Worship Interludes - Piano Instrumentals for Prayer, Meditation, Soaking Worship, Relaxation, Study, and Rest

“Into the Unknown” – Solo Piano Instrumental for Prayer, Worship, Meditation

Today’s interlude came quickly. After my morning devotion I sat down and just started to play. I often have a verse, a prayer, or a conversation that inspires the music. In this case, I had nothing. I just decided to sit down and play. That is part of the discipline of trying to record two podcast episodes every week.

When I played the last note and held the sustain pedal down, I heard the phrase “Into the Unknown” as the note’s decaying sound passed into silence.

This made sense to me. I am in a season of the unknown – facing uninvited changes in my career and wondering what is next for me.

I am so blessed to hear from you, all over the world, and how this music touches your life. I hope and pray that as you listen to this interlude, you’ll discover peace, harmony, and rest.

Enjoy the music!
Fred

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“Consuming Fire” – Piano Solo for Prayer, Soaking Worship, Meditation

One of the phrases that the Bible has used to describe God is “consuming fire”. In my devotion today this phrase was used and I was struck by the implications of the passage. In context, the Israelites, after wandering in wilderness for forty years, are finally about to enter their Promised Land. In natural thinking, the odds are totally against them. This seems like an impossible task. God reminds them of this – pointing out the obvious; yet, He makes it clear that the reason they will have victory is because of His doing.

(1) Hear, O Israel: You are to cross over the Jordan today, and go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than yourself, cities great and fortified up to heaven, (2) a people great and tall, the descendants of the Anakim, whom you know, and of whom you heard it said, ‘Who can stand before the descendants of Anak?’ (3) Therefore understand today that the Lord your God is He who goes over before you as a consuming fire. He will destroy them and bring them down before you; so you shall drive them out and destroy them quickly, as the Lord has said to you.
(4) Do not think in your heart, after the Lord your God has cast them out before you, saying, ‘Because of my righteousness the Lord has brought me in to possess this land’; but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is driving them out from before you. Deuteronomy 9: 1-4, NKJV

The sobering thing in this passage is that although God is faithful to bring victory, He reminds the Israelites that it’s not because of THEIR goodness or righteousness, but because of the wickedness of the others. He is reminding them not to get proud when they have victory because they have plenty of issues of their own. The rest of the chapter offers a recollection of all the ways they rebelled, sinned, and wandered away from God’s plan. After that beat down, it would be difficult to be proud.

The same can be said about us today. Anything good that we have, any favor or blessing that we have – it’s not because of our self-righteousness. Even on our best of days, we’re still painfully sinful. It’s only the grace of God, through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gives us access and right-standing with God.

Hebrews 12 also refers to God as a “consuming fire”. This is the fire that burns up the impurities. This is the fire that we should surrender to, allowing it to burn away all of the things in our lives that should not be present.

This interlude stays in a minor key. It has a constant flow that helps me focus and meditate on my life. As you listen, I want you to become aware of the things in your life that need to be vaporized by the consuming fire. Is it Unforgiveness? Jealousy? Lust? Envy? Perhaps there is pain, hurt, and sorrow that you’ve been clinging to for years … or decades. I believe that the Consuming Fire wants to not only consume the sin in us, but the hurt, pain, and burdens that we carry.

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“Leaving It All Behind” – Solo Piano Improvisation for Prayer, Worship, Reflection

The inspiration for “Leaving It All Behind” came from a familiar story in the Holy Bible. I was reading this passage in Luke this week and something awakened me that I’d never quite seen before:

(1) On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, (2) and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. (3) Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. (4) And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” (5) And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” (6) And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. (7) They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. (8) But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” (9) For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, (10) and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” (11)And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.The Holy Bible, Luke, Chapter 5, Verses 1-11, ESV

For those who have read the Bible or grew up in a Christian church, this is a classic story that you’ve heard many times. Several things in this story captivated me as I read the story this week; however. First, there is the faith to honor the request to “let down your nets for a catch”. Peter and his team must have been exhausted after working all night with no results. Yet, he followed through with this request anyway and had a miraculous catch.

Notice I said “Peter and his team”. This is the first time that I realized that Jesus just got involved in the middle of these men’s business enterprise. Peter’s boat was part of a fleet of boats with many fishermen in a partnership. In Verse 7, it says “they signaled to their partners in the other boat”. This wasn’t just Peter’s occupation – this was a partnership.

Finally, the thing that amazed me was the fact that Peter and his partners, James and John, left it all behind. Here’s what I’ve always missed – I’ve always known they forsook their careers and followed Jesus. But I had never really processed the reality that they left more than a career behind. Do you remember what they had just accomplished? A miraculous catch of fish. This represented a LOT of income for them. It’s like “Black Friday” except you leave all the earnings in the cash register and leave.

