by Cyndi

As a musician there are several things you have to know when you read music. There are time
signatures that tell you how to count the beat, key signatures that tell you what key to play in, and specific notes that tell you what tone to play, when to play it, and for how long to hold it. Another thing we musicians have to know is the use of rests.

Rests are symbols marked in place of a note. It tells you to be silent. You count it in time because the beat continues on and the music hasn’t stopped, but you withhold playing anything. It’s a time to wait for your next turn to play.

Just like notes, rests have time values too. Some are long and some are short. And many times, depending on what instrument you play, you may rest for a very long time before you have a note. For example, if you play crash cymbals — those loud percussion instruments that look like two trash can lids you hit together — your part in music is usually those gigantic big bang accents. Your part involves a lot of resting and waiting for just the right moment!

If we didn’t have rests written into music, all instruments would be playing at the same time, all the time. That would be disorganized noise, not music. When you watch a band or orchestra, there are times when most everyone is playing and times when only a few are playing. This is what makes music, music. 

I believe life is like music. 

Each of us has our individual part to play in this beautiful song of Creation, and, just like that band or orchestra, there are times to play notes and times to rest. 

Without resting we become tired and ineffective. We can’t catch our breath if we’re playing all the time! Rests are just as important as notes. In other words, sometimes doing nothing is just as important as doing something!

Listen to the music in life. Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us there’s a time for everything. There’s a time to play and a time to rest. Observe the rests. They are necessary. They make for more beautiful music and a more beautiful life. 

By Cyndi

Are you going through a hard time? It seems like most everyone I’ve talked to lately is in the middle of some sort of tragic or difficult time.

And that involves pain and weariness.

Sometimes life hurts. The pain of losing someone either by death or lifestyle, the pain of broken relationships, physical pain — it all hurts. I believe at times the suffering we experience can be more profound within us than outside of us. Our heart can only take so much agony.

As I’m praying for my friends and family I recall a few years ago a dark time in my life. I had broken my left wrist, however, a cast didn’t hold it in place well enough to heal so a metal plate was surgically screwed to my bone. Weeks of casting failure then surgery was followed by months (and years) of recovery.

Being an extremely active person (my son calls me an “outside mom”), I was devastated by my restrictive situation. No more biking, running, swimming, surfing, or playing the piano (which I had done for almost 40 years). The painkiller meds I took for the excruciating throbbing in my wrist didn’t affect the anguish and misery I was feeling psychologically.  Would I ever be able to do any of these things again? My mind went into the negative. It was a very dark time in my life.

But now three years later I am able to do just about anything I want to. My left pinkie is still a bit crooked and I can’t completely lay my hand flat, but I’m again as active as ever (though quite cautious if there’s a chance to fall). Life is good. God is good. He got me through it.

So what could I possibly say to encourage those of you, dear readers, who are in the depths of those dark and painful times of trials and suffering? Wait.

Isaiah 40: 30-31 — Even the youths shall faint and be weary,

And the young men shall utterly fall,

but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint.

Wait on Him. Sit in His presence and let Him comfort you. Pour out your heart before Him. Take the time. He’s a great listener. He will strengthen you. He will cause you to endure.

Please don’t go it alone, my friend. Sometimes in the midst of our pain words fail us and it’s difficult to communicate with others the grief we’re feeling. It’s okay, they won’t always get it. But God understands. He’s been there, done that. Wait on Him and in due time you, too, will be able to soar as an eagle.

By Cyndi

Now living downtown in the middle of a large metropolis like Manila, I’ve come to realize that we live in a constant midst of noise. There are sounds from the traffic and local construction work, from the hordes of people in the mall, to the echoing of cars in the layers of parking lots underground. And it’s not just here with us in the big city. I’m sure if you were to think about it, there’s quite a bit of noise you live with on a daily basis.

Every day the world wants to fill us with a plethora of sounds. And every day the Lord wants us to come away with Him to a quiet place. As Elijah sought the Lord, in 1 Kings 19, he didn’t find Him in the strong wind, nor in the earthquake. Nor did he find Him in the fire. God was found in the still small voice. That’s where Elijah heard the Lord and this is where we will find Him too.

Stillness and quietness can be hard to find. Just try it. Right now try closing your eyes, quieting your mind and focusing on the name of Jesus. What happened? Did your mind go to a whole bunch of other things – past, present, future? Did you scratch your arm or keep moving your legs around? Me too! It’s so hard to just be still and silent! But this serenity is one of the most treasured places where God is found.

Yes, we can find Him in our Bible reading, yes, we can find Him in prayer. And yes, I can sometimes even find Him in the midst of movies or TV shows, but those places are not that intimate. If Robert and I go out on a date night, usually it’s to a quiet little restaurant where we can sit and talk – a more intimate setting. The lack of noise helps us to relax and enjoy the company of each other. This is a much better atmosphere for us to communicate.

Psalm 46:10 tells us to be still and know the Lord. It’s in the stillness where we can find Him and be restored to peace. And usually it’s best to still our mind and body.

So whether you’re a busy mom with three young little ones, the CEO of a big corporation, or somewhere in between, it’s worth the time to occasionally stop and be still. Try getting away from all the noise in your life – though it may be difficult to do at times – and sit still and quiet. Quiet your mind, quiet your body. I believe as we take time out to seek Him and listen for the still, small voice, we will find Him and find rest for our souls. (Jer.29:13)