Cassie's profileGod's lovePhotosBlogListsMore  |  Tools Help |
God's loveMysterious, Holy, Real, and its open for All! A Pursuing GodHey Guys, Not much new to tell you. Just found out I got a job as a caretaker out North in an Elder's home, so getting ready for training and the evening shift is keeping me busy. My Sister just came in from Juneau a few days ago, and now she's headed out to Homer (fishing village on the road system) to work as a Kyak guide. She's 100% outdoor lover, which is awesome. The past couple years I kinda lived my adventures through her.... which sounds pretty bad, but it was a blast for her to come home and hear her adventures of the thigs I always dreamed to do. It'll be cool going to Homer this summer and hanging with her on my days off. Revelation 3:20Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. I don't know where to start. This verse makes my heart soar. A lot of times, I hate writing about one verse all by itself because there's so much we can get from the context. But this one just about knocked me over the first time I actully took time to read it. The Lord is writing to the Church in Laodicea, pouring his heart out to them. This church said they loved God but really, didnt care a hoot what they were doing. Earlier in verse 16 God cries out that "since you are luke warm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth." In other words, the actions that he was seeing was "making him sick" (real good theology term for ya!) The Christians in this Church probably understood a little too well how much that statement was true, and they didn't care. It was just a little too hard, and a little too convicting to change, but hey, they said the prayer, they believe in Christ, that's good enough right? (I'm stepping on my own toes here...) So, after I've completely depressed all of you, let me shine some light on that subject. God still pursues us. It doesn't matter that we don't pursue him with a passion, he still pursues us with an incomprehensible and unmeasurable passion. Think about it. The Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End... the "Amen" of life... let me get real lame here and just point out something that I think a part of each one of us asks. How - no, WHY- would a Being with that much "say- so" that much power, care about me? Cummon, I'm a kid that works in a town of 7,000 people, hasn't acchieved much as far as society's concerned, and yet the God of the Universe is standing at my door? Put in your own story, but I think the same is true for all of us. If WE were God, there's no way on earth we'd stand "knocking" at someone's door, and not stopping until they answer. Yet the fact that that isn't explainable is what makes it so precious. Love stepped down and came to live among us, even though Love (Christ) knew that He would be doing most of the drty work in this relationship. I once heard the "Christian" journey described using initiatives. This speaker kept on saying "Christ loves you, but you have to take the first step." I understand -oh so well- where this man was coming from. (Christ will not make you love him) But at the same time, I don't agree. Christ "beat us" to the initiative. Go to Golgotha... the pursuing became evdent there. And the fact that he is willing to stand at our "door" (our heart) and knock until we answer tells me a few things. 1. He doesn't give up easily 2. His love outstands my stubbornness 3. He pursues no matter our history. Most of you have been in church most of your lives. Do me a favor will you? Don't take this verse like water off a duck's back. This has HOPE written over it... just because you've heard His Story more times than you can count does not mean you cant step back and revisit the awe that ruled your life the first time you somehow heard the "Amen" of Life simply say "I'll do anything to be with you." Pretty powerful stuff... I'l talk to you later Cass Scale the heights, find the MasterHey Guys,
Whoever is still out there.... HI! Sorry I've sort of resorted to keeping all this going through email, so I have, in some ways, kind of forgotten about this space. I could give you a great excuse, but that's all it'd be, an excuse. Most of my days the past several months have been insane with school work and having a very filled - yet routine- life. Any of you that have actually seen my life know I hate it when my life turns into a routine. At the same time, when you're living on a college campus with about 40 students and its impossible for you to leave, there's very rarely a "routine" day. But even that can turn into a routine. This past year at Alaska Christian College (ACC) smacked me around... a lot. Theology always throws me for a spin, because I don't really have the gift of faith. I would only have that gift if faith meant "analyze and explain everything until it all makes sense and there's no need for an imagination... because you always get the answer." You guys have seen and heard me argue (or, if you wanna get professional I believe the correct term in theology is "discuss") almost everythng humanly possible to explain questions. I think the craziest thing I learned this year is thats not always necessary. I went to college to get the Book knowledge in theology, and walked away learning alot, like.. God can argue his own case... and I'll never understand anything in theology until I accept who I am in Christ. How's that for a year in a discipleship program?
On the "normal" side of my life (no coments from the peanut gallery) nothing is new as of 3 weeks ago. I graduated from ACC (1 year program) and 4 days before that graduation, got my GED. Talk about backwards, but at times I wonder if I do anything the logical way. Now, I'm doing what every one seems to do around this time of the year... hunting like crazy for a job, and praying that I won't have to stay in the same spot of this gorgeous land forever. I absolutely love Alaska, but I'm getting a little antsy to get somewhere where no one knows me. Yeah, like I said, typical attitude of an 18 year old that hasnt shut-up or sat still since she was born.
Habakkuk 3:19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.
Ever hiked a steep mountain? It isn’t easy, there are so many times that you lose your footing. Falling is a little frightening as it is, but when you are 20,000 feet or more up in the air… just the thought of falling is enough to make you wonder why you even signed up for this adventure. So God is promising to make us surefooted as a deer. Sounds weird when we first hear about it, but think of the mountains we have to climb on a daily basis. Although if we slip and fall on these mountains it won’t actually kill us, but it can still do it’s damage. To be surefooted, to take on the heights of our problems is a promise, but we have to take the last step. God is giving us the ability and the promise that He is our strength, but we have to climb. Climbing means knowing what we’re doing. Knowing the other promises that God has given us, and fully relying on those. Rely on the promise of “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” “I love you with an everlasting love.” “I am faithful and just to forgive your sins and cleanse you from all wrong.” These are only a few of the millions of promises that God has given.
