I close my eyes and pray "Please Lord, keep the plane going in an upward motion during take-off. Please don't allow it to plummet backwards towards the ground.Oh and please help me not to have forgotten anything really important, because it is too late to get it now. Amen." I am sure this is the standard pre-flight prayer...correct me if I am wrong. :)
After I realize that my anxiety seems silly... and that the pleasant little ding has sounded informing the cabin that the plane's fasten seatbelt sign is now off....it hits me! This is actually happening! The 10 months of preparation and dreaming are finally becoming reality. I am going on the World Race! I am for sure going around the world to share God's love and to serve His beloved in need. Like. Fo. Sho.
I am currently sitting in row 13 seat C (aisle seat of course). My sparkly blue nail polish is shimmering as I am typing this blog...go district H!! I just can't believe that I am in route to Atlanta, GA for my official World Race training camp! My head is racing with so many thoughts. First and foremost, I really hope that my sleeping pad is still attached to my backpack upon landing (I am a brand new backpack-packer for sure)! But after landing, expectantly with all necessities in tow, my next thought is that I am so excited...no ECSTATIC...to meet all of my fellow teammates! Some of us have chatted via Facebook into the wee hours of the night, others have spoken on the phone or texted. And thank goodness for technology and the blessing of Skype. But it will be so wonderful to finally be able to actually give everyone a BIG hug, in 3D!
I would be fibbing if I didn't mention that there are a few nerves making my head spin, while I am 30,000 feet above the ground. I have absolutely NO clue what to expect from this week at camp. By nature I am a planner. I like to know what is coming next. I like checklists. I like control. And I have none (zero, zip, zilch..) of that right now! This 3.5 hour flight from Phoenix to Atlanta represents a journey roughly about 12.7 lightyears outside of my comfort zone.
I am going to have to truly depend on Jesus for EVERYTHING this week.
-The strength to make it through long, physically and emotionally challenging days.
-The transparency and vulnerability to allow the door to be opened to transformation.
-The humility and grace to journey with and love on all of my fellow racers, His children.
-The desperation to draw closer to my Savior's heart and to hear His soft whispers.
- The confidence to go a week without a stitch of make-up, a blow dryer, and possibly with very few showers. (Lord HELP me with this one!) :)
- The comfort that only He can provide while sleeping on the ground, in a tent, in the cold...with pending menstrual cramps (apologize if that is TMI). Haha.
- The hope that love and the willingness to be His hands and feet can really cange the world.
I feel soooo blessed to be able to walk in the freedom that Christ has purchased for me. I can't wait to be able to share it with the nations, and I am only a few short hours away from being trained on how to do just that! I am so thankful for this opportunity. Words cannot express my gratitude to those who have been such an encouragement to me on this journey so far! I totally appreaciate all of the prayers and support!
Love you all!
<3 Cassie
"But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself..." - Matthew 6:33-34
Thank you Lord for your faithfulness and provision! :)
Two and a half weeks until training camp! What?! Only 2 months until launch! How can that be right? There is still tons of gear to buy, vaccines to research, fundraisers to organize, bags to pack and repack until everything fits, people to try to see before leaving for 11 months....the list goes on and on. My mind has been in a complete FRENZY.
Words cannot describe how excited that I am for this adventure that the Lord has called me to embark upon. But with such unknown circumstances and stepping WAY outside of my comfort zone...comes a rush of frazzled emotions. I know that the enemy is doing everything in his power to use my frenzy as a diversion. It has been harder to focus during quiet times. It has been harder not to dwell on fear. There are some days when I wonder how in the world it will be possible to raise $9,000.00 by January.... after I launch in July and am 2,000 miles away from home.
But then I remember that it is not worldly possible.
God is way more powerful than this world and He has called me to a FAITH that is out of this world. I have to take a step back and realize how much the Lord has been faithful in His provision already!
