180 Days of Musical Encouragement

“Words satisfy the mind as much as fruit does the stomach; good talk is as gratifying as a good harvest. Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭18:20-21‬ ‭MSG‬‬ http://bible.com/97/pro.18.20-21.msg

I love music. Music connects with the very essence of my soul. Music makes me feel happy and confident. It makes me cry, smile and angry. I find meaning in songs and attach them to memorable moments in my life.

When my husband and I were dating, I once asked him to write a list of ten songs he would put on the soundtrack of his life. I’ve done this with my students as well. It gives me a bit of insight into who they are.

Now, I plan to use music to extend my reach and plant positive seeds. I don’t work in the worst of the worst areas with the toughest of the toughest kids. However, I do work with kids who do not always hear positive words from the ones who love them most. Some say there’s nothing you can do about that. I say, “I’ll do what I’ve been asked to do then allow God to do the rest”.

Over the past three days, I’ve spent moments with God searching for 180 songs to play for my students when they enter my room each morning. These songs hold power; they speak of love, motivation, self-worth, goodness, happiness, hope and possibilities.  It a nice mix of genres, old and new, popular and rare, mature and youthful. But the things they all have in common are the ability to satisfy the mind, give life and produce fruit. I’m so excited to see what God will do with this. 😊

1. One Love– Bob Marley
2. Through Your Eyes– Britt Nicole
3. Future – Musiq Soulchild
4. There’s Hope– India Arie
5. Once a Day– Michael Franti
6. Dreams– Ashanti
7. I Can Do Anything– Fresh Beat Band
8. Dare You to Move– Switchfoot
9. Count on Me– Bruno Mars
10. Try Everything– Shakira
11. Eyes Wide Open– Sabrina Carpenter
12. Go Get It– Mary Mary
13. Don’t Stop Believing– Glee
14. i– Kendrick Lamar
15. Can’t Stop the Feeling– Justin Timberlake
16. I Got Sunshine– Avery Sunshine
17. I Lived– One Republic
18. Rise Up– Andra Day
19. Tomorrow– Annie
20. Lean On Me– Bill Withers
21. Never Settle– Goldford
22. Upside Down– Jack Johnson
23. Better Together- Jack Johnson
24. Strength Courage and Wisdom– India Arie
25. Sure Looks Good to Me– Alicia Keys
26. Surprise Yourself– Fresh Beat Band
27. Wake– Hillsong Young and Free
28. Golden– Jill Scott
29. We Are Family– Sister Sledge
30. Remedy– Adele
31. All You Need is Love– Beatles
32. What a Wonderful World– Louis Armstrong
33. Somewhere Over the Rainbow– Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
34. Heroes– David Bowie
35. Don’t Worry Be Happy– Bob Marley
36. It’s My Life– Jon Bon Jovi
37. Fireworks– Katy Perry
38. Unwritten– Natasha Bedingfield
39. True Colors– Cyndi Lauper
40. Lovely Day– Bill Withers
41. Stand By Me– Ben E. King
42. Follow the Sun– Xavier Rudd
43. Pieces– Bethel Music
44. A Beautiful Day– India Arie
45. Everybody– Ingrid Michaelson
46. Grateful: A Love Song to the World– Nimo Patel
47. Three Little Birds– Bob Marley
48. We Are Here– Alicia Keys
49. What I Am Is– Seasame Street and Will i. Am
50. Free– Michael Medall
51. Greatest Love of All- Whitney Houston
52. Man in the Mirror- Michael Jackson
53. Beautiful Day– U2
54. Keep Your Head Up– Andy Grammar
55. I Can See Clearly– Jimmy Cliff
56. Take Me the Way I Am– Ingrid Michaelson
57. Hey, Hey, Hey– Michael Franti & Spearhead
58. Wake Up Everybody – John Legend
59. Move– MercyMe
60. The Sound of Sunshine– Michael Franti & Spearhead
61. Life is Wonderful– Jason Mraz
62. Shiny Happy People– REM
63. So Happy Together– The Turtles
64. Smile– V. Bozman
65. Brand New Day– The Wiz
66. We Are the World
67. On Top of the World- Imagine Dragons