See ya guys later, I'm still praying
The Dust of the RabbiHi Friends, I seem to be starting every entry with the lame line of "I haven't fallen off the face of the Earth. But I don't think anyone will believe me if I say that. Things here have been bizaar, and except to send out a few short sentence emails every day, I'm rarely on the computer. Huge difference between the kid a couple years ago and the student now. It used to be that my ministry through the net was all I was about, now.... you never see me on the computer! School is a blast, pretty stressful right now wrapping things up for the semester, but we're all looking so forward to the break that we barely care anymore!! This poem has been on my mind and heart for months now and I just got it down on paper a few weeks ago. The saying
May you walk in the dust of the Rabbi May the things he says be the supply The Provision of The KingHey Everyone, Okay. Yes. I am still alive. No, I have not fallen off the face of the earth. Am I still willing to keep this blog going? I have NO idea. Let's just say taking a break this summer has been great. Now it's off to college. Whether God wants me to keep this going is up to Him. i.e Whether he gives me the time and the input of what to put on this is up to Him. This summer has been great. I've been in Indiana working in my old hometown at my home church as an intern (we jokingly call that a slave) working in the office. It's been a stretch in more ways than one, but going into that here would be wrong. God's definitely shown me where my faith needs to grow and has helped me mature in ways I never thought possible. What an awesome God we serve. I know I usually give you guys a passage of scripture here and then go on, and on, and sometimes go even further... but right now, I don't feel like I can do that. Something God has been teaching me this summer is the difference between teaching only by your input alone (leaving God out of it) and then letting God use your life and Him speaking through you. Something that I've had a hard time grasping because I've had very little example of that growing up except in my family. But something happened this summer that blew me away at the greatness of our God. And then again, to my shame, it shouldn't have. Let me tell you a story of my incompetance to understand who my God really is. And maybe through that you'll understand Him better. I left my Home in "igloo land" (if you don't know what or where that is by now... Lord help you) with about $60 in my pocket. I knew that there was no way I was going to survive 2 months with $60 alone, but I also knew that my family wasn't completely mean. My job in Indy wasn't paid (i.e the term "internship") so I just closed my eyes and said a desperate prayer. When I got to my family in the states... my Uncle came through. His response to giving me his money was priceless. "I know what it's like to stay with a friend and not have money but wanting to pay your own way. Here... take some money." Not wanting to act like a stupid little immature kid, I hugged 'im and thanked him for the money, but inside I was jumping for joy. I had money. I was going to be okay. God was providing. Even though I knew that promise was never going to fail, my faith was soon going to be tested. When I left my family to start my internship down in southern Indiana after 2 weeks of spending time with them, the unthinkingable happened. Or atleast to me it was unthinkable. In the small town of Alaska, everyone knows everyone. No one locks their car doors, no one worries if their purse is left somewhere. Well, I left my purse in my car... and I was smart enough to atleast hide it under the seat. But when I came back to it, I had $11 instead of $120. A thief with a conscience! Praise God. A day later, I had to use all but one dollar of that money. And I survived on that $1 for quite sometime. I finally took my money, what I had left of it, which by the time I woke up to the truth and remembered God I only had a few dimes, and knelt by my bed. "God a few weeks ago I already gave you your 10% of this money... you promised you'd provide. Whether you multiply this money right in front of me now or later on, I'm trusting you. But please just do it. You're teaching me to lean on you, and I just pray you'll teach me to heed every word." I have to admit, I expected the money to come in 10 minutes later or even a day later. But it didn't. God waited. And waited. And I'm so glad He did. A while later, one of my friends came into the church while I was working and he handed me an envelope just saying "I heard what happened, don't say anything Cass, just take it. I love you." My mother sent my $40 the next day as well. Why am I telling you this story? To encourage you. To plead with you not to give up. His time is perfect. He proclaimed that not even a sparrow falls to the ground without Him noticing, what more of a treasure are you? He will provide. Whether it's money, a car, or a broken family that needs to be healed, he is right there. And if He comes to your rescue any sooner, it wouldn't be as perfect as it could be. Believe me, I know. See ya Around Cass Am I normal?!?!Hey Guys, Sorry its been over a month since I've been on here. We've been runnin' a crazy ship around here. I've been working on getting things ready for college in the fall, as well as leaving on Tuesday.... and yes, thats been taking longer than I expected. I have no idea what God has planned for me in either one of these adventures (college in the fall; Indiana for the summer) but I've learned to just let Go and let God. So, this is going to be a weird post today... especially since it'll probably be the last one for a while, so I have no idea why I'm talking about this particular subject. But you don't argue with God. I was reading through my old papers that I'd written, and this came up. It's not a warm and fuzzy. It actually made me feel uncomfortable and its written about my "people." The disabled. And I wrote it. I want us to see just how much these people are ignored for Christ's love. Maybe we'll see it when we see it from my point of view. I want to scream when I hear those words. "I want a normal child." There's a bite to those words I've heard many times before but I've never been able to accept. Yes, it's hard to see a disabled child. But she's beautiful; she still has a heart that beats like the rest of us, she still feels. I don’t get why people don’t see that. Then again, yeah, I do. It’s a hard world out there, a hard thing to stand in front of someone to call them "normal." Especially when you look at them and it doesn’t appear like their gorgeous eyes are looking back. Or they don’t look normal because their body's bent in a gross fashion. How can we accept that and call them normal, how do we sit down and talk to them like they're normal… when we know they're not? So that’s the world's view, what's the 'other person's' view? I'll tell you. I can tell you because I've been there. I've been the kid that everyone looks at because I can't speak, or because my body looks weird. Or because they look at me and I peer right through them. What do I feel like? When people look at me like that what does it mean to me? My heart breaks, because I really do have a heart, I really do have feelings. But the scars that can be shown make it so that I'm fair game. It’s a funny thing when people start treating me normally, and then catch themselves, they act like it's a crime. I don’t understand it to be honest with you. All I know is that I wish they'd see that I really am here. I talked it out with a friend once, and she replied, basically, that it was okay to not accept these people in the world in some cases. I wanted to allow her the time inside my body, where I hurt more times than not because I saw both sides of the story almost too clearly. These people needed to get talked to, even if all it’s a simple "hi, I love you." What would a person do if it were them? If it were them in the wheelchair barely holding on to a conscience thought; what then? I laugh when little kids ask for my disabilities to get out of school, but I beg for adults to get the pain for a day. That way the world would see what they consider "semi brain dead" or even "brain dead" is still alive. Or even that the hurt that comes from various diseases needs to be accepted. There are days I hate being disabled; I know I'm not the only one. But the hardest thing is when I peer into the crowd and no one looks back because they're embarrassed. What can I do about it? Accept the fact that I'll never be accepted as the normal society, but there has to be someone that knows we still have souls we still have dreams. And we still need to be a part of every family. We are a different society maybe… but we still want to be a part of this world. ******************************************************************************** So this