The Bible doesn’t tell us what happened with all of those fish. Maybe they arranged for them to be sold. Maybe they gave them away. I don’t know. All I know is this: with a record catch worth lots of money, they dropped everything and left it all behind.

Application

I’d love to invite you to meditate on this story as you listen to the interlude today. Think about what you have, what you are doing, and what you may leave behind. What calling or dreams are you facing where you need to be “all inR...

No Greater Love – Piano Interlude – Valentines Day, 2019

Happy Valentines Day. Today is a day where we celebrate love. Love for our spouses, sweethearts, children, and those around us.

In this short interlude, I wanted to capture the essence of the greatest love ever known to mankind. The love of Jesus Christ to this lost, fallen world.

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friendsJohn 15:13, ESV

Today as you share love with those around you, take a moment to listen to this interlude and reflect on the amazing, relentless love that God has offered to all mankind. Receive that love so that you might give it back to those around you.

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Listen: Piano Composition by Fred McKinnon

Today’s episode is a reprise of the original posting a little over one year ago. I recorded this interlude, “Listen” and it was chosen to be the first track on “Worship Interludes, Volume 1” solo piano instrumental.

I’m traveling and playing a lot of events this week so haven’t been able to get back into the studio. This has always been one of my favorite improvisations and I hope that you will be able to listen and experience peace and rest.

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Release – Worship Interludes by Fred McKinnon, Episode #127

There is something powerful, healing, and soothing when you take a big deep breath, hold, and release. Therapists, priests, doctors, and many more have taught the benefits of breathing exercises for a very long time.

Take a deep breath, expanding your belly. Pause. Exhale slowly to the count of five. Repeat four times. Congratulations. You’ve just calmed your nervous system … Science is just beginning to provide evidence that the benefits of this ancient practice are real. Studies have found, for example, that breathing practices can help reduce symptoms associated with anxiety, insomnia, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and attention deficit disorder.
“Breathe. Exhale. Repeat: The Benefits of Controlled Breathing” – New York Times

The Inspiration

I typically have a specific word or phrase in mind when I begin to record these piano instrumental interludes. Often the inspiration comes from my morning devotion, a prayer, or something I’ve experienced in life. Today, I began playing with no specific leading or inspiration – it was simply the discipline of sitting down and creating another episode for this podcast.

Then, this happened. I played the first few notes and I paused. Then I held my hands, palms upward, in surrender to my God. Prayerfully, I asked the Holy Spirit to inspire me and to bless the music as I played. Next I played a few more slow, steady notes … and found myself taking in a deep, deep breath and slowly exhaling. The next note did not come until all of the air was pushed out of my lungs.

For the next eight minutes, I focused on my breathing and prayers in between. All of this is captured in the essence of today’s solo piano recording.

The beautiful part of intentional breathing is the release that comes with the exhale of air. Personally, I love to imagine that I am breathing out stress, anxiety, and worry. I imagine that I’m breathing out my own life and breathing in the plan and purpose that the Almighty has for me that day.

The Practice

As you listen to this interlude, consider joining me in controlled breathing. When you hear the pauses, exhale slowly and intentionally. Breathe in slowly as I play. If you are a person of faith, integrate this with prayer and meditation. This produces a beautiful time of reflection in an otherwise hectic world.

Thanks so much for listening. I’m forever grateful.

Fred

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“Refuge” – Piano Instrumental for Prayer, Meditation, Soaking Worship

This morning as I was having my personal time of prayer and devotion, I found myself remembering some lyrics from an old worship song by an artist named Darrel Evans. He released a few albums on the Integrity Music label many years ago and they were some of my all-time favorite songs. One song of his was called “Refuge” and it was a beautiful acoustic ballad that confessed God as our refuge.

I’ve been in this season of my life where I’m seeing many of the things I’ve worked hard to build seem to crumble down. Let me be the first to say that many times, “things are not as they seem”. Yet, it’s just a feeling I have. In this chorus there is this phrase:

When the world is shaken and nothing stands, I will hold onto Your hand. Refuge, You’re my Refuge.(from Refuge by Darrel Evans)

This morning I wanted to try my best to recreate this feeling in music. There is safety and security in refuge yet I found myself staying in the Key of F minor, but with frequent moves into relative major keys. Musically, that represented that even in the storm there are rays of light, security, and most of all … refuge.

I can’t imagine what your life is like today. Perhaps you’re in desperate need of refuge or perhaps you’ve never been in a more steady, secure place. My hope is that as you listen to today’s interlude you will find that peaceful moment to stop, be thankful, and be reassured.

Thank you for listening (and reading!)

Fred

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“New Mercies Every Morning” – Piano Instrumental for Prayer, Meditation, & Relaxation

Thank you for listening to Episode #125 of the Worship Interludes Podcast, entitled “New Mercies Every Morning”. I often create these interludes based on some inspiring Scripture or conversation I may have with friends. I was in a conversation with a friend a couple of days ago who was asking for prayers for his business. It was a stressful time and I could sense the worry that he was feeling.

