I love getting these little clips I get from Randsom Heart Ministries, This is a snip-it from the book "Sacred Romance". With all the hurts I've endured over the past few years, this spoke volumes to my heart. I wanted to pass it along hoping it will encourage all of you as well.




I Wonder What God Is Up To?



Several years ago I went through one of the most painful trials of my professional life. The story involves a colleague whom I will call Dave, a man I hired and with whom I had labored several years in ministry. We spent many hours on the road together, speaking to churches about the Christian life. A point came when I needed to confront Dave about some issues in his life that were hurting his own ministry and the larger purposes of our team. In all fairness, I think I handled it poorly, but I was totally unprepared for what happened next. Dave turned on me with the ferocity of a cornered animal. He fabricated lies and spread rumors in an attempt to destroy my career. His actions were so out of proportion it was hard to believe we were reacting to the same events. He went to the head pastor in an attempt to have me dismissed. The attempt failed, but our friendship was lost, and several others were hurt in the process.

In the midst of the crisis, I spoke with Brent one afternoon about the turn of events and the awful pain of betrayal. He said, "I wonder what God is up to in all this?"

"God?" I said. "What's he got to do with it?" My practical agnosticism was revealed. I was caught up in the sociodrama, the smaller story, completely blind to the true story at that point in my life. Brent's question arrested my attention and brought it to a higher level. In fact, the process of our sanctification, our journey, rests entirely on our ability to see life from the basis of that question. As the poet William Blake warned long ago, "Life's dim window of the soul distorts the heavens from pole to pole, and leads you to believe a lie, when you see with, not through, the eye."

(The Sacred Romance , 146–47)

Letter from Jesus about Christmas --

Dear Children,

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset
that folks are taking My name out of the season. Maybe you've
forgotten that I wasn't actually born during this time of the year and
that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate My
birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival. Although I
do appreciate being remembered anytime.

How I personally feel about this celebration can
probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been
blessed with children of your own.. I don't care what you call the
day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE
ONE ANOTHER.

Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you
that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My
birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put
in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My
followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the
town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling
the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I
who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree.
Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one
in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each
of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15:1 - 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My
birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:



1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the
way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love
and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and
lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to
know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares
about them.

3. Instead of writing George complaining about the
wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you
write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this
year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you
can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them
the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here.
Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and
forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt
to take their own life this season because they feel so alone
and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is,
try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the
difference.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in
your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work
there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't
allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you
from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the
store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let
their employees spend the day at home with their families

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a
missionary-- especially one who takes My love and Good News to
those who have never heard My name.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole
families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree,
but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you
don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to
the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and
they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about
your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't
do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people
know by your actions (rather than your words) that you are one of
mine.


Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself.
Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of
all the rest.

Check out the list above and get to work; time is
short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a
most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember:



I LOVE YOU,

JESUS

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!! We all need to laugh today. This video is how I learned to dance. Hope you all can gleam off this wondrous knowledge of dancing. :)

This was passed along to me by my husband. Reading this helped build up my spirit again knowing that I AM needed and I matter. Sometimes I forget that I play an irreplaceable role. I pray this encourages you as well. :)

Eve Is Essential


When God creates Eve, he calls her an ezer kenegdo. "It is not good for the man to be alone, I shall make him a [ezer kenegdo]" (Gen. 2:18 Alter). This phrase is notoriously difficult to translate. The various attempts we have in English tend to be "helper" or "companion" or the notorious "help meet." Why are these translations so incredibly wimpy, boring, flat …disappointing? What is a help meet, anyway? What little girl dances through the house singing "One day I shall be a help meet?" Companion? A dog can be a companion. Helper? Sounds like Hamburger Helper. Hebrew scholar Robert Alter is getting close when he translates it "sustainer beside him."

The word ezer is used only 20 other places in the entire Old Testament. And in every other instance the person being described is God himself, when you need him to come through for you desperately.

God is your only hope. Your ezer. If he is not there beside you…you are dead. A better translation therefore of ezer would be "life-saver." Kenegdomeans alongside, or opposite to, a counterpart.

You see, the life God calls us to is not a safe life. Ask Joseph, Abraham, Moses, Deborah, Esther – any of the friends of God from the Old Testament. Ask Mary and Lazarus, ask Peter, James and John, ask Priscilla and Aquila – any of the friends of God in the New Testament. God calls us to a life involving frequent risks and many dangers. Why else would we need him to be our ezer? You don't need a life-saver if you're mission is couch potato. You need an ezer when your life is in constant danger.

