On Turning Sixty

Sunday, May 24, 2009

W riting significantly isn’t easy. Unfortunately, it’s kept me from doing much posting here for almost a year. God has always led me in my writing and while I’ve addressed some hard issues, I now feel God leading me in a different direction, both in my life’s ministry and in my writing.

Maybe it’s the fact I’m turning 60 this year. Yes, I’ll admit it. I certainly don’t feel 60, although sometimes my body tries to tell me so. And many tell me I don’t look that old, which is always nice to hear. But that’s the truth.

It brings a number of questions. I try not to ask myself how much longer will I be here. I’m blessed with remarkably good health after a time of not so good health. And I know there is a reason for all of it. Through the times when I couldn’t do much, I accepted it all as God’s will. This “rebirth” of sorts has really gotten my attention. What does God have in mind for me now? Another truth is that I’ve come to feel more responsible in what I’m doing for God.

What am I doing? Going to church, Bible study, and fellowship are all things we should be doing. But I came to ask myself, “Is this all there is?”

Many are called to the mission field, leaving family and friends to serve God. But what about the rest of us. I’ve accepted the fact that I’m not going to write the “great Christian novel” that would change hearts and souls. And that’s okay. Most of us won’t ever do anything on such a global scale. But each of us have been called to do what we can in our own backyards.

Part of my backyard are my blogs; I can’t deny that. But the remainder of my backyard is right where I live. What am I doing here? How am I spreading the good news? I’ve been asking myself these questions for several months.

My husband and I just finished leading a small group in The Truth Project. If you haven’t heard of it, check it out. It has the potential for changing lives. And I guess that’s where I am right now.

“Words from the Heart,” will continue as God leads; but I believe it will be more ‘down to earth’ as I begin to respond to words from God’s heart for my life. I’d like to share what I discover on this new journey.

And as far as turning 60, don’t tell anyone, okay?

"Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.'
Matthew 25:36-38, The Message

Blessings, Francine

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Who Do You Say I AM

Friday, July 04, 2008


I AM
Do you call me Serendipity?
Or maybe Providence.Maybe you think of Me as Lady Luck.
You may not recognize Me or accept Me by My given name but that doesn’t change things.

I AM ...
the blues and pinks of sunrise
the purple mountains majesty
the fire in the sky of a sunset

I AM ...
the sweet smell of rain on the desert floor
the soft, sifting snow of a winter morning
the sparkling of a billion stars for you to gaze upon
the bright moon guiding your way through the darkness
the white purity of a perfect flower

I AM ...
the song of birds singing at the beginning of each new day
the scurry of a rabbit’s dash in the noonday sun
the lonely coyote’s call as night crawls across the prairie

I AM ...
the fury of the howling wind
the ebb and flow of the ocean’s tide
the growling thunder in the storm clouds churning above
the white stabs of lightening coming from the heavens
the whispers in a cool breeze

I AM ...
the miraculous creation of tiny toes, fingers, and a heart beating
the breath of the newborn’s first cry
the trusting eyes of an infant
the inquisitiveness of a child
the curiosity of a teenager
the perseverance of an adult
the hope of a grandmother

I AM ...
Alpha and Omega
Beginning and End
I AM King of King and Lord of Lords

Just because you don’t believe in Me doesn’t mean I don’t exist.

I AM God
I believe in you. I created you. And I love you.

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Are you walking through the wide gate?

Monday, June 30, 2008

Codependency was the preferred psychological catch-word of choice for many in the nineties. A generation discovered that they were too dependent on any number of things.

While the issue of being dependent on drugs or alcohol was a problem being addressed through the 12-step program, something new was springing up in the psychological arena.

People were codependent on other people, on spending money, on their jobs, on success, on anything that seemed an integral part of their happiness … or their perceived happiness.

Family was a big codependent topic. Parents were codependent on children and children were codependent on parents. It all seemed like a vicious circle.

And then even in the religious sector … there was a desire to become codependent on God. Remember the phrase, God is my co-pilot.

I wonder how many look back on that decade at all the money spent on books and therapy and wonder, was it worth it? While they may no longer identify themselves as being co-dependent, what replaced that?

Did a sense of “It’s all about me,” surface then? And in an effort to find a sense of peace within ourselves, did we pass on that selfish attitude. Me first – I’ve got to take care of me before I can be of any good or benefit to anyone else.

What if all of it were stripped away? All the things we find comfort in? What then?

For too many Christians, I think, we struggle valiantly to do what we feel God leading us to do. We seek His will and struggle to walk in it. But what if what God wants from us is too hard. What if it hurts too much? Do we listen to our feelings, thinking that God wouldn’t have us deliberately do something that causes us pain?

If we are mature Christians, we understand that pain will come in our lives through losses and disappointments. And during those times we know God will sustain us. Many have already lived through some of the darkest moments of the soul and found God there.

But what if we have to choose something that causes pain? What if our choice leaves us totally alone. Jesus says, “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me …”, Matthew 10:37. It goes without saying that anyone loving anything more than Christ is not worthy of Him. Jesus adds in verse 37, "And he who does not take up his cross and follow after Me is not worth of Me."

Too often we associate the hard choices with those in some kind of ministry or mission field. Unfortunately, we have blinded ourselves to the truth. Comfortable Christianity isn’t Christianity at all. Not when it’s become a lifestyle.

