#43 Riny Raijmakers

To The Netherlands again we go, this time to talk with a wonderful songwriter, Riny Raijmakers.

We were fortunate to also have Eve come and join in on the conversation!  Riny had some meaningful words to say about his song that we featured today.  He said for some reason it felt like an important song to him, and we had to agree, because there is something very important and possibly even vitally important about taking quite time to be still and just breathe and listen.  Sometimes that is all we need.  Riny said that he believes some things are best left unexplained, that way it can have a personal meaning for us.  This took our conversation into an area we did not foresee.  It was a good talk we had, the four of us, and we hope you will enjoy our discussion today as well as we go through this little journey with his song he’s titled, “Be Still.”

Interview 21/07/2013 – Be Still by Riny Raijmakers
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Lead Scripture:
Ecclesiastes 3:1 & 7
1 There is an appointed time for everything…and there is a time for every event under heaven -
7 a time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
a time to be silent and a time to speak…

There is a time to be silent.

LYRICS
BE STILL

Sometimes a sigh is just enough 
To break the silence 
Sometimes a hand, 
sometimes a touch 
sometimes a touch 
Sometimes a spark is just enough 
Enough to light my fire 
And sometimes a 
‘hush, don’t talk no more’ 
Be quiet, still, is all I desire

Sometimes I don’t need words 
No fireworks, no rollercoasters and no thrills 
Sometimes a spark is just enough 
To light my fire 
Sometimes 
‘a hush, don’t talk no more’ 
‘be quiet, be still

Sometimes a smile is just enough 
To get me through the day 
Sometimes it’s just a sentence 
Sometimes a word you say 
Sometimes a minute’s just enough 
Enough to last a lifetime 
Sometimes I need a nighttime love 
Sometimes a valentine

Sometimes I don’t need words 
No fireworks, no rollercoasters and no thrills 
Sometimes a spark is just enough 
To light my fire 
Sometimes 
‘a hush, don’t talk no more’ 
‘be quiet, be still

Scriptures from Interview:

Manasseh’s notes:-

Just one sigh “sign” is enough for us, just one indication or hint is enough.

Matthew 12:38

One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove that you are from God.”

But Jesus replied, “Only an evil, faithless generation would ask for a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah."

Israel have been experiencing and witnessing a lot of miracles and wonders of God from the time of Exodus from Egypt, but still they had doubts on God. That’s why its better to be still and calm and believe in truth which God shows us all the time in this world. And its best to have faith in Him for all things. 

Paul went to Rome and shared the word with all gentiles, where all other disciples were scared to go and preach about the good news. His life is also a good example about just one sign, a small sign. Jesus spoke to him and that was the sign for his life that he has to do Lords will… and that was enough to light the fire and it flamed all through Rome and many corners of the earth.

Luke 1:18-19

Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I know this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”

¹⁹ Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news!

Many times when we get the biggest indication which could be an angel from heaven like this, what we just read above, could be hard for us to believe. That’s when we have to keep faith in God and trust with our whole heart, that He can do everything even beyond our imagination.

Carolyn’s notes: -

Jeremiah 10:13 
When He utters His voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens,
And He causes the clouds to ascend from the end of the earth;
He makes lightning for the rain,
And brings out the wind from His storehouses.
God can be loud … if he wants to be.

I Kings 19:9-13

Elijah at Horeb

⁹ Then he came there to a cave and lodged there; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” ¹⁰ He said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant,torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”

¹¹ So He said, “Go forth and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lordwas passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. ¹² After the earthquake a fire, but theLord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing. ¹³ When Elijah heardit, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 

Elijah experienced a great blowing wind, an earthquake and a fire as the Lord passed by… but it was not until a gentle blowing did he hear the Lord speak.  God speaks the loudest when he speaks to us with a still small voice.

A Thorn in the Flesh

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

⁷ Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! ⁸ Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. ⁹ And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. ¹⁰ Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

In the context of our discussion Riny said he thought sometimes it was good not to explain a song but let it be open so people can get their own meaning from it.  That reminded me of this scripture.  The bible does not say what “thorn in the flesh” meant to Paul.  It could have been temptation to sin or it could have been a health problem or weakness.  It is left open for us so that we can also see that Jesus will help us with our weaknesses whatever they are.

Job 6:24

“Teach me, and I will be silent;
And show me how I have erred.

There is a time when we need to be silent.  We do not have all of the answers.  We need to sit and listen to the one who does.