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Editors Choice • I'm
23 and living with HIV - One Woman's story
|
Whitney Sang to Me! By Stacy Woods Okay, so here are my reflections: I AM GLAD SHE IS BACK! I realize I'm taking a risk because many may be wondering how I, "An Apostle" can celebrate a "secular" singer (we make that word sounds so hard) but it’s because before I knew that I was "An Apostle" I was a little girl. It's deeper than just "secular" music. Allow me to share this piece of me, and you'll understand (possibly) my passion.
Initially, I only intended to say GLAD YOU ARE BACK WHITNEY, but then HUNDREDS of memories began to flood my mind and I found myself wiping tears because once again God has used another life to touch mine. It was so tragic that Michael Jackson never found his place of "come back" and that he never truly realized how much he was loved, in my humble opinion, but Whitney LIVES and she can feel the love we share for her and for her gift. I'm glad she's back (say what you will about her vocal abilities now). Her being "back" is something I celebrate whether or not she "still has it" or not. I'm just glad she is HERE!
A few of my memories:
When I auditioned and then went on to record my first television appearance
on Discovery Television's Talent search I was seven years old. I stood
at the mic in a three piece red suit "fearlessly." I belted
out : Everybody's searching for a hero God is teaching me that although there are many that “look up to me,” I don’t have to succumb to the pressure of being anyone’s hero. I just simply have to be, depending on me and the GREATER one that lives inside of me. In case you don’t get it yet, JESUS is the greatest love of all. However, Jesus has given us the power to love. If you look outside of Him, you’ll always be in a lonely place, because people do not possess the ability to love you like God has given you the ability to love YOURSELF! Loneliness is my comfort zone, so I retreat to that place often, but because of who God says I am, I must also be that “someone to look up to.” It’s a delicate balance that I work on daily. However my comfort is in the fact that if I have NO ONE, I have myself. THAT IS NOT ARROGANCE, that’s assurance.
BECAUSE THE GREATEST This “deciding” process that Whitney told us about is filled with making hard choices. However, God has made Stacey Woods (you put your name there) an individual. Therefore, we rob our very existence if we reduce ourselves to just being a shadow. As a natural born leader, it’s nearly impossible to be someone’s shadow unless you are positioned there to learn how to be a better leader. Therefore, leaders MUST watch WHO they shadow. If you try to be a shadow to someone who will only seek to hide you, it won’t work. If you try to shadow someone that does not KNOW who you are, it won’t work. If you try to shadow someone who does not posses the fortitude of character and the wisdom of experience to help you in your becoming, IT WILL NOT WORK. If you try to shadow someone who is intimidated by you, it won't work. If you try to shadow someone who does not love you past your weaknesses, it won't work. If you try to shadow someone who only accepts what you can do to make their dream live, it won't work. If you try to shadow someone who is swayed by other people's opinions about you, It won't work. If you try to shadow someone who is easily moved and influenced, it won't work. I’m a witness to these things because I've sinned against myself and my purpose by trying to walk in someone's shadow. I discovered that I cast my OWN shadow and usually that's problematic for those that are threatened by the potential of another. In times past I thought I had to “shrink myself down to someone’s shadow” so that I could prove that I was humble enough to serve others. That was FALSE HUMILITY and I had to repent to God for trying to lessen the value of the treasures He gave me by bowing down to satisfy someone's inflated ego, fulfill someone else's desires, advance someone else's goals, and prosper someone else's vision. Service has its own powerful place, but its too costly if you have to pay the dear price of allowing YOUR OWN purpose to die. I've decided that, long ago, so why should I change my song now? I’m also learning to step from behind the shadows of experiences, roles, positions, and definitions. I’m grateful for them, but they don’t entirely define me and I don't have to fit into their box. We are dimensional beings, and we have to discover that the only shadow we are to abide in is God’s. He is infinite which means the sky is not my limit, it's only a point of focus until I reach BEYOND the sky. When I reach the sky, there is GREATER. He is the greatest love, the Son, and I'm resting in the cast of His shadow. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty - Psalm 91:1 You have to decide not to walk in any one person’s shadow. In times of uncertainty, don’t receive your identity in the roles that people place you in. You have a greater purpose that can only be fulfilled if you step out of the shadow of things and people. TRUST GOD to cover you. Understand that people, although they may be placed there to cover you until you reach a certain point, must be loosed if you truly desire to emerge. Eventually you will HAVE to live based on your own convictions and standards. It’s called maturing. Remember, it’s comfortable to remain in the shadow but if you want to discover who you really are, step out! I’m emerging now. I’m taking a risk. I might fail, but WHAT IF I SUCCEED. AT LEAST I LIVED AS I BELIEVED! We have to live. We have to surround ourselves with people and situations that allow us to live. You may lose relationships along the way. You may be dismissed from the crowds too. The sacrifice is GREAT when you decide to live this life and you may lose a lot in the process. People may try to take your smile, steal your thunder, quiet your voice, doubt your ability, question your authority, lessen your worth, cheat your purpose, taint your credibility, and rob your joy but NO MATTER WHAT THEY TRY TAKE…DON’T LET THEM TAKE YOUR DIGNITY! Yes Whitney, I heard you. Yes God, I still hear you.
WOW. I’m learning and I admit that I’m still discovering “that special place” for me is “destiny.” I’m daring to dream again. Sometimes its backbreaking and lonely but you can find strength in love. It’s AMAZING to me that this is EXACTLY what God spoke in my spirit. He’s been showing me His love all around, from the person that holds the door for me, those that admire me, those that pray for me, and those that simply LET ME be. I’m strengthened by God’s love today. Let’s talk about Whitney now, because I originally intended this note to be ABOUT HER but after I started to write I realized that I don't know her. I do know how she's impacted me, so that's why it was "So Emotional" to "see her" doing well. For me, she's not “just a singer” and when I heard her tell her story, I was reminded of the triumphs and the tragedies that make up my own. I’m HAPPY to know that she’s working her way back. She sings about many things, some of which I have to oppose because of my personal convictions, however I’ve fallen in love with many of Whitney’s songs because of the power God gave her to communicate them. You may have your own "Greatest Love of All" story. Use your power to tell it. If you have watched the interview, and if you have memories of your own, cherish them and share them. Remember, GOD IS LOVE which is why I say that you can have an experience with God when she sings about love. One day in my “going through” I turned "I have nothing if I don't have YOU" into a worship to God, and it took me IN (into the presence of the Lord). You may disagree. Whatever it is, Whitney has "it." She always did. I AM a singer and I respect art, gifts, talent, and an anointing. An anointing? Yes, it's God's supernatural covering (coating) over something/someone that allows it surpass the normal limits. It may be arguable, but I believe that Whitney has "something" that the ordinary person DOES NOT have. She can sing about love and make you cry. She can sing about life and make you want to LIVE. She clearly has a gift, and that is something that I greatly respect. I know that gifts and callings come without repentance, and my goodness, after all these years she still fills a room with electricity that can only point to the fact that God is with her. It was good to see her sitting there, strong and beautiful. I saw God in that. This confuses Christians sometimes because we would like to believe that God is only with someone when they are the perfect example of holiness, but I've found out PERSONALLY that such is not always the case. God is with us in the lowest of times if we would acknowledge Him, receive His generous gift of grace and trust Him with our weaknesses. It seems that Whitney has done this. She said that even when she was strung out on weed laced with crack rocks, she read her bible. Thank you Jesus. I believe she even “schooled” Oprah for a moment and I wanted to shout as she spoke of her knowledge of God and His love for her. FOR THIS...I CELEBRATE HER. It's good to see her "back." Of course the preacher in me wants her to sing gospel and just...BUT somehow I believe that Ms. Houston was created to reach more than just "us." I may be taking a risk in saying so, but I believe that Whitney is "the voice" or one of “the voices” that was created to go into all the world. I don't agree with all the lyrics, the lifestyle, the choices because I believe that holiness is right. However, I have to just stop and say-- GLAD YOU'RE BACK WHITNEY. I don’t care if she never sings another note, I’m just glad she’s HERE! I deeply desire that she would be COMPLETELY made whole, but I can stop and celebrate with the rest of the world to say that I’m glad she's on her way. It's funny that the world would celebrate someone's deliverance but Christians continue to even wonder why I'm happy about it. I BELIEVE IN WHITNEY BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN GOD. GOD GAVE HER THE POWER
TO MAKE ME BELIEVE IN LOVE. Whitney sang until I wanted to sing. I sang
until I FOUND the “Greatest Love of All.” Then I learned
to love Him, learned to love myself, and discovered that before Whitney
sang it- HE SAID IT. “THE GREATEST of these [things] IS LOVE.” 1
Corinthians 13:13 “God has shown me His overwhelming love and I am grateful. I’m me. I'm either loved right away or hated right away (it’s ALWAYS been that way) but I can handle the hate by CHOOSING to love because I KNOW that I am loved. Thank you to all of you who have shown me a consistent and unwavering love through the years, and even presently right now. I love you, regardless. |
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When
we got home my mother insisted that I learned, studied, and mastered "The
Greatest Love of All." This morning I had to send mom a text message
(GO MOM, YOU STEPPED INTO the 21st century) to tell her THANK YOU for
that. If you've ever worked with me, you know that by nature I tend to
be sort of a perfectionist when it comes to music and ministry (okay
I admit it). However, you all should meet SADIE WOODS! MAMA DON'T PLAY.
My mother is not a singer, but she bought me the record (yes honey- RECORD)
and I nearly scratched it with all the times I had to go back to a "part." I
sat on the floor in the living room and wrote out EVERY word. I had to
study every note, word, melisma, arpeggio, and dynamic until I "had
it." She said to me, "Stacey, when you memorize something you
can forget it over time, but when you LEARN IT you will NEVER forget
it." So I had to sing it until I convinced her that I had "found
the Greatest love" and she was not easy to convince. However, when
she was convinced, but knew she did not possess the ability to
train me to convince others, she and Daddy invested in professional vocal
lessons
for me at seven years old, (Thank you Dr. Everett Parker) and helped
me to find the diamond in the rock that was my vocal ability. After
Dr. Parker's lessons I still had to come home and perfect the song. My
extended
family can witness to the fact that if you came to our house during
those years, you HAD to listen to me sing (dance and play instruments
too).
I demanded it, and Daddy insisted that everyone comply. (Sorry
yall - lol). After practicing on my family, my parents began to take
me around
to local churches (yes I sang it in church) and talent searches. 
After that performance I got a standing ovation, however the message
behind that experience is still singing to me. I can say today
that I LEARNED that song, and I'm still learning it. I realize now that “The
Greatest Love of All” was a prophetic composition that has provided
for me the foundation that causes me to live life abundantly. Whitney
sang to me, and she still sings from that place in my childhood
memories. It’s funny, because as I embark of “being me,” I’m
having to remember the simple but PROFOUND words:
Whitney went on to say:
But Whitney kept singing. She said: