Too much background noise? Do you suffer from noise overload sometimes? Confusion, mis-information, headaches, aggravation, frustration, are all by-products of the “wrong” kind of background noise!
But what about the “right” kind of background noise? I mean, the kind that settles you, changes the mood in the room, relaxes your mind, makes you want to just relax!?
Background music can be therapeutic, relaxing, even help you fall asleep. But it has to be the “right” sound. It has to fit.
Spotify and Soundcloud are crammed with music of all genres for all occasions!
When we’re expecting company over for dinner, I’ll often do a quick search on Youtube or Google for easy downloads. The selection is awesome!
Sunday morning Message from the pen of Pastor, Reverend A. W. Gilmore, (c) 1989
Esther 4: 12-16
12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
Matthew 4: 8-11
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’[e]”11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
These are crucial times in which we live. It takes much courage to live, for there are so many temptations, problems & challenges. When you attempt to talk to others, soon you find out that they have their troubles, too.
This is how Rev. Gilmore’s Message began. He went on to expound on the following.
[Consider] the man who’s about to jump off a bridge…
So it takes courage to face life. And it takes courage to be different, to take a stand for Christ. Only God can give the courage we need.
Satan is at every cross-road, seeking whom he may devour. Without God, the temptations will cause you to take a turn down a road where you may not want to go.
The Book of Esther does not speak of God. His name is not mentioned in the entire Book. Yet, there is no other Book in the Bible where the evidence of God, and the presence of God is more clearly seen & felt.
The king of Judah, Ahasuerus, is one contentious ruler.
But in the Book of St. Matthew, Jesus’ ministry is beginning, and there appears satan, the great tempter. It took courage for Jesus to face this frowning world. The tempter met Jesus in the wilderness.
You CAN make it.
Tempted, challenged because you’re hungry & wanting more?
Tempted, challenged because you’re not succeeding like you expected?
Tempted, challenged because things are bleak & boring?
It took courage to face crucifixion on a wooden cross. Yet, He said, “Not my will…”
I have no time for music snobs that look down on popular, chart music. People find great strength in music, and that’s not something to sneer at. Not only that, but pop music is becoming ever-important in widening the discussion about mental health. Ariana Grande is proof of that. Depression, anxiety and other mental health […]
The old saying goes, ‘you can’t always control what happens to you, but you can always control your reaction to it.’ I believe the moral of this story is, remain connected to Your Higher Power, (mine is Jesus).
I have come to the conclusion today that life is set to try us but we have to make the most of what we have. I have had my fair share of trials today, but you have to think big.
When someone presses my buttons I smile to myself and try to pass on by. Working in a supermarket is a particularly difficult part of my life, I get asked so many stupid questions on a daily basis that sometimes I think about writing them all down and publishing it to the world.
Today’s winner was a short lady who caught me stocking up the milk, she came up and said “excuse me my dear, could you show me to the full fat milk? I just cannot seem to find it anywhere.”
I could not bring myself to say anything I just pointed and ran out into the warehouse!!
I feel that most people think about happiness as a feeling that is burst out of your chest, where your cheeks hurt from smiling so much and you feel so carefree. The feeling like you could walk on water and fly. It is effortless and easy. Even though the smiley faces we have become so familiar with are yellow, I have learned that happiness is actually blue. I want to challenge this way of thinking because I think it is creating an unrealistic expectation for happiness. I have been through a lot of pain in my life time, and I am sure I am not alone. Maybe you have gone through some pain yourself and feel like you are never going to get to that bright yellow smiley face again.
