Cassie L. Wilson

Learning to be the light

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Hope and Faith: 2021’s Words of the Year

December 30, 2020

Inside: filling 2021 with hope and leaning on some faith

Can you believe we are finally at the end of 2020?? I don’t know about you, but I was entirely too hopeful about the start of the New Year around this time last year.

And, then, 2020 came around and knocked us all for a loop. I think it is safe to say 2020 has been… not great.

Don’t get me wrong, there were some really good things that happened in 2020. I finished grad school (which, dear reader, is one reason I haven’t been blogging as much. There are some other reasons, but that’s a different post). And, by the grace of God, I passed my Spanish Praxis test (that’s a good story of faith, too!).

But, as I’m sure it’s the same with most of us this year, the bad seems to outweigh the good.

2020 has been hard. It’s been painful, chaotic, and downright hurtful.

[Read more…]

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Filed Under: Faith Tagged: Bible, Blogger, Christian, Christian Living, Faith, Faith blogger, Hope

Storms: What to Do When You’re in One

July 15, 2020

Inside: how to hold on during a storm

Have you ever ridden a boat? Not like on the lake or a riverboat. But, a boat out in the middle of the ocean and you can’t see land?

So, I have. I was with a group of my classmates on a research trip.

Lemme set the scene: The sun is shining bright. The swells aren’t terribly bad and the breeze is just right. And just about every single one of us, including me, couldn’t keep our eyes open because the boat was rocking us to sleep.

Really, it’s a miracle none of us fell out of it…

So, when I read about the story of Jesus and the disciples in Mark 4, I can understand how Jesus feel asleep so quickly.

And, then I think, “Uh, Cassie, it was also storming…” And then I’m all, “Nevermind… Not sure I could’ve slept through that.” (And if you know me, you know I sleep through just about everything…)

[Read more…]

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Filed Under: Encouragement, Faith Tagged: Encouragement, Faith, Help, Jesus, Peace, Storms

The Thing About Seasons and Life

July 8, 2020

Inside: growing in your season

Do you ever get the feeling like you should do something, but you really don’t know the reason for doing it?

I can’t be the only one, right?

Well, I had a feeling the other day that I should read the very first Psalm. I admit, dear reader, it’s been a while since I’ve spent much time in the Psalms, let alone Psalm 1. But, after reading it, I thought, “Whoooooa, that was unexpected.“

So, Psalm 1 is pretty short, right? Even though it’s short, it packs a pretty powerful punch. Psalm 1 is basically about being rooted in the Lord and being unwavering in your faith.

And, I dunno about you, but in 2020, I think we could all stand to be a little more rooted in the Word and our faith. Heaven knows 2020 has been… well, the wonkiest.

[Read more…]

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Filed Under: Encouragement, Faith Tagged: Encouragement, Faith, Gardens, life, Seasons, Waiting, worry

When punishment is replaced with mercy

July 2, 2020

Inside: mercy and grace

Let’s take a trip down memory lane, okay? Remember when you were a kid and you got into some trouble? Do you remember what your punishment was?

I do.

Punishment in the Wilson household usually consisted of standing in the corner for a while or going out and getting your own switch. But, not just any switch, it had to be just right.

Imagine it: Kid Cassie is doing something stupid and gets into trouble. What does her Pops do? He sends her out into the yard to get a switch. Kid Cassie automatically turns the waterworks on, but goes out to find one anyway.

Kid Cassie picks a switch and takes it back to her dad, still crying her eyes out. Pops inspects it and says, “No. I said a switch, not a twig. Go get another one.” Kid Cassie obeys, not wanting to make anything worse, and tries to find a new switch. With snot pouring from her nose from crying, she picks what she thinks is an acceptable switch and takes it back to her dad.

Only, it’s still not right.

[Read more…]

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Filed Under: Faith Tagged: Christian, grace, Hope, mercy, Salvation

When You’re Dealing With a Load of Hurt

March 13, 2020

Inside: an honest chat about when you’re dealing with a load of hurt.

