After complaining about someone who offended me, this was the same question that Jesus asked me. Did I want to allow him to heal my heart and give me a different perspective or did I want to hold on to the offense and carry a grudge? Often times, I've find myself knowing that the former was better but choosing the latter. Ultimately, what is more important to you? Don't allow the subtle poison of unforgiveness to course through your veins when the Healer is right in front of you. Choose life and don't let unforgiveness leave you spiritually crippled. Rise up and walk.
Brianna Collichio, a 15-year-old with cystic fibrosis, overcomes the odds to earn her ticket to Hollywood on American Idol. Before her audition, we learned that this teen has already battled so much just to be standing here today.
Brianna shared that she was born with cystic fibrosis and that can cause her to be prone to lung infections. “The life expectancy for cystic fibrosis is maybe 36. But, it doesn’t defeat me. It doesn’t define me.”
But music has always been the one constant that gives Brianna hope and joy. After her sister posted a TikTok video online of Brianna’s singing, she agreed to audition for American Idol. But sadly, Brianna ended up collapsing the night before her audition and had to be rushed to the hospital. Thankfully, she was able to reschedule and she’s ready to impress the judges.
“I have faith. If I didn’t have faith, I wouldn’t be here right now.” And she’s going to show them all of her strength with the inspiring words of ‘Scars To Your Beautiful’ from Alessia Cara.
“And you don't have to change a thing
The world could change its heart
No scars to your beautiful
We're stars and we're beautiful”
After the performance, all three of the judges were in awe of her talent and inspiring story. Katy said, “You’re the walking miracle. You give people hope and people need a lot of hope right now.”
Brianna easily earned her golden ticket to Hollywood and we will be able to see this incredible teen on an even bigger stage.
One of the most alluring and evocative voices on television started out in the opera. Mike Rowe shared his story and opera voice on the Kelly Clarkson show! Yes, Mike Rowe who is well known as the iconic host for Dirty Jobs actually got his start as an opera singer. Before he ever thought of a career in television, Mike actually had a stutter as a child.
He shared on the Kelly Clarkson show how one special teacher helped it get past his stutter. Mike says he was a weird kid with a deep voice and stutter as a freshman in high school. But this teacher saw something in Mike that he didn’t see but when this teacher discovered he had a stutter, he encouraged Mike in the way of ‘demanding’ that Mike try out for the school play. He told Mike that the character he was scripted to play didn’t stutter and that he needed to get into character and Mike could stutter on his own time.
This brilliant and strange way of encouraging Mike changed how he saw himself and his disability. Mike was able to play the part and eventually used this technique in other areas of his life until he was able to get past stuttering. When Mike realized he wanted a career in television, he knew the Opera was his way of making his big break!
As he shared his story with Kelly, he said, “Back in Baltimore in 1984 the unions were a big deal. I wanted to work in acting and commercials and I had to be in the Screen Actors Guild, or in the American Federation of Television and Radio Arts. I couldn’t get into either union because back then, you couldn’t do that kind of work unless you were in the union but you couldn’t do the work unless you had your union card,” he said.
He shared about a loophole, “There was another union called American Guild of Musical Artists, and if you can get into that guild, you can buy your membership into the other guild. It occurred to me that I’d have a better chance at faking my way into the opera than I would into the movies.”
For the opera audition, Mike went to the library and found the music to “La Boheme,” which he sang for Kelly! As he sang the piece to Kelly, she was mesmerized like we all are when Mike speaks! She echoed what we all are thinking, “Oh my gosh! Your tone is magical”
Yes, Kelly, we all agree! Mike’s voice, whether talking or singing is God’s gift for all who hear! None of us can imagine Dirty Jobs without Mike Rowe!
“Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.” Ephesians 5:19
You’ll want to check out this incredible story of how a miracle encounter led to a classical pianist playing for the first time in 22 years!
João Carlos Martins is a world-renowned musician and was a child-prodigy on the piano. He won a national competition in his home country of Brazil at the age of 8.
“I realized that music was the reason, the real reason for me to believe in life. To believe in God,” shares João.
