DFM Blog

Hello Again Friends!

2010-10-08T07:26:00.000-04:00

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...

2010-09-19T15:26:00.000-04:00

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...

2010-09-04T22:18:00.002-04:00

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

2010-09-02T22:32:00.002-04:00

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!

2010-09-01T05:00:00.001-04:00

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!!!

2010-08-30T15:32:00.001-04:00

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

2010-08-28T20:19:00.000-04:00

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!

2010-08-13T05:00:00.000-04:00

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!

2010-08-11T13:37:00.001-04:00

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...

2010-08-10T05:00:00.000-04:00

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...

2010-08-09T13:26:00.000-04:00

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 :-)

2010-07-28T16:19:00.000-04:00

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!

2010-07-23T08:00:00.002-04:00

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

2010-07-06T15:19:00.001-04:00

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

2010-07-04T18:20:00.002-04:00

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

2010-06-30T21:50:00.001-04:00

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!

2010-06-27T16:45:00.003-04:00

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!

2010-06-24T22:32:00.000-04:00

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...

2010-06-23T14:00:00.000-04:00

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!

2010-06-22T15:28:00.002-04:00

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!

2010-06-16T14:45:00.001-04:00

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

2010-06-16T14:22:00.002-04:00

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...

2010-06-15T10:56:00.001-04:00

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

2010-06-10T05:00:00.000-04:00

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...

2010-06-08T22:33:00.001-04:00

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...

2010-06-06T17:09:00.000-04:00

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.

2010-06-04T12:46:00.000-04:00

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...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!!!*

Red Tent Project

2010-05-27T20:00:00.001-04:00

***NOTE: I know that several moms read this with their children...this is a sensitive subject. Please use discernment reading about this ministry this with your kids.***

*UPDATE- the party is on SATURDAY June 5th! I got the day wrong (thanks Melissa!).*

I read the below blog post this morning and knew immediately God was calling me to this. I will be hosting a Red Tent Project party at my home on Saturday, June 5th if you can sew (basic knowledge) and have a sewing machine you can bring. We will have dessert, hot teas, prayer time for these beautiful young ladies, and make these projects. Please leave a comment or email me if you are interested in coming...frances@desertflowerministries.com.

Here is the original post from a blog friend...

our agency felt burdened by the young girls’ overwhelming need for sanitary pads in ethiopia. i don’t think i need to explain what a HUGE problem this is. many girls are considered “unclean” for a week each month and are unable to go to school or work.

here are some facts:

ordinary woman are unable to afford basic sanitary protection.
one pack of sanitary pads costs more than 50% of the average monthly wage for women.
millions of african women are forced to replace tampons/pads with newspapers and dirty rags.
     • this can lead to vaginal infections for which there is no available medication.
     • these vaginal infections are often mistaken to be sexually transmitted infections leading to social embarrassment and domestic violence.
wives and mothers are unable to work when they have their periods, further hindering already impoverished families.
girls are forced to take time off school, further jeopardizing their education.
     • because of the economic and cultural crises in africa, its schools serve as more than academic centers. they provide community resources where young people receive basic care and services, such as food programs, clean water and counseling.
we are currently working on a project to provide the girls at our agency’s transition home with reusable menstrual pads.  we are starting with the older girls first. there are about 30 girls who need the pads and we’d like to send 3 of the outer envelopes and 6 of the inner pads to each girl – so we’ll need 90 envelopes and almost 200 pads!

here is where i need your help…i don’t know a thing about sewing, but i am very passionate about this cause. i am calling all my friends (adoption-related or not) to consider helping these young women have a safe way to protect themselves each month.

if you are interested, i will send you the pattern and a photo of the pads. i have been told that they are fairly simple to make. there is a family that is willing to carry them to ethiopia next month, so if you have some time between now and June 15th and would be willing to help, please let me know (you can leave a comment here or e-mail me). i will pay for the shipping once you are ready to send them off.

please consider helping these sweet girls. it is a very simple way to make a HUGE difference!

** and please feel free to re-post this information (or link to my blog) to help get the word out **

Let me know if God is calling you to this and if you want to come join the party! Even if you don't sew, but want to come and join the fun and PRAY with us...COME ON:)

2010-05-27T11:24:00.000-04:00

I'm having a hard time blogging right now...because hubby and I are praying, reading, seeking, talking, crying (OK...I'm crying!), and burdened for how our family can live more RADICAL this year. We were up until way late last night joining God in allocating our finances more in line with the Gospel. At the end we realized GOD had brought to fruition the prayer we had for our personal (not tithe or church giving) missional giving a year ago!!! Isn't HE awesome?!?!?!

It is going to be hard for all of us to live true Faith in the midst of an overindulgent, self-obsessed, balanced, and comfortable culture...and that's not just the world! Our church families are swimming right along...and in many areas of my own life I have felt the strong current leading me along with it. But, my daily prayer is that I will follow God's path in His Word today and every breath I breathe!

Today I was reading in John 13:6-17.

One thing that really stood out to me was Peter's responses...oh boy...do they sound like me:) Peter and I are VERY passionate about loving Jesus. And we are ready (we think!!!) to follow wherever He leads. Yet, as we see is this passage, he flies from one place to the other trying to figure out how to respond to Jesus washing His feet.

First he is the picture of humility...oh Jesus you will never wash my feet! I am not worthy and could never allow or accept that. I'll just do it myself. Then, once Jesus tells Peter that unless He washed him, Peter can have no part of Him. Peter then jumps to the other side into overdrive! Oh Lord...then not just my feet...but my whole body!!! Jesus reigns him back and shows all the disciples that his desire is that they follow His example in servanthood. They are to humbly serve one another in following Christ.

I thought about that in my own life. I am totally like Peter! Many times, out of serious love for Jesus, take things and run with them! I used to think that God wants us to be "balanced" but He wants us to be BIBLICAL! Very different!

Jesus wasn't asking the disciples to be balanced between a lost and evil world and being holy...finding some kind of middle ground compromise. He wanted them to FOLLOW Him in RADICAL obedience! Is it balanced to get down on your hands and knees and wash feet? Um...NO! That was extreme which is why Peter, who loved Jesus, did not want Him to ever wash his dirty feet. That is NOT the role of Messiah to Peter...or the world.

Jesus was not balanced. He was seen as a madman. He was killed on a cross. People plotted his death ALL the time. He did miracles, raised the dead, and ascended into Heaven and is at the right hand of GOD! He is not some compromising balanced kind of Messiah!

I want to be BIBLICAL and not fling myself all over the place trying to either be falsely humble...or running way ahead of Jesus thinking I am super passionate. Jesus says to us..LISTEN to ME!!! READ my WORD!!! FOLLOW me!!! Stop chasing causes and chase ME...and in chasing ME you will find the narrow path of serving that changes the WORLD!

Let's let HIM define how following Him looks. Let's dive way down deep into His Word and See His face and listen to His voice and follow Him in crazy radical obedience. Let's stop living in our extremes...and throw balanced out of our vocabulary, and be BIBLICAL. I promise you...it won't get any more RADICAL than that!

As I have shared at numerous conferences...you CAN'T be in God's Word every single day and love Jesus passionately and NOT overflow. It's impossible! So, let's find our lives immersed in His Word! It's gonna get a little crazy around here:) I can't wait!

post signature

Love to the End

2010-05-25T07:19:00.003-04:00

Good morning sweet friends! I pray that you have had time to watch the
two videos below that I posted yesterday. If not please scroll down or
go to the full blog (if you are here through the DFM website) and
watch them sometime. Powerful!

My husband and I began David Platt's book Radical last night together.
It was strong and at one point when it spoke of one church spending
$23million on a new building followed by all baptists raising $5,000
to send to the refugees of Sudanese war...I was weeping so hard that
Jay had to finish reading to us aloud.

Radical. We spend most of our lives wanting to be balanced...oh how I
have said that before!!! Our Christian culture has labels like fanatic
and radical and freak for those who step out beyond the Christian
culture normal. But once a friend said to me...a fanatic is someone
who loves Jesus more than you.

Wow...according to David Platt...we are not called to live a
"balanced" easy to digest kind of life here. We are called to RADICAL
obedience. And I believe Jesus said that first:) he said if we are to
follow him, we are to deny ourselves (not much of that happening in
our Christian lives!), take up an instrument of torture called our
cross...and then follow Him. That is pretty radical!

This morning, I was reading in John 13:1-5. It said that Jesus was
about to have the last Passover with his disciples. It said that
though one had already been swayed by Satan to deny him...he loved
them all to the end.

Those words hit me. To the end. Jesus loved radical. He loved
passionately and he loved the world. After it says he loved them...it
says he washed their feet and served them. 1 Corinthians 13 warns us
that serving without love means NOTHING! We must love...to the end.

We can not get all about a cause...even if it is good...because a
cause is all out US! We must be about real radical passionate love for
Jesus and OUT of THAT love, we can love others and serve them.

We can not love Jesus and not overflow to the poor, homeless, orphan,
widow, immigrant, and the LOST. It is impossible! But that love is not
safe or balanced or SANE by the world's standards...or even the
Christian standard.

I agree with Platt that our churches (and myself) have been happy with
just a Christian spin on the American dream. Oh how that breaks my
heart!!

Jay and I prayed fervently last night together about how we can be
more in love with Jesus and love others radically out of his love.
Will you join us?

Will you read God's Word for yourself and experience such JOY and LOVE
that you MUST overflow? True authentic love following Jesus will
require everything! It will be radical! And I am even more ready to
shed man's approval and run HARD after God's glory to fill my life, my
family, my country, and the ends of this earth.

The call is radical. God's love for this sinner is radical. Radical is
HIS idea...not a new book idea. HE is radical in that while I was
still in sin HE DIED FOR ME.

That is love. That is the example. That is the command. That is my
invitation. That is LIFE to the FULL!

Oh, Jesus help me to love to the end...and strip away everything to
take up a towel and serve those YOU loved first. May it be so!

Thrive!
Frances

RADICAL!

2010-05-24T14:30:00.002-04:00

Please take a few moments to watch two following videos by David Platt and The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham. I met his wife at the Georgia Baptist Convention Ministers' Wives dinner and they are adopting sometime soon:) Hold onto your hat, sweet friends...it just may get a little bumpy...and amazingly AWESOME as we follow Him to the least and the lost!!!

RADICAL from David Platt on Vimeo.

Next Five Minutes from David Platt on Vimeo.

I'm back:)

2010-05-24T08:37:00.003-04:00

We are back from being at the beach and it was absolutely heavenly! Paradise! We returned and then I was traveling again this weekend. So, I am just now catching my breath...just in time to enjoy a spend the night party for my Anli turning 11, a trip with friends to Stone Mountain, then heading to Alabama for a nice Memorial Day with family...all this week! Whew...and I thought summer would slow down?!?!

Tonight, I will be writing on Thriving 365 and hoping I can keep up during this busy summer:) I hope you are winding up school or maybe even finished like we are! It's nice to take a little break and enjoy some other activities! I pray that you are still Thriving 365 my sweet friends! Have a wonderful week!!!

Love to you all...

Thriving 365-
Frances

Vacation

2010-05-07T08:21:00.002-04:00

Our family is going on vacation (to the beach!!!!) for the next week...and my sweet husband just informed me that under NO circumstances am I to take my computer:) He is so right! I do have my iPhone with me, so I might post a thought or a photo...but I'm not to blog at all! I schedule my family blog posts a week in advance, so those might keep going if I get around to scheduling them. But, he said NO blogging! NO working! All family fellowship and FUN...I agree totally!!

So keep thriving in your time with the Lord this week!!! I will continue the walk through John where I'm leaving off. See you when I return friends...THRIVE!!!

Thriving 365~John 1:43-51

2010-05-06T05:00:00.000-04:00

OK...I have to tell you a funny story about my Virginia Grace girl. Yesterday we were trying to get all the forms for the missions camp they are going to this summer and all the physical forms from the doctor. As we were on the way there...Anli was ensuring that we were not going to the doctor for an appointment. I reminded her about how last year we had to get all these same forms for her and now that they were both going there would be forms for each of them.

At this point Virginia looks at Anli and says, "Anli, you remember...it's when they looked for fleas in your hair!!!"

I DIED laughing...um...sweetie...that's LICE not FLEAS they are looking for in your hair:) Just had to share that with you today and start our time with a little fun...I just LOVE my kids!

Thriving in Truth~

Take time to read John 1:43-51. Then, take your journal and write down your personal thoughts on this passage.

What are your thoughts about Nathanael?

What are you thoughts about Philip?

What are your thoughts about what Jesus tells them about what is to come?

Thriving Together~

"You will see greater things than these."

Oh, I love that! Nathanael testifies that Jesus is the Son of God and the King of Israel because he saw him under a fig tree before Philip called to him. Jesus saw him! How wonderful to know that the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords SEES us!!! This amazes Nathanael and he believes Jesus is the Son of God.

Jesus tells Nathanael that he will see even GREATER things than this! Not only can we know that He sees us...but we will SEE HIM!! Jesus tells Nathanael that he will see the heavens open and angels ascending and descending on the Son of Man. Yes, Jesus sees us and knows us and loves us. But, it is even greater that we can and will see Him as He truly is!

If we are His and have accepted Him as our personal Savior by faith and submitted to Him as our Lord...we WILL see Him face to face...as He is! We can not only see Him, but spend eternity with Him in heaven!!! Amazing!

So, as precious as it is to know and trust that Jesus sees us where we are and who we are...it is greater to see HIM were HE is and who HE is! What a gift salvation is to our lives both daily here on this earth and in eternity to come. I can't wait to see Him face to face at the feast of the Lamb. Praise His Name!

Thriving Outside~

How will this passage change your life today?

In what ways will you apply this passage to your life?

How will it change your relationships with others today?

I pray that you will see Jesus daily in His Word! He is the Word and as we savor it daily, we can SEE Him! In seeing and savoring Christ...we will thriving and overflow!

Thriving 365~
Frances

Thriving 365~John 1:35-42

2010-05-04T21:30:00.002-04:00

Well, first off I heard from my baby sister who lives in downtown Nashville and she is just fine! I got a text from my dad this afternoon that they had heard from her and then she called me later on...so good to hear her voice! Thanks for praying!

It's been a busy weekend with Carl Kerby from Answers in Genesis sharing all weekend and Monday night at our church! It was AWESOME!!! Love that stuff!!! So, I have been behind on posting. So, yes it is 9:30pm and I am just now able to sit and write. I was at the mission tonight...love those girls. It was crazy with only 3 volunteers and almost 20 women, but they remind us how God does this thing and not us...whew...what a day!

So, let's take a breath and let it out slowly and savor God's precious words in John 1:35-42. Take out your journal and write down the thoughts you have about these verses. Allow God to speak to your heart through His precious Spirit.

Thriving in Truth~

What are a few things that stand out most to you in this passage?

What do you notice about John?

What do you notice about the disciples?

What do you notice and learn about Jesus?

What can you glean yourself from this passage?

