Cassie L. Wilson

Learning to be the light

Reload Love: When You Can’t Look Away

(Keep reading to the bottom for a chance to win your own copy of Reload Love by Lenya Heitzig!)

Do you ever watch the national news, particularly segments about the Middle East and children that are being terrorized and wish you could do something to help?

I do.  And I tell, you friend.  In those moments, I just feel like this world is such a big place and I’m just one tiny person that can’t make a difference in this world.

But, that’s also the wrong thinking.  

You see, I’ve been reading Lenya Heitzig’s Reload Love for a few days now.  And, let me tell you.  If you don’t tear up when reading her book, then something might just be wrong with you. (Kidding, but not really.)

Lenya is one of those people that when something hits her heart, she has to do something about it.  And that’s how Reload Love came into existence.  Reload Love is a ministry that helps children affected by terrorism.  It started out with the idea to turn spent bullet casings into jewelry that she could sell and then use that money to help children in need.

Want to know how the idea came to her?  In the shower.  And the next thing she knew, God provided bullet cases AND funding to get this thing going.  And pretty soon she found herself across the world helping children in need. 

You see, Lenya and the people she describes in her book, Reload Love: Transforming Bullets to Beauty and Battlegrounds to Playgrounds, are the kinds of people that when they see someone in need, they don’t look away.  They do their best to show those in need God’s love and His mercy.

Honesty hour: how many of us, when the view in front of us isn’t pretty and the situation isn’t a nice one, we turn our heads and look the other direction?  Do you pretend you didn’t see what you just saw?  Pretend the person who’s eyes you just looked into weren’t silently begging you to help them?

I may have done that a time or two, I’ll be honest.  But, Lenya reminds me that it’s not doing anyone any good if we look away.  Not the person in need.  Not ourselves.  No one.

Really, Lenya’s story is amazing and it will make you want to join forces with her and head out to worn torn countries to help.

But, honestly.  You don’t need to go across the world to find someone you can help.  (Although, it’s awesome if you do.)

There are people right within your own backyard that, if you look and don’t turn away, could use your help.  And friend, you might very well be the only person that can show that person God’s love and lead them to the foot of the Cross.

If you haven’t read her book yet, I encourage you to get a copy of Reload Love: Transforming Bullets to Beauty and Battlegrounds to Playgrounds.  Or, at least check out her website. I 100% guarantee it will change your perspective on a lot of things.

The good people over at FrontGate Media are hosting a giveaway.  Click here to win your own copy of Reload Love!  Giveaway ends on 10/30!

Love, Cassie

Jealousy and Seeing Green

Feeling jealous? | Cassie L. Wilson- learning to be the light

A couple months back, my sisters and I were covering my Mom’s Sunday school class while she was out for surgery.  During that time, we were teaching the kids about Rachel and Leah.  And, you know, jealousy.

(Hint, friend.  There’s a coupon code and a giveaway at the end of this post!)

I honestly think it’s safe to say children are the most honest creatures on this planet.  I’m always shocked, but shouldn’t be, at the level of honesty displayed by children.

So, as I was teaching the lesson, I asked the kids if they had ever been jealous before.  And wouldn’t you know, they had been jealous and they weren’t afraid to admit it.  [Read more…]

Always Enough – Never Too Much: Review + Giveaway

Today’s post features a giveaway courtesy of FrontGate Media!  You could win a copy of Always Enough – Never Too Much by Jess Connolly and Hayley Morgan.  Keep reading to the bottom to find out the details!

Honesty hour: Sometimes I might kind of start to believe the Devil when he keeps telling me I’m just not good enough.

I’d bet a dollar, if I were the betting kind, you’ve heard those lies and felt the weight of those feelings, too.

You’re not good enough. You’re not compassionate enough. Not driven enough.  Not kind enough.

You get the picture. [Read more…]

How to Combat Satan’s Lies + Giveaway

You know how sometimes I’ll share neat, little stuff with you and sometimes there’s a giveaway?  Keep reading for your chance to enter a phone case from Prone to Wander LA (sponsored by FrontGate Media).  These cases are great when you need a reminder of the goodness of the Lord to help you combat Satan’s lies!

Do you ever have those days where everything just seems to go wrong?  Like, reaaal wrong?

The car wouldn’t start and you ended up embarrassingly late for work.

Your hair dryer gave up the ghost halfway through drying your hair.  And then you had no choice but to look like a half-drowned homeless goat for the rest of the day.

And then, to top if off, McDonald’s gave you unsweet tea when you ordered the sweet tea instead.  No one likes a cup of dirt water.  That’s a bad day, y’all. [Read more…]

Review: A Girl Like Me + Giveaway

Y’all, I recently had the opportunity to review Julie Elias’s new CD, A Girl Like Me.  (Thanks, FrontGate Media!)  And, you know, being a music lover, I jumped all over the chance to blare some new music in my car.

Who is Julie Elias?

Julie Elias's new CD, A Girl Like Me

If you haven’t heard of Julie Elias yet, let me take a second to introduce you to her.  Julie is a Christian singer and songwriter, but you may have seen her on your television screen.  CSI:NY or Grey’s Anatomy, anyone?  When she realized Hollywood wasn’t filling her with happiness, Julie turned her life to the One that could– God.  Now, Julie runs a non-profit that she founded, Aurora Ministries, that’s aimed at bringing quality music and resources to young girls and teens.

You know how we all have past mistakes that Satan likes to throw at us from time to time and make us forget who we really are in Christ?  Sometimes I think the adversary of soul likes to practice his Major League Baseball pitching skills and throw every weakness, every shame, every regret, and every sin in our direction to trip us up.  Anyone else feel like there are some days where Satan just hits us over and over again with things from our past?  Things designed to make us feel dirty, stained, and bound in sin?  Things that make us doubt God’s love for us?

[Read more…]