Strength and hope during sadness

I have a few friends who are dealing with deaths in their family. I know all to well all of the emotions, thoughts, feelings that come along with losing someone you love. There is sadness of knowing we won't have them present physically anymore, but at the same time we have belief that we will see them again in heaven. My heart goes out to them and I want to offer my condolences, and share some words through song to let them know that everything will be ok. Time heals all wounds. We can and will gain strength with by leaning on our faith in God, surrounding ourselves with supportive friends, and allow ourselves grieving time. Nothing good comes out of things that are forced.

At times like these we should praise and thank God for the time we had with the special people in our lives. We should exalt Him and worship Him for who He is and what He has brought us through. Trading my Sorrows expresses to God that we will trade our sorrows, pain, sickness, and shame for the joy of the Lord. We know that God is awesome and He can handle ALL things, we just have to GIVE them to HIM. Trading my Sorrows

When we are dealing with something that is bigger than us, we have to give it to someone that's BIGGER than us! That someone is Jesus. Understanding that we can't heal ourselves, we can't deliver ourselves brings us to the point that we recognize that we need help. We were made to relate to one another as well as the Lord. Singing and listening to songs of strength, worship and praise about the source of our being, joy, and strength activates the BALM that only God has. It takes our mind off of the problem and opens the door for the solution, which is a better day, the strength to move forward, not forgetting about our loved ones, but remembering who they are, who they loved, knowing all is well in our souls. Lord I lift your name on high.

God sacrificed His only Son so that we could have eternal life. This is the hope that we hold on to when events happen that appear wrong, something has hurt us, or we lose a loved one be it friend or family. We can continue to lift God's name on high!! God is great and worthy to be praise. All we have to do is reflect on where we were in life and where we are today. His wonders and works will be seen by everyone. How Great Is Our God.

I want everyone to know that God is good. There is nothing He can't do. He is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. He stands at the door waiting on us to invite Him into our lives, day, situation, mind, and heart. He truly is faithful. He will never let us down. Faithful So whether you are dealing with strife on your job, stress in your home, lack of understanding about things your family or friends are doing, and even where God is leading you, keep Him 1st. Add Him in if He isn't already. Start your day with some time with the Lord, check in with Him throughout the day, and end it with Him.

I love the Lord and I love you too!! In all that you do, take some time to have a Muse-ik Moment :)

Sacorsha

Movie Madness

I love to watch movies! It is a very calming pasttime. I have an opportunity to take a break from MY life sometimes and see what others may go through via the imagination of some creative writer, director and producer. Something else I like about movies is the other "character" many don't think about: THE MUSIC!! YES, YES, YES!! The soundtracks. I call the music another character in the movie, because it either adds to or takes away from the specific scene. Music is used a filler, backdrop, and we are pulled further into the moment that we are viewing. Other times we are reminded of a song that we haven't heard in a while or are introduced to a new song. This adds to music sales, because I will go and buy the soundtrack or the cd of an artist I heard while watching a film. Take the movie "White Chicks" for example.

I love the piano, well playing any instrument for that matter. In the scene where the Wayans brothers, who are disguised as princess in a high society, meet up with their friends, the song "Thousand Miles" by Vanessa Carlton played on the radio. The introduction was a piano solo, which caught my attention immediately. I watched the credits to see who sang the song and the title. Please believe that shortly after seeing "White Chicks" for the 1st time, I had my hands on the Vanessa Carlton song.

White Chicks also has some music in the film during a club/dance scene that takes me back to my childhood. The songs used in the competiton were old school songs as well as some up to date songs including one by Beyonce. Watching this movie brings a sense of joy, laughter, and belief that I too can play the piano like Vanessa and that I can actually dance like the characters during the dance battle.

Another timeless song that was creatively used in a movie is "Unchained Melody." Whenever I watch Ghost I think of this song before the scene comes. Or when I hear this song, I can see the scene in Ghost with Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze.

Ghost just screams love story. All of the obstacles, and events that occurred that led up to the infamous pottery scene and "Unchained Melody" playing in the background solidified, their love, passion, with every lyric and every fiber of their being.

The lyrics: Oh, my love

my darling

I've hungered for your touch

a long lonely time

and time goes by so slowly

and time can do so much

are you still mine?

I need your love

I need your love

Godspeed your love to me

See now doesn't that add to the scene. If we didn't understand what Patrick and Demi were feeling by watching them, we definitely got a better understanding thanks to the lyrics and passionate singing by the Righteous Brothers of Unchained Melody.

Whenever you want to relax or are reminincing about a song pop in a movie and you will be satisfied. When you know you have heard a song, but can't remember where, you may find your answer in a movie from your collection.

Enjoy your movie and muse-ik moment! :)

Sacorsha

Love: Smooth Sailing or Emotional Rollercoaster?

