Their Tea, My Testimony

I will never forget when the Kermit meme became popular. If you aren’t familiar, in 2014 there was a video clip of Kermit the frog sipping a glass of Lipton tea. The video then turned into a meme and became the definition of “That ain’t none of my business”. Or, if you knew information about someone or something you would consider it as being “tea”, and again the Kermit meme said just that. Let’s be real though, there is always a bit of excitement when your homegirl calls you to tell you she has some “tea”. This means you better grab your headphones, turn the volume down, go to another room because, what’s tea sis? For my seasoned readers, this just means in other words, what is the inside scoop (I promise to keep you all up to date too). No matter how old you are though, you know that what comes next is a conversation about what someone has done, is doing, or is about to do. Not many of us will actually admit it, but I think ‘sipping other people’s tea’ is just a way to avoid tasting the bitterness of your own. And trust me, I am not pointing any fingers. Best believe I have many times taken a screenshot, shared a post, and made phone calls to my best friends to talk about something that I knew would spark conversation. It is just funny that we say “I’m just gonna sip MY tea” when really it is everyone else’s we are consuming. 

We now live in a generation that is all about ‘cancel culture’. The moment someone’s actions do not reflect the things we like or is contrary to our beliefs and standards, they are “cancelled”. I understand that this is what the world deems as the right thing to do, but it is certainly not the Christ like thing to do. I mean Jesus would have cancelled all of us a long time of go if that was the case. This may be a difficult idea to grasp, but I believe it needs to be talked about. I have a fear that too many of us are not walking in purpose due to a negative view of self or how we will be viewed by others. In other words, if I start living as Christ has called me to live will I be the tea that someone shares or will I be cancelled. This fear is personal. 

I can truly say I have always had some inclination that God had called me to be a leader. Whether it was in church or an event at school, I volunteer as tribute. I love leading! I am blessed that God granted me this characteristic, but it has come with its own battles. As a leader, you always have people looking at you. Some looking for guidance, some looking for failure. Either way, all eyes on you. You are held to a certain standard and when you do not “meet the criteria”, you can go ahead and assume it is noticed and people are talking. As a human I can boldly admit that I am flawed. I would love to say that I have never made mistakes or there is no ‘dirt’ on me, but that would be a lie from lucifer himself. Cool thing about it though, is no one can say it either. The issue with us humans, is that we like to line up sins and measure them upon our thoughts. From God’s point of view, it is all the same. This idea is really hard to understand when you are not allowing God to be your source of Identity, but instead what others are saying. I struggled with this, and at times still do. There is a desire to lead, but a fear that instead of others seeing the God in me, the stains of my sin is all that is visible. The comments and remarks like “Didn’t she use to do this and that, how is she starting a Christian blog?” (Look, I told yall I struggle with Identity and this is just my truth, I will always keep it real here). I mean stuff from high school will come to mind, I think about how I was acting at parties in college, the ways I handled situations with females, decisions I made, and even the fact that I started messing with a boy who I knew had a girlfriend. For the longest, I was sure that my calling had been revoked. No way would God use someone like me, I mean, how could He? 

I don’t know if you are familiar with Paul in the bible. Or maybe you know him as Saul (his story can be found in the book of Acts). He was a persecutor of Christ. He did not believe in Jesus and if you did, he would see to it that you were thrown in prison or killed. No joke, this man was not a fan of Jesus or His peoples. To make a long story short, the Lord was not fazed by his actions whatsoever. In fact, He tells a disciple in Damascus, Ananias, to get up and go heal Saul (He had gone blind from an encounter with the Lord). Ananias is confused because He has heard the tea about this man and knew it would be a risk to his life. God responds by commanding him to go, for Saul was His chosen instrument [Acts 9:15]. A man KILLING Christians and sending them to prison, was the Lord’s chosen instrument? Chileee, it gets better. Ananias does just as the Lord commanded him and heals Saul. Scripture says immediately he began proclaiming that Jesus is the son of God. Verse 21 reads, that everyone who was hearing this was astounded and asked, “isn’t this the man in Jerusalem who was causing havoc for those who called on this name and came here for the purpose of taking them as prisoners”. Girl, let’s go over this so we understand what just happened. God CHOSE this sinner and said that he was His instrument. (It’s being chosen and Him claiming him for His kingdom for me). Then, with no hesitation or questions asked he just starts proclaiming that Jesus, the man he did not like, was indeed the son of God. Of course, we then see the people are confused because his purpose didn’t match his past. Today, Paul would have been sent in the chat talking about “Now wasn’t he just…It’s none of my business though *inserts Kermit meme*”.

The main thing I want for you to take from this is, you cannot allow your past or how people choose to remember you, keep you from walking in who God has called you to be. Your past might not match your purpose, and that is just fine. It will be their “tea”, but your testimony. Don’t hide from it, embrace it and share it. The Lord changes Saul’s name to Paul (a new identity in Christ) and he spends the rest of his life sharing that he used to persecute Christians, but after an encounter with the Lord his life changed. His testimony changed hearts, healed, and saved many people. That is all it takes. One encounter with Christ and what He sees in you will be your new identity. I want this for you and I want this for myself. God chose Paul and He has chosen us too. Sis, whatever it is you have done or been through God can turn that mess into a miracle. Your testimony is another way for God to receive glory. It is not about what people think about us, but showing them that God can redeem a lost soul just like us, just like them. Let Him use you, Girl.

“Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

Acts 9:15

Saul was with the disciple in Damascus for some time. Immediately, he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues: “He is the son of God.” All who heard him were astounded and said, “Isn’t this the man in Jerusalem who was causing havoc for those who called on this name and came here for the purpose of taking them as prisoners to the chief priests?”

Acts 9:20-21