I'm In A Team

"Stained Glass Masquerade"

Is there anyone that fails
Is there anyone that falls
Am I the only one in church today feelin' so small

Cause when I take a look around
Everybody seems so strong
I know they'll soon discover
That I don't belong

So I tuck it all away, like everything's okay
If I make them all believe it, maybe I'll believe it too
So with a painted grin, I play the part again
So everyone will see me the way that I see them

Are we happy plastic people
Under shiny plastic steeples
With walls around our weakness
And smiles to hide our pain
But if the invitation's open
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain
On our stained glass masquerade

Is there anyone who's been there
Are there any hands to raise
Am I the only one who's traded
In the altar for a stage

The performance is convincing
And we know every line by heart
Only when no one is watching
Can we really fall apart

But would it set me free
If I dared to let you see
The truth behind the person
That you imagine me to be

Would your arms be open
Or would you walk away
Would the love of Jesus
Be enough to make you stay


The last time I posted with this song, it was a rather 'emo' post, but it won't be today. Not long ago I began to dislike this song, because I felt it wasn't really edifying, considering the lyrics. But just a few days back this song came on, and God began to speak to me. God put a new revelation in my heart, telling me that there are people outside who are like what the song describes. They long for an acceptance, many of them are broken inside and they put on a mask to hide it all. Many long for forgiveness, for a friend, for somebody to relate to them, for an acceptance. But many a time they do not find it. As a result they begin to despise themselves and put on a mask, to hide it all, to look 'perfectly normal', just like the rest. And God followed this up by saying that in this season, encouragers need to arise. Christians need to arise and be healers of this generation. In these modern times where everyone is so busy with themselves, a group of people must arise and start being encouragers, to be healers with words, to be motivators with actions, to be impacters with time.

Just recently I was going through some tough times, struggling with God over certain issues. And I kept it from everybody, thinking I could handle it myself. Maybe I could, maybe I couldn't, God wasn't going to allow me to find out. He sent people to approach and ask me if everything was alright. Initially I refused to share, but I knew that wasn't God wanted, so I began to share. It began with Sis Raine, via email. Then Nathanael, a conversation after service that week. The next day it was Bro Andy and Sis Kim. And then an email came in from Benavon, she had read my blog and sent me an email. And after that it was Pastor Gary, over MSN Messenger. God began to send people to encourage me, to teach me, to guide me, to show me support. I really thank God for doing it, and for the people who availed themselves to the service of encouragement. But there was something else that happened during my conversations with them. Of the six people, four of them said the same thing at one point of time, 'It is worth it'. I don't think they collaborated in what to say to me, rather I believe God was using them to answer the questions I asked Him. It just amazes me how God can use people. One thing Pastor Gary reminded me, 'to ask God not from a position of doubt but from a position of His child', really got me thinking.

That's what a team does. When a team member is down, the other team members know it. Somehow they sense it, and they know. But they don't just know it, they do something about it. You see, your words are powerful. Words of encouragement are like an oasis in a desert, a lighthouse in a storm. When people go through tough times, sometimes they long for encouragement, for guidance, and many times all it takes is for people to arise and start allowing God to use them to be healers in this generation. In this modern day where people are self-centered, friends as believers we cannot allow ourselves to become so.

Recently I had a dream.In this dream the Bible was opened to Exodus12, which states God's instructions to Moses on the Passover. The Passover was a celebration among the Israelites, and it came after God had brought different kinds of plagues upon Egypt. The Israelites were to celebrate the Passover to commemorate the day God brought them out of Egypt. When I awoke I began to ask God what it meant. And God began to reveal that He is bringing a season of healing. God is bringing a season of restoration. Emotional scars, physical wounds, spiritual bondages, mental disabilities, God is going to bring about a great healing. But God will not do it alone. He is going to require us to be His tools. To bring about words of healing, to be His medics through faith. Friends it requires you and I. If God is going to bring this season of healing, it's gonna take you and I, we have to catch His heartbeat.

Just like the song, there are people who long for a hint of God in their lives. They need a 'Jesus', to heal them, to guide them, to forgive them, to assure them that everything's alright, who else but us?

Maybe you're reading this and you yourself need healing of some kind. Perhaps you need a physical healing. Or maybe you need an emotional one, perhaps you've been angry or depressed. Maybe you need a Spiritual healing, you've been caught in sin. You cry out to Jesus, because in him there is hope for the hopeless, rest for the weary, strength for the weak.

Remember, we're a team. When you know a team member is down, you don't just leave him behind, you pull him along. Sometimes I wonder if we all really care. Many times it seems that we fail to care until we see a problem. It's like we never intentionally care for a person for as long as we can remember, then the moment we know something's wrong, only do we start caring. This is not caring, this is self-centeredness. Don't care just in problems, people need support in good times too. Like they say, a team celebrates in victories together and fights in defeats together. Whether in times of victories or defeats, we need to start caring for each other. Whether by an email, prayer, text messages, encouraging notes or whatever form of encouragement, people need it. People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.


Thanks Be To God Who Always Causes Us To Triumph In His Name
Thanks Be To God Who Always Causes Us To Win, Yeah
Thanks Be To God Who Always Causes Us To Triumph In His Name
Thanks Be To God Thanks Be To God

We Have Overcome, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
We Have Overcome, By The Power Of Your Name
Jesus You’re The One, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
The One Who Made A Way For Us To Triumph In Your Name

We’ve Got The Victory, Everything Will Be, Alright, Alright
We’ve Got The Victory, Everything Will Be
Alright, We’re On The Winning Side
We’re On The Winning Side