I don't normally post a lot of personal stuff on the web, but I did want to share with y'all that my wife Blair and I are expecting our first child in a few weeks. Those who are close to us knew this (as well as those who watched the "Perfection of Beauty" video closely lol). But to this point, we haven't really broadcasted it publicly. Btw, it's a boy and his name is Sage. We want him to walk in wisdom and to know Christ, who is the source of all wisdom. I share it with you now because I'm grateful for your partnership in the gospel. God only knows how this will impact my music moving forward! I also would like to request your prayers. I have three specific requests:
1. Please pray that God would give me the grace to honor Him as a faithful husband and father who regularly points my wife and son to Christ and the gospel.
2. Please pray that, as a family, God would meet all of our needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
3. Please pray that God would save Sage at an early age and that he would only know of a warm, loving home with two godly parents who love Christ deeply and who model the grace of God as we serve one another and raise him in the fear and knowledge of the Lord.
I have to say that as I anticipate Sage's birth in a few weeks, I feel a mixture of excitement and nervousness. Excitement because I've wanted to be a dad for a long time and I'm so grateful to have an amazing woman of God to share this experience with. Nervous because, like many African-American males in the urban context, I grew up without my father in my life and had very few models of godly manhood and fatherhood growing up. That, along with an awareness of my own sinfulness causes me to deeply feel my insufficiency. At the same time, I know that God is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think according to the power at work in us and that He can more than make up for what I lack. It's a daily fight for me to believe this, so I covet your prayers.
It's good to be able to share this with y'all. Thank you for supporting my ministry through music and for the many ways that you have encouraged Blair and I over the years.
grace and peace,
shai
41 comments:
So excited for you guys! Praise God!
Congratulations!
Congrats bro. I'll be praying for you and your wife as you get ready to raise your new child.
Praise God! Praying for you both, Shai & Blair. May God continue to bless your Union, and may the grace of All-powerful God be upon your family to His glory alone!
Shai, God's grace covers so much of what we lack. It's not up to us as dads, though we certainly can be and are incredible tools in God's hands, but even our failures and weaknesses God ordains that those shape our children into who He wants them to be. I'm excited for you and your wife to embark on this journey.
Jesse
Congrats Shai and Blair! So exited to hear how God has been blessing you! Though you might not have had the father figure present growing up to look toward, you have the perfect example in your Heavenly Father. Because of Him and His continual work in and through you I am confident you will do fine. I'll be praying. Soli Deo Gloria, Linne family!
ohh man!!! excited!!! Shai MayThe Soveriegn Lord rock you with abundant blessing! Thank You for ALL uve allowed Christ to do through you
You, Blair and Sage will be in my prayers. A multitude of believers will be praying for you. Sage will have remarkable parents who are rooted to the vine. God bless you all.
BlackSkillz_Kenya.
Shai, congratulations to you my dear brother. I am a father, and all I can say is you have no idea what you are in for. Believe me and remember my words the moment "it" hits you; the very moment you hold that child in your arms you will never be the same.
Again, you'll know what I mean when it happens :)
Your perceptions on EVERYTHING will completely changed. Your priorities will get re-arranged, (was that a rhyme? ..see, you aren't the only one :D )
You ARE inadequate, you ARE unprepared, you ARE blinded in so many ways, you ARE not "up to the task" as it were.. but.. you seem to know that. And knowing that, and trusting in our most gracious and merciful heavenly Father, my dear brother.. GRACE ABOUNDS.
And each day, you will look back at the previous one and say; man, how did I do that? Take great courage and be not afraid dearest brother, for your heavenly Father knows what you need before you ask, and our precious Savior is forever interceding on your behalf.
Perhaps just one word of warning? Avoid the worldly mindset, or desire, to give your little one "all the things I never had" (materially speaking)
But strive to only lift up Christ before your child's eyes. Live the life daily my dear brother. Let him witness you loving his mother, being strong in the leadership of the home, being gentle and encouraging in dealing with his petty faults, but stern in the unacceptability of sin.
Again, hearty congratulations Shai. God bless your home and family.
Love, respect, and hearty greetings.