is worse case scenerio, but now we know. And it has happened, it happens many times a week. Just because it's the world we live in. I'm challenging you, and myself, that the next time you run into someone that makes you uncomfortable because they look different, or because they limp WHATEVER! Befriend them. It saddens me that I have to tell this to adults, but I have to tell this more to the mature than the immature. They will see Christ just through you talking to them. Believe me, I know. Alrighty, so I'll try and come by a little more often but This summer's going to be different... I'll be praying though. See ya~Cass Crushed for it allHey Guys, WELL! This week has definitely been better, and definitely been a little bit crazier. And like I've told you before, if I don't have craziness, I don't have normalcy, so.... all is well. ha! We have college students staying with us all this weekend so it's an endless weekend of movies, popcorn and girls staying up late to talk. You'd think we were back in Junior high or something. But oh well, I'll just pay for staying up til 3 in the morning later. Isaiah 53:5-7 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities;the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray,each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. I usually don't say this about scripture, but this passage makes me sick. In a good way. Because it opens my eyes to what He did. For me. For you. Are you reading this scripture closely? And I mean really closely? It doesn't say he was just prodded with a stick and then left alone to think. Or that he was slapped twice and then left naked to be humiliated (which, in my opinion, would have been enough humiliation to last a life time.) No, he was CRUSHED, completely beaten, bruised, lefted unrecognizable. This was what he put himself through. If I explained the ways they would torture "criminals" back then... the cat of nine tails, the whips, the barb wire for the crown, say nothing of the fact for the rot iron nails and the spears... You'd understand why "crushed" comes to life for me here. And He took all of that for us. We have peace now because of Him. Now, I want you to imagine with me, what you would have done on the cross if you were there. Not just at the foot of the cross saying "Messiah, I thought you were the one, come back!" but actually being crucified yourself. I usually don't like thinking like that, but what would your reaction be? Fear? Anger? Sadness? Screams of terror? One of my friends gave me a nail this week and told me to just press it against my palm as HARD as I could. It didn't hurt perse' but it stung. "Now multiply that by 1,000 (I wanted to tell him it was more than that!) and you have the pain of Christ. And we didn't even pity Him. He took our pain and we didn't even pity him. What more could we do to him?" His point was made. You know what Easter is. Christ was crucified, buried and he ROSE on the third day. Hallelujah. Easter is that Resurrection. Praise God we worship a risen Savior, Amen? The love He showed, on that cross, was a crucial part (duh?). But my point is, many a time we just really quickly go over the crucifixion of Christ like it was no biggie because we don't wanna think about it. I can see why it'd be easier to make it into the preschool version and forget about what it means, but what about the hard details that can change our lives? It's a huge part of thinking about what He has done. Of those nails getting driven into his hands, and him taking it for a crowd that really, didn't care. Take time this Year to THINK about what led up to Easter. and to meditate on the fact that the only reason you are here, is because He was willing to be crushed and crucified. What a wonderful Savior. Cass I saw His faceHey Guys, Well, If can't lie, it's been a hard week. My body has sort of turned on me in every aspect of the game. The people that have been through this with me -with my health - know that I will be the first one to say "hey 2nd chances!" "3rd times a charm!" But what's the rhyme for 4 times around? Now I'm not giving up. I can't do that when God has given me such joy in the circumstances and living I have. But the seizures are coming back faster than um.... I ever expected I guess. The other night I almost landed myself in the ER, and the device they put me on (VNS) that shocks me every 5 minutes for 30 seconds is still too week. Oh well, I guess I'm doing this so that I won't turn on the doctors in Seattle. They adore me there because I'm always giving them new stuff to look at, my case is bigger than the size of TX. This, my Friends, is where my life as a 2 faced Christian would never have pulled off. Because God's joy can never be copied. And it's the only way I'm surviving right now. Luke 17:11-16 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. "UNCLEAN! UNCLEAN! UNCLEAN!" or "DON'T TOUCH ME, I'M SINFUL! DON'T TOUCH ME I'M SINFUL! DON'T TOUCH ME, I'M SINFUL!" How might you like walking the streets of where ever you call home screaming this? I live in a small- very small - town. If anyone sees you, everyone sees you. I once joked with my friend that if you held hands with the wrong boy while on a walk, it would be in the newspaper the next morning. That's an exaggeration, but you get the point. There's no decency, there's no hope for the person that did something wrong 10 years ago. Is leprosy a disease caused by sin? It may be. Kings have been struck down with it for not repenting... and leprosy isn't just "the nuisance" that means it's not pleasant to look in the mirror because you're not the hunk you used to be. You lose limbs, you lose a nose, you lose... well... But even still, leprosy can just be caused by dumb bacteria. (If I tried to spell it out I'll get a doctor wiz on here that'll spill my guts for not looking it up...) So it's a little of both. So when these men that were infected with the disease saw Jesus, they had every right to want to be healed. Who would want to stay that way? Jesus does miracles... it just adds up. So what do they do, the only thing they can do... call from a distance. If they walk right up to him, they break the law. If He walks right up to THEM it's his own fault and heck, it means the religious leaders get a break. (or not) There were ten of them. Jesus sent them to the Priests because that's the only way a person with leprosy in those days could start living again. "See see! I have nothing wrong with me." If the priests approve, it must not be a dream. But you don't understand do you. They went back to the priests and only 9 showed up. Where was the 10th one? Giving thanks and adoration to the One that deserved it. This man's "stamp of approval" could wait a little longer. This Jesus, this Messiah, was the only one that mattered. This was what Joy felt like. Not so much being healed, but giving thanks. That was that person's gold that day, was seeing Heaven open up to him. So my challenge to you, and to me... is when we are healed where are we going? No, it doesn't have to be leprosy. Or cancer, or Multiple Sclerosis, or any of "the big ones." Even the emotional things that we are healed from, that we are finally freed from, who do we dance in front of? The people that can be in awe of what "we" have done... or in front of the only One that Deserves it. Don't be one of the nine that ran away~Cass God and the Cracks of lifeHey Guys, What a nutty (yes, I said nutty... ) couple'a weeks. I have no clue what I'm still doing here at the moment. Or, at least that would be my answer if I forgot who I belonged to. But the thing is, through every dumb circumstance, God reigns. I'm here because He's not finished. Yes, I know, I'm preaching 2 paragraphs early. But the thing is, it's been a crappy (oops) 3 weeks and so has my attitude. And it's been interesting watching God snap me around. Even the teacher needs a time of revival. Even the teacher forgets who is God and who is the clay. But what a crazy event to remind me of all these things. I wouldn't trade them for the world. Because, in the midst of landing me right back in the midst of square one and the doctor's questionaire, I have been reminded, once again, just how awesome the one true God is. Amen? Isaiah 29:11 You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, "He did not make me"? Can the pot say of the potter, "He knows nothing"? Isaiah 45:9 "Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker, to him who is but a potsherd among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter, 'What are you making?' Does your work say, 'He has no hands'? Basically, I'm ashamed to say, these 2 passages are reminding us that we sometimes "stupify" God. "God! You know nothing!" (Hence the first passage.) "I'm supposed to be beautiful, I'm supposed to be like an NFL footlball player, cook, draw people in in 5 seconds flat... You don't understand what you're making