Just last month I had no idea how I was going to be at $3,500.00 in my account by the training camp deadline, or if it was even remotely possible for me to be at $6,500.00 in my World Race account by the Launch deadline. Last week I found out that a $2,000.00 donation was made to my account. WOAH! The Lord is awesome (and so are my friends! Love you guys!!). I am now where I need to be for the Launch deadline. I am totally amazed. Amen! I just don't know why it is so hard for me to wrap my brain around God's faithfulness and why I still continue to doubt.
So while I still have a long way to go, I know that I am not alone. The Lord promises to walk with me. He says to ask and we shall receive. I am blown away by how what seemed completely impossible to me just last month has been proved more than possible by my God! I know that He will continue to be my Rock! So instead of choosing to live in a FRENZY I will choose to live by FAITH!
Sometimes instead of writing... I just feel the need to sing to the Lord and praise him for His abounding love and grace and mercy. Today was one of those days. This is my rendition of my all time favorite worship hymn. Thank you all for your continued prayers, encouragement and support!
Lately my head has been SWARMING with soooo many different questions:
“How will I ever get from the $2,000.00 I have raised currently to the $15,500.00 that I need for the race?”
“What if I rushed into this decision?”
“What if I am just running away from hard relationships here, or gave up on them too soon?”
“ What if there is something that I will miss out on when I leave?”
“Is this really God’s will for my life?”
I have been really seeking answers and awaiting an answer or confirmation or something tangible, praying for a word undoubtedly from Abba Father himself. And then this morning, as soon as I opened my eyes…BAM!! He answered with just a few simple words.
“Beloved, be still and know that I am God. There is nothing better than me, so just QUIT looking or hoping that I will tell you otherwise.”
At first I felt like I had just been handed a pill that was seemingly impossible to swallow, I might have even became a tad bit defensive. But then an inexplicable peace washed over me.
Why is it that I can’t just accept the true freedom that Christ has purchased for me? It should be so easy! I shouldn’t have to drive myself crazy with a million questions. As long as I am living a life to: glorify the Lord above all else, build up and love His people, and truly serve His kingdom…I am absolutely doing His will!
Abba Father has blessed me with the opportunity to go on The World Race. He has blessed me with friends and loved ones who are incredibly supportive and encouraging. He has organized a group of A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. believers who are ready to change the world (and themselves) through the power of His love! It is a chance to live a life for Jesus! So why would I doubt?
Apart from Christ, there is nothing worthwhile for it too shall perish. I am DONE with striving to find joy outside of Him. I am DONE with putting people and relationships on a pedestal above Him. I am now wholeheartedly choosing to live in unabashed FREEDOM. No more questioning if there is something better for me out there than the one who loves me enough to die for me! In. Christ. Alone. I. Stand.
Love,
Cassie
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”- John 15:5
I am currently sitting on my very cozy couch, in my very quiet living room, in my very empty house. The shocking silence is a stranger after all of the hustle and bustle of the holidays full of fun with friends and family. I have no plans for the evening. It is just me and the silence.
Silence used to be my crippling nemesis.
Silence used to taunt me with whispered lies. "You will never be good enough." " You will fail."
"You will never be wanted. "
Silence used to plague me with doubts and fears.
Silence used to leave me alone... with me, my own worst enemy.
And in the silence tonight an astounding realization came to me. Over the past few months Christ's love has truly set me free! I welcome the silence as an invitation to an uninterrupted conversation with my Heavenly Father, my Creator, my Protector, my Healer and Redeemer, my Jesus who loves me.
Silence now frees me to be still before the Lord, and allow Him to go to battle for me. (Exodus 14:14)
Silence now gives God the space to teach me. (Job 6:24)
Silence now allows for rest in which I can find hope. I will rejoice! (Acts 2:26, Isaiah 14:7, Psalm 16:9)
Silence now allows for quiet times with my Jesus. He who graciously speaks truth and encouragement into my soul.
" I love you with an everlasting love" - Jeremiah 31:3
"All beautiful you are my darling, there is no flaw in you." - Song of Solomon 4:7
“Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
Ahhh! The God we serve and get to call our father, friend, lover of our soul, etc....is so AWESOME! I can't wait to share Him with the nations!
Just thought I'd share mycrazy excitement and hope in Jesus with you all tonight! I pray that the Lord may bless you all as you have been an incredible blessing to me!
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place whilea] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
So I turned on Pandora today to my Switchfoot radio station (which is great by the way) and I was being blessed by lots of awesome music...and then the strangest thing happened. A song that I used to love came on, and as I was singing along I felt God's nudging to really listen to the lyrics...so I did. And they are sad, kind of tragic really... if you actually stop to listen and ponder the disaster of a wasted life. I want to share some of the song lyrics with you now from Snow Patrol's "Chasing Cars":
We'll do it all
Everything
On our own
We don't need
Anything
Or anyone
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me
And just forget the world?
....................
Let's waste time
Chasing cars
Around our heads
The very first lines of the song indicate that we are to do everything on our own. That we don't need anything or anyone. I stopped right there for a minute and thought about how many verses that contradict that very thought process. God created us with a God-sized and God shaped void. He also created us to live in community with one another. "Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others". Philippians 2:4...just to reference one verse. And then I continued listening and heard the singer tell me that I should just lay back and forget the world. Woah. That definitely doesn't resonate with God's commandments or purpose for my life.
I remembered the passage in Matthew 5:13-16 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." I am supposed to be living a life as an example to others, a life that brings glory to my Almighty God! And then an even more powerful and convicting passage struck me.
Isaiah 61: 1-2 "The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God to comfort all who mourn."
I don't know about you...but that does NOT sound like forgetting about the world to me. That sounds like God calling me into a battle and to free the world from oppression and calamity and to bring healing and freedom in the name of Jesus!
So, I challenge you... let's NOT waste time just "chasing cars around our heads"!
ALSO......
I wrote this "song"(it's really only lyrics, since I don't play an instrument) about not wasting time. I hope it will be a blessing to you. :-)
Time
Verse 1
Sunrise has again faded to sunset
And tonight, in the twilight I reflect
Did the moments of today really matter anyway
Did I take a stand, lend a hand
Or allow chances to mindlessly flyaway
Chorus
All that really belongs to us is time
The choices we make are yours and mine
Will we take control of our God given timeline
Instead of standing idly by on the sideline
Verse 2
Look in the mirror and who do I see, staring back at me
A reflection chasing selfish, fairytale dreams
Or someone choosing to share in a selfless reality
Am I living, laughing, loving for today
Have to escape the past, quit putting it off for a day far away
Bridge
Time tries
Time defies
Time reveals
Time heals
Chorus
All that really belongs to us is time
The choices we make are yours and mine
Will we take control of our God given timeline
Instead of standing idly by on the sideline
All that really belongs to us is time
The choices we make are yours and mine
Will we take control of our God given timeline
Instead of standing idly by on the sideline
Love you all! Thank you so much for your continued prayers and support!
<3 Cassie
....And yes, in case you were wondering...this blog is done in greenand orange as a shout out to my favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turle...Michelangelo!
God has been tenderly speaking one word to my heart repeatedly these past few weeks. That one word is...GRACE.
I am so incredibly astounded by the endless and unconditional grace that Jesus so excruciatingly bought for me on the cross at Calvary. The depths of Christ's love are unfathomable and they are ETERNAL!
For so long, I had been living in bondage to guilt. And while being imprisoned by the lies of the enemy, I was unable to be a contributing servant to the Kingdom of God and to His children. I felt so used up, useless, and broken.
