6. Receiving

“It almost killed me, but I survived that life. Now I live with a euphoric feeling almost daily.  I crave to Praise God. I feel absolutely, unconditionally in love with Jesus Christ!  By Him, anything is possible.” –Blog 5

    From listening extensively to music affirming "Benz’s being bought, sleeping with multiple women daily (as if STD's don't exist), hearing about bricks being sold, to rolling being cool, drinking until faded", and lacking the values as “artists” and failing to positively impression our future generations, I was molded by society to think this was the way of life. But truly, what does our “society” know about anything in regard to values and living a selfless life? Where lives are so encompassed by the secular things of this world, where materials are the highest things sought after, and where power is strived for…I switched.

When I thought finding the Lord couldn’t get any better…I was introduced to Christian hip hop!  I think this was the final step in selling me out.  I became a sold-out follower of Christ when I began to engulf my senses into this music.  Hip hop had always been a huge factor of my life. For me, this music not only motivated me, but it had shaped me. I guess that’s how I fell into the rut and lifestyle I did. Because the mainstream hip hop promotes females to act like hoes and strippers while it inspires the boys to act like thugs and pimps. Smh, truly sad.  Sad how we can get bought into that.

But I realized…I can still listen to hip hop (genre of music that for so long influenced my life). I could bump the 15’s in my car, bob my head to a heavy beat, hit a little Dougie when I felt like dancing, do a fist bang because the beat is so hard, and catch a little flow here and there! With my sensitive ears I took it in, critiquing every lyric and beat I heard.  These artists weren’t only quoting scripture but relaying it into their lives and the lives of others. They were demeaning the lyrics of the mainstream rappers for their lack of values, ethics, and education and put salt on their stupidity. This music was motivating to me. It was saturated with the word of the Lord. With words by the Gospel it flowed, and was even an inspiration to stay on my new path. Here these young men were, similar to mainstream rappers by view, while on a whole other level of life. These young men had come from the streets, they used to be those other guys, lost in this world; but by the grace of God their eyes were opened into the reality of our existence.

During workouts I cranked this music heavily, with the beat and word of God I was even more driven in the gym; my workouts intensified even more. While bobbing my head to its rhythms and learning lyrics, I was simultaneously bringing glory to God. I’ve witnessed men listening to Meek Mill and Gucci come to me and say, “Anna, I understand now your change in music. It’s not so much these men are “bad” but their lyrics don’t really tell a story. It’s almost as if these artists are for the people who are naive and don’t question this world—they are followers. And here we are listening and following people not even worth following. Truly, what do these men have that I don’t? Cars, jewelry, women, name brand clothing?? I could have that too…but in actuality, I don’t even want it. I don’t want to live in poverty, but I do want to live humbly because none of this I can bring with me; and if it is furthering me from making it to heaven, then this world can HAVE IT!”

Each of these testimonies I hear is beautiful, the smile it brings to me is priceless and the glory it brings to our Creator I can only assume how pleased, though immeasurable in our eyes. As I would sit and ponder these times, I began to think of the jewelry—jewelry does start from something pure—our earth…just as our clothes. The Gucci loafers, the diamond studded symbols hanging from their neck, the weed they smoked, the alcohol they drank, the women they slept with—all indirectly from the earth!! How could it be bad? How and why?? Because we pervert it! We self-inflict it as pain on ourselves. Everything our creator put here for us, we can use to harm ourselves. We began to taint what he made and then idolize it and that’s where it does us in. Why would we follow satan when God commanded satan to bow DOWN to us?! Our society is harming themselves by the practice of that lifestyle.  …and many of those same individuals call those who worship Jesus Christ the crazy ones?!!  Really?…You sure?!

Since I’m declaring this music as nothing short of wonderful, here are some of my favorites! Enjoy this!!

“Trap Money” –Flame http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KooFih7F5mw  

“Trap Money” Lyrics http://www.lyricsreg.com/lyrics/flame/TRAP+MONEY+ft.Thisl+andYoung+Noah/ 

"Better Way" -Bizzle http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NITL058EQec

"Eni Meni" --Young Noah http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hgDYC7Vndk

"Just Like You" -Lecrae http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiDOyQCCpKs&feature=related

“Get It” -Pro http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVMHjIAXN1M 

"Favor" -The Ambassador  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFqq4WhwflQ 

"Falling" -Trip Lee http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSWPrazmy8o&feature=related 

“God Over Money” –Bizzle http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Izos_ndA6JM  

"Souled Out" -Lecrae  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIM3nkBIUtE

“Dum Dum” –Tedashii http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWwPlldEiUY&feature=relmfu 

"Riot" -Tedashii http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaM5ArqJMIk 

“Q2GO” –Shonlock http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGHBfyURRRE

“Show Out” –Flame http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnJMXm9gins