68. Roll with the Punches– Lenka
69. Ok It’s Alright with Me– Eric Hutchinson
70. Fireflies– Owl City
71. Live Like You’re Dying– Kris Allen
72. Roar– Katy Perry
73. Brave– Sara Bareilles
74. Wavin’ Flag– K’Naan and Will i. am
75. Girl in the Mirror– Sophia Grace
76. Best Day of My Life-American Authors
77. Wouldn’t It Be Nice– Beach Boys
78. Good Vibrations– Beach Boys
79. Sunny Day- Joy Williams
80. Good Morning- Mandisa
81. I Can– Nas
82. Keep Tryin‘ – Groove Theory
83. Shed a Little Light– Goldford
84. Lovin Me– Jonathan McReynolds
85. Meant to Live- Switchfoot
86. Wake Me Up– Aviici
87. The Man– Aloe Blacc
88. Hello World– Aloe Blacc
89. Live Your Life- TI
90. Alright– Kendrick Lamar
91. Lighters– Eminem
92. One Call Away- Charlie Pugh
93. Don’t You Worry Child– Swedish House Mafia
94. Save the World– Swedish House Mafia
95. Superheroes– The Script
96. Keep Ya Head Up– Tupac
97. Walking on Sunshine– Katrina & the Wave
98. The Climb– Miley Cyrus
99. Get Up, Stand Up– Bob Marley
100. Story of Your Life– Matthew West
101. Mean– Taylor Swift
102. Speak Life– Toby Mac
103. How Far I’ll Go– Alessia Cara
104. You Lift Me Up– The Afters
105. Hurricane– Natalie Grant
106. Happiness– Needtobreathe
107. Every Good Thing– The Afters
108. Not For a Moment– Meredith Andrews
109. Blink– Revive
110. Good to Be Alive– Jason Gray
111. Pocket Full of Sunshine– Natasha Bedingfield
112. Gold– Britt Nicole
113. You Are Loved– Josh Groban
114. Get Back Up– Toby Mac
115. Free to Be Me- Francesca Battistelli
116. Watch Me Shine– Joanna Pacitti
117. Beautiful, Beautiful – Francesca Battistelli
118. I’m Letting Go– Francesca Battistelli
119. Put a Little Love in Your Heart– Anne Lennox and Al Green
120. Victory – Kim Burrell
121. Reach for the Stars– S Club 7
122. Soar– Christina Aguilera
123. Larger than Life– Pinkzebra
124. Turn! Turn! Turn!– The Byrds
125. A Change Gonna Come– Sam Cooke
126. Overcomer– Mandisa
127. Confident– Kidz Bop
128. What Makes You Beautiful– Kidz Bop
129. Sky’s the Limit– Biggie
130. Am I Wrong– Nico and Vinz
131. I Am Light– India Arie
132. Brave– Moriah Peters
133. One Life- Hedley
134. You’re Not Alone– Marie Miller
135. Titanium– David Guetta & Sia
136. The Greatest -Sia
137. Nothing’s Real But Love– Rebecca Ferguson
138. People Help the People- Birdy
139. Kill’em With Kindness– Selena Gomez
140. The Same– Matthew & Marisa
141. When Love Takes Over– Kelly Rowland
142. People Get Ready– The Impressions
143. Where is the Love?– The Black Eyed Peas
144. Glory– Common and John Legend
145. Better When I’m Dancin– Meghan Trainor
146. Stronger– Kelly Clarkson
147. Who Says– Selena Gomez
148. Hero– Mariah Carey
149. I Wish You Well– Elizabeth Mitchell
150. Peace Like a River– Elizabeth Mitchell
151. You Are My Sunshine– Elizabeth Mitchell
152. This Little Light of Mine– Elizabeth Mitchell
153. Sesame Street Song– Jimmy Fallon and The Roots
154. Don’t Give Up– Bruno Mars
155. Believe in Yourself– Michael Buble
156. Can’t Hold Us– Macklemore
157. Take On the World– Rowan
158. On Top of the World– Dove Cameron
159. Everything is Sound– Jason Mraz
160. Living in the Moment– Jason Mraz
161. The World is Watching– Two Door Cinema Club
162. Happy– Pharrell
163. Hall of Fame– The Script
164. Brighter Than the Sun- Colbie Caillat
165. I‘m the World’s Greatest– R. Kelly
166. Who I Am– Natasha Bedingfield
167. Believe in Yourself
168. Just Stand Up
169. All- Star- Smash Mouth
170. Good Feeling– Flo Rida
171. Happy– Natasha Bedingfield
172. Hakuna Matata– The Lion King
173. I’m a Believer– Smash Mouth
174. Boomerang– Jojo Siwa
175. Crazy– Gnarls Barkley
176. Haven’t Met You Yet- Michael Buble
177. Waka Waka– Shakira
178. Try– Colbie Caillat
179. Power Within Me– Junga World
180. Feel the Rush– Shaggy