Tagged: Audrey Frank

“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself like this: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: extortionists, unrighteous people, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.’ The tax collector, however, stood far off and would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, be merciful to me, sinner that I am!’ Luke 18:10-13   I have been thinking about honest prayer. As I pondered today, I remembered a day when I witnessed different approaches to a human king. I have tried to capture it here. May… Read More

  My God with his lovingkindness will meet me (ASV). The God who loves me will help me (NET). Psalm 59:10 My work requires extensive travel. Sometimes, I arrive at my destination expected, prepared for, and cared for, while other times, I am on my own. Being expected, prepared for, and cared for makes a big difference. Sometimes it’s critical to know someone is waiting for me. One time I flew from Egypt to Kenya so sick I almost passed out in the passport queue upon arrival. As the blackness closed in, I feverishly scanned the crowd for a kind face, trying to decide if it was better to introduce myself before I fainted or let them meet me by looking through my bag for… Read More

He shoulders responsibility and is called the Wonderful Adviser. Isaiah 9:6, NET Three books shaped my early childhood: the Bible my great-grandmother gave me the Christmas I was seven years old, my mother’s girlhood copy of Little Women, and my grandfather’s thick and heavy Webster’s Dictionary. I read them all until the pages grew soft like velvet. The word responsibility inspired me long before I knew I was an Enneagram 1 or that Achiever and Responsibility were two of my five top themes in the Clifton Strengthsfinders assessment. Responsibility- the quality or state of being responsible: such as moral, legal, or mental accountability; reliability, trustworthiness. Synonyms: duty, task, function, job, role, place, charge, business, onus, burden, liability, accountability, answerability, province. And curiously, in British English… Read More

The LORD’s Spirit will rest on him — a Spirit that gives extraordinary wisdom, a Spirit that provides the ability to execute plans, a Spirit that produces absolute loyalty to the LORD. Isaiah 11:2, NET According to Worldometer, as I write this there are 8,194,837,950 and speedily counting human souls on earth. As the population increases, it decreases simultaneously, and the world spins around on her careful axial tilt of between 22.1 and 24.5 degrees. Where is wisdom to be found among so many souls, on an incessantly spinning earth? Surely we need wisdom to survive.  Extraordinary wisdom is called for, the kind that provides the ability to execute wise plans. Wisdom that produces absolute loyalty to Wisdom Himself. We need wisdom that fosters delight… Read More

The people walking in darkness see a bright light; light shines on those who live in a land of deep darkness.   Isaiah 9:2 Darkness has some strange effects on the mind and body. Studies have shown that humans who live in darkness for prolonged periods behave differently. There is even an entire field of biology called chronobiology devoted to studying the effects of light and darkness on humans, or the effects of solar and lunar activity on living creatures. You might have heard of the circadian rhythm, the internal wake-sleep cycle in humans. Or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), the effect of darkness during late fall and winter on one’s mental state. Some people refer to it as the “winter blues.” Countries far north of… Read More

  The gloom will be dispelled for those who were anxious. Isaiah 9:1 Gloom is defined by the Collins Dictionary as “a state of near darkness” or “a feeling of sadness or lack of hope.” It’s hard to see during the gloomy hour just before nightfall. Details are blurry. Lines on the road seem to disappear. People look like shadows, and it takes extra effort to focus.  Anxiety can have the same effect, pitching us into a state of near darkness, flooding us with sadness, and diminishing hope. It’s hard to see clearly when our minds and hearts grow dim with anxiety. In the gloom, we are more likely to cross boundaries or let someone else cross ours. We might bump into someone and cause… Read More

When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Exodus 3:4 The door to the cheese shop is sparkling The pedestrian crosswalk is shimmering I turn aside to see As you walk away from me. I parked in this spot A long time ago To drop off a friend who thought I needed to know. The fears I had for you Were come true It’s too late are the words That stuck to. The tree-lined street Was dark that day As all my hopes Fell away. But today! Here I am again Bringing you to help That same dear friend. Fear for you Has been replaced With joy… Read More

  For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock. Psalm 27:4-5 They are reaching, reaching for me Enemies on every side.   The ground is quivering, quaking Once solid now falling.   You are reaching, reaching for me Pulling me to Your side.   The Rock is firm, immovable Underneath my feet.   I am out of reach.   I wonder dear reader what is reaching for you today. Is it an enemy wearing the guise of a loved one? Is it the grenade lobbed in a short message on a blinking screen? I wonder how you are. I wonder what previously solid ground beneath your… Read More

My soul, wait only upon God and silently submit to Him; for my hope and expectation are from Him. Psalm 62:5, AMPC Shy soul Carefully guarded Peeking out from Behind a wall Built over decades To protect.   Curious soul Hoping…? Will they  Love me Accept me Welcome me Maybe not Try tomorrow Or another day one hundred years from now.   Safe soul  Stay Behind the wall Built over decades To prevent.   Surrendered soul Behind a wall Light cascading Inviting.   Patient soul Waiting Silent Hoping Expecting God alone. By Audrey Frank   The soul is like a wild animal—tough, resilient, savvy, self-sufficient and yet exceedingly shy. ― Parker J. Palmer, A Hidden Wholeness: The Journey Toward an Undivided Life: Welcoming the Soul… Read More

    I have no ease, I have no quietness; I cannot rest; turmoil has come upon me.” Job 3:26   Then I considered all the skillful work that is done: Surely it is nothing more than competition between one person and another. This also is profitless—like chasing the wind. The fool folds his hands and does no work, so he has nothing to eat but his own flesh. Better is one handful with some rest than two hands full of toil and chasing the wind. Ecclesiastes 4:4-6   Dressed in black leggings and a black turtleneck tunic, I pulled on black socks, black quiet-sole sneakers, and finished it all with a black mask and beanie. I was ready. Back flat against brick I crept… Read More