Aww Mondays
Monday’s Music Moves Me
Once again we arrive at a “Your Choice” week on the 4M calendar. I haven’t really thought much about this post. While we are high and dry here in Northwest Arkansas, much of our state is underwater with historic all time record flooding. Northeast Oklahoma is experiencing much of the same thing as the Arkansas River basin is full, the ground is soaked and there is just no place for the water to go. People have lost their homes who never thought that they would ever be touched by flood waters and they have no flood insurance. It will take weeks for the waters to recede and the river to return to it’s banks. From Tulsa to Ft. Smith the Arkansas River is out of control.
River Spirit Casino – Tulsa, OK
Ft. Smith, AR
It will be a couple of weeks before people can return to their homes and clean-up can begin. While these are a strong willed, courageous, pioneer breed of people, the endless rain, flood and now the restoration process will wear on the body, mind and soul. Keep these fellow Americans in your thoughts and prayers throughout the coming days.
I have always found music to be satisfying to the soul and in this time of difficulty, I have always turned to the music that points me to the Creator. Regardless of my situation, my Creator is there to give me strength, courage, compassion, faith, and perseverance. Whenever we feel like we have been abandoned and forgotten by God, it is good to remember the words of Charles Spurgeon, “The one who hung the stars and knows each of them by name is in no danger of forgetting about one of His children.” So, what music encourages you during the tough times?
At first all may seem to be lost and our faith may be hanging by a thread, but even a little faith can get us through to the next day. Our God knows our situation and is ever present, even if all seems lost…keep the faith.
When disaster strikes and someone we love finds themselves in a state of shock and faced with rebuilding their life, it is difficult to find the right words of encouragement and comfort. Most of the time they don’t need the cliches and standard Bible quotes that will come their way. They need a hug, a shoulder to cry on, and an ear to listen to their story. They need some one to come along side them and walk with them. There is a time for all of the encouraging words, but not right now.
What really makes a difference in the lives of people during challenging times is love. The love of God expressed through His people to those in need by providing food, shelter, help in cleaning up and just being there for those who are suffering. The most uplifting thing in this life is love. Love lifted me.
When you’re in the middle of the storm it is hard to see that peaceful shore. The life you once called normal seems to far away and impossible to reconstruct. For the believer, faith tells us that our life may be different, but everything that comes into our life comes with the purpose of bringing us closer to our Creator, giving us a testimony of faith, and bringing honor to the God of all creation. No matter what my situation, it is well with my Soul. Have a blessed week.
Driller's Place 
As I used to live in Northwest Arkansas, I’ve been watching the news reports from Tulsa, Van Buren, Dardenelle, and other places I’ve been to with sadness. I’ve been through a flood myself (in 2011) and didn’t lose my house, but people just a couple of blocks from where I lived did. The rain is coming down right now where I live, and, nine years later, when I hear rain pouring down I feel fear. I’m listening to the MercyMe song right now and it made me feel better. The paragraph below the video is exactly right.
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Music can indeed move us, regardless of what day it is.
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Aw on the pup. They are such wonderful dogs.
Yikes on all that flooding. It’s so terrible. Prayers to all those affected.
Thank you for joining the Awww Mondays Blog Hop.
Have a blessed Awww Monday and week, my friend. 🙂
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Fires and floods seem to be the worst kind of tragedy.
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Great selection of songs. You are right, music is powerful, especially spiritual music. “It is well” is one of my favorite songs and is so simple.
The water has receded in Tulsa but we continue to have rain in the forecast. Things are still rough in Muskogee, Ft. Smith, and downstream. I saw the levee breach in Dardanelle on television. Very scary.
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It is well with my soul is a favorite of mine and a song written out of the deepest kind of heartache…the loss of family when a ship sank.
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Sadly, there is so much disaster this spring. We saw some of the flooding earlier in the year, such a sad thing. Here fields are all under water so farmers can’t plant crops. Everything will pass, as long as you have your life, it will work out.
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This spring does seep to be especially hard on the entire country.
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I’ve always understood the power of music to console and to heal.
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I cannot play an instrument nor sing a note on key, but I am a great listener of music and it does indeed impact our soul.
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Flooding and other disasters seem to be rampant, this spring! I can imagine the anguish the people affected must be feeling. 😦 Music absolutely has healing powers. Thank you for the concert this morning.
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The despair that comes from watching the water rise and knowing that you can do nothing about it must be heart breaking.
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Driller,
Heavy rainstorms always send shivers through me, mostly because of the flood I witnessed in 1977. That was so scary. My childhood home was sparred of horrible damage but we had to seek refuge on a hill in our community church. This past March, Knoxville had flooding issues and while some neighborhoods had several feet of standing water it wasn’t as widespread as these communities. My prayers are with these folks for the assurance and peace needed to ride through the wave of emotions that come from such loss. God will prevail! Great ‘your choice song picks’. Thanks for sharing with the 4M crew and for stepping on the dance floor today. Have a boogietastic week!
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Next week will be a little lighter, I promise.
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Nice songs and praying for all of those who have their lives changed by the flooding.
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Prayer is the best thing that anyone can do.
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Awww-worthy Cocker pup! Purrs and prayers for those suffering in these weather disasters. Lovely song list, very appropriate for today’s post.
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Cockers are my favorite breed. Weather disasters seem to be impacting every part of our country this spring.
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The bad thing is that people think their homeowner’s insurance covers flood damage, and most times it doesn’t. Thinking good thoughts for the folks in Arkansas. Great tunes today!
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True…flood insurance is a separate policy from homeowners. The tragedy here is that the flood waters are 8-10 feet higher than ever before. People who never in their wildest dreams thought they would need flood insurance find their homes swamped.
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We’ve lived through this, more than once here. My heart aches for all of you and i am praying for strength to get through.
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Many are returning to their homes and the clean-up has begun. For some it will take weeks or months to restore their homes. Their lives may never be the same.
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I’ve been hearing on the radio how bad the flooding has been. I hope it will dry out soon and there won’t be that much damage.
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The damage is going to be wide spread and extensive. Parts of Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas have suffered some kind of major storm damage.
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It’s heartbreaking seeing the flooded areas and realizing the magnitude of the loss to those affected. The one saving grace in these such situations is that it usually brings a community closer together. I will keep those folks in my thoughts and prayers.
The song that spoke to me the most is Jason Gray’s “Not Right Now” — it’s exactly where I am at this point in time. My Mom passed away on Wednesday and I have yet to let anyone come be with me. So many friends are calling, texting with offers of support, offers to bring dinner by, offers to come hang out, etc. And although I let them know how much I appreciate their loving support and how I do want it, I tell them “but just not right now. Right now I need to be alone.”
Funny how on time your song was for me today. Thank you.
Michele at Angels Bark
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I am so deeply sorry for your loss. Both of my parents have been gone for some time now and I still miss them often. God seems to put us in a protective bubble for a little while as we go through everything surrounding the loss of a loved one, but as we begin to return to life we find that we will need the support and help of friends that He has also brought along side of us over the years. You and your family will be in my prayers through the coming days.
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Thank you so much Driller. Your comment is full of pearls of wisdom. Much appreciated.
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