I’m excited to welcome Rachel Bloem to the TPC stage today!
A native of Bryan, Texas, Rachel received her Bachelor of Music from Berklee College of Music with an emphasis in music therapy, vocal performance and psychology. As an emerging artist in the Brazos Valley, Rachel hopes to collaborate with other artists and bring hope through the art of expression. You can visit her personal website here, or follow her on Instagram @bloem89 .


 

The very essence of God’s being is sound; a word spoken; a living word. The Living Word.

– Rachel Bloem

Let there be light

These first recorded words of God permeated the void and created a world teeming with life.

We were created by sound and breathe. Breathing eternal life into man, God imparted His Spirit to his prized creation. With that same purpose in mind, God has given us the gift of sound to bring healing to the world around us.

This is why I have chosen music as my medium to communicate and engage with the world.

Music Therapy

Would you agree that music is naturally therapeutic? Have you ever used music to help you process something, or to communicate with a loved one? We use music every day and receive benefits from it without even realizing it. In fact, scientists and healthcare professionals have developed specific, research-based methods to create the field known as music therapy.

Music therapy can be defined as, the clinical use of music by a credentialed music therapist to reach non-musical goals in social, emotional, physical, and cognitive domains. Music therapy has been shown to reduce stress, manage pain, promote positive social interactions, increase communication, improve cognitive functioning and organize physical movement.

Photo: Melanie Cuevas

Deeper than a sound

Along with being a powerful tool for healing, music can be a weapon against our own personal demons. In the book of 1 Kings, Saul is tormented by an evil spirit. However, the spirit immediately releases him when a Godly man plays music on the harp and sings.

Music can reach into our souls and bring healing to the places of deepest hurt and brokenness. Next time you feel stuck, and the pain is too much, too confusing, or too vast pick up a drum and give your heart a chance to speak through music.

Bang on a piano. Sing out the words hidden just behind your tongue. Let it all out until your inner art is released.

No prior skills needed.

Photo: Allef Vinicius – (CC0 1.0)

Powerful history

In the Bible, God appoints “skilled musicians” to lead worship in the courts of the tabernacle, imitating the throne room in the heavenlies. God uses worship to fight His battles with musicians at the front lines because music is His weapon of mass destruction to the enemy camps.

As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.

-2 Chronicles 20:22

Joshua tells us that the walls of Jericho came down by a shout and a clanging of worship instruments.

Photo: JD Weiher – (CC0 1.0)

A different kind of war

However, our battle is not against flesh and blood.

It’s a war of words, thoughts, and truths against a common enemy of fear, pain, and confusion.

Music is my weapon of choice. How are you going to engage the battle?

Because your fight has not been with flesh and blood, but with Principalities and The Rulers and The Powers of this dark world and with wicked spirits which are under Heaven.

-Ephesians 6:12