The focus is Christian writing and blogging for the mind, body and soul. Our purpose in this earth is not to bring glory to us, but it is to bring glory to God. The sharing of these blog posts is meant to strengthen readers’ call to listen for God. Do not refuse to listen to the One who is your creator for He has something better in mind for us. On this pathway of life, we need each other to walk by faith in God. This fellowship was established by God for us so that the Kingdom grows for His purpose.
Music is part of our mental health as never before. Beyond conversations with God, today is one of the those days that only music seems to soothe the soul.
I was a caregiver. Even today, there is nothing that I can compare with taking care of my Mom. February 23, 2021, she fell in love with instrumental gospel jazz. On that day, I wrote the following:
February 23, 2021
,Some days, the stress can get to you. Not only is it stressful for me, but it is more stressful for my Mom.” Relying upon others for basic care is frustrating for her. It makes her angry. Lately, she has not been able to take an afternoon ride with me. Sightseeing! I miss it too.
It has been one year since she has been outdoors. For decades, my Mom loved singing in the choirs. So, it is not surprising that music still delights her. Still, there are times that nothing seems to work. BUT TODAY….February 23, 2021….. she “fell into jazz.”
She wasn’t a jazz lover before. She loved gospel music more than any other. But today, the sounds of Jazz is calming to her soul. She closed her eyes and listened for two hours!!!
Dad and Mom#2 Left Us Too
Just a year and half ago, Dad took his journey also. When my father was dying, my brother dealing with his own ordeal, would play my podcast for him in the late nights. He said hearing my voice soothed our Dad; especially Gardenia’s Garden Podcast Episode #6 Morning Glory. It gave him the sense that I was in the room. I guess that is what music can do. Give a voice to the voiceless. Within two years, three parents took their heavenly flight.
Today, music and their favorite songs remind us of good times. It soothes and puts smiles on our faces.
I thank God for the spirit of music that permeates across cultures and mindsets. God loves music. He loves the sounds that celebrate Him.
“Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, the shepherd body David, would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him,” 1 Samuel 16:23 NIV.
Rest in peace, Mom and Dad.
Today, this is the sound from my YouTube list of favorites that soothed my Mom’s soul: BGM Channel, Weekend Cafe Jazz. I hope it soothes your mind, body, and spirit.
it is because of this, that I created a playlist of some of my favorites on the Servant Leadership NOW YouTube Channel. I hope you enjoy them. You can Subscribe and listen to Gardenia’s Radio for a great playlist featuring music from various genres.
The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He (the Lord) delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand,” Psalm 37:23.
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Psalm 37
Over a decade ago, I changed my license plate tag at part of my validation of speaking Psalm 1 over my life. Why? I have a promise from God. If I delight myself in the Word (2) meditate on the Word, both day and night., then something special will happen. The reward will be that consistently; I will be like a strong tree even in rough waters. My leaves will flourish and bring forth fruit in its season. To think that I will not be out of season! Yet, there are qualifying conditions for this to happen. They are:
Allow my steps to be ordered by God
Delight in the Lord’ way.
Do not worry about such things as evil
Do not be envious.
Dealing with Evil and Good; Righteousness and Unrighteousness
First, the very first verse reads, “Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity (Psalm 37:1). Frankly, I had to change my mindset. In this scripture, and those like this, my thinking changed. How? I found that to give so much thought about the evil in the world, is a waste of valuable time and energy. On the other hand, it is much more productive to think on the authority that God has given to me. Thus, changing my approach to situations brought “new life.”
Evil is unrighteousness. But God deals with it. It is much more fruitful to remember that at this very moment God has given new mercy, today! Therefore, to rise up in a new day, I ask Him to order my steps and help me to do the good that pleases Him. So, to you, “Relax and rest in God!” The comptroller of this world is at the helm and knows all things.
Promises from Psalm 37
Verse 4 of Psalm 37 tells you to, “Delight yourself also in the Lord. And He shall give you the desires of your heart.” How do I delight in the Lord? Take a look at the action words in Psalm 37. You will see i.e., commit, rest, cease, wait, inherit, trust, refrain, and laugh. Put these words in your toolbox for fighting a good fight. Knowing to cutoff and escape the enemy’s territory is yours.
Also, consider verse 13 which says that the Lord laughs at the wicked. God laughs because He knows that He has prepared their defeat. So, we can stand in agreement of verse 6 that tells us that the wicked will be cut-off. More than that, focus on what the righteous will inherit. The righteous will inherit eternal life. Your inheritance is forever (verse 18). The treasures of this world are temporary. No treasure of a righteous or unrighteous man is carried to the grave (verses 9, 28, and 31).
The Good
The righteous man cannot be satisfied when his belly is filled, and his neighbor is starving (Psalm 27:3). The righteous man cannot be at peace with a system of injustice when the Lord says He loves justice. The Lord sees the days of the upright. He knows that the inheritance of the righteous is forever. So, we build our trust in the Lord and do good (Psalm 27:3). Therefore, we depart from evil and are instruments of good (v 27).
