Luke 24:36

"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!!!

Luke 23: 50-52

Jesus' Burial

" Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body."

Oh, Father how I want to be one like Joseph who is not going along with the decisions
of the wisdom of this works, but to look for the Kingdom of God! I pray today that I will keep my eyes on what is eternal and not focus on the distractions of this world. Help sweet Father to live today with expectation and anticipation of your coming again, and may that change every thought, word, and action. Help not to be lulled into the complacency of this world and the the false sense of satisfaction it wants to offer. Help me to live a life waiting for your Kingdom every day here in this life! Thank you for your Word that satisfies my deepest desire to be filled.

In the precious Name of my coming King,
amen

Update

Things have been pretty hectic around here with the Thanksgiving holidays and some writing projects along with the Georgia Baptist Convention! Whew...that sentence already made me tired!

It has all been wonderful, but I will hopefully be able to wrote a little more in the coming days. I am now able to keep up with my blog by my phone...so maybe that will help me to stay up to date...who knows!

There are lots of things going on right now. I was honored to be brought in as the new president for the ministers' wives for the GBC. I look forward to a wonderful year of serving Georgia's ministers' wives!! Also, I had the great opportunity of writing an anchor article for the WMU magazine called Conversations. There are sure to be lots of great things in this magazine...I can't wait to read all of it!

Several retreats are scheduled for January and a few committee meetings too. God has opened some new doors and I am prayerfully walking through them. I ask that you pray with me also. I haven't updated in a while...so I wanted to let you all know what God has been up to.

I am closing in on the end of the book of Luke after one year in it. I can't wait for John! What are you studying? I pray you are savoring His Word each morning as you start your day. It restores your soul!!

Thrive!
Frances

Good Morning!

This morning as I was beginning the 22nd chapter of Luke, I was reminded of the amazing details God orchestrates for His glory. In Luke 22, we find Jesus sending Peter and John to prepare the passover meal. Here are Jesus' instructions to them:

"Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover."

"Where do you want us to prepare for it?" they asked.

He replied, "As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11and say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' 12He will show you a large upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there."

They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. " Luke 22: 7-13

Jesus was very specific! This morning I was convicted by my own visions of God being quite vague. I seek God's counsel every morning through His Word and prayer. I lay the day before Him and I ask Him for guidance. But...many days...I don't ask Him HOW to go about the tasks of the day. Many days I seem to just want the "gist" of it and then walk it out myself. And if these passage didn't convince me of my error...then Charles Spurgeon (whom I read every morning after my time in the Word) wanted to prod a little further.

"We must carry out into practical actions that which we believe. If a person walks in Christ, then he acts as Christ would act. Since Christ is in him as his hope, his love, his job, his life, he is the reflection of the image of Jesus. There must be a perpetual abiding in Christ...

How many Christians think that in the morning and evening they ought to come into company of Jesus, but then they give their hearts to the world all day? But, this is poor living!" Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon (November 9)

Whew! Today, I am surrendering not only my morning and my evening to Him...but all the hows, wheres. and whens too! I want Him to be the one I go to in prayer about EVERYTHING without ceasing.

He is a detailed God! Look around at creation that constantly calls out His glory. I'm without excuse! My response to God's directions should always include waiting and walking out the details by which He wants it accomplished. Most times I'm halfway out the door busy about the task not having much of a clue how specific my Father wants to be about my life. He has a sovereign plan and I want to give my heart to that all day long...not just in the mornings and evenings!

What a good Word this morning! How about you? What did you learn this morning? Please share!

Thrive!
Frances

Upcoming Events!

Hi all! I know I have been a little slack on my blogging lately...Fall has me baking and playing with the girls outside:) Oh, how I love my ministry as a mom! It's my favorite.

But, I do have a few events coming up soon that I would love you to pray over with me:

November 3rd - Ladies Night Out at Church of the Hills; Johns Creek, GA

November 9th - Georgia Baptist Convention Minister's Wives dinner; Woodstock, GA

November 12th - Fall Luncheon at North Metro First Baptist Church; Lawrencevill, GA

Tuesday evenings - GED facilitator at Atlanta Union Mission (My Sister's House)

Thursday afternoons - Christian Women's Job Corps in Clarkston, GA

Thank you for continued support and prayers. Life is always an adventure and many days it just seems to fly by, but I pray that you are taking time to enjoy a hot cup of tea or coffee and curl up with God's Word!

Ahhhh...there's nothing finer...and you'll find me there every morning too!

Thrive!
Frances

Hands of Hope

I have had the joy of being a part of the ministry in Clarkston, Georgia for the past few months. Clarkston is a refugee resettlement area that houses thousands of refugees from all over the world. This past summer along over 1500 new refugees were settled in Clarkston from places like Nepal, Bhutan, Burma, the Congo, Sudan, Iraq, Afghanistan, and more. But, it seems that so many of us living right here...only miles away...have no idea this area exists!

About 3 months ago I met Terry who is a Missionary Service Corps worker with North American Mission Board and she began to share about Clarkston. We walked the apartment complexes and in one day I was able to visit in the homes of countries like Nepal, Sudan, Burma, the Congo, and Afghanistan...in ONE day! It's reaching the nations in one afternoon!

Recently, I have had the honor of being asked to serve on the Advisory board for Hands of Hope which will be the new ministry reaching the refugee women of Clarkston. We will work to provide job skills, life skills, mentorship, and Bible study weekly for these women. They come to this country with literally nothing and many can not speak English or drive! We want to help them to not only learn to survive in this new culture...but to meet Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

We had a meeting this past weekend and it was wonderful to see and hear all that God is doing! We enjoyed a time of fellowship and then we began to talk and dream about what God would allow us to do in His Name in Clarkston.

Continue to pray for God's work in Clarkston. Pray that He alone will be lifted up. If you are interested in working with refugee women in Clarkston...please let me know! Email me and we can discuss what all God is doing! Frances@desertflowerministries.com

Thrive!
Frances

New Ministers' Wives Conference!

Last week, my friend Paula and I got to help lead a conference for the new ministers' wives in Georgia. We had SO much fun (we had gotten to do another conference the week before too!). The ladies were so sweet and open.

Mary (in the red) is our Georgia Baptist Convention ministers' wives consultant and she is such a wonderful resource for all the wives in Georgia. I just love working with her! Katie ( in the cream) is the current President and Paula (in the green) is the upcoming secretary. I am so honored to work with these women! Amy (who could not be there) will be the upcoming Vice President. We all are looking forward to our year of leadership starting in November!

God continues to bless me with the opportunities to serve the women of Georgia...alongside some awesome wives! We talked about ministering in our spiritual gifts. We had lots of yummy goodies, enjoyed some get to know you games, and got some groovy bags. Mary ALWAYS gives out wonderful bags.

So, if you are a minister's wife in Georgia...let me know! We have an amazing retreat we are planning for you in January. Please let me know so that I can give you all the details.

PS...what's with me looking pregnant...do you think it's the adoption: