Year: 2024

The other day, while at work, I received a very unusual phone call. The lady on the other end was an acquaintance. We barely spoke. I couldn’t remember how long it had been. She asked me if she could meet with me. She said it had nothing to do with work and that it was a “spiritual matter.” We made an appointment for the very next day.

I got busy the next day and had forgotten about our appointment until I happened to be up front and saw her walk through the door.

We sat down and she began to share her heart. She shared with me that God had impressed upon her to “come talk to Lori Casto, she will pray with you.” She said she knew it sounded crazy, but she was just being obedient. She went on to tell me how she wanted me to pray with her about finding a man to marry. She also said that she wasn’t just looking for a man to marry, but someone who saw her worth & value.

Her heart’s desire was for someone that looked forward to seeing her and spending time with her. She told me she never had anyone that found her to be worthwhile. My heart was saddened as she shared. I told her how she does have worth, and God sees her as worthwhile. I quickly understood why God put my name on her heart to pray.

Memories of my life 26 years ago flooded my mind as I began to share with her.  26 years ago, I went through a divorce. Over the next 4 years after my divorce, I longed and craved for someone to love. I feel like many times the same feelings she was sharing with me were in my own heart all those years ago.

God knew my longing heart 26 years ago and God knows her longing heart now. After given the opportunity to share my story with her, we then took the opportunity to pray. I look forward to getting a call from her telling me about the man she is going to marry.

After she left, my mind continued to go back to that time 22 years ago when I had gotten to the end of my rope after having been on my own with my son for 4 years. I was working at a book publishing company bored to tears and there was no decent man in sight. I had put my resume together hoping and praying for the right job to open. I even interviewed for a sales job at a local radio station that offered a good salary but didn’t feel clear about taking it.

My mom saw an ad for an assisted living facility called Wedgewood Estates and I reluctantly sent in my resume. (The sales job in radio sales was becoming more and more appealing.) On a Monday morning, as I was driving to work dreading my day, I prayed these words in desperation… “Dear Heavenly Father… I need a job and a man.”   That same Thursday I received a call from a man named Bill Casto, the owner of Wedgewood Estates.  He did a quick phone interview from an airport. I later had 2 more on-site interviews, one of which was with Bill Casto and his son, Randy.

Despite Randy not wanting to hire me because of my lack of experience, (for a job I wasn’t even sure I wanted) Bill hired me. 3 years after accepting a position at Wedgewood, I married Randy Casto. 17 months after that, our daughter Maria was born. It’s almost 19 years since we got married and my husband still enjoys spending time with me. He sees my value. We are very blessed. I am very blessed. If God can do that for me, He can do that for you.

If you ever think for one minute God doesn’t hear your heart’s cry, I can promise you He does. If you ever think you are broken and you can never be fixed, I’m here to tell you, you’re wrong. If you ever think God’s plan and your plan can’t be merged to make one amazing plan, I promise you, it can. The closer you are to God, the more your desire and God’s desire become one. I had to be willing to try it God’s way, though. I am so thankful for a God who answered my heart’s cry. I’m thankful for a God who took 2 broken people and gave restoration. I’m so thankful for a lady who obeyed God to seek me out to pray with her. It was as much for my benefit as it was hers. Time gets in the way. It can cause you to forget just how awesome God has worked.

…Just as it is right for me to think this of you all because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.  Philippians 1:7  

Can you imagine a table full of all your favorite foods? You have been invited to the biggest, most lavish, banquet of your life. The finest, most expensive food awaits your attention. The line is long, but you will get your turn. The plates of the people ahead of you are piled high. Everyone is enjoying their choice of what’s been laid before them.

You notice every plate has one common thing…the finest, most sought after dessert. No one wants to miss out on this fabulous dessert. No one is waiting to come back for seconds to get this dessert. After all, what if it runs out? Everyone is partaking of this fine dessert. Everyone desires this fine dessert.

Just as everyone is partaking of this fine, sought after, dessert at the banquet, we are all partakers of God’s grace. We all desire God’s unmerited favor, mercy, and compassion. We all can enjoy God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense. The great news- we don’t have to stand in line to get it and it never runs out. There is no cost. We don’t have to earn it or save up for it.