Love is one of the most beautiful, delicate, desired parts of life. Many people say it’s hard, difficult, and involves a rollercoaster of events and emotions. Me, I think love is easy. What is hard is the person or people have a difficult time understanding the other person or letting go of some faults. The growing pains and revelations that are uncovered when involved in a relationship is what makes a relationship or loving someone hard. Everyone wants to be loved, feel loved, and understood. Sometimes the desire can overtake a person. The passion can be a bit much and adds stress, tension, uneasiness, and lack of understanding to the situation. The Goo Dolls song “Iris” depicts a person’s longing for love and being known. The lengths that someone would go through just to be loved, seen, understood, and a part of something good are expressed throughout this song. They said, “And I’d give up forever to touch you. Cause I know that you feel me somehow. You’re the closest to heaven that I’ll ever be; and I don’t want to go home right now…. And I don’t want the world to see me, cause I don’t think that they’d understand. When everything’s made to be broken, I just want you to know who I am.”

                                                           

This song was used in the soundtrack forthe movie City of Angels. This movie basically was about an angel that was willing to fall, “come alive,” in order to feel what “living people felt. He fell in love with a human and wanted to FEEL her, touch her, love her, and kiss her.

The Goo Goo Dolls have another song that expresses the deep desire of wanting to be loved, held, and understood. Love evokes a feeling, thought, and call to action of doing something. “Crying Shoulders” has a semi-unrealistic view of love, yet it happens to many people in relationships. The writer of this song describes what they see in the love interest. “Crying Shoulders” shows how attentive a person can be when they are in love.

“The strands in your eyes. The color them wonderful. Stop me. Then steal my breath. Emeralds from mountains thrust towards the sky. Never revealing their depth… I’ll be your crying shoulder. I’ll be loves suicide. I’ll be better when I’m older. I’ll be the greatest fan of your life.”

                                                       Goo Goo Dolls "Crying Shoulder

The Goo Goo Dolls “Crying Shoulder” is a song full of romantic gestures and feelings. It sounds like they are willing to be with their significant other through the good and bad times. Doesn’t that sound like someone who has a decent understanding of love? When love is in the equation, you don’t easily give up when trouble comes. It feels good when you are appreciated, and it’s expressed. Being in love adds to life and shouldn’t take away from it. 1 Corinthians 13 states it best. Real love is patient, kind, etc. This proves that love itself isn’t hard, harmful, and shouldn’t be difficult, but when there are underlying issues within oneself, it poses several problems and love becomes the smoke screen for the truth.

People go through ups and downs in relationships which explains the rollercoaster metaphor. People fight because they fail to be real, or they compromise for the wrong reasons. This adds resentment into the equation. When people aren't real with themselves, or they try to change someone, and even say things they don't mean, fights occur sometimes unnecessary fights, misunderstandings, and drama that takes the focus off what true love is.

Love should come naturally and can be found in the very simple things. Songs can add to the effects of love already felt or they can start thoughts of love: wanting love, the things you have done for love and because of love, ideas are birthed from songs that remind people of love and its possibilities.

So the next time a song comes on whether it's a love song or romantic song, marinate on the feelings and the thoughts that come to mind and enjoy the Muse-ik Moment. :)

Jazz Moment

You wake up, get dressed, meditate, cook breakfast, catch the news, fight traffic while driving to work. As soon as you get into the building, the phone is ringing, 2 people are calling your name ranting about issues that have already arisen, you stop at the breakroom to get a cup of coffee, and FINALLY you make it to your desk. All of this BEFORE 8:15am. Maybe your morning looks like this:

Alarm clock goes off, you push snooze. 20mins later it's ringing again. You get out of bed, yelling at the kids to wake up and get dressed, all the while you are scrambling to find something to wear. Breakfast includes microwaveable sausage and biscuits and a cup of milk or juice. Everyone is running out of the house to the car and there is a quick prayer that traffic isn't bad. You get the kids to school just in time and you make it to work at 8:00am on the nose. Your boss calls you in with a not so happy tone concerning a small snaffoo you made on a particular document. Once you get to your desk, you have a message from one of your children's schools informing you of a form that needed returning. Your mind is on overload, your body is tired and you still have 8 hours of work to complete.

These scenarios are examples of a typical day of some people. School, work, church, kids, spouse, etc. When we have many days that mirrors this and often times we say to ourselves, "I need a break," "I need a vacation," or "I wish I had some peace."

Vacations are usually planned and requires some time. Peace and relaxation can happen in your home with  MUSIC. One type of music that can help put any person in a calm mood whether they were stressed or not is JAZZ!!! I like Jazz because it's smooth, calm, you can have lyrics or just the instrumental. Some artists include Kenny G, Kem, Miles Davis, etc...

This is a video of Kenny G's "The Moment." As you listen to this can't you see yourself on the couch or on the patio in the late afternoon or evening with a glass of you favorite beverage? My choice would be a nice, cold glass of Moscato. Your muscles relax slowly as the music plays. All of the troubles of the day or week for that matter are erased with feelings of nostalgia, calmness, great thoughts of love, life, romance.. Sometimes Jazz music will clear your mind totally. You are simply as the song states "in the Moment."

