Oh wow, totally haven't updated in forever. I wonder if anyone even reads these things. If you are all still out there, please comment and let me know you're reading.

Ok, latest adventure. I have been desiring to go hiking for the past year now. I live in a very beautiful place that has a ton of hiking trails right in my back yard (figuratively speaking of course cause I currently live in an apartment...wish I had a back yard). A few weeks ago, I had Good Friday off and so did my boys. My son, my best friend Christy and I decided today is the day to check out Iron Mountain. We had no idea what we would find.



It was beautiful. On Friday we went about 1/2 the way (I had some little legs behind me). Last minute my oldest son's tummy wasn't feeling good so he stayed home but my youngest went. I was so proud of him. He didn't complain really. Only at the very end and we were all ready for the car that day - it was our first hike and it had gotten a little bit warm.



So my husband, my best friend and I had off the following Monday. This was the day to make it to the top. We set out at about 7am (cause we didn't want to get caught in the heat) This was my husband's first hike ever and mine and my best friends as far as going all the way to the top. Riley Christy's dog joined us as well - he has this terrible habit of eating all the cats food and thus is a little thick in the middle. He needed this as much as the rest of us. :)



Here Are some photos of us almost to the top (2 mile mark). Getting excited cause I know the view is going to be wonderful!!!





I have to say I'm hooked on hiking. Ready for the next trail. There's so much of God's creation to marvel at that sitting on the sofa just won't do anymore.

So excited!!!!

Ok, I'm finally telling about this here (so much keeps happening in life and I just don't have enough time to write it all for you to see.) Well, here's the latest. We've been praying and working towards starting the ministry God birthed in our hearts years ago. Now, with my husband and my best friend, we have offically started Totally Committed Ministries!!!!! Oh yeah, it's final. All that's left is this BIG OL fee to the IRS to finalize the 501c3. Please visit our website at www.totallycommittedministries.org . We're all very excited to see where God wants to take it all. Please continue to lift us up in prayer regarding financial support and speaking engagements. More to come on the personal life I promise....

HAHAHAHAHHAAAAAAAAAAAAA!! I laughed so hard I cried!!!!

Oh my goodness, oral surgery. Just had it Friday. Can actually function today but yesterday was a different story. I was feeling better today until I talked with my oral surgeon and he actually explained all that he did in my mouth. With all the bone taking out and then bone re grafting, I'm wondering how I am not more a mess than I am. Thank the Lord he was able to save to much and help me prepare for a healthier tomorrow regarding my mouth.

I was so nervous going into it all. You can ask those that were around me, the fear about consumed me. My husband got on the Ransomed Heart forums and got a prayer thread goin for me. My best friend prayed over me, my kids, a lot of people. But then, I found myself the morning of my surgery totally scared. "Why Lord, why should I be scared?" No reason really. My best friend put it so plainly to me the night before. She said the Lord doesn't warn us out of fear. Fear is a devise of the enemy. God does give us warning but not using fear as a tactic. He will warn but with a sense of peace behind it all. So I evaluated where this feeling of dread was coming from. Fear. So that ruled out God's warning and showed me really, its just Satan taking a stab at my heart, AGAIN.

9:30am, Friday morning. They're strapping all the electrodes to my body and monitoring my heart before the general anaesthesia is given to me. Then I realized something significant, something amazing...PEACE. I had no worry, no fear, NOTHING. It was just me and my Lord there for about an hour, talking. I was filled with so much peace and had a wonderful nap to boot. :)

HOWEVER after the nap, it's been icky. Yesterday was the worst and I'm getting better but still very swollen. So please continue the prayer and remember, God's way isn't through fear, but peace. :)

I know it's been a long, long, LONG while since I posted. I will post more again soon (I have I think Christmas, Garret's birthday and Jeff's Colorado trip to update) and I will get there soon. For now though, check this clip out!!!




I'm so excited about this moving coming out!!! Can't wait!

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.