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Published on:

22nd Apr 2024

E55 - The Weapon of Music - It Can Break Chains in The Mind - Guest Eric Cohen

The Weapon of Music: It can break chains in the mind  

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From a life of sin, vice and darkness, the story of Eric Cohen, a Christian hip hop artist from Missouri resonates with our lives and the power of transformation through Christ and seeing the light of God. Have you ever been in dark times in the maze of this world when you felt lost and hopeless and no one to save you? Eric Cohen’s story is a reminder that God has your back regardless of your current situation and he can lift you up and give you a happy, fulfilling and rewarding life devoid of the pressures and frustrations of this world. 

Eric does not hide his sinful past and encourages everyone who feels burdened with the pressures of this world of materialism, violence and hopelessness to rise up, shake their dust off and have faith in our God whose abounding love sustains us all. Eric’s testimony is a reminder that we can live a life of honor, integrity, kindness and doing everything in the glory of God. He has released albums including Used to Love You, One Way, Pain, Lift you Up and Lead Em to Water among others. He continues to ministry and spread the gospel in his hip-hop music through his message of hope, faith and belief in God. May the Lord bless you as you listen to Eric’s testimony with the goal of changing your life, your family and those around you to the glory of God!  


YouTube Video - When You Die by Eric Cohen & Tunnabeatz

https://youtu.be/rU7UXDGkWuA


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Episode Links:


Michi J LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kingdomprincesspen/ 

Michi J Website: https://kingdomprincesspen.com/ 


Podcast Details:


Podcast website: 

https://kingdomprincesspen.com/podcast/ 

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/prisoners-pardon/id1579133364 

Spotify: 

https://open.spotify.com/show/0uLfG4b5LbFjN0X6yW2dZa  

YouTube: 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIZbC2jKXhRsOYiOw9QtXlQ 


Eric Cohen’s Details: 

Email- Ericlc25@gmail.com

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/eric_cohen_music/?hl=en

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/eric.cohen.581 

X - https://twitter.com/ericlc25 

YouTube- https://youtube.com/user/Ericlc25 

LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-cohen-0078aa47 

Website- https://ericcohen2022.weebly.com 

TikTok - @ericlc25 

Link tree(all other links)- https://linktr.ee/ericcohen 


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– Prisoners Pardon Podcast Diaries: https://kingdomprincesspen.com/diary-posts/ 


Outline:

Here’s the timestamps for the episode:


2:03    Introducing Eric Cohen to the World  

6:25    A life of sin, hopelessness and darkness 

13:45  Transition from darkness to light and realization 

19:33  Jump Starting a new life in God and Christ   

23:01   Personal reflection, belief and unwavering faith in God  

32:13   Struggles as a christian, family conflicts and asking the holy spirit for guidance 

38:11   Music as a channel to spread the gospel  

43:19   Conclusion: The importance of remaining in God’s spirit and faith

Transcript
Speaker:

I believe that music has the power, to

resonate in people's ears and minds

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to break chains, break oppression, and

I believe that music is only second.

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To the word of God in the way it can

connect to people, it breaks through

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everything the message of music and

the way people vibe and film music,

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I believe that it has the power, to

resonate in people's ears and minds.

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In a way that only the word of God has

music breaks chains, in people's minds

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Hello, everyone, and welcome to

a prisoner's part in podcast.

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This is me, TJ, and today

we have a special guest.

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His name is Eric Cohen.

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Okay.

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He is a Christian rapper.

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Yes, I do host Christian rappers.

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I love them because they have them.

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The same message as any other

preacher in the ministry of God,

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and Eric has a great message.

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And I want him to introduce himself

because he's going to tell us how

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he got into doing music and just

a little bit more about himself.

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And some of we're going to

actually do some visuals this time.

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Yes.

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You're going to be, I'm going

to be on YouTube showing these

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great videos that he has.

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Hi, Eric.

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How you doing?

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Hey, Miss Michelle.

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I'm doing great.

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It's a blessing to be

here with you, young lady.

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Okay.

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Thank you so much.

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Tell.

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My audience, how you got into

music and just your background.

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He has an incredible story guys.

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So listen up to what he has to say.

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So I was born in 1902.

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No, just kidding.

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No, I'll start off with the music part.

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So around three and a half years ago, uh,

I wasn't at an all time low in my life.

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Uh, I had actually just gotten

baptized, which was really cool.

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Uh, in the name of Jesus, you know, I

just got baptized, but you know, when

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you do something good, the enemy's always

right on your heels, trying to take you

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down and you know, I was no different.

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Uh, he caught me right when I came up

out of the water and I ended up making

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a mistake, uh, acting out on my flesh.

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And I felt such a weight inside

of me that I'd never felt before,

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which I now know is the Holy spirit

convicting me, uh, that I had to come,

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uh, tell my wife what I had done.

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And that was probably one of the

hardest things I ever had to do because

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I told her, you know, and, and she

crumbled, she fell apart, uh, with

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the information I just told her and

it was, it was really hard to watch,

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you know, um, but by the end of it,

you know, she kicked my butt out.

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Uh, kicked my butt out of the

house for about three weeks, and I

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ended up sleeping in my truck for

around two of those three weeks.

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And, uh, one day I was at the end of

the cul de sac, just kinda chillin out.

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It was morning time.

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And, uh, I was contemplating suicide.

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I was about to eat a bullet.

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I didn't know what else to do.

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You know, I was just miserable.

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And, uh, I had just given my

life to Christ, and of course,

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one of the worst things that's

ever happened to me happened.

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Uh, you know, so I was just

about to be done with it.

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And, uh, a beat came on my

radio, on my YouTube, I was

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actually, uh, writing a poem.

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I love poetry.

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Uh, always liked Edgar Allen Poe,

Robert Frost, Emily Dickinson, for

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some name drops, you know that I know.

