As long as it's groovin' then I'm movin'

“I love music.  Any kind of music.”  That’s just a small snippet of a song back in the day.  I think the 70’s.  I loved that song as a kid.  It was true for me then and it is now.  Music.  It gets me movin’.  The melodies, high notes, low notes, the drama of it and the quiet, still of the tempo.  If the lyrics are good, it makes the song even better.  Music can make me travel out of my day.  There’s a song by the Doobie Brothers that takes me back to the time I had my ‘74 Red Mustang, stick shift with the sunroof top.  Wind blowing through.  My hair flowing all around.  It was summer and I was on my way to work.   My grandmother bought it for me.  She also taught me how to drive it that first day.   My first car. Man! I was it!  It still brings a smile to my face.  Music can be and is very therapeutic.  Oh wait!  I said I love “any kind of music” but I actually have a few short lines that I won’t cross.  Old Rap, yes. Is one.  I like that.  The so-called new “rap” of today...can’t take it.  My preference people.

Music can soothe “the savage beast” or a troubled soul if that’s more understandable.  Look at Saul in 1 Samuel 16:23.  There was an “...evil spirit…” on Saul and when David played his harp, the spirit left Saul.  Another example is in Psalm where it speaks of praising GOD with all types of instruments along with singing and dancing.  Now, let’s not get crazy with the idea of dancing. I know the bible doesn’t mean the “booty shaking” type of moves that’s done today. :-)  Music is everything and it’s a universal language that can speak to one’s soul.  So, when you’re feeling blue, crank up some good, inspirational sounds.  Classical, good-smooth-happy jazz, instrumental, Gospel, Christian, clean pop music like “Happy” (I know some people are sick of it) or maybe Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger (What doesn’t kill you)” or whatever.  As long as the words are inspirational and not condemning or consuming to the soul.  Just relax, release and enjoy.  Free yourself in music and song and, if you dare yourself, give Jesus some praise in it too.  That’s the best remedy of all.  Oh! I like that song too (Remedy - Jason Mraz)! :-)

This world needs as intervention!

I watched “Intervention” on the A&E website today.  It was about a 24 years old woman named Megan.  To summarize it: her mother left her and her brothers or brother and sister (I can’t remember what sex the other sibling was) at the age of 11 yrs. old because as her mother put it, “I deserved to have a life too…” because Megan’s father worked on an average of 60 hours a week and left her mom with the children.  The father didn’t spend time with his children either.  At the age of 14, Megan was reunited with her mom and her new boyfriend who, later on, raped her and continued to do so for about 4 - 5 months.  She told her mom but her mother blamed Megan saying that she “enticed him...dressed provocatively like a whore…” and called her a slut.  The mother called the father but he did nothing because as he put it, “...I thought her mother would…” which was pretty pathetic.  Her mother chose to remain with the boyfriend and left with him to another state because she “...loved him and wanted to make a life with him…”  Now, with all of this, it’s no wonder that Megan got into drugs, drinking and theft.  She was abandoned by both parents.  At the age of 22, she had an ongoing addiction to heroin for 2 years.  During the intervention, her mother still had the same mindset of “...I deserve to be happy.  Why shouldn’t I have a life?”

This just sums up how this world is.  It’s selfish, delusional, chaotic and whatever else label fits.  Why?  Because of sin.  Why?  Because as old as time itself, people rather rule themselves and think, no, believe their lives are their own and they deserve to be happy.  “I have a right to be happy...It’s my life and no one is going to tell me what to do...Look out for number 1…” on and on.  Well, I tell you, that’s not it.  We are suppose to help each other in whatever we’re blessed with.   This country, like Megan’s parents, has abandoned Jesus Christ.  Yes, it’s true.  Also, we need to stop leaving GOD out of our lives.  That’s where the intervention comes in.  This country was founded on basic Christian principles but this country has gotten so far from it that it’s lost it’s dang mind.  Look at all of the chaos going on.  It’s ridiculous.  All because some Americans are saying Jesus has no place in this country.  What?  I can remember when the World Trade Center attacks happened, people couldn’t get enough of Jesus. “Pray for us...pray for this nation…”  But after everything seemed to get “back to normal” then He was put off to the side again.  SMH.  Jesus did not come here to sacrifice His life, die and then rise again to give us a way to redemption just so that this country, this world can go to Hell literally.  Ok, not everyone is jacked up totally but still, it’s just, it’s still a mess.  Here’s the intervention I believe is needed:  allow Christ back into this United States of America.  Allow Christ back into your hearts if He was once there.  If not, let Him in now.  Let’s seek Him.  Let’s turn this country back into what it was meant to be: a great nation.  Come on!  Let’s stop being selfish, prideful, mislead by darkness and enter into His marvelous light.  I guarantee that if that happens, no one will be disappointed.  It may not happen overnight but it will be glorious when it does happen.  Think about it.