We’re all partakers of God’s grace because we’re all in need of God’s grace.  We’re all partakers of God’s grace, because we’re all in need of God’s grace.

We were all sinners saved by grace. The saved part is the part that we live in. Once we’ve been saved by grace, we are no longer sinners. That doesn’t mean we wont sin, it just means we don’t have to live as a sinner. I am so thankful for God’s grace, of which we are all partakers.

…Just as it is right for me to think this of you all because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.  Philippians 1:7  

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

It’s February and we have a pond with algae. We always get algae, maybe three times a season and usually not this early.  It must be treated in one way or another, or the algae will consume the lake. Sometimes we hope for the wind and rain to handle it, but, when taken root, it becomes stubborn and won’t go away without treatment.

In all the years I’ve taken pictures of the lake, this might be the first picture I took of the algae. After all, why would I want to show or keep a picture of an imperfect lake? Wouldn’t it be better to just wait till the algae is gone?  

It takes a lot of work to keep the lake looking beautiful. Every season it takes hours of weed eating and lawn mowing around it.  We are thankful for the help we have to take care of it. Sometimes, though,  I feel pressure to keep it to some certain level of perfection. Anything that we hold as beautiful takes work and discipline to achieve. Honestly, it would be great if we just went down to enjoy the beauty of the lake without any of the required work. I will say, though, as I looked at the lake with algae in February, it was a beautiful, welcome, site. It meant a glimpse into spring. I felt no pressure. I saw only the beauty, algae and all.

I think in our own lives, we are all a work in progress. We have seasons of “algae” that need treated. Maybe we feel a little pressure to show our best selves at every moment, as if there was never any algae.  I’m thankful we have a God who sees our algae and still loves us. In fact, He sees the algae as beautiful because it’s a peak into what is ahead. He loves the before treatment picture and loves the after-treatment picture just as much.  Like the lake, though, it’s never finished. As soon as the grass is cut or the algae is treated, it begins to grow again.

God doesn’t need our unsustainable perfection. He loves us so much He died to save us. He wants our time in his word and with church family. He also wants us to use our talents to serve Him, algae and all. Who knows? Maybe we can better help someone because of our times of algae?

Lord, I give you me, algae and all. Use every bit of me however you’d like to your glory.

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

I am a terrible dancer. I have no rhythm. When I was a freshman in high school, I got the part of a dance hall girl in our school play and they realized the best location for me was not with the other dance hall girls, but further back, swaying to the music. I have 2 left feet. I truly don’t even know if I was swaying properly to the rhythm of the music or not. I laughed about it then and I can laugh about it now. The director of the play knew what he was getting when he gave me the part, as my older sister was in the musicals as well and she couldn’t dance either.

Good thing God hasn’t asked me to dance. I’d fail miserably. Come to think of it, God would never ask me to do anything He hasn’t equipped me to do, even swaying in the background. Better yet, even if I don’t feel equipped, if He wants me to do a thing, He will see to it that I become equipped. That’s a comforting thought.

It further dawns on me- even being the world’s worst dancer, if He asked me to dance, his Holy Spirit would take over and make it happen to His glory. Of course, that would take complete and total reliance and faith on my part. Hmmm, maybe that’s exactly what He wants from me…complete and total reliance and faith in Him. I’m not the one doing the dancing, God is.

I’m not the one doing the dancing, God is.

Lord,  I need your help. Help me to not just say I have complete and total reliance and faith in you. Help me to live it.

“For I am the Lord your God, who upholds your right hand, Who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.’ Isaiah 41:13

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2

Have you ever found yourself with a completely cluttered brain? It can be anything that causes it- stress, pressure, grief, divorce, hurt, anger…. the list is unending. I allowed so much negative junk in my brain over the past month that it caused paralyses of the very things I love most…praise, prayer, and bible reading. It’s a terrible place to be and I want no part of it. It’s like being in the darkest part of a tunnel with no light in sight. There simply isn’t time to allow such clutter and negativity.

