God's Box #1: "Who Will Hear My Cry?"

by Brenda Garard, Atlanta, GA
All my life I've cried from the inside out, I hold it in till it makes me want to shout. I often wondered if it could be heard aloud, so I decided to speak out. Even then I wonder why I'm made to feel so bad when I just want answers within. The questions aren't really directed at anyone in perticular, it's just all bundled up ready to come out. That's why I like the outdoors so much. That's why when I cry out to God I ask that He put me out in an open field. where I can just cry. Cry just because I can. Cry because I couldn't. Cry because I keep crying and no one hears my cry. Cry. I have so many questions why, Cry because I still think it's all my fault even though I know it's just part of His plan. Some times I cry just because I don't know what else to do. So one day as I was reading the Bible, and my soul was crying out. Then God showed me Psalm 34:4. " I sought the Lord, He heard my cry and delivered me from all my fears! Hallelujah! But still I cry. As God has promised, one day no more tears, pain or suffering.
© 2005, Brenda Garard

Note: When Brenda sent me this piece I thought it would be a good idea to have a regular department on my blog that I can written pieces from my readers who want to share their testimony's/discoverys/soul searchings, etc., with the world. Brenda even came up with a name for this new section, "God's Box." So here is the first of many. If you'd like to see your writing published here, email your God's Box offerings to me (along with permission to post) stanice@stanice.com. This first one is 213 words. Word limit is 250 maximum.

Leaping Over Rainbows

I leap over rainbows using pole vaults of faith. Contrary to man’s myth, the pot of gold is not at the end of the rainbow; but is found somewhere between the leap and the silent soar to the other side. A pot gold is a fools’ prize. But believing that you can surrender your fears to Jesus Christ, leave the surety of the ground, and leap into the unknown knowing that the all-knowing, known and living God is with you in the leap and waiting for you in the landing, simultaneously, is the reward for the saints of God who dare to take God at His Word.

© 2005, Stanice Anderson

Stanice Sings

Congo Square
Title song from The Jazz Apostles CD, Congo Square
(c)2001 Stanice Anderson and Thomas Jenkins
Stanice Anderson, vocals
Guitar & Keyboards, Thomas Jenkins

Persevere

Persevere and pray. You can hold on one more day. Perhaps, the measure of your suffering indicates the measure of your ministry. We can just look at Jesus’ life and see –what suffering He endured and what ministry has endured—through the ages. Jesus – there is no greater name under or anywhere around the sun.

In God we Trust?

So many people are trying to take "God" out of everything. No nativity scenes, no Ten Commandments, no praying in schools, most recently no praying at inaugurations. But how about the money? I haven't heard about anyone trying to take the "In God We Trust" off the money. Why do you think that is? Well, I have a theory. Perhaps, folks figure that just in case there really is a God they don't really want to piss Him/Her/or It off when it comes to their almighty dollar. The souls and lives of children in the schools are one thing but MONEY, MONEY, MONEY? After all, they have their priorities.

Some of you...more in tuned with the news than myself may say, "Yes, there're after the In God We Trust too." Well, I say this to you. I bet you a dollar and one share of Krispy Kreme donut stock that the dollar bill will be the absolute last thing that these "God-outers" will change. Think about it.

People, places, and things

Included in an email to me was the following, "Out of personal interest, how did you find Chapel Hill (North Carolina) when you lived here? I've been a student at UNC for 4.5 years now and am always curious to know what others think of the area."

My reply? "I thought it was a bit jazzy with a historic Georgtown, DC flavor and trimmed with a twinge of not-so-subtle racism. Kind of like the Old South in drag. Some of the stories in my memoir, I Say A Prayer For Me, take place in and around Chapel Hill."

Gleaning Feast on THE WORD

In Biblical times, Ruth went to the fields daily to glean what crops the harvesters left behind. Thus, food for her and Naomi's table. Ruth even met her Kinsman Redeemer and husband, Boaz, during one of her gleaning outings but I'll leave that story to be told another day. In the meantime, I pray that you meet your Kinsman Redeemer, Jesus, during your gleaning adventure today.