A mother's love

My mother’s birthday is next month.  For a long time now (I can’t remember how long though), I think of what my being here has done for her.  Now, hold on!  I’m not being selfish, conceited or anything like that.  What I mean is, she sacrificed a lot to allow me to be born.  That’s all I’ll say.  Because of that, her dreams (that I had found out later on in life) was to be a singer.  She has a beautiful voice and I’m not just saying that.  Countless people who had heard my mom sing over the years had mentioned it and even on the radio when a song came on that she use to sing.  So, again, she gave up that dream and a couple more.  Life has not been kind to her and she always worked hard to provide for us.

I think about how much better her life probably would have turned out if I hadn’t been born or lived during childbirth.  I think it would have been better.  I’m the oldest so I can say this.  Everyday I do what I can to show her that I love her (not for giving birth to me because and I hate saying this because I know GOD’s not pleased but it’s still in me to say, I would have preferred to not have been born but GOD didn’t ask me for His permission) for giving up her dreams of a better life.  She has told me she loves me and that she hasn’t regretted my birth but I feel as if I owe it to her so every birthday, I do my best to make it a great one.  Is it out of guilt?  No, it’s out of love for her.  I use to think it was but that was a long time ago.  Nope, I love her.  She’s kind, extremely giving and helpful, loving, smart, GOD-fearing (i.e. respect for Him), etc.  I’m glad she’s my mom and I would have no other.  So see, this isn’t about me; it’s about her and my thoughts of how to show her she’s loved on her day of birth and through out.  It’s just that I go all out on this one.  I wish I could do so much more for her but at this present moment, I do what I can with what has been given me.  When Jesus blesses me with more, then I’ll shower her with more.  She’s such a blessing to me and I love her.  Like that old song by “The Intruders” in ‘73 said, “I’ll always love my mama…”    Take a listen here.  Enjoy!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GjxlguPYo0 or  https://youtu.be/3GjxlguPYo0

Am I hooked?

I love coffee.  Flavored coffees actually.  I was never big on plain.  My grandmother loved it.  When I got old enough to drink it, I got her hip to the French Vanilla and Hazelnut flavors before she went on “to glory” as she would call Heaven.  :-)  Anywho, I digressed a little.  When a person has a thyroid condition, hyper functioning actually, coffee is not your friend unless it’s decaffeinated, which is what I get.  Only thing is, by the time I put sugars (yes because it’s a lot), flavored creams and all of this other stuff, shoot, I should’ve just gotten the regular type.  As I’m drinking it, I can feel the rush.  That’s what I love!  As I continue, it’s gets stronger.  Oh yes!  While I’m going through it, I can get things done.  That’s what I love and that’s why I do it.  Then comes the fall…

I can’t take that part.  The shakes, jitters, heart racing...just the sheer “coming down” part.  Is this what drug addicts feel?  I’m being serious when I ask this question.  I’m not being cheeky.  Why do I do this to myself?  Again, I like the feeling and I need to get things done.  The medication I’m taking stabilizes me to a point where I need the energy to do what I need to do.  Although now, maybe I’m just getting older too so I’m slowing down.  I don’t like that thought. :-)  Well, I have prayed for natural energy and sometimes I’ll get it only IF I allow myself to accept it, but then I miss my COFFEE sooooo much.  LOL

OK, so, no bible references I can think of to go with my story.  I just thought I’d write about this and share my experiences.  Although, if I think about it some more, I probably could come up with one like, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (KJV).”  There! see!  I did it!  I came up with one. :-)  But you know what?  I’ll still keep on with the flavored coffee drinking.  I just know to keep it at a minimum.  Do everything in moderation right?  The bible speaks on that too.  Yeah, I can go for that. :-)   By the way, I’m a huge tea drinker too but, that’s for another time.