God. Here let me take over!" But as soon as we take over, who's more stupified, you, or the Maker? Because we are trying to beautify ourselves as the clay from the clay wheel, so we don't see the crack here that says "I'm still prideful" (oh really? You must be mistaken) Or, "Compassion never shows... unless it's good for me." (That ain't true, I kissed a baby once, to make my wife happy.) But God sees it and if He has to, he takes every part of us and works it out of us on the Potter's wheel. And man a live does it hurt. But the thing is, what comes out is better than what we could ever present before the King on Judgement Day. Because the Maker sees us from all sides. We? We only see ourselves from what we think. And, lets face it honey dears. Everything we see is good. Even if, really, it's bad. Because we don't want to go before God and say "My Maker, you made something beautiful, but I messed up. You made something that would beautify those around me but I cracked your pottery by adding pride, anger, jealousy..... Father, can you fix me? Will you fix me?" If you are a weathered Christian, a weathered "claypot" of God's that has been used many times, you know that that prayer may come out with humility and seem easy. And really? That's the easiest step of all. But it's the start of the hardest journey. Because the Maker doesn't put the bandaid on your crack and say "well the world won't notice, peace be to you, and sin no more, it'll go away." He puts you back on the potter's wheels and starts all over again if he has to. Teaching you the gift of humility, compassion, love, joy, peace, patience. But the thing is, he first has to scrap of everything you and I have put there. And that can hurt. But did you notice something in those verses? Although it is a warning and although at times you can read things like that and just feel completely distressed by what God is handing you... really it's what's not in those verses. He didn't say "I will not love you." He did not say "do this three times over and that's it, begone out of my sight." He still loves us, but there will come the hardships of not letting him do the work. It's his love that gets us through the biggest cracks of life. And don't you ever forget it. Talk to you later Cass What powers of Hell, what Scheme of ManHey There
So for everyone that must know... I'm finally living in Alaska again! I was getting sick and tired of getting the reports (especially from Indiana... sorry guys) that it was negative something and snowing... and here I was in 32 degree weather and melting all my snow. God finally blessed us with about 8 inches a couple days ago. YES! Can you tell I absolutely love living in Igloo land? What in the world am I gonna do when I move?! Oh, I had a couple people getting antsy to know what's going on in May... and the only reason I didn't address it head on was I thought I'd already brought it up for prayer, or for everyone to argue about. I'll be in Indiana from May to the end of August living with some friends of mine. I'd love to give details, but, I've learned that that's a little TOO complicated! Galatians 5:2-4 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. Can I hear a big resounding, "OUCH!" Women? We're not excluded from this. Sorry. Circumcision these days can come in a whole different way. Have you ever turned your back on God, but not noticed it? Hine's sight is always 20/20. So, sorry about this, but we're taking a trip. We find something in the Old testemant that we think we need to follow that makes us forget the new covenant we have with God. We make that rule that is now our idol the only thing we live for. It is now our god. And the Real God? Oh He's in there, just on the bottom shelf. Paul is actually talking about the action of cutting the body in this passage. But when I was reading through the whole chapter I found myself weeping at the fact that I had done the same thing in so many, many ways. At times in the past I had forgotten about grace and made God sit back and watch as I go through the rituals to try and earn his love. And that's just not possible. Reading your Bible Going to Church Giving to the Poor ..... All these things are fantastic, and I love them dearly. But if you let yourself forget God because it CAN be just a ritual at night before you go to bed ("now I lay me down to sleep... okay I said my prayer!") Going to church because, well just 'cause. Giving to the poor because you want the blessing, not because you want to grow closer to the Creator and his love mercy and grace. The list goes on. Everything can be turned into that, and I don't mean to split hairs like this. But where have we forgotten grace, and where have we brought in our own salvation? It happens. I've been there. If you don't know everything about me, you'd be surprised to know just how many 2 faced ideas and rituals I made up before I found grace. These verses say that if we do these things, Christ will be of NO (ABSOLUTELY NO) Value to us. The King of the Heavens will slip away because we've made up our own ordeal. Which sounds okay, right? But the thing is, we're human. What thing, made by a human has ever held when faced by the fires of hell and the schemes of Satan? None. And so, my friends, the grace of Christ is the only thing we can grasp on to. The only thing. He covers every ritual we've tried, and will try, and gives us forgiveness and a future instead. I can't imagine anything other than that. See ya around Cass Is HE real?Hey Guys,
What a weird couple of weeks! Sorry I havent been around much, things have kind of blown up in my face around here. But Hey, if we didnt have craziness there'd be no point in life! (I'm totally joking!) I'm just trying to get "ready" to leave in May for a couple months and it's proving to be a weird ordeal all in the same. I'm lovin' it though. I've got a job openning here because I need some mulla while I'm gone, so that's half the craziness right there. But All is well, knowing me I'll just think things through so much that whatever happens will be in atleast ONE of my scenerios! I'm telling you, I think God must really appreciate half the stuff I tell him while I think all this out. He's probably laughing the whole time! I'm looking so, so forward to being gone for the summer, but right now God's stretching me faith a bit! Matthew 27:43-46 "He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, 'I am the Son of God.' " 44In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him. 45From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. 46About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Luke 22:39-44 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. Most might think I'm crazy for bringing these passasges of scripture up right about now. Both have everything to do with Easter - or leading up to Easter - and nothing to do with a snowy February night. But instead of focusing on my insanity (which I insure you, is quite real, but so is my... sanity?) Think about this Christ that I bring before you. Messiah, King of Kings, Ruler, Rabbi, all these names would come to mean something. But not now. In these moments, we catch him at the most human part of all. Anguish, loneliness, heartbreak, the list could go on. And this? Is our God. He is my God. Who is God to you? Or what god do you serve? For a couple of years I served a 'god" that was very much an image of the Almighty God, but because of a grudge that I still hold myself in check with to this day, it was not He. It was simply, an idol. Yet when I finally stopped my crazy life outside of God, and saw God, I was in awe. Who wouldn't be? Even if you are not fully thrown into the presence of the One and Only, when you see glimpses of Him, you are never the same again. Yet even though I knew who He was, and I had perfect proof that his words were Truth, I had questions. First off, even though I had the stories memorized backwoerds forwards, front, back and in 2 languages, I still wondered deep down, how it pertained to me. Why did this Jesus care that I was a sheep? And why, oh....why! Was he relating me to a lost coin? I knew the answers, but like many Christians today, didn't grasp the amazing reality. Why? Because Jesus Christ was never introduced. Sure, I knew HIM, he's the one that's keeping me from hell, and for goodness sake's he's the one telling half the stories I don't understand! But I was never introduced to the intimate side of Jesus Christ you see. And that is where a relationship starts. Was Jesus Christ real when all I heard was "YOU JUST GOTTA LOVE JESUS WITH ALL OUR HEART, BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU!" and then heard "him" tell the stories? I definitely had high times where I knew God and Jesus but what goes up must come down. It's when you can walk the valley with your eye on the mountain top that you know you've really captured and grasped who you're serving.
