Category: hope

Fear not: No longer afraid(of the storm).

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.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

You are worth the fight.

You are worth the fight.

You are worth fighting for.

You are worth fighting alongside.

I fight for you.

I fight with you.

We fight on!

doing this TOGETHER,

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: WE got this, beloveds. We are making this our year. We are NOT alone. We ARE changing lives. Starting with our own.

Starting over, since the tornado, has been really hard. I came across some of the videos I took immediately following it. I have never viewed them. I think I am ready. I shall share them…I think.

It’s important to acknowledge, to look upon, to grow from and then MOVE PAST our devastation. The process is never easy.

We thunk of what was lost. We feel lost. We wonder if we will ever regain our footing. We will. It just takes time.

I am still processing the losses. I am still acknowledging perceived limitations, from the losses.

Still, I am growing. One food catastrophe at a time.

This year, let’s endeavor not to stay where we have always been. Let’s extend our boundaries and borders, shall we? Who knows who we shall meet. I’m ready to find out. Aren’t you? Let’s go!

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Keep trying: To chili or not to chili.

Hhhmm.

HHmmmm….

I had some ground beef handy. Ground beef wanted to be used. Ground beef wanted to be made into something. I feel ya, ground beef. So do I.

For days, ground beef had been hollering at me from the fridge: “Make me something. Make me SOMETHING!”:

I thought about making chili. Chili thought that was an outstanding idea! Then, I heard tacos hollering to be made: “Me. Make meeeeeeeeeeeee!”:

Now, beloveds, I found myself in an intense battle! To chili or NOT to chili? That was the question.

What on earth does this have to do with YOU, you may be asking by now, through your haze of boredom and wonder? It reminds me of how often we get into paralysis analysis when trying to move forward in doing/trying new things.

I have been pondering my next steps. So much so, beloveds, I became fearful of taking ANY step. Doubt began doubting. Fear began shouting more loudly. Reality wanted to set in like concrete.

I didn’t know what to do NEXT. Now, I was more afraid of NEXT then I was of the unknown. I was afraid if I did THIS, I would set off THAT. But, if I didn’t do THAT, maybe THIS would happen!…*terrified gasp*.

My THIS had begun to fight with THAT. Speaking of fighting, I have to get back to chili wars…

Which shall I choose!

Chili?

Tacos?

Me o my!

This battle has me thinking about next steps:

Right?

Left?

Stand still?

Process further?

God is silent. Life is silent. The Universe is silent. Fresh hell. What do I DO now?

While waiting on next steps, I have decided what to make…

I decided on a bowl of cereal 🥣. Who wants  some?

asking for A Friend,

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note:

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Will you?

Will you?

asking for A Friend,
Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: I plan on giving my all. I plan on standing, ten toes down, on FAITH. I plan on loving as many folks as I can today.

What shall YOU do today.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Hi!

Hi!

Just stopping by to see what you are up to, beloveds.

Are you working on your dreams this morning? If not, what are you waiting for? If so, that’s fantastic. Life is short. Be sure to spend some of today working on your dream.

What do you see for yourself this year? What do you plan on accomplishing this week? What small goal have you made for yourself? If you have not made any goals, be sure to do so.

The year will pass faster than you know. Enjoy your day and everything that happens within it. We only have today to make our mark. Let’s make it a good one.

asking for A Friend,
Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: This day has so many treats in store for you. How many will you find? Keep looking. In the meantime, keep living your life. Don’t not lie your circumstances to determine your mood. Determine to have an amazing day. Now go make your day amazing.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

You are worthy of love.

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Pexels.com

You are worthy of love.

Nuff said!
Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: As we end this year, let these words sink in. You are worthy of love. You are worthwhile. You are worth it.

Consider spending your life chasing things which will be life lasting. Consider stretching wide your heart. Consider helping someone realize their dream. Consider being a giver. Consider your neighbor.

Then, watch and see how The Universe will bless you for considering others. Give because you can. Do because you want to. Act because you choose to.

I’ll see you in the new year. I will be doing the same thing as I have always done: Loving you!


One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Call me a faithful fool: There IS another side.

I have been thinking about the story in the Bible where Jesus told the disciples to go with Him to the other side. Then, He went to sleep. How rude!?