That longing in the heart of a woman to share life together as a great adventure – that comes straight from the heart of God, who also longs for this. He does not want to be an option in our lives. He does not want to be an appendage, a tag-along. Neither does any woman. God is essential. Eve is essential. She has an irreplaceable role to play.

Here's some more good stuff from Egypt. My friend Andrew (lives in Egypt) put this together. Enjoy!! :)

Egypt was amazing. I'm going to post my letter here that I'm sending out to those who supported me but for you all who actually read this blog, you can have a sneak peak. To sum up though this last week, it's that God is beautiful and it's seen in the Egyptian people. God moved in mighty ways and the Egyptians will have a mighty roll in reaching the Middle East with the love of Christ. Here's the newsletter:


There’s so much to say, so much to put into this letter I’m not sure how to fit it all in. It’s almost so much that words cannot contain all that God did this last week. I felt going into this that God’s glory would be shown and mighty things would happen but never did I imagine I would come away from the week with all that I saw, felt and experienced. I do want to start by telling you thank you. Thank you for allowing me to be your hands and feet to Egypt, to be the messenger and encouragement to the people there. We had a saying while we were there that we came there to be the Aaron and Hur to their Moses. However, when I look back I can see that they encouraged us so much more than I realized.




Many of you remembered that originally I was to be speaking to the youth there and towards the last moment that all changed as there was a need to teach another class. But God is just so good, all those that signed up for my class were young people. It was such a pleasurable moment to be able to speak into their lives. We taught them how to go out and make disciples. Not only was that accomplished, but they also made stronger commitments to the Lord. We found out after that some of the young men in our class came at the last moment cause they heard that their other friends were going and there were girls in attendance (we saw many similarities in the young people there and those in the states ). But once they arrived and heard that we had traveled so far to teach them, they told one another that they all really better listen because what we had to say must be very important for us to come all this way.

One of the young men shared with us afterwards that when he was called upon to teach one of the small groups (we allowed them opportunities to put into practice what they were learning) that his life wasn’t where it should be. As he was preparing, the Lord touched his heart to lay aside many things that were distracting him from making a full commitment to the Lord. He explained that his pastor had been trying for months to get him to turn his life around but the Lord touched him in this one moment when he realized he was called to be a leader and he needed to open all of his heart to the Lord to accomplish it.



In one of the lessons we talked about forgiveness. Come to find out, this is a difficult thing for the Egyptian culture. After teaching it, they had many questions in which we allowed the word of the Lord to deal with. At the end of that session, I had 2 young women come to me and explain that they hadn’t talked with each other in 3 months! And these are both believers. One of them said that they felt distant from the Lord these past few months, like He couldn’t hear her prayers. Well after the lesson we taught, God moved upon both of them to forgive one another and as soon as they did, all bitterness and unforgiveness left immediately!



Beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news. All those we spoke to and taught were so beautiful. These are the current and future leaders that are going to be putting themselves in harms way many times for what they believe. My interpreter Usama explained that while he was in the army he would always be put on the front lines in dangerous places because believers are considered lower than dirt. But still the love of Christ comes out in them all. And just like Daniel in the lion’s den, Usama in every dangerous situation came out unharmed, always giving glory to our God.

Monice and Nancy, servant to the servants. They certainly have been blessed with the gift of hospitality. They always made sure our team had water or tea and were made to feel at home there. One night at our 11pm prayer meeting (boy that wouldn’t go over well here in the states let me tell ya), they asked me to pray over them. The wanted guidance from the Lord on their place in the kingdom. I prayed over them and the Lord brought to me to encourage them in their hospitality and that God was going to use them to bless others in this way. Afterward Nancy shared with me that in this prayer the Holy Spirit had confirmed with what I said that they were to help other missionaries as they come to Egypt, to open their house and family to them. They want to give of their very lives to help foreigners feel at home in their country to help them share and spread the love of Christ. How many of us would open our homes to total strangers and take care of them? It takes a very special heart and strengthen from the Lord to do this.

We prayed for and equipped so many current and future leaders this last weekend. The impact may not be fully known until we all reach heaven. We encouraged and strengthened the body of believers there and now, they are prepared and equipped through our Lord God to fulfill their place in the kingdom.

After this last week, more doors have opened for more encouraging and equipping. We have now scheduled a women’s conference in March 2008 and a youth conference in July 2008. After spending most of my time with the youth there, we see the great need to nurture and guide these young people. Please keep me and those remaining in Egypt in much prayer. I know I will be returning as God has given that passion in my heart. I’m currently working with the leaders there and here on the youth conference in July and getting materials lined up. I know that as God provided for me to go this time, He will be able to send me again for the youth conference. If you feel God tugging at your heart to give again, please don’t hesitate. You can send donations to: e3 Partners at 16787 Bernardo Center Dr. #7 San Diego, CA 92128 to my attention (the checks can be made out to e3 Partners as there will be an account for me to hold any funds for my 2008 trip) or online at www.e3partners.org using my name as reference.

Thank you again for allowing me to be your hands and feet. All the testimonies from this last week are yours as well. Share them with all that you can and remember to keep our fellow believers in Egypt in prayer. God has an amazing and powerful plan for them in reaching the Middle East with Christ’s love. God bless you all exceedingly and abundantly.

In His Grace,

Frances Lowry

Romans 8:38-39
38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Wow - time is already here. I'm leaving for Egypt tomorrow early morning. I have been so busy up to this point preparing and living life as usual (had an awesome birthday party for Ethan my oldest son this last weekend - when I return I'll put up the info)

I ask all that read this to pray for our teams safety and well being, that all of us will remain healthy and spiritually alert at all times. I ask that you all would set aside time over the next week to specifically pray for us and the believers that are in Egypt that we will build up and encourage them in their faith. If the Lord so leads you, fast and pray for the main Pastor we are working with as he has been extremely ill yet still pressing forward in making all things possible in our coming there.

I look forward to telling you amazing stories from my friends there. See ya all in a week!

We made it through the fires. For those of you who read my blog and have been keeping up with me and my family, I want you all to know God is faithful and has shown His favor towards us. There was a close call of the Witch Creek Fire coming our way but the hand of the Lord stopped it. There's so much damage surrounding us however, our place was un touched. I have a few pictures and a video to show you some of what took place. Keep in mind though, it's totally different actually seeing it. People told me how bad everything was but once I saw it for myself the sorrow for all the loss really sunk in. I can not thank the fire crews and workers enough for putting their lives on the line to save all that they did. God, you are truly amazing to spare what You have and I know that you will be comfort to all the family's that are now without.

Just got back from an amazing weekend in Colorado. Much more information to come but for now, as I promised Lisa, here we are on YouTube doing "The Screamer" - watch and you'll see why it's called that. :)

This is a hilarious video. Anyone who's ever had kids of their own, or even been a kid themselves will love this!

Oh my precious little boy...


The other day, I told my youngest son at dinner that if he didn't eat it, he would have it for breakfast. Well at that time he was ok with it...til morning came and he saw it waiting for him on the table. Now mind you, my son doesn't like to eat anything else other than Mac n Cheese and chicken tenders. I'm trying to broaden my little guys pallet thus, having to eat whatever we eat (usually never anything weird ya know).

Well he was taking 15 minutes per bite. Take that times 9, I was going to be late for work and them for school (I have 2 boys, 7 and 10). I put this before him "If you don't finish this right now, you will #1, get a spanking (which for him he's only had like 2 his whole life), #2 get beary taken away (his favorite little bear he sleeps with) and #3, you'll have this for dinner AGAIN tonight. You would think all those things would get him to eat faster....OH NO, not this stubborn little one. Almost like it was an old western, with him and I on opposite ends, waiting to draw (you could hear the old west music in the background and everything). Came down to the time, and he wasn't finished. I don't even think he picked up the pace at all. So, as hard as it was, I had to follow through with all the threats I had made earlier (and when I made them, I really didn't think I was going to follow through with them ya know). I took him into my room, pleading with him, explaining that if he would've just ate his food last night at dinner, and even again right now, none of this would have to take place...then I spanked him. I hate doing that, especially when your son looks back up at you, tears in his eyes gasping for air saying he felt like he just got shot with a shot gun. I felt awful. I love him so much, and then Satan was right there "What kind of mother are you really!! You're expectations are too high, you're a horrible mom and you're going to push your children away from you". Ohhh, he sure knows what buttons to push.