When I think about how much time I have wasted over the past month on negative thoughts…I begin to praise. When I have a negative thought of any kind, I begin to praise. What was sparked by hurt spiraled into anger and every negative emotion I have felt over the past few years sat on me like mud. It was dirty, filthy, and dark. It took saying words out loud like.. “I forgive and I’m sorry.” It took total obedience and surrender to God. It took me not caring at all about what anyone, but God thought.

What’s that thing that holds your brain hostage? I would encourage you to start quoting your favorite scripture, sing your favorite praise music at the top of your lungs, and begin counting every blessing you have. I plan on doing this every minute if I must. Anytime a negative thought enters, I want to praise. I don’t want to miss out on all the good because I’m held hostage by all the bad.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2

Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. So, He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.” Matthew 26:36-46

I think every now and then we all feel a little alone. We are tempted to ask ourselves if there is anyone who really cares what we are going through?

I can’t help but be drawn right back to Jesus as He was praying in Gethsemane. He’s telling his disciples how “full of sorrow” He was in the above passage in Matthew. In Luke, the scripture says He was in anguish and agony. He was in such earnest prayer that an angel came to give Him strength. Can you imagine the human Jesus needing an angel to give him strength? The Father created the angels and now Jesus is lower than them.

The prayer was so powerful that drops of blood sweat were coming from His brow.  Jesus, the Savior of the World, was experiencing weakness, anguish, agony, and sorrow. He hadn’t even been betrayed yet. How alone Jesus must have felt when He had to tell the disciples 3 times not to fall asleep.

When you’re going through that thing that no one quite understands, remember The Savior of the World does. When you’re going through hurt, sadness, pain, or rejection or when you feel like you can trust no one, remember, you can trust Jesus. When you’re tempted to feel alone or you wonder if anyone else cares, remember the Savior of the World cares.

His agony goes way beyond Gethsemane. He was lonely, rejected, and humiliated. He was despised, bruised, beaten, and betrayed. Noone could ever understand what He was going through. We can only imagine.  He’s not only our Savior, but He’s also our all and all. He went through way worse than anything we could ever imagine and totally gets our pain. I’m reminded of the words to an old chorus…

“Noone understands like Jesus,

when the days seem dark and grim.

Noone is so near, so dear as Jesus,

Cast your every care on Him.”

Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.” Matthew 26:46

Lord, thank you for blessing me. I live and walk each day in your blessing. Help me to never forget how blessed I am. Forgive me when I haven’t used my blessing appropriately. Help me to always be aware of ways to bless and be a blessing to others.

Thank you for the area of influence you have given me. Forgive me when I haven’t used my influence appropriately. Help me to always remember who I possibly influence and help my motives to be pure. Help me never to be a stumbling block to anyone I influence. Help me to be a good steward of my influence.

Thank you, Lord, for your presence in my life. Help me to always be aware of you and how you are working on my behalf every minute of every day.  I am so thankful for the power of your Holy Spirit active in my life.

Lord, thank you so much for your protection. I can look back on my life and see how you have protected me in so many situations. Thank you for your continued protection in my life and the lives of those I love and of which I have influence.   

In Jesus Name,

Amen

And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.” Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Luke 22:41-44

This morning as I was getting ready for church, out of nowhere the term “Pray through” came to mind. This week I’d been praying over and contemplating a few issues in my own life.

I hadn’t heard the phrase “Pray through” in a long time. It reminded me of “alter calls” at the end of sermons or revival services when the preacher would ask anyone who was dealing with a certain issue or wanting to get saved to come to the alter. He would urge you to stay at the alter until you “prayed through”

I began thinking about what the term “pray through” really means. I can always talk to God about what I’m struggling with, but was I really “praying through”? Was I really having a life changing encounter with God? Am I really willing to put in the time, energy, and faith that would allow a forever change to take place and spiritual breakthrough?

I think “praying through” means life change. We may not see manifestation, but victory has occurred. We know we’ve left our struggle at the feet of Jesus. We know we’ve prayed through when we’re finished praying and inner life change has occurred.