But Jesus has been fiercely pursuing my heart! In our quiet times together, He has led me to His extraordinary truth. On my continuous journey to awaken my heart to Christ's grace, the first verse I read was 2 Corinthians 12:9.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
When I felt like I had nothing of value to offer, God reminded me that all I need is His grace. He gave me hope that He can actually use my weaknesses and my "brokenness" to bring glory to His almighty name. Jesus makes beautiful things out of our messes!
The second set of verses that resonated with God's message of grace was 2 Corinthians 5:17-6:2.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sinfor us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
Being raised in the church, I had heard/read these words countless times over the years. But just so recently, have I really been able to grasp the depth of God's grace and his power over sin. Amen! To know that God does not count my sins against me because of Christ's sacrifice for me is incredibly humbling. I am inexplicably grateful for the ability that Christ has given me to start over. The freedom to walk in the truth of His promise "the old has gone, the new is here" is life changing!
I have also been encouraged by the spirit to reflect upon what it is that I am now called to do with the grace that has been bestowed upon me. I have no desire to "receive God's grace in vain." The Lord has brought so many awesome people into my life to keep me accountable and to embolden me to take action for the Kingdom. I just returned from a mission trip to Rocky Point on Sunday. My team and I were able to build a home for a family in evident need. It was amazing to have the chance to share how much Christ has blessed me... by becoming a blessing to others. It brought such a sense of healing. I am so excited to have the continued opportunities to share Christ's "ocean" of grace and love with His children through the World Race!
I am so thankful to all of you for your continued prayers and support!
Just a few short months ago.... I was led to a passage in Hosea that I feel God used to speak to my soul and it was a tangible turning point for my life. I would love to share His words with you now! Hosea 2:6 reads: “ Therefore I will block her path with thornbushes; I will wall her in so that she cannot find her way. She will chase after her lovers but not catch them; she will look for them but not find them.” I was this woman in Hosea. I was running after all of the other “lovers”, after all of the things and people that I was putting before God. Me, myself, and I had life totally planned out. But ever true to His word, God blocked my path with these “thornbushes.” He stripped me of all of the things that I had been chasing after for so long, that I thought I desperately wanted. By God getting me alone and taking off the blinders, I was able to realize how empty my life had become. But thankfully our God is merciful and He pursues our hearts, even in such brokenness. In Hosea 2:14 He promises, “ Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her.” God has been faithful, He has allured me and I have fallen more deeply in love with Him than I ever thought possible. I now believe that he is quite literally calling me to the desert…in Kenya, Africa (and 10 other countries as well).
I am so grateful for this calling that God has laid upon my heart and for the opportunity to serve as a missionary (in the World Race program) with an organization called Adventures in Missions. The World Race is an 11-month Christian mission trip to 11 different countries. The countries on the route for the World Race are: Ireland, Ukraine, Russia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, India, Nepal, Cambodia, and Malaysia. My team and I will become enabled to be the body of Christ, to really be His hands and feet. We will have the ability to partner with local churches, hospitals, orphanages, and even have the opportunity to minister to women and children in bondage and prostitution due to human trafficking. The World Race will bring hope and renewal to local communities and allow unreached tribes and nations to experience the Father’s love.
God loved us so much that he sacrificed His only son, so that we may be forgiven and may have eternal life. God blessed us with the presence of the Holy Spirit so that we may be in constant relationship with Him. I love that God pursues us and desires a relationship with us and I know that he created us in his image and yearns for us to seek Him as our sufficiency. I can really grasp a picture of God's heart in Jeremiah 24:7, "I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all of their heart." And in John 17:3 the Bible states, "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God." Relationship is everything to God it is the core and foundation of the Gospel. The World Race is an awesome opportunity to form valuable and lasting relationships. It is through these relationships and in truly serving God's people that the Gospel will be brought to life.
I am beyond thrilled to see how God will move in my life and change my heart through this World Race mission trip. I am so excited to see God’s promises come to pass and to share the hope of the Gospel through really loving and serving “the least of these”. And I can't thank you enough for prayers, encouragement and support!
