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“Whitney Elizabeth Houston”
“The Voice”
“To Know Her Was To Love Her”
Born on August 9, 1963, in Newark, New Jersey, Whitney Houston released her debut album at age 22 and scored three number one singles. Whitney (1987) delivered four more number ones and earned Houston her first Grammy. She made a comeback with 2009′s I Look to You. Houston died on February 11, 2012.
I have followed Whitney Houston since 1987, I was 19 years old; a very young man, who sang in my church choir growing up and enjoyed singing and listening to good music. Wow, just can’t even believe I decided as a fan to blog about Whitney after her death. I had to give it a lot of thought as to if I even wanted to share my feelings about this extraordinary woman. Whitney was a star from right out of the gate. If you like music then you understand what I mean. If you can put an album on and listen to every song and at the end want to listen to it again; then you knew this was going to be a great album. This was how her music was, she set a standard for me when I listened to other female artist. I compared them to her in my mind and there was “No Comparison”! She had something special that was all hers and as the old folk use to say,” if the world didn’t give it, the world can’t take it away”. Her voice and delivery was a gift from God. I felt this way as one of her fans from the very first time I heard her sing “Saving all my love for you”. I had to have her in my collection. Whitney Houston to me— and you must understand, the I had for her music; anyone who is or has ever been friends with me knows that she was and will always be one of my all time favorite artist. It goes without saying that she is and will always be and Icon.
As a young music collector, I owned more female artist Cd’s than male artist back then, so if there was a woman out there that really had a great voice, then I more than likely owned her music. Now don’t get me wrong, I enjoy listening to male artist, however, other than Michael Jackson or Luther Vandross I probably did not have their music until I was older; we will get into that later.
So why is this blog so important for me to share? I have a theory about Whitney and her last days on this earth. In my heart of hearts— I believe she died from a broken heart among other things. We knew the famous artist from afar and could not get enough of “The Voice”, would you agree? I believe that she loved that and that built her up in her career, but at the end of the day, she just wanted to be “Nippy”. The young woman who grew in up in New Jersey and have a life with her family. Can you imagine being judged all the time? I know, I know; everyone will say that this comes with the territory of being “Famous”—really. You know the other thing I feel strongly about is that she never stopped loving her husband. Some may disagree with me there, however, I believe she still loved Bobby Brown and because the world looked down on her for who she fell in love with, it was just a tough battle to fight. I can relate in a sense because I know what it feels like when people do not feel you are good enough for the person you love or the person is not good enough for you. The only thing you know is that you want to spend the rest of your life with the person of your choice.
Just a few days before her death, I was in the living room painting an accent wall using stencils and my wife was in the adjacent room on the computer doing homework. I decided out of my round of Cd’s to play Whitney Houston’s greatest hits. It is so amazing now when I think about it the joy I felt while painting that wall. I could hear Anastasia singing along with me as the CD played from the other room. So why does this moment in time stick out for me? Well, first of all—Anastasia knew every word to every song that was played and she was singing loud; I could not believe she knew the music. Anastasia is a church girl, so when did she have time to learn Whitney’s music? I was thinking to myself how powerful the words are in each song. She must have recited every word, she ever sang, back to herself because the words where her life story. What do you think?
Do you ever think that we forget people like Whitney, Michael and others who have died too soon human beings? They have to live with media paparazzi, over zealous fans, always following them; trying to get some ridiculous picture to sell to tabloids only for them to only put some hurtful title on it and publish it on the front of some piece of paper for the world to see and mock! I have never been star struck, if I am or ever was it was it had to have been very subdued and low key, I would have never shown it in an outward way. I can remember before my wife and I were married, I would visit her home church in Nashville. I remember the first time I attended service, I sat two rows behind Alvin and CeCe Winans. I saw their kids… they were young and still huddling under the covering of their parents. After church, my wife asked me if I wanted to meet her; at first I said “No”! Then I quickly changed my answer and said, “Yes”. We were introduced— she was such a sweet soul and absolutely beautiful. What really touched me, was the next time I was there at church visiting she saw me and she addressed me by my name. I was shocked she remembered my name. My wife shared many stories with me of Whitney Houston visiting her church. As we all know, Whitney, Cece and the Winans Family were very close friends. When Whitney passed I thought of how hurtful this must have been for Cece and the family; I pondered on how she might feel being such a close friend. You see, some of us can be closer to our friends than family at different times in our lives. My wife said to me she thought Cece will more than likely sing at the funeral and some how she knew she would sing the song, ” Don’t Cry for me” and she did. It was all very touching to sit home and watch something so sacred and private play out on television. Thank you Ms. Cissy Houston and Bobby Christina for sharing your final moments with Whitney; what a special gift that will never be forgotten.
