Author: Cassandra S.

This does not always have to equal that.

Life is complicated. So much so that it can be hard to understand.

I used to judge life based upon outcomes. If THIS happens, it must mean THAT will follow.

If he says THIS, then THAT must be true.

If she does THIS, surely THAT will come to pass.

The more I live, beloveds, the more I have found that this does not always have to equal that.

I am learning not to judge life by it’s outcomes.

Just because a tornado swooped in, taking half the town away, does NOT mean all my dreams were taken with it.

Just because my job ended, because I was not yet ready to return, does not mean I am a failure.

Just because, the folk who I thought would stand with me, left me during my greatest need, does not mean I am unworthy of love and support.

Those things happened. Life happened. Life is often not fair.

That said, this does not always have to equal that

This world wants us to believe EVERYTHING and EVERY relationship has to be transactional. What’s more, we are told to focus on our wants and needs. To get what WE want. Sure, we can do for others, so long as it is convenient for US.

I choose not to live that way. I choose to love simply for the sake of loving. Yea, I long to be loved in return. I no longer base my worth upon who chooses to love me. Or not.

I am doing my best to love folk as God loves me: Unconditionally. Warts and all.

I hate election cycles. It’s a time where one political side sows division. It’s where half the country are told folk, who look like me, are lazy, unpatriotic, trying to take the jobs of folk who don’t look like me, and on and on.

I REFUSE to hate those who don’t look like me. It saddens me the hateful names folk are saying about them that look like me…*sigh*.

I CHOOSE to love and pray for them, still. I am sad for a world who is stupidly fighting over baubles, trinkets, homes, lands, and money instead of fighting for one another.

This does not always have to equal that, beloveds.  We can all be better. We can all DO better. We can all open our mouths and hearts to beat back the darkness.

Let’s love one another. Speaking of which: I love you. So does He.

Be encouraged.

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: 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 turn away. Face it.

Don’t turn away from your fear(s). Face it.

Don’t turn away from doing what’s right. Face it.

Don’t turn away from your hopes/doubts for your future. Face it.

Nothing is certain in this life. Don’t waste time trying to hold onto certainty. Just because things happened one way, today. Doesn’t mean tomorrow will duplicate yesterday’s outcome.

Don’t turn away, beloveds, from the things that challenge you. Face them.

asking for A Friend,

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Any coward can run away and hide. Face it. Face YOU. You can do it.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Head it off. Kick it out.

Fear.

Head it off. Kick it out.

Doubt.

Head it off. Kick it out.

Discouragement.

Head it off. Kick it out.

Fear has been relentless lately. I have also been relentless lately.

Heading fear off.

Kicking fear out.

I absolutely REFUSE to live in fear. Nope. Nada. Not going to happen.

I don’t know why fear has been sooooooooooooo persistent!

I am doing my best to stay consistent. I dare not allow myself to go back to the comfortable. I’m finding the courage to pursue the unknown. Short of that, I shall continue to drag fear and drown it in the shower!😂❤️‍🩹♥️🥰

Tell fear to kick rocks. Keep moving forward.

asking for A Friend,

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Don’t let fear lie to you. The best is yet to come. It’s not too late. You CAN. You WILL.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

I don’t know what to do, I said.

I don’t know what to do, I said.

Just be you, He replied.

How can being me be enough, I asked.

Being you is more than enough, He stated.

Who will want what I have to give, I muttered.

All who values priceless gifts, He uttered.

Where do You see priceless things, I exclaimed.

Deep inside you, He tearfully shared.

I dare not believe me worthy of You, I cried.

I love thee THIS much, stretched out His Arms and died…

For me.

Ah, Lord. I ‘preciate You.❤️‍🩹♥️🥰

For God so loved the world…

forever grateful,

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Nuff said. In case no one has told you today: I love you. So does He.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Repeat after me: You are amazing.

Repeat after me:

You are amazing.

Now go be amazing!

asking for A Friend,

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Beloveds, 🛑 STOP looking at yourself and finding yourself wanting! You are:

Amazing.

Incredible.

Infinitely priceless.

Get on out there and be the rare treasure you are.

Don’t judge yourself based upon someone else’s actions towards you. That’s a them problem. Your worth is NOT based upon who looks upon you.

You are truly loved, seen, valued and cherished. Lift up your head. You are nothing to be ashamed of. You have nothing to apologize for.

You are NOT your mistakes. Yes, you make mistakes. So what? We all do. Fix what you can. Mitigate what you can. Forgive all you can. Move forward.

This life is short, beautiful ones. Live. In the moment. Stop waiting for this or that to be added. You have all you need to enjoy today. Tomorrow shall come and do as it pleases.

Be encouraged.  If no one has told you today: I love you. So does He.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

When God is silent.

When God is silent.

You stay still.

When The Universe moves.

You flow with.

When Life calls.

You answer.

Until then:

Wait.

Believe.

Rejoice.

asking for A Friend,

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: I’m not sure what to DO next. I am doing my level best not to act from fear of the unknown. I am waiting for the next steps to reveal themselves. Ah, God. You don’t have to hurry, but get here quickly. Asking for A friend(me).