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That good poetry Good people.

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Good people.

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Okay.

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Yeah, yeah.

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So, you know, I, uh, was writing some

poetry this morning and, uh, a beat

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came on my radio and the Holy Spirit

spoke to me, like, audibly spoke to

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me and said, I want you to rap this.

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I'm like You know, because I

never had this gifted and here

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I am a 35 year old white guy.

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He's like, yeah, I want you Eric Cohen.

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I want you to wrap this.

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And, uh, you know, I was obedient

with hesitation, but by the

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end of that experience, I had

goosebumps all over my body.

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I was crying like a little girl and

the only words I could utter out of my

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mouth over and over again were thank

you, Lord, because I knew this was a

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gift from him and it was on that day.

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As soon as I received that gift,

I made a vow to the Lord that I

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would only use it for his glory.

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You know what he's imparted upon me as

a weapon of warfare, , and it's a way

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to break chains, break oppression, and

I believe that music is only second.

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To the word of God in the way it can

connect to people, , the word of God,

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it breaks through everything and music

ain't much different, with the message

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of music and the way people vibe and film

music, I believe that it has the power,

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to resonate in people's ears and minds.

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In a way that only the word of God has

Yes, the word of God does break chains

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and it sounds like you know I like how

you pointed out because some people

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think after you get baptized After you

come to the lord that you just don't

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have any problems Will you admit it?

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That's when you're on you're

you should be on standby, right?

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You are the target at that point.

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The the enemy is not looking for

the ones he already have You know,

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he's trying to get Us, he wants us

to change to his program, but you're

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listening to God I hope , my audience

understands that at this point,

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that's when you're more receptive

when you're broken down like this.

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And I'm glad you didn't.

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Eat this bullet or but took a bullet

for God and ate that and stay it

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in, you know, got that conviction.

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So tell me more.

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What else happened after that?

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So after that, you know, uh.

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Not too long after that, I came back

to my house and, uh, you know, my wife

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showed me a lot of grace and mercy

and forgave me for what I had done.

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Now there's still a lot of healing to

do in our relationship and that may

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never change, but God has given me

an opportunity to serve my wife and

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my family like I never knew before.

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Uh, so even in the midst of, uh, The

darkness and the things that I had done,

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you know, God was still good enough to

show me grace, even through my wife.

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Um, so, you know, I, like I said that

day, I vowed to use this for the Lord.

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And that's what I've

been doing ever since.

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Uh, so the last three and a

half years have been crazy.

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Miss Michelle, uh, the Lord

spoke to me and said he was

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going to use me in a mighty way.

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And he's been doing so, uh, I've

been going to juvenile detention

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ministry, Uh every Wednesday night

and getting to talk to the young

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ladies and young men over there.

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Uh, I do Online performances live

performances, you know all with the

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the motive to preach the gospel message

And that's what I love about being

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a christian artist because there's

always a purpose to what I do and

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it's not Not to glorify self, but to

glorify god, so it's quite amazing.

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Oh, wow so You I want to uh go back

a little bit Because I believe you

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touched on, even though you didn't say

the word, it was about forgiveness.

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You got some forgiveness from your wife,

from God, and that is Very healing and

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you, we all need forgiveness and I'm

so glad that you are starting to go

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through this process because forgiveness

is a process and a lot of times the

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hardest people to forgive is ourselves.

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You said it right.

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So it was hard.

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You found that hard to do, even

though, you know, as you were

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going through the process, I want

to talk a little bit about that.

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Just because.

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Um, it's so important that people

understand about forgiveness and, um,

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that's part of what the show is about.

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It's about a part and that's

similar to, um, forgiveness.

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So are you still walking through that

process or, and I like how you gave

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everything over to God and you realize

that what you're doing is to glorify him.

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And do you think that helped with

your process of forgiving yourself?

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Yeah, I absolutely do.

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Let me be very transparent and clear here.

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I have hated myself most of my life.

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Wow.

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Okay, good.

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You know, I grew up in poverty,

neglect, addiction, all these different

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things that tried to take me out.

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And I was, I lived on the fringes of

society, you know, I was an outcast, uh,

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and you know, I'd like to say it was in

my own mind, but it was in the world.

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Uh, so I never fit in

and I, I hated myself.

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I hated who I was, you know, from

the labels that I had acquired.

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Uh, during my time interacting in the

world, uh, but like you said, that

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self forgiveness, uh, when we are able

to look at ourselves in the mirror

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and actually like the person we see,

it's, it's a whole different ball game.

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And I do, I have to process this

forgiveness daily, you know, because

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there's still those thoughts in my

mind that pop up, like, you know,

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you're worthless, you're nothing,

but that's when I have to make a

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choice to stand on God's truth.

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And it's not always an easy choice, Ms.

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Michelle.

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Let me be honest about that.

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Sometimes it's the hardest

decision I have to make in a day.

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To believe what God says about me instead

of what my mind's trying to tell me.

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But the mind is in the

battlefield, young lady.

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Let me tell you that.

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Now, don't you stop preaching on there.

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You know I'm holding my hands up now.

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I'm trying to get happy over here.

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And you are speaking nothing but truth.

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It's just facts.

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And Oh, that cleansing.

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I can, I can feel, and I can, I can

sense that depth that you have in

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you to that truth and so many of us,

and I'm pretty sure you're not alone.

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There's someone listening

that hate themselves.

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They're listening to the enemy out

there, giving them labels, but the

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labels you should take is only from God

because he knows you more than anybody

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else and better than you know yourself

because God has so much for you that

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you didn't know you can do and you're

going through this process with him.

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You will, he will blow

you away all the time.

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So yeah, just tell me

more like you came out.

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You're still working through this daily.

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I like how you said daily, it's daily.

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It's not over with.

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So as you're going through this process

of this art, cause God is the master.

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And you're just a piece, okay?

