On July 18, 2021 I was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Among the witnesses were members of the church and my loved ones. As the prayer from the assistant pastor was finished I would go down into the water and come up a new creature. Besides the fact that everyone in attendance was proud of me I made this choice all on my own. Myself and God have never been strangers. A life without God is like living without water. Living in a post-COVID world filled with anger and strife 1 Corinthians 13 is the best motto to live by.
As mentioned before God and myself are not strangers. It began when I was sixteen and sleeping in bed. No more than three hours before me and my family had attended a Sunday evening service. During this service the same pastor that prayed before my baptism in the name of Jesus Christ was preaching a sermon. The sermon's underlining message was how direct, powerful, and precise The Holy Ghost is. While listening to this pastor's sermon the whole congregation was being filled with the spirit of revival. To be honest all I could do was just sit back and chuckle in disbelief. Fast-forward to me sleeping on a mattress on the floor and feeling the same Holy Ghost that was preached 180 minutes ago sitting on the edge as if a real person was there (the same thing happened to this pastor as well). After this encounter with The Holy Ghost I believe I was filled with the gift of "foresight." I was given a heads up as it regarded The New Orleans Saints winning Super Bowl XLIV. Almost anything that would be considered "major" I would get the heads up in a vision, prophecy, or a dream. Of course all of this is great, but sixteen is still sixteen. Ups and downs are destined to follow suit.
Throughout the remainder of my teen years while attending this church I would feel like a motherless child. Clashes that were both social and cultural can be pointed as contributions as to why. Being members of this church me and my mother were two out of a handful that were African-American (Black). For those that already know the relations between African-Americans and Afro-Caribbean's are not always the most friendly/or comforting. Furthermore, eighteen was much more than a stage filled with college applications, prom dates, and graduation gowns. It was at eighteen where I would receive my first dose of responsibility. My step-father (former) had left the house in February of 2013 and my existence would forever be changed. After school lodges were replaced with picking up my two younger siblings off the bus and from school. If there were a group of people that I would give credit to it would be the elders of the church. From their thoughts the elders prayed for me, giving me the strength of a lion. Although I never had the chance to say thank you I am forever grateful for the prayers of the elders.
As mentioned before God and myself are not strangers. It began when I was sixteen and sleeping in bed. No more than three hours before me and my family had attended a Sunday evening service. During this service the same pastor that prayed before my baptism in the name of Jesus Christ was preaching a sermon. The sermon's underlining message was how direct, powerful, and precise The Holy Ghost is. While listening to this pastor's sermon the whole congregation was being filled with the spirit of revival. To be honest all I could do was just sit back and chuckle in disbelief. Fast-forward to me sleeping on a mattress on the floor and feeling the same Holy Ghost that was preached 180 minutes ago sitting on the edge as if a real person was there (the same thing happened to this pastor as well). After this encounter with The Holy Ghost I believe I was filled with the gift of "foresight." I was given a heads up as it regarded The New Orleans Saints winning Super Bowl XLIV. Almost anything that would be considered "major" I would get the heads up in a vision, prophecy, or a dream. Of course all of this is great, but sixteen is still sixteen. Ups and downs are destined to follow suit.
Throughout the remainder of my teen years while attending this church I would feel like a motherless child. Clashes that were both social and cultural can be pointed as contributions as to why. Being members of this church me and my mother were two out of a handful that were African-American (Black). For those that already know the relations between African-Americans and Afro-Caribbean's are not always the most friendly/or comforting. Furthermore, eighteen was much more than a stage filled with college applications, prom dates, and graduation gowns. It was at eighteen where I would receive my first dose of responsibility. My step-father (former) had left the house in February of 2013 and my existence would forever be changed. After school lodges were replaced with picking up my two younger siblings off the bus and from school. If there were a group of people that I would give credit to it would be the elders of the church. From their thoughts the elders prayed for me, giving me the strength of a lion. Although I never had the chance to say thank you I am forever grateful for the prayers of the elders.
November 6, 2015 was a day that should've been of persecution. But, through the grace of God it was a day that made The Devil mad. Sitting in a session in The Bronx Family Court I look before the stand, and see my step-father (former) "Benjamin" giving a false statement against me. Hearing every word made me cringe and full of rage. In all actuality what hurt me the most was the fact that 'Benjamin" took it upon himself to request two ACS cases against myself and my mother some months before we would be summoned to court. These two cases that were brought to The Administration for Child Services were based off nothing but lies. By the time our session was over even the referee and "Benjamin's' lawyer/attorney started to see through his lies and deceitful ways. The case that "Benjamin" had against me was dismissed. As well as the case he had made up for my younger sister, too. Once the first session was over I was granted an order of protection against "Benjamin" and given permission to go back to living with my mother and siblings (at the time I was living with an aunt in Harlem until the first court date took place). Till this day I can still see 'Benjamin's" face with his eye's filled with hatred and his mouth full of venom. He even had the nerve to try and stand near myself and my attorney while we were talking. I thank The Lord Jesus Christ for a praying mother and my aunts who prayed and found ways to shelter me from harm.
One morning I woke up from a dream. This dream was not one of mystery or mediocrity. The dream that I had awaken from was a message from God Himself. It all started with a knock on the door. My mother answers the door. As the door opened men and women wearing green shirts and casual bottoms walked in our apartment. Sooner or later I would find out that this group of people were missionaries, and were sent by request to pray for me. There in the living room the missionaries surrounded me in a circle. Prayer took place and the man that seemed to be in charge of the group put his hands on my head and chest. Usually a persons eye's are suppose to be closed during prayer, but for some reason mines weren't. Right than and there all of God's wonders and works were manifested around me. It was as if an earthquake hit my living room. The glass in the windows shattered. All of the paintings on the walls begun to fall in an avalanche motion. My cat Jim, who was sitting in a chair nearby turned into a dove and flew out the living room window. In front of me there was a wall (that is now covered with racks of DVD's) that was nothing but collapsing rubble. On this wall was all of the faces of individuals who have ever did me wrong. God was letting me know in a direct manner that He hade my back. That afternoon I was on my way to a course. Before I entered the train I felt The Spirit of the Lord speak to me. Without a shadow of a doubt I looked up to heaven and asked God was it He that was speaking to me. A few minutes later, while riding the 5 train the conductor gave a notice on the speaker that any train heading downtown would be "unable" due to some construction work needed for the tracks. Some blamed the MTA's lousy service. Others blamed the cheap Chinese steel that most construction companies use. However, I believe that the God I serve has a plan for His children and those that have faith in Him shall receive blessings that man cannot comprehend.
I know that this may seem like a lengthy testimony to tell, but God has been too good to me. It's through the name of his only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ that we receive everlasting life, and not perish. Living a life with Christ is like having Tom Brady as the face of your franchise; no matter what challenges that lay before you victory will always be yours. Being anchored in the word of God is the equivalent of possessing a personal nightlight in a world full of darkness. Yes, I am an infant as it regards to my walk with Jesus Christ. However, I'd rather admit that I was late to the reception, than to never had shown up. Allowing yourself to submit to the will of God is the ultimate goal. And I will do the same. I would also urge those that are engaged to Christ to keep up the good fight. We have to carry our swords and shields on a daily basis. We are the true light bearers of the world. Lets be diligent and steadfast. Amen.
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