lovin' the freedom

Happy Wednesday Friends!

Ah, what a brisk morning here in Manhattan. I MUST tell you that I'm lovin' the freedom. This morning Whit & I walked to campus for some bible study/prayer time. IT WAS AMAZING!
It continues to leave me speechless when I walk into a situation with NO agenda & soon enough HIS agenda takes over.
BEAUTIFUL..truly BEAUTIFUL.

As I was walking back home I was struck with the freedom we have in our nation (and I couldn't stop smiling. I got some wierd glances from fellow walkers who didn't appear as joyous as me). I am free to attend the college of my choice and receive the degree of my choice. I am free to serve Jehovah GOD of my choice and worship at the church of my choice.

Then - as my thoughts continued - I was brought to joyous tears over my freedom in Christ. Through Him I am free to love, laugh, give, receive, cry, sing, scream, clap, fall on my knees in reverance, jump for joy in praise...I AM FREE!

The closer I cling to Him, the freer I am. What a freeing concept!!!
LOVIN' THE FREEDOM! And, my freedom in Christ cannot be removed by man, laws, or death. This freedom...true freedom in everlasting.

too cute not to share

this past fall i had the joyful privelege of joining my sister, haidee, when she picked up my precious 5-year-old neice, mikey.
on our short drive home mikey asked,

"mama? how can aunt audrea be your sister and a teacher?"
"sisters can be anything they want to be."
after a couple seconds of pondering mikey replied,

"oh. just like you are a sister & a mama, aunt cassie is a sister and a princess, and aunt audrea is a sister and a teacher?"
"exactly!" i proudly proclaimed from the front seat.

it's so great to know my profession as princess has been understood by my 5-year-old. if only the rest of my universe would get the memo. :)

obedience vs sacrifice

can i take a moment to process?

i'm a musician. music stirs my emotions in ways that not much else can. i can be brought to tears in an instant with the right chord progression, vocal melody, or lyrical arrangement.
i'm emotional. it takes effort for me to make decisions based on practicality, reason, and logic. that can be a dangerous combination sometimes. i can be moved to make decisions based on a feeling i get while listening to music that stirs my emotions.

this morning i was in a musical worship setting at church. the worshippers on stage were unified. the music was well-blended. as the lyrics began alluding to the message of "i'll go where You want me to go. i'll do what You want me to do," all i wanted was to hear God say, "this is where I want you to go. this is what I want you to do." that moment didn't come. instead i heard the Spirit whisper in my soul, "obedience is better than sacrifice," and i knew this was not the time for going and doing. this, instead, was the time for steadfast faithfulness in complete obedience to what i know God is asking me to do.so, i will remain until the Spirit says, "this is where. this is when. this is what."

obedience, in this moment, is much harder than sacrifice. perhaps, that's why that is what He's asking of me. but in the end, my friends, it will be SO worth it!

1 year anniversary...almost

that's right folks! can you believe it?! january 10 will be my 1 year anniversary in the li'l apple. WOW. in some ways the year has crept by and felt never-ending, but, as always, looking back i see how quickly the time actually flew by.

i have successfully completed my 1st semester of college and am gearing up for semester 2!
i moved into my new home on december 17 & am looking forward to getting to know my amazing FOUR roommates. in some ways, i feel like i'm back in the YWAM way of life (WHICH I LOVED) so the next 5 months promise to be fun-filled adventures for sure.

2009 holds numerous mini-vacations which begin in just a few short days. i'm flying to arizona to spend a week with Willy & Adrienne Sotomayor who welcomed their 1st son into our world on December 23. then, in feburary i'm off to california for a long weekend with Livy Dumanovsky. while i'm there she'll be hosting her annual youth conference & i'm quite excited to get lost in the world of crazy teens again!!! :) in addition to these fun trips, i'll be going to Oklahoma City with my sisters for our annual Spring Break-Away & lounging on the beaches of North Carolina in June with Audrea & Kahlief. GLORIOUS.

in between the travels i'll continue working full-time at The Women's Health Group here in Manhattan and attending college full-time. good times...good times.

the past month or so i have been burdened to intercede regularly for our nation. i don't know what will come of this (group prayer meetings, solo prayer times, etc). i'll keep you posted as it all plays out.