Finish Strong | Piano Instrumental Music

As I was recording today’s interlude my mind drifted to the idea of a legacy.   What legacy do I want to bring?

Whether we’re thinking of a project, a job, our marriage, parenting, or our entire life – my hope is to finish strong.   I can’t help but think of the beautiful passage in Scripture from Hebrews 12:1-2.

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

When we get tired or frustrated it’s so easy to cave in, give up, and stop trying.   We need to tap into the deep, inner strength and remember our call to finish strong.

I hope that as you listen to this interlude you will meditate on the type of legacy you wish to leave.   Think of your children, your marriage, your friends, and your spiritual walk.   Consider all the ways you could throw in the towel and determine inside that you will finish strong.

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Prayers of Peace

Today’s piano instrumental is called “Prayers of Peace”.  After celebrating our 100th Episode last week, I’m back in the studio and hoping to consistently release two interludes per week.

This short, five minute interlude is perfect to calm down, quieten yourself, and offer up prayers.  As you pray, my hope is that God’s peace overwhelms you.   Additionally, pray for peace in our world.  Pray for peace in your community.   Pray for peace in our nation.

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Milestones – Worship Interludes Podcast’s 100th Episode!

This video was recorded live at St. Simons Community Church on St. Simons Island, GA.

This piece, “Milestones” was recorded by Fred McKinnon, Pianist/Composer, as the 100th episode of his “Worship Interludes” piano instrumental podcast. Fred started the “Worship Interludes Podcast” in February 2017 to provide a soothing, calm piano instrumental soundtrack for prayers, meditation, soaking worship, and relaxation.

As the 100th episode was coming up, Fred decided to do something special so this was recorded and broadcast live on his Facebook Page.  These interludes are non-rehearsed, spontaneous compositions that flow out of a time of reflection and prayer. Listen:

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Breathing In – Spiritual Breathing

Hey everyone!  I’m finally getting back into my rhythm of life after taking a much needed vacation over the past week.   If you missed my special guest episode with Tim Oladeru last week, be sure to check it out.   Today is the end of our work week at the church where I serve.   I almost rushed out the door this Thursday afternoon but sat down for a few minutes to slow things down and record this interlude.

There is a type of meditation called “spiritual breathing”.  It’s a way to slow down, meditate, and as you inhale, you imagine yourself breathing in the life and presence of God.  As you exhale, you imagine yourself releasing tension, stress, worry, sin, anxiety, and all of the millions of things that weigh us down.

My hope is that this short, 5:00 interlude will allow you to experience this.   As you listen, close your eyes and focus on breathing.   My encouragement would be that you don’t even speak or pray, but just breathe and focus on receiving God’s love as you inhale and releasing out all the heaviness as you exhale.

This is not new-age weird stuff, friends … there is no magic here.  There is no secret formula.   It’s just a way to engage our mind, our soul, our emotions, and when doing this in faith, experiencing a blessing from God, our Father.

Hey – did you notice this is Episode #99?   Let’s do something GREAT for Episode #100!

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“Be Still” – Meditative, Soaking Worship Instrumental by Guest Artist, Tim Oladeru

For those of you who follow me on social media you may have seen that I’ve been on vacation the past week.   It’s a much-needed vacation and I’m enjoying some incredible rest and relaxation.   In my absence, I asked one of my new friends, Tim Oladeru, to be a guest artist for the Worship Interludes Podcast.   I discovered Tim when I started the slow, tedious process of building my YouTube Channel.   As I began to search YouTube for music that is similar to mine I discovered Tim’s channel, better known as “DappyTKeys”.   Tim has been faithful to provide anointed, peaceful instrumental music consistently over the past years.   His music is bathed in prayer and humility.   As a result, Tim enjoys a gigantic platform on YouTube with over 250,000 subscribers and MILLIONS of plays.

I hope you enjoy Tim’s contribution to the Worship Interludes podcast.  I’m listening to it as I type these show notes and feel a sense of peace and calm.

Bio and Links for Tim Oladeru (DappyTKeys)

Tim Oladeru is a Worshiper and Musician with a heart for God and people. He had an encounter with God in 2005 where God led Him to a scripture in the book of 1 Samuel 16:23. This scripture became the foundation for his journey on the Piano, which led to the birthing of his Piano Instrumental Ministry popularly known as “DappyTKeys Piano Worship” on YouTube. His only aim is that people from every walk of life will be blessed, encouraged, inspired, refreshed and drawn to the love of Christ by the sound he makes on the Piano.

For more information about Tim Oladeru and His ministry please visit the links below;

YouTube Channel – www.youtube.com/dappytkeys

Official Website – www.timoladeru.com

Instagram, Twitter, Facebook – dappytkeys

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Quiet Spaces – A Peaceful Piano Instrumental for Prayer, Soaking Worship, Meditation

“Quiet Spaces” is Episode #97 of the Worship Interludes Podcast, an instrumental soundtrack that is ideal for times of prayer, worship, meditation, and relaxation.

