Is Scripture powerful in your life?

Hey Guys,

If you're wondering if I'm still alive... I promise you I am, things have just been kind of crazy around this little ol' town of Alaska. Or rather it's grasping the realization that I no longer have any freedom starting Thursday. (If you really wanna get in an arguement, no one has freedom until they get to heaven... so what am I Complaining about?) Colleges start up pretty soon around here, but Alaska Christian College starts on the 24th. Try as I might to just shrug it off because I'm only going 30 minutesaway to live in a dorm and study theology (by now I'm hearing chuckles I'm sure!) after 4 years of staying at home because of the epilepsy and brain surgeries, I'm kind of apprehensive about getting THAT kind of structure back in my life again. Those of you that don't know, my "schooling" in the Bible has all been personal and basic, and this will be more of a test to see whether I can let God rule 100% of my life rather than whether I can keep up with my studies.
My parents are, as always, a gift from God. They know how weird this is for me, and to be honest, I know how hard this is for them. I've had to stay hanging on my mother's apron strings longer than most kids, teens, and sadly, adults. They've been setting me up with everything necessary for this school, the most important part of the prep prayer and love. Although last night when we celebrated my birthday you would have thought that I thought the most important thing was the computer they bought. Shows you how quickly we forget the reality of life... and to lighten things up here... shows you how many dang papers I'll be writing at this college! (no more than a regular college I'm sure!)

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

I have had the priviledge to correspond with someonethese past- what- few weeks? And many things we agree on but the way we say it is different so we argue - or the polite theological way to say it is "discuss" (not making fun here, I'm serious) to no end. You've all been there. Whether with someone of the same faith or with someone of a different faith... or at least I hope you have. Why? Because it makes you strive for a better understanding of your faith in Christ.

I have to admit something to you here (My Friend, if you read this, read it to the end) I have no idea if he is a Christian. As we used to say as 7th graders he could be a "poser". But in the same position, he doesn't know me either. He knows I talk smooth, and that I can talk like a Christian... But! What in the world does that mean?


He brought something up to me that shocked the socks off of me. (did I really just say that? I'm starting to sound like my mother! Must be that I'm getting older) In the positions that He had, although in many of them I did not agree, he used scripture. And although He might have meant for them to mean something else, they were still used in my life. And what did I do when I was explainging my position? I did exactly what I shouldn't have done, I went to fast. I ddn't use scripture. I used my theological and my biblical training and just made it sound "normal" if that can even be done.

Guys, gals, whoever you are. Young ol, in between... tell whoever you're talking to whenever that comes up that you gotta wait a second. When you're discussing you're position, whether you both agree or not, USE SCRIPTURE. There's nothing more powerful in a person's life than for them to walk away knowing you didn't use just your own position in life.

Next time you're confronted, try something. Only use scripture. Don't even try and explain the scripture... only use scripture. I know that sounds dumb and razy, but don't you think our God is big enough to work?

okay, I'm done standing on my soap box...

talk atcha later~Cass

The Provision of a King

Hey Everyone,

Okay. Yes. I am still alive. No, I have not fallen off the face of the earth. Am I still willing to keep this blog going? I have NO idea. Let's just say taking a break this summer has been great. Now it's off to college. Whether God wants me to keep this going is up to Him. i.e Whether he gives me the time and the input of what to put on this is up to Him.
This summer has been great. I've been in Indiana working in my old hometown at my home church as an intern (we jokingly call that a slave) working in the office. It's been a stretch in more ways than one, but going into that here would be wrong. God's definitely shown me where my faith needs to grow and has helped me mature in ways I never thought possible. What an awesome God we serve.

I know I usually give you guys a passage of scripture here and then go on, and on, and sometimes go even further... but right now, I don't feel like I can do that. Something God has been teaching me this summer is the difference between teaching only by your input alone (leaving God out of it) and then letting God use your life and Him speaking through you. Something that I've had a hard time grasping because I've had very little example of that growing up except in my family.

But something happened this summer that blew me away at the greatness of our God. And then again, to my shame, it shouldn't have. Let me tell you a story of my incompetance to understand who my God really is. And maybe through that you'll understand Him better.

I left my Home in "igloo land" (if you don't know what or where that is by now... Lord help you) with about $60 in my pocket. I knew that there was no way I was going to survive 2 months with $60 alone, but I also knew that my family wasn't completely mean. My job in Indy wasn't paid (i.e the term "internship") so I just closed my eyes and said a desperate prayer. When I got to my family in the states... my Uncle came through. His response to giving me his money was priceless.

"I know what it's like to stay with a friend and not have money but wanting to pay your own way. Here... take some money." Not wanting to act like a stupid little immature kid, I hugged 'im and thanked him for the money, but inside I was jumping for joy. I had money. I was going to be okay. God was providing. Even though I knew that promise was never going to fail, my faith was soon going to be tested.

When I left my family to start my internship down in southern Indiana after 2 weeks of spending time with them, the unthinkingable happened. Or atleast to me it was unthinkable. In the small town of Alaska, everyone knows everyone. No one locks their car doors, no one worries if their purse is left somewhere. Well, I left my purse in my car... and I was smart enough to atleast hide it under the seat. But when I came back to it, I had $11 instead of $120. A thief with a conscience! Praise God.

A day later, I had to use all but one dollar of that money. And I survived on that $1 for quite sometime. I finally took my money, what I had left of it, which by the time I woke up to the truth and remembered God I only had a few dimes, and knelt by my bed.

"God a few weeks ago I already gave you your 10% of this money... you promised you'd provide. Whether you multiply this money right in front of me now or later on, I'm trusting you. But please just do it. You're teaching me to lean on you, and I just pray you'll teach me to heed every word."

I have to admit, I expected the money to come in 10 minutes later or even a day later. But it didn't. God waited. And waited. And I'm so glad He did. A while later, one of my friends came into the church while I was working and he handed me an envelope just saying "I heard what happened, don't say anything Cass, just take it. I love you."

My mother sent my $40 the next day as well.

Why am I telling you this story? To encourage you. To plead with you not to give up. His time is perfect. He proclaimed that not even a sparrow falls to the ground without Him noticing, what more of a treasure are you? He will provide. Whether it's money, a car, or a broken family that needs to be healed, he is right there. And if He comes to your rescue any sooner, it wouldn't be as perfect as it could be. Believe me, I know.

See ya Around

Cass