Got to school, and just before I said good bye to my boys, I told Garret that I loved him very very much. He told me "I love you too mom" with the utmost sincerity. Felt better, knowing that the devil was a liar (of course) and I'm not pushing my boys farther away, but in fact I'm helping them to grow up and understand cause and effect, consequences. Just like our Father God doesn't want to discipline us but because of our actions, it's needed. But He's always right there, loving us all the more never changing how He feels about us. Even though I had to discipline my little guy, I loved him all the more and it never changed. Through all this, the devil wanted to tear me down and not hold Garret to the consequences, and if I would've given in it would've made it harder for both of us to understand God's love in all of this. I wouldn't have seen it from God's perspective for me (and why in hard times I question God's love for me) and Garret wouldn't have learned that his actions have results, good and bad.

So be encouraged today, know the Devil is a liar and God is always faithful to finish this work in us.

P.S - Garret did finally eat all the chicken that night and joined us for pizza after. :)

Not too far around the corner....

Many but not all of you know that I'm planning a mission trip to Egypt in November (the 6th through 13th) I'm getting very excited about it yet, nervous at the same time. Here's some interesting information about Egypt and their culture:

As you may know Egypt is a culture in which family and religion are very important. Families are patriarchal: men are the head of the household and the sons respect and follow their fathers. The women follow the men, so when they marry they move into their husband’s home. Often times a family will consist of a mother, father, married sons and their families, and any unmarried children.

Egypt's constitution grants freedom of religion, and there are many religions being practiced in Egypt today. Islam is the main religion, about 90% of Egyptians are Muslim. The Christians are part of the Coptic Church, and make up about 8% of the population. In the recent past, there have been some religious riots in the areas such as Cairo, leaving both Muslims and Christians pitted against each other. Completing the religious minority in Egypt are Protestants and Jews, together claiming about 2% of the population

My friend and I have been asked to talk to the youth there. We aren't doing "evangelism", but instead we are equipping the nationals there with the basic foundational truths so they can reach their neighbors (this includes the neighboring Muslim countries like Iraq) with the love and truth of Christ.

Even though I was a youth pastor and worked with young people for many years, this is like apples vs. oranges. Their culture, fears, concerns, everything is very different than the youth here in America. I have been studying and researching to find out how to best prepare these young people to reach their peers for Christ. What an amazing opportunity we have to reach this younger generation! However, just as they already have peer pressure, imagine being the only Christian in a Muslim world. Through much prayer we felt that a strong foundation is needed. We will be teaching them on their identity in Christ and the character of God.

I need your prayers. Please pray much for our November trip. Pray that the ground will be ready to receive what we have to say and that these young people will be able to lay down the lie of the devil that they’ve believed for so long and take up our new, bought and paid for identity in Christ. Pray that they will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to win over their friends and families with the truth and love of Christ.

If you would like more information about this trip, please let me know. I am still looking for prayer supporters as well as Financial supporters - you may not be able to physically go with us but through your support, you are just as much a part of the harvest there. If you would like to give financially (still need $1000 to go), you can give online at http://www.e3partners.org/e3mission/default.asp and click on donate. My trip code is EG07D. Or you can send in a check to 16787 Bernardo Center Dr #7 San Diego, CA 92128 attn: Franny Lowry(All donations are tax deducible)

Thank you so much and if you can, please pass this blog and information on to as many as possible. Much prayer and support is needed for Egypt. THANKS!!!

Just need to laugh today:

** Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

** If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.

** It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.

** The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and a leaky tire.

** Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me alone.

** No one is listening until you fart.



** If GH can stand for P as in Hiccough
If OUGH stands for O as in Dough
If PHTH stands for T as in Phthisis
If EIGH stands for A as in Neighbor
If TTE stands for T as in Gazette
If EAU stands for O as in Plateau
The right way to spell POTATO should be: GHOUGHPHTHEIGHTTEEAU


Thanks for laughing with me today. :) :)

Ahhhhhh summer days....

Well, some of you know my family's story and all we've been going through these past few months. The more I grow and the Lord leads, I realize I need to just rest in Him and laugh a little bit. SAw this clip and I'm glad I'm not the only one who's gone through this kinda of time.

