We are about to move into a new, better season. For me, spring is better than winter. God has ordained seasons in your life. It’s easy to get frustrated when our dreams aren’t coming to pass on our timetable. When that happens, we have to submit our plans to Him and trust that He has a better plan. Understand that in God’s kingdom, every season is not harvest.
Every season is important and contributes to the harvest. There are plowing seasons. There are planting seasons. There are watering seasons. And sure, we would love for every season to be a time of increase, but without the other seasons, we wouldn’t be prepared. It’s during the plowing seasons when God’s bringing issues to light that we need to deal with.
Today, God is getting us prepared for life’s promotions. If you’re not making as much progress as you would like, the key is to not lose any ground. Don’t go backwards. Hold your position by keeping an attitude of faith and expectancy, even when it’s hard, it’s just a season change. So keep ploughing by speaking the Word daily. Keep watering by praying and claiming God’s promises. As you do your dreams will come true, and you will receive the harvest God promised you!
“The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.” (Proverbs 4:18, NLT)
Let’s Pray
Yahweh, thank You for Your faithfulness in all seasons of my life. Father, I trust that my harvest time of increase is coming, and I choose to remain faithful while planting, ploughing and watering. God, I submit all my ways to You today, trusting that You have the best plan for my life. Almighty God, I love You and praise Your name today and always, in Christ’s Name! Amen.
Don’t you dare settle for a mediocre life! No matter what’s happening in your life today, you are not limited by resources or family background. God has equipped and empowered you. He has blessed you with creativity, ideas, inventions, skills and talents. Today, call forth those seeds of greatness within you!
Today, go further and dream bigger, declare that your best days are ahead. Declare that you are going further than anyone in your family ever did, that you are going to dream bigger and live better. No one can put a curse on you when God has put His blessing on you. So, walk and live in that blessing by following His commands and stay fully committed to Him!
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13, NKJV)
Let’s Pray
Yahweh, thank You for blessing me and calling me according to Your purpose. Father, I receive Your Word which is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. God, please bless me to dream bigger and go further in every aspect of my life. I declare I will hide Your truth in my heart, so I won’t sin against You, in Christ’s Name! Amen.
As we end our year and enter into another, based upon scripture, I believe that God wants to exceed our expectations! He has amazing things stored up for you in this coming year. He’ll take you places that you’ve never dreamed, and give you breaks that seemed impossible. His glory is rising upon His people.
Remember this, when hard times come, things are going to fall into place, so that you can accomplish what God has placed in your heart. Even the hidden dreams that you’ve given up on, God has not given up on. He is going to do exceedingly, abundantly above and beyond all you could ask, think, or imagine!
Today, your mind may try to talk you out of your dreams, but if you’ll listen with your heart, it will resonate on the inside of you. Don’t let discouragement hold you back or keep you down. It’s time for you to arise. It’s time for you to shine. Let that sink down into your spirit today, because it’s time for you to receive every spiritual blessing and move forward in the destiny God has prepared for you!
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.”
(Isaiah 60:1, NIV)
Let’s Pray
Yahweh, I come to You today with an open and humble heart. Father, thank You for choosing me and preparing a bright future for me, filled with dreams and purpose. Almighty God, in this new year I will arise and shine and let everything I do bring honour to You, in Christ’s Name! Amen.
When you obey God’s Word and have an attitude of excellence and integrity, the Bible says that God’s blessings will overtake you. You won’t be able to outrun the good things of God no matter how hard you try. He will daily load you with benefits! You won’t have to go chasing after blessings. When you chase after God each and every day, when you make Him your highest priority, the blessings will automatically follow.
Today, why not make obeying God first on your list for the new year. Let go of any weights or sins that you know are holding you back. Be willing to deal with any issues God brings to light. Don’t give in to compromise and temptation, all that does is keep you from God’s best. Instead, make the decision to daily put Him first and keep your heart pure before Him. Then get ready, because His blessings will chase you down as He daily loads you with benefits! Hallelujah!
“Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits…” (Psalm 68:19, NKJV)
Let’s Pray Yahweh, today I dedicate every area of my life to You. Father, help me to live a life of integrity and honour. Almighty God, thank You for daily loading me with benefits as I put You first in everything that I do, in Christ’s Name! Amen.
What is prosperity? Prosperity simply means thriving, vibrant and alive. It’s a picture of vitality. When you are prosperous, you have more than enough to give to others. That means more peace, more grace, more hope, more love.
When we “observe to do” what God has commanded, like it says in our text, we are setting ourselves up for success. We are engaging in His system of doing things; and when we do things God’s way, we get God’s results!
Today, decided to do what God has commanded. Invite Him to search your heart and mind, and remove anything that is displeasing to Him. Put Him first, because when you make Him your number one priority, you are setting yourself up to prosper wherever you go!
“Be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:7, NKJV)
Let’s Pray
Yahweh, thank You for Your Word which is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Father, I choose to put You first place in every area of my life. God, I submit myself to You, so that I may follow You and prosper in everything I do, in Christ’ name! Amen.
My inbox lately has been full of prayer requests for change and direction in the year to come. My belief is your future begins today. Today, I declare that a shift is starting in Jesus’ name! What do you need – a shift in your health, a shift in your finances, or a shift in a relationship? It may not look like anything is happening in the natural, but we serve a supernatural God. He’s about to move in your direction in a new way! Hallelujah!
The enemies you have seen in the past, you will see no more. The addictions or bad habits that have held you back in 2020 are being broken in Jesus’ name. God’s favour is being released in a new way that will propel you forward. What should have taken you 20 or 30 years to accomplish, God is going to do in a matter of minutes!
Today, I’ve got breaking news – ”your shift has been accelerated.” The shift means going beyond where you could go on your own. The shift is seeing Jehovah Jireh, the Lord our Provider, do exceedingly, abundantly above and beyond. Our attitude should be, “God, I’m ready. I’m taking the limits off of You. I’m enlarging my vision. I receive it. I may not see a way, but I know You have a way. I declare I’m coming into my shift today!” Hallelujah!
“You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you; so light will shine on your ways.” (Job 22:28, NKJV)
Let’s Pray
Yahweh, today I open my heart and mind to You. I ask You for a supernatural shift in my life today. Father, I claim and declare that a supernatural shift is coming my way. Change my health, my finances, my relationships, and my vision. God, I receive Your Word, I receive Your promises, I receive Your truth, and I receive the increase You have in store for me, in Christ’ name! Amen.
It’s been said, “tornados and hurricanes get more news coverage; but in reality, termites do more damage.” Most often, it’s not the big things that happen in life that keep us from being happy; it’s the small things. Most of the time, we’re not dealing with some major crisis like losing a job, a life-threatening illness, or a relationship breaking up. The big things are rare.
That’s what today’s scripture is saying. It’s the little inconveniences – like not being able to find your car keys, or being in a hurry and getting behind a slow driver. It’s the little interruptions and frustrations that get our emotions worked up and cause us to lose our joy and peace.
Today, take note, it’s the way we handle the little things that will determine what kind of life we live. When we allow negative thoughts of frustration to come in, we are allowing the little foxes to spoil the vines as the scripture says. Make the decision today to “catch” those foxes by choosing to think on the positive things. Let His Word bring light and life to your emotions, so you can move forward in peace and joy each and every day!
“Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines…” (Song of Solomon 2:15, NKJV)
Let’s Pray
Yahweh, today I submit my mind, will and emotions to You. Father, I will focus on Your Word, and not allow the little foxes (the little things) to steal my joy and peace. God, keep me close to You and guide me through life’s frustration, and show me the way I should go, in Christ’s Name! Amen.
People that are goal-oriented and very focused on achieving their dreams, many times overlook the simple things that we should be enjoying in our everyday. We have to remember that life is not really about the destination, it’s about the journey – how we live all along the way. It’s about the path we’re on.
In this thing called life there is no finish line. Once you accomplish one dream, God will give you another. When you overcome one challenge, there will be another. There is always another mountain to climb. If we make the mistake of living just for the destination, we’ll look up one day and realise we’ve missed out on some of the most enjoyable parts of life.