Yours,
Tokyo Watchman
Oh Wow!!!! A Christmas baby perhaps!!!! ??
First off I appreciate your honesty and effort @ transparency.
Uh Uh... I saw it in the video! Sure did :D (the accomplishment of my life)
You and your wife's individual ministries prior to marriage up until now sure has blessed both me and my wifey to be... I am sure she'll be as excited as I am to really pray for you.
Love and appreciate you BIC
To God be the Glory
@josefjerome
Congratulations Shai!! I'm not a father yet but I know you have to be very nervous! It always helps me to remember: 1. Wherever God leads me, He is already there.
2. Whenever I pray, He hears me.
3. Whenever I am weak He is strong.
Be Alert of your thoughts when you feel inadequate or lacking. Realizing we are nothing without Christ is very healthy, but I believe that the father of lies wins many battles for our mind and trust through fear and anxiety. Ask yourself with every thought "Does this thought line up with scripture, or who I understand God to be?". I am so happy for you and your family and will pray God would teach you and bring you all the joy you can handle through this blessing.
P.s. I am so thankful for your ministry and every momentyou have touched a pen in worship.
Your brother In Christ,
Michael Graening
Wow, congratulations brother Shai! I will dedicate my prayers to you and your beautiful family, I've experienced (as I'm sure you have too) the Lord's faithfulness to his Word and in answering prayers, so I'm so excited for you and your soon to be family. More importantly I'm excited to see the Lord be magnified and glorified through this gift that He has given to you.
Grace and Peace
aaron
Wow, congratulations brother Shai! I will dedicate my prayers to you and your beautiful family, I've experienced (as I'm sure you have too) the Lord's faithfulness to his Word and in answering prayers, so I'm so excited for you and your soon to be family. More importantly I'm excited to see the Lord be magnified and glorified through this gift that He has given to you.
Grace and Peace
aaron
I will be praying as many others will be. Fight on Shai, and let no worthlessness penetrate the walls of your family. Grace and Peace. :)
Congratulations! You guys will do great. We've all been raised by sinners.
What a blessing brother! We stand in prayer and agreement with you as we navigate the same playing field. Our father is our sufficiency and His provision is lavish and plentiful on all fronts. We lobe you, Blair and Sage (love that name). To God be all the glory!
Wonderful news, what a blessing! Hand made human, what an awesome God we serve!
In Him, Lee
Amen! Just prayed for you all. Congratulations and God bless you and your family.
Praise God! I am so very happy for you brother! My wife regularly, We will add a third party to our "Linne Prayer List"
Coram Deo
Kyle Howard
Many blessings to your family!
Shai Linne, Congratulations. We will be praying...
By Grace through faith in Jesus we pray that our Father in Heaven will bless the Linne family according to his word all to His Glory alone. Amen
Keep doing what you do Brother Shai. I'm Daniel and I'm from Nigeria. There was a statement you made "lights cameras all of that is good, but if they take your eyes off the Messiah then what was the purpose?" (Paraphrased). Stay Christed, Yahushua Ha Mashiach got your back till He returns or calls you home. Congrats on Sage, you and Blair have got yourselves a blessing more. God is faithful to keep you both through his formative years to his adult age. God bless you Shai, bless you for the truth you so shamelessly represent (just for laughs, my friends and I have a group we call LSB, League of Shameless Boiz). I already follow you on twitter @Iam1Men, it'd be an honor if you follow back. God bless you Shai.
Congrats to you and your wife Blair on your upcoming little blessing! This child will be so blessed to have parents who love the Lord so much and I only see a future warrior for Christ in your son!
Although you were raised without a father, your love for your heavenly Father will make you quite an earthly dad so I won't be too concerned for that little fella at all! :)
God bless you Shai and Blair, only my two most favorite Hip Hop rapper and poets!
Carlotta
I'm not a payed sponsor, but I can't recommend "Happiest Baby on the Block". Totally saved my sanity on our first kid. God bless you all!
A Baby is the best thing in the world. all the best for your little family!
