The Smallest Comment

Last Saturday morning was one of those perfectly glorious mornings that always make me glad to be alive. The sun was out, the temperature mild and the wind was quiet. I found my spirits rising of their own accord. What a joy to be alive! Suddenly the hope that something wonderful but unexpected could happen bubbled up in my mind and heart. I took the opportunity to get to the grocery store before 8:00 a.m. so I would be ready for a surprise.

On my way home, I was still basking in the glow of the morning. It was one of those times I couldn't keep from smiling even though there was no one else around. I was on my third and last trip to unload the car when two ladies who live in my community came abreast of my car. I didn't know them but it was obvious they were getting their exercise walking through the development.

"Hello!" I called as I straightened up with bags from the back seat. One of the ladies responded cheerily, "Hello!" Encouraged, I continued, "Isn't this the most glorious day?"

To that the other lady said, "Were you the one driving by us a while ago?"

"I might have been," I smiled before closing the door.

"Well, you were going too fast!" she shook her finger at me. "The speed limit's fifteen miles an hour, you know!"

I felt the smile slide off of my face as I mumbled, "Really." Quickly closing the door, I turned and headed for my apartment. A question that I pondered all the rest of the day was already flooding into my mind. How many hours of joy and pleasure have I stolen from others' during my lifetime, just because my focus was on correcting their mistakes?

I'm not trying to defend my driving though generally I do obey rules. I certainly could have been going too fast. Actually, I was enjoying the morning so much my speed never once entered my mind. But just then, my behavior was not the point. The joy and pure pleasure of that morning was instantly dimmed for me by the woman's criticism and accusation and I suspected there have been far too many times that I have caused the same thing to happen to someone else. Are these some of the words I'm going to answer for at Jesus' judgment, I wondered?

I was still mulling over this new insight when my sister, Susie, called on Sunday morning. After she heard me out and we thoroughly discussed the event from every possible angle she said, "This reminds me of something that happened to me several years ago."

Susie had gone to the CVS Pharmacy not too long after her daughter had died. She was waiting in the checkout line when the stranger behind her looked at her and smile as she said, "God bless you."

"I've never known what she saw in me," Susie said. "I know I was sad and confused at that time. But whatever prompted her to say it, I've never forgotten how it made me feel. Immediately, I felt hope take hold in my heart. I knew she had told me exactly what I needed to hear. Even though it's been years I've never forgotten it. That stranger gave me the strength to keep on going."

By the time I got to church, I had made up my mind. I want to be the stranger who's remembered years later because my smallest comment makes others feel better for having seen me or encourages others to keep moving forward when the going is tough.

Risk It!

Last week, a friend of Connie's got in touch with me through FB. Connie had 'introduced' us in FB when the book came out but the lady hadn't seen it until last week. Connie had never even mentioned the lady to me so I had no idea what it was all about. However, as we chatted by e-mail it became clear the woman's business was publicizing books and I needed help in getting the word out that mine was on the market.

I had no doubt that I needed her services and expertise, my quandry soon hinged on the question, "Lord, should I spend this money on Patti's services?" That set up a fire storm in my mind. One minute I was sure I should hire her for she was knowledgeable and capable where I was ignorant and untrained. The next minute I was certain that I should not take a financial risk. For days I was caught in the emotional and mental whirlpool of indecision. And it wasn't the first time!

Throughout my life when I was faced with a large financial risk I was beset with the same worries. All the while I pleaded with God to show me His will. If I was sure God was guiding me to give or spend I had no problems, but the moment I was presented with a financial opportunity or need I was stymied until I could get the victory over the fears that assaulted me. Each individual battle had always been won but the lessons I learned never went deeper than my understanding. My heart just didn't seem to learn the lesson and I was getting worn down by the fight.

When I read the ninth and tenth chapters of Joshua, I was surprised to learn that Joshua and the Israelites had been decieved by the Gibeonites 'because they did not consult the Lord.' (verse 9:14). And yet in chapter ten God answered Joshua's prayer for the sun to stand still while the Israelites fought for the Gibeonites. In verse 14 we read, "Never before or since has there been a day like that one, when the Lord answered such a request from a human being." As if that miracle wasn't enough, when Joshua was given the victory over the armies of the five kings God used the event to give the Israelites great favor as 'no one dared to speak a word against Israel.' (verse 10:21)

My greatest fear and the one that seemed to set up the 'fire-storm' in my mind was the fear that if I wasn't obedient to God's leadership and foolishly got myself into debt then God would not help me get out of the mess I had caused. But obviously that is not the God we serve!

I'm experiencing a great new freedom from old hidden fears today. It is surely true as the prophecy declared, when I could tell God exactly what I wanted, He had the power to free me from my fears.

Don't Be Timid With God

God spoke to our congrgation today. I think everyone should hear what He had to say. It was:
     "Don't be timid with Me, don't hold back.
       Tell Me exactly what you want or need.
       Not so I will hear it but so that you will.
       If you've messed up, I will help you fix it.
       If your burden is heavy I will carry it.
       If it's overwhelming I'm powerful enough to give you the victory.
       But don't be timid with Me, tell Me exactly what you want."

I'm praying that every person who reads this blog will experiencee the Grace of God this week!

Passionate About His Promise

The terms 'desire of my heart', a vision, the promise of God, and dream are pretty much interchangeable in my mind. They all connote something God has spoken to me that I'm passionately praying and believing for that is beyond my ability. In other words, I need God's miraculous power to see it come to pass.

I have only just begun on the journey toward the vision God gave me for a book six years ago. The book is now published; Available Grace: True Short Stories of the Rewards of Intentional Living. http://sbpra.com/mariannecassell  But as miraculous as that is to me it is only the necessary first step toward the goal God spoke to me when I was living in a little one room apartment in Sundown, Texas and writing down the accounts of His grace throughout my life. (See "What's a Dream Team?" in the book.)

Last Sunday morning, I was still nursing my first cup of coffee when I heard clearly in my mind, "It's time to claim the promise." I instantly knew the promise God was talking about. Two or more years ago He had given me a promise as my friends Karen and Carolyn prayed for me. But it seemed to require such a big miracle I just set it aside and I've rarely thought of it since. Now, God was saying it was time to pray passionately for its manifestation?

Well, I couldn't! I could pray, but I had too many doubts and questions to pray with my whole heart to see God's will done. Did God really want me to be divided between two visions, I wondered? To resolve my question I asked for a scriptural confirmation. The Lord has never failed to answer when I ask for scripture to base my faith on. I was thinking He would show me a Bible character who dealt with my problem in a few verses. Instead, He showed me Joshua. Then, He began to show me through the book how each battle Joshua faced required His miraculous provision. Even though the battles have been preached as individual miraculous moments each actually was a stepping stone, a detail, on the way to the ultimate goal: possessing the land for Israel. Perhaps this new promise I was 'claiming' was the next stepping stone toward my goal.

I'm happy to say I'm well on my way toward passionate, all in, prayers. My doubts have been resolved , my questions answered. I can hardly wait to see how God is going to fulfill this next step toward my goal.