Today, most of life is routine – breakfast, work, lunch, home, dinner, bed and do it all again. There are very few mountaintops. The high times are few and far between; where you graduate, or get married, or have a child, or go on vacation. Don’t get stuck living for the mountaintops. Learn to enjoy the path you’re on. Learn to enjoy the people in your life. Learn to enjoy the simple blessings of walking in the path the Lord has prepared for you!
“The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.” (Proverbs 4:18, NIV)
Let’s Pray
Yahweh, thank You for the gift of life. Father, thank You for the plan You have for me today and in the future. Teach me to enjoy the journey of life, to embrace each day with joy and enthusiasm. Almighty God, help me to see the blessings of every moment You have given me, in Christ’s Name! Amen.
The goal of every believer is to please God. We are told that faith is what pleases God. It gives substance to the things we hope for and makes them tangible. Faith opens the door to God’s favour and shows our dependence on Him.
The Bible tells us we’ve all been given a measure of faith, but it’s up to each of us to nurture it, develop it and use it. We develop our faith by surrendering our lives to God and meditating on His Word. We exercise our faith through our prayer and actions. Today’s verse starts by saying, “Now faith.” It’s not “later” faith or “one day” faith. We have to have faith for today, right now.
Today, do you believe that God has blessings in store for you, right now? Do you believe He wants to pour out His favour on you right now? Put your faith into practice by speaking and believing that His promises are coming to pass right now in your life. Use your “now” faith and see “now” blessings!
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
(Hebrews 11:1, KJV)
Let’s Pray
Yahweh, thank You for the gift of faith that can move the mountains of trials in my life. Father, I choose to trust Your promises which are a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Oh God, show me how to totally surrender to You, so that I can continue to grow in faith. I really want to please You in every area of my life, in Christ’s Name! Amen.
Talking about your faith with others isn’t always the most popular topic amongst young people. Fashion, football and music are more popular. Most youth are not excited when talking about faith. Feeling that if they share their faith with others, people at school, uni or on social media will think they’re weird. So they do what many Christians do, they stay quiet. Not speaking up when someone challenges their beliefs. Praying with your friend who’s parents are going through a divorce would really help, but you’re afraid of what your friend might think. The list of excuses we make for not sharing our faith can be very long.
Why is it that we talk about our sports team winning with everyone we know, but when it comes to sharing our faith, many times we tell no one? We have something way more exciting than a winning team, we have a winning God. We have a God who loved us, and gave his son so that we could experience a life changing relationship with Him. Why aren’t we filling our insta, snap and facebook feed with that news? It’s easy to get afraid to share our faith with others. It’s easier to not say anything so that we don’t look weird to others. We are called to be salt and light to our world. The message in the bible puts it this way. You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. — Matthew 5:14.
So choose to put your fears aside, step up and tell others about your God.
Let’s Holla @ God
God, please give me a Christlike excitement and remove my fear, so I can let others know that you have changed my life and to let them know that You can change theirs too. God make me a light for You. In Christ’ name Amen.
Albinism is the “congenital absence of any pigmentation or coloration in a person, animal or plant, resulting in white hair, feathers, scales and skin and pink eyes in mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish and other small invertebrates as well.”Varied use and interpretation of the terms mean that written reports of albinistic animals can be difficult to verify.
For ages, Judith had a feeling that she would struggle to become pregnant. There wasn’t a medical explanation for this — it was simply a niggling fear.
She and her husband struggled to believe they would ever become parents after years went by without her becoming pregnant. “I found myself getting anxious and desperate,” Judith first wrote on Love What Matters.
“The fear remained no matter how hard I tried to stay positive. However, Eight years down the line, my husband and I decided to go for our second round of IVF. The first of which failed, as well as other various procedures and fertility treatments. Every ultrasound visit after that was horror”
Judith
The couple could hardly contain their joy when that second round of IVF proved successful.
Judith was carrying twins — a boy, Kamis, and a girl, Kachi.
It felt remarkable that after all these years, their aspirations and dreams of a family were about to be real.
However, mum’s joy quickly turned to horror as doctors broke the news that Kachi was “at risk and might not make it”. “Every ultrasound visit after that was a nightmare as Kachi was far behind in growth whiles Kamsi did great.
“Finally, at 37 weeks, I had to be induced immediately because I was told that Kachi had stopped growing..” After the birth Nurses let Judith hold her daughter briefly before she was whisked to the NICU.
“The first time I saw her, I wondered if the nurse was handing me my baby, or someone else’s,” Judith said. “I waited a few seconds for someone to tell me there was a mix-up?” “Soon the joy of seeing them both healthy surpassed any other feeling at that instant.”
“How did I get black and white twins?”
Several days later Judith and her husband were told that their baby girl had albinism.
“I loved my princess like every mother would love her baby but worried about her condition,” Judith said.
“I worried about her future, how society would treat her, how she’ll be accepted.
“Gradually, worry turned to sadness and I started questioning “I envied other black babies and thought, ‘Why me? Why was I the one to have an albino baby?’
“How did I get black and white twins?”
“I threw the braille sheets in the garbage”
Unfortunately, medical professionals were quick to affirm Judith’s worst fears and told her that Kachi would struggle to see and would likely need to learn to read braille.
“I couldn’t imagine Kachi reading with braille and threw the braille sheets in the garbage.” She said
“She’s so smart and has a strong personality. She knows what she wants and will always go for it. “I always tell her how beautiful she is, because she really is.
“I’m not sure she`s aware of her uniqueness at the moment, but eventually she’ll know.”
“It’s my responsibility to educate her and teach her to love herself no matter what.
Albinism
Albinism affects the production of melanin, the pigment that colours skin, hair and eyes. It’s a lifelong condition, but it doesn’t get worse over time.
People with albinism have a reduced amount of melanin, or no melanin at all. This can affect their colouring and their eyesight.
Albinism is caused by faulty genes that a child inherits from their parents.
Symptoms of albinism
Hair and skin colour
People with albinism often have white or very light blonde hair, although some have brown or ginger hair. The exact colour depends on how much melanin their body produces.
Very pale skin that burns easily in the sun and doesn’t usually tan is also typical of albinism.
Eye colour
Someone with albinism can have pale blue, grey or brown eyes. Eye colour depends on the type of albinism and the amount of melanin. People from ethnic groups with darker pigmentation tend to have darker coloured eyes.
Eye problems
The reduced amount of melanin can also cause other eye problems. This is because melanin is involved in the development of the retina, the thin layer of cells at the back of the eye.
astigmatism — where the cornea (clear layer at the front of the eye) isn’t perfectly curved or the lens is an abnormal shape, causing blurred vision
photophobia — where the eyes are sensitive to light
nystagmus — where the eyes move involuntarily from side to side, causing reduced vision; you don’t see the world as “wobbling” because your brain adapts to your eye movement
squint — where the eyes point in different directions
Some young children with albinism may appear clumsy because problems with their eyesight can make it difficult for them to perform certain movements, such as picking up an object. This should improve as they get older.
How albinism is inherited
The two main types of albinism are:
oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) — the most common type, affecting the skin, hair and eyes
ocular albinism (OA) — a rarer type that mainly affects the eyes
Autosomal recessive inheritance
In most cases, including all types of OCA and some types of OA, albinism is passed on in an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. This means a child has to inherit two copies of the faulty gene (one from each parent) to have the condition.
If both parents carry the gene, there’s a 1 in 4 chance that their child will have albinism and a 1 in 2 chance that their child will be a carrier. Carriers don’t have albinism but can pass on the faulty gene.
X-linked inheritance
Some types of OA are passed on in an X-linked inheritance pattern. This pattern affects boys and girls differently: girls who inherit the faulty gene become carriers and boys who inherit the faulty gene will get albinism.
When a mother is a carrier of an X-linked type of albinism, each of her daughters has a 1 in 2 chance of becoming a carrier and each of her sons has a 1 in 2 chance of having albinism.
When a father has an X-linked type of albinism, his daughters will become carriers, and his sons won’t have albinism and won’t be carriers.
