Thankful

Cassie Smith is in her second year of S.O.W.E.R.S., previously a W.O.W. Ambassador in Memphis, TN.

When it comes to newsletters, as everyone else, I have absolutely no clue what to write about. So, I’m simply going to tell you a few things God has done for me.

I am thoroughly blessed to have a believing mother who works harder than most that I know to obtain things that are not even for herself. She was meek enough to ask someone to teach her how to study the Word of God, and diligent enough to teach my brother and I what the Word says.

I have had the grace of God constantly abounding toward me, just as He does with all men in that He gave His Son up who died for all men, no exceptions, so that we would be given the chance to live the more than abundant life instead of just wallowing in sin and eventually dying. Furthermore, I’m glad for the chance, not only to thank Him for the unmerited favor and forgiveness He has shown, but also to learn to not let that grace abound, and show Him by walking that I am grateful for what I have never deserved.

I’m thankful for the strong and loving people in my life that never give up and have become my iron. There is a story behind that: metal can only sharpen other metals that are equal to or higher in strength, thus when the Word says in Proverbs 27:17 “ Iron sharpened iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend”, it is referring to how we can make each other stronger when we are equal to or stronger than the other. Those people that I have, my “Jonathons“, couldn’t be the quality of people that they are without God in their lives, so in that area I must say, He has provided for me as well.

Romans 4:21 says that Abraham was fully persuaded that, what He, God, has promised, He was able also to perform. God has never made a false promise, He has been faithful in every thing He ever said He was going to do. After reading the Word and walking what little I have, I can say that I am fully persuaded that what God has promised, He will do. Hilariously, all I have to do is realize what’s available. Of course though, God covered me there too. Ephesians 1:16-23 covers thoroughly that we can know what it is exactly that God gave and does for us. No guessing, or “leaving it to faith”, No, it says that we may know. The point here for me was that not only did God make it available to know His Word and truth, but that God Himself would teach us. So if we’re willing to receive, He’s ready to give us the knowledge and understanding in the best possible way for us individually to receive. Haven’t you ever noticed that while reading or being taught something, it still takes time and sometimes continual exposure to fully grasp the concept? Just like with plants, we can give them the best environment possible, good soil, a seed, water, and such, but we can’t make that plant grow. God does that, He gives us the increase to grow, it can be no other way. He teaches us. I can hardly believe it. I can’t say how amazingly contradictory to modern day churches that it is available to actually know who we are in Christ, and the promises that we can have a more than abundant life (John 10:10), and that He would have us above all, to prosper and be in health (III John 1:2), and that the eyes of our understanding being enlightened would know what is the hope of his calling and what is the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who do believe according to the working of His mighty power ( Eph 1). God promised it though, He told us we can know and I believe He’ll do it. He has done it. There is no possible way that I can’t be thankful, just as Paul was, for that.

In writing this newsletter I have realized that there are far too many things that God has done that I don’t seem to thank Him enough for and I suppose if I was to impart something useful to those reading this it would be that although God does love us whether we remember Him or not, I find that I grow to the point where it’s hard to tear my eyes away from Him as opposed to forcing myself to look toward Him when I stop to thank our God and Father for the things He never had to do.

God Bless,
Cassie