Cassie L. Wilson

Learning to be the light

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Reload Love: When You Can’t Look Away

October 16, 2018

(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

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Filed Under: Freebies, Reviews

Jealousy and Seeing Green

September 12, 2018

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…]

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Filed Under: Reviews Tagged: Jealousy, New Book, review

Always Enough – Never Too Much: Review + Giveaway

July 7, 2018

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…]

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Filed Under: Devotionals, Reviews Tagged: Christian Book, Devotional, Encouragement, review

How to Combat Satan’s Lies + Giveaway

April 14, 2018

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…]

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Filed Under: Encouragement, Reviews Tagged: Encouragement, giveaway, Reviews, Scripture

Review: A Girl Like Me + Giveaway

December 7, 2017

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…]

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Filed Under: Reviews Tagged: CD, Christian music, giveaway, review

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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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