International Christian Retail Show 2008!

We are leaving for the International Christian Retail Show in Orlando, Florida and we are so excited! We will have the opportunity to meet and share with people from all around the world who are involved in Christian ministries. We will be meeting with the authors from Winepress at a wonderful dinner Sunday night. We just received the catalogue that was mailed all over the US and I am excited to meet other authors and hear their God stories!

Please pray that we would have Divine appointments all week. I know that we will be surrounded with so many opportunities to share what God is doing in DFM and I pray that we will be good stewards of this time. I pray that we would focus on the prize of Jesus Christ above all else this week. We know God has allowed to go to this for His reasons and we don't want to get distracted by anything at all!

If God brings us to mind, please pray specifically for these times:

Sunday night: Author dinner: pray that we will meet and glean from all the amazing authors and their stories. May this time be full of encouragement and support!

Monday evening: New Release Party - Pray that we will have Divine meetings with women who desire to thrive in this life. We aren't just signing books at this convention! We are there to share the message of hope through daily dependence on God and His Word. Pray that those books will land wherever God plans!

Monday evening: Meeting with musical group Beloved - pray that God will allow us to encourage and glean from this group. May God's will be accomplished as we talk about the direction God is leading our ministries.

Tuesday afternoon: Formal book signing - pray that again God will bring the women (or husbands) who will desire to thrive in this life by the power of God's Word. May God give me precious moments to share and listen to women from around the world.

Tuesday evening: Dinner with Danya Clairmont founder of our agency -pray that this will be a wonderful time of friendship and encouragement! May God use us to sharpen each other and enjoy sweet fellowship together!

*Please pray that we will be humble stewards of this time. May Jesus be lifted high and that HE may increase which means we MUST decrease!!

Thank you for walking this journey with us. Thank you for those who will pray this week as God leads your heart. Thank you for caring enough to stop by here and join your hearts with us. We love you so very much!

Blessings,

Frances

Blogging Fast

Beginning today, I am taking a blogging fast. My girls are leaving tomorrow morning for a trip with Jay's parents to Opp for their traditional "week with the girls."

Since my mother -in-law is a teacher, they love to have the girls with them a whole week every summer...without us parents around! So, while they are gone and Jay is hard at work all week (he is beginning a new job on Tuesday at Noonday Baptist Church), I will be busy writing!

I know God has given me the gift of a whole week by myself during the days to write and I have to be diligent to this time. So, though I love to blog...I will be fasting from that during the day to focus completely on what God has given me the task to finish.

I will resume blogging the Desert Devotions when I have finished this assignment. Please stay in the word and you can still let me know what YOU are studying this week! Thanks for your understanding...and your prayers as we work towards finishing our Bible curriculum.

Desert Devotion: June 24, 2008

"What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'

" 'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. "Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered,

'I will, sir,' but he did not go.

"Which of the two did what his father wanted?" "The first," they answered." Matthew 21:28-31

Today as I read this passage, I was convicted that many time I am like the second son. God commands me to "go and make disciples of all nations." I agree passionately and tell Him I will, but do not share with the people in my day. This really convicted me today.

I know that I am like that second son about sharing my faith. I'm not talking about going through the FAITH outline (which is wonderful). I am talking about working in the fields that are ripe unto harvest. I'm talking sharing hope with a dying world. I answer the call God commands with a resounding, "I will, sir" but many days I just don't go and share.

Today, that is my prayer. I pray that I will no longer by that second son. I really don't even want to be the first son either! I want to be the child of God that says I will go...and then goes to do the work the Father has for me. Boy, how the Word of God gets in my business!

Which son or daughter are you today? If you are like me, let's not just say we'll follow Christ by sharing the hope of salvation and love...let's DO IT today!

God has shown me a way that I can share His Word and love with others every day. I went to Lifeway and bought their Invitation Bible (New Testament and plan of salvation) for .50 each! I bought all they had along with the Invitation CD with Rick Warren (no matter what you think about him...it's a great CD) that clearly outlines in very simple terms how to be saved. Those only cost $1.00 each. I wrote a card on each of them telling them why I have given them this gift and my email (one I registered with Yahoo for these gifts only) and remind them that if they have one of these and have already accepted the eternal gift of salvation to pass it on to someone else.

Many times during my day I am in places like Wal-Mart, Kroger, etc running errands. This way I can give the person I am feeling led to by God a gift to take home if I haven't had the time to share with them extensively. This is something that God has led me to do...maybe one a day.

But, some days...I have gotten distracted. I still have many to give away! But, today through His Word God convicted me of the work to do in the vineyard. He convicted me that I said, "I will, sir" and then didn't. It's not fun to admit these kinds of things...but they are true.

Today, I will. Today, I will ask God to open my eyes to someone in need of hope. If God allows time, I will share personally. But, if not...I will share a gift of His Word. May my actions match my passion (thanks VBS!).

Desert Devotion: June 23, 2008

"Early in the morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves." Matthew 21:18

There are so very many today that are simply portraying a kind of cultural Christianity. They go to church, they do "good" things, they try to be honest and have integrity. They may even serve as Sunday School teachers, deacons, or ministers. They are trees without fruit.