After the last supper and before Jesus was taken away to be crucified, in Luke it says “He prayed earnestly”, meaning, with sincere and intense conviction. He said to the Father in his humanness, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.”

With all sincerity and with intense conviction He prayed…Not my will but your will. Not my will but your will. May we all “Pray through” with sincerity and intense conviction until heaven is moved and life change begins. Thank you, Lord, for the out of nowhere reminder about “praying through.”

Over the course of 2023 God placed within me:

1. A strong understanding that the time is now for those who left the church to come back and for the church to experience revival.

2. God needs “The Church” to be in a place of strength now more than ever.

3.There is no more important time in history than now to be making sure we are living for and serving God as well as winning others to Him.

This has prompted in me to study the 7 churches in Revelation 2 & 3.

1. All 7 churches have characteristics of “The Church” of today. We who consider ourselves Christians, are part of “The Church” of today. “The Church encompasses all church denominations and cultures who preach Christ crucified, etc. (The loveless, persecuted, compromising, corrupt, dead, faithful, lukewarm)

2. Because He says at the end of every church description. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” That means he is talking to everyone. Do you have an ear? Do I have an ear? Is there something in me that needs to change when I read any of these church descriptions? I can personalize this and see how I need to be warned that I should not allow corruption or compromise to enter my life. I need to ask myself the question am I on fire or have I allowed myself to become lukewarm? Has my love grown cold? Am in danger of spiritual death?

3. Good news! God doesn’t give a warning to every church without hope. He says each time “Those who endure to the end” this tells me 1. People will endure till the end. 2. There are people who won’t endure to the end. Which do I want to be? Which do you want to be?

4. Even in the 2 churches he doesn’t have anything against, (The faithful church and the persecuted church) He gives the understanding you still need to be faithful to the end, meaning, no one is above slipping. We have to be on guard so that we don’t fall away.

5. We are given warning but equally given opportunities to be overcomers, victorious, and conquerors. There is hope.

As I’ve studied these 7 churches, God is now prompting me to dive in to these to subjects/ questions:

1. At what point do you go from being part of ‘The Church” to being just part of the world?

2. A study on “the love of many will grow cold” scripture found in Matthew 24 where the last days are discussed and the dead church found in Revelation.

3. The correlations between the 7 churches in Revelation to the scriptures in 2 Timothy 3 and Matthew 24 which both discuss end times last days behavior of people and happenings in the word.

As many of us typically do at the end of a year, I find myself looking back over the last 12 months and setting goals for the year ahead. I look back with gratitude and joy at the opportunity to take advantage of a trip we had planned during COVID lock-downs we thought we lost.  It was a special time I thought I may never get to experience again. Great trips, weekend get-a-ways, and time with family all helped make ’23 a good year.  Randy and I also put a little time into podcasting, and I’ve exercised blog therapy a little more often this year.

One of the hardest things about 2023 has been navigating the nursing shortage and how it affects Wedgewood. This problem has been nagging me for a long time. I am very grateful to God for continuing to provide. My heart is still heavy as I think about the nurses who have had to work extra so often over the last few years because of the shortage. It’s taken a toll on them, and it bothers me immensely. It has caused me to question if we can sustain this business. Being honest, fear creeps in when I think of the “what ifs”. Then, God gently reminds me that He has gotten us this far and He will make a way, no matter what comes. He has us where He wants us in that regard.

Watching my daughter-in-law lose her precious mother was also a difficult time. A few other family issues have been difficult, but God is faithful.

Looking ahead, I want to draw closer to God and dive more into His word. I would love to find new ministry areas and I’m open to God’s leading no matter how that might be. I also wish to put aside my caring too much about what others think. I have struggled in this area for a while now and 2024 is where I get it figured out and let it go. Caring way too much about what others think, or my perception of what they think, is paralyzing. God knows my heart. I can be free to serve God better as I fix this area. It holds me back from my very best service to God.

I’m blessed. I have a wonderful husband, kids, and family. God has provided beyond anything I could ask or think. He has brought us out of difficult times and reestablished my steps. I look forward to a great 2024!