Finally a bit of fall weather has hit our area! Last week's Making Your Home a Haven's challenge was to light a candle each day and pray for peace. We had a couple of days with temperatures in the high 80's which limited the candle/cozy effect!
This week's challenge is to "Play soft music everyday in your home. Choose worship, classical, jazz or another form of peaceful music that the family enjoys. Focus on using peaceful words and maintaining peaceful relationships." Live out the fruit of the Spirit of gentleness and self-control this week.
I will have to admit that last week's challenge was much easier for me! Being a visual person, the candle flickering jarred my memory to pray for peace. Auditory people are ones who tune in to sounds and respond well to music. They have an ear to hear the beauty and blessing of sounds...I do not! Notes, ranges, harmony, melody mean nil to me! I rarely even turn the radio on while riding in the car! Quiet is peaceful to me, in the car and in the home. I like silence!!
But music certainly has it's benefits. A little research shows what a powerful effect music has on us.
"Music’s beneficial effects on mental health have been known for thousands of years. Ancient philosophers from Plato to Confucius and the kings of Israel sang the praises of music and used it to help soothe stress. Military bands use music to build confidence and courage. Sporting events provide music to rouse enthusiasm. Schoolchildren use music to memorize their ABCs. Shopping malls play music to entice consumers and keep them in the store. Dentists play music to help calm nervous patients. Modern research supports conventional wisdom that music benefits mood and confidence."
Music is powerful. The lyrics (of good, quality music), put words in our mind and heart, can elevate our moods and set the atmosphere for our homes. For the Christian, music that lifts up the Lord in praise, turns our focus toward God and magnifies Him above the twists, turns and trials of life.
Our home is void of CD's, radios and sound projection equipment. We do have several music channels on our tv which I plan to utilize this week! Praying for the music to be a reminder of the fruit of the Spirit of gentleness and self control in our home and family.
Our home is void of CD's, radios and sound projection equipment. We do have several music channels on our tv which I plan to utilize this week! Praying for the music to be a reminder of the fruit of the Spirit of gentleness and self control in our home and family.
I love this! I play beautiful music often in our home. Whether it be worship music or lovely instrumental, it seems to set a peaceful tone that I love for our house to have! We are singers and musicians so we love lots of music, but we are very careful what we have playing through our home and what our children listen to. Great blog post!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Leslie