Sea World

We had a wonderful time a few weeks ago at Sea World. My parents came down for the weekend and my best friend Christy and her nephew came along as well. It was nice to have my mom and dad down that weekend and we had so much fun. My mom rented this little scooter thing (it's hard for her to walk around much) and it was quite a adventure to get through the crowds. Some folks were nice about it and some treated her like those on the highway that want to quickly get around a big rig and cut them off in the process. Nevertheless, we had a good time (Jeff high jacked the scooter at one point and was goofing around on it. Hehehehehhee)



We saw the newer Shamu show "Believe"and it was pretty good. Jeff Ethan and I sat down real close in the "soak zone" hoping to get soaked (it was stinkin hot that day) and believe it or not, not ONE OUNCE OF WATER ON US! How it happened I am still clueless.



The sea otter show was cute and so was the Pet's Rule one. It's kinda cool on the Pet's Rule on cause those animals are all from shelters and all. It's nice to see them being loved.


The dolphin show was cool too. I think it's so neat seeing how they can jump out of the water and move like they do. At the dolphin area (where you can feed hem and all) there was a dolphin playing football with the crowd - never seen that before. He would get it and toss it out to the crowd and when the threw it back he would throw it back out. Everyone was all "What a talented dolphin" and I just kept thinking "Maybe he doesn't want the dang football in his pool and you all keep throwing it back in at him. Silly people."





We had a lot of fun and by the time the end of the day came we had our fill and were ready for home. Thanks mom and dad for coming down. Thanks Christy and Z for enjoying the fun with us all. :)

Lowry Family Vacation

This last weekend me, my husband and 2 boys went on our first ever Lowry Family Vacation. Now we have been on lot's of vacations but none with just us 4. We had been wanting to do something that wasn't the norm and would promote family unity

(didn't want the kids somewhere and us in another place ya know). So we decided to visit our near by city San Diego. I know we live here but we haven't gone to a lot of it's attractions. :)

Our first day we spent at the San Diego Zoo. It was a blast. I had kinda wondered with all the hills and tons of walking the boys would get tired and start complaining but not one negative peep out of them. We saw everything from Elephants to Okapi's (God's left-over animal...hehehehehehe) I kept hearing all day how great an idea it was from my boys and how much they loved it.

My husband reserved us a place at the Motel 6 in Carlsbad. This one had a pool and I know we live near by, but we wanted the reality of a vacation for my boys so a hotel stay was in order. :) The room was small and beds were hard, but again, the boys loved it. That made it not so bad for me so see them just filled with excitement.

Sunday we spent at Legoland. Now, if you know my boys this is like Mecca for them (I can't begin to tell you how many Lego's they have.....it's crazy) We started the day over at the Jr. Master Builder area where at the first weekend of every month they have a contest where anyone can come and build something (they give a theme for each month - August was Mars Landing) and then the Master Builders for Legoland come and judge and pick a winner. They had so much fun using their imaginations building. Hopefully they will win something (we're waiting to hear still)

Then we bounded over to some rides and such. We drug Garret onto a roller coaster thingy (he's not the roller coaster type AT ALL). We didn't give him a choice in the matter knowing it really wasn't that scary and he needed to overcome some fears. :) After that was over, Garret was looking forward to the next roller coaster. Guess he overcame his fear just fine. :)

Ethan was in awe of all the amazing lego statues and buildings in Miniland. We so enjoyed it we decided to go back on Monday as well (it was kinda nice not trying to cramp it all in one day). On Monday we went to the Castle and Knight's area and rode another roller coaster at Garret's request. We all rode it once but the boys rode it by themselves a second time. After that we all headed over to the Pirates Cove area where we did the pirate boat ride twice (got soaked) and the boys spend some time in the water park area getting REALLY soaked. :)

Then by the afternoon we were all done and drove the boys up to my parents to stay for the week (ahhh, summer vacations...) I miss them terribly but I'm glad we had such an awesome weekend. They were great and because there weren't any major attitudes, it makes me want to do it even more. The Lord was so good to give us this time together as a family. :)

OH how I hate crutches. My heart goes out to all those who have to use those darn things. Last week, July 16th at karate I hurt my foot/ankle pretty bad while sparring. Went to the doctor the next day and they relieved my mind telling me my foot wasn't broken. However, the news they did give me wasn't really good either. I had torn ligaments in the top of my foot and around my ankle. They put me in a splint and gave me crutches and sent me on my merry way. I work upstairs....I live upstairs.....crutches WE'RE NOT MADE FOR STAIRS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was going to miss out on all the fun stuff - softball, karate, etc. But, complaining wasn't going to change anything really so with the help of my best friend and my family, I made it through. All this time though, I kept praying that the Lord would heal me. I believe God at ALL of His word and I wasn't understanding why the Lord wouldn't heal me.

