Rhonda Sassano

By Ronda Sassano

Negative Space.  Sounds ominous, doesn’t it?  Anything that starts with “negative” gets such a bad rap these days.  But to an artist () negative space is an important part of the design and can be extremely valuable to the composition.  Negative space, in case you aren’t sure, refers to the “blank” space on the canvas or paper.  Negative space is the unpainted, untainted white area that gives the eye a chance to rest as it processes a busy piece. Without a blank area or two, a work of art could become overwhelming and the beauty, lost.  Negative space increases the power of the colors, just as the quiet of night emphasizes the volume of the day.  

Negative space isn’t found only on paper or canvas.  It can also be found in a moment of rest when a long day has come to an end.  When a day off happens unexpectedly.  When that appointment I was running to suddenly cancelled.  Or in the moment of something simple, like putting toothpaste on the brush, or stirring a boiling pot of pasta to keep the noodles from sticking together.   Yes.  Negative space can definitely be found IF I look for it, if I seek it out, if I’m aware and watching for it. 

Recently, I added a layer to looking for negative space.  I began to practice being open to the Lord during any negative space I happened to recognize.  At one of these points, I was musing about some negative circumstances and how valuable they can be to make my heart more sensitive to the Spirit and what He’s trying to do in my life.  Of course, that’s not what always happens when challenging circumstances arise, and probably not even what usually happens.  What usually happens is that I get angry and blame and accuse the Father and hide my heart from Him.  But, this time  heard Him say, “Yes.  When negative circumstances arise, many times, I use them to answer your prayers for a sensitive heart, the prayers for a deeper intimacy with Me.   It’s in the valley of the shadow that you have greatest opportunity to discover who I really am and how much I really do love you.  Yes.  I allow challenges,  I allow pain and grief and even emotions that are so big and intense and heavy that you don’t know what to do with them.  But I never leave you hurting or angry,  I never want you to stay in the tragedy and trauma.  But sometimes you walk away.  Or push Me away.  Or hide from Me.  In My infinite knowledge of you and your heart, I desire for your circumstances to be the catalyst to seek Me out. To want more of Me.  If you will trust that I have purpose for every hurt, every wound, every trial, nothing will be wasted.  Not even one tear goes unnoticed…they are so precious to Me.  They are a sign of a humble heart realizing a need for help that only I can give.  A bruised reed I will not break.  A crushed heart I will not abuse or manipulate or scorn or despise.  Come to Me all you who are heavy hearted.  And I will give you rest. I am in the negative space.”

if you are in a spot like that, pushing the Lord away or angry or just holding your heart back from Him, He invites you to release your anger.  Release your heart to trust Him. He never fails.  Even when I fail to trust Him, He never walks away.  Never rolls his eyes in disgust or sighs in disappointment.  He only longs for me (and for you) to press into Him in the pain.  And He waits. In the negative space.  

By Rhonda Sassano

Hello again!  I hope you find strength and hope and healing in the words below, taken from Psalm 51.

”Father, I know that You delight to set Your truth deep in my spirit. You can use every challenging situation to make me aware of my deep need for You…  So I invite You: come into the hidden places of my heart and teach me wisdom. Find all the dark corners where I shove the things too painful to be recognized.  Show me what needs purifying, every small thing that my conscience refuses to acknowledge.  The places You have allowed to be crushed within me are deeply painful, agonizing even. 

Let Your love wash over me until my heart is pure, free, and completely convinced of Your unending affection for me.  When I am satisfied with Your sweetness, I know my song of joy will return. I will rejoice again when I find Your healing touch, and I determine to receive it from every hand that extends it.  I realize You have orchestrated persons and situations in my life to bring me to this place at this time, at this point in my journey.  Increase my courage to embrace the healing in every way it comes, even if I don’t understand or it seems like too much discomfort.  I want to be, and I will be, made holy and new.  

Erase all my guilt by Your saving grace. Keep creating in me a clean heart, a spirit that loves to do Your will.  Help me fill my mind with true thoughts about You, and with holy desires, ready and eager to please You.  

No matter how many times I fail, You never reject me! You never take back from me Your sacred Spirit! Let my passion for life be restored, tasting joy in every breakthrough You bring to me. Hold me close to Your heart; create a willing spirit in me that obeys whatever You say.

O God, my saving God, deliver me fully from every doubt, and even the sin that seems unforgivable. Then my heart will once again be thrilled to sing the passionate songs of joy and deliverance! Lord God, unlock my heart, unlock my lips, so that I can overcome with my joyous praise! 

Strengthen my determination to live out this truth:  The source of Your pleasure, sweet Father, is not in my performance or the sacrifices I might offer to You. The fountain of Your pleasure is found in the sacrifice of my shattered heart before You. You will not despise my tenderness or abuse or scorn or mock me, as I bow down humbly at Your feet. 

And when I am fully restored, You will rejoice and take delight in the continuous offering of my life as a sacrifice of righteousness, given in love, from my heart to yours.”

If you struggle with depression, fear, anxiety, or discouragement, I would count it an honor to chat with you in person.  Find my information here:

With love and joy,

Rhonda

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“God is not looking for those who can but those who will.”

By Rhonda Sassano

If you are feeling downhearted or discouraged, take a minute to speak this Psalm over yourself.  It’s been scientifically proven that anxiety and fear cannot coexist with gratitude. So, focus your mind on the verses below, allow gratefulness to swell in your heart for your Eternal Hope of Glory, and for the authority Jesus has already provided for us and encourages us to walk in every day, in every situation.  

