God Calls Us . . . In Real Life

via Pintrest and John Piper

Summer is well underway on this little piece of  Missouri land. My days are spent rising early and beginning breakfast for the groups who arrive for a week of enjoyment and challenge at Discovery Ministries. I briskly walk about my kitchen island a hundred times or so while preparing a vast array of meals: oatmeal cakes with sauces, chili-dogs and oven fries, or chicken tetrazinni. So much food for so many hungry campers! :)

Though I am often hot and tuckered out by the end of the day, I am so glad to be back at DM. How I enjoy working with (though briefly) so many young people who are on a road to Christ. Perhaps they know Him already? Then I can encourage. Perhaps the camper is unsaved? Then I can encourage. No matter what, I can pray. These young people who enter my dining room are souls. My time with them is short but my prayers can cross so many borders.  

After a long day stooping o'er griddle or chopping some sort of veggie, it is wonderful to come home. Lately, our family has been enduring some darkened days and yet I still see the loving and gracious hand of God.  He has given us so much grace. I am noticing, however, that whenever I am lacking in a servant-heart things begin to be bumpier than need be. This is a good reminder to me; I have no rights to demand, only the Christ given ability to serve and encourage peace in those who make this house a home.

One more tidbit, our garden is growing! And I hope to have pictures soon!

Hoping you are also finding the hand of God strong and able!

Frannie

Dear Daddy,

Dear Daddy,                                                                                                                                                       

Today is Father's Day--a special day when we spend extra time blessing and looking to you. And I do look to you; I look to you for advice, inspiration, and love. I've looked to you from day one. Those early days when you did help change diapers and when you served Momma in the most kindhearted of ways. I've looked to you from the days of early toddler hood as we watched every Disney movie together--how much those memories mean to me!

I've looked to you when I was a young girl. You taught me my Roman Numerals and you kindly took me to town and told me about my puppy dying. During the time when momma had to work you watched all three of us with no complaining. You've cooked countless meals while blessing your wife and have washed more dishes that half the men I know.  But your strong arms have yielded hammers and logs while building three homes, from dirt to tresses. You've inspired countless teenagers.

Daddy, I still look to you. At twenty-two years of age your input is more needed than ever before. I look to you for help as I become a woman: what should I do with my money, how can I manage my time, who exactly should I fall in love with? Yes, you are looked up to even now.

While I will not to be the wife who always compares her hunny with her father, I do know that you will be part of the standard at which I measure any suitor. For you have raised the standard of what a real man is; a real man will lead his family in the ways of the Lord even when it hurts him. A real man will love and serve his wife and children. A real man will take interest in the lives of others and will care for those who are "less than" or not wanted. A real man will have a vision for his family and will seek God as he goes through life. a real man takes his responsibility before God seriously and Daddy . . . you have done all these things.


Daddy, I love you and I do look to you; thank you for being my father and for being my friend. 

With all my heart,
Fran

Knocking Quietly

Dear Lord,

Oh, it's been a crazy week. My emotions have leapt to great heights and have stooped to deep lows. I have found myself trying to "be good" and falling short.

My greatest disappointment, however, is that I thought very little of You. I woke early, rushed to get dressed, drink a cup of coffee, and off to work. There I spent little time with you though I spent most of my hours working alone--perfect moments for communion. You brought many people into my days and yet because my eyes were not on You my love and service to them were limited. I did little to no good in blessing and loving others--I never asked what You wanted me to say or do.

So here I am; a lone, empty soul needing Your refilling. I am a cup who has run dry and a spring who is giving out bitter waters. And most of all, I am one girl in this great universe and I am feeling alone and afraid. Yet, your word is very clear:

"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." 1 John 4

Papa, Lord Jesus, I claim as truth Your word which says that You knew me from the beginning of time. I claim for truth Your word which says that Your thoughts for me are too numerous to count. I claim Your promises of the greatest sort of love and the most real forgiveness. I claim Your love for me and, Papa, I delight in it. And I claim Your amazing promises of grace . . . thank You for giving to those who seek and those who knock. My knock is feeble Lord but I trust that You hear it.

Your daughter bought by Your blood,
Frannie

Summer 2012

Via Pintrest

I am a list making girl; in contrast to my go-with-the-flow sister, lists give me comfort and guidance. What first? What's next? What should I do with this free time? ---> check the list. Unfortunately, however, all the lists in the world do not take away from my terrible enemy, Sir Procrastination. And so I come to you . . . making myself a bit more accountable will aid in my attack and conquer.

For those of you who are "super-getter-doners", please don't laugh too hard. My list isn't grand; but it is plan and I am excited. And for those like-minded people out there . . . maybe we can all help eacho their stay on task?

So, shall we make a list?

Reading Priorities:

Continue Bible reading

Elizabeth Elliot’s God’s Guidance

Jonathan Edward's sermons

Louisa May Alcott's Little Women

John Piper’s Desiring God

Mabel Ruth Williamson's Have We No Rights?

Reread Ghana papers

Bible Memory:

I Corinthians 1:30

Hebrews 12

I John

II Corinthians 5

Physical Priorities:

Garden Weeding and de-rocking

Shed

           - Clean

            -Declutter

-Rebuild

Fruit trees

            -Clean brush

            -Rocks

            -Harvest

Spiritual Priorities:

Learn to KNOW God

Flourish in Barnabas ministry

            -Widows

            -Cousins

            -Neighbors

            -Parents and grandparents

            -Courting couples

            -Church family

Develop mission minded-heart

            -Write missionaries

            -VOM

            -Operation World –> Sunday School Class

            -Memory verses of missions

What does your summer look like?

It is Well

Find via Pintrest

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

It is well with my soul,
it is well, it is well with my soul. 

 Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
let this blest assurance control,
that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
and hath shed his own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
the clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
the trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
even so, it is well with my soul. 

- Horatio Spafford

a Case of the Chicken-Pox and Upturned Emotions

"But before I go, I want once more to tell you how good He is, how blessed it is to suffer with Him, how infinitely happy He has made me in the very hottest heat of the furnace. It will strengthen you in your trails to recall this my dying testimony. There is no wilderness so dreary but that His love can illuminate it, no desolation so desolate but that He can sweeten it. I know what I am saying. It is no delusion. I believe that the highest, purest happiness is known only to those who have learned Christ in sickrooms, in poverty, in racking suspense and anxiety, amid hardships, and at the open grave...To learn Christ, this is life!""

- Elizabeth Prentiss

Life is currently . . . chaotic, to put it simply. Amidst frustrated, tidal-like emotions I have seen the amazing love of Jesus. A love which proves to be sufficient even during the most crazy of circumstances. When a night spent between two cousins (one homesick and the other tossing with a scratchy case of the chicken-pox) creates a tired body, my heart delights in the tender and renewed mercies of the Lord given the next morning. When "my little shadow" ceases not in shadowing me I find joy in his dear, enduring love.

My beautiful but pox stricken cousin, Carl.

Snapping a quick picture while the fire's ashes fall like snow.

Truly, Jesus is all I need. And at this time of chaos I choose to believe in Him.

Hoping you are finding our Lord faithful and true!

Frannie