Blogging with Gardenia is the idea of sharing wellness, and spiritual health from a Biblical perspective. The author shares posts related to discipling as servant leaders. Updating blogs is a primary to keep the interest of subscribers and provide informative support. Subscribe and receive updates, when we publish directly, in your email. We encourage you to share via Social Media platforms to encourage others on this journey. bulluckg.com
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.
Why should you understand the role of Servant Leadership in Modern Times? The reason is that in servant leadership, it is not “your will” but it is “God’s will” that you are to carry out. Without this understanding, you will neglect what it truly means when it comes to the role of Servant Leadership of modern times. You must know is that a true servant leader carries out Godly principles with love and grace that stems from Christ-like behaviors (Galatians 5:22). For ministering disciplines of God, this is more than the worldview of a servant leadership role. However, because you are in this world, it is given to you the signs of the times and have the revelation knowledge of its view and be able to recognize and enact the spiritual components that is your calling. Thus, what is the role of servant leadership in modern times?
First, let us recognize that spiritual components define the principles of servant leadership. There are many organizations which are attempting to use these principles to serve their clients; not the other way around. Second, these core principles which they wish to operate are the scriptural basis of the greatest two commandments of Matthew 22:36-40. Third, with this scriptural definition, you have a uniform definition of what is servant leadership. Without this as a root principle, you would be tempted to rely mostly on world leadership in measuring and living servant leadership by their concepts, ideology or standards.
Key Principles of Servant Leadership
Scripturally, you now see that the essential principle that guides the role of servant leadership is love. One of the tragedies of organizational leadership and ministry leadership is “false love.’ That is, well-meaning leaders fail to operate from a place of acceptance to draw others for serving, Moreover the premise is, ” I cannot allow you in your differences from me. Your ways and thoughts are not like mine.”
Unfortunately, it is even difficult for some people to have a conversation or give a kind word to people who are of different beliefs, culture, and ethnicity. In this way, ministry leaders become like world organizations that they sometimes criticize. Notably, data shows that organizations differ in the way they define and implement the servant leadership model just as ministry leaders. What then are we to do? As previously stated, scripturally, servant leadership is defined by two great commandments. Godly love is its foundation.
Other Guiding Principles
Coupled with this type of love, a natural outcome is the gift of empathy and listening. This means that any principle, person, or otherwiseideology that divides and drive people away from the biblical meaning of servant leadership, is flawed. That can be difficult to accept in these modern times.
Jesus is the model for empathy and listening as a servant leadership. His was to operate from a place of acceptance in love (1 John 4:19). By comparison, how can it be any other way for the role of servant leadership?
Benefits of Servant Leadership in Organizations
Is it possible to adopt a servant leadership approach that can improve relations, i.e., team, communities, groups? Yes. However, only if you, as a leader, is willing to carry out this leadership style of love and serving others first – the two greatest commandments. Fortunately, we have Jesus as our model. Jesus often criticized religious leaders about their leadership styles. Their insensitivity, lack of compassion, hypocrisy, greed, self-pride, and lusts corrupted the organizations that they lead. Unfortunately, there is very little evidence in these narrative stories that they turned from this type of leadership.
Servant leadership can promote social responsibility within a community. As a leader, Jesus modeled this behavior. Yes, there were those who tried to provoke him with their questions. They sought to set traps. However, as a servant leader, his goal was always to lift up the community in obedience to the will of His Father. It was never to prevent others from entering; therefore, his leadership was in love.
Implementing Servant Leadership Practices
Hence, a servant leader must demonstrate social responsibility through acceptance of others within the community in which you are called to serve. So, how does one take actionable steps as a leader to adopt servant leadership methods? Here are four simple things you can do to implement servant leadership practices:
Respect and remember who the CEO is. It is God who knows the heart of every individual.
Recall that it is “His will” that must be done, not yours. He is the One who has 360 degrees vision.
Examine the potential of your actions. Acknowledge if you are driven more by your personal motive, ideology, or opinion.
Be an ambassador for healthy relationships. Ask yourself, “Am I a light that build healthy relations within the community?”
Finally, in this modern time, some of the most critical ways that people turn others away from the Kingdom is through ideology, criticism and social biases. Choosing to have “NO COMMENT” works. In these times, our call is spiritual milk (1 Peter 2:2). You do not have to respond to written or verbal comments, i.e., social media and messages that does not lift the body of Christ. Be willing to deny yourself of actions (responses) that push others further away from the love that God wantsfrom us. (John 8:6-11)
Mine is to encourage as you move toward the role of servant leadership as your call. For more blog posts like this one, we invite to read at:
The words out of your mouth are powerful! Prayer is the acknowledgement of God as the Supreme and Sovereign Father. To pray is worship. We exist because of the Creator. Nothing was made without Him. Therefore, to acknowledge Him in prayer, is to recognize this. We communicate with God through prayer. Notice, the word “with.” Two-factor verification! For the Word of God calls upon us to pray without ceasing. Prayer without ceasing means the recognition of our continual dependence upon God. To ignore prayer is to ignore the quality and dependence of our life.
Common Obstacles to Daily Prayer
People often cite busyness as a challenge of daily prayer. Truthfully, there is too much happening around you to not pray! In teaching about prayer, Jesus’s prayer (Matthew 6:12) reflects the believer’s desire to avoid the dangers of trespasses (sin). Some people affirm that their teaching is another challenge to a regular prayer life. For example, once you pray and ask something of God, let it be. However, Matthrew 7:7-8 scripture, reminds us that the Heavenly Father does not mind a consistency in our requests. God does not tire; man does. Another challenge to a strong prayer life is unbelief in the power of prayer.
A 2025 survey conducted by Strategic Renewal is that of the “State of Prayer.” This survey of more than 2000 pastors and church leaders found that there is a disconnect when it comes to prayer and leadership. Quoted in this article,
64% of pastors express heart-level conviction about gathering their people to pray, two out of three pastors (67%) describe prayer as “not important” to the core of their ministry.
The program’s findings do logically suggest that if leadership discounts regular prayer life, then those who they lead is apt to do the same.
Prayer is a command of God; it is a gift of God. It is God’s instruction for believers to accomplish his tasks (God’s will) in earth. Prayer can appeal to God’s compassion. For example, the word “repent” means “sorrow” or “to bring comfort.” In prayer, humans can access God’s compassion. As believers, we can offer our prayers to change or intervene in God’s consequences. In Jeremiah 18:8, we see this concept at work. “And if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned.” God deals with evil and good; disobedience and obedience. There are consequences of each. While we cannot change God’s mind, we can ask for His comfort and curb the consequences of our actions (Job 1:4).
Practical Tips for Incorporating Prayer into Your Routine
Throughout the day, we can incorporate prayer into our daily routine. At the start of the day, we can thank God and ask for his guidance and protection in all that we do in this day (our daily bread). Pray over our meals. Give thanks. Acknowledge His presence with simple statements from the Word of God. For instance, “Thank you Heavenly Father, for protecting my family.” “Thank you, God, for your Holy Spirit guiding and teaching me right now.”God looks at the sincerity of the heart not at the number of times or how long you pray.
Today, we are blessed to have bible apps as one of the helpful tools for incorporating prayer into our routines and building consistency. However, God enjoys hearing your words. Yes, for over twenty years, I have a special covenant group of prayer partners. They are special encouragers. Perhaps, you may want to join a prayer circle of believers who are willing to covenant (agree) pray consistently with you. Check out ourprayers on this website which are always available. Still, remember, God wants to hear your voice speaking His Word. He wants to speak into your ears.
I, also, enjoy prayer journals. One of my favorite things that you may enjoy is writing to God. Sometimes, I only scribble a word or two to express my emotions; date it. Sometimes, I simplify draw. Other times, I just have that cup of coffee and say, “God, I am here listening for you.”
The Impact of Prayer on Spiritual Wellness
It is the consistency of prayer that contributes to overall spiritual health. It brings a consistency in calming the emotions by invoking good thoughts toward Him releases anxiety. Positively speak back what the Word says, i.e., Psalm 23; Psalm 91. The visualization of God as the comforter and CEO is affirmation of your faith.