Anna would tell me how Whitney would always enjoy church, she could just tell. Anastasia knew because she was apart of the choir and on the praise team; so from the stage you can see everything. So to just cut to the chase, you know I was really hurt and offended by those who I call “Super Saints” questioned the fact if Whitney Houston was really a Christian. I do not know? I am not God! I do not own a heaven or a hell to put any one in—do you? You see my hands have not always been clean, so as for me I knew what it meant to sin and be called a sinner. We all have been sinners at some point in our lives. Right? We all have things in pictures, that if they were ever printed in a magazine; we would not be proud. Lord knows I thank God for all my personal mess He covered…so let us not judge less we be judged as well. In my opinion, the problem is some of us have forgotten where we came from—you know that sin filled life that God redeemed us from. All the muck God has pulled us through and now there are those who feel they are superior to others.
I thank God for saving me. I know to personally how sin ruins and can delay what God has planned for your life. My favorite part of worship is the alter call when people come to the Lord. I love to see people defeat the devil and his tactics. Satan’s plan unfortunately is the same for all of us; to kill, steal and destroy. God does not care what you did, nor does he care who you did it with, He just wants us to “Let it Go” (Bishop TD Jakes, 2012). Whitney loved the Lord with her whole heart, she said it over and over again; didn’t you hear it as well? The most important thing that I have learned in my walk is no matter what you may think “God knew her first and He knew her heart best”.
I shared these stories because I want all of us to always remember that people we have pushed forward are still human beings. They have close friends, families, children, and parent. God said in His word that “He will not have no other God before him”, how does this word fit into this situation? In my opinion I think He is saying to always remember that no matter how gifted an individual is they belong to Him and they are our brothers and sisters in Christ. Instead of worshiping and the vessel that is being used; pray for them that every weapon formed against them will not prosper. I personally have been blessed in my life to know and meet many people who are Artist, Ministers, Pastors, Bishops, First ladies Etc. They belong to the Lord and with that thought, deserve their space and privacy and deserve to have a life outside of being a”STAR” for you or me to idolize. People are just “People” and that is how they want to be treated. They know they are gifted and they know they are great in the Lord. They just want to be able to walk past you and be respected as an individual. Gifts come with out repentance—you know.
So I am guessing this blog entry did not go the way you thought, but I wanted to take a different approach and just place a new thought on your mind. I believe that Whitney Houston wished/wanted/longed to be— just Whitney ”Nippy” Houston and not be judged when she did not always hit a home run. The title of my memoir is “Open Door Closed Closet” the reason for that title is we all would love to walk through open doors, however, for most of us; people bring our closet’s and dirty laundry with them every where we go. Constantly reminding us and those who we are meant to influence that we are imperfect. Did you know that we all have fallen short of the glory of God? The bible makes this very clear. There has only been one perfect being to ever walk this earth, Jesus Christ. It takes everything within us to try to walk in his footsteps daily. We will never be perfect, this way of life is a process and we all must work at.
We can only hope that we leave as much good as Whitney left in this earth. Where do broken Heart’s go? The answer— Whitney gave it to us in her last hit song “I Look To You”. Whitney, thank you for showing us all sides of you and we all can do nothing but sit with our mouth’s closed. Why? Because one thing we all have in common is “we all have a past”. Let’s just stop holding people to the falls you have seen in their walk on this earth. Because in the end, none of it matters! Not the material things, money, houses, fine cars, nothing –none of it is important when life ends. At her funeral service there was a beautiful Gold Hurst, but there was no U-Haul. Nothing went with her….
We as the Church, those of us who sincerely represent God and the Kingdom, should never let it be heard from our mouths if we wander if someone is saved. For the world to do that type of thing in today’s society, it is sadly expected. However, we are the Church and we serve One Lord and there is still plenty room for everyone who will to come to Christ. Come as you are. It is a Journey not a Marathon! There is an old hymn that says, “Just as I am without one plea…”, God will take each of us just as we are right now. All we have to do is open our heart and make room for Him and say “Yes Lord” like Whitney Houston did on many occasions. She had a heart for God and she loved the Lord and if you can not see it— shame on you. Get back on your knees and pray to see people the way God sees them.