Even the more, the righteous speaks of wisdom and his tongue talks of justice. The law of his God is in his heart; none of the steps of the righteous man shall slide.
A Final Thought
Finally, the psalmist said in Psalm 37:25 of himself as a witness to the Word, “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread.”
In summary, we encourage you to read other blogs for your leadership from our site:
The importance of safe spaces – Are you willing to be an advocate for providing safe spaces across generations? How much support will you give in addressing the “silence” of others who are hurting? Are we failing and recycling hurt?
What are Safe Spaces?
In faith communities, safe spaces have three identifiable characteristics: (1) People cooperate with the work of the Holy Spirit; (2) People reproduce Christlike behaviors to ensure the safety of those they serve; and (3) People communicate the unifying message of God’s resolution for eternal wellness.
The primary difference between Faith communities and other communities is their foundation is biblically established. That foundation is the belief system that God is always in control of His creation (Psalm 24:1); Colossians 1:16). The gifts and talents that people possess are from the Creator. These exist to serve others. Therefore, it is vital to reproduce safe spaces, as Christ did, to openly discuss challenges and provide spaces of healing spiritually and emotionally.
The elements that constitute a safe space in faith communities are love, joy, peace, forbearance (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). These virtues are not the achievement of human effort; rather they are the accomplishment of cooperating with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a person who has the assignment of transformation to produce Christlike behaviors. He is the guide of choice for our producing Christlike behaviors in the way we live among our communities. Submission to the Holy Spirit will shape the individual’s character and actions. In cooperating with the Holy Spirit, the individual will spiritually mature as a result of transformation and consistent practice of these elements. In this regard, the individual builds up a level of safety. What happens when this is not available to individuals, are empty spaces of anxiety and feeling out of control.
A survey released by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) found that six in 10 adults (60%) agree that their faith or spirituality is an important factor in supporting their mental wellness. Despite this, among those who belong to a religious community just half (52%) say their religious community discusses mental health openly and without stigma.
Creating safe spaces for faith community members is Christlike behavior.
Why Are Safe Spaces Important?
There are four good reasons as to why safe spaces are valuable for faith communities.
(1) Reduce anxiety and loneliness – A 2023 Barna study shows that church small groups reduce loneliness by 40% among Christian attenders. Too many members suffer in silence due to shame and culture traditions.
(2) Foster spiritual and emotional support – God uses people to do the work through people. We are spiritually and emotionally created for each other.
(3) Support Pastors – The idea that only the pastor can provide comfort is falsehood. All faithful leaders should be willing and able to offer this support community members.
(4) Evangelize and build a healthy community – Church health is both spiritual and physical. God cares about fellowship as a body of faith believers in Him. This builds relationships for the Kingdom.
In essence, we should be willing to build safe spaces for faith communities, to provide spiritual and emotional growth of the community.
How to Create Safe Spaces in Faith Communities
First, be open in building partnerships of support. Faith communities’ that have been successful, largely provide support for training pastors in mental wellness. Organizations such as, The APA (American Psychiatric Association) Foundation, have consistently organized experts to support faith communities. For years, this organization through a partnership, offer experts on the role of faith and mental health through its Mental Health & Faith Community Partnership. Together, nearly 40,000 physician members specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and research of mental illnesses.
Second, encourage conversations about mental health and welcome experts in the field. Statistically, faith members report that they are more willing to seek professional help when the pastoral leadership suggests this type of support system (Psychiatry.org). Good counsel is a component of spiritual leadership and maturity.
Case Studies: Successful Safe Spaces
Quoted by Gitnux, “Nearly one in five Christians faces mental health challenges each year, highlighting the need for better support systems within faith communities,” (Gitnux.org). A study conducted by the research market data company, Gitnux, asked, “How common are mental health struggles among Christians, and what do the numbers say about faith and treatment in 2025?” This market data affirms that creating safe spaces for faith communities is a viable resource. The results have been positive for those faith communities who offer these safe spaces. For example, statistics from Christianity Today 2024 reveal the success of Pastor training programs increase congregant help-seeking by 35%. Statistics by Lifeway Research 2022 shows that 68% of churches with mental health ministries saw 30% higher member retention.
Finally, it is not too late to begin accessing the needs of safe spaces for the faith community where you serve. Wellness is about the healing of the mind, body, soul and spirit.
For more like this blog, we suggest the following:
During the pandemic of COVID-19, barber shops and salons closed in Phrase 1. On the other hand, bars/saloons were allowed to open. Of course, the backlash was an uproar via social media (i.e., Facebook, Twitter). How could Questions about the rationale of decisionmakers were highlighted.
Reliving More than Hair
Generally speaking, people are attached to personal barbers or hair stylists. With good reason, I might add. What is it that makes us loyal to a particular barber or stylist over another? Why is it that after a fresh cut or style, we feel different? How is it that these professionals provide a psychological-spiritual effect which can be so transformative?
