They said but God said…

I was talking with my husband this weekend as were out running errands and we were just reflecting about all the mountains and valley experiences 2013 brought with it. As we were sharing about all the things people have said about us and our loved ones a childhood memory flashed through my mind. 

You all know that I am "PK" (preachers kid). I often joke that my mother birthed me on the altar of the church. My mother received salvation when she was pregnant with me. So when I was born, I was for real birthed on the altar of the church. I was the epitome of a church girl. Growing up, all I knew was church. Yes, my parents provided me and my siblings a good balance of extra curricular activities but it was surely balanced out with church.  Well, just like any other church girl, I was in the children's choir and with my father having such a wonderful singing voice, it was expected that I should be able to carry a tune. I was assigned many solo's to sing quite often. One song that I was chosen to sing was "I'm Still Holding On" written by Luther Barnes and sung by Deborah Barnes. Any old church head will remember this song. A portion of the lyrics said,

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They said I wouldn't make it, 
They said I wouldn't be here today. 
They said I never amount to anything. 
But I'm glad to say, that I'm on my way, 
And I'm going more and more each day.
There were many that started out with me, 
But now, they've gone astray. 
But I'm still holding on. 
I'm still holding on. 
I'm still holding to his hand 

You see when I was young, I gave God my hand, 
And I told him to lead the way. 
Though the road has been rough 
And the goings been mighty tough, still 
I aint going Nowhere, I'm right here to stay. 
Though I've been talked about and Oh I've been criticized. 
I had to wipe many tears from my eyes. 
But I'm still holding on. 
I'm still holding on. 
I'm still holding on to his hand. 

While I sung these lyrics, I would cry and sing like the weight of the world was on my small nine year old shoulders. The old saints would encourage me through it and the church would go up in worship because this little nine year old child was singing this song with such passion and heart. As I reflected back over this with my husband and later with my mother, I had an enlightening thought….I didn't know that song would foreshadow what was to come…yet I am still holding on. 

Sitting here at 39 years of age, I can truly say that these words reflect my life today. Many of us have experienced what this song so eloquently states. We have experienced the weight of the words of others in our lives. The seeds of you will never amount to anything, discounting the gifts that God placed in us. Criticizing what we know God told us to do and spreading hate and divisiveness, have been planted in our hearts and they have weakened us allowing doubt, discouragement and feelings of inferiority to creep in and with these thoughts we often times want to give up. But we can't, we must hold on. This is not a choice but a mandate. Why? Because we have to see the promises and blessings that God has in store for us to manifest. I conceptually see holding on....is holding on to His promises.  So don't you let go, don't you give in to the emotions and the words of the naysayers and doubters. Wipe the tears and look to the Word. We can look at Hebrews 11 and find many examples of faithful servants, such as Noah, Samson, Abraham, and Rahab, who were considered less than, discounted because of their past. They were questioned because of a decision to do what God called them to do, had family and friends to desert them and people seek to destroy them -  but they didn't stop nor let go of the hand of God. And God rewarded them because of their faithfulness

No matter what  they said, you remember what God said….

You're made in His image
You have a divine purpose!
You're an overcomer!
You're the head not the tail! 
You're above and not beneath! 
You're an heir to Christ!
You're redeemed from the curse!
You shall not want! 
You will have peace!
You're blessed coming!
You're blessed going!
You're highly favored!
You will bear fruit!
You're called and chosen!

I encourage you today as you worship, that you release what they said from your heart and thoughts and replace it with every promise of God!

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Enter Into Worship