Tagged: Audrey Frank

No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them—the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough—so that they should live on forever and not see decay (Psalm 49:7-9). The smiling children in the slides were emaciated but their stomachs bulged grotesquely, skin stretched shiny and taut. I stared in the way a nine-year-old child stares, without inhibition, fascinated and horrified. The missionary man standing in front of our small country church congregation explained how something called malnutrition causes empty bellies to appear over-full, a cruel deception of nature. Other children lay on woven mats, eyes barely open as bare-chested mothers leaned over them, hands gently holding on as if they might keep them from… Read More

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid (John 14:27). There you are again! Your gentle crooning breaks the morning silence and stirs something deep within me, something primal and necessary to my breath and life. As you bring a message of peace for the day, drops of water cling and shimmer like diamonds on the leaves of freshly blooming peonies in the garden. They bob their fragrant heads, nodding in assent.  Peace I leave with you. Faithful mourning dove, messenger of God, you have been with me everywhere I have ever lived. Some find your call sorrowful. I believe it… Read More

@audreycfrank When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:32). This is Mary, the one who knew she was loved by the Lord. Mary, the one who sat at his feet and listened. She was the woman who broke the cultural stereotype of the day that said women could not be students, disciples of the Rabbi. Mary is the one who “chose the thing that was better” (see Luke 10:42). One day this same Mary would anoint Jesus' feet with expensive perfume before his crucifixion (see John 12:1-8). Mary had a strong measure of confidence in her relationship with Jesus. She knew… Read More

@audreycfrank In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it (Isaiah 30:15). We so often fight against the rest God offers. Instead of repenting, resting in His sovereignty over our lives, quieting our souls and trusting God, we flee. And our pursuers flee swiftly after us. (See Isaiah 30:16-17.) The word for rest here is also used in Exodus 14:14, that famous moment when the Israelites crossed the sea on dry land, only to look behind them to see the Egyptians marching in pursuit with full strength. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still (Exodus 14:14). How ridiculous the wisdom of God seems in the face of our… Read More

@audreycfrank My roots are in the Appalachian Mountains of the Eastern United States, where cultures blended from Scotland, Ireland, England and Germany to brave the rugged landscape and force it into submission. Farmers and shepherds made the mountains their home and brought with them customs and traditions of the Old Country. One of the most stubborn traditions is that of record-keeping, or, as it is more often called, holding a grudge. I have watched old men die friendless, all because they refused to forgive a wrong committed against them decades before in their youth. I have heard the griping grumble of stubborn siblings who walked away from each other after a dispute, never to reconcile.  And I have seen the most tender, powerful love blossom… Read More

@audreycfrank Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30, NIV “I want to be an astronaut, but I still want to be a doctor, too,” she said, her beautiful brow crinkled in consternation. “Well, astronauts need doctors to care for them,” I suggested. “I know. But I’m not worrying about it. I’ve put that stress on Jesus. “Is that okay? To give Jesus my stress?” “Yes, my sweet girl. Absolutely yes.” With a sigh, she gazed out the window into… Read More

@audreycfrank Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him and it is he who is speaking to you.” He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. (John 9:35-38) The tender picture of Jesus seeking and finding the outcast here is breathtaking.  There are those during this season of Lent who have been outcast because of their faith in Jesus. Yet they stand courageous and humble, declaring boldly their belief in the Son of Man, no matter what they have given up. Many of us give up rich food or… Read More

@audreycfrank The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:5) Walking in the dark night of Africa is risky. The black mamba, one of the world’s deadliest snakes, can completely camouflage himself within the inky darkness. He is one of the few snakes who are active at night and has a particular love for wood or metal that has absorbed the heat of the day.  We encountered the black mamba only once, coiled around the grating on our screen door. After a long night of good conversation and milky hot chai by lantern light, we saw our guests to the door. As my husband reached out his hand to open it the darkness moved, alerting us to the killer’s… Read More

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.  Matthew 16:18 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.”  Luke 22:61 Lent is an opportunity to discover who God says we are as opposed to who we think we are. The contrast can be crushing.  If we are honest, we all know the weight of disappointment in who we really seem to be compared to who God says we are meant to be. Maybe we don’t even know who He says we are in the first… Read More

@audreycfrank And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. As he approached the road leading down from the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Luke 19:36-38, NET My early introduction to the Easter season was a small country church where little girls like me wore new dresses, hats, gloves, and white patent leather shoes. We awoke to Easter baskets left by the Easter bunny, overflowing with chocolate and jelly beans. After church, we would race around the churchyard searching for… Read More