That'll Preach

Rhythm of grace shows God was and is good

admin — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:28:52 +0000

Original article from www.sunherald.com:

There are times like these when I wish that I could wax eloquent like a real writer.

My words can’t begin to describe the creation that God blew into existence with His breath. It was and is good.

I took a long walk on the crunchy dirt lanes of a wildlife preserve yesterday and became a part of that creation.

You could hear a pin drop, yet at the same time you could feel life teeming at a hum that beat to the Father’s time. It was and is good.

As Southern women do I was glistening, not sweating, when I walked from there to the rock beaches lining the ocean.

Jetties of granite jutted up out of the sand. They offered a neat resting place among the thousands and thousands of shells that had washed up.

The seaweed was piled in lines that measured the tides ebb and flow. Sailboats darted in and out. Laughter punctuated the air from a sandbar that had been invaded by children playing. God’s presence was very evident. It was and is good.

I found my place on a nice flat rock only to notice that some other beach comber had beat me there. They’d spelled out a big “Hi” in seashell fashion to which I just had to add a good ol’ fashioned “y’all.”

Over the past few days there have been myriad emotions displayed by the sea. The winds have whipped up with gale force intensity, waves that you could hear crashing against the rocks. Last night fog thickly covered the banks, but as today dawns, the seas have settled into a glassy calm. It is good.

There’s something significant I’m learning. You know, one of those “that’ll preach” moments.

Maybe the developers of those CD’s that have the sounds of the waves understood that God created in the movement of life, emotion and lessons, change and steadfastness.

All I know is that in this place of natural beauty, all creation cries out that there is a God. By Him and in Him all things consist and hold together and if we get into the rhythm of grace we can as the scriptures say, “In Him live and move and have our being.”

There is a scripture, I quote it often, that kind of mirrors the mood of this note to you. Many of you may be saying I don’t have any calm, my sand is shifting, my life is too hard.

God knew that as He had the Psalmist write, “Others went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. They saw the works of the Lord, His wonderful deeds in the deep. For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. They reeled and staggered like drunken men; they were at their wits’ end. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress.

He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men.”

Cry out to the One whom Creation cries out to … Our God … Our Creator … and it was and is good, very, very good.

Two Articles Worth Reading

admin — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 01:54:13 +0000

Hello everyone,

Here are two articles from the Sun Herald that you should take a look at:

Aha! Life’s little surprises are big - June 10, 09

You never know when the call will come - June 24, 09

Kandi Farris — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 18:13:49 +0000

Thanks girls for letting me be a part of your retreat!!!

what’s next

Kandi Farris — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 18:10:11 +0000

Have you ever asked God, “What’s next.” I think I do every time I get up in the morning. I especially ask the question after a conference, speaking engagement or retreat. There’s this feeling of “Where we going now.”

But what I’m trying to let God know when I ask that (as if He didn’t already know)is that He know ,I’m His and I just want to stay green and bear that fruit He gives in every one of these seasons…Wow, y’all…some of those seasons are just plain hot, some are wearing, some are outstanding, some are confusing and some are painful…but all are filled with opportunity. I’m praying that He water the times that have already passed, that they’ll continue to be growing and getting greener and bloomin’. It’s fun to watch God.

Then there are the What’s Next…that can throw me for a loop. The ones that I project about…what ifs. Y’all probably know those a little too well for comfort. I’ve decided (every other minute) to let God be in charge of the what ifs. It hurts too bad, or I get to anxious, or I get ahead of God if I’m dwelling on something too long.

Well, a lot of my What’s next…have been with you along the way. Thank you for letting me share with y’all and be with you at some of the “events” of life. God is good. He’s never through with us and I just have to believe, even though some of the best has already been, there is more of the best to come.

Ok y’all. I blogged. I’m blogging off for now. God bless ya real good.

So, join me when I pray….God be in and with us in all the “what’s next.” We trust You and know that you will use each of us to be somebody’s blessing if we let you. Be blessed y’all…

BIO “INFO” CONTINUED…FOR THE REST OF THE STORY….

Kandi Farris — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:23:43 +0000

Hi. I’m Kandi Anderson. I’m a firm believer that the only way we can have joy in this journey called life is to live out and live in the scriptures, abiding in Him as we walk through the everyday stuff… “For me to live is
Christ…that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings….for in Him we live and move and have our being.”

I have a big mouth. I asked the Lord as a young girl if He wanted to use this mouth for His glory, I was willing to go. Kind of the whole “Here am I, send me.” He did and He has. Yet, the practical part of living has not always been easy. There have been lot’s of humorous, same ol’ same ol’, terribly sad, scary, joyful, emotion packed days that scream, “That’ll preach.”

The scripture, “For me to live is Christ” is wonderful, but then comes the part about fellowshipping in His sufferings and then those “Gethsemane Moments” of not my will, but Yours. Each declaring that the hiding and abiding under the Shadow of His wing and the cross is the only way to breathe in and out this side of glory.