A little while later I found myself reading my Bible during my morning devotion. My daily reading plan happened to direct me to the following passage:

If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them, then I will give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. Your threshing shall last till the time of vintage, and the vintage shall last till the time of sowing; you shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely.Leviticus 26: 3-5 (NKJV)

This passage immediately made me think of my friend and I encouraged him with this Scripture. It’s a challenge from God to keep His law and the blessings that He will bestow upon us when we do. I do realize this is an Old Testament passage and that as New Testament believers, are right-standing with God is not based on how well we keep the Law. At the same time, I know that God does bless us when we are obedient, in much the same way I bless my own children as their earthly Father.

His response to me was the reminder that God’s mercy is great. I agree wholeheartedly and remembered this well-known passage:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.Lamentations 3: 22-23 (ESV)

As I recorded this interlude I was meditating on the goodness of God, His faithfulness, and the fact that His mercies are brand new for us every single day. I chose the cover image for this interlude to be a road with the sun coming up. It represents a new day dawning on our path – and the assurance that his mercies are brand new.

I hope you enjoy listening – please comment and let me know you are listening.

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“A Call To Prayer” – Music and Video for Soaking Prayer, Meditation

Today’s interlude was inspired in an unlikely situation. I was at my morning workout with some buddies and we always end this workout with a “COT” – Circle of Trust. During this time, after brief announcements, we ask for prayer requests and then the leader for the day finishes with a quick prayer.

My friend’s prayer was motivating. Our government here in the United States has been shut down for over a month. Hundreds of thousands of federal workers are without their pay. Our Congress and President have such terrible strife, division, and enmity, that nothing is being accomplished. I suppose my disgust for this situation has blinded me to the reality that we are called to pray for our leaders – those in authority over us, our governing officials, and all of our fellow mankind.

During the prayer, my friend did not pray for any political party to win. He did not pray against anyone. He simply asked for God to bring peace into the situation so that the conflicts could be resolved.

I was convicted deeply because although I’ve prayed for people who have been impacted by this situation, I haven’t really prayed for the leaders. I had lost hope and forgotten about the charge we have to pray for them.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2: 1-4 (ESV)

Let Us Pray

After being inspired by this prayer, I personally repented of my failure to be praying for my governing officials and those in authority over me. I came into my studio and created this musical interlude and companion video to inspire people everywhere to join in prayer for our leaders and all of our fellow man.

Perhaps you are not a person of faith. Although my own motivation and passion for this music comes from deep within my own Christian faith, I believe that you can still benefit greatly from listening to this music. Be still. Express gratitude for your many blessings. Consider how you might love others more deeply and bring value to their lives.

For those of us who are of faith, take time and pray. Pray for peace. Pray for unity. Pray for progress. In your prayer, do not cast judgment; rather, proclaim grace and mercy. Our divided government faces a huge mountain … an obstacle of hate, division, envy, and discord. Proclaim grace to this mountain and let us wait to see resolutions.

Behind The Scenes – The Recording Process

From time to time I like to share a bit of the recording process and the sounds I use. For those who are frequent listeners of the Worship Interludes Podcast, you will quickly recognize that the instrumentation on this interlude is unique.

For this piece, I experimented with my own custom combination of sounds in the sound library “Keyscape” by Spectrasonics.

“The Promise of Sunrise” is a piano instrumental composed and performed by Fred McKinnon. It’s part of the “Worship Interludes Podcast” – a soundtrack for times of prayer, quiet time, devotion, meditation, soaking worship, soaking prayer, relaxation, and rest. This special interlude has a beautiful video with still images and time lapse video of breathtaking sunrises.

Follow the “Worship Interludes” Playlist on YouTube for continuous play videos of soothing, relaxing piano instrumental music.

The Inspiration:

This morning I gathered with some of my friends for a tough workout outdoors in the brisk 45 degree weather. It was a great time of exercise and when it was over I drove to one of my favorite spots on Saint Simons Island, Georgia – the Village Creek Landing. From here I sat in my truck and enjoyed a gorgeous sunrise and had my own devotional time.

I love a sunrise because it reminds me of the promises of God. You can be assured that each day, the sun will rise and the sun will set. It’s a promise of the Universe and in the same way, we can rest assured that God’s faithfulness will remain just as steadfast.

The sunrise represents the start of a new day. Perhaps you need a new day, a new season, a new way of thinking.

During this interlude, I would like to encourage you to take time to consider what your agenda looks like for the day (or the day to come). Contemplate what is important to you. Most importantly, take time to express gratitude for the ability to see another day and for the good things that happened the prior day.

The images and videos that are used in this piece are courtesy of Pexels.Com – providing stunning, beautiful, royalty-free images and videos.

Happy Listening!

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