Thriving Together~

I love, love, love that John isn't about building a ministry and a name for himself. He clearly and boldly speaks the Truth about Jesus!! And...his own disciples leave him to follow Jesus. Oh, how well John modeled true discipleship. He had trained and taught those men well. He led them straight to the Lamb of God...and they immediately followed Him.

Ladies, let's follow this challenge! May we be the kind of mothers, friends, family members, ministers, and followers of Jesus that disciple others to immediately follow Jesus. Teach and mentor in the Truth of WHO Jesus is and the rejoice when the take off after Him!!

So many times ministry is built around the person in leadership. It's more about a personality and a style than discipleship and real life change. It can quickly become about the vessel and less about the Potter. John prepared his disciples to quickly and immediately leave and follow Jesus on their own.

Thriving Outside~

May each of us draw all attention to Jesus and His Word! My heart literally dances to read:

"John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus (the only way we can lead and minister is if WE are looking at Jesus!!!!) as he walked by and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" The two disciples heard him say this , and they followed Jesus."

One of those men...was Andrew...who brought his brother Peter. What an amazing testimony of discipleship! Once we truly see Jesus in our own lives...we WILL overflow my sisters.

Oh Father, may we lead and disciple those around us in our lives so that they are ready to immediately follow and run hard after You on their own. May we not build my parenting, friendships, or ministries around ourselves. May those around us fall head over heals in love with You and Your Word!!!

Please pray!

2010-05-04T07:22:00.002-04:00

Please join me in praying for those in Nashville! My sister lived and works downtown on Broadway. I haven't heard anything back from her yet. I'm praying so hard for all those displaced and affected by this flooding. I will update when I hear from her. Thanks!!!

Mom Monday!

2010-05-03T11:30:00.002-04:00

I will post the Thriving 365 later on today...since today is Mom Monday! You can check out my family blog> if you want to know more...and laugh at some funny photos:) Love to you all!!

Thriving 365~
Frances

Thriving 365~John 1:30-34

2010-04-29T07:52:00.002-04:00

Thriving in Truth~

Take some time this morning to ask God to open His Word alive and afresh to you!

Read John 1:30-34. Take out your journal and write your thoughts on this passage. Let the Spirit speak to you and listen closely to what God has to say specifically to you.

What part of this passage makes you stop and think?

What do you feel God revealing to you through this passage?

In what ways could you relate to John in these verses?

Thriving Together~

I love that John confesses that he didn't know it was Jesus. He says that "I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel." John didn't have this whole ministry thing figured out. He was walking in obedience...and he was waiting for it to be revealed. He kept doing what God had told him to do in faith that one day he would see the ONE...the Son of God.

Oh, how I can relate to that in my marriage, parenting, and ministry. There are many days that I walk in the light revealed for that day and would LOVE to see the end of the road. I'd love to know that my kids were going to be passionate and dangerous women for the Kingdom of God like I pray every morning. I'd love to know how this whole ministry thing will walk out for the rest of my life. I'd love to have it all revealed at the very moment He calls me to do something!

But, where would faith be in that? And we know that faith alone pleases God. I know that it pleased God for John to preach and baptize every single day...all the while believing in faith that one day the ONE he preached about would come and be revealed. There may have been days of doubt. There may have been moments of wonder and impatience. But, John walked in what God revealed to him day after day. Waiting.

Oh, girls I know about some waiting! I'd love to have this whole adoption journey wrapped up in a pretty red bow all neat and tidy. But, how will I walk in the waiting? Perhaps you are struggling in your marriage...how will you walk in the waiting day after day? Maybe you have a child that is rebellious and walking away from you and the Lord...how will you walk in the waiting day after day? Perhaps God has birthed a passion in your heart for a ministry that is struggling right now...how will you walk in the waiting day after day?

The truth is that we LOVE neat and tidy and happy endings. We pretty much like them right away too! But, our walk with God through this life will require faith day after day...THRIVING in the waiting! Oh, it is SO possible with God...impossible with man...but POSSIBLE with God!

Like John, let's thriving in the waiting...loving, parenting, hoping, walking, obeying, and overcoming in the waiting. One day whether on this earth or in heaven it will all be revealed in Christ Jesus!! Walk in faith my sister today!

Thriving Outside~

How will John's example challenge and change you today?

What truth has God revealed that you can take into your marriage? Parenting? Ministry? Job? Community?

Are there areas of your life that God is calling you to a stronger faith? Ask Him to increase your faith!!!

Thriving in the waiting my friends...for those times you will see and bear witness to the Son of God through faith. Love to you...

Thriving 365~
Frances

Thriving 365 ~ John 1:24-29 (more thoughts)

2010-04-28T06:27:00.003-04:00

Here are a few more thoughts on this passage I wanted to share...we are taking it slow I tell ya! Savor it in sweet friends...

Start your day in prayer seeking for the Lord to speak powerfully to you through His Word and Holy Spirit!

Thriving in Truth~

Read John 1:24-29.

Take out your journal and write a few thoughts that you have about these verses.

Why do you think those things stand out to you?

What is God saying specifically to you right now?

What are your thoughts about what John's response to the Jewish leaders?

How do these verses challenge, convict, or encourage you today?

How could you apply that to your own life today?

Thriving Together~

We have seen how John let the Word define His identity. He knew who Jesus was and what the Scriptures said...and he let that define him. We also continue to see how John lets that define his ministry. He is not only sure of his role in the kingdom for himself, he is boldly sharing it with others.

They want to challenge him in baptizing. They remind him of who he is NOT...Elijah, Christ, or even a prophet! Doesn't that happen many times in our ministries? We follow God's call in faith and then Satan (and others around us) begin to question it. Just who do we think we are? We certainly aren't Jesus, Beth Moore, Kay Arthur, Billy Graham, or John Piper! How in the world do we even dare to step out and ministry!

But, John looks to Jesus. He admits that he is not worthy to even untie the straps of His sandals. He knows he is not the Christ! He doesn't try to be either. Oh, ladies so many times in our ministries we forget that we are not Christ...yet we are loved by Christ! We get so busy doing it all ourselves and forget to look at Jesus. We get so immersed in the doing of it all...and loose sight of the one among us that is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We shift our eyes onto proving to God and others that we really do have it all together and are worthy of our ministries (marriage, parenting, workplace, church, community, etc.) instead of resting in His strength and listening to who HE says we are in His Word.

John didn't feel threatened and have the need to defend his ministry to these Jewish leaders. He focused on the Word...in flesh...Jesus Christ. That changed everything! It changed how he saw himself, his ministry, and his life. He looked to HIM and could minister boldly in the light of that TRUTH.

Satan wants to remind you and I of what we are not, who we are not, and shift our eyes from Truth to a lie. He wants us to work in our own strength and to desperately please those around us. He wants us to try to "prove ourselves" to others in ministry. Because whenever we look to those around us to define our ministries and our worth...we will be miserable and discouraged..and ineffective for Kingdom ministry.

Let the Word define who you are and how your ministry will go. Fight the battle of identity with TRUTH! May we be able to look among us and see Jesus...knowing we are unworthy of anything at all...yet believing the promise He brings of Sonship, power, and love! In the Truth of God's Word may we boldly go and minister in His strength and TRUTH!

"Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world."

Praise you Jesus!!!

Thriving Outside~

Are there areas of your ministry that you are striving in your own strength?

Have you had people question you and your ministry lately? How will you respond?

In what ways would TRUTH in God's Word change how you minister in any area God has called you (marriage, parenting, workplace, church, community, etc.)?

How can John's example of belief and boldness encourage and challenge you in your own ministry today?

How will you take what God has said to you today through His Word into your day in application?

Thriving 365~
Frances

Thriving 365~ John 1:24-29

2010-04-27T05:00:00.000-04:00

Start this time seeking the power of the Holy Spirit in prayer. Ask Him to reveal Truth to you and to apply it specifically to your life today.

Thriving in Truth~

Read John 1:24-29.

Take your journal now and jot down a few thoughts that you already have about these passages. Allow God to speak directly to you right now.

What stands out to you right now in this passage?

Is there anything that seems to speak to where you are in your life?

What could be a way you could apply this?

Thriving Together~

John was questioned about his role in ministry by the religious leaders. They wanted to know why he was doing ministry...if he was not a prophet or Elijah or the Messiah. But, John was still not swayed! He not only let Scripture define who he was...but what his ministry was. Because he knew Christ and by that he knew what his own ministry should be.

Oh, that is such a good word for those of us in ministry!! John had a right view of Jesus...and that gave him a right view of his ministry. Our view of Christ will lead us to a right view of ministry and our role in kingdom work. I pray today that knowing Christ and the power of the Cross would define who we are and the ministry that we do. May it all flow out of the Truth of the Word.

Today think about how and why you minister. Is it because no one else will do it if you don't? Is it to make yourself more known? Is it to do your duty? Is it out of compulsion? Or...is the overflow of seeing and knowing and savoring Jesus Christ and the power of His sacrifice and Resurrection?

I pray that in my own life I never see ministry as something I do...but it is the overflow of knowing dearly who Jesus Christ is! He is the One, the Lamb of God who takes away my sins!!! That is where ministry begins and ends.

Thriving Outside~

Think about your own ministries right now. Why do you do them?

In what ways you might be letting your own ideas, opinions, experiences, and strengths define your ministries instead of God. Confess that to Him now. Allow Him to change your heart.

How could these ministries begin to be the overflow of your time with God?

What things need to change in your life today based on the Truth God revealed to you?

Thriving 365 - John

2010-04-26T13:44:00.002-04:00

Hello Friends! Well, I'm a bit late in the day on this post but I guess late might be better than never:) This is part of another post I did back in January on this same passage. Enjoy friends!

Thriving in Truth~

Start your time today with a few moments of quiet prayer. Just be real with the Lord. Open up your heart and pour out before Him all your cares, worries, and hurts. Cast them upon Him...because He really does care for you! Ask Him to guide you as your turn to His Word today.

Read John 1:19-23.

Take your journal and write a few notes about your thoughts. This will be so valuable to you one day. You will enjoy reading over what God has taught you and it helps me to stay focused too!

*What do you hear God saying to you through these passages?

*Is there a verse in particular that really stands out to you? Why do you think that is?

*Look specifically at John's response to the Jewish leaders (verse 23). Is this familiar to you? Why?

Thriving Together~

These verses bring a very important question to my mind...where do I find my identity?

How powerful that John knew and confessed who he was and who he was NOT! The thing that is so impacting to me is that he knew and confessed who he was from Scripture. John found his identity in God's WORD...not what his followers said about him, not what the pharisees said about him, or even what He thought about himself. He was grounded strongly in who GOD said that he was!! I need to hear that today...and every single day of my life!!! Our identity is found in God's Word and in the cross.

May I not see myself through my own eyes or the eyes of others (good or bad), but may I seek the Word to define who Jesus is and in that light to understand who I am. I pray that the Word will show my my own sin, faults, and to love Jesus and my Jesus more. I pray that the Word of truth will fill me to overflowing and may my cup overflow!

Today, pray over where you are finding your identity. Is it from your husband? Your parents? Your children? Your job? Your ministry? Your church? Your house? Your title? Or...is it from the very Words of God? Oh, how I pray that you and I will find our identity in Christ and the cross alone.

Thriving Outside~

*How could you apply the Truth from God's Word to your own life today?

*Do you find yourself struggling with finding your identity in the approval of others? How does that leave you feeling?

*How might those areas of your life look differently if you sought Scripture's Truth to define your identity?

*How might believing God's Truth about yourself change how you overflow into the lives of the lost around you?

Take time to talk through those areas with God. Allow His Truth to change you...for good. Perhaps you can write verses that remind you of Truth and carry them with you to memorize. Allow God to speak to you right now.

Thriving 365~
Frances

Great Day!!!!

2010-04-25T18:19:00.003-04:00

Yesterday we had an amazing day at our church! We had our Beginning the Journey membership class and we have begun introducing the new members to the church at the end of the class. That morning they all filed into the sanctuary and I had tears in my eyes! There 18 new members joining our church!!!!! They just kept coming!

Two of these precious members are in my ladies Thrive! Class and I was overjoyed to see them up there! What a joy to see the Lord adding to our family. It was just awesome to see all these precious lives partnering with God's work at our church! Yeeehaaaw!

Thriving 365~
Frances

Fun in Ringgold!

2010-04-24T19:56:00.011-04:00

Today I had the best time with the sweet ladies in Ringgold, GA! They dressed all their tables up so beautifully and we had some yummy food too! The fellowship was so sweet and I was so blessed to get to know them! Thanks to all the ladies who worked so hard to make this event so wonderful! The Spirit was there in such a sweet way! I especially loved the prayer time at the end. Wanda, thanks for all your hard work and prayers!! I had a blessed time. Here are a few tables...

I LOVED this table decoration...I need to order one! It goes perfectly with what I shared!!!

Headed to Ringgold!

2010-04-24T10:45:00.001-04:00

Please pray for me as I am traveling to share with the ladies in Ringgold, GA! Thanks!

Ringgold,GA!

2010-04-24T10:43:00.001-04:00

Please pray for me today as I am traveling and sharing in Ringgold, GA for a ladies conference!

Thriving 365 - John 1:14-18

2010-04-22T06:17:00.002-04:00

Thriving in Truth~

Start your time out with prayer. Seek the Holy Spirit's wisdom and allow Him to lead and direct your time. Slow down and enjoy time talking with your Heavenly Father. Don't rush through this time...savor it!

Read John 1:14-19. Get your journal or notebook and jot down a few thoughts you have.

What part of these verses stands out specifically to you?

What are you praising God for in these verses?

What are you learning about Jesus today that you can apply to your own life today?

Thriving Together~

These verses tell us that when we have seen and accepted Jesus Christ...we have seen the glory of God the Father full of grace and Truth!! How amazing is that? More and more I am truly awestruck by the beauty of the Trinity and how grateful that through Jesus' life, death, burial, resurrection and Ascension I am able to love and embrace all of the Trinity...in grace and Truth!!

And then comes my favorite part of these verses. This is the one that I just overflows my cup today! Look back at verse 14. What does it say? Write it down in your notebook.

"And from His FULLNESS, we ALL have received, grace upon grace." ESV

We receive everything out of HIS fullness. Grace upon grace. I can't even contain my joy in reading that promise in His Word this morning!!

Grace upon grace over my sin.

Grace upon grace over my strongholds.

Grace upon grace in my marriage.

Grace upon grace in my parenting.

Grace upon grace in homeschooling my children today.

Grace upon grace in my ministry.

Grace upon grace in loving a lost world.

And every single bit of that grace is overflowing out of HIS fullness. It's not out of our own will power. Our own spirituality. Our own good personality. NO! It is only out of HIS fullness that we receive grace upon grace for our day today... and not just a little grace! Grace upon grace my sweet friends!

Thriving Outside~

What is grace?

In what areas today do YOU need grace upon grace?

Spend time talking openly and honestly about your needs. Submit them before God and know that it is out of His fullness (He lacks NOTHING) you will receive the grace needed for today.

How will receiving that kind of amazing grace, out of the fullness of a loving God, change the way you live today?

How will it allow you to thrive outside today?

What is one specific way you feel God is leading you to extend grace to someone in your life today?

I pray that you will THRIVE instead of simply survive today out of HIS fullness!

Thriving 365~
Frances

Thriving 365 - John 1:6-13

2010-04-21T05:00:00.002-04:00

Thriving in Truth~

Start this time by asking the Spirit to open your eyes to truth. Confess all those things in your life that do not please Him and start your time fresh before Him...an empty vessel. The Word of God is the Sword of the Spirit, so ask the Spirit to pierce you today with Truth.

Read John 1:6-13. Get your journal and jot down your thoughts on these verses and maybe answer a few of these questions if you get stuck.

What stands out to you right from the start?

What are your personal thoughts on these verses?

What part of these verses really impacts you right now?

What is one way you could apply the Truth of these verses to your own life today?

Thriving Together~

Don't you just love how John was not the Light, but he was called to be a witness to the Light...Jesus Christ? I love that, like John, we are called to be witnesses each day to the Light. We are to learn about the Light, walk every step in the Light, talk about the Light, and find our identity in the Light.

Many days, we don't realize that we even have the Light! We live in defeat, irritation, frustration, anger, sadness, depression, and walk with our faces turned towards darkness. We sincerely feel that this is all there is in this earthly life. We don't embrace the power and the life found in the LIGHT!

No, we are not the Light...but we are called to live in the Light as children of GOD! That is our calling! That is who we are in Christ! We are not children born of flesh and blood or of man's will...but we are born of God. That is the Truth we must thrive in today and allow it to transform our lives from darkness to LIGHT! Then...take that Light outside and be a witness to it.

Thriving Outside~

Truth changes us moment by moment! Living and thriving in Truth will overflow onto those around us!

How will being a child of God and living in the Light of His Son Jesus Christ change the way you think today?

How will it affect the way you act today?

Will you take your call to be a witness to the Light in your day today?

Is there someone in particular God has placed in your life you need to shine the Light of Jesus Christ and share His love with today?

Thrive today sweet friends...inside and OUT!

Thriving 365~
Frances

Thriving 365~ John 1:1-5

2010-04-20T05:00:00.002-04:00

Thriving in Truth~

Take a few moments and open your Bible to read over these verses.

Now...stop and pray over what you have just read. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead and direct your thoughts on these verses. Talk with Him about these verses. Don't rush!

Take a moment to think or journal your thoughts on...

What stands out to you?

Is there anything in these verses that burns on your heart?

How would you apply that truth today to your life?

Thriving Together~

Don't you just LOVE the way the book of John starts out? I began John on January 1st of this year. It was so very exciting after Christmas to be reminded that Jesus didn't just show up on the scene when He was born in the stable and wrapped in swaddling cloths. No, He was with God in the beginning...and He is the Word...and He is God!

After focusing on the birth of Jesus as a baby, it was powerful to think about Jesus as God. THat all things that have EVER been made were made through Him. And In Jesus is LIFE! So many times we race after things that we think will give us life. We chase after acceptance, money, fame, jobs, houses, clothes, friends, husbands, children, and service to give us satisfaction.

These verses remind me that only in Jesus will we ever find life...and life to the FULL! Oh, I'm getting ahead of myself:) His life is our light. It lights our path. It sheds light on our sin and our strongholds...and you know what is even more exciting??? The darkness can NOT overcome His Light!!

I know that many of us are dealing with strongholds right now. We have cycles in our lives that we think we may never break free from on this side of glory. But, these verses tell us the Truth! They assure us that when we walk in the Light of Jesus Christ...NO darkness can overcome. It might be a battle. It might take some time. But, the darkness of sin will NEVER overcome the Light of Jesus in our lives.

Jesus tells us that we are MORE than overcomers! That means we have things to overcome. Trials will come. Satan will try to devour us. Our flesh will war against the Spirit. But...we are not just overcomers...we are MORE than overcomers in Christ! Because when His light shines in our lives in salvation through faith, no scheme of man or Satan can ever overcome.

Thriving Outside~

Take some time right now to think about how these verses wil affect your life today...

How could you take what you have learned today outside:

~Into your marriage?

~Into your parenting?

~Into your workplace and relationships?

~Into your friendships?

~Into your ministries?

~Into the lost world around you today?

Don't just let these verses make a difference inside...let it overflow so you can THRIVE outside!

May we live in the Light of Truth today friends...and THRIVE 365!

Thriving 365

2010-04-19T05:00:00.002-04:00

I'm a little nervous to even THINK that what I am going to share with you is possible! I know myself and my crazy life. I know that without God's sustaining power there is no way it's going to happen...no way at all!

I am going to try to begin a series called Thrive 365. This series will walk through the book of John daily (oh...that already scares me to death!)...or as often as I can. I have already been working through John for the past 3 1/2 months and have lots of notes to share. I pray that this will help me to stay current!

There will be three sections. The first section is called "Thriving in Truth" and "Thriving Together" and "Thriving Outside" I pray that you will spend time in the first section and not just skip to the Thriving Together time. Take time to spend time alone with your Father. Don't invite me or anyone else to be there with you!

Then, we will Thrive Together! I will share a few thoughts and I really pray that you will share some of yours if you have time. I'd love to hear how you are thriving 365!

OK, I'm already intimated by this! I have spent time praying and I feel like this is where He is leading. That's not to say that sickness won't come, retreats will take my attention, and there may be days when it's just not possible to post. I am going to do my best to stay current! Forgive me when I am not. Pray for me in this...because when it is finished this will be one of my next book projects.

So, you are kind of my guinea pigs:) Bless. Your. Hearts! I knew John was next...I can't wait!

Thive 365~
Frances

Wonderful weekend!

2010-04-17T20:54:00.001-04:00

I just got back from an amazing weekend with some of the most mission-
minded women from across Georgia! I am so thankful that God allowed me
to share and to learn! It was awesome...but now I'm going to try to
get my voice back:)

Thanks for all your prayers, emails, and texts! You are a blessing...

Thrive 365~
Frances

Overflow: Prayer Ideas for Families

2010-04-16T05:00:00.000-04:00

Today we conclude the prayer ideas for your children and families. I pray that this series has been helpful in making prayer less mysterious and more practical. Thanks to Shane Yancey again for sending along these ideas for prayer! He has lots of great ideas for youth on his website at http://www.nailscars.com/!

IDEAS FOR FUN FAMILY PRAYERS

Prayer Flash Cards:
The idea: create flash cards as visual reminders of who you are praying for as a family. Your small children can use those cards as a reference on who to pray for.

Before you start: Gather together pictures of family members, friends, and church leaders (especially your child's Sunday school teacher) and create a set of flash cards using the pictures. If you glue the pictures onto construction paper or large index cards you can have room to write requests beneath the picture.

How it works: Use your deck of cards to guide your time of prayer. There are several ways that you can do this. The basic way to pray would be to turn over each card and then pray as a family for the person who is on the card. You can also pass out the cards face down to each person in your family and then take turns turning a card over and praying for the person on the card.

Journaling Letters: (older kids)
The idea: Write down a prayer that you have for someone else in your family and then let them read it.

Before you start: Gather pens and half sheets of paper (because whole sheets can be intimidating) for each person in your family.

How it works: Sit everyone in your family in a circle. Then each person would write a prayer about the person sitting on their left. If you have never journaled a prayer before encourage your children to write down what they would say to God if they were praying for their person. Play some soft music while people are writing their prayers.

After everyone has finished pass your prayer to who it was about and then let everyone read the prayer written about them aloud.

Puzzle Prayers:
The idea: God has given us each a special gift to use in the church. This prayer uses a puzzle to pray for the people who are in our church.

Before you start: Find a wooden puzzle or other toy that requires the matching of shapes. (Like a toy with square, triangle, and star shaped holes)

How it works: Put the puzzle together with your child. As you do point out that God made everyone different and special. Tell your child that the church has many different people with different talents all coming together to glorify God. As you put in the pieces of the puzzle pray for our church and its leaders. Be sure to include your child's Sunday school teacher in your prayers.

After you have prayed undo the puzzle and start putting them back in again. This time encourage your child to pray a prayer similar to the one that you prayed.

Art Prayers:
The idea: Draw your praise instead of saying or singing it.

Before you start: Gather a bunch of age appropriate art supplies

How it works: For younger children ask them to draw some of the things that God has done or God has made. For middle to older children and for adults draw a picture that provides some sort of ending to the phrase "God is...". As a family let this art time be a fun time. After everyone has finished share your pictures with each other and voice a short prayer of thanks using the pictures as a guide.

Global Focused Prayers:
The idea: Help kids to remember to pray for people around the world by simulating what it means to be thirsty.

Before you start: Get a small bit of salt for each person to eat and a drink ready in the refrigerator.

How it works. Ask each person to eat some of the salt. After they do and ask for something to drink either tell them to go get something or if they are too young go with them and fix them a drink. After they come back point out that in many parts of the world children have to walk several miles every day to get water. That small thirst that you felt right then is nothing compared to the hunger and thirst that many children are going to bed feeling right now.

Spend some time praying. Thank God for what he has provided you and ask his protection on those people who went to bed hungry and thirsty tonight. Ask God to use you to help them.

If your child seems interested in ways that they can help out think about possibly sponsoring a child or getting involved in other aid organizations.

Lighted Prayers

The Idea: God has called you to join him on a journey or quest with Him. This is a hard road,
but he doesn't send you alone. He has called together a group of people to walk this
road with you—your Sunday school class. These are your traveling companions, the
ones who you lean on for strength and support when you are struggling.

Before you start: Figure out how many people are in your Sunday school class and get that same number of tea lights. You may want to collect candles for the people in your children's classes as well.

How it works: With a marker write the name of each member of
your class on a candle. For those of you with larger classes you may want to have
each candle represent a couple or have more than one name on a candle. As you pray for each person light their candle as a visual representation of your prayers.

If you have children be sure to do this activity in a dark room. Point out how the room gets brighter the more that you pray.

Missions Encounter 2010

2010-04-15T12:03:00.000-04:00

Please pray for me this weekend as I travel to share with women from throughout Georgia at the 2010 Missions Encounter Event. I will be sharing a portion in each of the three main group (about 1-2,000 women) and then teaching one of the three conferences in the afternoons.

Here is the link if you would like to join us last minute:) We'd love to have you!

2010 Missions Encounter - "With A Servant's Heart"

Overflow: Prayer Ideas Continued...

2010-04-15T05:00:00.001-04:00

Here are two more fun and creative ways that all of us can incorporate prayer into those lost moments of our day. Thanks to Shane Yancey from Nailscars.com. If you have a moment, take a quick look over at his site and see his ministry to youth ministers!

Let's ask God to redeem them for His glory!!!

In Car Prayer:
The Idea: Families spend lots of time in the car so why not redeem some of that time as a time to pray prayers of praise.

Before You Start: Before you crank the car inform your children that part of your trip will be a prayer of praise by saying the following silly rhyme.

We're in the car for another ride
and we need something to pass the time.
So from now till then until we get there
we will pray the see what God has made prayer.

How it works: Take turns saying things that you see that God has made. Once you say something you see the next person has to say a short prayer of thanks for that item and then gives the next item. This continues around the car (or back and forth between 2 people). For older kids add an element of memory to the game by listing everything that is said each time. For instance if Sally says, I see Trees then Mom would say Thank you God for the trees. I see a dog. Sally would then have to say, "thank you God for trees and that dog." and then would add something that she saw and it would continue from there.

If small children have a trouble differentiating between things that are man made and God made be sure to point out that everything is made by someone made by God so everything that you see can be used as a way to praise God.

Prayer Breaks:
The idea: Being out in public with your children can sometimes be stressful. Beat the stress and add prayer to your day by taking short (1 minute) prayer breaks while you are out and about.

Before you start: The first few times you do this your children may look at you funny, but eventually they will catch on to the idea.

How it works: Once every hour stop everything you are doing and sit down to pray. Find you a bench or a place you can sit sort of out of the way. Sit down. Pull your children up into your lap or put your arms around them. Take a few deep breaths and then pray. Pray for the people that you see around you. Pray that God will use you to be a light to them. Encourage your children to pray for the people that they see as well. When you are finished squeeze them all real tight and go on about your business. You will feel better and your children will see a visual demonstration of the importance of prayer.

Overflow: Prayer Ideas for Kids

2010-04-14T10:17:00.003-04:00

For the next couple of days I will be posting a few ideas about praying with your younger children. My friend Shane Yancey from Nailscars.com who sent me these ideas and I wanted to share them with you! They are easy and fun...and will help you to teach and lead your children in prayer. It will be great!

Playground Prayers:
The Idea: Use your time playing on the playground (or your backyard swing set) as a time for prayer.

Before you start: Tell your children that as you play today you are going to come up with new ways to pray. This would be a good time to explain that prayer doesn't always mean that we have to bow our heads. It is important for children to learn that God is always with them and they can pray wherever they are.

How it Works:
Swings--As you get on the swings ask your child about what happens when they swing. Keep asking different questions until they say that the swings help them to get high up in the air. Point out that God lifts us up high sort of like a swing does. Say that as you swing you are going to come up with ways in your life that God has helped you or lifted you up. Give your child a push and tell him/her to say something that he/she is thankful for each time that you push him/her. After your child runs out of things that they are thankful for add a few of your own to the list.

When you finish swinging pause for a short moment, bow your head, and pray. Thank God for all of the things that you listed while swinging.

Slide--Say: Just like you slide down this slide some times in life there are things that drag us down. But even when things are going rough God is always with us waiting to catch us before we fall.

Stand at the end of the slide. As your child sits on the top ask him if he has anything that he would like for you to pray about. Let your child slide down then and catch him at the bottom. Hug him close and whisper in his ear. "God loves you and will always be there to catch you". Repeat the processes for as long as you want to play.

Your child will quickly run out of things to pray about, but you probably have a list a mile long. Each time your child slides pray for one of the needs on your list.

Monkey Bars- -Ask your child what would happen if one of the rungs were missing. She may still be able to get across, but it would be more difficult. Then ask what would happen if more than one were missing. Eventually she would not be able to cross. Point out that in our church there are many people doing many different jobs, and if any one of them left it would effect her. So as she crosses the bars encourage her to pray for her church and the leaders in it. Let one rung be the pastor, another her specific pastor, and another to be her Sunday school teacher. Then ask her to think of other people in the church who have an impact on her. (You may be surprised at the answers). As she crosses encourage her to pray for each person and you be praying for your leaders as well.

Overflow: Prayer Memory Verse

2010-04-14T05:00:00.000-04:00

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21

Last night God brought this verse to my path and I knew He wanted me to memorize it and pray it over my children and family and friends. This morning I spent time memorizing it and will be praying it over my girls tonight as we tuck them into bed.

I thought it might bless you today also! Love you all...

John 8:47-51

2010-04-13T05:00:00.001-04:00

*I know there is a skip in vereses...I posted the prayer series in between:) Thanks for bearing with my crazy blogging schedule!!*

Take a few moments to open up your Bible and read over these verses with me.

What stands out to you?

What are you hearing from God right now?

I'll tell you what I heard today! It is found in verse 51..."I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my Word, he will never see death."

Those trying to trick Jesus go on to think that he is talking about the physical death...but we know that He is speaking of a spiritual death. The kind of death that separates from God for eternity. If we truly keep His Word...then we will come to saving faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior by faith and spend eternity with Him in heaven! We will never truly see death!

But, what I applied to my own life today is that many times throughout my busy and easily distracted life I don't KEEP His Word. I will look to my own flesh, ideas, opinions, anger, frustration, irritations, rights, and ways. Those things are deadly. They lead further to self and flesh and far away from God. When I rush throughout my day and don't seek to keep His Word in my heart and allow it to change,mold, and direct my entire day...then I am choosing things of the flesh!

Today...I know that I will never see eternal death because of my glorious salvation found only in Christ's death, burial, and Resurrection! But, like Paul, I must fight against the things of my flesh and my enemy who waits like a lion ready to devour me by keeping His Word!!! I want to pour my life into those things that are LIFE!

God's Word is LIVING and active...it is LIFE!

Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the LIFE...He is LIFE!

Today, I pray that you and I will be found choosing LIFE and not death. I pray that we will keep His Word not only once unto salvation, but that we would keep His Word daily so that we will never see deadly actions, attitudes, and thoughts in our daily lives.

"This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose LIFE, so that your and your children may LIVE!" Deuteronomy 30:19

May you and I choose to invest richly in LIFE today!

John 8: 21-24

2010-04-12T05:00:00.000-04:00

Take time to read over these verses this morning.

As I was reading this passage, I could not help but thing of it in contrast to the verses where He talks to His disciples about His going:

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." John 14: 1-4

As I took time to pray and think over how God would want me to apply these verses, I found myself asking Him to help me live a life of trust and belief. I not only want to have salvation...but I want to live a life of trust...have a heart that will not be troubled in this world. I life of faith that is assured of the place where Jesus is...and where I am going one day.

Having this kind of faith helps me to please God and to not live in sin. Hebrews 11 tells me that the only way to please God is through faith...and anything done without faith is sin!

I began to really think over those verses this morning. What do I do throughout my day without REAL faith? Um...far too much I'm afraid. Many moments throughout my day I just live life. I don't live in the full faith that has been given to me through Jesus Christ. I talk to friends, teach my children about math and science, do my daily chores, and many times all without a full awareness of the FAITH required to breathe!

Many times we focus on faith when the road of life gets blurry and difficult, but God's Word reminds us that ANYTHING done without FAITH is sin. That fell somberly on my today. I need to focus my every moment on living by faith. Fully aware of Jesus! I don't want to be among those who are trusting in self and whom Jesus says..."I am going away and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin." YIKES! I want to be one who seeks and finds Him because I am seeking Him with ALL my heart!!

Think on these verses today. Let the contrast of the two audiences and hearts challenge you. Don't be so quick to believe you have a full heart of faith. Seek God's counsel on areas of your own life that hide disbelief. Confess the dark areas of your heart of doubt. Allow Him to place faith in your life and trust Him alone with your life. Not just once in salvation...but moment by moment.

I am praying that today I will live every single breathe BY FAITH and BY GRACE! Love you all...

Thrive 365~
Frances

My Morning Prayerwalking View!

2010-04-11T05:00:00.000-04:00

Talk about a worship service!

My Blogging View!

2010-04-10T05:00:00.000-04:00

Isaac from Uganda...

2010-04-09T19:48:00.001-04:00

Boy, do I have a God-sized story to share! It's a bit on the wild side...but every bit His side! Here goes...

Yesterday morning before I began teaching school with the girls, I was doing a little of my minimal maintenance in the bathrooms cleaning them up a bit. I was just kind of doing my thing...not really thinking all that much about anything except...well...cleaning my bathroom:)

Then, the Spirit of God spoke to me. Now, normally I would do some kind of disclaimer here about how it wasn't audible, it normally doesn't happen like that, etc. But, I just finished reading the first chapter of Forgotten God by Francis Chan...so I will just leave it at the Spirit of God really did speak to my heart...really!

He said something like, "Frances, what would it look like if I asked you to care, feed, shelter, clothe, educate, love, pray and doctor up a child that you never got to get anything is return? What if you never got to feel them in your arms, smell them clean after a bath, pray with them at night, hear them pray to God kneeling by the bed at night, see them dance with your family while washing dishes, see them graduate high school, meet their fiance, hold your grandchild, and nurse them when they are sick? What if I asked you to do everything that a family would do...without anything in return? What would that look like and would you do it? What if I touched you and called you to the spirit of adoption...without the results of adoption in your home?"

"Hmmm. Not really what I was looking for today, God! I mean, what does THAT mean?" was my response. I went on with my day keenly aware that I had encountered the Spirit's speaking to my heart...my heart literally burned in me...as I can only imagine the hearts of the men on the road to Emmaus.

That afternoon, my friend Brooke called and we had a very amazing God FILLED conversation where we both shared struggles, convictions from God, and I felt led to share what the Spirit said to me that morning. I am so glad I did...because I don't know that anyone could truly experience the JOY of the rest of the story as she and I did!

When Jay got home from work we sat in the living room together and I told him all about what happened. Somehow I knew that it would involved Compassion International. He was calling us to sponsor more children...we knew this. I would not share this with you unless it was important to the testimony God has given. I never want my left hand to know what my right hand is doing...because the praise of God is FAR greater than any moment of praise from man! But, it is vital to the testimony so I will share.

After our time of sharing and conviction...I went to Compassion's site and here is what I read - This is cut and pasted directly from the Compassion site:

Looking for Children for Adoption?

If you are looking for children for adoption, consider sponsoring a child while you wait.
There are many children waiting for adoption, and all of them need a loving parent like you. Regrettably, the adoption process can sometimes take years and thousands of dollars. Not everybody has the time or financial resources that are necessary to adopt a child.

Consider this alternative to adoption.

Many children are not up for adoption, but they still desperately need your help. These children cannot be adopted, but you can still help them when you decide to sponsor a child with Compassion International. Compassion is not an agency that places children for adoption. Instead, we connect loving sponsors with children from developing countries who are in great need.

When you sponsor a child, you provide:
*Nutritional food
*Supplements and clean water as needed
*The opportunity to attend school or stay in school
*Health care (regular health checkups, immunizations, medicine and more)
*Opportunities to learn job skills
*Beneficial recreational activities
*The opportunity to learn about Jesus and experience God's love firsthand
*An intimate relationship with you through letters and pictures. You can even visit your child in his or her native country!

When you sponsor a child, you are linked with one particular child, who will know your name, write to you, and treasure the thought that you care.

If you're waiting for children for adoption, you clearly have a heart for children in need. Why not sponsor a child today? Your cost: only $38 a month, which is much less than the cost to adopt a child. Even better, you don't have to wait. You can sponsor a child through Compassion right now. Simply click one of the children's pictures to the left to get started today.

Ahem. Um...OK.

So, below that there were 1622 children that were unsponsored. How in the world do you pick? Our other cutie pie from Uganda, Esceza, Anli chose at a Casting Crowns concert we went to over 5 years ago. That sweet little thing is one of our family! Her pictures hang on my fridge along with my kids'. Her photo is in my bathroom right next to ones of the girls. She is my little God baby...not born in my tummy...not mine to hold and care for...not one who is orphaned and needs a family...but one that God called us to love and care for like she was ours.

How in the WORLD would I even begin to know? So...I prayed. I sat. I listened. He answered my heart.

What did I speak to you 3 months ago concerning this adoption thing? Wait for an Isaac experience and don't try to force an Ishmael one.

What were you going to name the son you desired? Isaac.

What country is so very tender to your heart? Uganda.

Well then. Enough? Enough.

So, I sat trembling with my computer in my lap and began to look through 1622 profiles. Every SINGLE one. At number 700 I met Isaac...from Kenya. OK, God maybe Uganda was too specific! Kenya is in Africa...Uganda is in Africa. I heard wrong...I did my own thing...I assumed you meant Uganda. But, after SEVEN HUNDRED profiles...I think little Mr. Isaac who is seven years old and cute as they come from Kenya is our boy...right?

Well, I kept going to make SURE there was not another Isaac and as I went through a THOUSAND profiles there was not ONE other Isaac to be found! I'm getting more and more confident that little Mr. Isaac from Kenya is our fella and I just heard wrong or thought wrong on the whole Uganda thing. Maybe I just have Uganda too much on the brain!

I still kept going. After ONE THOUSAND, SIX HUNDRED, and TWENTY profiles my eyes were blurry and there was not ANY other Isaacs!!!

NOT ONE.

Then, I clicked the LAST page...where two other profiles were found and number 1622 out of 1622...

Isaac from Uganda.

I lost my breath. My heart stopped...literally. There was our Isaac from Uganda...and he is...

NINETEEN.

My eyes teared up. My heart was hammering like it is right now. I was in shock.

Isaac from Uganda.

The last profile.

Number 1622 out of 1622.

The last one.

The least.

The oldest.

Nineteen?

Nineteen.

I showed him to Jay and his eyes were as big as the moon itself. Nineteen? Nineteen.

We knew he was our fella. We told the girls the story...they were amazed! They couldn't believe there was an Isaac from Uganda...we couldn't either girlies!

I called Brooke and she had chills since she had heard me share about all of this before Isaac from Uganda! I'm glad I had someone else who knew the prompting of my heart beforehand. She said the most precious thing I won't forget...

"Isn't it just like God to wrap all of this in your heart in a NINETEEN year old when in your mind you thought of a little one?"

My mentor said:

"Remember the Blind Side? He was 17!"

We were amazed together! I called and shared with 2 other friends and they were in awe of God's confirmation and Hand.

We immediately sponsored Isaac from Uganda! We called this morning to get some more info on him and about the older kids in the program without sponsors. I told the Compassion rep on the phone the story and she was giddy with excitement! She told me the plight of the older kids without sponsors. How they see those around them that are little getting sponsors so easily while they continue to wait. They see those around them with letters, gifts, and photos while they wait...knowing that not many people get all the way to number 1622. Who looks at 1622 profiles and gets to the 16,17,18, and 19 year olds?

Thank you Jesus that we did! You spoke it and you made it come to pass. It was You alone who connected us with our Isaac from Uganda. Number 1622.

What a JOY this is! Are we adopting him? Um...no. Does he have a family? Praise God YES! Does he have siblings? Praise God YES! Does he and his family now receive the food, clothing, shelter, education, training in Christ, and prayer that the Lord desires they have? Praise God YES! Does he have a prayin' and lovin' family in GA? Praise God YES!

I pray that if you have never sponsored a child...especially an older child...that you would seek the Spirit's leading. I pray that you will visit Compassion and allow the Lord to lead you to the child that He has in store for your family. You will not only be a blessing...you will receive a blessing!

The spirit of adoption is not only in the actual act of adopting a child into your home physically. I am learning this through the past 14 months of being on the actual journey itself to bring a child home. The spirit of adoption is opening your heart to another and embracing them as your own family. Loving them with all you have and all you are. Serving them with open arms and open hearts. Praying for them like they are your own flesh. Loving them like they are your own flesh. Serving them like they are your own flesh. Laying down your life like they are your own flesh.

It's what our Heavenly Father did for us through the death and resurrection of Jesus His Son. He brought us into His family. He adopted us....spiritually!

Many of us have not adopted or can't adopt physically. Don't let that stop you from joining God's heart of adopting spiritually! I'll warn you...you won't get to snuggle with them at night. You won't get to feel their hugs in the morning when they wake up with a smooshy face. You won't get to hear them pray, be at their weddings, hold them as they cry when someone makes fun of them, see the joy of them have their first child...you won't get those. But, I'm learning...that's not what adoption is about.

It's not about what I get.

It's just not about me.

It's about joining the heart of God.

It's about loving without anything in return.

It's about Him...and about salvation...and about His glory.

Join His heart for the world. The orphans, the widows, the immigrants, the poor, the sick, the imprisoned, the battered, the rebellious, the angry, the trafficked, the slave...the lost. He loves them ALL.

What a story from the Author and Perfecter of our faith! It's a wild ride and aren't you just LOVIN' it?

Overflow: Praying for the Nations

2010-04-09T05:00:00.000-04:00

This is one of our family's favorite ways to pray together! For the past two years at least...if not more...we have been using the Prayer Points from the International Mission Board. You sign up to get this prayer calendar, and then they send it right to your mailbox at least a week before the new month begins. It has a short prayer request for the day that is only about 4 sentences long...perfect for short morning attention spans:)

They focus each month on a specific people group or area and then add in all kinds of other prayer requests too. We LOVE it!!! We also keep a beautiful decorative globe on our sunroom table where we have our breakfast and family devotion time, so that we the girls can immediately find where the country we are praying over is located. It's wonderful for ALL of our geography:)

Think about adding this 5-10 minute prayer calendar into your own personal prayer time or your family devotion at breakfast, dinner, or before bed! It is so easy and specific and we have learned so much about God's people and His world over the past few years one day at a time!

If you are interested in Prayer Points you can sign up here - AND it's FREE!!!!!!!

http://imbresources.org/index.cfm/fa/store.prod/ProdID/243.cfm

Enjoy!

Thive 365 ~

Frances

Overflow: Do it right NOW!

2010-04-08T05:00:00.000-04:00

How many times have you been on the phone with a friend who is pouring out her heart breaking issue and as you get off the phone you tell her "I'll be praying for you"? How often are you meeting a friend for a quick coffee and she is sharing some struggles she is having in her marriage. You listen and nod...but get up to leave with the promise to "be praying" for her?

Recently in a book called "A Mother After God's Own Heart" Elizabeth George knocked my socks off! She said that when she is on the phone with her kids (they are grown with families) and they share a need in their lives...she NEVER lets them off the phone without praying over that issue. She does that with all her friends too! Whew...con.vic.tion!

God totally pricked my heart on this issue! And...it's SO obvious...but I still forget! I am still working on this one in my life for sure. I find myself listening and journeying with women ALL the time. I get so involved that many times I simply get off the phone or leave the conversation and never pray for them RIGHT then!

The times that I have remembered...it has been SWEET and PRECIOUS and POWERFUL! I have asked God to remind me, remind me, remind me to do this. I still struggle remembering (a huge surprise, right?) but it's coming slowly.

I will also tell you that it changes your conversation! It is a totally different feel when you stop and ask that person if you can pray over that situation right now. It lets them and you be mindful that we are not to be about talk but about POWER! Prayer is powerful...because our GOD is powerful!!

Recently God reminded me on a phone conversation with one of my sweetest friends and our time of prayer was totally amazing! We prayed for each other and I felt so encouraged after hearing her sweet prayer over me and my family. What a blessing I would have missed!

When you offer to pray right NOW, it lets that person know that God is the one who has the power...not you. It also stops lots of groaning and gossiping when you pray together over the situation. I tell ya...it is awesome!

I pray that I will be more mindful to not simply tell someone that I will be "praying for you", but to pray WITH them right then (and also pray for them at other times!). You can do this on email also. Instead of emailing someone that you are praying for them...write those prayers out. Let them know what you are praying! Encourage them with your prayers.

If God brings someone to my heart to pray over...I try to either email or text them right that moment. I may not have time to call and chat, but I can shoot a quick note to let them know I am praying at that moment exactly for them specifically. It is so encouraging when I get those same notes and know that God is moving the hearts of those around me to pray for my family and struggles and battles!

Don't you just LOVE how smart and creative and kind our God is? Don't you love how we can engage with Him and talk to Him through the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ? It's awesome!

Let's ask God together to remind us to not just say we will pray...but do it right NOW!

Thrive 365~
Frances

Overflow: Learn from Others

2010-04-07T05:00:00.000-04:00

In seeking to honor God in a prayerful heart, I have found much encouragement in learning from others in the faith. In areas where you struggle, run to God's Word and seek His instruction and creativity in those areas of your life. Then, find exhortation from the faith walk of others. So many times God has burdened my heart for something...and then led me to a sister or brother in Christ who could encourage and exhort me in that area. We are to sharpen each other! We are the body and we can work together to edify and instruct each other. Here are just a few I have been reading recently on prayer:

There are so many more that I could name, but these are the most recent that I have been reading. You can get some from the last one...The Valley of Vision Puritan Prayers online as I have been doing. But, the book is something I may purchase soon.

I also highly encourage you to ask God to send you a mentor in the faith. I believe it is God's desire that, as women, we find a godly woman to encourage and to teach us. I have had one such lady (though MANY women mentor me in so many ways!) for the past 7 years and she has been such a powerful woman of faith in my life! I thank God for her!!!

I pray you are THRIVING in prayer!

Thrive 365~

Frances

Overflow: Meaning what you say!

2010-04-06T05:00:00.000-04:00

Today I wanted to share some convictions that God has placed on my heart about meaning it when I say "I'll pray for you." It seems like that has become the Christian's version of "Hi, how are you" or "See you later"! I have been way too guilty of promising that I will pray over someone's doctor visit, troubled marriage, school meeting, surgery, or suffering friends...and then forgetting soon after I walk away.

I have prayed for the person as I have walked away...many times so that I wouldn't be guilty of lying right to their face. I'm just being real here about my own crazy flesh right now. God really began to convict me of not meaning it when I said I would certainly be praying for someone. Have you had trouble remembering like me? It's not that we don't WANT to pray...heaven's no! We desire it with everything in us...but somehow life happens and a week has flown by and we quickly mumble some kind of prayer as we see them coming down the hall of church. We smile and say..."I prayed for you, Sister!" Um...somehow...I don't think that was cutting it:)

So, God showed me yet another way to mean what I say! I reminded me that I have a phone (it can be ANY phone. Seriously, I have had an iphone for like 3 months and before that I had a hideously old flip phone! It had a calendar with an alarm feature and it does perfectly!). So, as people emailed, called, and spoke with me about a prayer request I would take out my phone and program in the date of their meeting, dr. visit, divorce proceeding, or even schedule them every single morning for that week!

I would always set an alert for either during my gathering time with the Lord or at the moment that they were entering that meeting or dr. visit. I still do this even today! Every time someone asks me to pray...I set it on my phone to remind me so that I am there praying with them at just the time they need it. Certainly God brings them to mind at other times...but I don't have to miss an important moment when a sister is counting on me to join in prayer.

I have also set certain people on my calendar alert to pray every morning. I have promised them that I would join them in prayer each day over an issue. So, that alert goes off and I immediately pray! It has truly been a PRAYER saver!

You can ask some of my close friends...there are ALWAYS alarms going off on my phone. I have to remind myself of practically everything! But, I tell ya...I WORKS! And it should encourage you too if you are like me and have struggled with remembering to pray over people.

I felt so awful telling dear friends that I would be praying for them...and then I would just forget. It broke my heart and grieved me in my spirit. God has graciously helped me to use even my calendar to HIS glory...I love it!

One other perk of this system...it always reminds me to follow up! I try to text right then to let them know I am praying right at that moment. I will email or call (if they don't text) and let them know I was praying specifically and to see how everything went. It helps me to be more sensitive to the lives of others and get my thought off SELF and onto those around me!

I know almost ALL of you have a phone with some kind of reminder thing on it. If mine did...you can be sure your does! Check it out and when someone asks you to pray whip that baby out and set a reminder. I promise your friend will feel super special as you tell them it is so important for you to pray and not forget that you are setting that reminder RIGHT then. Also...I will make them feel better about themselves and their fleeting memory:)

Love you all to pieces and back together again!

Thrive 365~
Frances

Overflow: Praying for Others

2010-04-05T05:00:00.000-04:00

I'm sure you are wondering WHAT in the world this photo is about:) I have been sharing about some ideas on prayer that the Lord has given me to help my crazy brain to focus and redeem moments of my day for HIS glory. This idea was lived out in front of me by my campus minister Clete Sipes, who has gone to be with our Lord. It has shaped me in a powerful way in my praying for those around me.

Clete would assign the people in his life (that the Lord had brought to his heart to pray for) a day and he would at least weekly lift that person and their needs up to the Lord by name. He prayed for me on Tuesdays...and it was so encouraging to know that someone was specifically praying for me that day. I was the TNT (Tuesday Nights Together) leader at the time for the Baptist Campus Ministries and led the weekly worship service on Tuesdays. He prayed over me to glorify God in all that I would do in leadership that night.

From college until now I have always used this schedule. It changes all the time. There are friends who are going through crisis in their lives and they get put on the list for a season. There are new friends that the Lord impresses on my heart to pray over...they get on the list. There are seasons when some people are doing great and the Lord releases them from the list and I pray for them as He lays them on my heart. It is always fluid...and Spirit led...but it helps me to be accountable to pray for those precious people God has allowed me to journey this life alongside.

God has really placed prayer as a focus in my life more and more. It is something He has guided me through and lovingly given me ways to incorporate it all through the "lost moments" of my day that I would otherwise waste.

OK...for those of you who know me...this strategy is not new but a little different now. Back to the photo! I used to place my memory verses in my shower on index cards inside a ziptop bag affixed with duct tape...thank you Lord for creating duct tape! But, now I have my daily prayer list there to help me to lift up those people while I wait on my conditioner...or shaving my legs.

Many of you may think I am crazy...someone has already told me they would never do this kind of thing...but God helps me to follow the command that in word or DEED do it all to His glory. Why can't I wash and condition my hair to HIS glory? Those are moments that I am alone and would normally waste in senseless thoughts.

You surely don't have to put your prayer list in your shower:) But, if you find that you are not praying over people in your life as you feel God leading you to...then maybe a daily schedule would help. Assign those that GOD leads you to pray over a day and then place that wherever you pray...or like me...have moments that need some redeeming!!!

This has allowed me to be truthful when I say I am praying for you. I really am! Now, please don't try to read the names:) I went a little further back so that it would be more private...but this list is certainly NOT all the people that I pray for! I also ask the Spirit to lead me to pray for those at all times. He brings them to mind! But, these are those I am yoked up with in prayer!

Hope this helps someone:) It has been powerful in my own life...thanks to Clete!

Thrive 365!
Frances

He Is RISEN!!!!

2010-04-04T07:22:00.000-04:00

"On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' " Then they remembered his words.

When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the leven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened." Luke 24:1-12

How precious that women were the ones to first hear the news and share it with others!!! As I am up before sunrise this morning...I await the moment to tell my girls HE IS RISEN!!! Women were allowed to hear these precious words first and had the honor of telling the disciples. Ladies may we seek to lovingly share of our risen Lord not just today but every day!!!

Also, notice that it was when they "remembered His Words" that they believed and went to tell others!!! Praise Him!!! Ladies, we must be IN His Word and have them written on our hearts in order to remember them! Begin today with time reading and savoring His Word!! They remembered His Words...ah that is the satisfaction of our souls sweet friends. It comforts us in our sorrow, guides us when we are confused and perplexed. It fills us to the FULL...and then allows our cup to overflow.

There us so much more I could share about this passage...like never look for the living among the things of the dead! Jesus came to give us LIFE to the FULL...let's not look for life among acceptance from others, being supermom, money, cute clothes, fabulous houses...those will never lead us to LIFE! Look to The living Lord!!! Oh...this a amazing day to celebrate that we no longer look to the dead sacrifices for life and forgiveness...no...we look to the LIVING Jesus Christ!

And as the girls rise this morning, they will find LIFE in the pots! Beautiful white flowers have replaced the buried seeds. LIFE has burst forth! Our cross is no longer there on our pantry, but replaced with the GOOD NEWS!!! We are celebrating BIG TIMe today in our home:) Tell everyone you see today that HE IS RISEN!

John 7:58-8:1

2010-03-25T06:30:00.000-04:00

"They each (disciples) went to their own houses, but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives."

Somehow today I couldn't get past this passage. I just had to stop and think on this one. Now, I have known in my head that Jesus said that he had no place to lay his own head...but in this passage I just could feel it. I felt loneliness for Jesus here.

Can you just imagine getting to the end of teaching at the Feast of Tabernacles and all the questioning he undergoes...then his disciples all return to their own homes to rest and relax. And Jesus? He goes to the Mount of Olives...and it says he stays there until the next day at dawn when he appeared at the temple gates.

I thought about how He went to that mountain while everyone else was talking, laughing, and enjoying time with family in their own homes...while Jesus is outside alone. No wonder the Mount of Olives was so dear to Him. We see Him spending much of His time there in prayer. It was a place He was alone with His Father...but alone nonetheless.

Today I saw a glimpse of the loneliness that Jesus might have had here on this earth. Away from all the glories of Heaven and the honor rightfully due Him. Here our Savior is...sleeping alone outside. It just became more real to me today. It made me stop and be more thankful for the difficulties He faced every moment - and ultimately on the Cross.

As we are quickly working towards Good Friday and Easter, I pray that the familiar story does not fail to become real and personal this year. I pray that you will read and celebrate afresh. Let the Scriptures wash over you anew like never before. Get to know Jesus in a REAL way this year through His Word.

I pray that I will not loose the personal power and perspective of the Good News. May it change me every minute! Some days the Word doesn't come with a loud trumpet...today it came in quiet reflection and thankfulness to my Savior.

Overflow...Prayer Continued!

2010-03-24T08:44:00.000-04:00

Good morning friends! Well, I haven't been writing about the prayer series because God is still refining that time in my life. He convicted me to spend more time in prayer over my family, friends, and those around the world. So...I began listening and asking for Him to redeem the moments in my day to pray. Here is how it is looking so far...

I get up pretty early and it has been pushed back even more recently for daily planning (more on that topic soon...I tried to post it 4 times today and lost every one of them so I gave up!). So, after I spent time in the Word and journaling my thoughts on what I read and learned...I turned to prayer. But, since I am getting up earlier...I found that even WITH the head to toe prayers...I was falling into a netherworld of prayer and sleep:)

God is just so creative when I ask Him to give me ideas on how to pray and how to redeem my moments for His glory!! He answered right away:) I have been neglecting my time of exercise recently due to the crazy weather outside and the fact that we lowered our Lifetime membership to 2 times a month visits ($10 a month for the WHOLE family...YEAH!). So, I had let that part of my life just fall to the wayside and I could tell. Or...maybe it was the recent trip to Wal-mart for swimsuit shopping? Anyhoo...

Well, God being a VERY creative God pricked my heart to prayerwalk...literally! So, a week ago I began taking the time that I pray outside. I have done this before, but not in this kind of way. We live in an apartment complex that is in a large circle that is 1/2 mile for one lap around.

I assign each person in my family a lap...myself (to get all the yuck out of my own eye before I go praying over anyone else's life!), Jay, Anli, and Virginia. It takes me about 10 minutes to walk each lap so I focus my prayers on each of them head to toe...still using the Scriptures I had researched or whichever ones come to mind that day!

It's pretty brisk at that time of the morning, just around sunrise, so it certainly keeps me AWAKE during prayer time:) And as I was telling Jay this morning, it keeps me to my goal of at least 2 miles every day because I could NEVER jip someone in my family a lap of prayer! I mean REALLLY!! And I do switch around who gets the last lap...'cause it's not right for the same person to get the lap on the way home...or as my momma would say "as you head to the barn!"

I take my dog with me so that yet another redemption of the time is to make certain that my doggie gets his excercise each day. Y'all it is awesome! He has totally helped me to glorify Him in creative ways my combining the things He wants me to do, in a strategic way. That no matter what I do...it may glorify HIM! Pray with me that I will be comitted to this time of prayer!

Do you feel as if you don't have any time? Do you desire to add certain disciplines like prayer and Bible study and memorizing Scripture into your day...but feel defeated in looking at your full day? Ask God to creatively redeem your time! You will be surprised at how much time is wasted in a day...by you and me both:)

Seek Him FIRST and let Him dictate your schedule...BY GRACE! His mercies are new every morning! He is FAITHFUL to give you everything you need for life AND godliness...and that includes time. You may have to get up earlier...no one really likes to hear that...but it is SO worth it my friends!

And what about my friends, extended family, and others? I'll write on that tomorrow (Lord willing!)...

Let me know how God redeems your time! I can't wait to hear and get some ideas too:)

Thrive 365-
Frances

Please pray...

2010-03-20T09:18:00.004-04:00

Please pray for me as I head out to share with the sweet ladies of Warner Robins! I'm excited about meeting them all...pray for my 5 hour round trip drive today:) Lots of good time with the Lord!!

Thoughts on John...

2010-03-16T16:01:00.002-04:00

Well as you can see I haven't been updating on my head to toe prayer
book! It has been harder than I thought to narrow down all the amazing
verses I want to use! So I have been actively looking through my
Strong's concordance to find out what verses I want to meditate on
with each part...but there are SO many!!!

But I did want to share something I learned this morning and my
gathering time. I am in the book of John 7:16-18. Here Jesus is
teaching in the temple during the feast of Tabernacles. As He gets up
to teach the Jewish leaders are amazed at the authority with which He
speaks.

Jesus is response to their amazement has brought about much thought
and conviction to me today.

Jesus says...
"the one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory, but the
ones who seeks the glory of him who sent me is true and in him there
is no falsehood."

My heart's prayer today in light of those verses was that I would
never speak in my own authority. But I know that I do! I speak so many
words each and every day and many times I never stopped to think about
who is getting the glory or with whose authority I'm speaking.

I just speak. I speak words to my husband, to my children, to my
friends, and to groups of ladies all around this country. Now when I
speak to women's groups, I always think about whose authority is
guiding my words. I pray very hard, I listened intently, and I seek
totally to speak to His glory.

But during my day... Not so much. So many times I know I speak my
own opinion, my own thoughts, and many times in my own authority. And
Jesus said there is so much falsehood in that. I so want to speak
words that are true and give him all the glory.

Lord today, please help me to be quick to hear and slow to speak.
May I count my words so carefully and may every word I speak or teach
to be in His authority and for His glory!

Thrive 365!
Frances

Head to Toe...Covering Your Family In Prayer!

2010-03-08T20:10:00.003-05:00

Well, I planned to start this post earlier than tonight...but it has been a beautiful day here!!! So, I had a phone conference that I needed to have this morning, did school work, and then headed out into the most glorious weather with the girls. We walked, rode bikes, and finally played in the sand for literally over an hour. We relished the sunshine and the good workout we got...and time together.

This is my dearest ministry...and so blogs must wait:)

As promised, we are beginning a series I am WAY excited about..."Head to Toe-Covering your family in prayer." This idea is not totally mine as I have been SO inspired by Stormie Omartian's book, "The Power of a Praying Mom." Normally I tend to steer clear of books that have many spin offs...but encouragement on being a praying mom...well, I grabbed this book!

There is one small reference in the to an idea of praying over our husbands head to toe. I LOVED that idea!!! I searched online and it seems that in her book on praying for your husbands she goes over this idea more in depth. I have never read that book...so many of you might know better than I do about that.

I was THRILLED to have a concrete way to direct my prayers for myself, my husband, and my girls. I have had a scheduled way to pray over all the people I know God Himself has placed into my life. I got it from my campus minister Clete Sipes. He assigned people a day and he prayed over them once a week. Well, for YEARS I have had this type of schedule for others...but I pray for my family DAILY and didn't really have a way to pray strategically.

See, I am a writer. I process either out loud (and praying out loud as early as I get up to meet with the Lord is NOT appreciated!)or on paper. After a while I stopped writing my prayers out (for several reasons I have already mentioned in other posts) but also...my hand got VERY tired:)

Without writing or talking...y'all...I get very distracted in prayer. I try really to focus, but it's hard. Real hard.

So, when I tell you how excited I am about this strategy for praying over my family...it has literally revolutionized my prayer life for them. Now, I still pray over family and friends on their day too. But, one thing Stormie said in her book is that no one will pray for your children like you you will. And that is true. Wow! That challenged me to the core.

I had to look hard at the time I spend praying over my husband and children daily, and I have to say I wasn't happy. No one on this earth loves my kiddos the way Jay and I do. No one. Do I pray like that? Hmmmmm.

So, I took my friend Stormie's advice and ran with it in my own style! See, I am always on the look out for amazing moms who love the Lord and can encourage and exhort me in my life!

So, for a while we will be walking through my little prayer book that I am making. Each page features a picture of one of my girls parts...head to toe! Along with a photo to make it really personal and so I have something real to concentrate on while I am praying, I have scripture verses to focus my prayers. I ***LOVE*** praying God's Word over my family!!! So, as I have begun praying over them head to toe, I have also been amazed at all the scriptures that have come to my mind all the time. You will find that out too!

But, I am taking time to type them out so that I have a reference point to begin. It's always nice to have a reminder that early in the morning:)

Tomorrow we will begin with their sweet heads. There are LOTS of parts to that prayer and so it won't just be one quick prayer over the head. We will pray the armor over them, prayers of protection, and prayers of anointing. This is good stuff!!!

Stormie...girl...I owe you a debt of gratitude! You have helped me to become a more effective praying momma!! Tomorrow we begin...

Overflow Series!

2010-03-05T08:04:00.000-05:00

OK...so as I have taken a break from blogging I have been reading and praying...and I am super excited about a new series that God has put on my heart to share about.

I will be doing a series on Overflow. For years I have been focusing on being satisfied and totally thriving in our personal relationship with God through the daily power of His Word. Then, about 2 years ago, God laid Isaiah 58 on my heart and my life again changed forever! Those who TRULY thrive are those who allow themselves to OVERFLOW what God is pouring into them!

Psalm 23 shows the picture perfectly when it says:

"You anoint my head with oil...my CUP OVERFLOWS!"

When God anoints our heads, blesses our lives, pour into our lives His eternal love and salvation...you WILL overflow! So, for a while I will be focusing most of my posts on the DFM blog about how that looks for us as women, wives, moms, employees, and most importantly followers of Christ everyday.

We will begin with prayer...mainly because I have been using an AMAZINGLY fun and effective prayer tool. You are going to **LOVE** it:) I am still getting all the pieces together though I have been praying this way for a while now and find it oh so helpful for those of us whose minds dart to all sorts of things during prayer time. If you are discouraged with your prayer time...PLEASE come and be encouraged by some FUN and powerful ways to pray over those you love!

I'm excited! I feel like God brought me to this break to speak fresh inspiration and fresh words into my heart. And...you know I just LOVE to share;) We will not only tackle prayer but overflowing into the lives of those around you...the homeless, the poor, the widows, the orphans, YOUR FAMILY (yes, God specifically tells us about how to care for our family in Isaiah 58...and not turn our backs on them for ministering to others!! Good stuff!!!) and so much more.

You may want to hit your local dollar store and get you one of these...

It's a plain old cheap photo brag book that you can find anywhere. The prayer series will open up with using one of these in a fun and creative way to really focus your prayer life! Can you tell I'm having a hard time waiting to share...Monday!!!!

Thrive 365~
Frances

Jesus Film

2010-03-02T09:09:00.002-05:00

As you are focusing yourself and your families on Christ, especially during this time leading up to Easter, think about watching the Jesus Film together. They not only have the 2 hour version, but offer a 1 hour children's film. We are planning to watch this together on Thursday night. I have not seen this version and we are looking so forward to it!

You can find both films at:

http://www.jesusfilm.org/

Notice that you can watch this film in so many languages!! Also, enjoy reading all the testimonies. It's an amazing tool!

Take time each day to focus yourself and your family on the Gospel. Allow your day to be centered around the GOOD NEWS of salvation through faith in Jesus' death, burial, and Resurrection! Enjoy...

Thrive 365 -
Frances

John 6:16-21

2010-03-01T15:50:00.002-05:00

Hi girls! I'm so glad to be starting a new week in God's work together!

Today I want you to look at John 6:16-21. This is a familiar story to
many of us, but I want you to take your time and look at these verses
with fresh eyes today.

As I was reading the first thing I came to was verse 17, where it says
that it had become dark and Jesus had not come to them yet. Have
there been times in your life when you felt as if your situation was
getting very dark and Jesus had not yet come to you?

I think there are times in all of our lives when the storms seem to be
coming on rough, the winds are blowing, and the situation is getting
dark and we feel as if Jesus isn't going to come.

The disciples had been rowing and rowing for miles before they saw
Jesus coming to them. I'm sure they felt discouraged and perhaps even
a little hopeless as they spent that time tossed about in the boat.
And then they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming to them! And
they were scared!

They didn't recognize him. They didn't know it was him. But when He
spoke...they knew His voice and they were glad to take Him into the
boat. And my most favorite part of this section is that immediately
the boat was at the place they were going.

Oh how I needed to hear this today! I wrote in my journal this morning
that I am so grateful that because Jesus is with us, we are always in
His timing. As we journey through this life, it is so easy to take our
eyes off of Jesus... to feel that he has not yet come to us in our
hard times.

But we must trust that He is there, He loves us, and that when we
gladly seek to have Him in charge of our boat's course...we will
safely land exactly where we need to be...right on time! May we be
able to see Jesus in the storm with eyes of faith today. May we rest
in him and in his plan.

Thank you Jesus for your timing that is so perfect. Thank you for
always coming to us in the storm and help us not to be tossed by the
waves, but to be focused on you alone! Lord today please keep our
focus on you during the rough winds and seas of our lives. May we see
you and invite you into the boat gladly, knowing that at just the
right time we will arrive at the destination. Help us to rest in that
today!

Thrive 365-
Frances

Clarkston

2010-02-25T10:44:00.002-05:00

Please pray as the kids and I head to Clarkston this afternnon to meet with a Congolese mom. She has been here for only 2 weeks (in the US) and we are going over to her house today. Pray that we will help in some small way!

My reading today is from John 6 where Jesus feeds the 5000. No matter what small gift of faith we can offer...it is Him who does the miracles! And...of course...it is ALWAYS enough. Take special notice how Jesus gave them all they could eat...and when they had enough there were leftovers!!! He doesn't waste a thing!

I need to know that He will work His miracles in the lives of those around me and in my own life and it will be MORE than enough!

Thank you Jesus!!! I have MORE than I could think or imagine. Now, may a small step of faith be in your hands.

Lent Day #3...The Fall

2010-02-19T21:59:00.000-05:00

Today we read Genesis 3 and it was such a wonderful discussion with the girls. In Genesis three we see the Gospel right before our eyes. So many people feel that Jesus is only found in the New Testament...but as John 1:1 tells us...He was with God in the beginning. This is His story of redeption. The Gospel IS the story!

So, tonight we walked through the Gospel story of sin and the precious way we see God cover Adam and Eve with animal skins. We see the first blood sacrifice covering the first sin. God Himself is the one to cover sin and to make the precedent of sacrafice for sin...because the wages of their sin and our sin is death.

We are loving this 40 days through the Bible, because it is reminding us ALL to see Jesus in every single part of history. It is centering our readings on the Gospel and seeing Jesus in every single part.

What about you? Have you recognizes your sin against God? Have you confessed that to Him? Have you, by faith, believed that Jesus is the Son of God and the only Way to be reconciled with God? Will you accept His sacrifice on the Cross, the shedding of His blood in your place, His ressurection and victory over the grave and live your life with Him as not only your Savior but Lord?

If you have questions about these things, email me (frances@desertflowerministries.com)! I would love to talk to you!! Be blessed...

Thrive 365~
Frances

John 5:30

2010-02-18T06:21:00.002-05:00

Read over this verse and meditate on what God wants to say to you personally through it.

What a beautiful verse! Jesus shares that even HE does nothing on His own...but that He listens and hears from God and then does His will. He doesn't seek His own will...even being in nature God Himself. But somehow WE get the idea that we can operate just fine on our own will. We go about our days relying on self and our own wisdom and judgements. I know many times throughout my day as a mom, I go about giving out judgements based on my own thoughts, opinions, emotions, mood, and my own will.

Today, I want to again (it's a moment by moment surrender!!!) deny my own agenda for today and listen only to my Father. When I listen and HEAR His Words...then the things I do and words I say will not be because of what want and think...they will be led by God!

We were watching the men's skating and there was A young teen who was skating. They interviewed him about his coach who had passed away. The young skater said that his coach was involved in everything he did...and even corrected his table manners when they went out to eat. He had a coach who was concerned about him as a whole and he learned more than just skating from him.

That is the way with our relationship with God. Many times we just want instruction in our "spiritual" lives and when God's Word challenges us to give up our rights in our friendships and marriages, tells us to have complete Truth in our workplace, to lead our children, share our stuff with those who don't have any stuff...we just don't want to do it. We don't want to submit and surrender our own lives...all to Him. We want to still keep our will. We want Him to leave our table manners out of it and just worry about the skating.

Jesus challenges us to follow His example of listening only to God for ALL things...and then following. Surrendering our will...all of it...and realize we can do NOTHING on our own! What freedom and release!!

Easter Tree

2010-02-17T14:52:00.003-05:00

Today begins the first day of our Easter Tree. My mom always had an Easter Tree and I just loved it! I'm sure it is up in her house as I write this. So, since we all have so enjoyed turning our pantry door into our family celebration center...I began to ponder how to approach Easter. Then, upon reading about the kind of Easter Tree celebration Noel Piper used...and then seeing another crafty friend Andrea's ideas...I got to work creating something of our own.

When I began to think about what kind of tree to have...I could only think of the Cross. So, we bought some burlap (think sackcloth and ashes for grieving and for Ash Wednesday which begins Lent). Then, we cut "an old rugged cross" out of brown felt. This one is not meant to be fancy, pretty, or glamorous. This one is to remind us of the upcoming death of Jesus on the cross. This one is to cause us to reflect. The girls and I talked about how different this one looked than our valentine's one. Two displays of love.

Then, because I liked the daily devotions and yet wanted the feel of the Jesse tree we had, I used daily readings and symbols from Andrea's blog for her Easter Tree. But, I wanted to use pictures and attach them with a pin to the Cross. They are sharp and remind us the nails. Each day as we pierce the cloth with those pins...it is tangible reminder of the piercing nails and the rugged cross. This one is somber.

I simply used the daily suggested pictures and hopped on Google to print out photos of the symbol or Bible story that goes along with the reading. The readings walk us all the way through the Bible to remember the entire story of the Bible is about Jesus!!! I laminated them with contact paper and then cut them out. I printed out the readings and we began the first one today. The mustard seed...to remind us it all begins with FAITH!

Lastly, we hung our seed of faith at the bottom...the foundation. We will hang our pictures from the bottom up in order to show how the Old Testament lays a foundation! We will end at the top on Good Friday...with a crown of thorns and a cross filled with fulfilled prophesy! Then, the cross will hang there until early Sunday morning. It will be GONE...and we will celebrate that He is RISEN!!!

We will be using Noel Piper's 7 candles of Easter...much like we used our Advent candles. I posted about earlier today about her article and book that outline all about it. So, you can read it there:)

For the next 40 days all I will be posting are daily thoughts on the readings for the day and photos of the Cross. I need to focus on the Cross and less on self. I need this break to bring the Cross and Resurrection to the forefront. I need to decrease and let HIM increase.

The Old Rugged Cross...

Our small little seed...

The pin to remind us of the nails that pierced his hands and feet on that Cross...

The seed is hung at the foot of the Cross to lay the foundation of faith...

May this 40 days be amazing! May we boast in the Cross and celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ! May our lives radiate the Gospel!!!

Thrive 365~

Frances

Lent...

2010-02-17T08:49:00.001-05:00

Today begins Lent. This article by Noel Piper (John Piper's wife) and her book which is online for free explains much better than I can about the meaning behind Lent. It is like Advent in that it is a season of reflection and waiting. It is a time when we focus our hearts and our lives on the Cross and the empty tomb. For 40 days many fast in order to focus themselves on Christ and his life, death, and Resurrection. Each of us will be praying about what God would want us to fast from in order to have more pockets of time to focus on Him.

We are beginning the daily devotions (in addition to the weekly ones found in the article above...I'll post the link on my first Lent post tonight) and also do a unique Easter Tree for our pantry door this year. I am excited that Noel Piper has shared some wonderful ideas with us and we can all take a few and maybe incorporate them into our family traditions in our own unique way!

I pray that I will embrace the Cross this year more than ever. I pray that I will boast in Christ alone! I pray that this blog will be a place where grace and the Gospel are shown and proclaimed. I pray that I will decrease and HE will increase.

I will post about our Easter Tree and how we can take these 40 days to focus on the Cross and the empty tomb!!! I can't wait!!!

2010-02-16T10:50:00.002-05:00

For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. John 5:26

I just LOVE this verse!!! Life itself comes from the Father...both physically and spiritually. I began thinking about how flippantly I view life. I breathe in. I breathe out. I go about my day as if it's not a MIRACLE!! Ask any nurse or doctor who believes in the Lord and they will totally agree that for us to just go about daily life is amazing!!!

Yet, I don't live as if it is a miracle most days. For the past several days our family has been watching the Olympics together. I do NOT have a competitive bone in my whole body. I hate to win because I hate for someone to loose. So, the Olympics fascinate and yet confuse me. I can't FATHOM the pressure or the drive to do what these amazing athletes do. These people push their lives to the total brink of what is physically and mentally possible...and they will say it over and over again in almost every interview...it makes me feel alive.

It makes me a nervous WRECK!!! I am on the couch holding my breath as men throw tiny women way up into the air and they land on something as wide as my FINGER! I am a ball of nerves seeing men fly downhill on two planks of wood on the edge of control and a trip to the ER. But, they tell us that they feel alive.

I thought about that today as I read these verses. How often do I feel that alive either physically or...spiritually?

Our LIFE is from the Father...the fact that a sinful human can be in a relationship with Him is a MIRACLE!!! Yet, many times we just take it so casual. We never experience the LIFE to the FULL that Jesus promised us. We are walking on the sidewalk when we are able to mount up on wings of eagles...to walk and never be faint...to never thirst or hunger again. Now there aren't any gold medal Olympians who can boast that!!!

How are you going about life today? Are you running all out and hard after God and what He wants to do in your life? Are you like Peter walking on the water by faith? Are you thriving instead of just surviving? Our walk with God is meant to be filled to overflowing with LIFE!!! Our passion and desire and commitment should but Olympians to shame!!!

May we all embrace the wild ride of faith today!

Fast Forward in John

2010-02-15T13:31:00.002-05:00

Well, I had a "great" idea that I would go back and write my precious thoughts on the passages I had already studied in John. I thought that would help me to stay ahead of the game and post more consecutively on the book of John. But, the problem is that as I am going back over my notes in my journal for that day...I am more excited about what I studied THIS morning that I'm wanting to share it instead of what I learned a few weeks ago.

So...I think we are going to fast forward in John. I am in chapter 5 right now and when I sit to write...I want to share about what is on my heart TODAY...what is freshly gathered in my basket from this morning.

It's kind of like going to the Farmer's Market! All of that fresh picked produce fresh for that day...I just want to eat and cook it all to enjoy right then while it is ripe and fresh. That is the way I feel about God's Word...it is fresh for each day!

I will be picking up in John 5:21-24 today. And the thoughts I had this morning turned to the beauty of the Trinity. Take a moment to read over these few verses.

I just LOVE the way Jesus describes His relationship with the Father. It is seamless, intertwined, complete, personal, powerful, beautiful, complex, confusing at times (to me!!!), and ageless. When we honor the words of Jesus...we honor God. When we neglect His words each day and go about our day in our own strength and power...neglect to honor God.

Today, God challenged me to not only gather each day, but to savor it and make it a moment-by-moment part of my life. It's like if we went to that same Farmer's Market and spent time gathering the most delicious, ripe, beautiful, delectable fruits and veggies. We brought them home, placed them in a bucket in our pantry and went about our day. We never ate them, never enjoyed their delicious taste, and never felt the energy from eating them. Yes, you gathered. Yes, you took time to find tasty fruits and veggies. But, you never ATE them!!

It is so vital that we spend time reading God's Word and praying every single day of our lives. I strongly believe that starting each morning in His Word is like gathering the food and provision we need specific for that day. But, without actually walking in it, believing it, doing it, understanding it, and applying it to every moment each day...it's just sitting in a bucket in the back of our pantry.

I pray today that you and I will FEAST!!! God provides EVERY single thing we need for life and godliness...everything!!! Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father. We lack nothing of value in Christ. But, we must honor His Word, believe His Word, and apply His Word!

When we truly believe the Words of Jesus, not only are we able to have eternal life, we are going to experience LIFE to the FULL!!!

Let's feast on His Word today...and walk in the power of it every moment.

Thrive 365~
Frances

Winter Olympic Prayer Guide

2010-02-11T05:00:00.000-05:00

We ordered this wonderful prayer guide to go through each day of the
Winter Olympics AND the Paralympics. We have been busy studying the
history and facts and games of the Olympics in school, so when I saw
this guide on the WMU website...for $1.99...I couldn't wait for it get
here!!! And it arrived today just in time.

But, I encourage you to purchase it and just start when it arrives
since it will be going on until Feb. 28th...so you have time!!!

I will also be posting daily prayer points for each day that are in
the back as a quick reference guide just to get us all praying as we
watch and cheer. The Olympic mission teams need our prayers as do
those who are lost. Let's be strategic during this time when the
world's eyes are all turning towards this event.

If you would like to purchase this book please click on this link:

http://www.wmu.com/index.php?q=content/go-gold

I also got another wonderful item that I'll tell you about soon/)

Thrive!
Frances
www.desertflowerministries.com

2010-02-10T09:53:00.001-05:00

Last night was a wonderful...and also a HARD night. Each Tuesday night I go and hang out with my girlfriends at My Sister's House (Atlanta Union Mission) and I LOVE it!! They are so much fun and some of the most inspirational people I have ever met. They truly know what it is like to walk through the darkest valleys and trust in God. I am always challenged and ALWAYS blessed to be with my girls.

I was asked last September to come each week and help them with their GED prep. OK...I have NEVER done that before and had NO idea what in the world I was doing. But, that was the need and I had the degree to fill the need. So, I began going and week after week I fell. in. love. with every single one of these girls. They are some of my sweetest friends. They shake me out of my version of reality and make me look into the face of REALITY.

Week after week we grow closer. For the past few weeks the mission has cracked down on the women really participating in the GED program, so our group has grown and new faces are there each week...and I'm loving it:) To make it even better...my friend Amanda whom I have been meeting with for YEARS also comes to help and tutor along with another friend of ours. We have grown really close to every single one of these ladies.

I like helping with GED...but I LOVE when I can lavish on these women! I can't do it all the time since I am there, not to lead a mini retreat every week, but to help them get their GED and gain some job skills. So, when a holiday comes around I can't WAIT to love on those ladies and just lavish some fun gifts, girlie items, yummy treats, and a few words of encouragement from God's Word. Last night...was that night!

The amazing friends at the GBC donated some really groovy bags for the women to carry all their GED items in each week. And DFM was able to buy each lady a red long stemmed rose. Don't you know that EVERY woman should get roses on Valentine's day? Well, in my mind they sure do:) Then, I borrowed/copied/stole a theme from my creative friend Rhonda. We talked about how popular the show "The Bachelor" has been and how there is one guy who "chooses" a lady by giving her a rose. So, she feels really special since she has gotten the red rose. She wants so desperately to be "chosen."

Unfortunately, being chosen on "The Bachelor" is a bit warped to say the least. But, there is a man, named Jesus Christ, who has chosen me...and those precious ladies at the mission. As I handed each of them a beautiful rose of crimson, we were ALL reminded how no matter what is going on in our lives or where we find ourselves we are chosen by the man who can NEVER let us down. The man who bore a cross and shed crimson blood to be in a personal relationship with us. What a MIGHTY good man!

It was a very special time for all of us as we reflected on the great love shown to each of us on the Cross. How Crimson stains set us free! How we are chosen by God for all eternity! Amazing!

Then, a sweet and very close friend of mine stuck her little face into the room. I tried to usher her in to join us and she said she couldn't come tonight. I took a rose and a groovy bad along with a few cookies out to her...this is one of my closest friends in my class. She has been in the class for most of the time I have been there (7 months).

As she and I talked (over tears) she shared that she was having to leave the mission (medical issues) and that ALL 6 of her children were going that VERY night into foster care. I'm crying as I write this. I was speechless. We were broken. It just got really personal.

These children are ones I see every week as they run into my room to see what "treats" we have, peering into my bag of chocolates I bring for the women each week ('cause every women needs chocolate to study with!!), and bring life into the study room. They are gone.

We hugged and prayed and KNEW there was VICTORY in Jesus Christ. She encouraged ME with her faith and strength and determination. I was amazed.

As you know we went through the foster care training (haven't gotten any calls yet) and at the time it was just a little overwhelming to me. Lots of rules, lots of issues, lots of information and red tape. It wasn't really personal.

But, last night it got personal. It had a face and a name and months of history. It had laughter and mischief and noise and now silence. It's really personal now. That's the gift of God.

In Isaiah 58, God's people were coming to Him every single day. They were checking the God thing off on their list, going to church, bringing Him their problems, asking Him for answers...but it wasn't personal. God's response to this was to give a large (and to many of us overwhelming)list of things that SHOULD be personal if we love Him.

About a year ago, those words in Isaiah 58 got really personal. The homeless wandered has a name, little children, a desire to get her GED, and real issues, hopes, and dreams. The orphan crises went from an overwhelming thought of 147 million orphans in the world...to opening our home to one (or two) in God's perfect timing.

Satan sells us a bill of goods that says because you can't do it ALL you shouldn't do anything. We stand immobilized thinking about the crisis in Haiti, billions of people lost and dying, the AIDs crisis, 147 million orphans, the homeless, foster care, widows...our family, marriage, in-laws...

That we stand like a deer in the headlight not knowing what to do so we just stand there. But, the gift of God is that when you take a small step(and all my steps are so small they seem like they would get nowhere) towards obedience and have FAITH like a tiny little mustard seed He makes it personal...not a cause. Because taking on a cause is all about us and getting personal is all about a relationship. That's the difference in a ME task and a God vision.

Thank you God for making it personal. Thank you for blessing the little steps with BIG heart change in my life. Thank you for once again tearing my eyes and heart off self and letting me see people...not causes. Thank you for breaking my heart and letting me cry...with you. Forgive me for swimming in self. Thank for a little glimpse into the EXPANSE of your heart for this world. Help me not to stand immobilized in the enormity of this fallen world, but to hold your hand and take one step closer to your heart today. Thank you for your Word that is ALIVE!!!!!

(The ladies' faces are pixelated for privacy and safety...but trust me...they are BEAUTIFUL!)

John 1:24-29

2010-02-09T05:00:00.001-05:00

Let's start our time right now by reading these verses and praying over them slowly.

John was questioned about his role in ministry by the religious leaders. They wanted to know why he was doing ministry...if he was not a prophet or Elijah or the Messiah. But, John was still not swayed! He not only let Scripture define who he was...but what his ministry was. Because he knew Christ and by that he knew what his own ministry should be.

Oh, that is such a good word for those of us in ministry!! John had a right view of Jesus...and that gave him a right view of his ministry. Our view of Christ will lead us to a right view of ministry and our role in kingdom work. I pray today that knowing Christ and the power of the Cross would define who we are and the ministry that we do. May it all flow out of the Truth of the Word.

Today think about how and why you minister. Is it because no one else will do it if you don't? Is it to make yourself more known? Is it to do your duty? Is it out of compulsion? Or...is the overflow of seeing and knowing and savoring Jesus Christ and the power of His sacrifice and Resurrection?

I pray that in my own life I never see ministry as something I do...but it is the overflow of knowing dearly who Jesus Christ is! He is the One, the Lamb of God who takes away my sins!!! That is where ministry begins and ends.

John 1:18-23

2010-02-08T05:00:00.001-05:00

Take a moment to read over these verses...in your own Bible:) It's just powerful to open the Word and get into for yourself each day. That way before you ever read what I have written...you give the Lord a chance to speak directly to you personally. That the BEST!!

Well, today is my birthday! A day that there is lots of on the past year...and the year to come. It's a time of reflection for me and the kind of woman I am and want to be. So, these verses are very important question for me...where do I find my identity?

How powerful that John knew and confessed who he was and who he was NOT! The thing that is so impacting to me is that he knew and confessed who he was from scripture. John found his identity in God's WORD...not what his followers said about him, not what the pharisees said about him, or even what He thought about himself. He was grounded strongly in who GOD said that he was!! I need to hear that today...and every single day of my life!!! Our identity is found in God's Word and in the cross.

May I not see myself through my own eyes or the eyes of others (good or bad), but may I seek the Word to define who Jesus is and in that light to understand who I am. I pray that the Word will show my my own sin, faults, and to love Jesus and my Jesus more. I pray that the Word of truth will fill me to overflowing and may my cup overflow!

Today, pray over where you are finding your identity. Is it from your husband? Your parents? Your children? Your job? Your ministry? Your church? Your house? Your title? Or...is it from the very Words of God? Oh, how I pray that you and I will find our identity in Christ and the cross alone.

Thrive 365...
Frances

Mark 10:46-52

2010-02-01T09:57:00.002-05:00

Take a few moments to look over Mark 10:46-52. Yesterday in our Life
group we talked about how we must be the kind of friends that
encourage others to "take heart! Get up...Jesus is calling you!!"

Many times we are simply either the friends who are wishing and hoping
others would just keep their problems to themselves and leave us
alone. After all...we have enough worries in our own lives. Or we find
ourselves just being the kind of friend that just wants to wallow in
the muck and the mire along with others. We are sympathetic...but
that's it. When we leave those hurting are just left with all their
hopeless feelings.

But, I want to be the kind of friend who says, "Take heart!! Get up;
Jesus is calling you!!!" I want to be able to connect with the heart
of hurt, but help others up and to throw off their cloak of hurt,
anger, frustration, bitterness, or sin that so easily wants to
entangle us. I want to encourage them to get to Jesus!! Because the
last thing they need is another Dr. Phil moment:)

Another personal thought I had in prayer today as I continued to
meditate on these verses is that I want to daily be casting off my own
cloak of the things that entangle me...and "spring up and come to
Jesus!" I pray that I myself will be quick to cast ALL my cares upon
Him because I know He cares for me.

Lord, I thank You for Your Word today! May it continue to discipline
and encourage me all through my day. Thank you for "calling" me as you
did to blind Bartimaeus! May I have a spring in my spirit today...and
come to you with everything.

Thrive!
Frances
www.desertflowerministries.com

Please Pray!

2010-01-29T09:15:00.002-05:00

Please pray for me and a wonderful group of women as we meet together this weekend on Lake Martin. I am so excited to meet all these wonderful women and share my heart with them. Please pray that like the woman at the well (where I am in the book of John) and truly worship the person of Jesus in Spirit and Truth this weekend. That was my own prayer today!

I was reminded how easy it is to get distracted by the how...and forget the WHO!! I want to truly worship every SINGLE day of my life!!! The Samaritan woman got so distracted by the facts that she didn't recognize the FACE of her Savior. That is the danger for all of us! We have a wonderful retreat experience or we read an author that totally challenges us...and then we start to focus more on trying to recreate those feelings and experiences...that we miss that Jesus is there to be worshipped in spirit and Truth! His Word will satisfy your soul every single minute of every day!!! We can worship Him so richly in our pjs at 6am!

Today I pray that I will not look at the how...but the WHO of worship all day. I pray that I will dive deeply into the TRUTH of His Word and worship Him in spirit and not by will. I pray that each of us will see Jesus and be drawn to the Cross and grace. That is the only place true worship begins!

Thrive today sweet friends!

Noonday Church on 11Alive

2010-01-28T05:00:00.002-05:00

Our church has a vibrant ministry in Cambodia that ministers' to women and children who have been affected by sex-slave trafficking. This has been an amazing journey to follow as those from our church are forever changed as they travel to Cambodia. Recently a member of our church, Ashley MacDonald who is one of the meteorologists for 11Alive went on the mission trip with our former Executive Pastor and shot this video.

She was able to air this video and share the story of those in Cambodia!! It was so amazing to see the spotlight on God's hand in the lives of the "least of these"!! I wanted to share this short clip with each of you and pray that you will rejoice as attention is drawn to these precious women and children. I pray that more and more will be ransomed as a beautiful example of how we were ransomed from the slavery of sin by the blood of Jesus Christ...what a picture!

http://www.11alive.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=58705393001#/Cambodia%3A%20Ashley%20McDonald%20Special%20Report/58705393001

Prepare to Thrive!

2010-01-27T05:00:00.001-05:00

Recently I was asked to write a short article (I know what you are thinking...and YES it was hard for me to keep it to 400 words...I'm one wordy girl!!!) for a ladies' mission magazine called Conversations. I was thrilled when I heard that the theme for this issue would be "Honoring God in Your Preparation." I have been down that road recently with our upcoming adoption.

I won't share any more since the article says everything on my heart. I hope you enjoy it...and sign up to get Conversations through email. This is the e-copy and the print copy will be out sometime soon. Enjoy...and thanks again for all the prayers and support!!

http://www.gabaptist.org/FAITHNETWORK_USERFILESTORE/fileCabinet/ministries/237e6518-ae1d-4db3-844a-2959aa6966fc/wmu_conv-winter0910-heartpreparation.pdf

Thrive!
Frances

GBC Ministers' Wives Retreat!

2010-01-26T11:33:00.002-05:00

We had an amazing time this past weekend at the Georgia Baptist Convention Ministers' Wives retreat. Since I am serving as President this year...the officers (Paula and Amy my BFFs) were busy at work for months planning this retreat! It was A LOT of work, but once the ladies showed up it was AMAZING!!!

There were about 126 women in attendance there the entire weekend and the energy and joy was awesome. We laughed, cried, worshipped and grew together...we are some THRIVING women!

When we came on as officers, the one thing we wanted was By Design for our worship leaders...and it was amazing!! They brought us to the Throne and the tangible presence was overwhelming Friday night. After they led us in worship, we simply just had a concert of prayer together. It was very moving and something I won't forget.

Thursday night we had a game night where we played some group games for everyone to get to know each other a little better. We had so much fun!! Our focus this year was "Across the Table...Across the Street." For the first 2 sessions we talked about ways to grow closer to God and each other...then focused on overflowing to those across the street and across the world.

I could not have even imagined doing any of this without these women! Paula and Amy were not only wonderful partners...but wonderful friends. I love these girls...

(the first night was a pajama game night!)

We had a blast!!! God was so good to us and blessed this weekend in such an amazing way...can't wait until next year. Don't you love the no make up pajama look...comfy and REAL!

2010 Thoughts...

2010-01-02T13:30:00.000-05:00

I love New Years Day and starting a whole new year (and DECADE) off fresh! I just adore fresh starts filled with reflective thoughts on the old and starting anew. Yesterday I opened my fresh new journal for this year's devotions and began a new book of the Bible (John) and started my Chronological reading through the Bible for this year!!! I am in heaven:)

How about you? Maybe last year you were plagued with inconsistent times of prayer and fellowship with the Lord in His Word. Perhaps you did not spend time with Him at all. I don't know where you are in your relationship with your Father...but I pray that the number one thing on your list of resolutions will be to commit time every single morning to spend time in God's Word and in prayer.

One thing I have found VERY helpful is to buy a notebook that has close to 365 pages (there aren't any with that exactly but maybe 400 will do for you). Take a small portion of scripture (I do a few verses) and then pray, ponder, and write just a few thoughts on that passage. Here's the key for me...write the DATE at the top of the page!! That keeps you accountable! And lying about your devotion time with God...well...that's just way wrong:)

If you don't like to write much and journal, you could do multiple entries on each page and don't have to buy such a big notebook! I am also going to start a gratitude journal (thanks to my friend Shannon!) at the end of the day to spend time praising and thanking God. I can't wait to see how that goes this year.

I have found through the past year that accountability is so helpful! Sometime during the day try to carve out time to spend with the Lord. We all write and tell people that God is THE most important thing in our lives, yet spend our time on housework, facebook, twitter, blogs, youtube...and TV. What is really the most important to you? Where are you spending most of your time?

So, as we start this year I felt the most important thought I could share with others...and myself...is to start FRESH with the Lord! He loves it! He said that His mercies are NEW and FRESH every single morning of your life...oh praise Him for that!!

If you desire to read through the Bible (I do this portion at night before going to sleep...because I can NOT study that large of a portion of the Bible at a time...so it is just my way of gaining perspective on the FULL counsel of His Word), you don't have to buy a new Bible. Biblegateway.com has reading plans in multiple translations that update every day. This is a good way to set a goal to read the Bible through in a year without the expense of a new Bible.

Whatever, whenever, and wherever...spend time with HIM this year!!! It has been the one SINGLE thing that has revolutionized my life over the past 7 years ( I celebrate my anniversary of being CONSISTENTLY (not perfectly) in God's Word in April...8 years!!). It has been amazing and truly there are not words to talk about what God's Word has done in my life. I don't think I would still be a follow of Christ without it! I had tried every Biblestudy, commentary, class, conference, and tactic to get closer to God...nothing worked. But, God's Word ALONE has changed me and molded me and filled me to utterly overflowing every single day of the last 8 years. PRAISE HIS NAME!!!!

So, as you begin 2010 start fresh with the Lord. And if you blow it tomorrow...start fresh the next day. Praise Him that His mercies are not new every January 1st but EVERY morning!!! It isn't easy...Satan HATES for you to sink deep into the power of God's Word. So, trust me, every morning will be a FIGHT. My flesh ALWAYS wants to sleep longer, get busy first, check my email first, read a few blogs, and rush headlong into my day before I steal away with Him. But, my Spirit gets stronger and stronger and stronger and STRONGER every single day. 7 1/2 years later my flesh still cries out...but those cries are not nearly as loud for nearly as long and not nearly as strong. I KNOW how perfect His portion for me will be. How it will fill me to overflowing with GOOD things...like the richest of foods.

Fight with me this year! Lay hold of the GOOD things God has for you in His Word. Yes, it is battle...but one you have VICTORY promised to you through Jesus Christ! Girls, we can do this!

Get a notebook, get an accountability partner, text a friend every morning when you are finished to keep you accountable (I did this about getting up early last year and it ROCKED!), work with your spouse to BOTH get in God's Word separately and then talk about it at night, put it on your calendar with an alarm...WHATEVER it takes!

This is my resounding thought and prayer for you, for my family, friends, and those who read this blog for 2010. I am EXCITED! As I think and pray over 2010, there is nothing more important that I would share with you (and myself). It is eternal and will revolutionize your entire existence...trust me...it is one WILD ride sweet friends!

Happy New Year to you all...have a SWEET year from our family to yours!

PS. Those are fireworks around the 2010 pancakes!

Something to think about...

2009-12-30T08:57:00.002-05:00

"One of the great uses of Twitter and Facebook will be to prove at the Last Day that prayerlessness was not from lack of time."
— John Piper

I heard this on a podcast that I listen to and let that statement fall heavy on me. I don't have either of those...but trust me there are things like email and blogs that I could place in there as well. What a sobering comment...do I spend as much time in prayer as I do on those other "connection" sites? Do I place as much energy, interest, and time into connecting with my Father

John 1:1-17

2009-12-26T08:11:00.004-05:00

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

What a powerful way to begin my time in John!!! I love the stories of Jesus' birth on earth, but I love even more being reminded that He always WAS and is and is to come!!! I just sat and relished that amazing fact today we I sit alone and begin a new book study. I am finite and limited. We celebrate Jesus' earthly birth each year...but more joyous to me is that before that birth...He was and is GOD! He was not merely man...He is GOD!!! That makes that earthly birth so mind boggling...God in flesh...I can't comprehend it.

But wait. There is something that really got me truly rejoicing today!!! He tells us here in these verses that those who believe...He gives the right to be called the CHILDREN of God!!!!!! Now I just sat and pondered that. It says that we didn't get this right by our birth, our own human decision, or of our human relationships...but we are BORN of GOD.

Y'all that is going to take some soaking in. I've read it in several translations and it is just amazing and breath-taking in all of them. Y'all I am BORN of GOD! That is something we say and toss around like it is NORMAL...girls that is anything but normal!!! Just as GOS is all creation who was and is and is to come put on flesh is NOT normal...being born of God is crazy amazing!!

And it wasn't my birth that brought me into His family, it wasn't my own decision that brought me into this family. It was God alone who brought me into His family...born of God! WOW!

This also rings in heart for adoption. If there is to be a child brought into our family...it will not be birth (I had a hysterectomy at 30), or by our own human decision, or by some legal paperwork. It will a child born of God into this family. It will be by HIS work and not our own...should we try to boast. Oh His Word is so good! The satisfaction of our souls, my friends!

Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T13:47:00.003-05:00

Merry Christmas from our home to yours today!

Thrive!
Frances
www.desertflowerministries.com

Merry Christmas!!

2009-12-24T13:26:00.002-05:00

I pray that you all enjoy a beautiful time of JOY today and throughout the year as you focus you life on the gift of Jesus Christ! We will be out of town some over the next few days...but look forward to a new year of ministry together! Merry Christmas to all!!!!

Thoughts on finishing the book of Luke

2009-12-21T08:26:00.002-05:00

Well, after almost a FULL year in the book of Luke...it has come to an end. I am now working on my read through the Bible chronologically that I do in the evenings before bed. It has been quite sweet to have spent an entire year in Luke. I have stood in the crowd as Jesus was baptized, walked from town to town as he healed and loved on people. I have watched as he stole away to pray with His Father and I have sat beside Peter warming my hands by the fire as he and myself denied Jesus while He was right there looking at us. I was there raising my hands in worship as He rode in on a colt and I was humbled as He washed feet and broke the bread and drank the wine. I was certainly there struggling to keep watch and pray along with Him in the garden...but many times falling asleep spiritually. I looked on as they beat Him, tried Him, and grieved when they hung His almost unrecognizable body on that cross.

But, thankfully I was there when the triumphant news came that He was risen from the dead!!!! I ran to the tomb and gazed at the
miraculously empty tomb...and walked with Him on the road to Emmaus. Oh, the miles He and I have shares this year in one single book! The miracles I have seen...in my own life. You just can't walk with Jesus for that long and not be changed. Oh how the change has come this year. Oh how I have know more than ever the sanctifying work of the cross. Is it a hard and dusty journey? Oh yes!

But, where else could I go? Oh, how I love you Jesus! I can't wait to see you again in John and love you all over again in a fresh way! I look forward to the conviction and forgiveness you you will give and the bond that will daily grow deeper! What a wonderful ride you have invited me to join!!

My almost year in the book of Luke was amazing...but don't think this was they kind of study where I was reading multiple commentaries, pulling a part the Greek words, and writing a thesis on it. No, this was just Jesus and I walking VERY slowly together talking, laughing, certainly crying, and loving together every day...a few small verses at a time. There are times when I did pull out those coomentaries and look up a few Greek words...but more often it was just some quiet time with the lover of my soul. As Psalm 23 says...he restored my souls day by day.

Now...on to John!!!

Luke 24:51-53

2009-12-16T07:37:00.002-05:00

"51While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God." Luke 24: 51-53

After those who were with Him as He ascended worshiped Him, they went back to their city of Jerusalem with great joy!!! I love this ending, because it reminds us that the great joy we find in Jesus is for every day! It wasn't just for when they had him there in flesh and blood, but continued after He left them and ascended into heaven. It continues every minute of each day!

They took this joy back to their daily lives and to their churches! Oh how I pray that we would richly desire to not only seek God's Word each morning, but would take the great joy we find in Him into our day! The way we are going to have lives, marriages, families, jobs, and a world filled with great joy is to first be found with Jesus each day. Allow Him to bring you into real passionate worship of who He truly is. There is GREAT joy in Jesus and the gospel!!! Then we take that joy into our own daily lives. It is transforming!!

Today I am asking God to help me take the great joy I have on meeting with him this morning into my marriage, my parenting, my schedule, my shopping, my time at church, my time with friends, into every area of my life! Won't you seek that with me today? This world is dying without knowing the great joy in worshiping Jesus Christ the Lord!!

There is good news of GREAT joy which has come...it is Christ the Lord!!

Merry Christmas from the Worthington Family!

2009-12-14T00:49:00.000-05:00

This year we are doing Christmas cards a little differently! Since we are adopting from Uganda and for the price of ONE stamp Amazima Ministries will be able to feed a little one in Uganda THREE meals, we are simply sending our Christmas greeting electronically this year!

We will also be donating what we would spend on Christmas cards to Amazima Ministries so you can feel good about NOT getting a card from us this year:)

We had so much fun putting this together because instead of just one or two photos...we are sharing a little bit of our entire year with you! We hope that you enjoy it and know that we are so blessed by your friendship and support.

We love you all and pray that the JOY of Christ will fill your hearts to overflowing this year! May His Word satisfy your soul as with the richest of foods...we pray that you THRIVE every single day of your lives no matter where you planted!

Enjoy the stroll through our year together and we look forward to many more...Merry Christmas sweet friends!

PS...many of you may also get this in an email too! If you didn't it just means we didn't have your current email address. Sorry for the duplicates!

Make a Smilebox greeting

Luke 23:45-47

2009-12-11T16:56:00.002-05:00

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

All I could think of when I read this was WOW!!! Oh how we need Jesus to open our minds to DAILY understand the Scriptures!!! And what dis He open their minds to understand?

The Gospel.

There are no words to expound on this...the power is captured in the God-breathed words on this verse. I am in awe. I am in desperate need every minute for Him to open my mind to the Gospel. It is my only thought. My only prayer. My only hope!

I think these verses are going on my shower wall to memorize. Oh, how His Word pierces my flesh and soul...I love it beyond measure!

Luke 24:36

2009-12-10T11:36:00.003-05:00

"As they were talking together, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, 'Peace to you!'"
Luke 24:36

I was so touched that as Jesus is resurrected...we find Him bringing the same greeting of peace that the angels who heralded his birth promised! it reminds me yet again this day that Jesus offers us the peace that truly passes ALL understanding. In the hustle and business of daily life I know how easy it is for all of us to get uptight. It's easy to loose the sense of peace in the midst of everyday life. But, Jesus offers precious life breathing peace to you and to me today.

This month I am trying to focus on enjoying and embracing my Jesus. I am trying to focus on the peace amidst the chaos and busyness. I tell you that I am learning it is a battle to focus my whole day around Him! Oh how the enemy and my own flesh wAnt to do their thing so many times throughout the day.

Thank you Jesus for greeting me today with peace! Thank you most of all for the ultimate peace you offer through Jesus and the substitute he was for my own sins! Peace to you my friends today!!!