I Didn't See Any Whales But That's Alright

Binoculars are brilliant.

I love them.

If you gave the sea shop lady 4 dollars before boarding the boat for the whale-watch, you could rent a pair of those brilliant babies for the whole trip. 
Yes, binoculars. 

4 dollars?

I found out soon that that was a small price in exchange for a tool in teaching me a big lesson.

My arms got a little tired, holding those suckers up to my eyes. And when I climbed down to the lowest floor of the boat, the bathroom mirror warned me that if I didn’t un-suction those power glasses from my face I would have an awfully pretty tan line.

I told the mirror it was well-worth it,

and climbed back to the top deck.

Binoculars let me, for a little while, step into a life outside the life in front of me. Almost like hopping from one mini movie theatre to the next.

I could easily let the minutes stack up watching just one moving image of the sun on the water, with my phone tucked into the sleeve of my jacket, propped against my ear, playing Passion praises. I felt like I was participating in a little bit of awe in those moments. My heart swelling with every word of worship, every wave, just thinking about His beauty- endless, like the sea seemed.

But boy, was I wrong. But I’ll get to that later.

My eyes were changed on that ride. In more ways than one. But first, my eyes had a new mission. I was constantly looking out for new things to zoom in on, new mini movies to watch.

Ah! Perfect! I could look at the sun!

I’ve always liked to look at the sun. I love the light. Sometimes, it hurts, but I just can’t keep my eyes off of it. I’ve been told I’m a little off and that I should probably stop if I like to see. But, I’ve met one other person who does the same thing, and that’s been enough for me to continue to enjoy in this secret pleasure.

But anyway, I scan my binoculars across the sky... until… AHHH!!

Woah.

Found it.

Yellow-white invaded my little circle of sight, immediately shoving my face away from what was no longer my new, friendly, innocuous toy. In that one moment- my hands held something dangerous. Mighty dangerous.

I’d never seen brightness like that before. I’d never seen light like that before.
I couldn’t take it! This wasn’t like the same sun I would stare at for at least a handful of minutes before forfeiting. I could not bear to be in the presence of this light for a microsecond.
What was I thinking? Striking up an arm eye-wrestle with the SUN? I'm surprised my pupils didn't just disintegrate right there on the spot. There was no match to wrestle. My eyeballs were forced to forfeit the microsecond the match began. 

But I think I learned massive lesson in that microsecond.
I think I learned a little bit about the glory of the Lord.

After almost losing my sight, I was immediately shot to the story of Moses on Mount Sinai.

Bear with me.

“And the Lord said, ‘I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, 

and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence… 

But,’ he said, ‘you cannot see my face, for no one my see my face and live.’

Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 

When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; 

but my face must not be seen.” 

Exodus 33:19-23

We cannot handle the glory of the Lord. It's simply too much for us. And if I was taken back by the sun, I cannot even imagine, fathom, dream up what it will be like to worship in the fullness of His presence one day. Forever.

He is glorious.

And this must be why, “when Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord.” (34:29)

Now I can’t say I hit the deck, Moses-style in 34:8, after I was bombarded by the marvelous light.

But hat was only the smallest fraction. 

Call it silly…

But after just that one microsecond,  

(okay, maybe two, the kid in me had to peak again)

my vision of Him will be completely different. Forever.

My worship will be changed. Forever.

So, I guess if you find your perception of God beginning to shrink,

just take some binoculars to the sun.

Orrrrr… maybe you shouldn’t. ;)

Just trust me on this one. J

Or Moses.

“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit,”

2 Corinthians 3:18  

Dear Lord,

Thank you for opening my eyes to Your glory,  Your bigness, and my smallness. You heard me when I asked to be humbled, and I will never forget this moment. To know You is what I long to live for, and I feel like that was a “Hi, I’m God, Nice to meet you Cassie” moment. I needed that; thanks for knowing just what I need. Thank you for being Beauty. That You, YOU, love me, ME, stuns me. Thank You.

Oh, and thanks for not blinding me. J

I love you!

In Your Glorious Name,

Amen.

“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers…

What is man that you are mindful of him,

and the son of man that you care for him?”

Psalm 8:3-4

And, if you want to unveil, no pun intended, something absolutely incredible… 

check out the rest of Exodus 34, followed by 2 Corinthians 3:13-18.

:)  

No Home Like Heaven

A Castillo-Home-style Breakfast prepared by my Dad :) 

“Just a little further- and you’ll be there.”

“Just study a little harder- and you’ll get there soon.”

“Just run a little faster- and you can rest in a little while.”

I caught myself doing it, did you?

Whether it’s Thanksgiving break, Christmas break, or say… 
Spring Break- it’s the hope of home. 

When we feel like we are in need for it, 
when we see home in the distance, 

we will endure most anything to get there. 

We can be completely content and perfectly comfortable 
in the pressure of the present 

with the certainty of rest in the future. 

