Category: faith

Enlarge your tent, God said to me.

God: Enlarge your tent.

Me: But, I’m comfy here. I’m used to here.

God: It’s too small for you, now. It was fine, then. Enlarge your tent.

Me: But, I’m afraid. What if I can’t find another spot? What if the new spot isn’t a better spot for me.

God: Get your butt out of My Way, beloved!

Me: Geeeeeeez.

God: Enlarge your tent.

Me: What if I fail? What if I fall flat on my face. What if…

God: Tell if’s and buts to kick rocks and take two seats.

Me: Well, alrighty then. Here goes nuttin’…P.S. I’m blaming YOU if this doesn’t work out.

God: K.

enlarging my tent,

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Life is short, beloveds. Get out of the comfy rut you have fearfully allowed yourself to remain in. Ruts are coffins. ALL of them. No matter that you have tastefully decorated your rut. A rut is STILL a rut. Move forward. Move onward. MOVE! You got thangs to do. As do I. Asking for Your Friend.

Yea, beloveds, I KNOW moving forward, rut free, can be terrifyingly frightful. It can also be wonderfully delightful. Get going now. In case no one has told you today: I love you. As does He.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Stop judging God by your outcomes.

God loves us.

Period.

Not just when we are good.

Not just when things are sunshine and rainbows.

Folk judge God, ofttimes by what they have or don’t have.

I have to admit I used to judge God based upon the results of my prayers. A check mark, to the good, for answered ones. I check on the ‘He didn’t’ row, for the nos or silent ones.

A check mark when things went well. A check mark when things went downhill.

A check mark when I got praise at work. A check mark when work was being too worky.

I sowwy, God. That was NOT fair of me.

God doesn’t owe me a thing. God does NOT have to do a blessed thing for me. God is NOT My Consierge. SMH. I sowwy, Father. You deserved better.

I hate that churches now tie God’s Prosperity to how much we give, serve, do. God loves and will do simply because He loves us and said He would. Period. End of story.

I have let God off the hook.

I have also let folk off the hook. No one owes me anything. I appreciate what folks choose to send my way. If not, I love them because I love. Period. End of story.

I am also learning not to judge Life and The Universe by outcomes. Just because things don’t turn out like I think they should, does NOT mean I am on the wrong track.

We rarely see the big picture. We are too busy fussing over the close ups!….hahahahahaha!

I’m also trying not to judge ME, beloveds, based upon my outcomes. I can be a tough crowd. I am trying not be such a tough critic. Ow, Cassandra! Back up off yourself!

I am trying to be good to me. No matter the outcome. You do the same, beloveds. You owe yourself better.

asking for A Friend,

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: I have been beating myself up something terrible the past few days because of a lack of results. I sowwy, Cassandra. I am trying to do better. SMH. Be encouraged. Stop giving yourself such a hard time. Things are as they should be. Asking for A Friend.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Good habits got me out of bed.

Good habits got me out of bed super early this morning.

Fresh heckamiah!

I wanted to spend another day feeling sorry for myself.

Good habits smacked me upside the head and told me I had thangs to do.

I got to doing thangs.

I made coffee.

I turned on my laptop.

I got to studyin’.

I got to learnin’.

I got to being about being about it.

Good habits would not allow me to go back to bad habits. Nope. Nada. No way, good habits said to me.

I’m thankful.

Continue to do that which you know to do, beloveds. Sooner or later, your good habits will be so ingrained you won’t be able to hide from life anymore.

being about it,

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Do something towards your dream(s) today. Doesn’t matter what you do. Doesn’t matter how long you do. Just DO. Then just be…YOU! Asking for A Friend.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

God won’t move until YOU move.

I was sad.

I was pitiful.

I was sad AND pitiful.

Normally, I would have crawled up onto The Father’s Lap and told Him about all my trouble. Lately, I have not done so. Why? I don’t know. Ever since the tornado, I have been a bit frustrated with my lack of snap back.

I thought I would be able to jump up and get back after it. Right away. I thought, foolishly, I could ‘pull myself up by the bootstraps’ and keep it moving. I found moving went on ahead and moved on without me.

I couldn’t rah rah my way out of my mad. I could not encourage my way out of my sad. I could NOT, hard as I tried, root my way out of my what in the holy world fresh hell is THIS/THAT feeling that will NOT go away.

I tried to fake it til I made it. Have not made it. Still.

I tried to forgetaboutit. I could not forget.

I tried to eat my way out. I stayed there.

I tried to sleep it all away. It was there when I woke up.

Fresh hell.

Finally, I moved.

I climbed upon The Father’s Lap. He held my hand. He comforted me. He laughed with me. He let me cry. He let me be me. ALL of me. Some of me was NOT pretty. I was mad. I am mad. Still. Mad at a stupid tornado that has torn the fresh hell out of me and my life. Crap! Heckamiah!!

Yesterday, I couldn’t do the day. I let myself rest.

Today, I told lazy to get up and get after it. Move it!

I moved.

