Hello Again Friends!

Well, I know it has been far too long since I have posted a new entry here :-) We have been so very busy with our foster care journey, church, speaking at conferences, and being a family that I haven't had time to keep up with TWO blogs! One of my blogs is a secured foster care blog that I am doing to journal our family's journey these days. So, many days I just don't have time to post here. But, God's Word has been thick with its perfect manna each morning, for sure!

This weekend I am off again to share with ladies in Toccoa and I just can't wait! One extra special part of this retreat for me is that By Design, a ladies' musical group, whom I LOVE will be there ministering through music all weekend!! I have had the opportunity to share alongside them before and can't wait to see them again. They are amazing and have a new CD out that I can't wait to get my hands on :-)

I would love to have your prayers with us this weekend as we seek to Satisfy Our Souls together with God's Word and the power of His Spirit in our lives! May this not be yet another conference...but a time when we are changed through His Word forever!

Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the changing colors and glorious tapestry of grace each moment. I love you all...

Hi there...

Well, as you can guess...our new foster child has kept our family pretty crazy busy :-) He is precious and has energy and volume to spare! We've had the absolute best time with him and are so grateful that the Lord has placed him in our home for right now. His family will go to court tomorrow and then we will know more. He may be going to relative care or he may stay with us. We just don't ever know ;-)

Please be in prayer with us about his court hearing tomorrow. We pray each day that the Lord will open the eyes and ears of those involved and we trust that HIS will is going to be done in this situation. Only He knows the true hearts and issues involved and what is best for this entire family. Would you pray with us?

I will do my best to update this blog as often as I can...but I can make no promises right now :-) But, isn't wonderful when your journey is so full that you barely have time to talk about it? I'll certainly try to stop by here as often as I have time...but I am posting to another secured blog at this time about our family's adventure right now. If you would like to share that journey with us...please leave your email in the comment box with your name and I will send you an invite but won't publish your comment for your security.

You can always email me at frances@desertflowerministries.com too! See you soon...I hope!

Our Newest Member...

As of this afternoon, we are officially foster parents! We were in the midst of doing respite for another foster mom, when we got the call for our first foster child. He is almost 3 years old and right now he is in the hospital. We went down to meet him this afternoon and we don't know yet when he will be discharged. Pray for this little fella and his health, loss of family, transition into our home, and for his family. We pray that God will unite this family again soon, if that be His will!

Hope for the Hungry Update

Well, yesterday was AMAZING! We loaded up and headed to the church around 9am and were joined by lots of precious Noonday folks who were going to be a part of this ministry. The truck arrived and the training began! Our folks were registering people, handing out food boxes, taking pictures, greeting, signing our guests in, and "shadowing" counselors. It was awesome to see our faith family loving others and loving each other!

It was our first day and since we didn't get our promotion sign until Monday afternoon...we only had 2 days promotion. Even with that we were able to serve around 25 families from our community AND...

10 people prayed to receive the Lord Jesus as their Savior!!

Four of those 10 people where Spanish speakers...and the Lord allowed one of our deacons from Cuba to share with those precious people and they were able to understand and accept Jesus as their Savior!!

The great thing is that all of these people are in our community and we are able to follow up with them. We can check in and make sure they understand what comes next, answer any questions, encourage them to find a faith family, and begin to disciple them. Also, we got the prayer requests, those who are not attending church anywhere...and our Lifegroups are following up with all of them!!

I already got 4 contacts for women who accepted the Lord Jesus as their Savior whom I will contact personally!! It's so exciting to see lives changed...theirs and ours!

We have a wonderful prayer team that lifts us up...and we would covet your prayers also. If you know of anyone that is in need of food, love, and prayer...and JESUS...please let them know that they can stop by our church on the first Wednesday of every month and Hope for the Hungry will be there...and so will we.

Our prayer is that the BREAD OF LIFE will be glorified in every single moment of this ministry. Won't you join us in that prayer? If you have any other questions feel free to leave a comment...

There's Hope for the Hungry!

Today, our church will host our first There's Hope for the Hungry ministry!! Several months ago, a man in our church asked Jay to go with him to see this amazing ministry at a local church. Jay went and when he came home, he told me that no matter what it took or how much it cost, our family would be a part of bringing this ministry to Noonday and our community. Well, about a week or two later the entire staff went to see There's Hope for the Hungry in action and THEY felt the same way too!

Last Sunday, my husband preached an amazing sermon on Fields of the Fatherless...why we should care about the poor, the fatherless, and the lost. It was hard...but true. Then, we had the pleasure of having Michael Brown who is one of the directors of There's Hope for the Hungry come and speak to us. He showed the following video. It tells all about the ministry here in Georgia...and gives a real view of why they exist in a way much better than I could ever do justice here myself.

Please go to this link and watch the video North American Mission Board did on their ministry:

There's Hope for the Hungry Video

Here is the sermon Jay preached and the testimony by Michael Brown at that service:

Fields of the Fatherless

After our church heard the sermon, watched that video, and heard Michael Brown speak...the Holy Spirit broke loose and people were lining up to partner in any way possible to love those in our community and share the GOSPEL with them.

I have been in church most of my life...and travel to churches all over...and truthfully I have only seen the Spirit move in a handful of times the way He moved in our church that morning. People received Christ as their Savior, rededicated their lives, lined up to volunteer, gave money, prayed at the altar...it was amazingly POWERFUL. I cried and laughed so hard...all at the same time!

What encouraged me the most is that our church was responding to taking the GOSPEL to those who are hurting, hungry, fatherless, poor, widowed, and lost!! That's what opened the door and ushered in the unmistakable move of the Spirit. And...it is continuing!! This Sunday was amazing as well!!

So, today begins our partnership with There's Hope for the Hungry. I can't wait to get up there tomorrow morning and be a part of this! The exciting thing for me? I get to serve the poor and the lost alongside my husband and children...God is just SO good!!! Another amazing part of this ministry is that our church will do the follow up on the people that come. They are in our own community and since they register and we have a record of them...we get the honor of touching them, praying for them, sharing Christ with them, disciplining them, and loving them!!

 I LOVE IT!!

Compassion!!!

I have been wanting to wait until everything was set and finished and for sure before I mentioned this on my blog. But, today my THREE boxes arrived from Compassion filled with all the resources and promotional things I will need...since I am now coming on board officially with Compassion International as one of their speaker advocates!!!

About 2-3 months ago, I was contacted by Shawna who is the Women's Speaker coordinator for Compassion International. She and I had the most amazing heart connection and we knew this was a perfect fit for our ministries. So...from there I began to learn, fill out paperwork, and most importantly pray! It has been a beautiful fit and one that God had already begun to place on my heart at the beginning of this year.

God was placing on my heart the desire to take ministry opportunities WITH me as I travel. I wanted to not only encourage women...but provide avenues for them to overflow into the lives of others. Since I had been with Compassion as a sponsor for over 6 years and sponsor 2 children with them, I am humbled and over the moon excited to take them WITH me!

I will offer Compassion packets alongside my Bible studies and we will work together to provide ways for ladies to not only seek satisfaction for their own souls...but provide that hope to another...to a child! I can't believe God's goodness in this and His amazing way of connecting people.