In an upcoming blog post, we want to share more about angels of God concerning prayer.
The following blog posts are suggestive reads about prayer. We suggest Gardenia’s Radio Listening and these blog posts:
Mindfulness entails human awareness of the mind and body. It is the ability of the human to understand where you are, and what is happening without overly reacting to a situation.
When we speak of spiritual wellness, it is important to grasp the basic concepts of God’s creation. Let’s be real. What does that mean to grasp basic concepts of God’s creation? Especially when you have a foundational scripture that says how beautiful and wonderful you are made (Psalm 139:14).
First, God, our Creator, is a Spirit. God does not have a body. God is the Word of Truth. In the image of God, He gave us an incorporeal human spirit; that is, the human spirit has no physical characteristics (Genesis 1:26-27). At creation, the bible tells us that it is the very breath of God that was breathed into the man and man became a living being (Genesis 2:7). The human spirit’s attributes are God-given and includes our intellect, passions, feelings (emotions), and creativity. Because of the human spirit, we have “free will” to make choices. The human spirit has a (limited) ability to comprehend and understand (Job 32:8). At death, the human spirit returns the One who gave it, our Creator (Ecclesiastes 12:7; Psalm 104:29-30; Job 34:14-15).
In understanding the concepts or relationship of mindfulness to spiritual wellness, it is to buy into practices in support of daily life skills. The techniques suggested by mindfulness are to help you become aware of your situation, practice breathing, and relax. In essence, mindfulness exercises are simple ways to help you pause, reset and control with the present situation as to not overreact.
Practical Mindfulness Techniques for Spiritual Growth
There are several mindfulness practices that connect to spiritual wellness.
Start your day with a positive attitude. Intentionally focus on a good startup routine i.e., mediation, prayer, breathing awareness, moments of silence, visualization.
Be aware of your speech; out of the mouth the heart speaks i.e., kindness
Practice patience (one of the fruits of the Spirit). Do not be anxious about anything, even driving. Practice deep, controlling breaths in situations like this.
Practice pleasurable eating habits. Relax.
Read and listen to positive material that are informative and relaxing. Limit the in-take of negativity material.
Be intentional about your habits and how you use of social media. What looks truthful and sound can really be harmful to the mind and soul.
Be intentional about your circle of people. Ask yourself, “Is this person(s) occupying too much of my time, negatively or positively?”
The Role of Community in Mindfulness and Spirituality
Community support can enhance mindfulness practices. That community support can be as simple as family, friends, and small groups. While there are organizations that exist for helping incorporate mindfulness practices into your daily life, starting with your immediate surroundings, i.e., safe spaces.
Communication and a safe space are key components of beneficial mindful activities and spiritual wellness. For example, I personally withdrew from a small, well-being group, when the conversations became detrimental to my personal health and safety. At first, members were to meet face-to-face once a week as a support group. Shortly afterwards, for good reasons, the group met via phone technology. As a result, the meeting times became flexible in scheduling. This method of meeting interfered into my intentional times of solitude. Moreover, no longer did I have a safe space in knowing who exactly a part of this group was. Additionally, the emotionalism began to take me to a place of remembrance that began to rob me of where I chose to be in my healing. It is “ok” to give yourself permission to change your group when it is no longer a safe space.
Challenges and Solutions in Practicing Mindfulness
Thus, be certain that community activities enhance your spiritual wellness. Practicing mindfulness is meant to enhance your daily routine that are common challenges. Every minute of the day, we make choices in regard to our physical, mental and spiritual well-being. Finding techniques to deal with everyday distractions will give you a safe space of comfort. Be willing to transform those challenges into opportunities of growth. Mindfulness is just one technique for strategizing your well-being and overcoming obstacles and growing spiritually.
Perhaps, if the Holy Spirit directs, we will share more about this topic. Hence, for additional reading concerning your spiritual wellness, we suggest the following blogs at:
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:
