Month: May 2024

Move.

What moves you?

What are you moved by?

What are you trying to move?

What are you waiting for God to move?

Are you waiting for God to move for you because He is moved by your:

Feelings?

Fears?

Beloveds, God moves because He promises He will move.

God does NOT move for the sake of our feelings. He is NOT about handing out pillows for our hard places.

God/Life/The Universe has been waiting for US to move:

Out of His Way.

Out of our own way.

For our own good.

Towards our dreams.

Away from fear and doubt.

Move.

Move!

What moves you?

What are you moved by?

What are you trying to move?

What are you waiting for God to move?

asking for A Friend,

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Be encouraged. Move forward. Don’t be afraid. Be afraid and do it anyway!

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Keep dreaming.

Dreaming is hard.

Unfulfilled dreams are terribly hard to carry around.

Keep dreaming.

After mom died, I took all my dreams and stuffed them in a closet. Angry, I yelled at God to take the dreams and….

One day, God told me to take my dreams out of the closet and begin to tote them, again. I told Him ‘No way!!’ He kept pestering me to take my dreams and get to toting them. I kept on saying ‘No!’

I don’t know what finally got me to toting my dreams, again. I just found myself toting them. Angrily, at first. Eventually, I was grateful for them. Toting them helped me to heal.

Completely? No. Enough to where I drag them along and share them with mom over coffee. Virtually, for her. For real for real, for me…lol.

Keep dreaming, beloveds. Your dreams will and are taking you to awesome places. Some places will take you a lifetime to get to. Enjoy the journey. As shall I.

enjoying dreaming again,


Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Ah, dreams. Why you taking so long to get here? Why you keep running from me? Asking for a friend…

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Sometimes, what you really want is not what you REALLY want.

God: Sometimes, what you really want is not what you REALLY want.

Me: Whatcha mean?

God: What do you want? REALLY?

Me: Well, I want/need a sabbatical from work.

God: Why?

Me: Well, I NEED a sabbatical so I can have:

Time to write.

Time to rest.

Time to explore.

God: Why can’t you do those things now?

Me: I’m toooooooooooooo busy at work.

God: Don’t you get off days?

Me: Well, yea…

God: Does your job work you around the clock?

Me: Well, no…

God: Answer me this: Would working, for yourself, alleviate all your supposed money-related stresses?

Me: Well…hmm. Actually, there would be MORE stress as I would have to be the one fighting to keep funds in the bank, taking care of taxes owed, keeping fresh influx of cash coming in…

The more I questioned what I wanted…

The more I looked into what I desired to do for God, for folk, for me, the more I became:

Thoughtful.

Introspective.

Hopeful.

I just wanted to be. I just want to be. Me. That’s it.

I can be me anywhere.

I can be me working anywhere.

I can work on my dreams from anywhere.

Until then, I am enjoying my job. Right now. Right here. I thought I was frustrated and stifled because of my job.

It turns out I was frustrated and stifled because I didn’t fully KNOW what I wanted to do. What I wanted to be, with my life.

I was raised to dismiss me and my thoughts and dreams and hopes so I could serve others. Then, when I gave my life to Christ, I fell into the deep chasm of having to wait to be ‘chosen’ in order to be of service.

I was told I had to wait to be selected/assigned/called/yadayada/(insert your own buzz words here).

I was also told I would never be ‘used of God’ until I ‘came out of my pants’. Until I praised more quietly. Until I did this, that and the other thing.

I was told my passionate faith would ‘get old’ and would ‘wear out’ as it was just ‘baby faith’. SMH. I am as passionate, now, as I was all those decade ago. In fact, I love me some Him all the more.

I say all of that, beloveds, to say this:

God loves you. Period. Nuff said.

God loves YOU!

Yes, He appreciates your service. Yet, if you didn’t do another thing, if you lifted not another finger, if you served not one more soul, you would STILL be loved by God.

It breaks my heart there are so many folks who are ‘paying rent’ to the world, trying to pay rent to God and The Universe to earn the right to breathe. To be seen. To be loved. To be cherished.

You are all of those things and more, beloveds.

ALL God wants to do is to love you. Period. ALL He needs is your fellowship. Period.

