As someone who is rarely at a loss for words, lately I've realized that I've used a few videos in my posts to express myself. That's probably because music truly heals me - my beast within. I remember the Tasmanian devil on the old Bugs Bunny cartoons which were my favorites!! Whenever Bugs would play the accordion, Tas would be reduced to mush - but the second Bugs stopped playing - the devil would emerge ha ha!
Love that!
Whenever I listen to music, deliberately, I can feel the deep stirring and healing inside my heart and soul. Music does to me what no one or no thing can. It's very spiritual.
On the other hand, I cannot listen to some of today's music. I can hear it once or twice and even dance to it, but listen? Nah. That's not the kind of music I listen to.
You can tell by some of the video's that I've posted that it's gotta go deeper than that. Everything has to have some meaning on some level otherwise it'll just be an ear worm that gets stuck in my head for days.
I have also learned to love silence. Or I'm at least more aware of how much noise I make. While cooking, the pots and pans noise pollution that I create can be frightening to small animals and children. My cats take off and are usually far from sight while I cook. They come back when things have settled down a bit to get a smackeral or two.
Silence allows me to hear myself think. It allows me to get a handle on what's going on inside. There is a ton of mental stimulation going on - music included - that only silence can calm. Having suffered from asthma from time to time, I'm always conscious of my breathing, but when I'm brought back to my breath and stillness and silence the shift happens. The shift is a state of consciousness. Sometimes we get very busy and hypnotized by life through our senses and autopilot kicks in. Autopilot may consist of some behavior patterns that are not in our best interest. Silence can and will illuminate that almost instantly.
Two mornings ago before I even opened my eyes, I heard this sentence: "God is waiting for you".
Seriously. In the stillness of the morning that's what I heard before even moving a toe or a pinkie. I just laid there wondering if I said that or not - but how could I have said it - I was sleeping. Was it left over from a dream? I can't remember anything.
Yesterday morning, I experienced a small episode of sleep paralysis. I've learned 'not to panic' when this happens. Ever since I learned this about six months ago, I haven't had a sleep paralysis episode, only this one time. I did get a little nervous initially but I calmed down and then it subsided. Keep in mind, this is while I'm sound asleep.
In a strange way I've been waiting for the sleep paralysis to happen. Almost looking for it - there is something there I can't explain. It's truly a phenomenal thing to experience. I'm not sure what's happening, as I've blogged about this before, but I'm more curious now than I've ever been about it. Is it some transcendental metamorphosis? Is it a seaming of the soul? What?
And what is God waiting for me to do? In my heart I just think She wants to spend some time with me - one on one. I think I'm spending time with God because I am conscious of God - but there is a deeper, more personal experience that I have only when I'm still, purposefully meditating and focusing on the Glory of God. The presence of God. There is nothing like it in the world. I sometimes feel it in music and I often feel it in silence.
I have a funny feeling though, that He wants me to feel it more with His children. Every where I look today, people are struggling. Not only are they struggling, but they are focusing on their struggle so much that freedom from struggle is not a watered notion. There is some hopelessness. A leaning on oneself for wisdom that never comes. For me, it was always God who lifted my spirits and gave me the victory in my circumstances...even though I was still in the valley.
And then last nights dream. I was with a group of people, strangers, who had a small baby that was ill and close to death. I was not part of the babies family just a distant friend. I felt very curious about what they were doing and I realized they were praying and holding a vigil for healing for the baby. I instantly began to participate with them in prayer and believing God for a miracle.
And then I see the father tapping and rubbing the baby, which was wrapped up as babies often are, but I couldn't see the baby's face. The father was distraught and even though he was praying I could sense that he was also giving up at the same time!
The group of people was moving with the baby toward a specific spot - like where the baby was born, or a Holy spot or something, I'm not sure. I just know that I was very pleased that they were going there and I began to speak out in faith as we approached that spot. I just started praying with raised hands, praising God for all that He does and has done. Just then the baby turned and I could see his face for the first time which was somewhat blue and wrinkled. After a second or two the baby opened his eyes and smiled at me and returned to a more healthy color. We were elated and thanked God for the miracle, to say the least.
Then I woke up.
Love that!
Whenever I listen to music, deliberately, I can feel the deep stirring and healing inside my heart and soul. Music does to me what no one or no thing can. It's very spiritual.
On the other hand, I cannot listen to some of today's music. I can hear it once or twice and even dance to it, but listen? Nah. That's not the kind of music I listen to.
