life is full of little pleasures

• a saturday full of community and friendship
• dinner and a movie with friends
• gardenias. and how much the men in my life love the way they smell.

• coolness in the air
• "God's best to you! Christ's blessings on you." - Philemon 1:3
• sweet girls and their international friendship

• a week that was already cleared out so that it was easy to get in the car and go to warrenton
• small town/FBC warrenton love and support.  goodness. 
• beautiful flowers that are representing my mama.  she is no longer suffering. no more medicine. no more pain. no more misery.  happy. healthy. whole. fully ALIVE with jesus.  i am grateful. 

• friends of my dad's who drive 12+ hours to be with him, fry some fish and sit at his table 
• siblings that i love to be with.
• temporary butterfly tattoos...the friend that found them, the sister that is wearing them with me, the mama that always talked about wanting a butterfly tattoo.

• the chance to stay in warrenton a few extra days with my dad
• "...that people recognize Christ in all of it..." philemon 1:6 (?) (the msg doesn't always clearly mark the verses!)  
• a mug from my mama's cabinet that's about as old as i am that rings true (especially in regards to thankful thursday)(and a sister that picked it out for me)

• brandon's ability to speak life and truth and honor my mama...a fantastic mixture of humor and solemn - all sacred. also thankful for the conversation he facilitated with my siblings.  well done, pastor man. 
• morning runs through the woods...and through the streets of warrenton. 
• my incredible husband. he's so talented and kind and awesome and wonderful.  i loved that he was a part of my mama's funeral. he speaks. he sings. he cares. he loves. and he looks suh-weet in a suit. 

stickers and sunsets and other lovely things

• tabata and patrice's hug.  
• stickers with denise
• an especially pretty flower...the one that stood out. 

• God's heart breaks even more than mine...somehow that comforts me when i'm sad about the brokenness in the world...
• capp blasts on sale at BR (and finally knowing it's the caramel that makes it magnificent)
• more excellent (and challenging) thoughts from mike foster 

• flavor blasted goldfish
• watching emma dance when she doesn't know anyone is watching
• i want to be a great irritant to demonic powers...and a great delight to the heavenly hosts and to the heavenly father. 

• eli's willingness to hang out with/babysit micah
• i think i've finally figured out how to help emma not get overwhelmed with her schoolwork!
• lovely truth: 

• hearing about the redeeming work the Lord is up to in the heart of a friend
• being able to say "no"...and knowing that no is a perfectly acceptable answer sometimes 
• and one more excellent quote:

• experiencing cookout for the first time
• being with the martins saturday evening
• the sunset wednesday night 

another week of wonderful gifts

• circling our children in prayer...and the visual aid is created and copied and ready for distribution :) 
• my parents have been married some amazing amount of years (their anniversary was this week...maybe 51 years??  little embarrassed to admit that i don't know what year they got married...but i definitely know what year they were born!!)
• being in the cafe each night before/after prayer night...the conversations, the connections, the cookies (and other delicious baked goods), the coffee, the prayer...all of it was just what i hoped it would be

• lauren's wisdom, grace and way of seeing beauty in the midst of her dad's last few days here on earth
• wal-mart grocery pick up.  it really is so convenient.
• fresh reminder:

• nick's life-giving and encouraging meeting with raven
• the sound choices gala and the stunning reminder of just how significant it is that melinda chose life for zoe
• our sweet precious beautiful zoe...and her amazing wonderful fabulous daddy 

• treasure of a trip to jonesboro to visit the fig tree cafe
• the kindness of the folks at the fig tree to talk and listen and answer questions
• fresh flair pens (those will always make my thankful list)

• Truth.  
• mail that makes it safe and sound
• amazing resources that come across my instagram account...especially in regards to grief.  check out mikefoster2000  if you need/want a good follow

God, who do You say that I am?

This is so simple.  Yet so profound.  I dare you to do it (and am praying that God will open up some quiet time/space in your life to do it).

Simply write "God, who do you say that I am?"  at the top of the page and try to listen as He speaks.  Write down any words, phrases, pictures, song lyrics, or scriptures that come to mind.  Listen to the one and only opinion that Truly matters.  

And if you aren't hearing anything, that's ok - you're ok!  Maybe you could invite someone to pray with you and together listen to what the Lord may be saying (and I hope it goes without saying - but I'm happy to say it anyway - I would be more than HONORED to be that person. email me, we'll figure it out  diannacash@yahoo.com)

Surely there will be more to come. 

Prayer Night #2 - September 2019

Random assortment of thoughts for you tonite. 

1) It's been fun having the cafe open this week before and after prayer night.  A few of my favorite parts:

• Laura Lea's encouragement, kindness, presence and all-around awesomeness
• The coffee maker has been cooperating. 
• The uncommon generosity of one of the "most-talented-but-would-rather-remain-anonymous-doesn't-want-credit" bakers
• My delightful friend Katherine made a strawberry cake...the whole thing sold - piece by delicious piece. 
• The conversations at the bar.  Oh so similar to what used to happen every Sunday morning on the Africa Mercy.   Those conversations are life-giving and refreshing to me. 