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So he's creating this

masterpiece in you, right?

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So you starting to spit this poetry out.

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He's telling you to do something

like you haven't tried.

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You probably never even thought about it.

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It's like, you said you this white

boy and he's telling you to rap.

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What do what you know, I grew up to

the tunes of classic rock Delta blues

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Blues, you know definitely some rap

in there, but it definitely wasn't

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the kind of glorified Jesus either

You know, I grew I'm a 90s, baby.

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I grew up on Tupac Biggie Smalls Big

Pond and Bone Thugs, you know That

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was my influence as a child, you know,

but to have this gift Uh, like I said,

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that's how I knew it was an anointing and

blessing from him and I could give him

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all glory and he did that for a reason.

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I believe, you know, so I would

understand and I would be humble about

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what he's given me and it's just, I

just want to point out to the audience

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to like, is that when we think we're.

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Nothing, when we broken down, that's

when God can really use us and,

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um, you allow him to use you and

just, he's building you back up.

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First he got to break you down and

so that now he can mold you into what

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he wants you to be to glorify him.

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And so, okay, so now you this.

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Rapper down.

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What did you do?

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What was the first thing you did?

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Like God wants you to do this

What did he tell you or how did

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you start just start rapping?

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So, you know it took a lot of faith

to step out and actually start

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rapping because I am not Like I

said, I didn't see myself as the

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person God saw me in the mirror.

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And so to step out in front of a

stage, something I'd never done, or

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to step out in front of people and

share this gift was probably one of the

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hardest things I had ever had to do.

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It's getting easier each time I do

it, you know, and, you know, dozens

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and dozens of shows later, I'm finally

getting comfortable in my own skin

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and stepping out and actually being

able to let the Holy spirit work

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instead of staying in, in the way.

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Uh, but that is not the way it was,

you know, I, uh, I started off with a

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lot of hesitation, uh, but let me tell

you that God indwelled me with the

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Holy Spirit in such a way that I didn't

have a choice but to move forward.

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And the first thing I did, I

think, was talk to my mama.

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Her name's Letitia Cheatham,

an amazing woman of God.

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Uh, now she ain't my real mama.

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She's my spiritual mama.

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I met her at church,

uh, but she was the one.

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You know, I would have these

visions and I would have these

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doubts in my mind sometimes.

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And she was the one that spoke God's truth

to me in such a loving but unfiltered way.

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And I think we all need

somebody like that in our lives.

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Somebody ain't willing to sugarcoat

it, tell you exactly what's

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what and tell you to get your

head out of your butt sometimes.

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That's what I needed.

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Wow.

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That's good.

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Um, a spiritual guide, someone, you know,

that's what, you know, you said exactly

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what they need to hear because once you're

out there and you, you're now you working

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for the Lord, you have to have wisdom.

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You have to have a person that's been

there that can talk truth to you because

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the enemy is going to just be at you.

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He going to be all up in your head.

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And especially because right now you're

like a bait, you're in baby Christ.

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So you're not.

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Fully processing what you're going

through and what God is doing.

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With you for you.

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And so he sent miss Letitia to you and

Now you're starting to feel comfortable.

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Are you you still working on it?

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Are you just are you there yet for is?

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Okay.

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God has me doing this and Now I'm

starting to Walk in and really and

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getting more comfortable and comfortable.

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I'm listening to your music.

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It's like you sure you was

Uncomfortable doing this and you,

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you look like you are made for it.

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And won't God do it?

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Miss Michelle, that's

exactly what he does.

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He takes people that are broken

and and considered useless in

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the world and he'll do something

amazing in them and through them.

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And yes, to answer your question,

I do feel a lot more comfortable

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doing what I'm doing now.

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I think I have a fully accepted

what God has told me and

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what God has said about me.

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And I've accepted that

as the truth of my life.

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And so there's no backing

down at this point.

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I'm gonna go hard for my God, uh, through

hip hop, through preaching, through

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evangelism, any way I can to get that word

out there, because I know the grips of

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oppression and darkness, you know, and I

also know the freedom and light of Jesus.

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He says his bond is light.

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He says, take my yoke upon your

neck because my bonds light.

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Trust me, I know that other bond

and I'm sure many other people who,

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uh, may listen to this podcast know

that yoke of oppression and, and

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the weight of darkness as well.

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Well, I'm here to tell you that if

you accept that white yoke, he's going

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to do something amazing in your life.

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Maybe it won't be rap, but maybe

it will be evangelizing to.

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Whoever you meet and

that's just as important.

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We are all in the same position

as the body of Christ Ain't

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nobody higher than the next.

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In fact, it says that the humble should

be exalted in the exalted should be

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humble So Lord, let me be humble.

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Hey the first gonna be last

last gonna be first young lady.

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No start again I'm trying to

keep this show I'm trying to

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like, okay, you elevate, but I'm

like getting happy over here.

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I got to stop.

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Okay.

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Yeah.

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So I like how you say, and I'm sure

everybody, myself, I've gone through it.

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When you start to step out and what

God has for you, you have to trust

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the Holy spirit because you don't

feel comfortable in that skin yet.

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You're saying you didn't

see yourself that way.

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And it was the hardest thing.

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And I'm going through some

things too, where it's like.

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You know, really?

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and He he I believe god loves

us to be amazed by him and he is

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Amazing when you allow him and

you step out there you did it.

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So you were um, You know you like polar

opposites what we would look at at first

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as a rapper and i'm seeing your video

like He's doing it He's good And thank

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you for being obedient And we have to

learn how to be obedient and listen to

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God and walk the way he says, because

it's not going to be comfortable at

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first, we got to be comfortable with being

uncomfortable and in, um, and we at times

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feel inadequate for what God has said.

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Did you feel that inadequacy?

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Hey, I feel that every

day to be honest with you.

