Notes of Rest

09/03/2025

"He makes me lie down in green pastures, he restores my soul..." (Psalm 23).

There's something so profound about this image of God guiding us to a place of peace and restoration. It echoes the beautiful promise we find in Exodus 33:14, where the Lord tells Moses, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Both passages point to a divine truth: true rest isn't something we can conjure up on our own; it's a gift from a God who actively leads us toward it.

So often, we pray for God's voice, asking for direction and clarity, but when He answers, our human nature can get in the way. Instead of lying down in the green pastures He's prepared for us, we might immediately start questioning, overthinking, or worrying about our ability to handle the task. This anxiety can steal the very peace He wants to give, leaving us feeling stressed and weary, even though God has promised to be with us every step of the way.

What if we chose to truly receive the rest He offers?

What if we practiced listening for His voice and then, in faith, followed His leading without hesitation, trusting that He will provide the strength and presence we need?

We are called to reflect on our own lives. How can we better lean into God's promise to be our rest, allowing Him to truly restore our souls and guide us to His green pastures?

Peace be with you.

09/02/2025

The selected aphorism comes from the Beatitudes, a series of that gives during his famous Sermon on the Mount.

Our journeys into God’s rest are invitations to find that peace and to share that peace, to be that peace in a world burdened with chaos and rift. No matter where we are on God’s journey, there is more healing God wants to bring. That’s part of why rest is so necessary throughout our lives. Rest is a conduit for God’s healing work in us.

What have you been releasing this year? What do you need to release this year? Who will you get to draw closer to as a result of releasing?

09/01/2025

There is a new song from The JuJu Exchange, Purely, out now on all streaming platforms. (This spring and summer we are steadily rolling out singles from our new record BEHOLD, which you can download in full on Even.)

As is the case with all of TJE's songs from BEHOLD, Purely is also an invitation to attention. What do you wish to be in your life, and what is being ? These questions keep us honest with ourselves. The contemplative Richard Rohr models that honesty when he admits that he does nothing without mixed motive. What a healthy acknowledgment of the complexities of moving through the world. Try as we might to move simply, all that we do is entangled in webs of sin and death. Anyone who thinks they move as simply holy creatures is straight-up deceiving themselves (1 John 1:10).

This is what makes the good news of Jesus good news to me and not just nice information. He is with us in our daily battles against sin and is a mighty who can give us the strength to endure it all!

08/30/2025

Earlier this year, Notes of Rest served the Brentwood Presbyterian Church in Burnaby BC, Canada. The Rev. Dr. Brian Fraser helped engage the congregation in a thoughtful discussion on what the can learn from .

Singing together is one way to strengthen the community and bonds within the church - as Col. 3:16 reminds us, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

How are you pursuing today? Are you able to lean on others in times when your voice cannot carry all it needs? How are others around you assisting you in pursuing and in the Lord?

08/30/2025

What does it mean that the duration of one song can elicit ? Can we listen to songs with an openness to being compelled by God to believe?

Being active on social media can show us all what it means to be attentive to what the music brings out of you, what the music brings you into.

May God continue to meet us in the sounds as we testify.

Thanks for listening.

08/30/2025

Earlier this year, Notes of Rest served the Brentwood Presbyterian Church in Burnaby BC, Canada. The Rev. Dr. Brian Fraser helped engage the congregation in a thoughtful discussion on what the can learn from .

How are you pursuing today? Are you able to lean on others in times when your voice cannot carry all it needs? How are others around you assisting you in pursuing and in the Lord?

Full recording available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W85bYLje6Q0&t=3678s

We'll be enjoying some of the favourite hymns of the Christian tradition and having conversations about what the church can learn from jazz for its missionin...

08/28/2025

Pull up! Solo piano show

I’ll be playing at the Harold Washington Library tomorrow for The Renaissance Project! This is the music of my people and our history.

Thrilled to share a jazz tribute to Chicago’s Black classical music heritage. Thank you to for another chapter in this series.

Come to the Grand Lobby @ 1. Hope to see you there!

08/23/2025

Family - I’m back at it again this weekend with The Circle of Trust as we’re part of the .

Pop out to for live music and community.

With the summer winding down, it would be great to be outside together and exchange greetings! Hope to see you there 🙏🏾

08/09/2025

Today! You can catch live at the as part of the Community Outreach Program through .

For y’all attending the Bud Billiken parade in , come on over to 7030 S Merrill Ave at 6. The great will be sharing her powerful punk and soul sprinkled reflections.

Look forward to seeing you there! ✨

08/09/2025

is a city that knows how to feel. Every piano line, every bass note, every chord change carries something deeper than music — it carries harmonies with soul. These harmonies help shape culture - and can change lives.

Thankful to everyone who came to last night to witness the Circle of Trust’s latest conversation between myself, .parker09 (voice), (bass), (percussion), and visual artist who finished multiple live paintings during our set.

The exchange continues. For where the Circle, and will be next, and for more on Vocation’s release info, check out my website for more: juliandavisreid.com

Grateful for what was - and what will be. Peace.

08/06/2025

Tomorrow feat. .parker09, , and , Circle of Trust takes at 7PM!

Selector King Tony will be laying down on the turntables to get the vibe off right.

Pull up for a powerful evening - new music from my upcoming full-length album, Vocation, is on deck🙏🏾

Tix in bio.

08/02/2025

Hey family - sharing a few upcoming dates through September for Circle of Trust, and -through September.

I’d love to see you at any of the above to see the storytelling across my portfolio.

Let us come together to combat the madness we’ve seen this summer.

Peace be with you.