Cherished (40 page)

“For bringing the two of you back together after all those years. If I hadn't approached Brian at that conference for help with Monica and then asked to use his laptop, you wouldn't have recorded your song on there, he never would have known about it, and you wouldn't have worked on the album together. Shoot, I'm responsible for that album too.”

Brian laughed. “You know, there's some truth to that. This is one of those
It's a Wonderful Life
moments. What would our lives be like without Stephanie?”

“Hmph.” Stephanie curled her legs behind her. “A few of y'all would be in trouble. I'm just sayin'.”

Cyd reached for the pillow behind her and threw it at her.

Brian laughed again, shaking his head. “I really do love y'all. You're the closest family I have. I'll even claim the fearfully and wonderfully made ones who have to wear Spanx.”

“Oh! Did you really go there?”

The room exploded in banter.

Kelli brought the baby to her bosom, cuddling him closer, inhaling the sweet smell that made her heart ache. For years she'd thought her dreams had turned to dust—dreams of music, dreams of a future with Brian. God had brought the dreams back, but in ways she never could have imagined . . . out of a pain she never would have thought she could endure. Would she have dreamed those dreams, had she known?

She still had dreams, like the babies she hoped she and Brian would have. But what she wanted more than dreams was God's purpose and plan, the things He'd mapped out before time began . . . for her—and Brian.

Kelli looked at him now, in animated conversation with her family, and smiled. She couldn't wait to tell him—she would love and cherish him too, all the rest of her days.

Acknowledgments

I
AM SO THANKFUL FOR THE WAYS IN WHICH
G
OD SHOWS
us He cherishes us. With respect to this book, His love and care were shown through the people He sent to aid in the process of writing and getting it into your hands. I'm indebted to the following people:

To my editors, Amanda Bostic and L.B. Norton—you are invaluable, insightful, and plain fantastic to work with. Amanda, thank you for being a sounding board when I had little more than a rough idea for the book, and helping me flesh it out. You are always there, and I'm so thankful for your friendship, not to mention your brilliant editing skills. J L.B., thank you for your knack in taking a completed manuscript and zeroing in on the exact things needed to make it better. And I'll tell ya, I'm going to get that destination wedding yet!

To my publisher, Allen Arnold—you are an “exceedingly abundant” blessing. Thank you for being available, thoughtful, creative, and prayerful. You're an amazing leader, and I'm so grateful for your support.

To Katie Bond, Eric Mullet, Becky Monds, Kristen Vasgaard, and Ashley Schneider—your talent and creativity amaze me. Thank you for your energy, your ideas, and the immense work you put into Thomas Nelson Fiction. Love those roundtable discussions!

To singer/songwriters Nicole C. Mullen, Alex Williams, and Tony “prof. t” Tolbert; Christian rapper Travis “Thi'sl” Tyler; and Artist Manager Gessie Thompson—your know-how, experiences, and anecdotes about the business were invaluable to this book. Thank you so much for letting me pick your brain about something I've loved since I can remember—music!

To my literary agent, Tina Jacobson—thank you for believing in me from the start and encouraging me every step of the way since. To Tami Heim and Shannon Litton—thank you for that
aha!
moment of seeing what God had been building in my ministry and helping to shape it. And Tami, always thankful for the long talks at the Heim B&B.
To Gessie Thompson—thank you for being not only a partner in ministry, but a true sister in Christ and accountability partner.

To the
cherished
members of my prayer team—I can't thank you enough for praying me through the writing of this book and tons more. Thank you for allowing me to be vulnerable and transparent, and always responding with love and encouragement.

To my mother, Edna J. Cash, who's so much more than a mom—thank you for being a personal intercessor and having the discernment to see what God is doing in my life. Your love and wisdom are priceless. To my dad and stepmom, Earl and Joyce Cash—so thankful for your enthusiastic support and encouragement, which have never wavered. I'm a blessed daughter!

To Bill, Quentin, and Cameron—you see me in the good moments and the not-so-good, when life is hectic, deadlines are looming, and patience is wearing . . . and you love me right through it. I thank God for you. I
cherish
you. I'm privileged to live life with you.