If you have a history of albinism in your family or you have a child with the condition, you may want to talk to your GP about getting a referral for genetic counselling.
A genetic counsellor provides information, support and advice about genetic conditions. For example, you can discuss with them how you inherited albinism and the chances of passing it on.
Albinism is usually obvious from a baby’s appearance when they’re born. Your baby’s hair, skin and eyes may be examined to look for signs of missing pigment.
As albinism can cause a number of eye problems, your baby may be referred to an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) for tests to check for conditions such as nystagmus, squint and astigmatism.
Electrodiagnostic testing is also sometimes used to help diagnose albinism. This is where small electrodes are stuck to the scalp to test the connections of the eyes to the part of the brain that controls vision.
Every truly converted soul will be intensely desirous to bring others from the darkness of error into the marvelous light of the righteousness of Jesus Christ. The great outpouring of the Spirit of God, which lightens the whole earth with His glory, will not come until we have an enlightened people, that know by experience what it means to be laborers together with God. When we have entire, wholehearted consecration to the service of Christ, God will recognize the fact by an outpouring of His Spirit without measure; but this will not be while the largest portion of the church are not laborers together with God. God cannot pour out His Spirit when selfishness and self-indulgence are so manifest; when a spirit prevails that, if put into words, would express that answer of Cain–“Am I my brother’s keeper?” …
When the hearts of the believers are warm with the love for God, they will do a continual work for Jesus. They will manifest the meekness of Christ and display a steadfast purpose that will not fail nor be discouraged. God will use humble men to do His work, for there is a large vineyard calling for laborers.
The promise of the Holy Spirit is not limited to any age or to any race. Christ declared that the divine influence of His Spirit was to be with His followers unto the end. From the day of Pentecost to the present time, the Comforter has been sent to all who have yielded themselves fully to the Lord and to His service. The more closely believers have walked with God, the more clearly and powerfully have they testified of their Redeemer’s love and of His saving grace. The men and women who through the long centuries of persecution and trial enjoyed a large measure of the presence of the Spirit in their lives have stood as signs and wonders in the world.
Telling someone about God is not the easiest thing in the world. I don’t understand every single thing about Him, I mean, he’s God. I can’t answer you when you ask me how in the heck He was there before there ever was a beginning; my human mind can’t comprehend how that’s even possible. I can’t tell you why bad things happen to good people, I can’t tell you why we are always at conflict with other countries when an all-powerful God could just say “Stop being stupid” and we would all just get along. I don’t have the answers to the world’s toughest questions about God, all I’ve got is faith based on the knowledge that I do have. I do know that God answers prayer, I do know that He gives me peace and strength, and I do know that before God, all I ever did was sit around, get fat off of junk food and feel sorry for myself.
I tell people about God because I want them to know Him like I know Him. I want them to know what it feels like knowing that God comforts us in the storm and protects us from harm. But how do I convey that in spoken form? How do I describe a feeling that’s unlike any other? Most of the time I fail, and then things get awkward.
“God loves you. I know you may not believe in him, but he believes in you!” Cringe. Why did I say that? I used to work at a Fast Food joint, not Hallmark. She turned right around to face me and said, “Alisha, I don’t NOT believe in God, I just don’t go to church. Who told you that I was an atheist?” Ummm awkward! What’s even is worse is the fact that I ratted on my friend and said that she did it. I really didn’t think that through, I should have had more coffee before I decided to open up my big mouth cause for the rest of that week everybody was making fun of how ignorant I was.
I had another situation where I was trying to witness to someone and I just went right along with their answers so that I could seem relatable. Big mistake. “Yeah,” he said. “I just don’t know if God is real or not. He could be, but he might not be. I just don’t know, so I don’t believe.” I told him that I was right in the same boat as him, which was a lie. I told him the cliche line of “too many things have happened to me for me to not believe,” and the cringe continued. No, my grade A witnessing skills did not make this person desperately want to give his life to The Lord. I wasn’t being truthful, I believe in God and in no way do I have any doubts. There was a time I didn’t, but not now. I don’t know how I thought lying just to seem relatable would do anyone any good.
