TESSA STOCKTON, Novelist
  • Home
  • Books
  • Bio
  • Blogette
     Speculative Fiction
           Biblical Worldview

         Pressing through...        

Dedication

6/15/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
I have this relationship with the sky. When I wake up first thing, I grab a cup of coffee, step outside, glance up into its face and ask, “Well, what would you like to do today?” And whether the answer is filled with clarity, clouds, storms, or stillness, I make it a point to add, “This day belongs to you, Lord.” It has become a habit, this daily dedication. No matter what, come what may; in good times, bad times (you know I’ve had my share 🎶), there is no other name under heaven than Yeshua.
 
I’m a seer yet can’t seem to see what’s directly ahead of me right now (the irony). Other than a few significant dreams—about ships and clocks, specific people and cultures—I have no idea what God is doing. Yet, for some reason, I can glimpse up at the expansive sky and find reassurance, a reminder that HE’S got this day, and every day is in his hands. Instead of analyzing or fretting, I can rest in his presence, trust in faith, albeit blind faith sometimes.
 
As I was out visiting my horse, pondering the meaningful metaphors of the sky, I looked upward when my favorite Mr. Heron made a sudden appearance, changed direction and flew right over my head. I watched the stoic air-traveler meld into the horizon. I then drew a big breath—because I think I’d stopped breathing for a second there—and exhaled with pleasure. Then last night when I greeted the full moon, I acknowledged and appreciated its reflection of the cross.

Picture
Yeah, the sky inspires me. It is ever-present yet full of surprises. Just like my God who created the lovely, larger-than-me-and-my-issues, hope-filled sky. This day belongs to him.

0 Comments

Abide

4/9/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
We can settle in a place of peace, regardless of what’s going on around us. It might be our nature to desire delineations, even if we dive deep in the Spirit. We might want to see above the surface, or how far to the floor. We might yearn for a glimpse of what’s around or ahead of us. We think we need explanations. Lines and restrictions can give a sense of security… or control. But what if God is asking us to abide in the depths of his fathomless grace? To just linger in his presence, in stillness, even if it’s dark and we can’t see as far as our own hands in front of us? To truly, wholly, trust in him, his mercy--just trust. A hurricane can rip over the surface and destroy everything in its path; impacting everything as we know it; perhaps ridding the familiar or comfortable. But in trusting him, in letting go and allowing him to sweep through our circumstances, our lives, our hearts; we can all the while abide in the depth of his peace, in calm. We can remain in an immovable space, a divine place; one of intimacy and confidence in the God of Glory who speaks to the storms. Instead of the storms threatening to destroy us, we watch them as they shift and scream away at his whisper. All that’s left is what was there all along. Peace, calm, assurance. To trust at a place in the present, where neither height nor depth nor anything can separate us from his love (Romans 8:39). May you abide in his immeasurable peace.

0 Comments

Whose Eyes?

3/28/2022

0 Comments

 
I’ve heard this expression more frequently lately. It’s come from different sources and marked out a bit differently, but the message is the solid same: God didn’t call you to be good, he called you to be faithful. He didn’t call you to be successful, he called you to be obedient.
 
I’m not a proponent of pursuing fame or fortune. If it happens while you go about your business, super. You can do more for others if you’ve been gifted with much… Responsibility and all. But what if you’re only to do well with what you’ve been given, even if it’s ever little? That’s not to say we don’t strive to do well. But what if “to do well” means simply: with integrity, dedication, motivation, and honor?
 
There was a time when it was more important for me to be known and successful, to please and entertain mainstream. Now, I don’t care so much. Because in the eyes of the world (amid fruitless comparisons), I am neither good nor successful; often overlooked; and criticism can outweigh encouragement. In the eyes of the Lord, though, I am faithful and obedient. Guess whose eyes matter most?
 
Seek holiness and purpose, not prestige.
 
Sure, labor to do whatever you do to the best of your ability and within your means. But be who you are, pursuing God and not man.
 
“People who don’t know you can’t define you.”—Perry Noble, Second Chance Church
0 Comments

Dark King's Human Bride

1/24/2022

0 Comments

 

Choices make destinies. Destinies can also change.

Picture
FRESH RELEASE!

+Religious Fiction
+Dark Fantasy
+Christian Speculative Fiction

​... oppression, regret, loss ...
... purpose, love, hope ...
MORE INFO
GET BOOK
0 Comments

Awakened: God’s Spirit; Native Soul

11/8/2021

0 Comments

 
A few years ago, I sensed a shift in my spiritual journey. My dreams even changed. I heard drums in my sleep. At first, being of Jewish background, I thought they were Israeli, perhaps of Yemeni influence, since I had danced Yemenite-Jewish dances before—they are some of my favorites because of the percussion. And maybe my dreams began that way, but it became clear that what I was hearing originated from Native Americans. In one dream, I was walking in a cadence on one path at dusk, but when the music shifted, I turned and zipped up another, totally different path that ascended a hill, then a mountain. At the top, I saw people in regalia gathered there around a drum. Drawn at first by the sound, I couldn’t get there fast enough through the dark. And the closer I got, I realized the people sang praises to Yahweh and worshipped with fullness of joy in God’s spirit. Their divine sound swelled from the top of that high mountain and cascaded over the entire land as the sun rose in brilliance. The elation I felt was like nothing I’ve experienced. These kinds of dreams I was having grew so profound that the drumming became almost tangible. I woke up from my night visions and still heard the sound, like my own heartbeat. Sometimes, through the day, I’d hear the rhythm, remember the visions, and knew that something was up. God was giving me these reflections, images, sounds, stirrings, for a reason.
 
So, I’ve pondered this over the last couple of years. Mindful. Expecting something, but God chose to be… not exactly silent, but quietly guiding, gently influencing. I appreciated the gentleness, because the Lord was ministering to my own heart with healing even as I prayed for meanings and interpretations. He knew I needed the quietude, for he builds up rather than tears down. This past year I’ve spent a lot of dedicated months just pressing in, worshipping, seeking deeper intimacy with the Lord. One way I’ve served the Lord is as an intercessory prayer warrior. And this has manifested in a multitude of ways since the early 1990s, when he first called me to this type of praying. Now, as I’ve dwelled in his presence this year, I’ve felt a continual change within me, a sort of, I don’t know, personal cultivation, and it was very deep, very different. Also, I kept getting prophetic words from others about new seasons, new blueprints for what God is doing or preparing to do. I’ve heard repeatedly that the greatest spiritual harvest and healing that will take place will be unlike anything ever seen. Prepare for a spiritual tidal wave, I was told. Well, I want to be where God is moving, that’s for sure. I was receiving these words; in fact, I think a lot of believers I know were receiving the same, or along the same lines. There seems to be a theme of pressing in and of preparedness. However, in my own life, I couldn’t (still can’t) quite see what this is; what it looks like for me. My future, that is, is yet veiled. Except, a week ago, I distinctly heard the Lord say, be like a watchman on the wall—expecting, watching, waiting—and intercede for your Native American spiritual siblings, focusing on this, for the next three months. Although I long for more by details or involvement, that’s really all I need to know: the next step. Baruch Hashem (Blessed be the Name).
 
The Lord has, without question, planted in my heart that the greatest healing, revival, and harvest in this fractured land will emanate from the Indigenous. This is incredibly moving to me. That those who have been persecuted, oppressed, displaced, ignored—those who have the most to forgive will be central to bringing about the greatest move of forgiveness, healing, and restoration. Those who had been often damaged by the church will rise up and be the church, lead the church.
 
“So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.”—Matthew 20:16
 
And it all will spring from the vital drum; culturally intact, spiritually whole. All last week long, after God asked me to intercede in this manner, I have received affirmation after affirmation. Then a thing popped up when I wasn’t even looking for it; it was a blurb about a documentary called Awakened. I watched it right away and was floored. Apparently, I’ve been in a cocoon, because a lot has been happening in this realm and I’m just now catching on. Anyway, Billy Graham made a statement 40 years ago regarding the spiritual destiny of the original Americans and of the move of the Holy Spirit through them to others. This documentary is about that, and here is a link: https://www.amazon.com/Awakened-Ellson-Bennett/dp/B07JN4WTGC
 
I like to immerse myself in the thread of what I’ve been asked to pray about, so I’ve done some recent googling. There have been all kinds of gatherings huge and small with this similar theme. In much of these videos and articles I come across, some older, some current, I spot flashes of the Messianic! And I’m thinking, as a Messianic, how did I not know my Jewish brothers and sisters were already getting involved and joining hands in this significant move of God? I mean, in videos and pictures, I see shofars, a kippah, and a tallit (prayer shawl) or two! In decades past, I’ve had the privilege and blessing to travel and minister all over the world, while absorbing the beauty of other cultures. The Indigenous peoples of the Americas, though, have always been extra special to me. Of course, I love my own cultural upbringing, so to see other Jewish believers in Jesus embracing and uniting in what others are calling the “awakening of the sleeping giant” in “leading others on the path to Yeshua” for forgiveness and revival, and a “coming into covenant with the races of America”… Well, that’s a giant double-cool for me! And getting up to speed… Well, better late than never. Yet, somehow, I have this impression that I am exactly on God’s timetable. And I thank the Lord for making things so interesting sometimes. Living a redeemed life is an exciting life, even from a little old, worn-out prayer closet like mine.
 
I’ve provided a few video links that share this heartbeat, yet there is a ton of other information out there to peruse.
 
https://youtu.be/abCr07OX8os Broken Walls, Ride the Wind
 
https://youtu.be/Mtof2r1jNpQ Azusa Now, The Call, Native America (2016) live in LA
 
I know this is different from what I usually post. I’m also a very private person and this was a little challenging for me to divulge—the personal tidbits anyway, dreams and such. I am a prophetic dreamer, but tend to be shy about it. This day seems apropos at least to say: I’m stepping out to step deeper in. What I’d like to do is scale that mountain and physically join with the flow of this ministry movement, but I am for now actively a committed watchman on the wall, praying and praising with intention, because this is what the Lord has asked me to do.
 
Be blessed, for we are coming into the Year of the Lord’s Favor (Isaiah 61).
0 Comments

Vapor of Integrity

6/10/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
A life is like a vapor. Here today, gone tomorrow. I think of my own. What can I show for half a vapor? How can I make the next half count more? The sharpening realization that life is precious, and not guaranteed, makes me reevaluate my vision of life for the future I assume but cannot see.
 
I can make my plans, but it’s the Lord’s plans for me that will prevail. He moves in both large and infinitesimal ways, many remaining unseen. One day, beyond the here and now, I believe a better understanding will come of why some things happen as they do.
 
I’ve entered a place of letting go, or at least of hanging-on-loosely—to anything, really. A place of complete trust in the Higher Power; surrender, and a call to turn the other cheek in social situations.


Whatever the vision of life, as it tends to shift, hold, then redirect, there is a desire that grows solidly within me in a take-advantage, unforthright-tending society. To be a vapor of integrity. Steadfast in kindness, fairness, honesty, and purity. That's a quality model for both personal and business operations, wouldn’t you say? To stay in the spirit of self-regulation, even as others might boldly mistake lenient niceness for stupidity. Details don’t go unnoticed by a detail-oriented God. As Christ has loved us, so must we love. To be a vapor of integrity even if others have done us wrong. So very hard, but not impossible.

Picture
0 Comments

Dilly-Dally Delay

11/14/2020

2 Comments

 
Okay, so it’s not so much about dilly-dallying, since I’m not really a procrastinator, but 2020 has presented many other challenges in the “D” grade. This includes Disruptions, Delays, Difficulties, and Derailments.
 
Unfortunately, I’ll not meet a few of my creative-writing deadlines this year. I’m truly sorry to those waiting for the next novel or sequel—and I thank you for your patience. I am so grateful for my readers and strive to do the very best for you with each project.
​
Since we’re all dealing with our own set of unique circumstances during this pandemic, I won’t burden you with the details of mine. But I will share that of the three books I was working on, two derailed. They’ve turned into something other than what I set out to do. I scrapped these manuscripts after having reached the halfway point and started again from the beginning. Right about the time I made this tough decision, I saw a relevant meme floating around social media:
Picture
With a sigh of relief, I can now laugh at myself and move along. I think these books needed to take on a different perspective and I’m treading, faithfully and prayerfully, towards completion. Unless more unforeseen demands (hey, another D-grade!) are looming, we can expect the launch of these titles in 2021. I’m just going to be an early bird on this one thing and say it now: Happy New Year!
​May 2021 be your best year ever. 💝✌️
2 Comments

Softening Under Iron Fists

9/5/2020

 
I tire of political ads, speeches, campaigns wherein the focus centers on dissing opponents. Can’t recall when this became customary, but it has always struck me as poor taste. I hate few things. This is one of them. It might be the especially volatile climate of today and weighty bitterness and injustices witnessed cities-wide, a shaking pandemic, or that I’m just getting older and less tolerant of subjecting myself to this much negativity. Because I seem to have developed a recent habit of turning off the radio or television just as soon as a politician begins this focused rant—and it’s usually by the third or fourth word. I know I’m idealistic to a fault, but I just wish I could hear a passionate speech on proposals, personal principles, and persuasive stands with the strength to stand on its own merit without the use of harsh words ripping another by ugly comparisons and throw-downs.
 
Years ago, I’d served as a ghostwriter for political content. It can be well-paid, eye-opening work, but not for me I finally realized. I just couldn’t stomach it anymore. Am I tainted by the experience? Sure. I’ve had more than my share of exposure to those who like to rule with brutal words and iron fists. But I always end up asking: Do unsavory words for the purpose of propelling an agenda (or for any reason) add virtue or honor? Do they truly enlighten or inform us on the issues at hand?
 
Yet, instead of growing harder, I seem to be softening under iron fists. I suppose I’m yearning for people, leaders, who dare to operate by a different slogan; one I’m trying--really trying to implement in my own circle: “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.” (1 Peter 3:8). While I’m aware we will not all have unity of mind in this lifetime, on this earth, with such a range of discordant issues and beliefs, I think if we practice sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind (that is, putting the welfare of others before our own)—even just one of these—then maybe we’d behave a little better toward one another. Take better care with the words we use for each other, our fellow humans. We might even earn respect. Today, I value kindness to a much greater degree, and I beg, I beg it begins within me.

As the Deer

3/16/2020

2 Comments

 
Kind of feels like we’re in a slip of mass hysteria. We’ll remember it by the Toilet Paper Commemorative 2020. But did you know that over 40,000 people die from car accidents per year in the United States, more than 95 people per day? It might behoove us to practice safer, kinder, focused, and more patient driving practices as opposed to mindlessly ripping the road up as if we’re in a video game and can’t get hurt or hurt others. Yet, today, panic over a certain illness has taken precedence as fear spreads fear among humans. Maybe we’ve watched one too many viral-zombie apocalypse movies—I don’t know, but there can be moments where the observational reaction is suffocating.

So as I was experiencing one of those high-anxiety moments the other day, I stepped outside on my back porch, looked to the skies and earth, and was struck at the normalcy of nature. It breathes, “All’s well here; life goes on greatly and without concern.” Birds frolic in the sky dotted with clouds moved by a breeze, as cheerful songs trill and chirp from those happy little beaks; dogs trot along, their tongues hanging in joyful slobber; rabbits are getting frisky; and the deer still tiptoe to the silver stream lapping refreshing water to quench a moment of thirst. Then they all move on their way to wherever they go and do what they do. These things of nature, they don’t worry about tomorrow. As the Word says—and the Word is life—tomorrow will take care of itself.

​So, sure, maybe we humans take reasonable precautions, just as we should when getting behind the steering wheel with our incredibly well-washed hands. But maybe at this time we should strive more to do as the following scripture tells us. We go about our business taking one day at a time, our souls seeking after the Father, the only true balm, the only real soother, our only pure provider when the world has gone mad. 

Matthew 6:25-34
2 Comments

Drowning in Humanness

2/1/2020

2 Comments

 
Picture
​Being human today means you can hardly do, speak, or blink anything without making waves. So the waves will come: small ones, large ones, and the inbetweeners. But one must persist, unwaveringly, in the turbulent surf by exhibiting kindness, love, and integrity. It’s hard being human. A gentle answer turns away wrath...? (Proverbs 15:1). Okay. But if somebody is especially wrathful, a tsunami, then maybe we just gently turn away. Find another spot in which to wade.

*Image by Patricia Alexandre from Pixabay
2 Comments
<<Previous
    Picture
    TESSA STOCKTON, AUTHOR, BLOG - Pressing through life, love, a few things that matter, and some that don't. (I'm also a spirit-filled Messianic Jew, so you'll find a lot about that here too.)
    Picture


    ​NEW TITLE OUT​

    Picture
    GET BOOK

    Picture

    SUSPENSION
    A short story
    ​​FREE at Select stores
    ​

    Get SUSPENSION

    Picture

    For Tessa's new
    ​book alerts:

    SUBSCRIBE
    FOLLOW ON AMAZON

    VIEW BLOGGER PROFILE

    Goodreads: Book reviews, recommendations, and discussion

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Acfw Bookclub
    Africa
    Aging
    Allegorical
    Angst Fiction
    An Hour In Heaven
    Animals
    Anna Bolena Opera
    Anna Netrebko
    Annie Lennox
    Answered Prayer
    Argentina
    Author Interview
    Ballet West
    Barber's Adagio For Strings
    Biblical Worldview
    Blogging
    Bluegrass Underground
    Book Giveaway
    Book Tours
    Branding
    Breaking Pointe
    Bruce Judisch
    Choices
    Choreography
    College-age Characters
    Compassion
    Contemporary Romance
    Contests
    Contract
    Conviction
    Creativity
    Culture
    Cumberland Caverns
    Dance
    Dark
    Dark Horse
    Death & Life
    Debate
    Deep Sorrow
    Definitions
    Dirty War
    Disappointment
    Discipleship
    E Books
    E-books
    Empathy
    Enovella
    Equine
    E Readers
    E-readers
    Estratasphere
    Expression
    Fairy Tales
    Faith
    Fantasy
    Fantasy Romance
    Fear
    Fiction
    Films
    First Nations
    Flamenco
    Forgiveness
    For Maria
    Friends
    Georg Mertens
    Giants
    Globus
    Goddess Fish Book Promotions
    Gogol Bordello
    Grace
    Grief
    Guitar
    Gustaw Szelski
    Gypsy Music
    Hanna Senesh
    Hanukkah
    Heart Seeing
    Heart Seeing
    Hesitation
    Hidden Children
    Hiking
    Historical Fiction
    Hoodoo
    Horses
    Hummingbird And The Flower
    Hunger Games
    Hype Vs. Humanity
    Icfw
    Impatience
    Influential Literature
    Influential Music
    Inspirational
    Integrity
    Intercession
    Internet
    Introspection
    Introvert
    Invitation To Dance
    Irrational Love
    Irritations
    Jacque's Whistle Stop Cafe
    Jenolan Caves
    J.R.R. Tolkien
    Katia
    K. Dawn Byrd
    Kindness
    Leo Tolstoy
    Lessons From The Open Road
    Life
    Losses And Gains
    Losses And Gains
    Love
    Lya Luft
    Maasai
    Many Tribes
    Marguerite Duras
    Marketing
    Meekness
    Mermaids
    Mermen
    Midweek Slump
    Mini Vacations
    Miracles
    Missionaries
    Missions
    Motorcycles
    Muse
    Musicals
    National Dance Day
    Native Americans
    Nature
    Nephilim
    New Release
    Night Owl Reviews
    Nostalgia
    Novella
    One Church
    Opera
    Outdoors
    Palace Of Mirrors
    Paranormal
    Peace
    Personality Types
    Perspective
    Pets
    Pirate
    Poetry
    Politics
    Prayer
    Promo
    Publicists
    Publicity
    Publishing
    Pump Up Your Book
    RED
    Regret
    Religion
    Reminiscing
    Remorse
    Rerelease
    Reviews
    Richard Smallwood
    Richard Twiss
    Risk
    Romance
    Romance Genre
    Romantic Mystery
    Sailor Envy
    Sandy Hook Tragedy
    Sanity
    Sea God's Siren
    Secrets
    Shattered Identity
    Smuggled Mutation
    Soul Mate Publishing
    Speculation
    Speculative
    Spirit Filled Living
    Spirit-filled-living
    Spiritual Affirmation
    Spiritual Warfare
    Steven D. Scheibe
    Storms
    Supernatural
    Suspense/Thriller
    Sytycd
    The Brother's Keep Series
    The Civil Wars
    The Met
    The Paganini Duo
    The Phantom
    The Secret Of The Love Letters
    The South
    The Unforgivable
    The Unspeakable
    Total Praise
    Trails
    Tree Lord's Oracle
    Trials
    Unruly Guides
    Vampire
    Versatile
    Violence In Literature
    Violin
    Wade Robson
    Waiting
    Wandering
    Wbir
    Whiter Shade Of Pale
    Wiconi International
    Wild Mustang
    Wind's Aria
    Wings Epress
    Wip
    Wisdom
    Writers
    Writing
    Wwii

    Archives

    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    July 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011

"For news to be good it has to invade bad spaces."—Matt Chandler
​
CONTACT

COPYRIGHT © 2022 TESSA STOCKTON. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Home
  • Books
  • Bio
  • Blogette