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I feel inadequate, but that's where.

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I know that God keeps me humble.

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You know, he keeps me in this position

to where I'm looking up all the

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time and I can give him all glory.

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So he keeps me, I feel like he keeps me in

this position to where I feel inadequate.

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So I know how much I need him and

I grab onto him on a daily basis.

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Wow.

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You are preaching, you

know, you're preaching.

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I know someone is hearing

this, not just me.

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And I'm getting so much word

and, um, feeling from this.

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So we feeling adequate, God

has something planned for us.

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Way more than we think and can't imagine

and how do we not run away from it?

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I know people am I the only

one am I is you're talking to

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just me don't run away, right?

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Eric, what do you say you

you you what did you do?

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Like you walk through the

process and you just it is hard

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Cause it's not comfortable.

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It's true.

325

:

You know, and it just reminds me

of the story of Jonah in the Bible,

326

:

you know, Hey, that dude ran hard,

even jumped into the bottom of

327

:

the ocean saying, Don't we run?

328

:

Don't we run?

329

:

We do.

330

:

We run, you know, and, and, and

that's okay in a sense to run,

331

:

but God's still going to use you.

332

:

He's going to turn you right back

around and put you right where

333

:

he wanted you to begin with.

334

:

You know, and I think that's the beauty

of it, you know, and, and if you choose

335

:

not to use your gifts, if you choose

to bury your talents, you know, what

336

:

do you end up with at the end of your

life, knowing that you could have done

337

:

something, knowing that you could have

put faith in God and stepped out to what

338

:

he was telling you to do, how do you

account for that when you meet him face

339

:

to face at that great white throne, you

know, all to make sure he, when I, when

340

:

I hit them gates, I want to hear, you

know, Well done good and faithful servant.

341

:

I don't want to hear Doug.

342

:

I don't know your name.

343

:

Who are you bro?

344

:

Get away from me Yeah,

that's the worst thing.

345

:

I don't want to hear that nor do

I want to hear Oh, I had this for

346

:

you and that's for you and you

ran away I had this plan for you.

347

:

If you would have followed me, this

is what You would have had, you know,

348

:

it kind of reminds me of that movie.

349

:

It's a wonderful life.

350

:

And you know, you get to see what it could

have been like, would that like upset you

351

:

that you wasted and you are stepping out.

352

:

This is for someone,

this is not just for me.

353

:

You're going to feel inadequate.

354

:

First, you're going to be broken.

355

:

He's going to be able to use

you then you're not going

356

:

to feel comfortable at all.

357

:

You're going to want to run

away and you got to sweat it.

358

:

You got to, you're going to, I'm going

to do this anyway, because I got to

359

:

believe what he says about me and look

at you now, look at you now, Eric.

360

:

Amen.

361

:

I'll tell you what, miss

Michelle, he gives us a choice.

362

:

Don't he, you know, we have this

free will and it's quite amazing.

363

:

Uh, so we have an opportunity,

uh, to step toward him in faith.

364

:

And trust that he is our maker creator

and savior or we can step away back

365

:

into the world and do the things of the

world But you and I both know which one

366

:

is more fulfilling at the end of the

day And I would much rather, uh follow

367

:

christ with all my heart Even if there

comes adversity, even if there comes

368

:

suffering in the name of jesus You know,

I would much rather be following him

369

:

than anything the world has to offer me

because I know that stubs bunk Mm hmm.

370

:

And let me, let me tell, uh, maybe it's

not a secret, not to you, but let me tell

371

:

the audience, it gets better all the time.

372

:

You, it's not, this is the best.

373

:

It's going to keep getting better.

374

:

Each time you step out and

you start doing, it's going

375

:

to get better and better.

376

:

Whereas the world, you

didn't have the best.

377

:

It's downhill for now and it's quick.

378

:

It's a happy hour or whatever, but

this is like eternity everlasting.

379

:

And he's It's like fine line, it's

just getting better and better and

380

:

better and you can't, you can't get

enough of it and you, and that's

381

:

a different, that's a flip side.

382

:

That's a switch from the

world's point when you start

383

:

following Christ, stepping out.

384

:

So this is what you've

got to look forward to.

385

:

We already got heaven, but now we

were when you're starting to be

386

:

obedient and don't think Look where

you say you was at your lowest, right?

387

:

Yes, ma'am.

388

:

Yes, ma'am.

389

:

You was contemplating suicide right on

the edge right on the edge, so No matter

390

:

what your background is If you've been

locked up or not, you know, some people

391

:

have these spiritual prisons as well.

392

:

They don't understand that you

actually start there before

393

:

you go to a physical one.

394

:

If you hit that spot.

395

:

So you know, what are you

telling your juveniles?

396

:

You say you speak to the juveniles.

397

:

What do you, you know, when you share

your story, I'd like that you share your

398

:

story and you're not sugarcoating it.

399

:

You're, you're being raw and you're not

looking, you're not being like the world.

400

:

On social media.

401

:

Oh, I got it all together.

402

:

And then you find out later that these

people are in a really bad spot condition

403

:

because they're, they got this one face

and what you're doing is the opposite.

404

:

What we're doing is the opposite.

405

:

And we're saying, no, we,

we don't have anything.

406

:

We, we were broken, but look at us now.

407

:

Now you're, you're living and

they've suicided out, you know?

408

:

It's a, it's a different switch.

409

:

So what do you tell your, what

do you tell the young people?

410

:

You know what?

411

:

Uh, I believe, uh, just as I am

on this show, I believe in full

412

:

transparency, miss miss show.

413

:

And so when I go into the juvenile

detention center to talk to these young

414

:

men and women, I'm completely open.

415

:

I'll answer any questions they may have.

416

:

Uh, but.

417

:

There's the glory to my story and

it always ends with Jesus, you

418

:

know, because I let them know,

yes, I've been through addiction.

419

:

I've been through poverty, neglect.

420

:

I've been in the same place as they were

in, you know, I have been miserable.

421

:

Most of my life, I spent it in misery.

422

:

Uh, but I have a savior.

423

:

His name is Jesus and he rescued

me from the very depths of hell.

424

:

And trust me, if he's willing

to use somebody like me.

425

:

He's willing to use y'all to,

you know, and, and some of

426

:

these kids ain't never had love.

427

:

They ain't never had hope.

428

:

They grew up with a hard life.

429

:

You know, some of these kids

that are sitting in these places,

430

:

they are wards of the state.

431

:

Their parents don't gave them away.

432

:

They don't have anybody, you know, so I

might be the only person that shows them

433

:

love walking into that place for the next

six months or maybe ever, maybe I'm the

434

:

one that plants a seed for Jesus in them.

435

:

So, you know, I just try to

be completely open and honest.

436

:

About what I've done, where I've been

and where I'm headed, you know, and,

437

:

and the fruits speak for themselves.

438

:

You know, there's, there's

no hiding actionable faith.

439

:

And so as I show up each week and

I walk into this place and they

440

:

see my, my silly face every week,

you know, they see me and they're

441

:

like, okay, well this is Eric Cohen.

442

:

And guess what?

443

:

They're asking to, to get discipled when

they get out there asking for mentorship.

444

:

And that's exactly what I want.

445

:

You know, I want to reach this

generation and let them know who Jesus

446

:

is because the world's fading away.

447

:

We ain't got long left in

this place, young lady.

448

:

I'll tell you that.

449

:

Don't you start.

450

:

Don't you?

451

:

It is true.

452

:

We see, you know, um, we're not trying

to save the world because we understand

453

:

the world is destined to go down.

454

:

It's like, we're trying to get them on

the arc, so to speak, rescue the ones

455

:

who wants to be rescued and let them know

that there is an arc of safety for them

456

:

and it's in Jesus Christ and you're Wow,

this is a great message and I'm glad that

457

:

you're going into these facilities and

pointing out that people are not love.

458

:

They don't know what love is

and they haven't been shown love

459

:

and you're bringing that hope.

460

:

And they're probably thinking,

uh, he's always been this way.

461

:

Look at him.

462

:

You don't look like you, you've

been through the fire and you

463

:

don't even smell like smoke.

464

:

And that's, and what, that's how

the Lord cleans you up and you got

465

:

this joy about the you radiated

and they're picking up on this.

466

:

And I feel like they can talk to you.

467

:

Not somebody that, oh, they have it all

together and you really can't relate.

468

:

You, you telling them,

no, this is where I was.

469

:

You can leave here actually now, even

though you still physically there.

470

:

That's it.

471

:

You know, you look at inspirations

like Corrie ten boom, uh, the young

472

:

lady that found Jesus in a Holocaust in

the middle of a, a concentration camp.

473

:

She found Jesus and held on

with all her life and survived.

474

:

You know, we speak about.

475

:

Finding joy in the midst

of every situation.

476

:

And it's possible, you know, you can look

back through history or look currently,

477

:

I bet, you know, five people right

now that may have the most horrible

478

:

situations happen in their life.

479

:

But guess what?

480

:

They still full of joy.

481

:

Uh, my brother, he just lost

his mama, but guess what?

482

:

That young man is so full of joy.

483

:

You couldn't even tell because he

know mama don't went to heaven.

484

:

So it does not.

485

:

Again, it does not depend on circumstances

outside circumstances is like, and

486

:

that is peculiar that is different.

487

:

And if we can get people to

understand that to know, to be in

488

:

Christ, that's what that means.

489

:

And then look at you,

you're a new creature.

490

:

Amen.

491

:

You weren't rapping.

492

:

You definitely wasn't in no

facility talking to juveniles

493

:

about what Christ can do.

494

:

How?

495

:

I mean, it's for, he's, he's available.

496

:

He has his hand now

he's, he's beckoning us.

497

:

Beckoning them.

498

:

That's it.

499

:

You know, all, all we got to do is reach

out and take that step off the boat.

500

:

Uh, no different than brother Peter did

way back in the day, walking on the water.

501

:

Come on now.

502

:

Come on now.

503

:

You speaking it.

504

:

This is, I like this because

you're speaking the gospel and you

505

:

putting it in words that people

can understand and relate to

506

:

because now it's not just theory.

507

:

I like the term you

said, actionable faith.

508

:

Actionable faith, you know, you're,

you're putting his faith in motion

509

:

and now, and as you walk out, you

steady, God is exposing more and more.

510

:

It's getting better.

511

:

And what else do you talk to

about, uh, to the juvenile?

512

:

So, um, have you had any come

out where you had to mentor them

513

:

yet or, um, anything like that?

514

:

So I have had the opportunity to

speak to two young men on the outside.

515

:

Uh, now one of them actually ended up

back in a juvenile detention facility.

516

:

So, uh, you know, it comes with

understanding that even though we're

517

:

planting a seed, uh, that say seed

may not grow up right in front of you.

518

:

And we may never see the

fruit on this side of heaven.

519

:

You know, we may never see it on earth.

520

:

We may never see the fruit

of what we did on earth.

521

:

Uh, but, you know, we just have

to be faithful and continuing to

522

:

do what God's called us to do.

523

:

And knowing that it has purpose,

know that it has reason.

524

:

You know, I, I think that's the most

important thing that we don't lose hope

525

:

and we don't lose faith, uh, in the fact

that God's working through us and in us

526

:

because, you know, sometimes we can get

worn down, you know, and, uh, You know,

527

:

it's in those times just no different

than the Hebrews had to do in the desert,

528

:

you know, uh, they was looking back when

they should have been looking forward.

529

:

Uh, don't recall the past.