I move still.

keeping it moving,

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Life can be soooooooooooooooooo exhausting. Enough so that moving is the last thing we want to do. Keep it moving, beloveds. We got thangs to do. Get to doing them thangs….lol.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Uprooted: Try something new.

Who knew?!

😳

I have spent the day clicking on new channels and exploring new worlds.

I had NO idea there was such a thing as Writer Twitter!

God has put on my heart to learn about other people, other places, other things. It has been an eye opener.

I have come across all kinds of walks of life.

I have enjoyed experiencing aspects from all over the world. I have been particularly delighted in my German commenter who has delighted me with what life is like in his country. Okay, the rest of yall, please comment and let me know what you enjoy about your country and your country. I soooooooooooooooooooooooo enjoy seeing how much folk love where they are from.

I have also been enjoying trying new food concoctions. Nothing has been more delightful then tossing cans of whatever and mixing them with some what the world are thats?!…*delicious shiver*.

I have also started listening to AND enjoying audio books…*gasp*. Who knew?! I am old school, beloveds. I needs me a book in my hands. I told myself I ain’t got no time for no audio book. One day, as I was feeling pitiful and couldn’t sleep, I decided to try the audio books my big bro was forever and a day tryna get me to listen to.

To my delight, I have found them to be delightful! I turned off the lights, turned up the fan and let the reader do ALL the heavy lifting for me. Fantastic!!!

I have soooooooooooooooooooo been enjoying trying new things. I wonder what I shall learn today? I plan on spending another day learning something ridiculous/serious/inspiring/daring/boring/fascinating.

Ah, life. You sho nuff are worth living.

living and trying new things,

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Try something new. Learn about someone else’s culture. This life doesn’t have to be about is ALL the time does it, beloveds? In case no one has told you today: I love you. So does He. Be encouraged.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

God trolled me.

Me: That’s cold.

God: 🤣🤗

Me: That is super cold.

God: I TOLD you.

Me: Didn’t anybody ever tell You it’s NOT nice to say I told you so?

God: Well, did I or did I not tell you?🤣

Me: Well yea.

God: So? Get it?!🤣. I said ‘so’. Add an ‘I told you and what do you get, beloved?

Me: I told you so?

God: Yea. 🤗🤣🥰. You must admit, beloved. I WAS right, right? I WAS right there, WITH you, as you walked these tough miles you INSISTED you could not do. Nope, nary a step, I recall you saying to me. Amirite?

Me: (trying not to smile)…okay, you were right.

God: I told you so! 🤗😆🍋🥰

Me: 🍋🍋🍋😆🤗🤣🥰

God: Keep going, beloved. I AM with you. I promised. I promise still. Do me a solid and make us a nice glass of 🍋 lemonade. Asking for A Friend.

Me: Real funny, ABBA. One has jokes I see.

God: I SEE you. I SEE your tears. They are precious in My Sight. As are you. I only tease those I love.

Me: You sure must love me an awful lot then!…*stamps foot*. You make it awfully difficult staying mad.

*Cassandra gathered up the last of her tears. She decided to add them with the 🍋 and see what they would make*

making lemonade still,

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: When life hands you 🍋 lemons, beloveds, start hurling some at fear and anxiety and stress and inflation and bills and all that is getting in your way and keep it moving.

The way is hard. So what? We got thangs to do. Get to doing those thangs. In case no one has told you today: I love you. So does He. Asking for A Friend…

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Keep wading through the nos.

Today was frustrating.

I got another 50 million nos out of the way.

*sigh*

Be encouraged, beloveds. Keep going.

Yes is on the way.

I hope.

believing I think,

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Spent an incredibly discouraging morning getting either told no or ghosted. I had a bit of a cry. Just a small one. I told God I am done for the day.

Keep looking up. Things are NOT how you feel…lol.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

There is always time.

There is always time.

To do what’s right.

There is always time.

To stand on faith, not fear.

There is always time.

Believe.

There is always time.

Love.

There is always time.

Try.

There is always time.

Do.

There is always time.

Be.

There is always time.

Care.

There is always time.

Dream.

There is always time.

Hope.

There is always time.

Strive.

There is always time.

Fight.

There is always time.

Do NOT allow fear/doubt/circumstances trick you into the foolish lie that you are running out of time. You’re not. There is ALWAYS time to do what’s right.

taking the time,

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Don’t let lies lie to you and tell you there is not enough time. You have plenty of time to do what you need to do. That is, if you get off your hind end and get to doing. Let’s go. We got thangs to do!

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Keeping it real: Keep fighting.

I have wanted to give up this week.

Many times.

I kept fighting.

I have wanted to give up many, many times while the lights were out.

I have wanted to stop praying/hoping/trying to make my dreams come true after DECADES of praying/hoping/trying.

Many times.

I kept fighting.

I placed a delivery order to replace some of the food I had to throw away.

My delivery order arrived. Minus most of the food!!!!