As I recorded this interlude today I wanted to capture something that had a lot of space in between the notes.   I wanted to force myself to SLOW DOWN and be intentional with each and every note.   Our lives are so hectic that we miss what is happening “in the spaces”.   Sometimes we have to pause and just be still.

Having a schedule that is relentless with busyness and activity causes stress and anxiety.  I’d even suggest that it’s really bad for your overall health.   We need to make margin … space … in our routines.  Space to listen.  Space to reflect.  Space to just hear what is happening around us.

I hope that as you listen to this interlude that you will be able to breathe in during the spaces.   Find a quiet place and just enjoy the slow, free-flowing melodies.

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In Due Time – Piano Instrumental for Prayer & Meditation

“In Due Time” is a solo piano instrumental by Fred McKinnon. It’s featured as Episode #96 of his “Worship Interludes Podcast“. This podcast features calm, soothing piano instrumentals that are idea as a soundtrack for your quiet time, prayers, meditation, soaking worship, and rest.

Galatians 6:9 in the Holy Bible says “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary”. (NAS Translation). This has been a busy couple of weeks as we transition as a family into a new school year. We have many firsts, including a High School Senior and our youngest is leaving elementary school and going to middle school. Our oldest will turn 18 this week and my wife and I have just celebrated 20 years of marriage.

I think of all the time that has passed and all the time that is yet to come. It’s easy to think about the regrets but it’s a choice to meditate on what is to come.

Keep sowing.

Keep praying.

Keep putting one step in front of the other – and don’t grow weary.

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Letting Go

This morning in my quiet time I was reading “Abiding in Christ” by Andrew Murray.   As I read I was reminded that for us to “abide” is not out of our good works or righteousness.  We have to come realizing that in ourselves, we are very weak.   Part of abiding in Christ is “letting go” – letting go of our sins, our mistakes, our frustrations, and our pain.

This morning has been a pleasant morning with a sweet time of devotion followed by a wonderful convocation service hosted at our church for a local christian school.   As I experienced this I was consciously making an effort to let go – to stop striving and trying to prove myself – and allow God’s Presence to be revealed in my life.

What are you holding on to?   What are you gripping so tightly?  Are there things in your life that you are convinced that you have to fix or repair?   It’s time to start letting go.   There is an old cliche’ that says “let go and let God”.  I think this is so accurate.   Cease striving.   Let go.   Trust God.

This morning’s piano instrumental is called “Letting Go” and is Episode #95 of my “Worship Interludes Podcast“.   I hope that as you listen you will be reminded of things that weight you down.  As you think of these, let them go.   Spend a few moments in quiet prayer and reflection and allow these things to just drop beneath you.

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Abide

Abide is Episode #94 of Fred McKinnon’s “Worship Interludes” podcast. This podcast is the ideal soundtrack of background music for your times of prayer, meditation, reflection, rest, and relaxation.

Recorded: August 8, 2018

Today I was reading in my devotional about God’s call for us to “abide” in Him.   I realize that abiding is so much more than an occasional “hello”.   I’ve been asking myself, “how does one truly learn to abide with another in 2018, when there is a never-ending barrage of distractions, work, notifications, and interruptions”?   Life certainly is not as simple as it once was.

As I pondered this question I realized the very first step in “abiding” is being intentional about it.   That’s one of the biggest reasons I create these piano interludes.   They are composed and released so that you, the listener, might have a resource to help you abide.   I hope that as you listen you can take a few minutes to do just that.

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Lamentations

Lamentations is Episode #93 of Fred McKinnon’s “Worship Interludes” podcast. This podcast is the ideal soundtrack of background music for your times of prayer, meditation, reflection, rest, and relaxation.   This solo piano instrumental would be a great choice of background music for those who feel the need to lament over hurt, pain, depression, rejection, and sorrow.

Recorded: August 2, 2018

Let’s face it. Not all of our times of prayer or meditation are filled with peace and happiness. The truth is, sometimes life is hard. Sometimes we are working through struggles and pain.  People are battling depression, sorrow, rejection and many other dark things that fight to bring them down.

There is an entire book of the Bible that is dedicated to expressing sorrow, pain, frustration … it’s called Lamentations.

A “lament” is defined as: a passionate expression of grief or sorrow.

In today’s world of social media, the world puts on a happy face and shows everyone how perfect their life is. But behind that mask, so many people are hurting.

There is a proper place for lamenting. It’s good to find a trusted friend, companion, spouse, or counselor that you can lament with. I believe that God Himself wants to hear our lamentations and expressing them to Him is a good thing. Although I don’t believe we should dwell on them, I do believe we should express them.

I’ve been tackling some issues in my own heart that cause me grief and sorrow. Feeling the deep weight of that today, I spent a good bit of time in quiet worship, prayer, and reflection.

Afterwards, I recorded this piece, “Lamentations”.

I take courage that even in my darker times of lamentation, God’s promise to me says “Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)

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