530

:

Don't recall them things that you

think you long for in your flesh

531

:

because they ain't doing you no good.

532

:

You know, you look forward, you look

forward to that, uh, that manna that

533

:

falls from heaven that feeds us.

534

:

So.

535

:

I was just thinking what you just said.

536

:

We don't, um, recall that past,

but, but look for, is that

537

:

why one can feel inadequate if

they're looking the wrong way?

538

:

Hey, it'll turn you into

a whole pile of salt.

539

:

Wow.

540

:

Good point.

541

:

So that's how you would feel inadequate in

You have to look forward, maybe, hey, you

542

:

speaking to me now, you speaking to me.

543

:

So it's, the show is called a

prisoner's pardon and you can be in

544

:

a spiritual prison and not wanted to

look forward and walk out in faith.

545

:

That's a, isn't that prison?

546

:

Yes.

547

:

Wow.

548

:

Don't recall the past, but to

look forward and God has so much

549

:

plan for you, possibilities.

550

:

And you, did you imagine all the

stuff that God has let you do to this,

551

:

at the, to this point right here?

552

:

Look, lady, I still can't believe it.

553

:

Sometimes I really can't, you know, I

go back and I listen to my songs or I'll

554

:

listen to a beat and these words that just

come to me, or I listened to the words

555

:

that the Holy spirit, uh, indwelled in me

to write down and I still feel disbelief.

556

:

I'm like, Lord, this didn't come from me.

557

:

You know, it's still, it's hard for me to

see myself as who Lord has made me to be.

558

:

Uh, so that's where I go back to that

constant daily reminder and giving

559

:

myself up to him, forgiving myself

and understanding his truth about me.

560

:

Forgiving myself, forgiving yourself,

because that is a daily thing.

561

:

And that's, what's hindering

you for accepting what God has.

562

:

For you and who you really are.

563

:

Yeah.

564

:

And you said you still can't believe it.

565

:

I'm still in awe.

566

:

And I think that's what the Lord wants.

567

:

You know, he says, fear me.

568

:

And that fear don't mean be scared

and go run in the corner and hide.

569

:

But that means that the fear of

the Lord should leave you in awe.

570

:

You know, it should

leave your jaw dropped.

571

:

And that's what the Lord does when

he starts working in you and on

572

:

you, he does leave you jaw dropped.

573

:

You ain't got no choice but to go

pick your job off the ground because

574

:

he gonna do something amazing.

575

:

I mean, that's the word amazing.

576

:

He is amazing.

577

:

And just to hear you, your confirmation

on it, when you, you won't be disappointed

578

:

when you trust him and step out.

579

:

You don't know how he did it.

580

:

You still be scratching your head.

581

:

How did he get you over here?

582

:

And it's going to be so.

583

:

You couldn't have made this up.

584

:

How did all that align?

585

:

How did that connect there?

586

:

How did you meet that person?

587

:

How did you were there right on time?

588

:

They happen to be right there.

589

:

It's no accident.

590

:

No.

591

:

It's no accident.

592

:

So I want people to understand

what you're saying here.

593

:

So you can't go on your feelings.

594

:

Emotions because you're not there yet.

595

:

You can't even, you said you don't

even, you still can't believe it.

596

:

So you already over here, let alone when

you were back there to try and believe it

597

:

and you still over here, can't believe it.

598

:

And you didn't went through it.

599

:

Yeah.

600

:

Amen.

601

:

That's right.

602

:

That's right.

603

:

You know, and that's why I have

no choice, but to step out in

604

:

faith on a daily basis, because.

605

:

If I were to go on my own feelings,

what I thought about myself, the

606

:

inadequacies that I feel, I'd still

be stuck in a bubble, uh, burying my

607

:

talent in the ground, you know, and then

the Lord be like, hey, wicked servant.

608

:

You know, and that's not what I want,

you know, I want to make sure I am

609

:

multiplying what five times, 10 times,

two times, whatever he gives me.

610

:

And I'm gonna make it, I'm gonna

make it make sense and make money

611

:

for the Lord and not not money.

612

:

Like we see it, but yeah,

that eternal treasure.

613

:

Yeah.

614

:

What are you sending yours up where

it won't be destroyed, you know, and I

615

:

like how you pointed out wicked servant.

616

:

And most people would think, like, you did

something really bad, what we call wicked.

617

:

All it is that you didn't

believe him and step out.

618

:

That's wicked.

619

:

You calling him a liar, right?

620

:

Come on.

621

:

Hey, amen.

622

:

You calling him a liar, like, hey.

623

:

He's what, what did he say?

624

:

Taste, taste me and see, Hey, amen.

625

:

Taste me and see, ain't that the truth?

626

:

And once you taste, yeah, Hey,

he's, he's almighty and all good.

627

:

Wow.

628

:

I feel like stuffing my feet

right here, but yeah, I like that.

629

:

And how, um, I wanted to talk about too.

630

:

So, uh, what is it with your family?

631

:

Did you, what's going on there?

632

:

I know you're married, but

do you have any siblings?

633

:

Um, is there any other potential rappers

that's coming out of your family?

634

:

Are you just like a phenomenon?

635

:

So my daughter has taken quite an

interest in the music, which is amazing.

636

:

You know, in fact, I've actually, I'm

working on a song with her called at last.

637

:

And, uh, I, if you don't mind,

I'm gonna read you her part.

638

:

Go ahead.

639

:

Is that okay?

640

:

Sure.

641

:

Give me one second.

642

:

Play the theme music for jeopardy.

643

:

Dun, dun, dun, dun.

644

:

Um, so.

645

:

Her part goes and she's just got

to memorize it to say it, but she

646

:

goes, he used to serve the devil.

647

:

Now it's me and him together.

648

:

My daddy is a shield.

649

:

We'll walk with God forever, forever,

forever, chasing God together.

650

:

We'll walk with God forever.

