in me. 

I have learned through my lifetime that there are times of passive waiting and times of active waiting and both are more fulfilling when they are filled with and fueled by the Word of God resting in my heart and soul and mind.

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Rest and Wisdom

In the book of James, Chapter 3 verses 13-18, James, the brother of Jesus, talks about two kinds of wisdom.  One kind of wisdom he describes is earthly, lacking the Holy Spirit, the other kind he describes as coming from heaven.

•  Earthly wisdom is competitive by nature, always striving for worldly gain and attention, focused on what’s in it for yourself and being #1 in order to gain attention and recognition for self, without regard for the sanctity (holiness) of human life.
•  Heavenly wisdom is humble, focused on God’s plans and helping to relieve the burdens of other people, keeping in mind the sanctity of human life in order to bring glory to God.

I’m convinced that rest has a lot to do with heavenly wisdom.  The book of Proverbs opens with Solomon telling the reader they were written to help people acquire heavenly wisdom.  In 2^nd Timothy, the Apostle Paul mentions the importance of the Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Solomon, James and Paul all connect understanding the Scriptures with heavenly wisdom.

Jesus, the Son of God, had an interest in understanding the Scriptures as a young boy. When he was only 12 yrs. old he was hanging around and talking with the Rabbi’s about the Scriptures. As he grew his interest in helping others come to understand them never faded.  In fact, he said he was consumed with zeal for God’s house. His own family members, Rabbi’s, Pharisees, Scribes and disciples were astonished at his understanding of the Scriptures and the depth of his faith.  Many people, men, women and children, who had never believed in the love of God and the holiness he intended for human life (Genesis 1:27-28) and in the forgiveness of sin have come to believe through the life of Jesus.

 The problem we have in this world is that some people are only full of earthly wisdom and others have some earthly wisdom mixed in with heavenly wisdom. I’ve observed also that there are two kinds of rest, earthly rest which focuses on worldly things and heavenly rest which helps us focus on God while we are still in this world. Days off of work and vacations can have a spiritual dimension to them

Gaining heavenly wisdom is a process that requires resting in the Word of God with a desire to understand the Scriptures. Jesus asked people if they had ever read the Scriptures, so he must want us to do this for a good reason.   The good reason is that the Scriptures can lead a person out of a life full of self-destruction into a life full of heavenly construction. 

 Heavenly construction begins with heavenly plans and purpose. In the Lord’s prayer Jesus taught his disciples to pray “. . . your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven . . .” In heaven we will be in the full presence of the Lord 100% of the time. 

 How much time do we spend in a day even thinking about being in the presence of God?  Try adding a spiritual dimension to your days off work and your vacations. Spending some time in the Scriptures and discussing them with a desire to understand them will bring you closer to the heaven on earth feeling that we all want to experience.   And when you’ve fallen out of step with heavenly principles and purposes, the forgiveness of sin and resting again in the Word of God, read and spoken, will lead you back to that heavenly experience. 

 

Copyright, October 12, 2009 © June G. Paul    All Rights Reserved

Busy or Busybody?

In 2 Thessalonians 3:11-13 the Apostle Paul talks about the difference between being busy and being a busybody.

What does this have to do with Rest you ask?

Well, it’s my experience that people who have allowed the Word of God to Rest in them before going off to work are less likely to be busybody’s and more likely to be busy doing the work that God has prepared for them to do.

Before I allowed this Word of God to Rest in my own heart and mind I was a clock watcher and pretty non-productive at work some days.  I sat at my desk and listened to gossip and in class I sometimes doodled more than I took notes.  I started to pay attention to the conversations I was having around the ‘water-cooler’ and in the break rooms.  They weren’t always uplifting.  As I let the Word of the Lord rest in my heart I found myself uncomfortable in those situations where people just wanted to complain about their jobs, work, relationships and financial problems.  I started bringing books to work and reading them instead of engaging in negative behaviors.  And I changed the programs I was watching on television.  Instead of watching soaps and weekly shows that focused on groups of people gossiping in the office or the neighborhood I began watching more uplifting movies and shows that focused more on the beauty of the earth and relationships. 

It is difficult for the word of God to rest in the hearts and minds of busybodies.  And it’s difficult for busybodies to let the Word of God settle them down.  I know because I was once a busybody, and it could be easy to slip back into being one – probably have on occasion – then I find comfort in the Scripture that reminds me that even righteous people fall, but the Lord picks us up and teaches us again to rest in Him so He can rest in us.     (c) June G. Paul   copyright 2009

Home

Home is where the heart is.  Where is yours? 

I want mine to be with the Lord, on earth before I get to heaven.

If you have a heart for the Lord you are welcome to make yourself at home here.