It took decades for me to FINALLY give my shovel, my broom, my arms to God and simply sit with Him. BE with Him. Be loved by Him. Ah, God, how beautiful it is to KNOW I am loved and that I am NOT what I do.

In a sense, beloveds, if you love you some Him, your very life IS your ministry. Just you being you serves your fellow man. Just you loving, the way YOU love, sooooooooooooooo impacts the world around you.

Just you offering a hand, a prayer, a thought, an act of kindness, a smile, a hug, a boot to the rear, an admonition, a laugh, a gift, does so much to brighten all around you.

Be encouraged, beloveds. I’m tired and not sure my thoughts are being communicated beyond my brain fog and swollen fingers.

The bible says we are the branches. We are NOT the vine. We are not responsible for growing the grapes. We just ‘hang out’ whilst the grapes grow on us branches, eh?

I can normally articulate what it is my heart. My heart is too full, I guess, to come out in an orderly way. Crap.

Sometimes, what you really want, is not what you REALLY want.

What do you want?

REALLY?

I dare you to ask yourself so you can find out. The answer(s) may surprise you. Mine surprised me. If any would like to yak a bit further about this, shoot me an email: ttnette37@yahoo.com.

Be well.

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Ah, God. Give us some answers please/thanks. Asking for some friends.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Emergency Hugs.

*Cassandra rushes around, providing Emergency Hugs for all in need*

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Hug))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

*hugs self*

*hugs self some more*

Be encouraged, beloveds.

We got this.

Our breakthroughs are at hand. Otherwise, the fight wouldn’t be sooooooooooooooooooo hard right now.

He got us.

Be encouraged.

In case no one has told you today: I love you.

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Yikes, life ain’t playing. That’s okay. I ain’t playin’ neither! I got thangs to do.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Get in your three.

I make sure to do three things each day:

Listen to something positive.

Watch something positive.

Read something positive.

Doesn’t matter what it is or how long it so long as it is positive, uplifting, of good report, inspiring, truthful(smh), etc.

Have you gotten in your three, beloveds?

If not, go way from me and get after it. You will be amazed how much joy you will have stored up for the hard times.

Get them in where you can fit them in….lol.

I am currently scaring all the neighbors hollering, er, singing badly to some Hillsong. Fantastic!

Enjoy your Friday!

hopeful,

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Okay, um, you supposed to be getting them in where you can fit them in! Scoot now. Love someone. Starting with you.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

What do you see when you look at you?

What do you see when you look at you?

What do YOU see?

What do you see when you look at YOU?

Are you:

Satisfied?

Disappointed?

Do you think others are:

Satisfied?

Disappointed?

Do you think God is:

Satisfied?

Disappointed?

Are your friends:

Satisfied?

Disappointed?

What do you see when you look at you, beloveds?

If this sentence makes you cringe, ah, beloveds, I feel ya. I used to cringe when I asked myself this question.

I used to peer, at myself, through my fingers. I used to hold myself at arm’s lengths. And, not necessarily because of what I saw. I allowed my view to be clouded by the views of others.

No more.

NO MORE!

Now, the only lens I am concerned about are:

His.

Mine.

Rinse.

Repeat.

What do you see when you look at you?

asking for A Friend,


Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: In case no one has told you yet today: I love you. So does He. Jesus said tell you hi…..

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Be encouraged, Maggie.

Be encouraged, Maggie.

Stand fast, Ria.

Remain hopeful, beloveds.

We got this.

It’s okay to not understand.

It’s okay to wonder when.

It’s okay.

It will be okay.

When?

That I can not say. I CAN say:

You are loved and you are not alone.

Keep going.

going with you,


Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: If you are currently wondering how you are going to make it one more step…rejoice! Victory is at hand. Be encouraged, beloveds. Love someone. Starting with you. Asking for A Friend.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Don’t quit because it’s hard. Stop because you have finished.

Don’t quit because things are hard, beloveds.

Stop only when the job is done.

You will be glad you did.

I am doing my utmost to remember why I am doing my why, in the first place.

Hard can make it really hard to remember the why when you are going through what on earth is this?!

I was just watching a YouTuber who was/is lamenting becoming more popular. She was lamenting all the time her passion is taking now. Now, it’s no longer a passion. Now, for her, it’s a job.

I am sooooooooooooooooooo torn, beloveds. I love to write. I don’t want writing to become a chore/job. Yes, I know there is work putting out work. Yet, I want to be able to cut up and act a fool just because I can.

Today, work was slow. So, I took advantage of some voluntary time off to work on some pieces. To work on MY dream.

Keep on working, beloveds. Keep looking for time to build on YOUR legacy.

When I find myself internally stressing about how long things are taking I remind myself things take time. The best things appear to take the longest time. My dreams may take me the rest of my days to fulfill. Or, not.

I have made peace with that. I have made my peace with ME. All I can do is all I can do. That’s it. My all may not be enough for you. That’s okay. It’s all that I have. And, all that I have I give to you.

What do I ask in return? That you love someone else. Starting with you.

Ah.

Aha!

Be encouraged, beloveds.

W got this.

God has us all.

Take care of that beautiful heart of yours. If you have not yet told someone you love them, please don’t let the day go by without blessing someone with your love. Promise you that you will never let another day go by without loving yourself and loving others.

I love you,

me

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: How great it is to have one’s heart touched by love. Be encouraged, beloveds….

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Hold on.

I’m spending a delightful afternoon:

Taking out the trash.

Washing dishes.

Getting pieces ready for tomorrow.

*sigh*

Life goes on, eh?

In truth, this is a good sign. I have spent more of this year fending off fear, despair, doubt and ALL its friends. I don’t know why this year has been soooooooooooooooooo hard to keep them at bay.

Normally, I tell them all to take two seats and they do. Now, this year, good egads, they not alone throw the seats at me but they bring along all kinds of greyness with them.

Still, I fight on. I am gratefully, sorta, kinda, a lil bit. As I have to continually keep pulling the weeds of doubt and stand ON my faith, WITH my faith, and aided BY Faith.

I don’t know if there is anyone else out there having to fight so hard to keep on keeping on.

I am grateful for my work from home job. I couldn’t be working without it. I am grateful for my old, dated apartment. Many don’t have a place to lay down their heads.

I am grateful for this blog. I am grateful for those who stop by to lend a shoulder, a smile, a laugh.

I am grateful for the tears. They are teaching me to accept the WHOLE of me. Not the cute parts. ALL of me.

I am grateful, beloveds.

Ah, hold on. Just a little while longer. You are building a brilliant future!

Remember that it’s okay to not be okay until you are okay again. Okay?

Life has been deliciously hard. I am enjoying getting to know this stubborn fighter called me.

I just made some delightful grilled ham steak and Swiss cheese sandwiches on Italian Bread. Who is up for a bite? Don’t forget the drinks.

here,

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Hold on. It was only after I stopped worrying about the wind and the waves was I able to see Who was waiting out there on the seas……Ah…..Aha!

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Heart check Wednesday.

It’s Wednesday.

And, no, beloveds this is NOT hump day! This is NOT a day where you stagger in all discouraged and wanting the rest of the week to rush to the weekend!

Nah, beloveds, this is FANTASTIC Wednesday. This day was made for you to rejoice in and to enjoy.

THIS day, today, was made just for you.

Enjoy this day.

Enjoy your now.

Right now.

I keep saying the same old thing in as many ways as I can.

Life is truly so very short. Don’t let your life simply be enduring hardness and hard times. Your life is meant to enjoy and that more ABUNDANTLY.

Your life is much more than the economy. Your life is so much more than political leanings. Your life is exceedingly more than what you hold/don’t hold in your hands. Your life is so much more.

Do more.

Experience more.

Be more.

Make this day, this Wednesday, an INCREDIBLE day. Why is it incredible? Because, you are walking in the will of God, for your life. You are walking with The Universe. You are walking with Life and are making more of an imprint and footprint than you could ever know.

Keep walking, beloveds. Don’t worry about who shall follow you. Just go. Those who are meant to walk with you shall be joining you soon. The rest, ah, beloveds, we go get the rest don’t we?

asking for A Friend,

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: One heart at a time. One day at a time. One moment at a time. Love someone. Starting with you.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!