Have you worked on your dream this week? If not, get going. If so, good on you.
I made lazy do extra chores. I made despair do some laundry. I made doubt take out some trash.
I greeted the day with a song in my heart. I gave hard a cup of coffee and said “Let’s gooooo!!
laughing at hard things, Cassandra
#YourLifeMattersToMe
Note: Every day, beloveds, speak out loud. Tell yourself how very much you matter. You do. EVERY day, choose to see the best in your situation. EVERY day, ask for what you need.
This IS your year. Make it a fantastic one. Starting today. In case no one has told you today: I love you. So does He.
That’s what I told the obstacles standing in my way.
“Never again, Cassandra!”
That’s what I told my laughing critics.
“Never again, Cassandra!”
That’s what I told lonely.
“Never again, Cassandra!”
That’s what I told anger.
“Never again, Cassandra!”
That’s what I told apathy.
You see, beloveds, I used to allow those things, and more, to define me. Worse, I allowed those things to keep me from DOING, from moving FORWARD, from looking UP.
I have been fighting to regain my form, my footing, my confidence, my joy, my humor, my faith since the tornado came in and almost blew my home down. Literally.
Slowly, but surely, I began to rebuild. Slowly, but surely, I began to allow God to help rebuild ME. Slowly, but surely, I began to find my voice.
With my voice came my footing. With my footing came my bearings. With my bearings came my humor. With my humor I found everything else.
Be encouraged. I say this EVERY day. It helps. It’s my reminder that things take time. Meaningful things, anyway.
It’s imperative to encourage yourself. Especially, as most never will. They are too busy making their own way.
A bit ago, I felt myself becoming more and more anxious.
Here is where I KNOW I have grown. In times past, I would have allowed those anxious feelings to grow so loud I would not be able to move forward.
Then, I would start the blame game. I would blame me for feeling anxious. I would blame God for not keeping me calm. I would blame life for doing lifery things.
For good measure, I would find several other things to blame on MY anxiousness.
Instead, recognizing WHY I was anxious, I:
Put things down.
Took a breath.
Took a break.
THEN, I got back after it. Anxious grew bored with my tenacity/faith and went to find another sucker to sucker.
Be encouraged, beloveds. Keep standing on business. It’s not easy. It is doable.
The more I make it THROUGH the hard, the harder I want to try.
You SHALL make it. I have preparations in place for the winter storm that may put out the power in a few hours.
I’m learning how to maintain my joy, as I work THROUGH the hard. The ONLY way to get through tough times is to go through the tough time.
I am praying for all. If you have lost heart, that’s okay. I have enough faith for us all.
standing in the gap for all, Cassandra
#YourLifeMattersToMe
Note: Be encouraged. Don’t despair. You are exactly where you are supposed to be. Life shall open it’s bounty to you at the appropriate time. In the meantime, I pray over your needs, your hopes and your fears. Be encouraged.
I’m learning to do what I need to do whether I feel like it or not.
I’m learning to have faith whether I feel like it or not.
I’m learning to give myself grace whether I feel like it or not.
I’m learning how to forgive myself whether I feel like it or not.
I’m learning to do whether I feel like it or not. Period and end of story!
Keep going, beloveds. Whether we feel like it or not isn’t even in the equation. Don’t let it be.
We have too much to accomplish this year. Get going. You got thangs to do.
asking for A Friend,
Cassandra
#YourLifeMattersToMe
Note: Reality can be loud. Forever trying to remind us of all we shall never have or be. Phooey with all that. Reality keeps throwing 56 in my face. 56 keeps reminding me I can STILL accomplish much. I can STILL touch the world. I will!
Knowing this, beloveds, do yourself a favor and add some of your help, a bit of try, to your seemingly hopeless task/situation.
Your mountain SHALL move. In the meantime, you are strengthening faith muscles that will serve you for the remainder of your life!
Look at your hard as the gift it truly is. The hard is bringing out the BEST in you. The hard is forcing you to reevaluate, to recommit, and to re-engage.
Ah, beloveds, what are you looking down for? Lift up your head. Your efforts have not been in vain!
Keep loving as you do. Keep striving as you do. Keep acting from integrity and watch what The Universe SHALL do on your behalf.
Rejoice. Your victory IS at hand. How do I know? Because I am praying it in!
In the meantime, seize this day. Love you in this day. Stop beating yourself up for not having arrived yet. We will never get there.
Your heart is leading you in the right direction. An unknown one. A possibly terrifying one. Exciting as well, eh?
Whatever you do, make sure you are living in THIS moment. NOW. TODAY. I’m in the middle of a fabulous chair dance. Who wants to join in?
If I have learned nothing from my visiting tornado 🌪 it’s this: Life can literally be snatched in ONE moment.
LIVE. We will always have some kind of challenge to overcome. Your life is more than the battles you fight. Get out there and enjoy the life you currently have.
asking for A Friend,
Cassandra
#YourLifeMattersToMe
Note: Um, so like you are supposed to be out there doing you, remember?🥰🎶😎
Note: Try, beloveds. Just try. It doesn’t have to be perfect now. Just begun. We shall figure it out together. Go on, now. This IS your year. How do I know? Because, you have made the decision to make it so!
Stay grounded. Stay faithful. Stay fruitful. Find someone to encourage through THEIR storm. You don’t have to wait to come out to be an inspiration.
YOU are in inspiration by how you live.