There were the years of diapers, teenagers, wife, church, work….life. Each experience yelled, “I need you Lord.” God has allowed me to walk through the ordinary, the extraordinary “Jesus filled” days and say,
“Nevertheless” I will trust you and I will go tell after we get through this chapter together. Raw testimony is the way God works out the “go tell” part.
“““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““
I married Lowry Anderson at the ripe ol’ age of 18 and moved from South Texas to Mississippi. We started a family on a shoestring, climbed a corporate ladder, and climbed higher to accept God’s call into the ministry during middle-age.

During that time I was invited to speak to different groups, churches, students, civic groups, seniors, ladies, men’s groups and suddenly I found myself with a radio program called Morning Lite. From there I became a manager of WAOY, American Family Radio. I continued to speak, traveling to places like Kansas, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina, Mississippi, and then a decade ago I began writing a weekly column for the “Sun Herald” the newspaper for MS Gulf Coast.
(sunherald.com Search “kandi anderson)

It’s been a journey. I quit the radio to be a fulltime “Pastor’s wife” helping with counseling, hospital visits, just loving and supporting my husband and the precious group of people that passed through our lives. I’m
so glad I listened to the Lord and did just that.

This last year has been the most difficult as my vigorous, life-filled, funny, faithful husband got sick and within three short weeks went home to be with the One he loved, prayed to, lived for and preached about. Life is hard, but God is good.

I’m back on the air, (tues-wed, 3pm 91.7fm WAOY) still writing and I’m wanting more than ever to share
the “That’ll Preach” moments when and to wherever God leads. It has to be Him or y’all we won’t get a thing but words…He’s the one that does the calling, the leading, the healing and the teaching. As Paul said, …. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” I don’t presume to be a Paul. I’m more like the donkey, a donkey that’s wanting to be used.

This has been a long introduction just to say, “Love the Lord, Have message, Have a big mouth, Will travel.”

I pray that..if you have prayed and God leads you to have me come share….God will do the rest. God bless you and have a Jesus filled day.
kandi

A PLAN WITHOUT A GOAL IS JUST A DREAM

Kandi Farris — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:28:17 +0000

A GOAL WITHOUT A PLAN IS JUST A DREAM

I long to accomplish a great and noble task; but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble. - Helen Keller

This is an article I wrote trying to get myself psyched up into preparing for 2009

Well, there are days and then there are days. There are twenty-four hour periods when nothing much is accomplished. Not much of an inspired day. No plan. Minutes run into hours and then the day is done. Worn out from doing zilch. Not a good day.

Other days hold minutes greased with motivation, driving what looked to be an unproductive day into one that speaks, “Measured out the day. Worked the plan. Ran out of hours. Saw progress. Worn out with a good tired. Now that…that was a good day.

We can probably all agree, investing in and using the minutes of a day is better than bankrupting and losing the minutes of the same. So, 2009 watch out. I’m getting busy. I’m pretty sure that y’all have said that, too.

The year begins goal oriented to the max. Visions of great goals dance in my head. Problem is I always seem to be trying to make a goal, but there’s a big, bad goalie blocking my shot. I was contemplating this very thing as I was driving away from a blocked goal. The goal? A balanced budget. The big ol’ goalie? A clearance sale. It was a “no go” on the goal. Shot down again.

That’s when I spotted it. “It” was like I had an epiphany. You could almost see the clouds break open, the sun bursting through shining on “it.” If you cupped your ear, I’m positive you could hear the angelic voices heralding the message “it” bore. “It” was a sign in front of the dry cleaners.

It spoke to me. It flat whacked me up the side of the head and said, “Hey, this is inspiration speaking. Here’s your sign.” What did it say? Simply, “A goal without a plan is just a dream.” Flashing before me was the book I’d hoped to have written in 2008. The book was dream. Didn’t have a plan to meet the goal. Man, I’ve got to get a plan.

I know this plan thing works. My son Zach and his wife Tiff wanted to get healthy. They’ve been on a 90-day get fit program that borders on insanity. They work-out, eat right and generally follow the plan. The before and after photos tell the tale. The whole thing is…they worked the plan and the plan took them to their goal. No dream.

I’m not going for the insane plan. I want God’s plan. It’s a necessity. Scripture addresses the “no plan” thing. It pretty much mimics my inspiration sign. “He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.”

Remember a goal without a plan is just a dream. It’s like chasing a fantasy. It won’t pay the bills. Working the plan will bring about the goal. So, I’m laying my plan down for planning my goals. It’s nothing original. It’s simply ask the Lord for the plans He has for us. Pray hard. Set it out on paper. Check it out with the Bible. Work it. I’ll let you know. I’ll pray for you. Please pray for me, it’s a New Year out there.

In the words of the Psalmist, “May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.” There’s no blocking that, y’all…It’s a goal.

SPEAKING EVENT CALENDAR FOR 2009

Kandi Farris — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:20:04 +0000

Thought it might be good to post a calendar. I will attempt to keep it up-to-date. If you have any pictures of events that we’ve shared in I would sure appreciate it if you would send them to me so that I could post them on the website!