I didn't even know this kind of thing existed with Compassion (except for singers and artists!) and I know that only God could have made this amazing connection! That thrills my heart and gives such JOY!

So, here's just a little glimpse into my boxes today...I'm like a kid at Christmas...

My groovy shirt that I will wear at events as I share! I love the verse specifically...

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.

 Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." Provers 31:8-9

LOVE IT!! I'll be wearing this all the time for sure...

Can't WAIT to read this book!

My "how too" manual on working as an advocate.

You can tell they work with women speakers...there's amazing DARK chocolate:-)

There was even more...and I can't wait to dig through and look/read it all!!

Please continue to pray for this partnership! PLEASE let me know if you would like more information on sponsoring a child with Compassion. I would love to help you get started, offer you a child packet, share at your upcoming event, and encourage you to make the most awesome investment $38 will ever make.

Let's work together to help children in Jesus' Name...

Thrive sweet friends,
Frances

Women's Ministry Exchange Event

Today, I joined over 100 women in seeking God's direction in loving and serving women. These ladies traveled for hours and hours...staying in hotels together last night...in order to come and journey with us. I was able to be a part of the panel discussion and lead 2 breakout sessions. I loved hearing the challenges and the joys of leading women in this interesting season of women's ministry.

Change is in the air and women are ready to seek after God with all their hearts! They are passionate for women everywhere to seek God's Word...prayer...community...purpose...and mentoring with renewed vision! God is shaking loose the hem of these garments and asking us to return to Him. He wants us to stop looking to others...and look only to Him. Allow Him to meet our every need. Allow Him to satisfy our souls.

His call rings solid in this society of shifting sand...You Follow Me!

Will we look into the eyes of our Savior and say YES?

My prayer today was that each lady who joined the journey today...is turning their sweet faces towards the risen Savior whose WORD is our portion for today...and follow HIM!

Let's thrive today!

Please Pray!

Many have asked about my upcoming 2010-2011 schedule to help pray. Thank you so very much for joining me in praying over these precious opportunities to serve and love ladies this year! What an amazing and joyful journey we are on together...

August 2010

August 28th
Women’s Leadership Exchange
Georgia Baptist Convention
Janet Spear

September 2010

Sept. 10-12th
The Best Part of Wakin' Up
Ladies Retreat
Camp Pinnacle, GA


Sept. 24-25th
Haiti Women's Mission Trip
tentative dates)

October 2010

Oct. 8-9th
Satisfy Our Souls
Ladies' Retreat
Camp Pinnacle, GA

Oct. 16th
Women's Banquet
East Brainerd Baptist
Mary Beth Smith


November 2010

Nov. 5th
Ladies' Mission Event
FBC Duluth
Duluth, GA


Nov. 6th
Holiday Banquet
Mountain Baptist Church
Stone Mountain, GA


Nov. 12-13th
Ladies' Retreat
Carter Retreat Center
Williamson, GA

December 2010

Desert Flower Ministries
Missions Event
Noonday Church
Kennesaw, GA

January 2011

Jan. 17-18th
Ladies' Retreat
Camilla, GA

Jan. 27 – 29th
Georgia Baptist Minister’s Wives Retreat
Toccoa, GA


February 2011

Feb. 17th
Ladies' Mission Banquet
Savannah Association
Savannah, GA

Feb. 18-19th
Ladies' Retreat
Butler FBC

March 2011

March 11-12th
Ladies' Retreat
Ranburn Gap, GA


March 17th
Ladies' Event
Carrolton, GA

April 2011

Apr. 1-3
Ladies' Retreat
Richmond, VA

Apr. 29-May 1
Ladies' Retreat
Voorhesville, NY

May 2011

May 7th
Ladies' Banquet
Ringgold, GA

October 2011

Oct. 19 & 20th
Ladies Night Out
North Metro

30 Days of Prayer!

Please join Christians all over the world as they pray for Musl*ms starting today during the 30 days of Ramad*n! My family signed up for these email prayer requests a few years ago that come to us every day and guide in praying for these precious people. We use it every morning in our family devotion time during these 30 days.

We want them to know the Good News of Jesus Christ while they are turning their hearts and minds towards spiritual things. Here is the link and it will give you lots of great information and a daily prayer guide.

http://www.30-days.net/

Rest...

I was on my way home from a wonderful visit with my family during the annual "Camp Sassy." Each year the girls and I head to Alabama to my parent's farm and we enjoy fun activities, surprises, lots of swimming, the best home grown veggies, amazing cooking from my parents...and wonderful memories. This year was no different and it had the added JOY of being able to horseback ride for two days straight!! I will share some videos and photos tomorrow...but there is something else I want to share now.

I had gotten everything packed up and loaded into the car (thank you Mrs. Judy for loaning us your car while ours is waiting to be fixed!!!!) and headed back home to see our Daddy. The girls were exhausted from all the fun and wanted to watch a movie and just rest for a while. As they got all settled, I decided to take this time to listen to one of my podcasts on my phone. I went to David Platt's "Abide" series on the life of a disciple. I wanted to share this with you...because I was truly challenged and infinately encouraged by this. There is a second message that goes with this one you can subscribe to in itues to get. I pray it blessed you as much as it did me. And...truthfully...I was so convicted in so many areas of my life in which I am still striving to live on my own strength.

I was on my way home from a wonderful visit with my family during the annual "Camp Sassy." Each year the girls and I head to Alabama to my parent's farm and we enjoy fun activities, surprises, lots of swimming, the best home grown veggies, amazing cooking from my parents...and wonderful memories. This year was no different and it had the added JOY of being able to horseback ride for two days straight!! I will share some videos and photos tomorrow...but there is something else I want to share now.

I had gotten everything packed up and loaded into the car (thank you Mrs. Judy for loaning us your car while ours is waiting to be fixed!!!!) and headed back home to see our Daddy. The girls were exhausted from all the fun and wanted to watch a movie and just rest for a while. As they got all settled, I decided to take this time to listen to one of my podcasts on my phone. I went to David Platt's "Abide" series on the life of a disciple. I wanted to share this with you...because I was truly challenged and infinately encouraged by this. There is a second message that goes with this one you can subscribe to in itues to get. I pray it blessed you as much as it did me. And...truthfully...I was so convicted in so many areas of my life in which I am still striving to live on my own strength.

Rivalry...

I read this today on a blog I love...girltalk. I cringed at a couple of these thoughts realizing that I was G.U.I.L.T.Y of thinking some of these ways. Take a moment to read this and let's toss off that yoke of flesh and comparison and embrace the yoke of Jesus! It's easy and light...let's learn from HIM!


“Sometimes I don’t want to serve when it is something I don’t think I’m very good at” the young woman humbly confessed to me. The ugly truth behind her reluctance? Pride. This woman realized that she wants to be “the best” at whatever she puts her hand to, and if she can’t be the best, well, then she’d rather not even try.

Oh, how I can relate! I wrestle with the same temptation. But I’m grateful for my husband who has modeled humility in service for me. Whatever endeavor he undertakes, he acknowledges (to himself and others): “I know there are many people who can do this better than me.” Then he seeks to faithfully serve in whatever ways God has called him to, regardless of how gifted he feels to do it. His goal is to obey God and bless others.

Using our gifts requires humility. For as I’ve often reminded my girls (and myself!): “There’s always going to be someone better than you at what you do.” There’s always going to be the smarter kid in the class, the more outgoing friend, the more talented co-worker, the more organized homemaker, the more capable homeschool teacher, the more energetic servant, the more gifted than you at whatever you do. And you know what? These people have been strategically placed in our lives to expose our pride and help us serve with humility.

How much easier it would be to stick to arenas where we think we shine. But we should do our best even when we may not be the best. We should be willing to risk making mistakes, to allow others to see where we lack gifting and need help.

And when we humbly serve--even when we’re not the best--we’ll be pleasantly surprised at how God can use our meager gifts to encourage others and bring glory to Him!

“Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3

Hello Again :-)

Well, things have been pretty busy around here lately! I have been traveling and speaking recently at a few locations, we have been doing some paperwork, updating physicals and records, dance camp for both girls, community makeover with our church, getting together with homeschool friends, VBS  having playdates with friends and having some fun together during the last days of summer before school starts...whew!

We went tubing yesterday with some new foster friends with our agency as we chaperoned one of the 10 trips they offer to their families and had a marvelous time!!! The parents don't come on these trips...because it is a full day off for them! We wanted to help chaperone and get to know some of the kids and workers better.

Oh, those cuties were just precious and the weather was so nice! We had a blast going down the river in Helen and enjoying some fun on the waterslides as well. We hadn't done the waterslides before and it was so cute to see the kids flying down them having a great time. Even us adults took a few turns ourselves and the weather was even cooler than we expected which made the float trip very relaxing!

Our whole family went on the trip (I just LOVE my husband for taking his time off work to serve and love on kids!) and we got to load up some new friends to ride with us to Helen. We watched movies and got to know them better on the way there and back. It was neat to have a full car of precious kiddos and listen to all the laughs at the movies they watched and conversations going on! Made my heart smile:)

I can't post any photos...for security reasons...but they all were so fun and precious. Our girls made quick friendships and Anli was the always amazing helper to the little ones...especially little P-man...the youngest on the trip. She is growing up in front of our eyes into a wonderful and nurturing girl whose heart always cares and loves on others.

Virginia made a friend who is her age and they spent the afternoon floating down the river with their tubes strapped together. Poor G-man (one of the workers) brought up the rear of the group and that included those two girls. They were so busy collecting rocks, giggling, and "falling" out of their tubes. She and her friend were having a great time! Virginia is such an easy friend and goes with the flow...all the while having a great time and making us laugh. What blessings they are to us and others along the way...who are in need of love, nurturing, laughs, and friendship. Thankfully, God has filled them to overflowing and they know that those gifts are to be used to encourage others and reach out with the love of Christ to everyone they meet!

What an honor to see them serving and loving those who need it so badly...and having a BLAST doing it.

Our lives have been quite full the past few weeks with lots of prayer, changes, amazing opportunities in partnerships with DFM, potential overseass ministry trips, sharing with women's groups and teen camps, and plain old fun as a family. I just haven't had the time or felt the Spirit's leading to blog for a little while. I'm trying to just hang on to Him as our lives are constantly being refined and molded to His plans and His ways.

I'll share more along the way...but for now I just wanted to say hello again my friends! Have a great weekend and be sure to pour your life out into those who are all around you desperately needing the love of Christ to shine. Don't just keep it all to yourself...like Abraham...we are so very blessed to BE A BLESSING!!!

Who are you blessing today?

Community Makeover!

Today and tomorrow our family along with about 18,000 other Christians will be serving our community in what is called the community makeover! Our church has been partnered with a local elementary school and we will be busy painting, planting, cleaning, and helping teachers in their rooms. We pray this will forge a relationship to last beyond the makeover! We pray te Lord brings us into contact with teachers and administrators we can work with throughout the year to reach them and the students with the love of Christ!

Pray for all of us as we love and serve this weekend! We are all SO excited and get to attend a HUGE celebration service on Sunday night with over 18,000 others and hear stories of God's greatness in our community!

Please Pray

Please pray for me as I am headed to speak at a girls' teen camp! I can't wait to spend a few
days encouraging then in the Word!! I won't be posting until the weekend:) Thrive this week...

Free To Give - Great is HIS Faithfulness: Part 2

I want to pick back up on the Free To Give series...focusing on how Great is His Faithfulness! If you are just here for the first time you can see part one of the story here. Here's the rest of the story...

So, after a heart change from the Spirit and practical advice from Dave Ramsey...we began to wet our feet in living completely debt free. It has been a journey. Trial and MANY errors! But, through it all...we did NOT use credit. God always provided just enough...and most of the time MORE than enough.

But, an experience rocked my world in February 2010. God brought a woman in great need to my life and her family brushed mine for a few mere hours and God did a work in my heart and our family through God's provision to her. You don't need to know the specifics...but it grew my faith and my trust in the Provider and Lover of my soul in such a powerful way. He performed a financial miracle in our lives that reminded me that God does not need our money (sacrifice) but a pure and contrite heart that gives cheerfully in faith!

At that point, Jay and I began to pray like crazy over every single financial issue in our lives...knowing that God desires to bless us SO THAT we can be a blessing to those around us. Not to hoard it. Not to love on it. Not to waste it. Not to become distracted by it. To be a blessing. Remember Abraham? He was blessed SO THAT others would be blessed through him.

In March, Virginia needed braces. Did we have $3,000 to pay cash for braces? Um...NO. What did we do? PRAYED! Yep, we told the girls about our need, we knelt each night together beside the bed and prayed SO hard for God to do a miracle. We did not tell anyone of our need or amount. We know too many people who would give to us out of compulsion. We knew God would supply...just as He did for the men and women of the Bible and in Christian History (We love us some George Mueller, Amy Carmichael, etc.).

God totally provided! On the very first appointment we were blessed by God to be able to write a check for the exact amount! He provided a timely large check for a large portion of it (praise God!) and we had the rest in our small savings account. Our whole family rejoiced in the answered prayer that God provided for Virginia's braces. Every night we had prayed over the need and waited on God to provide!!

Then, about 2 months later in June, both of our cars had check engine lights on. In Georgia, you have to pass emissions by the time you get your renewal for tags. So, we had to take our cars to the mechanic to be fixed. To make a long story shorter...the total cost for that ONE month was $1500. Did we have $1500 in some kind of savings account? Did we have that in our checking account? NO WAY!

We got together as a family and prayed so very hard. But, God did a few things differently this time. First, He had already been moving our hearts to live to be free to GIVE. So, at the beginning of the month we had already begun to cut, cut, cut, cut. Everything was under examination and prayer. And not only did God change our budget, He changed our American mindset. This is how it happened...

Jay's birthday was June 27th. We had to get both cars in shape to pass emissions. The first set of repairs on my car was $600. We prayed and prayed...and when Jay looked at our account we had enough to cover that amount. Then, the light was still on. Back to the mechanic. The estimate...$600 more dollars. Hmmm...what is God up to?

Jay listened to what they said about the car and what needed to be fixed. The mechanics even offered to let us pay a little now and the rest when we got it (how amazing is THAT?) since we ALWAYS pay in cash. We thanked them for their kind offer, but felt in our spirits that God would provide...if we waited on Him. Jay got the car back (without repairs) and we waited. God had not provided a way yet. What would we do? How could we get it fixed? No one even knows our need....not family, not friends, not our church. Only God.

Then, God reminded us that there was another way...should He ask it of us. What if we didn't drive that car? What if we lived like most of the world and WALKED to work...which is church too(only 3 miles), grocery story (less than a mile), etc.? What if we just used Jay's car (which doesn't have air...but most of the world doesn't even know what air conditioning would be like!) and left that one in parked until God provided the cash? Would we trust Him even then? Would we wait on His timing? Hmmm.

So, we prayed and waited and cut more of our "wants" out of the budget. A few more days went by and Jay sat at the computer looking over the month and God worked the money in the account to not only be able to pay the $600 for my car, but the $300 more for his car to pass (tomorrow's story!).

This time was different from the braces when a large portion was given to us. That is a miracle! I love it when God moves His people to GIVE and bless others! It's so fun and so wonderful.

But, this last one was more intimate. It was just between us and God. No one knew our need. No check came in the mail. No extra money mysteriously floated our way. It was by His hand alone that this miracle happened in our account.

It wasn't anything we did. It wasn't anything another did. It was only God. He wanted to see how much we would trust His faithfulness to provide EVERYTHING for us. And then, in doing that He changed our hearts to see that if He doesn't provide for that then we will do without it...until He does provide.

It might be hard (walking 3 miles to work in July!). It might be uncomfortable. It might be scary. It might be lonely. It might cost a great deal. But...giving up a few creature comforts in this world for treasures in Heaven...there's no comparison. None.

God didn't ask us to walk to work...this time. He didn't ask us to go without at all. He did ask us to wait, pray, and have FAITH. The American dream says do it NOW, your way, and on your own. And sadly for far too many years that was how I saw finances. Just do what you gotta do. That's why we have credit cards...and loans...and mortgages...right?

If we are going to FREE to GIVE, then we gotta stop giving all our money to the bank for interest. We gotta free up the income God graciously provides, those who have jobs, to provide for our needs and then become a blessing. We are merely a steward of God's resources...not the owner. (That's Dave Ramsey talking there!)

This may be a harder call for many of us than making our own laundry detergent and household cleaners. This was one of the hardest and most humbling journeys of my life (outside of parenting!). And yet...it has been the most JOYOUS!! It has changed my heart about prayer, the power of the Spirit to work in our lives, and the faith I have in God. It's been nothing short of amazing!

I share this with you to encourage you. I was asked to share with my church and I told them these stories. I want to shout the faithfulness of God all day long in our lives! These past few months have changed me. They have grown my faith in God. They have brought our family into a fresh power of the Holy Spirit through prayer and utter dependence on God alone for our needs. They have refined us and convicted us...and help us shed the trappings of this world a little more.

We have not arrived in all of this. I was never so happy to see the July 1st payday! But, God provided...

All.

By.

Himself.

I love you Jesus!!

Great is HIS faithfulness - Part 1

I want to share a few stories with you that have literally brought us to such a fresh and powerful place of total dependence on our Lord. I am only now able to share one of these as God has once again opened the doors of heaven and provided for us.

We have been amazingly blessed that God sold our house 3 years ago in two days, for cash, at the price we wanted. AMAZING in a market that was beginning to crumble! At that time, God granted us the privilege of being debt free. We sold our home, paid off our minivan, all medical and credit card bills...and moved into an apartment. We thought we were headed to live in Africa at the time...but God had other plans. He moved in our hearts the desire to live completely debt free...forever.

This my friends, was a new and unfamiliar idea. See, in my flesh, I deal with impulsivity. I am spontaneous, energetic, passionate...and want to tackle the day all at one time! I want to do it now! That is great when it comes to follow the plans God has for your life. Not so great when tackling that day brings Vera Bradley purses...that need a matching wallet, keyring, luggage, folder, and stationary. You think I kid :)

In my flesh I see something...and I RUN hard after it...TODAY...no time to waste...go for it! Like when my husband went out of town on a mission trip to Mexico. I took those 10 days to paint the ENTIRE OUTSIDE of my house and the garage!!! I'm talking scraping, power washing, cleaning gutters, sanding, painting shutters, trim, and the WHOLE house a completely different color. BY. MY. SELF.  In JUNE!

Ask my friend Shannon...she was there as I teetered near disaster on a ladder painting. I looked so horrible that one of my neighbors didn't even recognize me in my husband's clothes with a baseball cap on...painting my HOUSE! That is the kind of woman my husband got yoked up with:) You should have seen him pulling into the driveway...priceless!

But, this impulsivity can be quite a challenge for my very level headed, business major from Auburn husband. Can I give you a for instance? Want to walk down memory lane with me a bit? Good...

Jay and I are just married (13 years ago last Monday!!!! Love, love love him!!!) and for some CRAZY reason my wonderful husband (who was going to be a CPA before he was called into the ministry!) decided to let ME be in charge of the budget. Ahem...I know.

Well, for a while I tried desperately to manage our checkbook, keep up with pesky debit card receipts, and try to pay bills. Months into this disasterous wonderful arrangement we had, we get a very thin little envelope from the bank. In it was a kind little letter saying that we were in overdraft and that they had ever so kindly decided to charge my account that didn't have any money in it...MORE money. Yeah...I never really understood that logic either. But anywoo...

My husband promptly calls the bank and finds out that we are over $200 in overdraft!! Now, when you are in seminary, newly married, and making a combined income of $16,000 a year $200 is a LOT of money!!! Actually, it's a lot of money no matter who you are!

So, he comes to me and asks me to sit down and let him look over my checkbook register. Oh, I don't even want to tell you this story...but I must. You won't get how amazing my God is...unless you see the amazing weakness of this vessel.

I take out my checkbook register and hand it to him. He opens it and is silent for a little while with a puzzled look on his face. He turns to me and he says, "why are all your debits in whole dollar amounts?"

"Well, I just round the transaction. See, if the amount of the purchase was $5.20, I just put $5.00. But, if the purchase is $7.80 I would round up to $8.00," I explained innocently.

"WHAT!!!!!!"

Yeah...that WHAT could have been heard clear to Africa. He was in total shock...and not all together happy at that moment. Then he demanded to see the statements the bank had been sending. (Uggg...I am cringing at myself!) I handed him a folder stuffed with UNOPENED envelopes that I supposed must have been statements...though I wouldn't know because I NEVER opened them:)

From that moment...my husband went up to the bank and paid the $200 and then closed our account. We had to move banks. There was no recovery from something like that. And then...he took over the money. But, I still didn't have any heart change. I just figured I wasn't any good with money. I entered into the blissful land of ignorance of all things money and went along my merry way.

Now, we have never had money. We have almost always lived on one income (except when I worked and he went to school before I had Anli). So, I never spent big...just impulsively. That wrecks havoc on a budget, my friend! So, each month we were a bit off here, a lot off there...use the credit card for medical bills, car repairs, and co-pays. If we didn't have it...I just charged it. They were all what I thought were "necessities." And never once did I consult my Provider in prayer. I just did it.

Years and years go by and we grow further and further into debt. Nothing like the statistics Dave Ramsey quotes, but too much! It was sucking our income and we were in bondage to the lender...like Scripture warns. We couldn't give more...because the credit card interest and bills were wasting away what God had given us. It was a trap...and I felt more and more convicted.

THEN, I read an amazingly convicting book by Wayne Coleman called "Obedience: The Key to Prosperity." It ROCKED my world! I would sit reading it (I was helping Wayne find a publisher at the time) and literally just cry. I would read portions of it to Jay and literally want to sink into the grave. I was undone.

He used Scripture to convict my heart of lack of prayer, lack of trust in God, and selfishness. It was a huge turning point in my life. Then...Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace entered the picture and gave common sense ideas to living debt free forever. From that time on...our lives have been different.

Credit cards were NEVER allowed into our lives again. "What do you do?" you might ask. How do you deal with car repairs? Medical issues? Unexpected expenses? I can now truly tell you how!

Pray.

I mean for real, desperate, on your face with your kids kind of prayer. That has unleashed the POWER of the Holy Spirit in such way that we have been changed forever. We can't go back. We have tasted and seen how God provides and moves mountains and does miracles...that we just can't ever go back to the bondage of the world. It's exciting!!!

So, now you are caught up. You know my weakness in order to glory in the strength of Christ through this. I am going to share a few amazing stories with you over the next few days. But, you had to start here with me in order to see that if God can change this girl...He can do it for you! His Word promises it!

But, be aware! It is NOT easy. It is NOT popular. Satan wants you to run hard after the American dream! He wants you in bondage! And he does NOT want you to trust God and pray...no way! But, it is possible to live debt free...forever!

I can't wait to share these stories of HIS faithfulness!

Red Tent Project Update!

I am so excited!! Today, my sweet friends Julia and Elizabeth from church brought a huge bag filled with the envelopes and inserts for the precious girls in Ethiopia! I couldn't believe how beautiful they were and I loved the fabric!! I had only found solid colors...so I was thrilled they had used some fun colorful fabric.These are just a few of them!!

If you missed what the Red Tent Project is...here is a reminder from my family blog.

We will be shipping off the shipment to the coordinator this week and they will then be on their way to the girls in Ethiopia who are in the older girls transitional home. I know there are many of you who contacted me about helping with this project...and I think it will be an ongoing need. I can give you the information of my contact if you are still interested in a fun and AMAZING summer project! It's such a blessing to be a blessing...

Thriving 365,

Frances

My First Giveaway!

I am so excited to have my very first giveaway! Recently I posted about Watoto and the ministry they have in Uganda. I ordered a shirt for Jay as a Father's Day gift to not only get a really cool shirt for him (and I got one too!) but to financially support Watoto.

So, when I got my order (2 days later I might add...they are so awesome at this ministry!) there was an extra shirt in the box. Then, I found a precious note from Megan who had been to my DFM website and found the post I wrote on Watoto. She graciously sent me an extra shirt and I want to share it with you (since I have already been sporting my Watoto shirt that I ordered!).

Here's the deal...I want to do a giveaway for this awesome shirt and get the word out about Watoto and their heart for loving orphans and widows in Uganda! Here's what you can do to win this shirt:

*Go to Watoto's website and then come back here and share what ministry touched your heart the most in the comment box.

*Link this giveaway to your blog and then let me know in the comment you make too.

Then, you can be entered twice:) This is super cool since this Justice shirt is NOT on their website to be ordered! So, if you are touched by this ministry to orphans and widows in Uganda and want to show that this summer...enter this contest and I'll send it out to you!

The giveaway will be closing Tuesday, June 29th. I'll announce the winner and get your email so that I can send it to you next week! Here's a look at the shirt...it is a ladies' large.

Front:

Back:

Enjoy!!!

Compassion...

Last week, Shannon and I had a WONDERFUL time working the Compassion booth at the first night of Atlantafest at Stone Mountain. We rode together and enjoyed some time to just catch up together. God had given me an idea to really connect people with sponsor children by wearing our kids photos clipped to our shirts so that people could see our kiddos! It was really neat that we both got to tell our stories with others and encourage them to take a step of faith and show Jesus' love to a child in need.

Since we were the first volunteers of the event...it was just the two of us...and we had NO idea what we were doing:) But, our friend James showed up and we were in charge of getting everything ready. We got to go through all the packets for the kids and arrange them...fall in love with all of them...and set the whole booth up for the rest of the week. We talked to lots of people and even had the privilege to see two of the priority kids find a sponsor.

OK...cool God story! As we were organizing all the kids by their countries, then alphabetizing all the countries, and then making sure that every country was represented on the table...we got a first hand peek at ALL the kids. James told us to make sure that the "priority kids" had a special spot. Neither of us had any idea what a priority kid would be. He told us that they are kids who have been waiting longer than 6 months and some of them over a YEAR for a sponsor!!

Many of them were older kids and many with HIV. Our hearts were just breaking for these kids. And Shannon found a cute little priority fella that she wanted to sponsor and he had been waiting the longest for a sponsor. She couldn't get in touch with her husband in time...so she put him back out on the table. THEN...a couple who had been coming by a few times decided to sponsor him!! God had put that little one on Shannon's heart for a reason!! It was SO cool.

Then, the rains came and we had to shut down the booth (it was almost at the end of the concert anyway!) and headed home. It was an incredible night! I am so thankful I got to share it with my friend Shannon...we laughed (at ourselves!) and had the best time talking to people, sharing our sponsorship stories, and just serving those who need it the most.

If you haven't sponsored a child with Compassion, won't you go to the icon above and check it out? And if you would...could you pray about taking a priority child? You can ask specifically for them. PLEASE pray and see how God might connect your family with another. It's awesome and we are SO blessed by our two kiddos! Go ahead and check it out...

Ultimate Adventure Camp!

This week we are having out annual Ultimate Adventure Creative Arts camp and having a BLAST!! This camp is really the start of our summer musical that we do each year. We are there from 9am - 2pm each day and we do all sorts of creative things together.

We have a wonderful art teacher who does all the crafts...which are all props and set design. So, the kids learn all about what it takes to create a great set...and they even get to do the promotional materials for around the church. It's just so awesome to involved them in every single part.

We rotate to different areas doing solo practices, drama practices, props and set design, and dancing. They eat sack lunches with us and then we go to Bible study which is my part! This year our musical is about suffering for the sake of Jesus...or what we THINK is suffering. It talks about real people of the Bible that truly suffered for their faith and how God encouraged them and was always there for them through all of it.

So, this year our Bible Study time is on the persecuted church. We are taking material from Kids of Courage which is a division of Voice of the Martyrs. The first day we did an awesome underground Chinese church service. The kids broke up into three groups and then they had to follow cryptic codes to find their Good Book and copy verses from it to bring to the meeting in case we were raided by the secret police (Mr. Jay!). Then they had to get their next clue to find out where their flashlight would be and then crawl and sneak their way through the recesses of our church to a small room none of them had ever been to before. It was completely dark and we sang together...worshiping God. We talked about and prayed for the persecuted church of China...and even learned part of the song Jesus loves me in Mandarin. It was AWESOME!!!

One of the parent told Jay today that at the table last night they were praying and their daughter prayed for almost 5 minutes for her brothers and sisters in China...TEARS!! God is just so amazingly good!! Being with children totally shows me God and a true heart of faith. Love it!!