Dear, reader:

Can we talk about something that’s been weighing on my mind and my heart for a while?

I’m sure you’ve probably noticed that I’ve been away from my blog for a while. Was that intentional? No, it wasn’t.

But, if I’m being honest, it’s been really hard to sit down and write encouraging posts (which, is kind of the goal here), especially when you haven’t been very encouraged yourself.

[Read more…]

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Filed Under: Encouragement, Faith Tagged: Discouragement, Faith, Hurt, Jesus, Prayer

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Cassie L. Wilson

Cassie Wilson

Christian. Writer. Fly fisher. Sweet tea enthusiast. Middle child. Lover of all things green.

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Gather ‘round. It’s story time. Several mont Gather ‘round. It’s story time. 

Several months ago, I was visiting my boyfriend’s church when the pastor began talking about being stuck in the hallway. 

You know, the “hallway”?

Those moments in life we’re you’re just stuck. It’s dark, you don’t know which way to turn, which way to go, and all the doors seems to be closed. 

Those moments when you just have to surrender and let the Lord work in your life. 

Yeah, that kind of hallway. 

When the pastor was talking about this, something struck my heart and it just felt like the words he was speaking were important. 

Back ages ago, one of my favorite preachers said “When the Lord speaks to you, write it down. He’s only obligated to speak to you once.” So, I flipped my Bible open to the front page and I wrote down “The Hallway” and dated it. 

Little did I know that I’d find myself stuck in a literal hallway some three months later. 

I couldn’t go out the way I came in because it was too dangerous. I couldn’t go out the emergency exit because I had no idea what was on the other side of the door.

I was stuck. 

Sometimes life gets this way, too. Maybe we’ve lost a job and we don’t know how we’re going to make it. Or, we’ve lost a loved one or a relationship ended and moving on seems terrifying.

There are umpteen situations in life that can put us in a hallway where we have no idea what to do. 

But, God was in the hallway.

Philippians 4:7 talks about the peace that passes all understanding. I’ve read this verse a hundred times, but I don’t know that I truly knew what it meant until I was stuck in that hallway. 

When I began to pray, a peace came over me and I knew we’d be okay. I knew I had to trust Him. 

God is in the hallway. 

When all seems hopeless, He is there. 

When all seems lost, He is there. 

When you don’t know what to do, He. Is. There. 

God is in YOUR hallway, too. 

He knows where you are. He knows how to bring you out. He knows when to send the peace at just the right time. 

You just have to trust Him. 

He can and will bring you to the other side. 

#shinebright #learningtobethelight
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by p “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:6‬ ‭

Oh, friend, what if we actually lived like Philippians 4:6? 
 
What if we actually trusted Him with 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 in our lives?

I’m not just talking about the big prayers that you absolutely need God to take care of because you can’t do it on your own. 

I’m talking about the little things, too. The things that seem insignificant, but are actually really big things in the grand scheme of it all. 

What if we turned it all over and learned —really learned— to lean on Him to provide? 

Imagine what a difference that would make. Not just for you, but those around you. 

Wow. 

World changing. 

What verse has stuck out to you lately? 

#learningtobethelight #shinebright
“Is anything too hard for the Lord?” If you h “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”

If you have kept up with my stories this week, you know I’m attempting the @biblereadingchallenge. The goal is to read the entire Bible in one academic year. 

Today’s readings came from Genesis 17-20 and John 10-11.

In Genesis 18, we find God, himself, asking, “Is there anything too hard for the Lord?” 

God was trying to prove to Abraham and Sarah that He could (and would!) provide them with a child. 

Even in their old age. 

Even in their doubt. 

There was nothing too hard for the Lord. 

But, then in John 11, we find Jesus and Lazarus. 

Well, actually, we don’t find Lazarus until later in the chapter because he had already croaked. He was already in the grave and his family was already grieving. 

But, is there anything too hard for the Lord? 

Even in their grief. 

Even in their doubt.

There was nothing too hard for the Lord.

Even in your circumstances, friend, no matter what those circumstances are there is NOTHING too hard for the Lord.

You can trust Him. Always. 

P.S. have you participated in the #biblereadingchallenge? If so, I want to hear about it! 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼

#learningtobethelight #shinebright
“𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦, 𝘊𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘦?”
 
Ouch. 

Lately, it seems like every where I turn, I keep being reminded of 1 Kings 19. Yeah, you know, the chapter about Elijah hiding in the cave and feeling all sorts of ways about his life and everything and everyone in it. 

Elijah felt alone. He was discouraged. He thought he was useless. 

How many times have we felt the same way?

Alone. Discouraged. Useless. Good for nothing. 

I tell ya, friend, when discouragement hits, it hits hard. And sometimes it’s not easy to shake. 

I know because there were several years (yes, I said 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴) that I battled m a j o r discouragement. 

Sometimes, when the storm is raging, it’s difficult to see the Son. You 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 He is right there with you, but when you can’t see Him and your faith is dwindling… 𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘰𝘩, 𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩.

It was 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 to be the light when I felt like I couldn’t even find it myself. 

To say I hit a low point is an understatement. 

But, it’s often when we are at our lowest that God has the greatest work for us to do. 

God wasn’t done with Elijah. And, He’s not done with you (or me!), either.

There is a purpose for you. 

There is hope for you.

What doest thou here, friend? 

#learningtobethelight #shinebright
“…the patient in spirit is better than the pro “…the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.” — Ecclesiastes 7:8

Pro tip: never, ever pray for patience because the Lord WILL answer that prayer. 😂

Kidding aside, learning to be patient and wait on the Lord is tough, but it’s one of the best things we can do as Christians.

Whether we want to accept it or not, God has a plan for our lives. And His plan is way better than anything we could have come up with ourselves. 

But, His plan often requires that we are patient and wait for His leading. 

Impatience will lead us to a whole world of trouble. It will lead to heartache, unnecessary sorrow, and unwanted suffering. (Ask me how I know…)

The Lord knows what is best for us. Always. Trust Him. 

Stay patient, my friend! 

What book of the Bible are you currently studying? 👇🏼

#learningtobethelight #shinebright
There’s just something special about finding the There’s just something special about finding the most appropriate Bible verse right as you’re listening to your mom teach the Sunday School kids about the paralyzed man who’s friends tore a roof off a building to get him to Jesus. 
•
“In my distress, I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even unto his ears.” - Psalm 18:6
•
The story of the paralytic man goes like this: his friends were carrying him on a bed to Jesus. But, because it was so crowded with everyone else trying to get to Jesus, they couldn’t get him there. Instead, they decided to carry him to the roof and where they would tear the roof off and lower him in. Once Jesus saw this, He had compassion on the paralytic man and healed him. 
•
My mom was teaching the Sunday School kids about how we need to be an encouraging friend to others. I mean, in this day and time, you never really know who just needs to see your smile and who needs your prayers. 
•
But, as I was sitting in the floor trying to figure out something for mom, my eyes landed on Psalm 18:6. 
•
“In my distress, I called upon the Lord… and my cry came before him.”
•
The Bible tells us that it was crowded where Jesus was. It was probably chaotic. It was likely overwhelming.  And, it was probably discouraging knowing you needed to get to Jesus, but the way seemed impossible. 
•
But, yet, Jesus healed the man anyway. He knew his cries. 
•
When our hearts are overwhelmed, when our minds are full of fear and anxiety, when the stress of the day (or week or year) is crowding up our minds, or when we are oh, so very discouraged, we can call to Him and He will hear us.
•
Sure, it was a crowded mess and looked impossible for the paralytic man to get to Jesus. But, Jesus had already heard his cry. He already had a solution for him. He knew exactly how to help him. And so He did. 
•
Jesus knows how to help us, too. Even when the world is falling apart around us. 
•
He still hears our cries. 
•
#shinebright #learningtobethelight
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