Candlelight dinners go very well with Jazz music too. :)

You and your significant other basking in the company of each other over a nice quiet dinner with possibly some Kem playing in the background. Kem "Set you Free". If not at home, probably at a nice jazz club that has a romantic setting, and a dance floor to allow their patrons to freely dance.

The music of Jazz is mellow, yet with a beat. The lyrics are calming with a message. You can bob your head, snap your fingers, or just sit with your eyes closed taking in the atmosphere and enjoying the time set aside for you to have a good time without any worries... There are other genres of music that we listen to in order to relax, take a break from the demanding workday and normal duties of parenting, working and being responsible for someone or something. When we take a jazz break, we are saying this is my time, to relax, recharge, and remember what it's like to take time for ourselves...  If you like these jazz artists and want to purchase their cd's, feel free to click on the Itunes or J2C IT  link under Shopping  pleasure and check these guys out and other artists too..

I love music, I love jazz, and I love you :) Take some time to have yourself a MUSE-IK MOMENT..

Sacorsha

Strength in Music

There are so many things that are going on in our world, around us and even in our personal lives. We see and hear of people being killed, kidnapped, hurt, and robbed amongst other things. Sometimes it seems as if there isn’t a balance between good and evil that happens. I think there is though. We have successes from surgeons successfully disconnected conjoined twins, heart surgeries being completed without any problems. The country came together to some degree in celebrating the election of its 1^st African American President.

                                                                           

  Many great things have happened in our lives that we can recall and celebrate. What I find comforting is in the middle of all the chaos people can find pleasure, peace and comfort that things will be okay based on past experiences, the testimonies of other people verbally, physically and through song.

I remember dealing with many illnesses at different times of my life and a feeling of despair, or the thought of “why me?” came over me. I had my mother, family, and faith reactivated through songs. Sickness can drain you physically and emotionally and it takes prayer and stepping out of the situation to remember who and what you believe in to pull you through. One song that gave and continues to give me strength to fight what’s ailing me is “Fight On.” This song is sung by Mississippi Mass Choir.

It basically states that in this world, but we can continue to move forward and fight. Fight On reminds us that God is the one who has fought and still fights our battle. We have to give all of our problems, financial, mental, emotional, personal and even physical issues we deal with can be given to God. He gives us strength to do what we can such as exercise, eat right, etc. This song helped me stand on the word of God and I got better and healed. I haven’t suffered from Rheumatoid Arthritis is many years.

Another song that encourages me and others is From Every Mountain. No matter what has gone on in our lives or will go in we can believe that we will overcome it. How do we know this? We can base this on our past experiences. Reflection is a great tool to use as a way to help us see how we have grown and progress inspite of the obstacles we face. If you want to hear this song the link is provided here:  For every Mountain.

Grand gestures are good, yet I have learned that it's the small things that reach people more and carry more weight. If it comes from the heart it will reach the heart. When there is a time that causes us to bow our head, let it be for prayer and not out of despair.We can be encouraged that God will be with us through all things good, bad, great and small, and rely on His strength,love, grace and mercy. Do you have certain songs that give you hope or let you know that you too can move forward? Feel free to share. Until next time, keep listening.

Sacorsha :)

Moods of Music

It's raining as I sit here and contemplate which direction to take this blog. And you know what regardless of what I am dealing with, thinking about or what mood I am in, I can ALWAYS turn to music. Music is something that reaches people wherever they are. There is a song for every mood, and I would love to use this blog to examine how this is so. I also want to hear your thoughts about the songs posted as well as example of others. There are party songs for good moods; uplifting songs, both spiritual and secular, when our spirits are low. Love songs remind us if what we had and what we have. Then we have those songs that help us clean house like a CHAMP!! Blues Saturday anyone?
Today for the 1^st time in a good minute I feel good!! When you are feeling good you CELEBRATE and this song helps me do just that. :) Enjoy!

Do you remember Montel Jordan’s “This is how we do it?” This beat to this song makes you want to dance, sing and have a GREAT time. I remember when “This is how we do it” came out. This song is a feel good song. Something on your body is going to move. Be it your head, shoulders, tapping feet, or EVERYTHING. If it isn't a popular dance move, it will be when you're jamming to this song. Why you ask? Because this is a CAREFREE song. I bet you could even have this on your road trip playlist..I even tried to learn all of the dance steps. HA! Something else I like about this song is Montel sampled Slick Rick's Children's Story.. AAAAHHH another classic. In case you didn't know or need a refresher, here is the video: Tell me what you think?

Music is cool that way... There is the ability to use other artists music(with permission of course), and put their spin on it.. Music is universal, but it is also recycled at times. There are other songs that coincide with a person's good mood. These are only a few songs that can be considered when you are in a good mood or want to be. I would love to hear what you remember about this song or how it makes you feel. Please feel free to leave a comment. Learning from you and your perspective will help me expand my musical experience. What are some songs that make you feel carefree and good? I hope to see you at the next musical rendezvous! :)