651

:

We'll walk with God forever, you know,

and, and this was from her thoughts.

652

:

I helped her.

653

:

Wow.

654

:

I helped her make it make sense for

a rap song, you know, as, as far as a

655

:

hook goes, but this was her thoughts,

you know, she sees me as, as, as a

656

:

shield protecting her from, uh, the

whims of the evil one, you know, because

657

:

he's lurking everywhere, especially

in the family, trying to destroy us.

658

:

Uh, but she has definitely

taken con to, to music.

659

:

She loves music.

660

:

Uh, so I'm praying that, uh, she'll

be able to use that anointing, uh.

661

:

For the glory of God as well.

662

:

And as far as my siblings, I do have one

sister and my father, but that's actually

663

:

I'm actually from a Jewish family.

664

:

And so everything I'm doing.

665

:

Yeah, I'm a Cohen.

666

:

So biblically Cohen means priest.

667

:

It's in the first.

668

:

Two chapters of the Bible.

669

:

Wow.

670

:

I think it's in Exodus.

671

:

Yeah.

672

:

Cohen means priest, uh,

which I thought was amazing.

673

:

It is amazing.

674

:

Right?

675

:

Like he, he done made me a ruler and a

priest according to my name, Eric Cohen.

676

:

Okay.

677

:

So I'm like, all right,

that means something.

678

:

Okay.

679

:

Amen.

680

:

It does just like it did biblically.

681

:

Uh, but with that being said,

you know, there's a lot of.

682

:

Feedback from that side of the

family because I'm chasing Jesus.

683

:

I'm chasing the Messiah that they don't

they don't believe in, you know, so I get

684

:

a little bit of feedback or a little bit

of gruff from that, you know, and my dad's

685

:

going through some hard times right now.

686

:

I keep trying to point him toward

the Messiah, but he just he lacks

687

:

understanding right now and that's okay.

688

:

Yes, because when the Lord's ready to

show him, he gonna show him all the way.

689

:

Oh, and ain't no doubt.

690

:

Look at you, you, you further amaze me.

691

:

You Jewish on top of it.

692

:

Oh my goodness.

693

:

That's, you know what?

694

:

Our guy is amazing.

695

:

You know what he can do.

696

:

And I love this about this

healing and forgiveness.

697

:

I love how you're discipling your daughter

and that she came up with the words to

698

:

hook and how I just know God can hook.

699

:

He's already hooked us, you

know, we fishermen, we fishing.

700

:

And he, God has the perfect, you know, we

talk about the music, the hook, you know,

701

:

that good hook, but God has the best hook.

702

:

You know, we just trying to catch

up to him and he uses music and

703

:

I know some people may look at.

704

:

Christian rap and they

may say certain things.

705

:

Did you get any of that flat?

706

:

Cause I saw, I saw your, um, your stuff

on Facebook and you was at church.

707

:

And I was like, I was looking

at the audience, but I couldn't

708

:

see the audience while you were.

709

:

Um, performing.

710

:

I wanted to see them too, like

what was their reactions to you?

711

:

Cause I would never think that

they would listen to rap at all.

712

:

So I may need to go back and look

at it, but I was like, okay, I

713

:

don't think she listened to rap.

714

:

I don't think he listened to rap,

but you were like going at it.

715

:

It was like, you did not look nervous.

716

:

You look like you've been

doing this a long time.

717

:

And it was in a setting.

718

:

That you would normally, , not see the

rap, like in the church, , like where

719

:

the choir would perform, , someone come

and sing a solo selection and hear you

720

:

up there spitting a word out and rap.

721

:

So what did they, , what

were they thinking?

722

:

What were their reactions to?

723

:

What were the reactions to your song?

724

:

So that particular instance,

it was absolutely amazing.

725

:

I actually got invited by

my pastor, pastor Clint.

726

:

Uh, what an amazing man of God he is.

727

:

He's, uh, he's a true leader.

728

:

And you know how I know

that because he serves.

729

:

With all his heart, he's unlike

so many other pastors I've met.

730

:

Like that man of God is amazing, but he

hit me up on Thursday or Friday before

731

:

the service, he says, Hey bro, you want

to come do on the edge, which is the

732

:

song I did on the edge and it speaks

to suicide and You know the darkness of

733

:

life, but who we can call out to um, but

you're right, you know Most of the people

734

:

in that audience and in fact in a lot

of audiences I go to May not be privy to

735

:

hip hop But that's the thing about mixing

it with the word of god because the word

736

:

of god never comes back void You know,

so they're always going to get a message

737

:

out of what i'm spitting because it's

always going to be god's word Uh, and so

738

:

even with that being said, you know, I

have I've had 70 or 80 year old men and

739

:

women come up to me and talking about,

you know, I don't listen to hip hop.

740

:

I don't listen to rap, but I like

what you're doing because they

741

:

hear the fruit in the message.

742

:

You know, there's, there's no

denying fruit, you know, he says

743

:

we know each other by the fruit.

744

:

And so there's no denying what's coming

out of the music, whether it's real or

745

:

false, you know, we're going to know.

746

:

And so I think that that is

able to supersede whatever

747

:

feelings people may have about.

748

:

Uh, the genre of hip hop, but I've

also been hit on the opposite end where

749

:

I've been told that Hip hop doesn't

belong in the Christian community,

750

:

you know, uh, or rock and roll for

that matter, you know, but won't

751

:

the Lord use anything for his good.

752

:

He can take the worst of things

and use it for his glory.

753

:

He has no limit, no bounds,

and he ain't no box.

754

:

I promise you that.

755

:

I definitely, I, you know, I keep

remembering that mule, the mule, when

756

:

he used to talk, he could use, uh,

animals and open up their mouths to you.

757

:

So.

758

:

That was amazing.

759

:

I'm, I'm going to make sure I have one

of your videos playing because I want

760

:

them to see you because you look like

you've been doing this a long time.

761

:

I love whoever produced your videos

is I think they did an awesome job and

762

:

you're acting in the way you, it just

looks like you just been doing it a

763

:

long time and you've been doing it.

764

:

How long?

765

:

Uh, just a little over three and

a half years now, uh, right in the

766

:

midst of COVID is when I inherited

this amazing gift and anointing.

767

:

Wow.

768

:

Um, I like how you say that it

is a gift and I think we all have

769

:

a gift of some sort, but if we,

we have to listen to God and.

770

:

Listen to your story.

771

:

I'm sure you are getting hooks, you

know, hooking other people and letting

772

:

them know that it's God working through

you and that they can do the same thing.

773

:

I love what your shirt

was says grace, grace.

774

:

I can say grace over grace.

775

:

Oh, lovely.

776

:

That is awesome.

777

:

You got merch and stuff too.

778

:

So is that part of your merch?

779

:

Uh, no, this is actually from a

brother of mine, uh, his name's

780

:

Robert and he's part of the new

tribe crew, crew that I represent.

781

:

It's my label, my label mate.

782

:

Oh.

783

:

Uh, so I would be more than happy to

share his information with anybody

784

:

who wants a Gray Silver Grace hoodie.

785

:

And I do also have merch, I have

shirts, but I need to order some more.

786

:

Which costs money that I don't have yet.

787

:

So I'm gonna have to work on that.

788

:

God is amazing.

789

:

He's heard that and we are

definitely praying for you for that.

790

:

So what else would you like to say

to our audience before we end this?

791

:

Great interview because I I'm going

to make sure I play Your video at

792

:

the end, so that people can see you,

I'll definitely put everything in

793

:

a show notes how to contact you.

794

:

If people want to have you on

their show, if they're having, I'm

795

:

pretty sure you're taking bookings.

796

:

If people want to have you out

to perform for them and like,

797

:

where are you located out of.

798

:

Hey, I'm in, I hate to talk smack on any

other city, but I'm in the best city in

799

:

the world, which is Kansas city, Missouri.

800

:

Oh, all right.

801

:

Okay.

802

:

I'm not mad at you.

803

:

I'm not mad at you.

804

:

So they can contact you if you,

if they want to have you on.

805

:

, their network, or if they

haven't any kind of festivals,

806

:

you go to Christian festivals.

807

:

I'm sure and just do your performances.

808

:

, are you open to come

into other facilities?

809

:

Like, , detention centers, , talking to

juveniles, , different places, stuff like

810

:

that and, . Probably, I'm hoping people

more open a door for you, for the young

811

:

people, because rap is a tool that can

be used for getting good messages in.

812

:

And I think like what you said,

there's no denying the fruit.

813

:

Yeah.

814

:

That's amazing.

815

:

That is amazing what you said.

816

:

So they have to look at it that

way and don't look at, okay,

817

:

you trying to put God in a box.

818

:

Mm.

819

:

That's a mistake, ain't it?

820

:

You, how can you put him?

821

:

He is not, he didn't, he just was in

that tent that time for our purpose.

822

:

when he was traveling, he wasn't,

that's not his house, you know?

823

:

Yeah.

824

:

Anyway, you know, so anyway, uh,

that's why all I have in, uh, what's,

825

:

what's the last thing you wanna say to

the audience before we end the show?

826

:

You know, miss Michelle, the

only thing I really want to tell

827

:

everybody who's listening is.

828

:

You know, you may have

experienced adversity.

829

:

You may be stuck in adversity and

suffering and darkness right now.

830

:

Uh, but I'm here to tell you that God

will and can pull you out of that darkness

831

:

and he will use you for his glory.

832

:

And there's no wonder that you're

stuck in darkness right now.

833

:

The enemy wants to take you out.

834

:

That's the truth of it.

835

:

The enemy wants to take us all out and

he's going to do anything he can to

836

:

destroy you, to stop you from stepping

in to the role that God has for you.

837

:

So don't believe the lies of the world.

838

:

Don't, don't be stuck in

that darkness anymore.

839

:

Reach your hand out in faith and

understand that we have an amazing God.

840

:

Uh, and he may not.

841

:

Take away the afflictions.

842

:

Uh, I'm still afflicted in many ways.

843

:

Uh, but I'll tell you what the Lord

walks with me through every one of

844

:

them and he tells me his grace and

his mercy is sufficient for me.

845

:

And I believe that wholeheartedly

because I've experienced it.

846

:

Oh, awesome.

847

:

Awesome testimony.

848

:

And again, I hope

everyone in the audience.

849

:

Gets this great, amazing message from

our God using Eric Cohen as a vessel.

850

:

Remember, I'll have all this

information in a show notes, and I

851

:

will be playing a video after this.

852

:

Thank you again, Eric,

for being on my show.

853

:

Yes, ma'am.

854

:

And thank you for having me.

855

:

God bless.

856

:

God bless.

857

:

Everyone, thank you for listening and may

you have a week filled with blessings.

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About the Podcast

Prisoner's Pardon
Prisoner's Pardon Trailer
A Prisoner’s Pardon, through storytelling, describes how prisoners are set free from physical and/or spiritual prisons (ex. Domestic & Drug Abuse) only via a pardon and not a reform program.

About your host

Profile picture for Michi - J

Michi - J

Michi J is a Chicago native who now lives in the Milwaukee area. By day, she works as an energy-industry analyst; she spends her remaining hours pursuing her lifelong passion of exploring and proclaiming the coming Kingdom of Christ. Her fiction and non-fiction writing explores, through storytelling, the parallel existence of physical and spiritual laws. Her favorite authors include Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Charles Spurgeon, C.S. Lewis, A.W.Tozer, Dr. Tony Evans, Erwin Raphael McManus, and Kitty Foth-Regner.