Tag Archives: God

Happily Ever After?

How many of you are waiting on Mr. Right or Mrs. Right to live Happily Ever After?

I know that for girls we begin this dream when we get our first doll, doll house and kitchen sets. We play dress up and plan our weddings. We dream of that day we are just like those fairy tales we watch on the Disney Movies.

We grow into a teenage girl who dreams of her first kiss. We begin to watch more adult movies and read books that tell of romance and adult fairy tales.

We grow into adults who read romance novels and become addicted to Hallmark Movies and Wedding Reality shows.

We have this idea that when we have what we have dreamed about all these years we will truly be “Living Happily Ever After”

In my past I found that trying to grab onto this dream I lost a lot of who God called me to be. I waited on dreams that He put into me. I thought with out that “Happily Ever After” I couldn’t have any of the rest of it.

Has anyone watched the Lifetime movies or Roseane or even Reba? Life brings heartache, loss and real life situations to deal with. Let’s say you achieve Happily Ever After and you wake up one day and your spouce is gone. Out the door went your happy and all your dreams, if your happy was all in that one dream.

We are fed we are not complete with out that Happily Ever After in our lives.
When reality is if we are not complete in Him first we can never have that. Not as a single or married person.

Colossians 2:10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

We have got to be filled with His joy in our lives. If we don’t have His joy then when things don’t go as planned we lose that false sense of joy. What happens when you wake up one day at 40 and you have had two failed marriages? You find yourself with an empty nest? You had best know what true Happily Ever After is!

God is your Happily Ever After!

Romans 15:13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Do I still believe God has someone hand picked for you and for me? ABSOLUTELY. I believe when we find ourselves so full of Him and engrossed in all He has for us, we will run smack dab into them. The joy and love of God we each have will be so much that it covers all the Roseane moments. The hurts and disappointments that can come our way can be covered with Gods Grace, Love, and Joy.

The only way to be fulfilled and live your life and have Happily Ever After begins in John 3:16

John 3:16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

Once you accept this LOVE then you are on the road. Next step is to believe that God has great plans for you. To not give up on All and Who He has for you.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Then you ask God what dreams He has for YOU! In fulfilling those dreams you will be overflowing with Happy! That’s what you want to have to offer to your Prince Charming or Princess!!

Ephesians 3:20 -21 God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.Glory to God in the church!Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!Glory down all the generations!Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!

Let God become your Happily Ever After!!!

 

When you are Happy in Him and who you are in Him, the rest of your dreams will be icing on the cake.

Dream Catcher 3:20
Cassie Gilman

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The Heart Behind STS Ranchwear

 

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THE SMITH FAMILY

 

For those of you that know me at all, you know I spend a lot of time on Facebook.  I have  been introduced to a lot of wonderful friends, ministries and businesses.  I was scrolling through my page one day and found STS Ranchwear on my Facebook  The first thing that caught my eye was the cross.  I believe in supporting Christian Businesses with all my heart so when you mix the Cowboy Lifestyle and that together you have won my heart over for sure!!

 

I started following STS Ranchwear and I realized they are way more than a clothing line.  STS is about sharing Stran and Jennifer Smith’s Faith with others through their own lives.  You will find Ranchwear, Fashion tips, Recipes, Fitness tips and Testimonies of God’s love on their website and Social Media.  We all need encouragement from one another and I sure know I need help with fitness and fashion.  LOL…..

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I am all about Dreams and encouraging others in theirs.  This is one of my favorite things about STS and the heart of Stran and Jennifer Smith.

 

THE HEART BEHIND STS RANCHWEAR

Jennifer and Stran Smith are best known for their long standing careers in professional rodeo. Stran has 11 Wrangler National Finals Qualifications and was the 2008 World Champion Tie-Down Roper. He is best known for overcoming hardships in and out of the arena.

Jennifer was Miss Rodeo America and worked as a television correspondent in the western & equine industry for 15 years for networks such as ESPN, CBS Sports, and Outdoor Channel. Jennifer also spends time as a designer and consultant in the Western fashion industry.

What is not highly publicized is their background in ranching. Stran and Jennifer strive to carry on Stran’s 4th generation ranch in Tell, Texas. When not on the road, Stran, Jennifer, and 3 children, Stone, Scout, and Selah raise Black Angus cattle on the family ranch.

 

I am very honored to share with you a few questions and answers  with Stran and Jennifer.  A look into their heart and Dreams.

What inspired you to begin STS Ranchwear?

The combination of growing up on a 4th Generation ranch and spending the last 20 years in the rodeo and western fashion industry, we have an idea about what we want in Ranchwear. When we went looking for it, there was nothing on the market quite like what STS Ranchwear is today.  Our partner, Chad Fairchild with Carroll Original Wear has spent years perfecting the quality of outwear and sourcing quality leathers that fit the true western buyer’s standards.

The handbags were a vision of passion as well.  I wanted to create a line of bags that not only utilized luxurious leathers and western design, but also had all the organizational needs of today’s western woman.

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What is your vision and targeted audience for each of your blogs? 

We love EVERYTHING about the western life that we are so blessed to have been raised in. We feel it’s important to honor a legacy of the true working cowboy and family life, educating on skills, equipment, livestock, and wildlife. We, more importantly, strive to emphasize the principals that this country was built on:  HONOR and INTEGRITY while being TRUE to your faith, your family and yourself.   Anyone that is or just wants to be cowboy can find great stuff on STSRanch.com.

http://stsranch.com/strans-blog/

http://stsranch.com/jens-blog/

 

How has faith played a role in your family, being on the road rodeoing and running a business?  

In every way, Faith is the center of our life.  In every venture in our life, whether it’s rodeo, ranch, and especially our family we want to be in God’s will.  We wouldn’t attempt to do anything with out His confirmation… not just in our business, but in every part of our life.

 

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What three tips could you offer to tell us how to stay focused Spiritually, Mentally and Physically?

A goal without a plan is just a wish.  It is very important to have a plan so you know what direction to go.  Write down your goals and look at them often. Be consistent and stay the /coarse.  It is a marathon, not a sprint.  It is so important for us to have a Purpose in our goals beyond “us.” Like we’ve said, if God is at the center of everything you do, you have a bigger purpose and responsibility in obtaining your goals.  You never know who is looking up to you or who you will inspire in the meantime.  Stran said it best in his interview when he won the World Championship.  If your heart is still beating than God’s has a plan for your life.

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Thank you STS Ranchwear (Stran and Jennifer)  for this great interview.

 

To learn more about STS Ranchwear and Stran and Jennifer Smith please check out their website below and be sure to follow them on Facebook.

 

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CLICK HERE TO ENTER STS RANCHWEAR

Dream Catcher 3:20

Cassie Gilman

 

 

 

Interview with Dave Powers

I have been doing interviews for a few months now.  I have to say it is one of my favorite things I have ever been blessed to do.

My sweet friend Richard Frazier introduced me to a great Southern Gospel singer named Dave Powers.  I feel very blessed to introduce Dave and his ministry and music to you.

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Dave Powers, Southern/Country Gospel Singer
Dave is spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ through songs and personal
testimony.  Dave was born and raised in West Chester, PA, and now resides in
Lemasters, Pennsylvania.  Dave has been singing for over 25+ years.  He grew
up singing in his home town church and fell in love with the “old time”
hymns that the church sang.  In his teen years,  he heard many southern
gospel singers and began to love the sound of the quartet style music.  He
attended a Gold City Quartet concert that was made up of Brian, Ivan, Mike,
and Tim, and knew during that concert he wanted to sing for the Lord.  At
that concert, he prayed that the Lord would use him to spread the gospel in
song.   When he moved to Chambersburg, PA, in 1988, he started singing bass
with The Towne Singers, a local vocal group.   With the Towne Singers,  he
had the opportunity to travel over seas and do many concerts.  Then in 2003,
he began singing background with David (King) Grove doing numerous “Elvis”
concerts and had the honor to share the stage with the legendary
Jordanairres.  In 2005, he continued with David, but they were led by the
Lord to do outreaches to win souls for the Lord.  When David accepted a
pastor’s position in 2009, Dave continued on his own because he loves
singing about his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  In 2013, Dave was asked and
honored to open up for the respected southern gospel quartet, The Kingsmen,
at the 38th PA State Singing Convention.  In December of 2014 he had the
opportunity to travel to Nashville Tenn. To record Amazing Grace with Doc
Holiday and his A-team production company.  2015 is shaping up to be a great
year of sharing the Gospel in song.

