Tagged: Jeremiah 29:11

For Peeps "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11   How can I be okay if you are not? It feels like some part of me is lost. We always held hands when we were afraid; Together we were exceedingly brave.   Today I felt I was twelve again, Holding your hand as we made a plan, Fear thrumming in our veins like some wild drummer, While fireflies emerged on that evening in summer.   But we are both now far past twelve; I look in your eyes and remind myself, We know something we did not know then; The Lord… Read More

This is an updated version of one of Audrey's most-read Christmas posts. For those who feel inadequate, you’ve got a friend in Mary. One Christmas in a land far from home, I was expecting our third child and my sense of smell was working overtime. Nauseated and homesick, my attitude was anything but joyful. I was pretty sure I was inadequate for the tasks in front of me and a sick pregnancy was not helping me feel courageous or motivated. Bundling up, I sought solace and fresh air outdoors where I could ruminate alone with my thoughts. The small dirt path behind our bungalow wound up and over a hill, inviting me to explore. I climbed slowly, avoiding the mud. Rounding a bend, I came… Read More

For my oldest son. You are doing a great job and I love you. Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6 Decisions, decisions. How can we make a solid decision when the present and the future are uncertain? The global pandemic seems to have stripped us of the privilege of planning. Plans make us feel better about the future. When we plan, we feel like we have some hope, some measure of control. Something better than now to look forward to. Something worth working toward. But plans require decision-making. And who can make a solid decision these days? A wise… Read More

[caption id="attachment_3724" align="alignnone" width="720"] The plans you can trust are the ones you yield to the Lord.[/caption] The mind of a person plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps (Proverbs 16:9). Trust in God, but tie your camel tightly. -Arab Proverb Man plans, and God laughs. -Mike Kappel, Forbes Magazine This year, we lost the privilege of plans. But you can’t stop a good human from planning. Hope is rising all around, and folks are planning their hearts out. The 2021 planner aisle at Target was almost empty last week. We are expectant, people! How do we face a year of aspirations during a global pandemic that has delayed weddings, halted flights, caused people to die alone, shut down jobs, and exponentially increased… Read More

It is a truth universally acknowledged that humanity often finds lies easier to believe than truth.-Audrey Frank Some lies seem to be written on hearts in permanent ink, graffitied in different languages across cultures and continents, yet all meaning the same. unWorthy. unLoveable. unSeen. unHeard. unKnown. unClean. unDefended.  At The Truth Collective, we are seeking to uncover the lies and help people believe what is True. We are proud to unveil our latest project, the unGallery, premiering in Charlotte, NC, October 10-11. Global artists have contributed exquisite expressions of the lies we often believe and the Truth that sets us free. I hope you will join us by reserving your space here. Be sure to use the code AudreyFrank for a 30% discount. Over the… Read More

for Erick George Floyd, you were caught trying to buy a pack of cigarettes with a counterfeit $20 bill, according to the news reports. As you placed that bill on the counter in hopes of getting one more drag from a cigarette you had no idea you stood on the razor-fine edge of a precipice, your life an inflection point for an entire nation. You had no clue you would soon ignite an honor outcry. I wonder if you’d known, if someone asked if you had it in you to change the world, what your answer would have been.  Not many of us think we have the power to change the world. World-changing, history-defining moments often happen in an unplanned instant to common people. Our… Read More

@audreycfrank It was Christmastime in a land far from home. I was expecting our third child, and my sense of smell was working overtime. Nauseated and homesick, my attitude was anything but joyful. I was pretty sure I was inadequate for the tasks in front of me at that time in my life, and a sick pregnancy was not helping me feel courageous or motivated.  Bundling up one afternoon, I sought solace and fresh air outdoors where I could ruminate alone with my thoughts. The small dirt path behind our bungalow wound up and over a hill, inviting me to explore. I climbed the hill slowly, avoiding the mud. Rounding a bend I came upon a rudimentary stable where a despondent donkey and two wooly sheep… Read More

@audreycfrank The author wishes to thank To Write Love on Her Arms for the inspiration for this post.  Yesterday marked the last day of World Suicide Prevention Week. But for some of us, we will fight to prevent it all year long. One organization that offers hope in the fight against suicide is called To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA). In honor of this week, they launched the "Tomorrow Needs You" campaign. I received a card in the mail with the words, “Tomorrow needs me because…” at the top and instructions to fill it in and share it on social media. Tomorrow needs me because...I stared at the card, laying on my kitchen counter, for a whole week. The words challenged me. Beliefs about… Read More