With all this whirling through my head as a young teen, I came across these 2 scriptures "Eloi! ELOI! lama SABACHTANI?!" This is a God that is all powerful, and at this point has withstood 2 temptations. And He could've summoned a legion of Angels to "show them" how it's done. But he stayed. And He stayed. But He stayed with Anguish and heartack all the more for you and I as for the thieves at his side. He knew his Father hated sin, but WHY was the Son to be forsaken? Even for such a short time as this? It was such a indistingushable pain that only the screams of a very real savior, and a very real man, yet an even more real God could make a person understand that He knew what it was like.
And in the Garden, it says that he sweated drops of blood. I don't run. I work out when I'm desperate. But I have never sweated so hard that a vein pops. Although that is very, medically possible. And because Jesus wanted God's will, yet the human side of him wanted a way out that battle was being waged. What a heartbreaking scene to observe, yet what a breathtaking point when He finally breathes, "your will! Father, not mine!" How overwhelmed, yet comforted he must have felt as His Father's Angels comforted and took care of him. He needed that more than we'd ever imagine. Why? Because this was not a God that had it all undercontrol. The Father-God did, yes. But Jesus the Son had drabbed himself down to be a servant and a human. He had our limits. This, my dear friends, is a very real God. Do yourself a favor, next time you read through any of the temptation or the crucifixion, read it with drama in your voice. If Jesus Never seemed very real to you even though you believed him with all your heart, that'll give you something to think about. Talk to you later Cass What did they feel?Hey Guys, What an interesting couple of weeks! God certainly has a sense of humor, something I'm not a stranger to. But it's just been a weird week. The VNS - the implant and surgery I had on the 20th of December - was turned on 2 weeks ago. This implant on my vegas nerve (the nerve right above your collar bone) shocks me every 5 minutes without fail and tries its darndest to stop seizures. Let me tell ya, I think after 3 years of trial and error, we've found something that might work. But right now, it's making a whole new meaning to the word "zombie"! Just when I think I can start sleeping and dreaming "WHAM!" for thirty seconds that nerve and every part of my throat basically is getting a work over. How fun eh? But hey, we prayed for a solution that would actually be a solution or healing. This is just a wacky way of God grinning and reminding me that the story isn't over yet and his solutions are never boring! John 2:1-4 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine." "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come." Everyone knows the story of the wedding feast. Jesus is with his mother (how sweet) They go to a wedding (poor guy!) While Mary, the mother of Jesus is socializing and talking about how beautiful the bride is and how gorgeous the babies are going to be with her eyes and his nose, she notices something horendous. The celebration has no more wine to dine with. No big deal right? Drink water. If they had a big problem with it, they could've left. I've actually SEEN that happen before. But that's not the thought of Mary. She's not appalled by the sight because she's offended she just wants to help. In those days if there was no wine at the wedding, you were insulting the guests and it made more problems than just the fact they couldn't get drunk for 5 days. She has no power over this problem (ever been there?!) She thinks about where this could lead and she knows that unless she has some magical.... oh but wait! She's got the Son of God right here. Magic? I don't think so. So with as little as she has, she goes before the Son and pleads "I have no where to go, I'm embarrassed for this family, please Jesus, Emmanuel, will you...?" Sounds a little desperate don't you think? It's not though, she was just as desperate as you have been when you realize you've lost a piece of paper you needed at work. Or lost a few bucks of cash that really would've helped. And the only words on your lips are "I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!" But what really caught my attention was Christ's response when Mary pleaded. He told her it wasn't His time. He reminded her that this was a miracle that might just... but as he thinks about it, he sees the look of desperation in some of the eyes of his friends. Cummon, we have to figure out something! So instead of keeping to the line that its not his time to show himself as the Messiah and the King of Kings... which to us, thats exactly what He did... He does the most simplest of things. He fills jugs of water and as soon as they get to the master of ceremonies, its wine. He was able to keep it quiet for a few more months, and Heaven saw two things. That their Messiah was safe, and that Jesus' Mother's heart had changed. Just because of his first miracle. So what does that have to do with you? Everything. The fact that you can come to Christ at any moment about anything, and know that if he has to move every mountain on earth and more to show you he loves you and he heard your prayer... than He will. And then the fact that who we are, the desperation, the concern, the uncertainty of who we really are dealing with its all ours, yet God cuts through that, reminds us that we are who we are. He may see a different story, but he also sees the tunnell vision that we see as well. And he lives in both. It wasn't his time to be known at the time but He was -and still is- God. It may not be time for you to know what's going on, but He's still the God in Control. God may answer your prayers in an outright miracle, or a smile of a friend. Keep your eyes open. Christ is here. see ya~Cass A long RoadHey Guys, Sorry its been So long since I've posted, things have kind of picked up pace. And I've stepped away from the computer in order to go to the hospital a lot more. Oh boy! Naw it's not that bad, all the stuff we expect, it's just definitely a different journey these days. The opperation I had on the 20th is healing well, and they start the main treatment on Wednesday. Still been working with the students at the college though, and that's definitely how God keeps my eyes on what really matters. Romans 12:2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. I... don't think I have to tell you that Christianity, the lifestyle of Christianity, is a hard road. If you really believe in Who we're saying we have faith in, instead of just saying the words, you get drawn down some pretty rough roads. Persecution was the number one for a lot of people, but then they start seeing Christ in that persecution. Spiritual warfare then, is a major one. Satan and his demons know which strings to pull. But we know how to bend our knees and block our mind and hearts from that. Whats the point? When we bend to the world, or bend to our own desires for that matter, God takes the back seat. When we stop and hold to the fact that the only One we have in our lives, the only God in our lives is the Almighty himself... that is the renewing of our minds. With that when persecution, spiritual warfare, hard times come period we don't have to doubt when we ask him about his will. Other people tell people what they want just because