This is about life in general, we all have just one and we all have to report in the end. God bless you and make room in your life for Him today. Live it out in front of others so that the world will be provoked to jealousy! They need to see the “Jesus” in you and me.
Sincerely,
Author Mario Nocentelli
He Mimics
You know one thing the enemy hates is when he is being revealed. So many times those of us who have fallen into sin did not realize that it was a Dead End. I grew up in Mississippi so there were a lot of dead-end streets. Dead Ends force you to turn around. When we are faced in the wrong direction we can not see the things of the lord. Satan will do the very same things that God does because he has no ability to create,so he mimic God and make you believe that what you are doing is right. When you are very much on the side of wrong, so the path of evil is always a dead-end. If this is so easy to see or to realize then why is it that so many fall into the paths of evil, deceived that they are moving forward when in essence they are going in circles. It amazes me because, I have been on this merry-go-round as I call it. It robs you of your sense of time so you do not value time any longer. Blind folds are used to hide the years from you and you have no idea that the enemy is stealing time away from you robbing you of your life. Then when your eyes are opened if there is still time, you will be like a skeleton and fighting for your life. Only by the Grace of God you may or may not get your life back on track.
He mimics that’s is all he can do, you will never have the real thing as long as you settle for someone or something that God did not really intend for you, a counterfeit. Time is running out for those of you who read this and feel conviction in your heart. The road to salvation is becoming very narrow and I am only bringing you warning. “It is time to come Inside” As it is written the wages of sin is death. Living a lie can a dangerous and be a very painful life, however it can also be a very meaningless life, seeking and searching for something that you will never find living in sin in the world. Your life is not pleasing to God he wants so much more for you just know God heart is not for you to have less or fail. Oh I know, no one likes to hear the word sin anymore because silence is another way the enemy gains power. Most of us, if we were really faced with a demon could not call it out if we wanted to… and for one reason and one reason only! My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being my priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against me; I will change their glory into shame. They feed on the sin of my people and direct their desire toward their iniquity. And it will be, like people, like priest; so I will punish them for their ways and repay them for their deeds. They will eat, but not have enough; They will play the harlot, but not increase, Because they have stopped giving heed to the LORD. Harlotry, wine and new wine take away the understanding. My people consult their wooden idol, and their diviner’s wand informs them; for a spirit of harlotry has led them astray, and they have played the harlot, departing from their God the one and only God, Lord of Lord King of Kings. They offer sacrifices on the tops of the mountains and burn incense on the hills, under oak, poplar and terebinth, because their shade is pleasant Therefore your daughters play the harlot and your brides commit adultery.
I will not punish your daughters when they play the harlot Or your brides when they commit adultery, For the men themselves go apart with harlots And offer sacrifices with temple prostitutes; So the people without understanding are ruined. Though you, Israel, play the harlot, do not let Judah become guilty; Also do not go to Gilgal Or go up to Beth-aven And take the oath: “As the LORD lives!” Since Israel is stubborn like a stubborn heifer Can the LORD now pasture them Like a lamb in a large field? Ephraim is joined to idols; Let him alone. Their liquor gone, they play the harlot continually; their rulers dearly love shame. The wind wraps them in its wings, And they will be ashamed because of their sacrifices..(Referenced Hosea 4:6-19) Who is this word for? Are you allowing the enemy to rob you, distract you? God has given us all something that is innate in all of us and if you tap into you can and will be saved. You will be powerful against the tactics of the enemy. The intellectual would call it intuition. However those of us who dwell in the spiritual rim call it the “Holy Ghost”. It is my desire to not see you whom ever you are, stay on the ride get off. News flash the enemy has no power, he can only mimic and you will waste years of your life living in an illusion a bubble. One that if you don’t listen to he who speaks life to you (God)…Satan desires to cause you to live your life out on a stage you being the star and all your reward will be in the end is an illusion of what you could have had if you would have surrendered your life to God and decided to become a living Sacrifice. “It can be real” The enemy can not bring you everlasting happiness because he only works for a temporary agency. It will never be real and it will never be yours because you are only acting out what you could have. ‘HE CAN ONLY MIMIC” There is only one Lord and Savior and there is only one door. You must come in at the Door!!!!!!
Thanks for allowing me to share with you.
Sincerely,
Author Mario Nocentelli
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