JANUARY 2009

January 12

St. Monica Guild, Pass Christian, MS

January 22

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Pastor’s Wives, New Orleans, LA

FEBRUARY 2009

February 9, Valentine Banquet, Crane Creek Baptist, Perkinston, MS

February 15, Banquet, First Baptist Long Beach, MS

February 28, Tablescapes Banquet, Cedar Lake Christian Assembly, Biloxi, MS

MARCH 2009

March 4 BSU, Jeff Davis Campus

March 7 9am Heritage UMC Prayer Breakfast, Biloxi, MS

5pm Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Tablescapes, Saucier, MS

March 13,14, Daphne, AL Girlfriends Connect, New Life Family

GRANDBABY JACKSON LEE HERE MARCH 29

APRIL 2009

April 2, MC Promiss Sav-a-Life Banquet, Jackson County, MS

April 12, University of Southern MS Gulf Coast Library Book Signing

April 22, First UMC the OAKS, Long Beach, MS

April 24, North Woolmarket Middle School, Woolmarket, MS

April 25, Friendship Seminar, Michael Memorial Baptist, Gulfport, MS

MAY 2009

May 1, First Biloxi Senior Banquet

May 2, Mother’s Day Banquet, Lemoyne Baptist Church, Biloxi, MS

May 16, 5:30am Devotion Relay for Life, Sports Plex, Gulfport, MS

May 19, Grace Memorial Baptist J. O. Y. Group

May 30, Ladies Tea, East Moss Point Baptist Church

JUNE 2009

June 1, Taping for Show with Bob McHuston in Tupelo

June 13-Girl’s Retreat, Kenwood Baptist

June 14-Agricola Baptist Church

June 18-Cedar Lake Methodist

June 19-20 Anderson Reunion

June 26-27, Prayer Retreat, First Biloxi, Camp Garroway, Jackson, MS

JULY 2009

July 11, Ladies Birthday Bash

AUGUST 2009

August 15, Gulf Coast Baptist Association, Steel Magnolias Keynote Speaker

SEPTEMBER 2009

September 12, Ladies Event, Shoreline Baptist Church, Waveland, MS

September 26, Pearl River Baptist Association Retreat, Pearl River, MS

OCTOBER 2009

date change

NOVEMBER 2009

DECEMBER 2009

I even blogged in the wrong spot. Maybe this is right!ha

Kandi Farris — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 03:48:26 +0000

Kandi • November 15, 2008 @6:50 pm

Blogging is hard for this ol’ A.D.D. girl. I wish I could sit and tell you all that God has been blessing me with during my “Back Porch” prayer time. Maybe that will be a good place to start…I’m working through Proverbs again and today..the 15th chapter reminds me that “the Lord establishes the boundaries of the widow.” Just when you’re anxious…He speaks. He throws kisses,too. Like yellow and red roses bloomin’ on the same bush. Reminders of Lowry.

I’ve enjoyed visiting with so many women at retreats, banquets, breakfasts and lunches lately. Your testimonies of what God is doing in your lives are incredible and for many of you those testimonies are just beginning. Wait in expectation…He will show you great and marvelous things.

I laughed last night about testimonies…this will probably make an article. I was going to speak in Wiggins at Berean baptist. I’d made it out the driveway and was on my way when I happened to look at the gas gauge. Uh oh. I was also talking to my Willene my father-in-law’s wife and my dear friend. We were trying to set up a date to come to Florida. Not real good while driving to be doing too much.

I head north on 49, stop at the gas station, cars are lined up and of course when I get to the pump or pumps plural they all have those plastic bags over the handles. OUT OF GAS. GREAT. I can’t continue North on fumes so I take it back south. All the time I’m still talking on the cell. I can’t see my calendar so I try to find the overhead light (it’s dark outside) Instead I open the sky deally, sunroof or moonroof…whatever…it opened and oh my goodness, the wind caught my hair and my contacts. I’m a dried up ol’ prune anyway and when the wind hit my eyeballs it sucked all the liquid out of those babies. So, now I can’t see. I’m talking on the phone. I do put the phone down as I turn in the gas station. ONLY TO FIND that I CAN”T FIND MY WALLET.

I had visions of it sitting on the counter at Ross’s. I call my daughter in a panic. She’s going to call the store. I find a ten dollar bill run into get gas. My stomach is making it’s own, well….I was nervous y’all. I call Sue at Berean and explain my dilemma…hoping I wouldn’t be late. There’s a young man, obviously going on the big date, filling his tank watching me….He makes the comment that it’s wonderful to be able to fill his tank for 42 dollars. I said, I’d fill mine but I lost my wallet and then I said, I’m a fine one …going to talk to some women about being calm, and at peace and I’m frazzeled as frazzled woman could be… He smiled and said something about testimony and tests….He’s right there is no testimony without the test!ha God’s got a great sense of humor and I even found my billfold under the seat of the car. Hallelujah. Well, there I did it. I blogged.

Enjoyed the precious women at the dinner and our time with the each other and the Lord. His arms are around us, even at the hardest of times. kandi

Welcome!

Kandi Farris — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 04:58:32 +0000

I hope that you all are blessed by the things that you read here. Consider this place a home for honest conversation.