they think thats what would please the crowd... thats not who God was. God pleases, and he is love. Well, I'm outta here, I'm praying for you guys, may you see the Truth and grasp it as He would have it, not as of the world. Cass Whew! Merry ChristmasHey Guys, You have all been very patient with me... so thank you for that. Those of you that stopped by the other site I keep up see tht I atleast kept something going, but it wasn't much. The only reason they got (I think) 2 posts since November was because thats the connection I have with the teens and across seas. Pretty weird arrangement, but it works. If I keep up with it. I also had another surgery (by the waaaaay!) but nothing like the brain surgeries. This was an outpatient, and one that I wanted to watch. Yes'm, I'm nuts. But after the 3 brain surgeries... this. This was cool. I told that to the doctor and the surgeon opperating and the look on their faces were pretty hilarious. But oh well. This surgery, the Vegal Nerve Stimulator (VNS) is for the same reasons though. It's to stop or prevent seizures. Just not the "normal" way. Praise God after this one, I still have my hair. But this device is shocking my Vegas nerve every 3 minutes (the only nerve attached to the brain and the heart) to stop the seizures and then it waits... and does it again. It's a weird way to work through things, but it's been said to work. I can't have it "turned on" for a whole month because the incision needs to heal as well as who knows what else. I'm "okay" with it all, its just really odd right now, especially that I touch my collar bone and I feel something the size of a silver dollar on my nerve and its pumping my blood. They tell me I'll get used to the shocking after awhile - kind of like I've gotten used to the seizures. When they put it that way, I totally understand that. If this is what it takes to get rid of seizures, and if I do get used to every curve they throw... oh boy. So I'm sore, and a little frustrated that I cant get down on the floor and play with the kids right about now... still healing up. But compared to what could've happened, Praise God. I tease my friends and tell 'em that I'm giving them a button to the shocker collar and that I can't come around microwaves. Someone else asked me if I could open garage doors. It's a little bit more of a step back from the drama, and thats what I've been praying for. Now that that's out of the way, I'm crackin' down on really getting busy with Christmas, and spending more time with just the family that we have here. Although I miss the people that arent here, Its definitely a blessing to see family again, and then you adopt people all the more. But beyond that, even more important than that is the birth and Our Lord becoming Flesh. What an amazing thing to just ponder and think back at what it could've been like to be THERE! Hallelujah, what a Savior. That this mighty God who created everything with a breathe was a babe.... I can barely get my mind around it. My prayer for you tonight, and the rest of the holidays is that as you spend time with your family and exchange gifts of love, you won't forget to give your gift of Love to the one that deserves it the Most. See ya around and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! Cass Invisible JoyHey There- Hope you guys had a great Thanksgiving. I know my Family and I did. 'Course who has a problem with getting together with family and being thankful for what they have... and eating? Yeah, thats what I thought. We've always gotten together with friends since we've moved up to Alaska on our own in '98 and its been really interesting getting used to not having "real" family around. But after awhile, the friends you join together with become family. What a blessing when that happens. James 1:2-5 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. I think this is a passage of scripture that has people destraught and angry, and if not that, atleast confused at our great God. I have one friend that took 2 years in a Bible school that told me he just didn't like James -and stayed away from it- because it didn't make any sense. How... How can you say "thanks a ton" when your heart is screaming that its not fair? I for one spent many years screaming the "its not fair" part of life... and making sure that God knew why I didn't think it wasn't fair. Like He needed the tip. This is one of those things that no one can give you a "step one, two, three" ordeal on how to find joy when your faith is tested. Because each life is different, and each faith journey is a little wackier. (Yup! I said wackier.... if you've been a Christian for very long, you know what I mean.) But when God ALLOWS something that is so stupid and crazy that you just have no idea where there could be hope in this... God gets pushed into the situation. Because who do you turn to? God. How crazy that this could be hope. But it is. Endurance is a hard thing to "grow." Yet God asks us to turn to him and watch our faith grow while the endurance grows at the same time. As we look at it it looks like Hell on earth, or something close to it. But the thing is, we were put on this earth to glorify God, and we can not glorify God while we are imperfect. The trials and tribulations make it so that our endurance and faith become stronger and make us look to him. What a rollarcoaster, but this my friend, is what you signed up for, when you became a Christian. It's totally worth it. The last verse, I had to tack on just because it shows you that God is never leaving us in the dust to do this on our own. If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. What an awesome promise, and God also talks about letting the little Children come to him. No matter how old you are, thats still you. This is a hard race, your endurance, your faith is a frustrating thing to come out with at times. But the thing is, God's grace is sufficient. The joy you have is what He has given you, and amazingly, what you go through, when you keep your eyes on Christ, even in the hard times you will have more joy. Talk atcha later~Cass CornerstoneHey Guys, Unknown Sovereignty of GodHey Everyone!! Can't believe its almost been a month since I've even set an eye on my space. No, I havent lost faith, no I'm not in the hospital; just really sick an' really frustrated. (so, close on the hospital bit! But no cigar). Those of you that have been keeping up with the drama know that I've started seizing more than we wanted. Heh, that sounded weird. If we had it our way it would be NONE AT ALL. But we knew that the seizures for some time, would be a part of the "healing process," or atleast in my body. So, I kind of hunkered down and pressed in. Now its just getting worse. They're starting to call 911 with every seizure I have at the community college (so thats 5 calls a day 2 times a week), and at the highschool the rule is a seizure that lasts up to 10 minutes they call 911. I'm up to 6.5. Whoo-hoo. ha, guess you have to have my weird brain to even try and think that's funny. On the side of my life that's NOT related to seizures-and yes there is a side- I've really been busy with working on different bible studies and mentoring with the kids in my community. It's been neat to see God work through the time of an hour... and sometimes it has nothing to do with what we really expected it to. Which I expect is God's way of reminding lil ol' me (still whet behind the