But a neurological illness, known as Dystonia, took away his ability to play the piano like he used to. He had been fighting the illness since he was 18 years old. Dystonia is a neurological disorder that makes it difficult for individuals to control their movements.
“You can manage it for a few years, but at the end, the Dystonia will win the fight,” João shares.
In 2002, João gave his last concert in Beijing and switched to a new career as a conductor. But then in 2019, an industrial designer named Ubirata Bizarro Costa heard about João disease and wanted to help him play the piano again.
“I was watching a TV show and saw him in an interview,” says Ubirata. “And he was saying that he was saying goodbye to his hands, like a farewell. Because he was going to have surgery on his hands.”
That’s when Ubirata decided he was going to make gloves for João that would let him play again.
“The first version of the gloves took me two weeks to finish them. And I was trying to reach him, the maestro, but I didn’t have any success. And then one day he came to my hometown, to a concert,” Ubirata shares. “And there I realized that I had a shot.”
Ubirata gave the gloves to João when they met at the concert. After trying them out, João was able to play the piano like he once had before. “And this, for me, was like a miracle,” João explains. “With these gloves, I am playing now regularly.”
What an incredible story! And now, at the age of 80, João Carlos Martins will commemorate the 60th anniversary of his Carnegie Hall debut with a concert there this year!
You have got to listen to this pair of talented trumpeters playing the popular song ‘Hallelujah’ by Leonard Cohen in an empty parking garage. What a heavenly sound!
“Now I've heard there was a secret chord, that David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you? It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth
The minor falls, the major lifts, the baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah”
One of the boys in the video is Adam Zapf, and he posted this video of him and his friend playing ‘Hallelujah’ in a parking garage on his TikTok. And, my goodness, does it sound amazing!
The video has become very popular and has gained thousands of views online. Adam also posts other videos of him on TikTok playing different songs in empty parking garages, and they all sound so lovely.
It is a great reminder that you don’t need a fancy stage to showcase your beautiful talents. Using what you have in your area, like an empty parking garage, can be just the thing you need to make a beautiful sound!
And imagine coming into that parking garage and looking for your parked car, and then you hear that wonderful music playing! That would be such a lovely surprise. I’m sure Adam and his friend blessed many people’s ears that day while they were playing their trumpets.
We hope that you enjoyed this video of this pair of trumpeters playing 'Hallelujah' in an empty parking garage.
Matthew 22:37-39
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Watch this small town girl named Alyssa Wray make a big impression on the judges with her American Idol audition.
“The moment Alyssa Wray walked into the American Idol audition room, the judges immediately felt her star power and presence. Better yet? She has the voice to back it up!” reads the caption of this video on YouTube. “While performing ‘I Am Changing,’ by Jennifer Hudson, for Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan, Lionel was so excited and moved by Alyssa’s performance, that he literally could not stop moving!”
Alyssa is an 18-years-old college student from a small town in Kentucky that only has about 750 people in it. Before her audition, Alyssa shares a little about how she’s always felt different.
“Growing up, I kind of did always stand out. I’m a 6’2” black woman who has an outspoken voice, and I’ve always just been colorful and outside the box,” she explains. “When I was younger, being different felt like a disadvantage. And then as I started to get older, I started to use what made me different and kind of make it my superpower.”
And she is using her uniqueness to help her chase after her dreams. “I’ve grown up watching Idol, but I never expected to go and do what I’ve been dreaming of since I was born, basically,” Alyssa shares. “It finally feels like I’m getting closer to what I’m meant to do.”
During her audition, Alyssa blows the judges away with her voice. In fact, all of the judges can’t stay in their seats because they are so impressed with her. And Lionel Richie can’t stop walking around with excitement. “I’m so happy! I’m so happy,” he says.
“The most challenging thing in entertainment is to have a presence,” Luke Bryan says to Alyssa after she finishes singing. “Lionel, how hard is that to find?”
“Once in a generation,” Lionel replies, and Alyssa cannot help but beam with happiness. “How lucky are we to finally say ‘We knew you when, and we had something to do with it,’” says Lionel.
All three judges say yes to Alyssa Wray, and she is off to Hollywood!
