Poem: The Caribbean Sea at St. Vincent & The Grenadines

Sprawled out before my eyes—
far from the world I knew before this place—
the Caribbean Sea
disguised from this distance as a slate blue-gray sleuth
a slow-moving fog hovers inches from the surface.
Fluffy dingy-white blankets of clouds pregnant with rain
maneuvers themselves to vantage points that only God knows
A kite’s tail of mountainous islands rise up
from the belly of the Caribbean Sea
like angry sleeping dragons
aroused by what must be beauty’s silent thunder
The kind of beauty
that only God could create.
It’s the difference between an airplane and an eagle.
Between 20,000 earth-bound bridges and one heavenly comet
A camera’s flash and a solar eclipse
The Caribbean Sea
Sprawled out before my eyes
Like a heavy laden desert cart after a six-star meal

© 2005 Stanice Anderson

Grand-Ma

This week, I leave for a ministry trip to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, West Indies. My schedule includes speaking at The National Women’s Gathering, talks for youth, and finishing a play that I’m writing. Awesome right? However, I will not be home on Mother’s Day and the thought made me feel a bit sad.

On my last visit to St. Vincent in May 2003, my hosts asked if I wanted to stay another week. I declined because I wanted to be home for Mother’s Day—and that was before my grandchild was born. Now in addition to my own mom, there is my son, Michael, and his daughter, Michal Zoë, here in the US--and me--without them--in another country on Mother's Day.

An unspoken prayer sprang up from my heart, “Lord, please, I need peace for this journey.” Before the day's end, thoughts drifted into my mind and took me back to Saturday, April 23, 2005.

While spending the evening with my son and his family, I gave my granddaughter a vocabulary lesson. Two days into being ten-months-old, we worked our soon-to-be almost-favorite word, “GrandMa.” She sat on my lap and studied my lips, as I pronounced clearly, slowly, and repetitively, “Grand-Ma, Grand-Ma.”

Michal Zoë peered intently into my mouth, touched my lips, and fluttered her eyes as my breath escaped upon each syllable. She smiled at me in between my long string of the unfamiliar word, as if it registered in some newly discovered corner of her brain. Again, I repeated, “Grand-Ma” until something clicked within both of us and we knew the day’s vocabulary lesson was over.

Michal Zoë confirmed this as she slid off my lap and onto the blue-gray carpet. She crawled over to her Mommy and pulled up as if she intended to share her experience in GrandMa's class.

It’s okay, I thought, one day she will say “GrandMa” and so much more. I sighed as I let go and yielded to God’s perfect timing.

I felt happy and content as I watched her. In the next moment it happened. My granddaughter turned toward me. Distinctly and slowly, she formed her lips and said, “Grand-Ma.” As if she knew she aced an exam, she offered Grand-Ma a smile that sealed the day into the annals of our family's history of firsts.

I know now that on Saturday, April 23rd the Lord, because He sees way down the road, gave me my Mother’s Day present early. Once again, God heard my prayer and sealed it with a promise, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7).

Therefore, I joyfully embrace God’s assigned journey. I carry within my heart, mind, and spirit—my mom, son, and granddaughter—even to the ends of the earth.

© 2005 Stanice Anderson

Maturity Through Perseverance

I once read an intriguing definition for “persevere” in a Bible glossary. “Perseverance is the ability to endure hardship and suffering without complaining or becoming angry.”

Shall I take my own inventory of this essential fruit? I had a long history of trying to circumvent hardship and suffering by whatever means necessary. I was especially good at doing the easier, softer thing. “Hard choices were the wrong choices” was my motto. Choices made, decisions left unmade, habits, lusts, and envy contrary to everything the Word of God lovingly teaches. I also had a nasty habit of crying, moaning, and complaining at any hint of physical, emotional, and spiritual suffering. Now, I must also admit that most of the suffering in my life has been self-inflicted—even since embracing Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.

Where did my inability to persevere get me? So deep into the pits of despair that only a merciful and loving God could have dug me out. Also, always short of the marvelous plans that God intended for my life when I yielded to His will and cast all my hopes, cares, and concerns at the foot of the Cross.

And you know what else I found out about myself? Sometimes, like a drowning swimmer who fights the lifeguard that’s trying to save her, I have to be knocked out by life in order for God to pull me safely to shore.

Then one day, while reading the Bible I came across James 1:4, “Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” I prayed for clarity and understood, finally, the necessity to press my way—to persevere. As I kept my spiritual eyes on Jesus, the Holy Spirit imparted His strength and wisdom which allowed me to make the sometimes hard but right choices that propelled me closer to God’s perfect will for this life that He so graciously saved.

When I want to give up, and that thought enters my mind sometimes, I don’t. There are times when I want to stretch out on the road and cry out, “No more, life is just too hard!” But I’ve found that along the way somewhere God has changed my mind—my perspective—and I refuse to give up five minutes before the miracle happens.

I have found that when I call upon my Savior, I am given the ability that I could never give myself—no matter how many self-help books I read—to persevere. By the power of the Holy Spirit, I am able to go one more step, cast aside all fear, chase away my doubts, stomp down the enemy of my soul, speak life to my circumstances, command that the raging storm to cease and desist, write one more sentence, seize opportunities, let go the past, forgive myself and forgive the same person yet another time for the same thing I forgave him for the last time. I find that like I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

If there is ever a glossary in any of the books left for me to write, under “perseverance” there will be a solitary picture—Jesus Christ—nailed to the cross. He was, is, and forever will be—the definition and the example.

© 2005 Stanice Anderson www.stanice.com

Self-Esteem Booster

On those low-self esteem days (and let's get real--we all have them), click this link: I LIKE YOU

A Living Will I Can Live With

Stanice's Website

With living wills and medical directives in news’ forefront, I say this…

I know my son. My son knows me. I love my son and we both love God—more! By faith, I know that God uses my son when it comes to anything concerning me.

Therefore, I’m telling my son this, “Should something happen to me where I can’t make a medical decision for myself, pray and ask God to show you His will for your Momma and make it so plain that even you—with all the love that overflows in your heart for me—will understand.”

It’s like this, we both believe in miracles—we’ve seen God perform them too many times in our personal lives—so, I’ll continue with…

“Son, leave room for a miracle; however, understand that going home to be with Jesus is a miracle, too. For your momma’s gonna get a new—immortal—body that will never wear out! And because we know Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we will see each other again and never have to say goodbye.”

Now for those of you that say that sounds pretty but how real is it?

I say to you, “Find out for yourself. My word ain’t enough to bank your eternity on—but God’s Word—that’s another story with a marvelous ending. Read 1 Corinthians Chapter 15: Verses 35-58, Revelation 21:4, Hebrews 11:16, 2 Corinthians 5:8, and Luke 16:19-31

Here, I’ve made it simple for you. Click on link below. I wouldn’t want you to miss your blessing.

I'm willing to find out for myself

If you are not certain of your eternal destiny and want to be, go onto my website’s page, “WantPeace?”

Stanice's Website
(c) 2005 Stanice Anderson

Thoughts Eluded

Today, fresh and exciting thoughts that tickled my newly awakened mind evaded capture like butterflies from hole-ridden nets. They were so vivid whilst I lay but by the time my feet hit the floor and pen inked the page, the words melted one into the other and became like vapors suspended in the air. “There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home,” the thoughts taunted. Then trailed off into nothingness—desiring rather to remain hidden somewhere between sleep and awake under the cloak of a dream.
© 2005 Stanice Anderson

a MUST read book...

I am reading a short, simple book, Favor The Road to Success by Bob Buess, that is revolutionizing my thought processes. It is helping me to see God through every fiber of my life and understand that I have my very being in God’s favor and that He is giving me favor and success—His and man’s. Omie, first shared with me the principles of book about 10 years ago while I lived in North Carolina. During Wednesday night's Feast On THE WORD Gathering, she came with the book and a testimony.

The woman Omie loaned the book to about 12 years ago had moved to Africa (unbeknownst to Omie). Last week, when the woman returned to the US, she mailed from the airport a note and photocopy of the book to Omie. Now armed with the name and author of the book, Omie went to a bookstore and ordered it. Omie loaned me her book. Instead of reading it and moving to Africa with it, I read it and then ordered my own copy. It was first published by Whitaker House in 1973 and reprinted in 1992. It is indeed a MUST read.

I confess favor and success for you as you read it. God is going to use it to invigorate your walk with Him.

A Few of My Favorite Things

I appreciate and bask in God's love, friendship, family, creativity, and enjoy traveling, reading, peppermint tea with orange blossom honey. I have a passion for people, sharing my testimony, oceans and other bodies of water; music like ambient-jazz-r&b-alternative-latin jazz-contemporary Christian-waterfalls and other sounds in nature-crickets on a hot summer's night; pancakes, waffles, ice cream, spinach, seafood; walks in the park, museums, horses, and beta fish. I love laughter, sunsets and sunrises, mountains and sandy shores, popcorn, and corn on the cob...hot dogs on the grill, amusement parks, Discovery, A&E, Sundance Channel and Book-TV. Twizzlers, Dell computers, God's promises, people, and stories of the Bible, reading out loud, singing, and microphones. I'm energized by the smell of salty oceans and the clarity of the Caribbean Sea, conversations with Vincentians, and the nothingness of silence. The possibilities of a blank page, the probabilities of a finished manuscript. Yes, these are a few of my favorite things.
© 2005, Stanice Anderson

Poem: Love Is

from Lost Poetry Found Collection by Stanice Anderson

Love is
One Total aspect of your being finally uncovered, discovered, conquered.
Love is
Behind our masks of hate
Our masks of jealousy
Our masks of deceit.
Love is
you, Love is me.
An epic left unproclaimed
An hour left unmeasured.
Love IS.

© 1972 Stanice L. Anderson
Poem from Lost Poetry Found Collection
As referenced in I Say A Prayer for Me.

Participate In A Miracle

A letter from my friend, Deborah Baldwin, Suitland, MD "I am sending this message out to all of you, first of all, to ask for your prayers and best wishes. I am also looking for a kidney donor. There’s no better way for me to say it. I registered with the Washington Hospital Center’s Transplantation Services and I have been informed that the wait for a kidney can be as long as 7 years. In the meantime, I've started dialysis. IF THIS IS HEAVY FOR YOU, JUST IMAGE WHAT I’M GOING THROUGH!!! I’m looking for anyone who is willing to be tested for possible donation. It may not be you. It may be someone you know, a relative, friend, co-worker or anyone. I’m asking that you share this information with your email buddies, in general conversations, in your church, or wherever you find yourselves. You never know what may happen. Thank you all for listening and sharing this message with others. Peace and Love, Deborah Baldwin Deborah22@comcast.net