ears... think I know everything, ya know! That type) That he's the one running the show. Not me. Which in all reality makes the time with these kids that have the "church time religion" and not the relationship with Jesus Christ, a lot more real. This past month has been well, as you can tell by how much I've posted(!!) difficult. Many times when I want to speak up and just scream "why" I just started asking many more questions. (I'd already screamed the "W" question tooo many times years before, it was time to let God speak). For one, how, or what, could this really be the sovereignty of the Almighty God. Although you're not going through the same battles I'm going through, I pray that what you read here tonight, you'll see just what I saw. That God has a lot more to do with us than the "whys" and the "I's" for what we think is good... and then we can coin it sovereignty. The thing is, I can tell you that I'm an epileptic again, you can tell me that you're going through a divorce you didn't suspect, or your child just ran away.... you just have way to many questions. As you can see... I've had my share. But I wrote something about it (ha! thats a surprise) So I hope you're blessed The first thing I remember after every seizure? Are you crazy? If we’re talking medically, I have no answer for you. I just remember not knowing who I am, or where I live, but that comes back soon after. But the first thing that goes through my head is “God what are you doing this time?!” I’m terrified with every seizure that happens. Even though I can tell people that it’s a normal thing and I know what’s going on; when my heart still skips a beat every time the aura begins. What is God doing when, after 3 surgeries, I’m still going through the valleys and I can’t see the sun? I sat and wondered that the other day, and tried coming up with an answer. There was none. Psalm 23: "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…." I really felt that way. I felt that I had given up half my brain for nothing, just to go back to suffering again. I felt like I was being put through hell. Seeing the sun? You've got to be kidding me. I had some pretty fantastic times, but when I had to be thrown back to reality, reminded that the fight wasn’t over, what was I going to say? God is sovereign? God is good? God reigns? What does that all mean anyway?! When I'm saying, "My Father God is sovereign," I'm putting complete trust in him as any one would a ruler or a king. This one just has a lot higher stakes. What can I say to the God of the universe when all I've ever seen is pain? Talking to loved ones; I see they have the same attitude. It's hard to submit to sovereignty when they don't understand it. Or when they don't have the same right as He. So back up a minute. I can't see the sunlight because I'm walking through the valley at the moment right? The only thing I understand is seizures, and saying that this is a "good idea" makes no sense at all. Until I take my eyes off of the one word I've been saying over and over again. "I." It makes sense when God puts the whole picture together and I'm only a small part, not the whole thing. It makes sense when "I" isn’t everything. It makes sense! Sovereignty never makes sense until you take your eyes off yourself for a minute and realize that it's not about yourself. When I had that seizure I wasn't able to understand much of anything, but I was able to talk to someone afterwards that was going through much of the same battle. Wondering how God could do anything like this. It was so awesome to be able to tell her that even though I didn't have the complete answers to those questions, I could at least relate to her and point her to a God that could do more than that. The unknown sovereignty of God is a beautiful thing; it makes us take our eyes off ourselves. It's amazing to be able to ask those questions, to get those answers, and then to see the face of a loving God. Master, Savior, Jesus. A Sovereign God I will serve. I'll try and get to your guys' sites and start actually being myself again... Sorry about all that. See ya around ALL and only because He lives~Cass God on The other SideHey There- I've really been running around like a chicken with it's head cut off.... yeah, I know, so Stop and calm down. But It's been cool to see, just how much God has been using every little thing that I have been crazily started. I started with another organization, which I'm not too sure about. But, in everything, God has a reason. Its actually sort of like a forum website(not exactly like a chat room.... although they can post their email address) for kids to come in and just ask question after question about their faith, to talk things out and to ask for prayer. They dont need to use their real names, but if they want to "chat" with one of us, they obviously need to open up a little more. Its been neat seeing God use it in my own life, I dont know why He wants me there. But I've kind of started spending most of my time with the kids there. Its been neat seeing the family of God come together for these kids. The little boy that I asked you guys to pray about... Matt, that had gone through the same brain surgeries as I had last year (I found out that amazingly, He didnt have to turn off his entire hemisphere, praise God) is home. He's not out of the woods however so please keep up the prayers. When someone comes home from any surgery its a crazy thing, when your brain is in jepordy of starting to seize all over again its a pretty painful process physicaly. They told him 6 weeks, but it'll take him a little while more to convince himself that He's seizure free. Ephesians 3:17-21 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. 20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all Generations forever and ever! Amen. Called to...Hey Guys, Wow- What a start to a week. I started a biblestudy with a friend of mine last night so that was a great way to start off a week. Jacob and I are going through Colossians and its definitely been a stretch on both of us since we like to debate our views. We're great friends so its no big deal, but its been interesting to see just how much God's been teaching us through each other and through the Word already. Hey Guys, if ya would, please be praying for a little guy (well he's not that little 4th grade) in Indiana. He's going through the same brain surgery I went through in August. The whole nightmare of a week of observation and then the surgery was enough to make a 15 year old dream about it for months afterwards, I dont know what its going to do to Matthew. 1st Corinthians 1:26-29 26Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29so that no one may boast before him. Called... called to what?! Called to dinner, called to lunch? called to freedom? Yeah okay, now we're getting somewhere when we say we were called to freedom. (dinner and lunch I'm not exactly hungry for anymore) What the Author -Paul- is talking about here is being called to Christ. I shout out freedom because when we ask God to wash away our sins, there is freedom from eternity in hell. You have eternity no matter what guys, what you might not get is freedom is only yours if you are "called." Not many of us are are wise, yeah thats really not a surprise. I have alot of wise cracks, but as far as being WISE?! Think AGAIN. Being Influential? The person that can influence just one person in their lifetime for God has the greatest gift in the world given to them. But whether they take that opertunity is up to them. Of these 2 things God has to work overtime on us to get it straight. Something he is completely willing to do, but something that is hard to take. The next phrase completely baffles me. I dont get how God can take the foolishness of a Prostitue, and then a woman that had had five husbands and use it. When the "godly" (sorry they werent godly, they were hypocritical) were throwing stones at them and shunning them Jesus loved them and used their stories to teach us how to live our lives. Doesnt make sense, but then again, what about Grace and mercy makes sense? "The weak things of the world to shame the strong." The disciples (sorry folks we do the same thing... so dont be sittin back and just reading this next part) wanted to know who was going to be "first" so-to-speak in Heaven and Jesus just looked at them and said "the Children." OUCH! What a bite of humble pie. God works in some mysterious and WEIRD ways. But the thing He's been teaching me this past week is Isaiah 55:8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord To boast only for what Christ has done in our lives... because thats the only thing worth boasting for. What else can we say but "thank you Lord"? See ya Cass Cheap wine for you m' master!Hey There, Oh Wow! God's really been working in some amazing ways around here. Although they arent that easy, it's great to look back in hine's sight and see it all. I used to add to this every other day, and now its more or less when ever I can, and that's pretty bad. But man! If you could only see on the other side of this computer screen what God has been doing, you'd understand why I cant be on as much. I went from recoverying from a hemispherectomy (they shut off my entire left hemisphere-hence the name) to 8 classes in about 4 months. Yeah, I know, big deal, where's God in that. The fact that the seizures are still very much a part of my life but I'm back in school and my ministry is in the college now is so much a miracle when you're looking at in from my point of view. One of these days I'll rehash my very LOOOOOOOOOONG Surgery and recovery testimony of how God's been here and you'll see just How much God's worked. Okay! So here's the deal. I write things, and then I completely forget that They've been written after about a month. It goes with being blonde. I was going through my files of all these "forgotten" inspirationals... if I can call them that... and came upon this one. You'll probably hate me for what I have to say because it isnt the greatest thing especially if you caterogize yourself as a "pew Christian" but when you look at it this way, you see the truth a little bit more. What more do we have to say except Abba Father Daddy.. and really live that statement out? And to think I WAS going to write about Jesus' first miracle! To hear the fire was enough to make the large gathering homey. To hear the stray dog down the street was annoying but what say did I have in that? I had come to hear the Master. They said He was the best. That you walked in, and you knew something was different about this man. “I can’t see His face!” I heard a teenager whimper frustratingly somewhere in the crowd. I felt like I could echo his cry a thousand times. “If He doesn’t start right in ten minutes I’m leaving Susan!” I heard a young adult that just by looking at her I could tell she had had life handed to her on a silver platter. Don’t judge. I thought to myself. I could have been just like her. I had led a life where many people had judged me… why would I have wanted to come to Christ if a so-called ‘Christian’ was judging me? “I CANT SEE HIS FACE!!!” A double-chinned guy smoking a pipe screamed at the top of his lungs. Honestly concerned He’d die of a heart attack by the next time He yelled that I yelled back, “Susan, its 10:00 I’m ready to start now.” The master said gently. Instead of blushing as red as a fire hydrant, she smiled right back. “Okay folks, you might think it’s a lecture tonight,” With that he faced groans and I heard a kid whisper to his girlfriend that ‘ we could’ve gone to the movies’ but the Master continued. “I want you to see what you have done to me. Do you realize that I hung the cross, completely stripped?” With that he took off the top of his tunic and showed the scars of his back. I had to speak up. “Jesus, why can’t I see your face?” “You’ll see my face when these scars really start making sense to you, when that phrase you pass around in your circles ‘make me more like Jesus’ is complete. Then my dear sweet Child, you’ll see my face. Until then, you’ll only know my touch, and only experience what it’s like for me to pick you up along the way.”What I experienced when I walked in at the beginning, the only thing making the meeting something human was the fire. Now, people stood up in unison praising God, and what I had heard from the people on the street was true, this man did make a remarkable difference in peoples lives. In ways you just didn’t know how to explain. The Bible talks about how when we get to Heaven the scars of Jesus will still remain. I guess the only question I have for all of us, myself included, is will we be able to say that we lived in a way so that He didnt die in vain? just a thought....talk atcha later~ Cass NearbyHey Guys, it's me.... finally, just hanging out and tryin to take a break.... its been a crazy couple of weeks. Taking some college classes. Western Civ, Psych and Voice... so its been a weird life so fair, but its been good. Its amazing how I've only been there a week yet Gods already open many doors for me to say something about the Gospel. If ya think about it, just be praying that I'll stay faithful; to that as much as my studies... thanks! Jeremiah 23:23-24 "Am I only a God nearby," declares the LORD, "and not a God far away? 24 Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the LORD. I love Jeremiah and Isaiah because there are parts that its likew God's BRAGGING on himself. But Man! What an awesome God we serve, that He can tell us about his Son, even before Jesus came! "I am a God nearby, people!" What a crazy thought when the world tries to revere him as the opposite. "Oh, well... there's no way that I can reach him now, I've done to much!" WHAT?! A God nearby would never EVER see it that way. Yet, as soon as he says that, he replies, "you cant hide." uhhh. Dangit! But what an awesome thought all at the same time. All those times that I was dying inside and hiding in a closet, He saw me. But still, He knows. He has both sides to him, the just and the love. What a contrast, and I cant even see it, but its the truth. I love the fact that He's asking to be real... and that I dont have to understand it **snap** right now. He fills Heaven and Earth. WOW!!!! I dont know about you, but in every place I've been in the world I look up and think "there's Heaven" AND HE FILLS THAT?! What a powerful God! What a mighty God. Yet He's offering all of that to us, because he wants that relationship with us. What a hard thing to comprehend, in our small little brains. I would think with all that power to destroy us after what we did to Him and his Son... Yet he's giving us a second Chance. He's a God Nearby. Take that Literally Talk atcha later Cass
|
|
||||
Send a private message
Subscribe to RSS feed
Tell a friend
Add to My MSN
Add to your network
Sign up for alerts
|
|