Today, we traveled to Tanzania Africa to a small city called Kigamboni (which is one of my favorite places!)where we would experience church African style! Now, Jay and I both have been to Africa...and I have been twice and worshiped in African churches. So...I was a bit partial to this day myself:)

The kids had to work together to walk 10 miles (OK it was just around the parking lot!), ride the ferry (smooshed together like real Africans) and then find me under a huge tree where we sat on the ground in the almost 100 degree heat and praised God together. Every child brought something to our service. Some girls had babies strapped to their backs, others had baskets of cups and snacks for when they arrived, some boys carried the Bibles, and other strong boys carried the water for us to have when they arrived.

On the ferry to Kigamboni...they had to ride for a while all together!

We sand and the kids even got up to dance with me at the end! I am so in love with Africa...

The kids did great...and they learned that most of the world does not worship with air conditioning, lights, sound systems, projectors, childcare, cushioned seats, several services with any type of music you want, or yummy coffee brewed fresh as you enter. It was great for the kids to feel the heat, sweat, deal with the bugs, and sing together and worship God. We ended praying for our brothers and sisters in Africa and how many of them are suffering because they love Jesus.

Tomorrow we travel to North Korea and find creative ways to share the Gospel in one of the most closed countries in the world. I just can't wait! We are also doing a mission project through Voice of the Martyrs to send an action pack full of simple clothes and needs to be send to Christians in the Middle East.

What a great week! What a huge blessing to learn about Jesus with these cuties! And...since my hubby is the children's pastor...we all get to spend the week together! Thank you sweet Jesus for your amazing blessings! We love you so very much!

Atlantafest and Compassion International Event!

Tonight begins the annual Christian Concert series of Atlantafest at Stone Mountain. The exciting thing I want to share with you is that Compassion International will have a booth there tonight through Saturday and we would love for you to stop by! My friend Shannon and I are working at the Compassion booth and we would love to see you...SPONSOR A CHILD:)

So, if you are going to be at Atlantafest please make sure that you stop by and allow the Spirit to lead you to a precious addition to your family! Trust me and the 1 million other families who sponsor children through Compassion International at this time...it is AMAZING!!!

Click on the icon above if you have any Compassion questions, can't come to the concerts but want to search for a child, or are ready to sponsor someone TODAY! It is just one way that we can produce lasting fruit my friends...see you there!

Free to Give - Thoughts on John 15

Today, my gathering time with the Lord revolved around John 15. Many of you know this passage as it is about Jesus being the True Vine and we are the branches...and it we abide in Him we will bear much fruit. Without Him...we can do NOTHING! As I have moved further and further along in this chapter, I came today to another part of this passage. In verse 12 Jesus says:

"This is my commandment: Love each other in the SAME way I have loved you."

The same way Jesus did it. How did He do it? Well, Jesus tells them in the next sentences what this love will look like:

"There is no greater love than to lay down you life for your friends."

Who are my friends? Glad you asked:) Jesus goes on to answer that for us:

"You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn't confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit."

Why did He do all of that? Why did He lay down His life for those who believe? Why should be do the same?


Jesus came to us when we were still overwhelmed with sin in our lives and laid His life down for us...those who will believe. He has told us everything that God the Father has said, chose us, and appointed us to GO and produce LASTING fruit.

Those who truly remain and abide in the love of God will follow His commands and the example of His love. But those who really abide in Him...will hear everything the Father has said. They will seek deeply after His Word and listen closely to all He has to say. They will run to the Word knowing that God Himself is confiding in them as friends. The Spirit who searches the deep things of God reveals them to us...so we have the mind of Christ! Can I get a Hallelujah?????

But, there is another part. We are appointed to a task. We are given a job...chosen for us by God. We have an assignment...

Go.

And produce LASTING fruit.

Don't miss the parallel. Don't miss tension we face here...

In order to ABIDE... we must GO. In order to REMAIN...we must go out.

This morning as I was walking and praying around our complex with my dog...I just confessed how I don't truly live with the urgency that 4.5 million people are walking on this earth and are completely lost. They have NO idea what the love and the glory and the salvation of Jesus Christ are like. They haven't met the friend that has laid his life down for them. They don't know what it is like to be called friend instead of slave. They can't imagine producing anything other than a nice paycheck to pay for a nice house and have a nice life. They are producing nothing.

And yet I meet those folks at the stores, on the street, in my complex...and many times I am way too busy remaining and abiding (or so I think!) and I haven't even stopped to GO and produce lasting fruit. Fruit that will be in eternity with me. I glide by humming my praise songs...

We are APPOINTED to GO and produce lasting fruit!!!

I am appointed to GO and produce lasting fruit!!!

We have been chosen as friends of GOD! He has a plan and purpose for our lives...and that means we GO. It means we run to spend time with the Lord every single day in order to hear the things He will confide in us as friends. And then with the humility of being a chosen friend of God...we GO...and full of the Holy Spirit we have the power to produce His lasting fruit.

Oh, Jesus may it be true in my life. Continue to fan the flame of passion for the lost in my heart! Please keep giving me creative ways to reach those around me with the kind of love You gave to me. May I have the courage to lay down my very life for the sake of the Gospel today! I pray for my Afghan brothers and sisters who are literally right now fleeing for their very lives. I pray for them to know the deep love and strength in their weakness. May Your glory shine so brightly in their lives!! My my heart be always mindful of my brothers and sisters in the persecuted church. And may I lay down everything I have to join them!

Free To Give - a few thoughts...

Hi all! I hope that the Lord is inspiring you with your own creative ways to save so that you are free to GIVE! Last night my husband and I had the wonderful opportunity to watch the Southern Baptist Convention Pastor's Conference online while it was going on! Our whole family gathered around the computer to watch the Watoto children's choir sing and share about Jesus...it was just pure joy for us! Those precious sweeties were from Uganda and they travel the whole world singing about Jesus...and their JOY is amazing.

What is even more amazing is that these children are orphans and have seen more struggles and horrific things than you and I can imagine. Some of them were child soldiers in Northern Uganda and had their entire families killed because they were not "good soldiers" due to the fact they were scared to kill someone. These children are many times the ages of my two girls.

To see these precious children dance and sing and quote scripture with amazing JOY was ringing in my heart today as I ready John 15 for my gathering time with the Lord. Listen to this:

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."

Isn't that amazing to know that as the Father loved Jesus...He loves us??? Just like the Father loves His only begotten Son...Jesus loves us? Amazing. As we remain in that love by daily seeking His Word and following everything it says...then His JOY is in us and our JOY may be complete...not lacking anything!

Last night as we explained to our girls what those children had been through and seen in their short lives...we were all reminded that it is Jesus' LOVE and JOY that makes us complete. Even if we lack parents...Jesus' LOVE and JOY can make us complete. Even when we have been abandoned...Jesus' LOVE and JOY make us complete. When we are dealing with a chronic or fatal illness...Jesus' LOVE and JOY makes us complete. When our bellies are hungry and we do not have any clothes to wear...Jesus' LOVE and JOY makes us complete.

And in that LOVE...we are to abide in Him and follow His commands. We don't just keep all that LOVE and JOY to ourselves reveling in the fact we have been made complete. NO! We are commanded to GO!