Causes Related to More than Hair
First of all, people like to experience beauty in everyday living. A recent survey was conducted by the National Institute of Medicine, by Knoll, et.al., utilizing the assistance of humans, as to what they view as beauty. “Our results indicate that we frequently encounter beauty in everyday life and that we find it in nature, in particular. Our results further suggest a mood-boosting effect of encounters with beauty. Lastly, our results indicate influences of individual differences however, these were inconclusive and require further attention.” Hence, based on your very own experiences, this survey affirms that individuals can influence how you see beauty.
Another survey entitled, ‘Are you a woman–or a flower?’ The capacity to experience beauty,” by Annie Sweetnam is of interest because of its emotionalism and empowerment. The author links beauty to empowerment. Beauty suggests empowerment as a female. However, over time, it is less important. The following statements are from the article’s abstract:
Being surprised by beauty, being drawn to and moved by it and surrendering to its sensory nature are all part of beauty’s emotionally transformative power. And yet, psychoanalysis has had little to say about such an enriching dimension of psychological life. … Experiencing beauty is a capacity that is not isolated but is part of the lifelong experience of being changed by and changing the experience of the world we live in. The capacity to experience beauty takes different forms at distinct points in development and in psychoanalytic treatments.
More than the Hairstyle
The point I choose to make in this post is simple. The professional barber and hair stylist knows much of this because of their encounters with clients. My second point that it is “more than hair,” is a starch reason for the uproar during the pandemic. For the barber or hair stylist, during the pandemic, it was about their loss of income.For the client, it was more about the loss of psychoanalytic (mind and spirit) treatments. These professionals give much to clients (without measuring intake of one’s liquors) to make them feel good. The treatment consists of special care. Each person is an individual. The job of the professional is to treat that individual uniquely. The result is meant to be a satisfying experience for both.
The non-negotiable principles of God still stand. Character matters; integrity matters. His established principles are for our good. But to understand the principles of God, you must start with the understanding that God is absolute; God is complete. Nothing started without God. God created everything. Everything needed in Earth was created by God. No one can change the ordinances of God. For instance, the sun and moon are set by the ordinance of God. The sun rises in the East and sets in the West. The moon shines at night in different time zones of the world. God establishes ordinances that no one can change, because He is God. What God commands, no one can change. The word “ABSOLUTE” is defined as unconditional; complete’ the absolute causation of our existence.
Unconditional
Everything operates according to the principles of “the absolute causation” of our Creator. From ancient days to present, court officials, kings, princes, priests, prophets, teachers, lawyers, physicians and everyday people have fumbled in their quests to change the principles of God. They cannot.
In similar fashion, the principles of God are unconditional. Obedience is, for example, the way to please God; it is unconditional. The cure for sin is Christ for the human condition that seeks to satisfy the desires of the flesh. God’s unconditional requirements are more than political laws manifested as statutes to change moral behavior into a submission of God’s will. From ancient to present, there are not enough laws that can be written to make people submit to God’s standard. From the beginning, God’s plan is an unconditional love by God under the condition of freewill.
Failure to Comply
Subsequently, laws to address moral principles by which persons should follow in society have continued to frustrate and drive unwanted changes due to increase in selfish desires. On the other hand, without boundaries, the imagination of humans cannot be restrained (Genesis 11:7-9). Even though failure to comply to moral standards or codes continue, overall, the system is meant to implement a system of “justice” for the human condition. Notedly, the system continuingly fails the least who can afford it. The incarceration rates are one of the products of societal ills. There is hope in Him.
Not in Opposition of Self
God cannot be in opposition of Himself. He is Truth. He operates on principles of who He is (Malachi 3:6). Not all who declare to have His Spirit has His Spirit. He says so in His Word. As it was then, so it is now. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name and in your name drive out demons and, in your name, perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers,” Matthew 7:21-23 NIV. As previously stated, God is not in opposition of Himself.
God’s integrity holds for His people. He requirements remains so for His leaders. An example of what are ethical principles is that of the leadership of Job.
Job spoke these words regarding integrity and truth concerning the true God: “…I refuse to say one word that isn’t true. I refuse to confess to any charge that is false. There is no way I will ever agree to your accusations. I will not deny my integrity even if it costs me my life. I’m holding fast to my integrity and not loosening my grip – and, believe me, I’ll never regret it,” Job 27: 3-6, The Message Bible of Contemporary Language.
Summary
Undoubtedly, there are opposition to the principles of Truth. What are these principles? Servant Leaders must operate in the principles of God. Aim to rightly divide and walk in the Word of God. We do not sit in judgment of others; we discern God’s Truth. Love God with all your heart, mind and soul. Love another as God has said that we must do. The Spirit knows and bears witness of that Truth. Therefore, pray for discernment and God’s wisdom. We pray as in Romans 18, i.e., in view of God’s mercy, to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship; that we do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of our mind. Then we will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will and if it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Finally, Lord, your face and voice, I seek.”
