PERFECT PEACE
Isaiah 26:3-4
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee: because
he
trusteth in Thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH
is
everlasting strength."
The mind is a fantastic thing. We are capable of thinking of many things
at the
same time. Now, trust me on this, we are also capable of forgetting
things with
this same mind. Just yesterday, after having Joyce proof read my
Daily-E-Votional, I came in and sent it out without making the
corrections. (I
dread having her read this admission when she proofs today's issue. I
guess she
will no longer think of me as perfect. Ha!).
Let's get back to the consideration of the mind from God's perspective.
Isaiah
gives us an absolutely fantastic promise in today's Scripture. We are
told that
we can have "perfect peace," even in this world of turmoil and chaos.
Isn't
that a tremendous promise? Our peace is not dependent upon cir***stances,
but
upon what we choose to do with our mind.
In Daniel chapter 5, Daniel is interpreting the handwriting on the wall
that had
caused Belshazzar to be paralyzed with fear. He reminds Belshazzar of the
time
when his father, Nebuchadnezzar had allowed his heart and mind to become
arrogant and proud. God's judgment was quick and sure and for seven years
Nebuchadnezzar lived like an animal, his mind no longer capable of reason.
Here is what changed Nebuchadnezzar back to rational thought; "- - - until
he
acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over the kingdoms of men
and
sets over them anyone He wishes." When the king's mind was changed to
think
about God, he was restored to the throne.
When we choose to focus our minds on the things of God, we too will be at
peace
with God. We will be able to produce fruit for His kingdom and will be
able to
sail through the storms of life without being crushed by rocks or reefs
which
threaten all who pass.
If you are feeling stressed out or under a pressure cooker of demands,
turn your
mind toward the Lord. Live in such a manner that you are in constant
contact
with Him. Delight in the wonderful knowledge that the God of the universe
cares
enough to commune with you day and night. Try It! You will find the
"Perfect
Peace" that God offers.
<<>><<>><<>>
October 26th - St. Cedd, Bishop of Es***, Abbot of Lastingham
Born: c. AD 620 in Northumberland
Died: 26th October AD 664 at Lastingham, York****re North Riding
St. Cedd was the eldest of four holy brothers, born into a noble
Northumbrian
family at the beginning of the 7th century. With his siblings, Cynebil,
Caelin &
(St.) Chad, he entered the school at Lindisfarne Priory at an early age
and
learnt the ways of the Irish monks under Bishop Aidan. They were
eventually sent
to Ireland for further study and all four subsequently became priests.
In AD 653, the mighty armies of King Penda of Mercia expanded their
monarch's
influence to the control of Middle Anglia (Leicester****re and parts of
Lincoln
and Derby), where his son Peada was appointed King. Soon afterward, the
young
king visited his neighbour, King Oswiu (Oswy) of Northumbria, at Walton
(or
Atwell or Wattbottle) and, as his new kingdom had already been
considerably
influenced by East Anglian Christianity, Peada agreed to be baptised in
return
for the hand of Oswiu's daughter, Alchflaed. Bishop Finan of Lindisfarne
therefore welcomed the King and a number of his nobles into the Christian
faith
and Oswiu provided him with four priests to instruct his people further.
One of
these was St. Cedd.
Within a year, Cedd returned home, having helped to convert much of Middle
Anglia to Christianity. He travelled to Lindisfarne to confer with Bishop
Finan,
who promptly sent this impressive young missionary out once more to
evangelise
the people of Es***, who were sorely in need of some spiritual guidance.
King
Oswiu, having imposed his overlord****p there, had persuaded King Sigeberht
(Sigebert) Sanctus to adopt Christianity, in a general mobilization
against
Penda of Mercia. Cedd thus turned south again to spread the word of God
amongst
the East Saxons. He baptised many of the locals and built several
churches-possibly Prittlewell and West Mersea amongst them-and is
particularly
noted for the foundation of monasteries at Ythanchester (Bradwell-on-Sea)
and
Tilaburg (East Tilbury).
The following year, Cedd made a brief visit to Northumbria once more,
where
Bishop Finan had no hesitation in ordaining him as Bishop of Es***. Back
in his
southern province, Cedd pursued the work he had previously begun with more
ample
authority. He re-instated St. Paul's in London as the main seat of his
diocese.