Acts 1:8 tells us that those of us who have received the Holy Spirit will receive POWER and we WILL BE WITNESSES to Jerusalem, throughout all Judea and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth. We can't abide in the love of the Father and NOT follow Him to the nations. To the least. To the lost. To the homeless. To the prisoner. To the hungry. To the orphans. To the widows. To the WORLD!

I don't want to be content with a nice life...with a nice family...with a nice church...with a nice ministry to really nice women. Oh Father, strip me and my family of "nice" and propel us towards following Your global heart and your command to love all people and share the GOOD NEWS with each one we meet. May we stop putting a "Christian spin on the American dream" and abide in You. Denying self...taking us a cross...and following you.

In this alone will our JOY be made complete. Just like the Watoto children...who can now say Mamba Sawa...Life is good!!!

For more information on Watoto ministry please visit this site:

Watoto

And then...if you are bold and unafraid...I challenged you to take a look at the Living Hope Project to women. This will open our eyes to the reality of the world. What is going on around us while we are shopping for another $70 purse at Kohls...spending billions on ourselves...and living like our 5% of the world is reality.

It.

Is.

Not.

I will be sharing more ideas that free us up to give later today...my heart is just complete with the JOY of Christ in the midst of ashes. Thank you Jesus for allowing us to be walking examples of...

LIVING HOPE.

Thank you for taking this hard yet joyful journey with me.

How will YOU abide in His love and follow His commands today?

Don't you want to know joy complete?

I do!

Free to Give

Over the next several days I wanted to share some wonderful tips about saving money. It seems that many women I talk to are eagerly looking for good deals and ways to save money. But why? Why do we want to save money? Why do you want to save money?

Is it to simply pay your bills due to a job loss? Is it save for an upcoming vacation? Is it to get your "emergency fund"? Is it to save more on the things that aren't any fun...to spend more on those things that are really fun? Is it to be more "green" and more aware of your environmental "footprint"? Why do you want to save money?

I asked a friend of mine named Alysia to share her thoughts on saving money. I have dabbled in some of her ideas...even before I knew her. I wanted to be more organic, have less chemicals in my home, etc. But, for some reason, though I was extremely excited about these wonderful ideas...they didn't really IGNITE my passion enough to really get behind them. The Spirit was priming my pump...but it wasn't until spending some time with my sweet sister Alysia that the Spirit began to work and encouraged me to save in order to be free to GIVE! Oh yeah!

The few dollars we are able to save on spending just a few minutes (and I really do mean a few minutes) each month to make a few items that cost the most on our grocery and Wal-Mart list...add up to more and more abilities to be a blessing to someone across the street or across the world. THAT is something worth getting IGNITED about:) And that is exactly what has happened. The Spirit has inspired my friend Alysia who has given feet to much of my desire and that has left me SO encouraged and challenged and convicted! It has challenged me to be more Spirit led in the way I view my purchases and the things I THINK I need;)

One of the most wonderful things that she has said to me...is that their family desires to live and eat like the rest of the 90% of the world. They eat snacks like popcorn and granola and fruit like children around the world might eat (if they eat at all!). They seek to position themselves ready to be called to overseas mission life at any time and ready their children for the same. They are living simply...so that others can simply live. Oh, what a glorious life!

So, for the past few weeks and months I have been secretly testing out all her ideas (she gave a talk to a women's group where she compiled what the Lord has given to her and shared them in 14 pages!! It's awesome!!). I wanted to see how long these ideas would take, how much they really cost, how they worked, and to see which ones would work for our family.

Oh, boy they are GREAT! It's been so fun to involve the whole family in whipping up great snacks, cooking simply meals, sitting down to eat a simply meal that might be eaten by children who are hungry and truly have it fill our tummies and be yummy and be SO thankful! Jay and I have had so much fun trying things out after the girls are asleep...and then involving them when we figure out what we did wrong:) Summer is a GREAT time to try some of these fun ideas as projects with your kids...and then if you like them...then when school starts and life gets busier and more demanding you are ready to go!

That is what I am taking this summer to do...pray, seek the Lord, follow the Spirit, read the Word and see how God will make our lives full of RADICAL love and radical changes that are more in line with Him. Then when fall hits and homeschool starts and I am traveling to speak twice a month...I already have habits in place and they are refined to go quickly and more smoothly.

And now after a few weeks in the test kitchen...I'm SUPER excited to share her ideas with you and give my hearty AMEN to them. The changes and savings may seem small, but every single dollar, if moved to be given by the Holy Spirit out of passionate LOVE for God and others will be SO blessed! You can't imagine how awesome stripping away some of trappings of this world will be for your Spirit...we weren't made to live in bondage to stuff and convenience and more stuff and more convenience. We were made to deny ourselves, take up a cross, and follow HIM!

I pray that these ideas will simply take to prayer. Seek the Spirit and the wisdom He brings to your life. Don't do ANY of these out of guilt or compulsion. Read what 1Corinthians 13: 1-3 tells us:

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,but have not love, I gain nothing. "

That's right...NOTHING. Oh Jesus, I do not want to get to the end of this life and stand before you with just a lot of causes, good deeds, and volunteer hours! May every single breath that I breathe be to your glory and for you fame both here and among the nations. Lord give me a passionate love for you and others that OVERFLOWS out onto others. Taking up a cause is about us trying to "save the world", solve world hunger, and fight the battles like a white knight coming in to save the day. Only Jesus saves! It is only by abiding in HIM alone can we do anything...for without HIM we can do NOTHING.

I pray that these next posts will be an encouragement to get deep into the Word and deep into pray and see if there are any ways the Lord would have you and your family to be free to GIVE...and truly LIVE!

Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled...

On Monday, we dropped off our oldest at a missions camp for the WEEK! I can hardly believe it...but it's true. She knew from attending a mini-camp last year that a week would be even better! She loved it...and we loved it!

You gotta love when you walk into the cabin (OK...these cabins are NOT like when I went to camp! They are beautiful, air-conditioned, and have a huge attatched bathroom with lots of showers, bathrooms, and sinks. They are awesome!) and they had the countries of North Africa and the Middle East on them to learn about and pray over. The entire focus of this camp is missions...training and encouraging and living out missions with young girls...to us...it just doesn't get any better than that!!! Not to mention...I know the director of the camp:)

Even with all of those wonderful things, I have to say there have been nights leading up to driving her up there that I was struck with fear. What if she doesn't apply her sunscreen right and she gets burned? What if she doesn't put on bug spray and she gets eaten alive? What if she doesn't find a special sweet friend? What if she gets homesick? What if...

If you are a mom...you get the idea:) So, one night a few days before she left I was dealing with my insomnia and my mind was reeling with what ifs. I grabbed my sweet sleeping husband's hand and informed him that we were praying OUT LOUD for our girl. I just had to speak my prayers for her out loud and hear myself giving it all over to the Lord.

Peace that passes all understanding overcame me. It was with me as I drove her 2 hours to camp. As I stood in line with TONS of other girls and moms to check her in. As we unpacked and got her settled in. As we hugged goodbye...and all the way home! What a great God we serve!

But, she is NEVER out of my thoughts. I have had to constantly reject the what ifs. I have to contstantly give her over to her Father and know that whatever happens He loves her more than I could ever imagine. Then, this morning I read in John 14:26-27:

"But, the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. PEACE I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Let the SPIRIT remind you and I day and night of His many promises and His love for us. And the peace that He gives to us in our circumstances and in our situations...is not like the world gives. Praise God! It lasts and lasts and lasts!

After I read this passage and again gave my sweet girl over the Lord and let the Spirit remind me of a few things...I read this from a blog friend:


Yemeni child bride, 12, dies in labour

A 12-year-old Yemeni child-bride died after struggling for three days in labour to give birth, a local human rights organization said. Fawziya Abdullah Youssef died of severe bleeding on Friday, 11.Sept.2009 while giving birth to a stillborn in the al-Zahra district hospital of Hodeida province, 140 miles west of the capital San’a.
Child marriages are widespread in Yemen, the Arab world’s poorest country, where tribal customs dominate society. More than a quarter of the country’s females marry before age 15, according to a recent report by the Social Affairs Ministry.
Youssef was only 11 when her father married her to a 24-year-old man who works as a farmer in Saudi Arabia.


Al-Quraishi, whose group promotes child rights in Yemen, said that he stumbled upon Youssef in the hospital while investigating cases of children who had fled from the fighting in the north.
“This is one of many cases that exist in Yemen,” said al-Quraishi. “The reason behind it is the lack of education and awareness, forcing many girls into marriage in this very early age.”
Impoverished parents in Yemen sometimes give away their young daughters in return for hefty dowries. There is also a long-standing tribal custom in which infant daughters and sons are promised to cousins in hopes it will protect them from illicit relationships, he said.
Al-Quraishi said there are no statistics to show how many marriages involving children are performed every year.

The issue of child brides vaulted into the headlines here two years ago when an 8-year-old Yemeni girl, Nujood Ali went by herself to a courtroom and demanded a judge dissolve her marriage to a man in his 30s. She eventually won a divorce, and legislators began looking at ways to curb the practice.

In February, parliament passed a law setting the minimum marriage age at 17. But some lawmakers are trying to kill the measure, calling it un-Islamic. Before it could be ratified by Yemen’s president, they forced it to be sent back to parliament’s constitutional committee for review.

Such marriages also occur in neighbouring oil-rich Saudi Arabia, where several cases of child brides have been reported in the past year, though the phenomenon is not believed to be nearly as widespread as in Yemen.
Throughout the developing world, millions of girls are married off to virtual strangers while they are still just children.

Some are as young as six or seven years old when they are married. The girls themselves rarely have any say in the matter. Many do not even know or fully understand what is planned for them until they arrive at their husband’s home.

In families with limited resources, child marriage is often considered a way to provide for a daughter’s future. Poor families have few resources to support more healthy alternatives for girls, while economic gains through marrying off a daughter may also motivate poor parents to choose this path.

Worldwide, 100 million girls will be married before the age of 18 in the next decade alone. In countries like Niger and Bangladesh, grinding poverty and adherence to tradition results in more than three out of every four girls being married off before they turn 18 (ICRW).

By Associated Press Writer Ahmed Al-Haj

My daughter is enjoying a week at a wonderful missions camp surrounded by those that love God and love discipling young girls. She is taking activities like swimming and water sports. She is singing praises to the Lord and meeting new friends. She is being missed by her family at home and being bathed in constant prayer.

This article gave me some perspective on my worries about my daughter at missions camp. It drove away fear and gave way to utter thankfulness to God. The Spirit pricked my heart to pray for these beautiful and precious little girls who are going through such travesty. It made me so very grateful that my little girl is at missions camp this week.

The Spirit reminded me of His AMAZING protection and AMAZING provision in our lives and in the lives of my sweet girls. May my life be more and more soaked in the peace and the lessons of my Wonderful Counselor who loves me enough to teach me, change me, speak truth to me, and to protect my heart from being troubled and being afraid.

Thank you Father for the peace you give those who are your own. Father, please send Your Comforter to these precious girls in Yemen and other parts of the world who are going through such difficulties. Draw them to Yourself and be their true Beloved. Woo their young hearts to love you and receive true love that never fades. Love that offers peace...not like the world...but of a Father who cares for His children. Oh, Lord comfort these precious babies who are having babies. My heart is breaking in two right now as I look at their faces. May their little hearts not be troubled...

Art- To Remember...

My girls were having a playdate with a friend at our house and it was a wonderful afternoon to work on a project to remember...

...these little ones who had NOTHING and yet were filled with uncontainable JOY.

Lord, help me to remember them when I am shopping for more stuff.

...these women who walked MILES to get dirty water that will make them and their families sick, and cary pounds of food on their heads in the African heat.

Lord, help me to remember this as I shop for food and as we eat and drink. May we be truly thankful and live more simply.

...this little one who had no clothes to wear.

Lord, may I remember this as I buy clothing for myself and my family. May we only have enough clothes for a week and not have more than we need.

These are from our second trip to Africa.

God has been moving our hearts to remember...

the forgotten.

To remember that how we are living is not reality for 99% of the world.

To day by day stop buying the lie that we HAVE to HAVE everything we want.

To remember what real NEED looks like everyday.

To remember that true life is only found in CHRIST...not in things or people.

To little by little start living like the rest of the world does...which, to them, isn't radical at all.

To remember that it's not about a taking up a CAUSE...it's about LOVE!!

To look at those children's smiles

those women walking MILES for dirty water that will make them sick

the little one without clothes to wear

and remember...

the forgotten.

Every day.

And forget NO MORE!

Thriving 365~

Frances

Forgotten.

Many of you remember my a.maz.ing journey to my sweet Isaac in Uganda through Compassion. I got a magazine newsletter and saw this in the middle...asking people to please sponsor the older children who are easily overlooked. I can't even IMAGINE not getting to journey the road to sponsoring Isaac and the awesome faith building blessing that was to me and my family. He and Esceza's photos are throughout our home...they are our God kiddos.

I want to write out what this article says...it will break and touch your heart:

"Younger children are often sponsored right away. But, what about the older ones? Many feel neglected. Overlooked. Forgotten. They are at a vulnerable age and need someone to believe in them. Please sponsor and older child! You will be so blessed (OH YEAH!!) as you mentor your child and build a strong relationship together.

Right now, 900 children age 10 and older are waiting for sponsors. Which child will find hope through your love and guidance? Sponsor TODAY at compassion.com/olderchild or call (800) 336 7676."

Y'all. It costs about $35 a month to sponsor a child through Compassion. That is less than $10 per week to house, feed, educate, give medical care, and the love and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Won't you PRAY and look deeply into the eyes of an older child and sponsor them?

Perhaps, like us, you are not able to add to your family through adoption (at this time!). Perhaps you can not travel to another country to serve. You CAN make a difference in the lives of children all over this world by sponsoring them...one. at. a. time.

Let's look deeply into the eyes of these children...then look honestly into our budgets. Can't we find $10 extra dollars a week? We love our two biological kiddos...and our two God kiddos in Uganda...I can't wait to see how God will expand our family again.

And again.

And again.

And again...until Jesus returns...and there is

No more poverty.

No more tears.

No more suffering.

No more pain.

Come Jesus quickly!!!!!!!!!!!

*If you have any questions about Compassion, please feel free to contact me. We have been with Compassion for over 5 years and LOVE it!!!*