You can tell by some of the video's that I've posted that it's gotta go deeper than that. Everything has to have some meaning on some level otherwise it'll just be an ear worm that gets stuck in my head for days.
I have also learned to love silence. Or I'm at least more aware of how much noise I make. While cooking, the pots and pans noise pollution that I create can be frightening to small animals and children. My cats take off and are usually far from sight while I cook. They come back when things have settled down a bit to get a smackeral or two.
Silence allows me to hear myself think. It allows me to get a handle on what's going on inside. There is a ton of mental stimulation going on - music included - that only silence can calm. Having suffered from asthma from time to time, I'm always conscious of my breathing, but when I'm brought back to my breath and stillness and silence the shift happens. The shift is a state of consciousness. Sometimes we get very busy and hypnotized by life through our senses and autopilot kicks in. Autopilot may consist of some behavior patterns that are not in our best interest. Silence can and will illuminate that almost instantly.
Two mornings ago before I even opened my eyes, I heard this sentence: "God is waiting for you".
Seriously. In the stillness of the morning that's what I heard before even moving a toe or a pinkie. I just laid there wondering if I said that or not - but how could I have said it - I was sleeping. Was it left over from a dream? I can't remember anything.
Yesterday morning, I experienced a small episode of sleep paralysis. I've learned 'not to panic' when this happens. Ever since I learned this about six months ago, I haven't had a sleep paralysis episode, only this one time. I did get a little nervous initially but I calmed down and then it subsided. Keep in mind, this is while I'm sound asleep.
In a strange way I've been waiting for the sleep paralysis to happen. Almost looking for it - there is something there I can't explain. It's truly a phenomenal thing to experience. I'm not sure what's happening, as I've blogged about this before, but I'm more curious now than I've ever been about it. Is it some transcendental metamorphosis? Is it a seaming of the soul? What?
And what is God waiting for me to do? In my heart I just think She wants to spend some time with me - one on one. I think I'm spending time with God because I am conscious of God - but there is a deeper, more personal experience that I have only when I'm still, purposefully meditating and focusing on the Glory of God. The presence of God. There is nothing like it in the world. I sometimes feel it in music and I often feel it in silence.
I have a funny feeling though, that He wants me to feel it more with His children. Every where I look today, people are struggling. Not only are they struggling, but they are focusing on their struggle so much that freedom from struggle is not a watered notion. There is some hopelessness. A leaning on oneself for wisdom that never comes. For me, it was always God who lifted my spirits and gave me the victory in my circumstances...even though I was still in the valley.
And then last nights dream. I was with a group of people, strangers, who had a small baby that was ill and close to death. I was not part of the babies family just a distant friend. I felt very curious about what they were doing and I realized they were praying and holding a vigil for healing for the baby. I instantly began to participate with them in prayer and believing God for a miracle.
And then I see the father tapping and rubbing the baby, which was wrapped up as babies often are, but I couldn't see the baby's face. The father was distraught and even though he was praying I could sense that he was also giving up at the same time!
The group of people was moving with the baby toward a specific spot - like where the baby was born, or a Holy spot or something, I'm not sure. I just know that I was very pleased that they were going there and I began to speak out in faith as we approached that spot. I just started praying with raised hands, praising God for all that He does and has done. Just then the baby turned and I could see his face for the first time which was somewhat blue and wrinkled. After a second or two the baby opened his eyes and smiled at me and returned to a more healthy color. We were elated and thanked God for the miracle, to say the least.
Then I woke up.
The moral of the story? Keep your focus. Keep your eyes on the prize. Do not lean to this side or that because of your circumstances. Be convicted in your desire and thank God for giving you everything that you need, everything that you have.
I honestly believe that the passion I have to help others is placed inside my heart by someone else, somewhere higher. And if God has given me this desire, He will surely assist me in obtaining whatsoever He wants me to have at the time.
What are the desires of your heart? Are you listening and if so, is God in it? If He is, you will surely have the victory and if He isn't, perhaps you should get Him involved.
The thing that strikes me the most in my dream is that the father of the baby was giving up simultaneously while praying. You can't be double minded.
The King James Version of the Book of Revelation 3:14-22 puts it this way:
To the Church in Laodicea
14"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. 15I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. 21To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
I know it's not easy. I know we sometimes want to give up because we're sick and tired but I say stay the course and at least make sure God is making your path straight. How do you do that? Start by getting quiet and focusing your intention on what your are searching for....ask God to show you. She will.
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