Hand Me Downs
I am recently discovering Mali Music Note (Listen to Job Experience here). This gentleman is on another wavelength when it comes to gospel sounds and lyrics. Watching his recent interview on BET’s Lift Every Voice, a programme that showcases everything within the gospel music industry, I got caught up in something the host said, making me reflect on this Christian walk of mine.
I remember growing up, as the first child, I had new things to wear and use. My parents bought me everything brand new, like every first child out there. When I started having siblings, some of what I used was handed down to my sisters. Makes a lot of sense and I am sure fellow mothers out there would agree with me. Unless your second born is of a different sex from the 1st child, you will almost instinctively hand over what you have used for your first baby, unto the second one.
It’s not to say I never had ‘hand me downs’ I did. My mom had a few clothes and shoes that she gave me when I started to mature in my teens. I loved those clothes and kept some for when I was much older. Some fitted me well, some didn’t Now, as a grown woman, I have defined what suits me in person, personality and as an individual and no longer have the hand me downs.
One thing the host of the show made me also realise is that most of us are living a ‘hand me down’ Christian life. We live in the idea or the understanding of who we think God is and how we should know/ relate to him. This ‘hand me down’ ideas are mostly from our parents, guidance, media or from where we may have grown up. Yes, we attended Sunday Schools, went to church every week day, attended conferences and prayer meetings et al but we never really knew for ourselves what this whole thing is about because they were handed down to us.
Some of us are still in this phase of life now. Refusing to discover what and who God is but always relying on other people’s understanding of God. Rather than operate based on what you have personally read and discovered for yourself in the bible, we instead follow what is said out there without making our own research and discoveries.
I was a victim of ‘hand me down’ relationship with God and still experience this now and again however I am breaking free, taking up my bible and reading it myself, taking up books on facets of life to read it myself, listening to teachings but ensuring I still go back to check and re-check with the word to be sure what I heard is coherent with what God has said in his word. The benefit of this is that you become sensitive spiritually, and know when to follow or not to follow on all things. (Daniel 11:32)
I believe this is where God is longing for us to be. To come to him and have a personal relationship with him. To know him while he teaches and shows us the truth. It is a daily progressive walk and I can guarantee you that it is so amazing the things you will discover.
Stop living in the shadow of who your parents, guidance, media and friends say God is. The same way you do not wear ‘hand me downs’ any more, get over your ‘hand me down’ relationship with God and get fresh with Him and all that relates to Him.
It is never too late!
Is God MIA? (Missing in Action)
Where is your God?
One question that bothered the psalmist in Psalms 42:3 was “Where is thy God?” It can be very painful when the authority of God your lover is so challenged. You will want to do anything to defend Him even if it means doing so with your life. In 1 Samuel 17:23-26, in the battle between the Philistines and Israel, Goliath came out and boasted exceedingly and asked them, “Where is the God of Israel?”
For as many as had no intimate relationship with God, this threat, challenge and disgrace meant nothing to them. But then one day, one little boy who loved the Lord was there. Then he heard Goliath boast and he was mad. His love for God propelled him to dare this giant that was bringing shame on God and His people. That was how the reproach was taken away. It can be painful when you have a problem that is quite obvious and has persisted, especially when you know that your God is more than able to solve it. People will be asking, “Did you not say your God can do all things? Why has He not done yours?” Yes, it can be painful, but you must be prepared to love God to the extent of not minding what people are saying about your condition.
In Psalms 115:1-3, when the unbelievers where asking this psalmist: “Where is your God?” instead of being embarrassed or engaging in self-pity, he was not bothered. In fact, he began to make excuses for God because of his love for Him. He replied them: “Are you asking of my God because of this little problem? My God is still in Heaven. He is still on the throne and He cannot be dethroned.
If you must know, my God does whatever He pleases and is not accountable to anyone. Whether He does it or not, you cannot take Him to court. He knows the right time to solve this problem because your time and mine may not be His. Is it not for me? I am prepared to wait for His time; I am not in any hurry”
With that kind of answer, the mouths of the enemies will be stopped. How much do you love God? Do you make excuses for God over some delayed blessings? Prove your love for Him.
Source: Open Heavens Volume Twelve 2012 by Pastor E.A Adeboye
Art Credit: Bill Osborne.
Allow me to re-introduce the Christ
What a great way to begin a new month by re-introducing Jesus to you. No one does it better than Blair Wingo who is so passionate about sharing Christ that it shows in the way she flows with her poetry. Her lyrics are deep and reflective, one of which we love to share with you. Read and be blessed.
Allow me to re-introduce the Christ by Blair Wingo
We’ve got a False Jesus being portrayed. As seen on TV, acting cool….you see he’s changed.
A different Jesus from the Bible so…allow me to bring the real Christ on stage. Not that whack Jesus, the one not based on fact Jesus, too often displayed. The Christ in Glory, not the one on your chain.
Because he’s the real Jesus Peace that only dwells in the saved. So allow me to paint the picture of Christ in the Scripture preaching faith and repentance that your too cool Jesus….never seems to mention. It seems like he’s down with all the things that you do. But come on, there’s only one Jesus who is true. So which one will you let reign over you? Who?