I am no longer afraid of what I may lose. In fact, I hold what I have loosely. What I shall ALWAYS hold tight is my love. It’s all I have. It’s all I need to combat the darkness in this world.
The coming storm may bring darkness. That’s okay. I SHALL rejoice in the darkness.
I no longer dread the darkness. I shall welcome whatever comes.
Be encouraged. I say these words so that you may KNOW there IS peace on the other side of devastation. There IS joy in the midst of terrifying situations. There IS comfort for ALL who currently mourn.
The bible says that weeping may endure for the night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Ah, God, be much with those who are afraid of the dark. Sit with them. Even with those who don’t believe You are.
I can truly say I am at peace. I have NO idea how I will take care of things this year. I don’t know how soon, or if, I will find a job. I have no clue how to start a YouTube channel. I have not the first idea of what step to take next.
Yet, I rejoice. I have lost much. I have found me. I have found a few friends in here. I have found immense love and compassion for me and my foolish ways. All at 56. Who knew?! God did.
I’m trying my best to encourage folk BEFORE the lights go out. Enjoy your life, while the lights are on. Enjoy your life, should the lights go out. Enjoy your life, when the lights come back on. They will.
Ah, beloveds, this time has been sent to show you…YOU! Tada!
Lift up your head. Tell hard ha! Tell reality to shut the hell up!
I have to finish preparing for the storm. The storm had best be preparing for me!
joyful and NOT afraid, Cassandra
#YourLifeMattersToMe
Note: Be encouraged. Imagine your life BEYOND the storm. It shall pass. Who shall YOU be when it’s over? I plan to continue being the bad mamma jamma that I am. Ha!
I just received notification of the major storm that is due to arrive.
We have all been advised to charge phones and prepare for downed trees and power outages.
The OLD me would have been in a panic. I would have raged at God and The Universe for putting me through yet ANOTHER storm.
The me that has gone through the tornado is calm. I am charging phones, making sure my battery pack is charged, charging battery packs and getting my coffee station situated. There ARE priorities, ya know.
I have books to read and KNOW God is with me. Through EVERY storm and situation.
I am going to prepare extra pieces to keep all encouraged. NO storm shall keep me from keeping my promise: To love and encourage folk EVERY day. Every single one of them.
Be encouraged, beloveds. We got this. You CAN get through whatever life has thrown at you.
I am living proof that you CAN get through some terribly hard hard and STILL hold on to your faith, your hope and your joy.
I’m thankful I have not yet been able to find a job. I have been forced to dealing with feeling inadequate because I have not been able to come to the rescue of folk I love.
In fact, I find myself in need: Of love. Of care. Of finances. Of safety. Of security.
Growing up, I’ve had my share of “missed meal cramps”. Only those who have grown up with food having run out long before the month ended, will know of what I speak.
There have been days, where I have bathed the heavens, with my tears. There have been others, where I have prayed on creaky knees.
I have cried out. I have called out. Only silence has greeted me.
God’s Silence has been defeaning. At times, I feared it had defeated me. It didn’t. God was there. Waiting for ME to see HIM even when I could not see my way, see what He was doing, or hear His Voice.
Just the other day, beloveds, I told God it was okay. I was no longer demanding that He speak to me. I told Him I would join my silence with His.
I lay down. In silence. Just as Jesus lay down, in the boat, as the storm raged.
Lay down, beloveds. Be at peace. Don’t fear the storm. Prepare, yes. Fear, no.
asking for A Friend, Cassandra
#YourLifeMattersToMe
Note: I have done all I know. I am prepared. Come storm. I do NOT fear thee.
This IS our year, beloveds. We are making it so. No matter what happens. We ARE going to happen in our lives! Get going! We got thangs to do.
In case no one has told you today: I love you. So does He. I am preparing some extra pieces to keep folk encouraged in case I lose power. In any event, I shall be loving you in the darkness. Be encouraged. Send up a prayer for me.
Then, get going. Don’t allow your fears to keep you from moving FORWARD. Victory lies up ahead. Don’t despair because you can’t see the answer. The answer shall show itself when it’s time.
Be encouraged. I have been telling myself this all week. It’s not always easy to take our minds off of our problems. I have found that it helps to find someone to encourage and to love. I start with me.
Then, I make a cup of coffee ☕. I take a shower. I have a meal. I do a bit of chores. I get on with LIVING.
Worrying changes nothing. Despairing does not but bring on fear. Catastrophising brings on catastrophe eventually.
What are you focused on, beloveds?
asking for A Friend,
Cassandra
#YourLifeMattersToMe
Note: I was driving myself up ten walls trying to pretend I was NOT:
Frustrated 😤.
A tad 😨 fearful.
Immensely 😴 tired.
I’m tired of this limbo. I’m tired of this same sameness of not knowing. I’m tired of talking of being tired.
I found myself wanting to fall back on the easy blaming The Universe and all else for picking on little old me. I promised not to allow myself this out.
Instead, I acknowledged my concerns. I prayed about them. I talked to fam. I watched old movies. I DID something.
It’s important to DO something when fear wants to come calling. 😱 Fear paralyzes if we let it. I choose NEVER AGAIN be ruled and run by fear.
I’m praying for all who have no idea what to do next or where to turn. Be encouraged. We got this.
Until your change comes, beloveds, help someone else change something…
Why Can't I Be Loud?! 