Dr. Prem Reddy formed Prime Healthcare Services with a mission to save hospitals, improve community healthcare and provide the very best care to patients. Prime Healthcare now owns and operates 46 hospitals and more than 300 outpatient locations in 14 states and is the fifth largest for-profit hospital system in the nation
Enjoy this beautiful mother-daughter duet to ‘Hallelujah’ for the brand new baby in the family.
The powerful song was originally released in 1984, but it wasn’t until Jeff Buckley released the song on his 1994 album, ‘Grace’ that the song really started to gain momentum.
Since that time, ‘Hallelujah’ become a worldwide phenomenon and truly cemented itself in music history. Over the years, many artists have covered the tune and it’s a popular song selection for auditions and showcases. The unique tune sounds like a perfect blend of a rock ballad and a gospel song.
“Well it goes like this
The fourth, the fifth, the minor fall and the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah”
Today, Karolina Protsenko and her mother are performing their own rendition of this classic song. You may recognize Karolina from one of her many viral violin performances, including songs such as ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love’ and ‘The Prayer.’
For years, she has shared her musical talents with the world. Karolina is truly a talented teen and the Internet seems to agree. With over 10 million views across social media, Karolina is making a name for herself as an artist on the move.
Now, Karolina is also taking on another important role, big sister. Karolina’s mother recently welcomed a new baby boy and they’re already introducing the newborn to some beautiful tunes. Just listen as they play the iconic melody of ‘Hallelujah’ while the baby stays wide-eyed the entire time. What a sweet way to induct him into the musical family.
Check out this blind dog happily jumping around her backyard while enjoying a snowstorm.
The husky in this video is named Mackenzie, and her owner is Mandy Leung. When Mandy brought Mackenzie home at 10-weeks-old, she was already blind in her right eye due to glaucoma. And about a month later, this husky pup was unable to see out of her left eye.
But Mandy says that Mackenzie was able to adapt to her blindness and never seems to let it get in her way.
“Learning to adapt at such a young age has made her into a very confident girl. She gets around new places just fine and can play fetch like a normal dog!” shares Mandy. “I even forget that she’s blind sometimes because she stares right into my eyes when she looks at me.”
Recently, Mandy shared a video online of Mackenzie enjoying one of her favorite things – snow!
“Snow is one of her favorite things and she never wants to come inside if there is snow outside,” says Mandy.
Mackenzie can be seen in the video running around outside and feeling the snowflakes fall all around her. And without her sight, Mackenzie’s other senses, like smell and touch, are heightened. So that scent of fresh snow on the ground or the feel of snowflakes on her face and fur must feel amazing to her!
Winter is definitely a magical season when you get to experience snow, and it is so wonderful to see Mackenzie enjoying herself in her favorite weather.
Even with her blindness, this adorable husky is able to find joy in the simple things in life, like the feeling of fresh snow in your backyard.
We hope that you enjoyed this video of Mackenzie playing in the snow and it was able to bring a smile to your face!
American Idol winner Nick Fradiani sings a beautiful duet of ‘Hallelujah’ with his father, Nick Fradiani Sr.
The powerful song was originally released in 1984, but it wasn’t until Jeff Buckley released the song on his 1994 album, ‘Grace’ that the song really started to gain momentum.
Since that time, ‘Hallelujah’ become a worldwide phenomenon and truly cemented itself in music history. Over the years, many artists have covered the tune and it’s a popular song selection for auditions and showcases. The unique tune sounds like a perfect blend of a rock ballad and a gospel song.
“Well it goes like this
The fourth, the fifth, the minor fall and the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah”
Nick Fradiani rose to fame as a contestant on the 2015 season of American Idol. He secured his ticket to Hollywood with a stunning rendition of Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes." Week after week, he won over the hearts of America with his impressive covers and spot-on song selection. Finally, after weeks of competition, Nick was crowned the winner of American Idol.
Today, Nick is teaming up with his dad for an incredible rendition of ‘Hallelujah.’ With Nick Sr. playing the piano and providing vocals, Nick belts out these iconic words.
It’s obvious that music runs in the family and this father-son duo are harmonizing perfectly. From the very first note, I knew this was going to be a performance to remember and now I’m waiting for their next duet.
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