The Millionaire Jesus who just wants to make you rich? Give you some ice, fame, money, to prove that you are blessed? The Black Panther Jesus who throws up his black fist. The ‘Kan…Ye…West’ Jesus who walks with no Holiness. Which one will you choose? I said….Which one will you choose?
So I think it is long overdo to have a re-introduction of Christ. So there won’t be any confusion as to which one is right, because one leads to death, and the other IS life! So allow me to, re-introduce the Christ. Allow me to, re-introduce the Christ. I said allow me to re-introduce the Christ! He’s been distorted by the people and IT JUST AIN’T RIGHT!
Allow me to re-introduce the Christ. Not someone you can pimp around to propel your cause. Or a name you can proclaim just to cover your flaws. Look if this is true then you’re serving a different Boss. Your Christ is an idol and you’re probably lost.
Because Christ in the scripture? He gave a call to forsake all. Not to wear a cross but to take up your cross and follow Him. Because we’re holding a death sentence because of our sin. And it’s His Mercy that His wrath hasn’t burned times ten. Just like Sodom and Gomorrah but a curse within. You see He gives us a chance to learn of Him!
So that He can be glorified in His rightful place. So if we’re serving this imitation Jesus, dude, it’s like a blatant slap in the face, distorting His grace and disregarding His sacrifice. For a worldly Christ, like the ‘Purpose Driven Life’ Jesus, who prophesied you’ll be used by him before you’re living like Jesus.
Or that S.A.T. Jesus who helps you with all your quizzes, gets you into college, allows you to pass math and physics, the homosexual Jesus who doesn’t see you sinning. The ‘Destiny’s Child’ Jesus who sees your Beyoncé and starts grinning. Which one will you choose? I said…which one will you choose?
So I think it is long overdue to have a re-introduction of Christ. So there won’t be any confusion as to which one is right, because one leads to death, and the other IS life! So allow me to.. re-introduce the Christ.
Allow me to … re-introduce the Christ. He’s been distorted by the people and IT JUST AIN’T RIGHT!
So allow me to re-introduce the Christ.
Not someone that we can cover His mouth, so we can continue our nose in the dirt, so He doesn’t require us to repent of all sins, to be born again, to never blend in with this world, and Broadway is the street that walks the Material Girl, she’s got you seduced, she feeds you a phony Jesus that doesn’t want to save you from your sins but wants to…”Kick it with you.”
Like…”Jesus is my Homeboy”..or “Jesus got me employed” or “Jesus is my Decoy”, But will the real Jesus please stand up? The ONE who is TRUE! Because He’s been, knocked down, pushed down, and these idols come in, he wrecked it up, he wrecked it up to the point that if the real Jesus came back right now…Dude, the Church would probably hang Him upside down! Pin Him to one of these beams and crucify Him again. Because he’s not down with your sin! And it hurts me to see how the Church will defend their lifestyle. Like, Wow! Don’t we want to know Christ? The one who willingly gave His life to set us free from our sin you see.
And I must do this by ANY means necessary. See, I must NEVER hide the LIGHT! So tonight, I’m going to introduce Jesus Christ. I said I’m going to introduce Jesus Christ because He’s been distorted by the people and IT JUST AIN’T RIGHT! So I’m going to introduce Jesus Christ because one day…Dude…. He is coming back and it’s important that you recognize Him because the scripture talks about that.
Many people saying….”I’m Jesus….No, I’m Jesus…No, I’m Jesus” But which one is fact? And you got to get into the Bible to see about that, that He’s coming in the clouds with Power and Glory, and every knee will bow, testify to His authority. So this Jesus of the scripture better take priority, not the one that’s accepted every where by the majority, when He Himself said the world would hate Him! So why all of a sudden does the world want to date Him? Think about it.
Hopefully you haven’t given in to this ‘Come as you are, stay as you are’ Jesus. ‘He has this wonderful plan for my Life’ Jesus, ‘You don’t need repentance’ Jesus…or ‘All roads lead to Jesus.’ I hope you haven’t given in to this, but you serve the One who is Holy. Because it will be something if on Judgement day the Jesus you’ve been serving was simply an angel of light, which covered a legion of demons masquerading as Christ. All this time serving a Jesus who’s not been pierced at his feet and the wrists, who has no sword coming out of his mouth, No rod of Righteousness! To go on day by day by day, and willingly MISS because we’re serving a created image that leads you to the Abyss.
So lets get into scripture, so we’re not fooled by this Jesus who when were sinning he’s still with us, Won’t get into this Jesus that the world loves, and he’s cool with your worldly music, worldly TV, you going to the club, your sex, your lies, your vanity, your phony love, the very thing that caused Christ in the scripture to shed blood.
So let’s make sure we’re serving the right Christ, not a wolf in sheep’s clothing that’s got you enticed. The TRUE ONE, want to make you new ONE, The ONLY begotten SON!
So I think it’s long overdue for you to be introduced tonight.
Everybody help me welcome…Jesus Christ!
Do you know the true Jesus?
Source: Real Christianity
Art Credit: Bill Osborne