To the God I
cherish
, because He first
cherished
me—without You, Lord, I can do nothing. Thank You for Your grace and strength. Thank You for Your faithfulness. Thank You for moving me to pen a story that highlights the breadth of Your forgiveness and the depth of Your unconditional love.

To the readers—thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your support fuels this ministry. Your notes of encouragement fuel my passion and energy. I thank God for you and I pray for you, that He would meet you as you read, speak to your heart, and draw you close. May you be keenly aware of how much He
cherishes
you!

Reading Group Guide

1. A central message of
Cherished
is that you are cherished by God and nothing can separate you from His love. Do you believe that deep in your heart?

2. It was hard for Kelli to consider what God might want to do in her life, because of her past. Is there anything in your past that you feel “disqualifies” you from being used by God? Has the book caused you to see that differently?

3. The women in Daughters' Fellowship have a “DF check” from Proverbs 3:5–6. If one of them is trying to figure out what to do, they ask themselves whether they're leaning on their own understanding or acknowledging and trusting God? Do you tend to be a “leaner” or an “acknowledger”?

4. The tagline of the Songwriters' Summit asked, “What were you made to do?” Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Do you believe God has a plan for your life, something you were made to do? Have you asked Him what that is? Do you believe you're walking in those plans?

5. Stephanie charged Kelli to believe that “all things are possible,” from Mark 9:23. Do you tend to place limits on what God can do through you, or do you believe that all things are possible through Christ?

6. Heather came to the end of herself after the incident with Ace and was propelled to the foot of the cross. Has there been a painful circumstance in your life that caused you to see Christ more clearly?

7. Heather had a change of heart, such that she wanted to get to know Jesus above all else in her life. Do you have a hunger to walk with Jesus and know Him better? Do you take the time to pursue Him?

8. Brian wasn't sure of God's plan for his life, but was willing to go whichever way the Lord led. Are you willing to ask and follow God's will for your life?

9. In the “Heart of a Psalmist” session, the panel discussed how to keep a right heart in the business they were in. How do you keep a right heart before God?

10. If you are in a group setting, statistics say that 1 out of 4 of you have had an abortion. Without anyone having to openly divulge this, take a moment in your group to pray for complete healing for those women. If you are alone and the book has uncovered emotional pain from an abortion, please pray to God for healing and seek help, if necessary. God's arms are open.

11. Ephesians 4:32 says, “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” Dana had difficulty forgiving Heather for what she'd done, and Kelli had difficulty forgiving Brian. Is there someone in your life whom you find hard to forgive? Have you sought God's grace to help?

12. Do you have any unlikely friendships, such as Kelli and Heather's, that sprung up as a result of God's work in your life and heart?

13. What character did you identify with most in the book?

14. What aspect of
Cherished
spoke most to your heart?

A Note from the Author

D
EAR
F
RIEND,

I don't know what could be greater than to live a life of faith and to be called a woman of faith. It doesn't mean we've got it all together. It doesn't mean we won't fail. It simply means we wake up every day with a profound sense that we need the Lord. Every minute. In everything.

Even more, I hope you've seen in
Cherished
that it doesn't matter where you've been. Indeed, strong faith is often built upon brokenness and humiliation. But often, we need the help of other women to build us up, to let us know we can move beyond the hurt and the pain—to encourage us that we, too, can be true women of faith. Kelli and Heather had Cyd. And you can find that same encouragement in real life, through a weekend with Women of Faith.

At a Women of Faith conference, you get the real deal. The women on the platform will tell you the truth about where they've been—their struggles, failures, and disappointments. And they will tell you how a loving God swooped in and showed them how much He cherished them. Each time I've heard a speaker—or a musical artist—share her testimony from that stage, my heart has filled with praise for God. And my own faith has been strengthened.

I hope you'll grab a few of your girlfriends and experience this life-changing weekend together. You will leave inspired. And like Kelli and Heather, you will know that His grace and mercy have covered you, that He cherishes you, and that you can daily walk as a great woman of faith.

Kim

Since You Appreciate a
Good Story . . .

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womenoffaith.com
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