He ordained priests and deacons to assist him in his work and gathered
together
a large flock of servants of Christ in his two monastic foundations.
Bishop Cedd always remained fond of his homeland, however, and was wont to
make
regular visits there. On one such occasion in AD 658, Cedd was approached
by
King Aethelwald (Ethelwald) of Deira who had been instructed in
Christianity and
administered the Sacraments by the Bishop's brother, Caelin. Finding Cedd
to be
a good and wise man, he pressed upon him to accept a parcel of land at
Laestingaeu (Lastingham in York****re) on which to build a Royal monastery
and
prospective mausoleum. Cedd eventually agreed, but would not lay the
foundation
stones until the place had first been cleansed through prayer and fasting.
This,
he undertook himself throughout lent, until his brother, Cynebil, took
over,
when the Bishop was called to the Royal Court. Cedd was the first Abbot of
Lastingham and remained so while still administering to his flock in
Es***.
Christianity had not quite been universally accepted in Cedd's southern
province
and, by AD 660, there was considerable discontent with the rule of King
Sigeberht of Es***. He was murdered by his brothers, Swithelm and
Swithfrith,
and the former took the throne as a pagan King. St. Cedd was forced to
flee
north into East Anglia, where he settled at the Court of King Aethelwald
at
Rendlesham (Suffolk). The East Anglians appear to have held some sort of
overlord****p in Es*** at this time and, within about two years, Aethelwald
had
persuaded Swithelm that it would be in his interest to become Christian.
Cedd
baptised him at Rendlesham, with Aethelwald as his godfather, and the two
returned to Es***.
It was around this time that, owing to the influence of St. Wilfrid who
had been
established at Ripon by King Alchfrith of Deira, that a great divide was
forming
in the Northumbrian Church. All the missionaries of the north had been
brought
up in Iona or Lindisfarne, and followed the Celtic ritual. Wilfrid,
ordained by
a French bishop, introduced Roman ways. The split even extended to the
Royal
household where, each year, Oswiu celebrated the Celtic Easter feast and
his
Queen, the Roman. To settle this difference, and prevent a rupture, the
King
convened a religious synod at Whitby in AD 664. St. Cedd attended the
synod-probably with his brother, Chad-to act as interpreter and to speak
on
behalf of his fellow Celtic ecclesiastics, Bishop Colman of Lindisfarne
and
Abbess Hilda of Whitby. On the opposing side were Abbot Wilfrid of Ripon,
former
Bishop Agilbert of Wes***, Romanus, the Queen's chaplain, and James the
Deacon
who had remained in Swaledale after St. Paulinus had fled York****re. After
much
debate, it was decided that the Roman usages should be adopted and Cedd,
along
with many others, reluctantly renounced the customs of Lindisfarne and
returned
to his diocese to spread the new Roman ways amongst the people of Es***.
The same year, Cedd visited his Abbey at Lastingham while a great plague
was,
unfortunately, raging through the area. Both he and his brother, Cynebil,
fell
sick and, after placing Lastingham in the charge of their youngest
brother,
Chad, they died. Cedd was first buried in the open air and his funeral was
attended by some thirty monks from Bradwell who, sadly, also contracted
the
plague and died. Eventually, a little stone church was built at the
Lastingham,
in honour the Virgin Mary, and Cedd's body was interred there, to the
right of
the altar. The latter remains intact in the Norman crypt that was later
built on
the site, though St. Cedd's bones were removed around the same time to the
cathedral founded by his brother, Chad, at Lichfield.
This Version Taken From:
http://www.britannia.com/bios/saints/cedd.html
Saint Quote:
Alas! we have not as much love as we need! I mean that it would require
and
infinite amount to have enough to love our God according to His due; and
yet,
miserable that we are, we throw it away lavishly upon vile and unworthy
objects,
as if we had a superfluity.
-St. Francis de Sales
Bible Quote
14 He that taketh away mercy from his friend, forsaketh the fear of the
Lord.
(Job 6:14)
<><><><>
NOW BLOSSOMS GETHSEMANE
Bird's songs bursting everywhere
Gorgeous flowers perfume the air
Scriptures fulfilled by His prayer
And His love still lingers there.
In this place of sweet repose
God gave us a precious rose
By Audrey Mc Daniel
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