From Psalm 24

”Jesus, You claim the world as Yours and indeed it is!  You created Everything in it and every one of us belongs to You, including me.  You are the One who pushed back oceans to let the dry ground appear, planting firm foundations for the earth. In view of Your majesty, Who, then, is allowed to ascend the mountain of Yahweh? And who has the privilege of entering into the Father’s Holy Place? It is I, since I’ve been made clean—my works and ways are purified, my heart is truly Yours and sealed by Your truth.  I am not deceived, my words are sure. I will receive Yahweh’s blessing and righteousness given only by the Savior. I will stand before God, for I seek the pleasure of the face of my beautiful Savior.  

So wake up!  I am a living gateway who carries His authority! I lift up my head, me, a doorway of eternity! Welcome the King of Glory, for He is about to arrive here through me. I declare, “Who is this King of Glory?” He is the Great Yahweh, armed and ready for battle, our Champion, invincible in every way! So I rise up!  I am a living gateway who carries His authority and I rejoice! Fling wide those eternal doors to which I hold the secret to opening!  Here He comes:  it is Jesus! The King of Glory is ready to come in, to reign over my life in power! I declare,  “Who is this King of Glory?” He is Yahweh, armed and ready for battle, the Mighty One, the invincible commander and Champion of heaven’s hosts! Yes, He is the King of Glory! I bow my heart to surrender to Your great mercy, I command my spirit to receive Your provision, Your healing and Your Word with joy!

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“God is not looking for those who can but those who will.”

By Rhonda Sassano

Hi friends!  I only speak for myself when I say that I’m a devout Christian who struggles with depression.  At the moment, I have 9 therapy sessions on my calendar over the next few months. “ TMI,” you say? I only tell you to encourage you that you are not alone.  

Depression seems to diminish my ability to hear the Father’s voice.  But wait… couldn’t it be that He just isn’t speaking and that’s why I don’t hear Him as much?  As much as I’d like to blame Him for deserting me in my time of need, well, been there done that with nothing good resulting.  No matter what I’m feeling or not feeling, hearing or not hearing, one thing I know is true:  GOD’S WORD.  And I choose to believe it despite my circumstances, in spite of emotions that frequently knock me down and threaten to drown me.  I cling as hard as I can to the l promise that He NEVER leaves me or forsakes me.  It’s a lifeline.  And even when I let go of the rope…I discover that He was the one doing all the holding.

Here’s my version of Psalm 23.  I hope you will speak it over your life today.

Jesus, You are my strong champion, my protector and defender.  No matter what comes my way, You are here, presently present, standing right beside me.  

You meet my every need in good time.  My need for rest, my need for strength, my need for health, my need for the peace only You can provide. 

Your love pursues my heart and overtakes me, restoring my confidence in You, and I remember that You are on my side.  

You keep me on Your path when I get distracted and try to disappear, not wanting to face my issues.  It’s Your love for me that motivates You to deal with them, because You love righteousness and You want to make my life a witness to those around me, and a testament to Your greatness and goodness.  

Even when it seems my life is over and there’s nothing left to do, You are with me.  I can choose to not be fearful but to hold Your hand and lean in.  You protect my heart as long as I stay hidden in You. You comfort me with the hope of eternity. 

When my enemies of fear and shame and guilt and sickness and depression and anxiety surround me, You are my champion and make me overcome them.  You call me into Your presence and feed me from Your Word.  What a bountiful buffet is there when I choose to partake of it!  Heal me today with Your precious Word… until my heart overflows!   Indeed, Your good mercy and great kindness go with me everywhere and I will live with You, walk beside you, and draw strength from You both now and forever. 

With joy,

Rhonda

“God is not looking for those who can but those who will.”

By Rhonda Sassano

 ”Jesus, you find so much beauty in us, your people! We are lovely sanctuaries of your presence.  Deep within us are these intense desires and daydreams of living in union with you. When I’m near you, my heart and my soul sing and worship with joyful songs of you, my true source and spring of life! O Jesus, my King and my God, even the sparrows and swallows are welcome to build a nest among your altars to raise their young. What pleasure fills us when we choose to live every day focused on you, as we worship in your presence! 

How enriched are we who find our strength in the Lord; within our hearts are the highways of holiness! Even when my path winds through the dark valley of tears, I can dig deep to find a pleasant pool where others find only pain. You give me  a brook of blessing filled from the rain of an outpouring. I grow stronger and stronger with every step forward, and You, Jesus, will appear before me on the mountain. Hear my cry, O God of Jacob, listen to my loving prayer. God, I acknowledge that your wraparound presence is my only defense. In your kindness look upon the faces of your anointed ones. For just one day of intimacy with you is like a thousand days of joy rolled into one! I’d rather stand at the threshold in front of the Gate Beautiful, ready to go in and worship my God, than to live my life without you in the most beautiful palace of the wicked. For You, Lord God, are brighter than the brilliance of a sunrise! You Wrap  yourself around me like a shield, You are so generous with your gifts of grace and glory. Those who walk along your paths with integrity will never lack one thing we need, for You provide it all! With great excitement and faith, we choose faith and forever trust in you!“

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭84‬:‭1‬-‭12‬ ‭TPT‬‬