INTERVIEW WITH DAVE POWERS

How long have you been singing Southern Gospel Music?
A: Pretty much my whole life,  I fell in love with it when I was around 12
years old  but started to really sing it on my own around 4 yrs ago.

What artist would you say has influenced your music the most?
A: The Kingsmen Quarter was the first group I ever listened to, but Gold
City and Mr. Tim Riley  has been a big influence on my life.  Mr. David
Grove (King) my pastor has also been a big influence in my Ministry.

What was your first song to hit the air waves? And which station started
your adventure on air?
A: The first station to ever play my music was WURL 760 AM out of Alabama.
I befriend DJ Richard Frazier from the Richard Frazier Show via Facebook.
He included a song of mine on his hour program and for the first time ever I
heard myself singing “Thanks To Calvary”.  Needless to say, I did tear up
and thanked God for that moment in time.

What would you say was the defining moment in your music ministry that you
knew that this was what you wanted to do?
A:  I have been singing pretty much all my life, in Church choirs, groups
from around our area and then on my own, but felt God’s calling to sing
around 14 yrs ago at a Southern Gospel Concert in Lancaster Pa. sitting in
the back row I really felt God’s calling on my life to go and share the
Gospel in song.  This wouldn’t happen for a few more years, but believe me
it has been worth the wait.

What motivates you to keep going when your tired?
A:  My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  It’s because of Him why I sing.

Do you have any new projects in the making?
A:  Looking at doing a new CD sometime this year.

What’s your current single on the air waves that we might hear?
Right now I have the Song Amazing Grace which I recorded in Nashville in
December.  It is on Amazon music.com and Google play.  Digital download,
with in around 2 weeks going out to different radio stations.

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CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT DAVE POWERS

Thank you Dave for this interview.
Dream Catcher 3:20
Cassie Gilman

Wondering Where To Place Your Trust?

Have you been through heart aches, disappointments, relational let downs? Are you at a point where your not sure who to trust? You might even be to the point you no longer trust your own self, your own judgments calls and your own decisions.

I have been thinking a lot about trust today! I have been through all the things above. I have made wrong choices and let myself down as well as others letting me down. These experiences make it so easy to build up walls. To walk away from anything or anyone who might hurt me. To run from any chance I would let anyone down. I know that this place of wondering where trust is to be placed is something we all go through.

What is the answer you say? Trust no one! Don’t even trust yourself! What? You say! Listen to me hear me out. Trust is meant to be placed in one person only. GOD!

When you read through the word you never read trust in man. You find over and over where He says things like TRUST in ME!! Lean not to your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? Psalm 56:4

The reason we are to put our trust in God is He can never fail you!

Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:8

So now how do you move forward? How do you have healthy relationships? How do you know you can make right decisions?

You trust God who lives in others! You trust God who lives in you.

What does He tell you to do where others are concerned?
He says LOVE one another as I HAVE LOVE YOU! John 13:34.
The way you and I do this is because we trust God within us and within others to make the wrongs right.

Love always trumps. It trumps your past bad decisions! Love trumps fear! It trumps past hurts and it opens the door for a great future.

God is LOVE!!
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:8

And He says
11 For I (LOVE) know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

So today if your wondering where to put your trust remember TRUST GOD AND LOVE PEOPLE!

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
Psalms 91:1-2 | NIV

Dream Catcher 3:20
Cassie Gilman

Don’t Go Into Deferment

Did a little Bible Study this morning. I wanted to share with you.

No matter how hectic it gets or how tired you get you have to hold onto HOPE!!

HOPE: the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best:

Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

Deferred:
1.postponed or delayed.
2.suspended or withheld for or until a certain time or event:

Don’t go into deferment!
Let’s hold onto HOPE!!

Watch what Faith can do!!

Dream Catcher 3:20
Cassie Gilman

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