The MIGHTY BABY

      The same God that spoke the world in to existence (Genesis 1), stopped the Midianite army with far fewer men (Judges 7), freed captive Isreal from Egypt (Exodus 6:6, Exodus 12:31-42),  enabled little David to defeat Goliath (1 Samuel 17),  closed the mouths of lions when Daniel was in the den (Daniel 6:22), and promised to win the greatest victory of all, defeating sin and death came as a baby. A baby. THE MIGHTY GOD came as a helpless tiny little baby HELD in the hands of a young girl. HELD! HE who holds the righteous in HIS right hand was HELD! The omnipotent GOD, SOVEREIGN over all came as a tiny little babe. Meek and Mild. The GOD of the universe came frail and vulnerable. Helpless and small. Dependent on a young girl. This is humility and hope at its finest. I feel deeply that my words are insufficient to describe this glorious and profound truth. I am dumb founded at the fact that GOD who is mighty above all came as precious little baby. Fully GOD (for HE was conceived by the HOLY SPIRIT) and fully human (for HE was conceived of the young Mary). This truth can't be wrapped or contained in a box or a bag- it can only be believed or denied. By GOD's intervening and sovereign hand I am thankful to believe that it is indeed true. 
      The story of this MIGHTY BABY JESUS can bring great encouragement for the broken and lonely. It holds promise that we are not alone. It holds promise that HE restores what is broken- HE doesn't just patch up what is broken, but HE fully restores us. HE came to fulfill HIS promise to rescue us from sin and death. HE came to SEEK and SAVE the lost (Luke 19:10), and to give us a new name (Isaiah 62:12). The GOD of Hagar, the GOD WHO SEES (EL ROI) (Genesis 16:13 (a)) was finally seen as a precious and tiny babe. The promise of HIS coming finally occurred in a lowly manger not fit for the KING OF KINGS. The promise is held in HIS name- HE is IMMANUEL (GOD WITH US). (Matthew 1:23). Let this truth penetrate your heart when you feel low and lost. Rejoice for the SAVIOUR has come! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!! 

     With Love, Frances Hope

Great is THY Faithfulness!

     My life is like a broken record that continues to spin around and around. It looks a lot like this: I cry out to GOD (scared, anxious, doubtful) and then HE is faithful to provide, and then I repeat the same cycle all over again. HE is always faithful to provide my needs, and every once in a while HE patiently gives me what I want. Yet I know that even if HE didn't GOD is still faithful and good. HE blesses me FAR beyond what I deserve. I am so blown away by the love GOD has for me! I think of Isaiah 54:8 quite often- "In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you , but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you" says the LORD, your REDEEMER." I am just so thankful for this kind of love from GOD, because I definitely deserve the first reaction, yet I am grateful to receive the latter.
     As I prepare to go to Uganda it has been such a humbling experience to trust GOD financially. The other day I cried anxiously in fear that I wouldn't make it. That the rest of my support wouldn't come. From the start it was a scary leap of faith. I mean I couldn't snap my fingers and make $1,500 dollars PLUS some magically appear. I'm 23, I live with my parents, and I barely make enough to pay the few bills I do have and survive between paychecks (praise GOD I have no debt to pay off!). Yet I felt the LORD was calling me to go to Uganda this time around. I am just so blown away by how much GOD provides. If it is HIS will HE will make it happen. I am SO thankful for my biological family, church family, and for my Chick-fil-a family as they have been a huge support in this time! I seriously couldn't have done it without you all! For all of those who gave you know who you are- I deeply and sincerely thank you! You have blessed me beyond words! I remember when I had the last check covering my travel support handed to me, and the moment I opened it. I paused in shock for a moment. Then I exploded with joy. GOD is SO faithful!!! I am so blown away by how people want to help me as I embark on this adventure for GOD's kingdom! The willingness to give towards my travel expenses, the willingness to buy supplies for those precious little ones in Uganda. I am so thankful!
     The next step is to finish preparing to go to Uganda. Get the supplies on the (Un)adopted wish list, pray, pack, and trust GOD to do the rest. I am still anxious about how I will be able to pay my bills when I get back as I will not have that income as I will miss work, but I am choosing to trust my ABBA. After all- who am I to doubt after HE has been faithful to provide for me for Uganda and for the other hundreds of ways HE has done so in my life- grace being the greatest.
Much Love, Frances Hope

Paintings with a Purpose

Hello dearest loved ones!
Some of you (hopefully most) have heard that I am going on a short term mission trip to Uganda from June 5th through the 14th. If you had the chance to read my last blog you know that this has been my desire for the last two years. I wanted to give you a brief update on where I am in my preparation to go: 1) I am vaccinated! 2) My visa has been approved! 3) I have a scheduled appointment with my doctor for the medication that I will need for travel. 4) GOD is beautifully preparing my heart and giving me the boldness and the opportunity to  share the gospel and my faith with other people (often strangers!). 5) I still have a bit of ways to go on raising financial support for my trip.
 So I introduce (and reintroduce) my "paintings with a purpose". I free handed all of the paintings, and each one of them comes from my heart.



* The first one: "Oh Father Use...." is something I often sing over myself as I desire to better submit to GOD's authority and purpose for my life, but also in adoration that HE is my FATHER who chooses to use me for HIS kingdom.

*The second one: "..Here I am send me" is a verse that hits my heart every time I hear it. I want to have this same courageous submission as Isaiah to be sent for GOD's Kingdom to share HIS gospel around the world in the U.S. AND over seas because both are valuable, and necessary. One is not greater than the other. Remember JESUS dies for Jews and Gentiles. Citizens and Non- Citizens.

*The third one: Flowers. It doesn't go as deep as the others but it is still from my heart.  I have always has an appreciation for GOD's creation. I- love- nature! Sometimes I just take a step back and enjoy the flowers, trees, and plants that I see growing on the side of the road.

*The fourth one: "Thy will be done". Yes I know it looks dark. It's supposed to. I often battle with depression and anxiety, and I have found that it something GOD uses to further sanctify me. HE has brought many many storms in my life, but they are all for my benefit and HIS glory. So it is a prayer that even in the midst of every storm I would say to my loving ABBA "Thy will be done!"

*The fifth one: "Be still and know that I am GOD". (This one is on a small wooden board.) Everyone battles with something and it is a reminder from GOD that we need only be still and let HIM take the rains. Some translations say to "cease striving and know that I am GOD".

So I ask that you would please take these paintings into consideration. I am not giving a price for any of them to leave them for "open bidding" in hopes to raise more support for my trip. 100% of what I make of these paintings will go towards my trip to Uganda. Thanks a bunch!

Much Love, Frances Hope

When HE finally says "Go!"

For two years I have wanted this. Two years I have prayed and pondered upon this opportunity.For two years I have felt GOD say "not now". At first I thought HE was firmly telling me "NO!" and I didn't understand why HE would say no to something such as this- but now I, Frances Hope Allen, am going to Uganda. On June 5th, 2017 I will board a plane that will take me farther than I have ever flown simply to love on those that are the "least of these". Not in my time, but in GOD's time- HIS beautiful and perfect timing. The past two years have surely not been a waste for HE has faithfully been teaching me along the way. GOD has been preparing me for these past two years for these 10 days to come. There is beauty in waiting in obedience for GOD's perfect and beautiful timing. (I will confess that I did happen to throw a few temper tantrums along the way). For the past two years GOD has brought me to places of preparation, and yet I am sure that when I get there I will feel completely unprepared and learn far more. I am thankful for the past two years of my life in which I have taught little ones, learned to study scripture as God intended, served in sacrificial ways, helped care for precious individuals who had special needs, cried and persevered. GOD is teaching me that seasons of waiting are not meaningless- they shouldn't even be viewed as such because HE is working in them. I think about the struggle I went through not having a car (which I know sounds first world) and how I cried out to GOD in the midst of the trial and asking HIM to provide either a better heart or a car. For three years this went on- and three years it was a struggle. Then one day HE provided when I least expected it. I never told any one the type of car I saw myself in- and I would have been thankful for any car in that season- and then when I saw the car chosen for me I wept, because it was my dream car ( a small outdoorsy black SUV). GOD provided for me even the selfish desires of my heart, because I had waited and trusted HIM. There better truth HE didn't have to, because HE owes me nothing and I owe HIM everything. I am so thankful for seasons of trial and waiting because GOD teaches gratitude in them. HE is so faithful. HE is so just. SO loving. I am humbled because I have waited GOD has been providing left and right the finances I need to go to Uganda. I am learning that obedience in waiting is good, because when we wait for the LORD's timing we truly see that it is perfect.
Much Love, Frances Hope

The "A" Word.