2)Here are thoughts that were in my head and heart/what God was talking to me about tonite (some from worship, some from Colossians 3):

• Our God is WORTHY and TRUSTWORTHY
• Set your mind on things above.
• "Christ is my life."  Is He?  Is He truly my life?
• Pursue the things over which Christ presides (Col. 3:1 MSG)
• LET Christ's peace rule in your heart.  Allow it.  Let it.

3)And a little identity activity for you if you're interested: 

Sometimes the lies (from ourselves, from others, from the enemy) are so loud that we can't hear the Truth about who God says we are.  

2 questions to ask:

• What lies am I believing about my identity/who I am?
• What is God's truth in regards to that lie?

Take 2 cards/pieces of paper.  On 1, write the lie that you've been believing.  On the 2nd, write God's Truth.  Destroy the card with the lie (think lots of ripping or maybe even burning in a safe and smart way).   Take the 2nd card with you - every time the lie tries to creep in, read the Truth. Tell that lie to go back to hell where it belongs.  It's ok to talk dirty to the enemy.  He's a jerkface and a liar.  We don't have to be polite with him.  Read the Truth. Believe the Truth. 

Surely there will be more to come. 

Identity - a playlist

It's prayer week at CCC!  I really like prayer week.  Something significant happens when we intentionally come together with the purpose of hearing from God.  So much could be said here...but that's another post for another day. (I think I actually have a rough draft of a blog about prayer week at CCC...the what and the how and the such and such...)

In honor of prayer week I'm going to try (try!) to blog each evening...either an activity that could help us in our quest for true identity...or thoughts from the night....or, as is the case tonite, a helpful tool.

So...just in case you aren't able to make it to the prayer room at CCC and need a playlist of songs that remind you of who you are - of who HE says you are - here's one.  There's a variety of genres and artists...and the songs stretch over a few decades...so if you happen not to like one, just click on another one.  You may even want to listen with a pen in hand...jot down the words/phrases that stand out...draw pictures that God gives you.  Let Him remind you of who you are.  I don't think this blog is going anywhere...so feel free to listen to a song and then come back in a few days or a week and listen to another one...

I Will Change Your Name (Cross Ties)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyCAIA3mIMI

You Say (Lauren Daigle)

https://youtu.be/sIaT8Jl2zpI

No Longer Slaves (Bethel)

https://youtu.be/f8TkUMJtK5k

Who You Say I am (Hillsong)

https://youtu.be/lKw6uqtGFfo

Friend of God (Israel Houghton)

https://youtu.be/UI0cgUKMqRs

God Loves Me (Veggie Tales)

https://youtu.be/3ch239kCT3Q

Child of God (Vineyard)

https://youtu.be/cNeNGN2q-r8

More Than Conquerors (Rend Collective)

https://youtu.be/2p8_4NbrcKA

More Than Ashes (Tim Reimherr)

https://youtu.be/no9ZIOiAjhY

You are my Treasure (Chris Tomlin)
https://youtu.be/FVS3BLLQgh8

I Like Me (Kirk Franklin and Da Truth)

https://youtu.be/05lddfyhf3s

Come Out of Hiding (Steffany Gretzinger)

https://youtu.be/XFkDqQtfs0w

Refrigerator Art (Allen Levi)

https://youtu.be/JvIU9ZLKfjQ

The Anthem (Jesus Culture)

https://youtu.be/YIoZNqUQAGE

Fun fact: this last one is one of Nick's favorites...kind of like his fight song.

Other fun facts: the kirk franklin one is probably my favorite on the list...and the veggietales one always makes me cry.  i LOVE that God loves us whether we've made all the right decisions or whether we've messed up in all the ways.  He really loves us.  That's our identity:  loved by God.

Surely there will be more to come. 

more and more

• a husband who goes and visits my family across the state and watches my nephew play football
• knowing amazing things are happening on the TA retreat! 
• the chance to do respite care

• a house full of kiddos
• mr. wright's kindness to let little man ride the tractor with him
• so many wonderful cottage guests
• afternoon pick me up with a good friend

• breakfast casserole (and so many other delicious breakfast foods for community group dinner) 
• sending a text to a few folks and having the food and set up for an event pretty much taken care of within minutes
• tasha's encouraging "that's a cash crew" comment
• truth in letterboard form

• jeeah's hope labor day fireworks event
• clean car! 
• sweet emma and her foxy face painting

• youtube help for frustrating tech problems (and also eli's tech help!)
• another kayak date...and success paddleboarding!   
• Caroline's life and creativity and all her tricks in the pool