Saturday morning I was so frustrated with my condition. My arms were sore, my back was sore, my foot just ached. I cried out to God "Why won't you heal me??" And He actually answered - " How can I when you keep putting the brace back on?" "Oh" I said (yeah...full of comments now I am.....). "Take a step and know, KNOW IN YOUR HEART not just your mind that I am your healer." So, I did. I took it all off...I as I was about to step down on my bad foot, I caught myself still expecting the pain "I'm sorry Lord" I said "I really want to have the faith...." My foot didn't hurt. I took another step...no pain. :) I realized just then that yes, out Lord is a healer. He does so not just to make us feel better, but to bring Him glory and for the building up in the believers and to bring in the un-believers. Hallelujah! Thank you Lord for touching me and making me whole again!

I saw one of my softball team mates the next day. He asked about my foot (cause Friday night at the game I was on crutches now, I'm totally walking normal). He's not a Christian however, his wife and other family members are. He asked e "How are you so special that God would heal you and not all the other sad people dying of cancer?" I told him, "I'm just as special as they are in the Lord's eyes. I don't know why God chose to heal me but I do know that He did and I'm to proclaim it wherever I go." He looked at me with disbelieve but, I know in my heart what the Lord did. I didn't have answers to why God doesn't heal everyone, and I never will. But I do know this, that God is a healer and our situations don't change who God is. We may never understand why He does certain things, but He is God Almighty and it IS for us to trust Him.

So I write this blog as a testament to God's greatness and to encourage all who read it - don't try to figure God out, cause you won't. But trust in His word and know the our Lord is the same yesterday, today and forever. All those promises in there are for us and for today. He is a mighty MIGHTY God.

Egypt 2007!!!!!!!

Hello everyone! Just wanted to update you all a bit on what's happening. Last year, I went to Ecuador (God told me like 1 month before the trip was leaving - craziness!) and God was so faithful. It was an awesome, amazing time and the fruit of the labor is still growing (200 members now in a church that had 12 when we went there - PLUS they're starting another church down in a remote village!)
God has put on my heart Egypt for this year. When I heard one of the leaders that is heading up the trip talk about it, I got so excited! We're doing things a little bit differently down there. Where in Ecuador we did home to home evangelism, in Egypt we will be holding conferences with the nationals there, teaching them basic Biblical truths. This will secure them stronger and stronger in God and to give them a firm foundation to be able to share with the people of Egypt. We will be ministering to men, women (holding women only conferences), family's and young people. Our strategy there will be to equip them on many levels to reach the people of Egypt, leaving the evangelize part to the nationals there. Their culture requires much time and trust to see transitions to Christ.
The people there not only want to reach and see Egypt changed, but their plans are to go into the surrounding Muslim countries. As things are getting more and more desperate in Iran and Iraq, the equipping we are doing in Egypt will reach them as well. Please join me in reaching Egypt. I am leaving November 9th of this year and need your help to get there. The cost is much greater than I have answers to ($3000) but just as God through you helped get me to Ecuador within 3 weeks, I know he can do even greater things through us for Egypt. You can give online at:

www.e3partners.org/e3mission

Or you can give to :

e3 Partners
Attn: Franny Lowry
16787 Bernardo Center Dr. 7
San Diego, CA 92128

With all donations please put my name (Franny Lowry) and my trip code EG07D (you'll need this information for online donations as well) Thank you so much in advance for partnering with me. :)

So proud of my son. When we first moved down here it was so hard on him. The Lord moved us suddenly and it was hard for him to adjust. As adults we have a better understanding (well, sometimes we do) of the Lord's working in our lives. Finally, after almost 2 years my little guys are adjusting. Due to my work schedule increasing I started having them attend the Boys and Girls club after school. This is where they have formed some of their greatest (and worst) friendships. My oldest son Ethan really enjoys it and has been allowed to use his creativity in many ways. He drew a large picture of a pirate ship and won many local awards. Also, he wrote a small short screenplay based off the Pirates of the Caribbean which he and my youngest along with a few of their friends performed at the Boys and Girls club and also at the local fair where we live. The Club had awards for all the things they did there and Ethan received one for Performing Arts.

