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.
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.
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!
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…