I haven’t mastered the arts of genius witnessing tactics, but now I’m realizing that the best way is to live by example. People are going to notice I’m different, people are going to be curious on their own, and then I can tell them what I know and be honest about what I don’t know. Witnessing isn’t about obnoxiously asking them if they want to learn about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, it isn’t about making people feel weird or uncomfortable, it’s about leading people to God on their own terms. Let your light shine for itself, people will notice, and when they do, they will find a love like they’ve never known before.
It’s easy to get bogged down with the pain and suffering of the world. Life is hard, sometimes. No one is arguing that.
But God also created us to dwell in joy!
Much evidence exists that God meant for us to laugh, to have fun, and to find ways to enjoy our lives. When God created our bodies, he made them in such a way that laughter is actually physically beneficial to us.
Laughter is a natural response to something that we find funny. Not only does laughter lighten our spirits, but it’s actually good for us physically as well.
Groucho Marx said, “A clown is like an aspirin.”
We’ve all heard the old adage, “Laughter is the best medicine.”
And while those quotes don’t exactly come directly from scripture, this proverb is pretty close:
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.” Proverbs 17:22
So what is it about laughter that is good for our bodies?
Laughter Increases Blood Flow and Respiration.
Do you ever laugh so hard that you feel like you can’t breathe? When this happens, the diaphragm muscles are engaged, respiration system is on overdrive, and blood flow to the brain is increased. All of these responses to laughter are actually good for the body.
Laughter Reduces Tension.
During laughter, muscles are tensed and tight. Afterwards, physical tension and stress is relieved and the body can benefit from that relaxation going forward for approximately 45 minutes.
Laughter Burns Calories.
Looking for ways to lighten up on the scale? A good belly laugh can help you to lose a few ounces here or there. Plus, laughter may also have the residual effect of producing happiness that helps to minimize stress eating.
Laughter Reduces Pain.
Giving a boost of feel-good chemicals (endorphins), laughter can actually reduce pain. Possibly like the aspirin to which Groucho Marx was referring?
Laughter Boosts the Immune System.
Cortisol and adrenalin are flight-or-flight hormones secreted during stress. Laughter can decrease these stress hormones and increase the cells that fight infections, improving your body’s ability to protect you from disease.
Laughter May Increase Life Span.
One study conducted in Norway has shown that people may actually live longer when they have a strong sense of humor. This may be particularly true for those who are fighting against cancer.
If your daily life doesn’t bring you as many funny moments as you need to really laugh, try being intentional about including laughter in your life. Sign up for a joke-a-day email. Subscribe to a funny YouTube channel. Keep a laughter journal so you can relive funny stories in your memory and bring up positive endorphins and laughter.
When all else fails, you can actually fake laugh. While it doesn’t have exactly the same results as real laughter, if you do it enough (especially with a friend) it can often turn into real laughter and provide numerous health benefits.
Can you remember a time when someone saw potential in you and called it out? A time that someone encouraged you, believed in you, and cast a vision for your future? These moments have the power to alter the entire direction of our lives.
In my upcoming book, God and: Spiritual Themes From the Life of Alexander Hamilton & the Broadway Musical He Inspired, I highlight different themes found in Hamilton that engage and challenge audiences in their own spiritual journey.
The first chapter from my book talks about the grace given to Alexander Hamilton when some local businessmen in the Caribbean read an essay he wrote, recognized the intellectual potential within Hamilton, and raised money to send him to America to get his education.
The resources given to Alexander represent a gift of grace that he could never have earned for himself. Everything that Hamilton would become in America was built on the foundation of this grace.
Recently, I recognized that an entirely different grace existed in this moment as well, in addition to the monetary gift. These businessmen offered a grace to Hamilton by encouraging him – by seeing the potential and calling that potential out of him.
I like to imagine the conversation between these businessmen and Alexander, and how deeply their words impacted him. Living as an impoverished orphan boy, with no one caring about him or his future, these words were quite possibly the most meaningful words ever spoken to him.
“Son, we read your essay. We see great potential in you.”
“Alexander, you have a rare intellectual gift. We want to help you develop that gift.”
“We expect great things from you Alexander. You are going to America. Never underestimate what you can accomplish there.”
I like to think that these words shaped Hamilton’s entire future. Certainly, the money given opened up a new world of possibility for Hamilton. But what if the words were spoken to him we just as important as the money donated? What if their belief in his potential inspired Hamilton’s belief in himself, and propelled him into his role in shaping our country?
The Book of Ephesians says that we should use our words “for building people up and meeting the need of the moment.” Never underestimate the power of your words. When you call potential out in someone else, your words contain the power to change the entire direction of someone’s life. Just like they did for Alexander Hamilton.
Partially paid for via crowdfunding website IndieGoGo, ‘The Golden Thread’ is Portland, Oregon singer-songwriter Andrew Serino’sfirst full-length album. An incredibly talented multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, Serino has been in bands for most of his life and made a name for himself on his local scene, as well as auditioning for American Idol. He plays every single instrument on the album, resulting in a time-consuming recording process that took many months to achieve. Now finalised and released, it’s an album that Serino has a right to be proud of, and will certainly get him some of the attention he deserves further afield from Portland.
‘Wake Up’ is essentially the opening track after the short ‘Introduction’ and it certainly sets us off with a bang. It’s a thumping, fist pumping post-hardcore/emo rocker that will sound familiar to fans of the likes of At The Drive-In, Fall Out Boy and Anberlin. “I know that feeling, believe me,” he admits in this catch and feel good song exploring the bad habits we can all easily find ourselves falling into, urging the listener to “wake up” and fight their way out of it, or even perhaps, to wake up and see the light!
Andrew Serino – The Golden Thread
Andrew Serino – The Golden Thread
‘Arrogance’ goes further down into the pop-punk style, as does ‘Broken Record’, which has the slick, modern feel of current Paramore and Panic! At The Disco, with yet another catchy chorus. Serino has said it’s “his version of a love song”, and it’s a track that could be taken at face value as an actual love song, or it could easily be a love song to God. It’s up to the listener to make up their mind and take from it what they will. Serino readily admits he’s like a broken record because of how often he talks about the subject of the song, declaring he “will try to find the tallest mountaintop just to prove what I’d do to show my love”.
Andrew Serino – The Golden Thread
‘Honestly’ is a stand out track, featuring an appearance from Justin Abel, who produced the record but has an excellent voice too! It’s got more of a metalcore/emo Pierce The Veil type feel, as does ‘Deal With It’, a fast-paced hard rocker.
“I’m not a perfect person, I’m not a perfect person man, I’m trying to stay humble and I do the best I can” Serino sings in the title track ‘The Golden Thread’ which finishes off the collection of twelve songs, before screaming, “don’t let me stay broken” in a desperate plea to God to help him. It’s heartening to see someone unafraid to expose their fears and imperfections in such a way, and readily admit that we can’t all be perfect Christians. Towards the end of the song, there’s a repetition of the chorus from ‘Wake Up’, which echoes the theme of the album perfectly. It feels like the whole thing is calling society to open their hearts to God and allow him to heal and help us.
Both ‘Unwavering’ and ‘Shadows’ show Serino’s softer side with beautiful soaring power ballads and swirling soundscapes, the latter of which features a duet with his wife Heidi. With lyrics such as “I question what is real but you fight for me still” and “I’ll always love you cause you have found me”, again, it’s ony of those that could work as a simple love song to his wife, or a love song to God, which makes it a perfect fit for believers and non-believers alike.
It seems to be a recurring theme in the style of his writing. Anyone could enjoy Andrew Serino’s music, and that’s the beauty of it. For those ‘in the know’, the lyrics have multiple meanings. They work on the surface as regular songs, but you can also easily see the spiritual nuances that are clearly important to Serino. Presumably the hope is that this way of writing will cause secular listeners to think on different levels and dig a little deeper, a subtle evangelising tactic which has merit and does actually work.
In short, it’s an excellent debut album with lots of potential for future growth. Andrew Serino is a vibrant, exciting songwriter with an important message delivered in an accessible and fresh style.
