Twelve Things I Desire for our Children
As a wife, mother, Grandmother and woman of faith there are 12 things I desire for our children. I want them…
1. To live in the presence of God
2. To grow in the likeness of Jesus
3. To find value and significance in God their Creator
4. To walk in ever-increasing faith
5. To be raised in godly discipline
6. To be surrounded by people who believe in them
7. To know that God will fulfill His purpose in their lives
8. To know that God loves them and gave His Son to prove it
9. To trust in the unlimited understanding of God
10. To place their hope in God regardless of their circumstances
11. To earnestly love God and others
12. To reflect godly character and integrity in all they do
These 12 things are the essence of Faith Feedings…12 principles to nurture your child’s spiritual development.
Going Beyond Gun-control
Denial of God is racing toward fullness in our country. The land of the free is becoming the land of risk and danger. The ancient prophet Hosea spoke to this current plight and its ultimate resolve. Hosea 4:1-2 There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land…bloodshed follows bloodshed. Hosea 6:2: Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge the Lord. The only gun- control that will suffice is gun-control under God-control.
So then, faith community, let us endeavor to preclude murderous acts by cultivating faith in the next generation. Let us secure the conscience of our young for faith in God. As it is, the hearts of our young are being robbed from us…or are we handing them over?
Going beyond gun-control takes us beyond the law of the land. It takes us to the Law of God. Going beyond gun-control takes us to the root of violence against the innocents. Seek God-control; Speak God-control; and by all means, pray for God-control in the land of the free and the home of the brave.
…take hold of the life that is truly life. 1 Timothy 6:19
DeeDee Cass 6.21.2015
A Faith Fitting Farewell
How good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters live together in unity! (Psalm 133:1). As one who has never seen divisions or lines drawn in the Body of Christ I was drawn into Community Bible Study in 1985. I love our oneness in Christ—our unity—our common desire to know God through His Word. There are many ministries of the Word, but CBS in the one that God brought into my life and the one to which I have had a 30 year commitment. It is the one through which God discipled me, transformed me and blessed me mightily. I am who I am because of the study of God’s Word under the banner of Community Bible Study. And what is more, I will be what I will be because of what God has taught us as a faith community. We are as one moving forward as ambassadors of the Gospel. Indeed, How good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters live together in unity.
Personally, I am at a change-point in my life, not an end-point. God has called me to take CBS forward. There is not a person in this room or on any of the rosters of our CBS over the years that will not be going with me. We are the Body of Christ. We are a faith community. We know the living God through His Word. We have a full understanding of the import of strong faith in our own generation and the generations that follow.
Out out my years of devotion to the study of God’s Word has grown a passion to “secure the conscience of the next generation for faith in God.” I invite you into my passion. Bringing and building faith in the next generation will take more than a village. It will take a kingdom. Please pray for Paul and I as we actively seek to change the faith landscape of the family in our community and beyond.
Over the years, I have prodded you to be transformed by the renewing of your mind, to hold onto the word of life in a dark and dying world and run with perseverance the race set before you. You have heard me call you to love, follow and serve our faithful God. Words like edify, grace, forgive and love one another have been poured out in our time together. You have been exhorted to pursue spiritual wealth through the consistent practice of hiding God’s word in your heart. I have encouraged you to be Faith Strong—to continue in the grace of God. I have coaxed you out of your comfort zone so that your light might shine for the glory of God. My over-arching prayer for each one of you has always been Colossians 4:12—that you would stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. Tonight, I remind you that standing firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured does not happen outside of the Word of God. Keep yourselves grounded and secure in the Word of God….and as John ended his letter dear children, keep yourselves from idols!
Blessing: Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58 Amen and Amen.
DeeDee Cass 5.04..2015
End of Life Lesson
Life lessons happen when you least expect them. This afternoon presented opportunities for new insights that will not soon be forgotten. This lesson came at the expense of the end of the life of one Mr. Al W____. I first met Al and his wife Sue in the fellowship hall of Bethlehem Church. Al had a notable presence about him. The first thing I noticed was his warm smile. He was engaging, quite humorous and quite responsive to my pleasantries. When I discovered that Al and Sue lived in my old neighborhood we experienced a certain connection. Being one that follows the path of “certain connections” I invited Al and Sue to the Small Group that met in our home. Being ones that knew the value of Christian fellowship Al and Sue readily accepted. Thus, on the Tuesday evening following our meeting Al and Sue graced our door step. As the Tuesdays passed it was clear that the W’s were where they belonged for such a time as this (Esther 4:14) Our members embraced our new friends and Al and Sue soaked up the presence of the Lord in our midst. Time soon revealed that we were the perfect Small Group for this couple. It was the insight of my husband, Dr. Paul, that confirmed the deep need that Al and Sue had for authentic Christian Community. Paul, a Geriatrician by profession, quickly discerned what I and the others had not. Al was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. As Paul’s wife and a caregiver in our home of his father and my mother, I quickly discerned Sue’s role as a caregiving wife. Connection complete. Al and Sue were in what I call RTRP…right time-right place. West Branch Lane became a short term haven for a godly husband and wife. West Branch Lane became a source of radical love and freely given grace. West Branch Lane functioned as a place of incremental growth into the likeness of Jesus.
In hindsight, I realize that though Paul and I knew the AL and Sue, we really didn’t know them at all…until this afternoon. The truth about Al and Sue began to surface when we entered the Church parking lot for his service. It was packed. “Who was this man?”, I muttered. We were about to discover the answer. And discover we did. The easels of pictures of Al’s life gave us the first clue. This man was loved. The discovery about his life continued to be imparted as the service unfolded. Al W___ was a godly and loving Christian husband, father, brother and grandfather. He was a loved and loyal business professional. He was one who brought great fun and humor to everyone he met. He loved the game of golf and liked things “done right”. Al was a pillar of strength in his community. Most importantly, Al W___ was the light of Christ. Even his last twelve years on earth with a rapidly declining mind did not mask the person of AL W_____. Rather, it showcased the marriage commitment of a husband and wife in the Lord…till death do us part. Indeed, Al’s time on earth was a time to be celebrated. We thank God for every day of the life of Mr. W_____.
Sue requested that those present would pick a golf ball from Al’s collection. The sign on the bucket said, “Hit a Hole in One for Al”. How fitting to send us off with a smile and a fun memory. On our way out of the door of the same fellowship hall that first introduced us to Al and Sue, Paul chose a little white ball for himself. The identifying stamp on the ball was impressive to a fellow golfer—Pinehurst 2. “This man got around”, said Dr. Paul. And so he did. We praise the Lord that Al W_____ got around to us.
Lesson Learned: You just never know who you are inviting to your Small Group. The Lord knows!
DeeDee Cass. 4.25.2015
Deedee Cass 