We must search ourselves, with the help of the Holy Spirit, and seek to know – truly know – if we are in the Father’s will. Or are we blindly taking the wide gate? Are we avoiding the narrow gate of sacrifice?

Codependence is no longer an issue and with Christ, it never was an issue. It only works one way … total dependency.

Blessings, Francine

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Loving God and Loving God

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Loving God and loving God are both verb and adjective phrases, both separate and yet intertwined.

If we understand that the Creator is a loving God, then we will love Him. And yet, the more we love Him, the more we come to see a supernatural loving Father. As one grows, so does the other.

It’s been on my heart to share the names of God. These are written throughout the Bible, many times over. Each shows a character of the Creator of the universe.

If we can begin to understand the myriad of traits He has, we begin to see that loving Him and loving Him can become both the center and circumference of our lives. Everything begins with Him and ends with Him -- Alpha and Omega.

  • Elohim, God - Mighty God or supreme God with reference to God’s faithfulness, The Creator, Genesis 1:1, Deuteronomy 10:17
  • Yahweh, LORD (all caps) - Self-existent or Eternal One, speaks of His holiness, justice, and hatred of sin, The One who exists because of who He is, I AM THAT I AM, Psalm 110:1
  • Adoni, Lord - Master or owner of all things, Genesis 15:1-2, Psalm 8:1, 6-9
  • El Shaddai, Almighty God - Strength, life-giver, the all-bountiful supplier of all blessings, The All-Sufficient One, Genesis 17:1-8
  • El Elyon - God who sits above all others as King of the universe, The God Most High, Genesis 14:18,14:20
  • El Gibbon - Mighty God, The God Who Can Do Anything, Isaiah 9:6-7
  • El-Roi - The God Who sees, Genesis 16:13, Psalm 139:7-12
  • Jehovah - The Self-Existent One, Genesis 2:4, Exodus 3:14-15
  • Jehovah-Jireh - God who will provide all of your needs, The Lord Will Provide, Genesis 22: 1-19
  • Jehovah-Sabaoth - God of heaven’s armies, Lord of Hosts, Psalm 24:10, 1 Samuel 17:42-47
  • Jehovah-Shalom - God who can give you peace, The Lord is Peace, Judges 6:24, Isaiah 48:18
  • Jehovah-Rapha - God who restores, strengthens, and heals you, The Lord Who Heals, Exodus 15:22-27, Psalm 147:3, Psalm 103:1-3
  • Jehovah-Nissi - God the One you can follow as your authority, The Lord is My Banner, Exodus 17:15, Deuteronomy 20:3,4
  • Jehovah-Tsidkenu - God the One who thinks and acts in a way that is just, right, and good, The Lord Our Righteousness, Jeremiah 23:6
  • Jehovah-Raah - The Lord my Shepherd, Psalm 23
  • Jehovah-Shammah - God who is present at all times, The Lord is There, Ezekiel 48:35, Psalm 73:25-28
  • Jehovah M’Kaddesh - God who brings you to the place of separation from sin and dedication to God, The Lord Who Sanctifies, Leviticus 20:7-8
Blessings, Francine

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FEAR NOT

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

I’ve never been an alarmist, especially when it comes to scripture and references to the “End Times.” I’ll leave that to others.

Yet, I cannot ignore the state our world is in. Who can turn a blind eye to the daily increases in fuel costs, food, or home foreclosures or the almost daily decrease in home sales or the closing numbers of the stock market? Storms and natural disasters recently have taken their toll in thousands of lives lost.

I don’t think we can argue that we live in unsettling times.

I often wonder about those who have no faith in God. Many are quick to blame Him but that’s about as far as they go in recognizing the Creator of the universe.

Where do they find comfort? How do they escape the fear that seems to be creeping into every society around the globe?

Where do they find hope?

I won’t speculate on the times we are in. Jesus himself said no man knows the hour of His return. “So also, when you see these things happening, you may recognize and know that He is near, at [the very] door. But of that day or that hour not a [single] person knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Mark 13:29, 32, Amplified Bible

What I will do is point to the Savior’s words that give hope to the hopeless, peace to the worried, comfort to the afflicted:

And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; and upon the earth [there will be] distress (trouble and anguish) of nations in bewilderment and perplexity without resources, left wanting, embarrassed, in doubt, not knowing which way to turn at the roaring (the echo) of the tossing of the sea,

Men swooning away or expiring with fear and dread and apprehension and expectation of the things that are coming on the world; for the [very] powers of the heavens will be shaken and caused to totter.

And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with great (transcendent and overwhelming) power and [all His kingly] glory (majesty and splendor).

Now when these things begin to occur, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption (deliverance) is drawing near. Luke 21:25-28, Amplified Bible

There are many references in the Bible that read like today’s headlines.

I don’t use scare tactics but I do believe in the Truth of God’s word. A little book that came out in 1974, The Vision by David Wilkerson, reads more realistic today than it did back then. If you are looking for truth in prophesies of the Bible lived out in the 21st Century, read this book. When you do, never forget that God’s in control.

My prayer is that you will come to a deeper understanding of the Creator’s love for YOU. Check out these web sites:

Running on Empty

Power to Change

Blessings, Francine

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