  People try to avoid it. Many are overcome by it. Everyone is changed by it. Affliction is inevitable. No matter how hard we try to avoid it as some point in our lives we all cross paths with it. Affliction comes in various ways, and for some worse than others. We are all affected by it. I know what you're thinking- "how is this supposed to encourage me?". The truth is apart from CHRIST it can't and it won't. We live in a fallen world of sin and depravity, and because of that affliction exists. We sin, and we are sinned against. Sometimes we are hurt by the very ones we expect to protect us. So how is there hope? How to we keep going if all we feel is broken, and burdened. By hope! Psalm 34 reads that "the affliction of the righteous are many" but GOD helps us through them all. We will not be overcome by it. It gets better- instead of being overcome by it we overcome it. The worst affliction we could undergo is condemnation from GOD- but if we are in CHRIST we don't have to. We are rescued from the smallest of afflictions by hope because of GOD and we are spared the greatest affliction because of GOD. That is the encouragement. Psalm 22 expresses the heaviness of affliction and that the affliction of GOD's people hurts HIM. So why does HE let us go through it? Because HE is EL ROI, the GOD WHO SEES. HE sees both the evil and the good (Psalm 15:3). HE knows what lies ahead for HIS people- healing. HE lets us go through some of the worst things because HE knows there is healing and wisdom that comes from it. So where does healing come from? JEHOVAH-RAPHA, the GOD WHO HEALS. That is the encouragement I have and I share with you.

The Preborn Person's Plea

  One day it hit me! A still small voice, both firm and full of compassion, saying to me "Frances, you have to do something about this!" Reality rang loud and clear as I pursued action "you will offend many, and many will hate you". These were my constant and consistent thoughts as I approached the day in which I would stand for the killing of the preborn. I knew the risk and it did not discourage me because I know the truth of Matthew 5:10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." So I stood there holding graphic images and passing out literature to attendees of Passion 2017. What I saw saddened me, but did not surprise me. What I saw on the faces of thousands of professing Christians was apathy, disgust, dissapointment, and anger. I was not angry at their reaction but rather broken hearted. The apathy one carries is the fate of many yet born. One day we will all be accountable before a HOLY GOD for our actions -or lack there of. I stood there fighting discouragement as my brothers and sisters passed me by some intentionally ignoring me and the others that stood with me on behalf of preborn children.
   I thank my GOD for those who stopped to talk and to listen. I answered their questions, some full of hatred, to the best of my human ability with the words the HOLY SPIRIT had given me. I witnessed 2 grow men cry as the HOLY SPIRIT opened their hearts to see the truth of abortion.  I spoke with sisters that stood to listen of the beautiful, sacred life of preborn children. I, through the guidance of the HOLY SPIRIT and making myself vulnerable, proved one woman's argument invalid concerning the choice of human life.
  It wasn't all sunshine and rainbows though. I was spit at, cursed at, intentionally ignored, and mocked as I stood to encourage others to stand for human life. My heart broke knowing that one day these people would all face GOD for their actions and lack of- just as I will. I refuse to be someone who sits on my butt and claims to be "pro-life" when others are being murdered. Proverbs 24:11 commands us to reach out on behalf of those being taken away to death- to the slaughter. JESUS commands us to ACT as the good Samaritan did out of compassion for those being left to die. Did you know that 25% of people are prolife, 25% prochoice, and 50% don't care- of these only .0001% are standing for human life. These numbers break my heart. I know the risk. The truth is offensive, therefore I cannot expect to share it and not offend others. My life is not about making myself greater. If people look pass me but see the greatness of GOD then I ought praise HIM. My life is to make HIM known no matter the cost to my own. 
So I plead on behalf of dieing children being murdered daily- stand with me and my brothers and sisters of CBR for their cause. Abortion is murder. I believe in the truth of Romans 8:1 that there is NO condemnation for those who are IN CHRIST JESUS, yet this ought not be an excuse to proceed with abortion. We are supposed to act as the good Samaritan, and not be passive like the priest and the Levite. We are not to take GOD'S gifted grace for granted but to act in good works as our brother Paul reminds us.
I plead to you on behalf of the preborn person- ACT out of compassion in boldness and humility.
   Much love, Frances Hope