We will even follow through with this endurance 
with an ethereal sensation of joy, too. 

Once the proximity of home is near enough for us to 
conjure up a pleasant image of its rest and enjoyment, 

we put our hope in just that, 

leaving the present to remain only as 
time to fill, chores to endure, until that day arrives. 

Until we are home. 

It’s all worth it, as long as we get home. 

It’s all worth it, if we have home to look to.

Our motivation is the hope of rest, the certainty of comfort, 
a place that takes us in, just as we are. 
Even if we are beaten up from relationships 
or discouraged from grades, 

home takes us in once we are exhausted
from what felt like a marathon.

And, I admit, we are quite a bit more productive. 

We are all the more motivated, 
with the destination of home on our minds.

But, what if we pushed a little harder, 

endured what was here more because 
we knew in the future we would be... 

in a new home?

But, I have been feeling that He has an image of home for us 
that looks a little different. 

A little more than a beach and a book, 
the scent of freshly baked cookies, 

and the weightlessness of less schoolwork. 

And above the beauty of the new home 
that surpasses all that a short break could give us.

This new home is with our love, our Savior: Christ, 

unceasingly bringing Him glory- right next to Him. 

And it's nothing if He's not there. 

Knowing that this current condition of ours is completely, 

tightly packed with meaning, 
but also only temporary, 
might change our lives. 

And though this life is only a 
“mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes,” 

its value in the eyes of Christ is priceless, limitless.

It is only temporary, 
but its results of our purpose he has for us are eternal. 

The purpose to shout of the home we are heading to- 

and most importantly, our Father who resides there.

Not the ending beach and a quick read of a book, 

but a endless sea of praise and the eternal Word of God. 

Not the vanishing scent of freshly backed cookies, 

but the constant aroma of Christ. 

Not the temporary weightlessness of less schoolwork, 

but to be swept up in His grace- forever. 

For, this isn't about us. 

It is about Him, 
and the place He has so graciously prepared for us, 

if we choose to look to His Son and 
delight in putting His glory on display.

Every day should be charged with the excitement, 
the passion, and the perseverance 

that we cling to the day before we arrive 
on that doormat of a warm, welcoming home. 

We’re always going home.

Home sweet home.

Heaven sweet home.
Hallelujah; 

That’s worth it all.

“For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain,” Philippians 1:21

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation wait in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed… the creation itself will be liberatied from it’s bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God,” Romans 8:18, 19, 21

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Colossians 3:23,24

"So, do not throw away your confidence, it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." Hebrews 10:35-36

"Now we know that if the eathly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands." 2 Corinthians 5:1

It's You,

"i find peace 

when i'm confused 

i find hope 

when i'm let down 

not in me... me 

in You 

it's in You. 

i hope to lose myself for good. 

i hope to find it in the end. 

Not in me... me 

in You 

in You 

in You." 

You- Switchfoot. 

"He must become greater, 

I must become less." John 3:30

High Off Paint

   Every Christian has become victim to the “spiritual high.”

     And though incredible movements of His love through the body of Christ can be so enriching to our soul (ex. Conferences, Summer Camps, Weekend Retreats)

And though they are completely beautiful and for the time so fulfilling…

And though their intentions are long-term,
their results tend to be short term due to…

Due to…

Due to what?

We’ve all asked this question.

We just choose whether or not to answer to it.

It’s saddening, but we turn the rush of the Holy Spirit into a drug. Letting it wear off, slowly seeping out of our system until we are empty enough to crave it again. And, slowly we submit to the former life we walked through the doors of that event with. 

    And, yes, we call these moments, weeks or weekends little “glimpses of heaven,” but can we not see that every day? Or at least put it in our pocket, without forgetting it’s there and throwing it in the washer to be tossed around until we stumble upon it later?

    So, my point is, or rather... my question is... are we just layering our faith? Are we just recoating paint after the same “revelations,” “camp highs,” and “moments of closeness” each time we decide to let him in?

Paint chips.

In fact, haven't you noticed?
The more layers you put on,

the paint becomes weaker,

prone to chip.

What’s missing?

I believe its God Himself; I believe it’s the Holy Spirit.

We believe that the Spirit of God is only where we are singing, dancing and listening to music that we think we will sing in heaven.
Or, maybe I shouldn't say that we believe this.
We are more convinced of this…
Gradually, we are fooled, tricked, lied to...
We don’t mean it, we don't intend on watching the paint flake off our walls...
But when we leave, we are simply influenced by a countless amount of things other than His Spirit…
We have become convinced that we need the loud music and the masses.

But what about the God that has a still, small voice, and is not impressed by crowds?
That’s our God: the one and only true God.

I think we need a thick, everlasting, coat of paint.

One that sticks.

One that’s weather resistant.

We need it to be something other than what we have relied on before….

We need the Holy Spirit.

Thank You.

“…for God gives the Spirit without limit.” John 3:34