Beloveds, be sure not to move simply because you are afraid to remain in the uncomfortable place God has you locked in, currently. This is but a season of preparation, of growth. Stand fast. Stand still. Stand ten toes down, as the young folks say. This means to keep BOTH feet FIRMLY planted.

Ah, God. What do I DO with me now?

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Keep being an oyster cracker.

Lately, beloveds, I don’t feel as though what I have to offer is quite enough.

I feel like an oyster cracker.

I want to present a feast.

God/Life/The Universe just needs for us to present what we have. To BE who and what we are.

We are, in fact, enough!

Be encouraged.

Give what you have.

Be who you are.

You ARE!…

Enough.

asking for A Friend,

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Keep being you. You are more than enough. In case no one has told you today: I love you. So does He.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Keep baking. 🎂

Me: What am I doing wrong?

God: Nothing.

Me: Why have I not succeeded yet?

God: You have.

Me: Succeeded how? Succeeded at what?

God: Great questions! Keep asking. In the meantime, keep doing what you are doing.

Me: K.

Success is like making a cake 🎂. It takes MANY things:

Ingredients.

A stove.

A recipe.

A place that contains the stove.

Electricity/gas to run the stove.

Utensils.

Ability to follow the recipe or make it up as you go along.

Physical tools to make the cake or wherewithal to task someone else to bake it for you.

Time.

Patience.

I’m sure I am leaving out a dozen other things. Even then, the success will be varied based upon a myriad of factors and choices.

The ingredients may be out of date. The utensils may not be ideal. The stove may stop working. You may have forgotten to pay the electric bill!

Even if you have done everything ‘right’, folk may not like the flavor you selected. Some may not even like cake. Others may prefer a different type or texture. Still others will judge you on how the cake looks, how it does or does not taste.

It’s too sweet!

It’s not sweet enough!

It has too much icing!

I don’t like icing!

Where is the icing?!

And, if you get all that right, beloveds, some will be mad because of how it is presented.

The dish is too fancy!

The dish is not fancy enough!

Why is it served on china?!

Why is it on a paper plate?!

You forgot napkins!

Where is the beverage?!

I don’t like the beverage!

So, if you get all of THAT right, people will STILL have a problem:

Why did you serve her?!

Why is his piece larger than mine?!

Why isn’t this free?!

Why did you give a discount? It must not be good.

Do any of those things, beloveds, have anything to do with the baker? Of course not.

Keep baking YOUR cake 🎂. Keep making YOUR flavor. Don’t worry about your customer(s). It’s The Universe’s job to send them your way.

Just make sure your cake, meaning you, are available. Folk can’t eat what is not cooked, what is not offered,  what is not presented.

Also, stop selling yourself so short. Stop giving yourself away. Stop demeaning your worth by offering your best to those who could care less.

Lastly, precious ones, please stop judging yourself because of the brand/style of 🎂 cake you are!

There is a whole world waiting to sample what only YOU can provide.

Keep on being…YOU.

asking for A Friend,

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Keep on presenting who YOU are. Stop looking to emulate someone else. They are having a hard enough time being them!😁❤️‍🩹♥️🥰

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Time to bet on YOU.

It’s time.

Time to bet on YOU.

Time to start believing in YOUR value, in your WORTH.

Time to raise YOUR voice.

Time to trust YOUR heart.

Many spend their days desperately seeking the approval of celebrity influencers, who are influenced by nothing more than what they can squeeze from YOUR wallet.

You have, you are, everything you will ever need to live an abundant life. The trick is understanding what abundance means to YOU.

Is it money? Fame? Influence?

Real talk, beloveds, most chase these things because they secretly feel unworthy. The world is desperate for you to believe you will never be enough.

This is the ONLY way the world and others can control you.

God wants you FREE to live and to make your own choices. He even desires this for unbelievers.

This is precisely why my blog reaches out to everyone. I don’t care what you believe. I just want you to care. The rest will come out in the wash.

Too many folk use God as an excuse and an agenda.

My ONLY agenda is to let you know you are loved and you are not alone. Period!❤️‍🩹♥️🥰

Time to bet on you, beloveds. You matter. What you think matters. Your goals matter. Time you start working on them, eh?

asking for A Friend,

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: I have been really struggling with believing in ME. I feel old. I feel washed up. I feel used up. Who is even going to want an old, loud goof like me? Asking for a friend(me).

Be encouraged. It’s okay to wonder. Just don’t give up. Not just yet. You got thangs to do…

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Real talk: No going back!

Real talk…*sigh*….

I find myself missing the:

Comfortable.

Familiar.

Known.

We all talk a big game, don’t we, when it comes to wanting growth and change?

We talk a whoooooole lotta crap about wanting to do whatever is needed to grow.

Then, at first sign of the unknown, we cry like big babies:

“It’s dark!”

“I can’t see!”

“I don’t know them!”

“I don’t know if I can trust this!”

“Are You sure?!”

We want change. Easily. Handed to us on a silver platter. No pain involved.

Ah, pain. It sure has been a pain in the uh oh.

Instead of racing back to the familiar, I strain forward.

It’s dark.

I can’t see.

I trust You.

trusting even when I can’t see,

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Keep moving forward, beloveds. Don’t let the unknown chase you back into the shadows. Stay in the light. You got this.

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

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!