I’m sure the disciple, we’re not very happy for Jesus to go to sleep and leave them fighting a storm by themselves. I don’t blame them.

The comforting thing for me is that in going to sleep, Jesus was an example that they would make it to the other side. He was confident. He didn’t worry about the storm. He didn’t worry that they wouldn’t make it. He knew they would. So, He slept.

God is teaching me how to sleep during the storms. He knows I would make it to the other side of my financial storm. I just need to trust Him and to go to sleep. I trust Him. Call me a fool if you must. A FAITHFUL fool!

I am going to make it to the other side. So will you. Have faith. Go to sleep knowing that you will get where you need to go!

asking for A Friend,
Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: I must admit I have had many, many days where I didn’t know if I would make it. I’m still waiting on life to right itself, so I continue on, financially. I don’t yet know the outcome to that story. I just know I will end up on the other side of this. The lesson is not about the finances. The lesson is about faith. The lesson is in exercise in my faith. The lesson is living a joyous life. In the meantime, as I am waiting for things to turn around for me, financially.

Be encouraged. You’re going to make it through this!

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Show your haters some love.

I have been told what I could and could NOT do my whole life.

I have been advised what I can and can NOT have.

Age has laughed at me.

Finances have played around with my confidence.

Apathy has attempted to move in many time.

To ALL my haters, beloveds, I say “Thank you”. If not for the adverse winds, I would not have been forced to propel my dreams forward.

I was trying to teach myself how to do something. I failed. Spectacularly. I tried again. I confused myself even more. I gave it several more Gos. Go said “I don’t think so.”

I put things down. Disappointment and discouragement came calling. We had a meeting. I had to decide if I would let them have the rest of the day…

Nah, fam! I got thangs to do. I decided to use MY disappointment to deliver this message to you:

Be encouraged. Change takes time. Trying new things can be scary. The unknowns can appear terrifying.

Stay in the fight. If you feel overwhelmed, take a break. Take the day, if needed. Then, get back after it.

We SHALL find our way THROUGH and FORWARD. If nothing else, we are creating some awfully entertaining moments!

Keep going. You can do it. You can.

asking for A Friend,
Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Doubt can get awfully loud, cant it? Geez…

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

New Beginnings: Don’t react. Respond.

So often, beloveds, we react to what happens in our life. Sadly, we often react in ways that are harmful to us.

I am learning how to RESPOND to the things that happens. There is a huge difference:

RESPONDING gives us the options of taking stock, reframing things, evaluating things.

REACTING gives us no room to THINK, ASSESS, and ACT. We rush in. We waste time lamenting about the awful happenstances.

Today I told myself, I would take the time to just let the day play out the way it wished. It turned out to be a wonderful day!

I talked with family. I wrote many pieces. I made a good meal. I listened to favorite tunes. I listened to my heart. What a peaceful and wonderful day!!

It sure is nice living life not ruled by my feelings.

Respond to what happens in your life. Don’t be so reactionary…lol.

asking for A Friend,
Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: The world does its best to control us by making. us live in our feelings. We don’t have time to be reacting on whims and by every wind that blows. We choose how our day will be. I choose a day where I walk and love all day. How about you?

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

New Beginnings: Just because things are hard, does NOT mean they have to be miserable.

These have been some hard days. I have made them much harder, at times, by my attitude towards what has happened.

I have pouted. I have sulked. I have given up. I have started over. Rinse. Repeat.

That said, I have been learning how to get up more quickly. I have been pouting less. I have been praying more.

Living through all of this hard, I have learned that our attitude really does determine our altitude. I have had many highs and many lows. The lows have come from not believing in myself and the gifts that God has given me. The highs have come when I have been standing 10 toes down on my FAITH.

I have learned a great lesson:

Just because things are hard, does NOT mean they have to be miserable! I can’t believe I spent so many years having a fit about what happened, instead of dealing with what happened. I added so much extra time going around. mountains. I didn’t have to because I was too busy whining and complaining about having to go through hard times.

Keep going through your hard time. The time will pass before you know it. Make sure that you come out the other side. Strong, successful and joyful. You will make it to the other side!

rooting for you,
Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Don’t waste another moment. Life is short. Life happens. Do what you can with what you have. Enjoy your day. Create as many moments as you can. We don’t know how many moments we have left.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!