My Sax Experience

A Short Reflective Piece

When I think about the gift of music, it always amazes me how much of it doesn’t actually come from us. It’s something bigger, something higher, something divine. There are times when I step onto a stage, and all I carry with me is the love of gospel music.

I don’t always come with too much planning, and I don’t always come with too many rehearsals behind the scenes. Yet, when the sound begins, when the Spirit of God enters, something takes over.

It is in those moments I realize that I am only an instrument. The saxophone may be in my hands, but the melodies are not mine. They are born in the Spirit. They rise like a river flowing from the throne of God, pouring into my heart and out through the horn of the sax.

The notes I hear and play in those moments are melodies I never imagined, never practiced, and never rehearsed. And still, they shine, they bless, and they uplift.

There are times I’ve handed my phone to someone, asked them to record, and later, when I watched the video, I was amazed at what came out of me.

I could not believe I was the one who played that way. And that is the truth about divine gifts: they are not merely about us, they are about God working through us.

Every human being has incredible capabilities and talents. Every single one of us has something within, a seed planted by the Creator Himself. But it is not until we recognize God as the source that we truly begin to unlock those gifts.

God is the one who gives the talent. He is the one who hands over the keys. We may practice, we may polish, we may learn, but the true power and the true glory come from Him alone.

I have come to realize that talent without God is only noise. But talent with God becomes ministry. It becomes transformation. It becomes healing. It becomes a sound that doesn’t just entertain ears but pierces hearts.

This is why I love gospel music so much. Gospel is not just a genre, it is a vessel. It carries the Spirit of God. It ushers in His presence. It allows heaven to meet earth in a way that words alone cannot capture.

When I play the saxophone under the influence of the Spirit, I no longer feel like I am playing for myself. I feel like I am part of something eternal. I feel like God Himself is ministering through the sound. And this is where growth happens — growth in talent, growth in spirit, and growth in purpose.

Many people ask, “How do I discover my talent? How do I grow in it?” The truth is, your gift has always been inside you. But the key is surrender. The moment you surrender your talent to God, you will begin to experience a flow you never imagined. He will take you to heights you never thought possible. He will bring out melodies, skills, and creativity that were locked up within you all along.

Your talent is not just for you. It is not just for applause, likes, or fame. It is for impact. It is for ministry. It is for lifting up souls that are heavy, for comforting hearts that are broken, for giving hope to those who have forgotten what hope feels like. When you understand that, you begin to play, sing, write, or create from a deeper place — not for performance but for purpose.

I believe that ministry is not limited to the pulpit. Ministry is wherever you use your gift to glorify God and touch lives. If you are a teacher, your ministry is in your classroom. If you are a businessperson, your ministry is in how you treat your clients with honesty. If you are a musician, your ministry is in the sound that flows out of you to touch hearts.

Every time I stand on stage with my saxophone, I remind myself: this is not entertainment, this is ministry. Even if it is just one person in the audience whose life is changed, then the purpose has been fulfilled. The sound of gospel carries more than music. It carries life. It carries healing. It carries transformation.

And here is the truth: you also have a gift. It may not be music, it may not be saxophone, but it is there. You may be surprised at how powerful it is when you place it in God’s hands. Don’t bury it. Don’t ignore it. Don’t say “I am not good enough.” Remember, I didn’t learn all these things from teachers. I struggled, I tried, I even failed sometimes. But when I surrendered it to God, He turned my little into much.

There is a growth factor that comes only from God. We cannot cut it off, we cannot fake it, and we cannot create it ourselves. Human effort has limits, but divine grace has no limits. That is why I say boldly: whatever we are, whatever we become, we become in God. Without Him, we can do nothing. With Him, we can do all things.

This is why I keep reminding myself — my music is not mine. My talent is not mine. My saxophone is not mine. It all belongs to God. And because it belongs to Him, I must use it to serve Him, to bless others, and to fulfill the calling of ministry.

So today, I encourage you: discover your gift, surrender it to God, and let Him use it for His glory. Don’t just look at what others are doing. Don’t say “I wish I had their gift.” Your gift is enough. Your talent is enough. Your calling is enough. And with God, you can do greater things than you ever imagined.

Music taught me this, but it is true for every area of life. God gave you something. Hold it, guard it, grow it, and above all, let Him guide it. Because when God takes over, even the simplest sound becomes a melody that shakes the heavens.

I will forever be grateful for the gift of gospel music and the way God uses it to remind me — and others — that we are more than ordinary. We are instruments of His grace.

They told me You can't, I told them I Can 😚

Some time ago, I made a decision to learn musical instruments. But it wasn’t easy at all. When I tried learning the drums, I had no teacher to guide me. I struggled, I stumbled, but I kept pushing.

I still remember a particular choir practice where I mastered a hymn I was so eager to play in church that Sunday. But when I got there, the pastor told me not to play. I was bitter. I snapped a picture with my phone and posted it on Facebook. Sadly, that account was hacked, and with it, a piece of my story felt lost.

Every factor around me seemed to scream “You can’t.”
❌ You can’t sing.
❌ You can’t play instruments.
❌ You can’t grow in music.

But I didn’t give up. I kept pressing on.

🌟 And here’s me today—playing several instruments and singing.
🌟 Here’s me today—getting monthly honor as a keyboardist.
🌟 Here’s me today—receiving invitations for birthdays, surprises, and programs.
🌟 Here’s me today—being asked to organize choir bands for ministrations.

I am living proof that what people say you can’t do is exactly what you can rise up and become.

So to someone out there who feels like quitting—don’t give up. Keep showing up, keep practicing, keep believing. One day, your story will be the encouragement someone else needs.

🎷 Here’s me today, sharing my sound with the world.