I also pray that the Holy Spirit gives you the nourishment you desire, today, out of what He laid before us during the Feast on THE WORD Gathering held on 12/1/04:

Our bimonthly gatherings continue to be a blessing of searching The Word, sharing testimonies, acts of encouragement and love. “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20

Group Discovery: With the indwelling of the Holy Sprit, we are always a gathering of two or more.

Powerful testimonies came forward about sacrifice, surrender, release, deliverance, and discernment. Here are some of the Scripture references that we feasted on for understanding and to help us relate our life experiences so that we can live The Word.

1. DELIVERANCE... Deliverance comes when we are set free of character defects, unhealthy relationships, addictions, and practicing sin.

Psalm 34:17-19 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all.

2. DISCERNMENT...Self-proclaimed prophets, ministers will come to us, we must be sure that their convictions and pronouncements are based in The Word and not in man’s interpretation. Be aware of those who will maneuver under the cloak of religion, but really are not proclaiming The Word of God. When we don’t study the word we are vulnerable to fallacy.

Matthew 7:15 Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

Mark 12:38-40 As he taught, Jesus said, "Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, 39and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely."

2nd Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

3. RELEASE...We have tendencies to hold on to relationships, material things, issues because of duty, loyalty, etc., feeling that we can fix it. But God wants us to release all of our cares to him, because he cares for us and he sustains us.

Job 23:10–11 But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside.

2nd Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (King James Version)

4. SACRIFICE...When we sacrifice in obedience to God (our fleshly desires, jobs, family, etc.) we allow God to do his perfect will in us. When we give a sacrificial offering or a sacrifice of praise, we are planting a seed, which God will give growth, and multiply and perfect.

Galatians 6:7-8 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

1st Peter 2:8-9 They stumble because they disobey the message--which is also what they were destined for. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

5. SURRENDER...When we surrender to God’s will for us, we get out of the way so that God can redirect and/or order our steps toward His divine purpose for our lives.

Psalm 138, 7-8 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me. The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever—do not abandon the works of your hands.

Ezra 4:1-5 (Opposition to the rebuilding of the Temple) … Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building. They hired counselors to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Psalm 109:16 For he never thought of doing a kindness, but hounded to death the poor and the needy and the brokenhearted.

**Scriptures are New International Version, unless otherwise noted.

A Word for YOU

If you are reading this, right now. It is not a coincidence. I believe that you were led here and now. This is an on-time word for you, specifically--personally.

I am believing that God is about to turn your situation around in an instant. The tide is turning...rest and watch the deliverance of the Lord. It will be so great a move that you will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is the Lord who has done this thing! Start praising Him now on the front side of what is about to be yours. I am praising Him with you. My soul shouts, "GLORY!"

I say a Prayer for You

I pray that God grant to you the desires of your heart -- even miracles. I believe 2005 will be a year of miracles, abundance, peace and protection for God's people. For those of us that have held out and stood on His Word, and held onto His promises--GET READY. A Change is gonna come--in an instant! All for HIM A Good Name.

Love and gratitude that God led you to this message,

Stanice
**This message is possible only because God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, Jesus Christ...who I adore, celebrate, and treasure for all eternity.

"Clothes" Disclaimer

When the poem, ”Clothes,” was forward to me by email, reading only the first stanza, I knew that it was not written in Dr. Angelou’s “distinct voice.” So I did a little investigating. I pulled this “disclaimer” off of her official website…at http://www.mayaangelou.com/Contact.html

"Please be aware that Dr. Maya Angelou has absolutely no affiliation with the "poems" entitled Clothes or I Am A Christian that are circulating the Internet."

Probably because I am a writer, I am sensitive about attributing something to a writer that the writer did not write. Especially, Maya Angelou…she’s one of our she-roes. I know that we get excited when we read something that touches us. We want to share it with everyone we know; but I am learning that perhaps we should do a little investigating BEFORE we click “forward.”

As a teenager, I remember being groomed in how to clean the family refrigerator. I’d find something way back up in the corner the bottom shelf. I opened the wax paper. The sausage patty looked like it was “probably” good. It smelled fine. Or did it? I’d smell it again. And then my mother, with the wisdom of generations of mothers before her shouted from behind me, “When in doubt, throw it out.” I’ve brought that adage with me into adulthood. And it works for more than refrigerator cleaning.

(c) 2004, Stanice Anderson