I'm so happy for you! I will definitely pray
Praise God!I don't know you guys personally, but I have been bless by both of your ministries. I am rejoicing with you guys, and praising God for this blessing that is about enter the world. I am also going to pray for a safe delivery and a healthy baby, to God be all the glory!
God Bless
2 Corinthians 3:5,6
Congratulations! ... and thanks for the music.
"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom all fatherhood in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." -- Eph 3:14-19 (NIV, footnote reading)
You're music will definitely be impacted. I never had one myself, not married any how, but I know that having a child changes your world and brings much inspiration. I have seen that from viewing others who have children. They are never to young to learn about God. Congratulations on your gift from God. I pray God helps you raise him to love and honor God walk in His ways.
Congratulations!!!! Praying for a profoundly beautiful birthing experience for you all. I've never sensed the divine power of the Holy Spirit more clearly before or since the experience of birthing a new soul into the world! I get a glimpse of that when my daughter lays her toddler head on me and stops wriggling for a second, but birth is utterly breathtaking! Literally and figuratively!
Praying blessings for your sweet little family. Sage is a lucky little man and I can't wait for you guys to meet him. The best thing a new daddy can do is change all the night-time diapers so mama can sleep as much as possible, especially if she's nursing! I have nothing but joy for you and I can't wait to hear the lyrical art that this experience inspires.
Love, Julie
Congratulations! What a blessing!!
What a blessing for you and Blair! The gospel is the key to parenting as with everything else. You will find that some of your greatest parenting moments are when you are feeling your insufficiency the most --because you ARE insufficient for the task but by God's grace--and only His grace-- you can do it. When people commented on how well-behaved our children were, I used to always say, "Thank you". Now, I simply say that whatever good they see in our children is purely the grace of God. Yes, we are diligent to plant the seed of the Gospel, to weed out bad influences, and water with the Word faithfully but rest assured it God who brings the harvest. And while we want to see our children walking with God at an early age, we also want them to know what God has saved them from, lest they be saved from little and love Him little.
May God grant wisdom, speed and safety in the birth of Sage and use your little family mightily for His glory.
Ok - I prayed and will be praying. However .... do not forget to upload PICTURES!
your fam in austin, tx is praying for yall! thanx for coming to dallas with manup!
Word! Grace and peace shai. I will most definitely keep yall in prayer.
This is great news to hear brother. I really appreciate you sharing this with us all. I'll constantly pray for you. And you should know that what you desire is in line with God's perfect will. Stay blessed!
Congratulations Shai and Blair! Thank you for sharing your heart, I find it encouraging. Keep blazing forward
Congratulations to you and your family. We will continue to pray for you.
Hey brother. We are genuinely glad for you. We will pray.
Congrats…wow you learn SO much more about God and grace than you can possibly imagine when you have kids. Dr Kevin Lehman has some great advice in his book first time mom (obviously for your wife). Another great piece of advice I got, was to make sure that you guys set aside you time (once the baby is here) every week or every other week at least (even as soon as the baby is 2 weeks old). That was the best piece of advice anyone gave my husband and I and it has helped us in our marriage, which in-turn helps us be the best parents we can be. The other best piece of advice was to pray with and over our kids. Even when they're teeny tiny to pray openly in front of them letting them see your weakness and that you depend on Christ alone helps them see that you are not perfect, and the world is not perfect, but that we are continually being perfected and made into His image that this is a constant renewing process. My oldest is only just about to turn two, but we pray together like that every night, and I know that the spirit uses that time to minister to both of us already (plus it is so cute now that she repeats things, to hear her say "dear God…thank you Jesus…AMEN!").
Ok I will stop hijacking your blog here ;) My husband and I hope and pray for the best for you guys (will you be finding out and announcing the gender?), pray for the baby's health but ultimately pray for God's will to be done through you and through the baby (check out http://babyannajoy.blogspot.com/ for a terrible but amazing story of heart break and grace that some friends of ours recently went through…WARNING this is terribly sad (my hubby can't read it yet) but there is a tremendous amount of grace and truth about our relationship with Christ, especially through the most trying of circumstances, in this…but it might be hard to read, especially as you are expecting).
Okay I really am done now.
-Alli D
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