The Hometown Treasure July 2011 | Page 45

July 2011 Spiritual Treasures by Drew Ryall, Pastor at New Life Fellowship The Significance Of Silence for an answer? This concept of rest and silence is not a new idea. We all know that on the 7th day, God rested. I am not sure, but I don’t think God needs the rest! He was telling us something. He was reminding us that rest is essential, something we cannot neglect. The most busy person I have ever seen or heard of was Christ. He began His ministry at 30 and was at the cross at 33. Three years of ministry was all he had and he had so much to do. Yet, it says in the Gospels that Jesus OFTEN withdrew to a quiet place, a lonely place. What was he doing during this time? Was he sleeping? My belief is that He was spending time with the Father. He was seeking His will, gaining strength from His presence. It must have been such a critical time for Christ. He understood how significant that time of silence with the Father was for Him and His ministry. What about you? Do you know and understand the “Significance of Silence.” Are you experiencing it? Are you spending time with the Father not just speaking to Him, but listening to what He has for you? May we be the Body of Christ that is continually aware of what God is doing so we can have the understanding and strength to be a part of accomplishing it! Mailing Services Do you have a list of customer addresses ... but you’re not sure what the best way is to contact them again? Talk to us! We can add to, delete from, and update your mailing list for you; do bulk mailings; and provide you with alphabetical lists of all your contacts to make it easy for you to look someone up. Phone: 260-463-4901 • Fax 888-439-6528 • The Hometown Treasure Recently, my wife and I traveled up to northern Michigan to speak at a youth retreat. It was about a 4 hour drive in good weather. If you factor in the snow and wind we had, it became a full day trip. Yet we had a great time together. We shared stories of years past. We listened to music and a book on CD. But some of the best moments were the quiet times when we just enjoyed being in each others presence. It is interesting how those (quiet) moments become more meaningful and acceptable within our marriage over recent years. It is no longer necessary for us to always be doing something or saying something as it was early in our relationship. Our relationship has matured and grown. We have become comfortable with the “Significance of Silence.” Have you ever thought of how significant silence can be in your life? Have you become accustomed to noise and business? Life can become consumed with deadlines, tasks, lists, and must-get-dones, that we can miss out on the blessings of silence - the absence of noise. What if our relationship with Christ is somewhat dependent upon the absent of noise? What if knowing what God has for us was actually stopping and listening Your best customers are those that have already bought from you! We can also help you start collecting that information if you aren’t already doing it. Page 45 PO Box 744, Shipshewana, IN 46565 • office@amishpapers.com Ph: (260) 463-4901 • Fax (888) 439-6528