Frustratingly, maddeningly, annoyingly, I called the store to have a new driver delivery what the original driver had failed to deliver. Geeeeeeeeeeezzzzz!

I was frustrated. I had paid for my food! I had thrown away my other food! I received promise, after promise, after promise my food would be delivered THAT day.

It wasn’t.

I was told my order would arrive at 7 am, the NEXT DAY! Fresh hell!!!

Next day:

Nothing at 7.

Nothing at 8.

Nothing at 9.

Nothing at 10.

Nothing at 11.

I called back and talked to more people. More apologies. More promises. No food.

Nothing at 12.

Nothing at 1.

By now, getting my food was like a metaphor of my delayed/denied dreams: Doing all that I know only to be thwarted by those who could who chose not to.

I called back. Apologies were given. As it turns out, the store was having trouble trying to find a driver to deliver my order. They asked did I want to wait while they tried again. And, again. And, again.

Finally……FINALLY(!), my order was delivered.

Whew.

By that time, though, I was too darned angry to eat.

I was mad at God because of the damned tornado.

I was mad at the power for going out and ruining ALL my food.

I was mad at the refrigerator for having the nerve to ruin my food.

I was mad at the food for being ruined.

I was mad at me for….hell, beloveds, I had NO idea why I was mad at me. Just was.

Eventually, I laughed. I cried. I fixed supper. I cried some more.

Today, I have laughed. I have cried. I have tried some more.

Today, I look around and see not much but am content.

Why?

Because, I am loved and am NOT alone. This hard is teaching me HOW to fight. For ME. For my dreams.

Why?

Because, I have thangs to do. I have no idea how long I have to do such things. I had best get to being about it, don’tcha think?

being about it,

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Keep fighting, beloveds. Keep trying. It’s not your fault your dreams have not come true yet. Often, we have NOTHING to do with the lack of them coming true. Drivers don’t show. Power goes out. Things we have painstakingly gathered is ruined. Folk walk away. Things are taken away.

No matter what, beloveds. Keep fighting. Your food, er, dreams, SHALL arrive when they are supposed to. In the meantime, keep on being good to you. Asking for Your Friend….

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

For me: Doing something dumb.

I’m doing something dumb.

For me.

Just ‘cuz.

Why?

Because, I have ALWAYS wanted to.

Why?

Just cuz.

Beats me.

I love sports. And, I mean I love me some sports. Mom gave me HER love of sports. We would hoot and holler over this team or that. I don’t know, beloveds, if this is the main reason why I love sports. I just do.

Anywho, not only do I love watching sports, I love TALKING about them. Endlessly. Exasperatedly. Incessantly. I could talk about sports ALL day. ALL DAY!

In particular, I love me some NFL….*hugs self*. I scour my favorite channels to hear different folks take on this team or that. Here lately, there has not been enough to satisfy my thirst.

Fresh hell!

So, I decided to start me a Sports Podcast…*shrug*.

Why?

Just cuz.

I’m still trying to learn how to make videos and Power Points and this here and that there so this will be a fun and possibly disastrous happenings.

So what?!

Life is short.

I made an audio file I have absoluely NO idea how to transfer, upload, edit or whatever.

HAHAAHAHAAHAHAAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

Before, beloveds, I would never have started. I would have used my lack of knowledge as a reason and excuse NOT to start.

Ha!

I am beginning.

Now.

Here.

Disastrously.

Ridiculously.

Ah, God. I’m trying. Help a sista out, Wouldja please?

asking for a friend(me),

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: God is good. Instead of chastising me for being so down the last few days, He lifted me up. He set my feet upon a rock. He whispered for me to try. Just try, Cassandra, He asked me. I will.

Get going, beloveds. Life is short. I know I have blown up your inbox with pieces today. Why? Life is short. Just a bit ago a tornado ripped up my world. The day before the tornado, I thought I had plenty of time to do two pieces at a time. After the tornado…whew…my heart keeps saying life is short and encourage as many folk as you can as you just never know what the day may bring.

This is my last weekend before I start work again. I am fixing to get back to my normal two pieces per day and try to get some rest before reality and life slaps me upside the head with work.

I don’t know what me will be returning to work, beloveds. I’m not ready. I can’t afford NOT to start on Tuesday. My funds are dry. Yet, I KNOW I shall be alright. How do I know? Because, He promised me. Ah, God. I appreciate You. For YOU. Not because You can. Just cuz You Are. Ah, beloveds, I appreciate you. Not because you listen to me ramble. But, because you are:

Precious.

Priceless.

Amazing.

Outstanding.

Caring.

Insightful.

Delightful.

Keep being you. Take care of your tender heart. STOP giving you such a hard time. Try something dumb and new. Just because YOU enjoy it. Don’t worry if it will make money. God WILL make the way for you. You don’t have to chase clicks and likes. God likes you. Nuff said. Be encouraged. Remember, I love me some you.

Don’t wait until you know how. You may never start. Take a step. Just one. Which will lead to other steps. Where shall your steps lead you? Beats me. God knows but He ain’t tellin’…

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!