We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cassie Rhoda. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cassie below.

Hi Cassie , thanks for joining us today. We’ve love to hear an interesting investment story – what was one of the best or worst investments you’ve made? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)

Spending time in nature praying to Jesus, while slowing down to soak up all the beauty and wonders, have recently been my greatest investment of time not only for my health but even for my business. Most of my ideas and creativity come from these moments daily.

I usually start my day with a walk, hike, or bike ride outside while praying for how to get my day going and ideas on how to make beautiful pieces of art that enrich lives. When I get sucked into hurry and don’t start my day that way, often the stress blocks my creativity.

I’m a very visual person. It’s a need for me (not just a want) to see and soak in beauty in my life daily to be healthy and joyful. It’s just a part of who God created me to be, and it’s how I get inspired to create those special pieces of art.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I create beautiful works of art to shine the light of Jesus, share with those suffering and in need, and inspire others to do the same. I, too, know what it’s like to suffer a lot in life. My life has basically been the book of Job in the Bible rewritten. I’ve endured through being a disabled wife and mom suffering through severe chronic illness and a stroke in my twenties and early thirties, abuse and trauma, financial hardship, infertility, massive heartbreaks and loss, persecution, and so much more. So I can relate. Jesus was with me through it, redeemed my story, and even miraculously healed me so I can comfort and help others endure, too. We all need some beauty, hope, peace, and joy to come alongside of us in our darkest and weakest moments, and that’s my mission to plant that kind of art and encouragement in dark and lonely places. Because I know what it’s like to be in need, I love sharing my resources with those in need. A portion of all proceeds coming in through this business goes to a prayed over ministry, family, or individual to help care and share with those who are in need.  (contact me if you want more information)

In the art world, painting is my thing. Mixed mediums including watercolor and acrylics and mixing them together are what I currently love experimenting with and do the most of. Marbling with watercolor is one of my specialities. Most of the art I create is inspired by the beauty in God’s creation—especially flowers. Flowers just make me happy! Currently, I am working on some projects on large canvas, and I have been itching to do very large paintings so I am excited to be expanding into more murals, too. I have a current goal to paint encouraging, joy-filled murals in hospitals and doctors offices as a way to spread a little sunshine into the chronic illness community. Also, it’s my goal to give a piece of art away in a charity auction this year.

If you’ve got a project involving paint…I’m there!

You can check out my website below for more of what I do, collabs ( I love collabs!), and my current artwork that is for sell.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

If you are going through suffering or pain, I don’t want you to look on at the highs and get discouraged or even jealous because it seems like my life is all rainbows and sparkles.

What you don’t see is the war and excruciating pain my family and I went through to get here. Obedience to follow God and make Him first in this business is not comfortable. We’ve been through persecution, financial hardship, pushed out of our home, jobs, and community. We had to live out of hotel rooms and other people’s homes while we waited for God to come through for us and He did.

I spent four months on a bathroom floor everyday from 10pm-4am crying, grieving, and throwing up as I processed loss and persecution while fighting to stay obedient in this God-given dream to start a business with my art and give back to those in need.

This business and shop was birthed on those hotel bathroom floors.

What we have to give to the world matters, and it effects other people. I can attest, although I NEVER want to go through this again in the same way, it was worth sticking with it. Not once did we lack what we needed in order to do what we were called to do. Sometimes you have to walk through the suffering so you can then in turn pull others out.

No one can stop you from doing what you were born to do, hell might try, but ultimately if God called you to it (and you don’t give up) He will get you through it and maybe just maybe you’ll get to help others along the way, too.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Because I have had a lot of hardship in life, there was this temptation towards myself to just “suck it up buttercup” when things got hard.

I found quickly that that mentality can be toxic. That is not the heart of Jesus (Psalm 34:18, Romans 12:15). He is full of compassion, mercy, and grace. So if I say I want to be a like Jesus, then I need to follow His ways of compassion, mercy, and grace and not just towards other people (that’s easier for me) but with myself, too.

That’s one reason I slow down and soak in so much beauty in nature which in turn inspires all of my art. It’s my time to breathe, feel, process pain, create joy, and turn it into something beautiful.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cassierhoda.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cassierhoda/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CassieRhodaMinistry/
• Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/cassierhodaart/

Image Credits
Phil Rhoda