I really am proud of my little guys and I'm thankful to my God who has helped them grow so much in the last year and a half. Honestly, we've all grown the most from this move, together as a family. We're closer now together than we ever have been. God is a good, amazing AWESOME God and I just wanted to brag on Him and my kiddies a bit. Thanks for stopping by! :)

P.S - Check out my husbands new blog (it's over in my web favorites under From Grey to White") THANKS!

So much has been happening in my life. I kinda mentioned it in my last post but sadly, I can't give details over a blog. I ask all that read this to pray for the following things.

• Wisdom - The Lord says when you ask of this He will give it freely

Ephesians 1:16-18

16"I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[a] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,"

• Guidance - I want the Lord to go before me in all things and straighten the paths before me.
  

Isaiah 42:16

16"And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them."

• Pray for our pastors - We forget that they are human as well and the devil prowls around them like lion to devour. Hold your pastors high in prayer for their protection.

1 Peter 5:8-9

8"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings."

• Strength - To stand in the face of adversity. The accuser is out to get all of us. Remember always who you are in Christ. He has set the value for you when He sent His son Jesus in our place for our sins. Don't let the devil accuse of your past, that's been covered under the blood of Christ.

Psalm 103:11-13

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him

I love the way the Message translation puts this next verse:

John 3:16 (The Message)

16-18"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.

This now leads me to the last part of this blog. I want to encourage all that read this that we need to be spiritually alert. We need to be careful of perceptions and how we can look at something and think it's truth but, until we communicate with one another, we could be buying into a lie and not even realizing it. This can cause terrible destruction in the family of God and to His children. Here's a little snip it from a daily email I get. I pray it encourages you this day. Pray for your Pastor, pray for your church family. Don't let the devil deceive you into perceptions that you believe to be true - seek after the truth with the Lord and with others.

Perception Is Not Reality

TGIF Today God Is First, by Os Hillman

"The lions may roar and growl, yet the teeth of the great lions are broken." - Job 4:10

In the advertising business we often say that "perception is reality" for the person who views our advertising message. It does not matter whether the audience believes the message to be true, only that they perceive it to be true. Their actions will be the same whether they believe it or only perceive it.

The enemy of our souls is very good at this game. He may bring on us what we perceive to be true when it is a lie. It may appear that there is no way around a situation. He may bring great fear on us. When we buy into his lie, we believe only what we have chosen to perceive to be true. It usually has no basis of truth. Such was the case when Peter looked on the waters during a night boat journey with the other disciples. At first glance, he and the disciples screamed with fear, thinking that what they saw was a ghost. It was actually Jesus.

Satan's name means "accuser." He travels to and fro to accuse the brethren. He brings an impressive front to all he does, yet behind that front is a weak, toothless lion with a destination that has already been prepared in the great abyss. He knows his destination, but he wants to bring as many with him as possible; so he often has a big roar, but little bite.

The next time some event comes into your life that creates fear and trembling, first determine the source. Look past the emotions and evaluate the situation in light of God's Word. Perception is not always reality.

OH MY! A month has almost gone by. I apologize to all those who read this, I totally slacked. Well, as some of you know, a lot has been going on. Those that know, please continue to pray.

For all others, here's a few things that have taken place over the last month. My oldest son Ethan is in honor band (he pl ayes the trombone) and they played at a competition thingy the middle of May at a Jr. High near Knott's Berry Farm. The band did great and Ethan had such a great time.

I am so proud of him. Not only cause he's improved in his playing but mostly, cause he stuck it out this year. He has in the past, been known for really wanting to do something then about half way through it, looses interest and drops out of stuff. I don't want this to be a permanent trend in life for him so seeing this really encouraged me. This wasn't the only thing this year for him, he also started and completed soccer. Way to go Ethan! :)

After his band performance we hopped over to Knott's Berry Farm and spent the day. It was kinda nice cause my mom and dad came out to see Ethan and we got a chance to spend the whole day together. I guess it had been awhile since they had been to Knott's Berry Farm. It was mother's day weekend so we all went over to Mrs. Knott's Chicken for lunch to celebrate. It was a great day and wonderful weekend. :)