As I read this passage today, I am grateful for the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life. It is that presence of God in my life every moment giving me things I could never have...bearing fruit I could never bear. Take a long look at the kind of fruit the Spirit bears in the life surrendered to Christ...

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Galatians 5:22-23

This world is hungry to see people bearing fruit of a different kind. They understand the fruit of self: anger, frustration, stealing, cheating, lust, adultery, addiction, lying, gossip, depression, irritation and pride. But, this is not the fruit that the Spirit bears!

This world is tired of seeing people say they have fruit...but when the hungry come by...there is only the appearance of growth. There isn't any fruit. How do we bear this fruit? Take a look at what Jesus said...

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:1-5

Wow! This passage is so rich! But, don't miss the instructions of bearing fruit...did you get it? We must remain in Christ, because no branch by itself can bear fruit. We must remain in Christ and surrender to the saving grace given to us on the cross of Calvary.

Oh, how this world is starving for those who can not only bear fruit...but can show them how to bear fruit themselves! Perhaps today you are one of those trees that looks great, but can't bear fruit because you are not in Christ. You know of Him...but you've never been a part of the vine for real. You are like an artifical tree...looking fine but will never be able to bear fruit or live.

Perhaps today, you are a part of that vine, but you are being pruned. Oh, friends I understand how that feels. I am always undergoing discipline and pruning...but it is to make us MORE fruitful!

Don't miss that precious little sentence that tells us that we are clean by the word He has spoken to us! Stay in the word and in step with the Spirit's leading and you will be bearing amazing God-glorifying fruit. Give it away...there's someone in your life today that is hungry to know the fruit of God! Share your sweet self today...

Desert Devotion: June 22, 2008

“Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies, you have prepared praise.” Matthew 21:16

I am trying to write my desert devotions in the evenings (when I can) so that those of you who check this early in the morning will have something fresh to think on during the day from God’s Word.

I need you to know that as I am sitting here writing this entry, I am listening to my kids’ room (yes, I know they are 7 and 9 years old and I still have a monitor!) as they are settling down for bed. The sounds of familiar hymns that are being played by a classical piano are coming from their room. Their voices laughing and whispering are so precious to my ears. They love life, each other, their mom and dad…and they love God.

Just a few minutes ago, we sat together on Virginia’s bed reading about the powerful ways God showed Himself to the Egyptians and the Israelites. We read about the plagues of the hail and locusts…and then Anli looked at us with her little eyes shining and reminded us about John the Baptist EATING locusts! We all smiled as Anli (our own Food Network Star) showed us how she thought he would “drizzle” them with honey!

I tell you this, because God reminded me that through these quiet moments that their simple faith and love of Him are powerful. The praise that comes from their mouths during prayer time changes my life every night…because they praise Him for simple things. They praise Him for getting go to church, for our family, for spending time together today, and the list goes on and on. They are thankful for today…what a lesson for me.

May my praise look more like that which comes from the mouths of children. May it be simple, full of faith, grounded in the moment, and full of gratefulness to my Father. The children Jesus is talking about here are simply saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” They were praise Jesus for who He is! May I follow today…

DFM Mission Trip 2009

We are excited to announce that our first DFM mission trip will be to Dhaka, Bangladesh in February 2009! We are so thrilled to be partnering with South Asia in their vision to provide retreats for their missionary wives. We can't wait to lavish love, prayer, and pampering on them!

Please begin to pray with us as we are starting to plan for this trip. Fall is a extrememly busy time for our ministry and I will be traveling most weeks from Septmember until the end of October. So, the planning is starting now!

I am thrilled that so far we have TWO definate women going on the trip (there can only be 5 at the most)! Ginger Debusk and Paula Folsom are going with me for sure and I am thankful God has brought them both on this journey! They are both so gifted in different ways and we are also really great friends too...God is good!

God has also brough Shannon Baughn on the home team along with Jennifer Smathers, Becky Stall, and Michelle Williams. They will be helping in various ways here to ensure that this retreat is amazing for these very precious women.

Thanks for all your prayers! We can't wait to see what is up to!!!

Desert Devotion: June 19,2008

"Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, 'Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away." ' Matthew 21:1-3

This was such a wonderful reminder that God provides what He plans for His glory! I am so grateful that it's not because of my own talents, abilities, merits or intelligence. I am just the donkey that Christ has allowed to carry His glory to those in this world who are lost and dying. And the coolest part to me is that he knew right where that donkey was located and it was there waiting for a task that he didn't know existed!

Many days we feel overwhelmed with the things God has called us and allowed us to do to share His glory. We can get overwhelmed by parenting, marriage, jobs, family, ministering in our churches or to the world, and just about anything! But, this passage so gently and kindly reminds me today that though I am just a lowly donkey...Christ had a purpose for that donkey and it was right where there when He needed it.

I pray today that God continues to use donkeys like me! I am grateful that though I have no idea what He is up to in my family, children, ministry, church or in my own life...I know that He is the King of Glory! I know that He has me where He wants me to be to bring Him the most glory. He has the plan...I just walk the road. That's my job! Not to get the shouts of praise, not to gain anything myself, but to carry the glory of Christ to the nations. What a great day to be a donkey! If I think anything more...I just really overwhelmed!