Knock, Knock

When the devil comes knocking at your door, simply say...

"Jesus, would you get that for me, please?"

1 Samuel 17:47 (NIV)
"All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands."

Stained Glass Masquerade

raychae21's Xanga Site - 11/25/2005 5:58:28 AM: "Stained Glass Masquerade
Casting Crowns"

A young woman at a Bible College in upstate NY first shared this song with me. I shared it during a Feast On THE WORD Gathering and now I'm sharing it with you. Listen and HEAR the message.

Pumpkin Pie - animated Flash ecard by Jacquie Lawson

Pumpkin Pie - animated Flash ecard by Jacquie Lawson

Press On!

Corinthians 10:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

I just sent most of these next words (I added some specifically for you) to a friend yesterday. So you see, you are not alone in your struggle to press your way. Like my boy, Robert Randolph, sings in his song, Press On, "when whatever whatever--press on." I added the "when whatever whatever" but you feel me. It only means there's a breakthrough in store for you that the lower power would rather you not partake in. If he can get you to quit before you see what the ends gonna be, that would make his day. But God WILL GET THE GLORY TODAY IN THE PRESSING. So start praising God all the way through it! PRESS ON!"

How?: The Armor of God

I love you and God loves you extravagently more!
© 2005 Stanice Anderson, www.stanice.com

Stanice's Article Published

An article I wrote, The Hour I First Believed, is published in the latest issue of the quarterly magazine, Precious Times, which is now on sale at Christian Bookstores, Barnes & Nobles and WalMart. You can also subscribe to the mag on their website.

Tribute to Barbara Noonan

Passed on Nov. 2, 2005

Barbara, my friend, I seize this opportunity to thank you—again—for inspiring me to explore my God-given talents and gifts—including motherhood.

It was you who took the time to coach me into singing at my first talent show. Through your patience and prodding during rehearsals, I was able to go from singing with my back to the audience, to slowly developing the courage to face the audience with my eyes closed, of course, to the night of the show where I was belting out my songs with the confidence of a diva. You, Barbara, showed me how to fly! As if that wasn't enough, you helped me develop a mother's consciousness that I lacked at the start of my recovery journey. Remember that same night at the talent show, I had my son with me, he was only about 9 years old and once I started singing, I took it to the extreme and felt the need to sing back up for everybody and all at the expense of my precious son--it was getting late and all he wanted to do was go home? You took the risk and intervened.

Well, I remember and those moments were so significant to me -- so life changing for both myself and my son that I recanted it in last book, "...Stanice, take that boy home! He's tired and he should be home and in his bed asleep this time of night...I could smell the greasy potato chips that lingered on her breath as she stood almost nose-to-nose with me. As she reared her neck back, her freshly spiraled Jerri curls shook and shone under the bright corridor light. Like bullets, her words shot out of the barrel of her month: 'Look girl, you already sang your last song. Cut! That's a wrap! The show's over for you! Now, take that boy home.'

"Barbara, listen You--"

"No, Stanice you gonna listen to what I have to say and I don't care how much you don't like it. You always talk about wanting to learn how to be a good mother. Well consider this your first lesson! Your child's needs MUST come before your own. Look at him. What are his needs at this moment?"

You were so right, my friend. I submitted to your "tough love" and I thank God that you took the time and loved me enough to help me.

Mike is now 29 and through the years we have developed an incredibly loving and nurturing relationship. And now Mike has a daughter, Michal, my first grandchild. So, together as family of many generations to come--we thank you. Rest easy, Chosen One...you have stored up treasures in Heaven--I am a witness. Amen. So be it!

© 2005 Stanice Anderson www.stanice.com

Through It All--Persevere!

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. Especially, 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.

However, once got the Word of God in me and built a personal intimate relationship with God, I saw 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 I 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.

Dear Heavenly Father: We want to be more like Jesus with each passing day. Help us to persevere this day. We know that without your help we will drown in our own pools of self-reliance. In Jesus’ precious Name we pray. Amen. So be it!

James 1:4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

© 2005 Stanice Anderson


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Delay is Not Denial

Photographer: Darlene Washington
"Delay is not denial," my agent said as she assured me that she had not forgotten my manuscript or me. It had been three LONG months since the work was finished, and I ached for publication details. Almost seven months later, her words were more than a haunting hope. They reminded that in God's time, not mine, more will be revealed.

The delay taught me to walk by faith and not by natural sight. Therefore, with the eyes of my faith, I saw the book. I felt the raised letters of the title spanned across the glossy cover. I smelled the fresh-inked pages. I saw myself at the podium of a packed auditorium as I read from sections book marked with neon-pink Post-its peeping over the pages. I experienced the "not yet" as if it already "was." Perhaps spiritual vision is sharpened in the delay.

After we have done our part, we turn all else over to God and stand on His promises while we wait for the results that He alone can orchestrate. His Word reminds us, "... though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely
come."

In this moment, perhaps God is saying to us: "Don't run ahead of me. I AM the Author and the Finisher of your faith. I AM in your past, present and future. My timing is always perfect. In the meantime, trust me and go on to the next thing of your life. When you least expect, I will reveal my perfect will that is immeasurably more than you could ever ask, think or imagine--Creator-made--just for you. Don't curse the delay! I reside in the delay."

Prayer: Father God, we acknowledge that you are still on the Throne. It is you who go before, with and ahead-working together all things for the good of us who love you and are called according to your purpose. Today, we cast our feeble efforts and looming anxieties at the foot of your Throne. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. So be it!

© 2004 Stanice Anderson, www.stanice.com

Pass THE WORD: real, BibleZine™

I was sending this info to a friend and I was like hold up...let me share it with my Soul Shout fam and friends too. So from me to you--with much love.

real which is a Biblezine containing the complete New Testament and articles, prayers, etc., in urban/hip hop language. I reviewed it for my son’s magazine, YARDstyle. I'm using it now in my studies for a fresh perspective on THE WORD I've grown to love.

Here is my review:

real, BibleZine™ seeks to connect a diverse hip hop urban culture with timeless truths. Using a full-color glossy mag format, it contains the complete New Testament along with articles within Departments like, Bible 411; Music Reviews; How Ya Travelin’?; HHB Stories – Bible stories retold in the language of the street; Connecting – Biblical truths about relationships; God Unit – Testimonies, "Dope Christian Rhymes; Overwhelming – targeting issues such as: AIDS, Poverty, Drugs, and Violence; and Jail Ain't No Joke – written by ex-convicts. My favorite Department was “Heart Cry” – Dilemmas, prayers and answers. One prayer begins “Lord, help me out! I’m struggling with sex…” And ends with “I want sex to be all you meant it to be, not just a way to spend time. Thanks for being there, God.”

The presentation? Awesome. The content? Life-changing. REAL also includes a free music CD and is 400 packed pages of practical daily-living tools that will help folk get real and keep it real.

real is published by Thomas Nelson and available in whereever books are sold including Amazon.com.

Pass THE WORD... real love, Stanice Anderson www.stanice.com

OnceWritten.com Meet the Author--Stanice Anderson, author of I Say a Prayer for Me

OnceWritten.com Meet the Author--Stanice Anderson, author of I Say a Prayer for Me