It is hard for us in America to understand what it is like to live without. We are blessed and sometimes we need to be reminded just how blessed we are. Watch as Steve Hartman teaches us to have a heart of gratitude.
By Lynna Clark
Could we fast forward five or so years? Let’s project ourselves into the near future and let’s suppose our country has taken a turn for the worst. Our economy did not recover and our crops have failed due to unusual weather patterns. Food is scarce and we worry about how we will feed our families. The energy crisis has escalated, causing most to be unable to afford fuel. Traveling to work, generating income and even heating our homes are very difficult. The basic necessities of life are no longer readily available.
Would we wish we had prayed for our nation more?
Speaking to a different nation, God observes a terrible time in their economy. They are being destroyed, not by war, but by famine and disease. As their defenses crumble, other nations attack them in their helplessness. In their recent history, God had poured out all manner of blessings on them, only to have them ignore Him and His call to a change of heart.
Therefore He gives this evaluation:
“But you never ask for help from the One who did all this. You never considered the One Who planned this long ago.” –Isaiah 22:11b
“But instead, you dance and play… You say, ‘Let’s feast and drink, for tomorrow we die!’”-Isaiah22:13
Are we wise enough to pray before the same is said of us?
This series was written for our church in September 2012, almost 10 years ago. So no need to read into it any current political leanings. Instead, I hope you’ll enjoy using it as a prayer “springboard” for the next thirty days. Each day we’ll have a short out-take from the book of Nehemiah, followed by a specific prayer for our churches. For if our churches are strong, our nation will follow suit. May the Lord be honored as He hears from us.
“Make the LORD of Heaven’s Armies holy in your life. He is the One you should fear. He is the One Who should make you tremble. He will keep you safe.” –Isaiah 8:13
Listen to Graham Cooke as he speaks prophetically over your life. These words will transform your life. Listen and drink them in…. Be encouraged!!!!!
By Doug Creamer
Thankful Heart
I am very thankful for all the delicious food we are about to eat for the holidays. There will be plenty of great dishes for Thanksgiving. My favorite is sweet potato casserole. I think I like that better than all the desserts. There will be plenty of good meals and sweets to celebrate the holidays. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
Thanksgiving rings in the season of great food. I hope we can relax and enjoy the good food, family, and friends throughout the holiday season. While we savor the great food, I hope our hearts will be filled to overflowing with thanks for the many blessings God has poured out on our lives.
We started a week early, as both my parents celebrated their 90th birthdays. If you met either one of them you would not believe that they are 90. They have active minds and stay active physically. I am thankful that my parents are in good health and that they are still here to enjoy family times.
I am thankful for good health. I know that I am older. My Dad told the family at his birthday celebration that aging will require that you take some pills to keep everything working well. My doctor has convinced me that I have crossed the line of needing to take “pills” to continue to stay healthy. I was not excited about that news but have cooperated. I am also learning the importance of exercise for good physical, mental, and spiritual health.
I am thankful for my family on both sides. Some family I get to see often and others only on occasions like the holidays. I am grateful and thankful for each one. When I pray for all the members of my family, that can become quite an endeavor. I have many nieces and nephews and they have children, too. Does that mean I am a great uncle? I think I am a great uncle!
When I think about family, I can’t help but think about my church family. I am blessed to be a part of a great church family. Our church family cares deeply for one other. If one of us has a need, our church family is there to help. I am also thankful that we believe in the power of prayer. We have seen God move in so many wonderful ways. We are all thankful for our pastor and his family. They are a wonderful addition to our church family.
I was looking around the house this morning and realizing that I have many things for which I am thankful. To begin with, we have a nice home and cars that run well. Is everything fairytale perfect? No, but I feel so blessed. God has blessed us with so many good things to enjoy both inside and outside our home. Having a special place that feels like home is something that makes us very thankful.
When I consider many other places on earth, I am thankful to be living here. I can’t imagine living where bombs are falling from the sky. I live in a peaceful neighborhood, which is a real blessing. I am also thankful to be living in the south. Can you imagine living up there where they got six feet of snow? I love snow, but not that much.
Having a thankful heart is something God wants each of us to possess. Life has many ups and downs but God wants us to be thankful in spite of our circumstances. Granted, there are some days when it is hard to give thanks, but I have found that in those difficult days if you can begin counting your many blessings one by one it will help change your perspective on that day. It is easy to give thanks on the good days, but a thankful heart on the tough ones blesses God in heaven. He is drawn to a thankful heart and will draw close to us and help us through those difficult days if we find ways to give thanks in the midst of them.
I want to encourage you to give thanks for the many blessings in your life. Take time over the long weekend to reflect on them and give thanks to your Heavenly Father. The holiday season has officially begun, and entering it with a heart filled with gratitude will help you experience the joy and wonder of this great season. I am thankful for each of you and pray that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Enjoy the time with family and friends. Eat some great food. Give thanks for God’s many blessings.
Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com
By Roger Barbee
The World Cup needs a John Carlos and a Tommy Smith.
Football teams for seven European nations announced on November 21, 2022 that their captains will not wear LGBTQ armbands in host country Qatar. The captains for England, Wales, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland originally intended to wear the OneLove rainbow armband to promote diversity and inclusion. Then the FIFA stepped in to threaten penalties for any captain or other player who wore the armband. The football association said in a joint statement, “We were prepared to pay fines that would normally apply to breaches of kit regulations and had a strong commitment to wearing the armband. However, we cannot put our players in the situation where they might be booked or even forced to leave the field of play. We are very frustrated by the FIFA decision which we believe is unprecedented. As national federations, we can’t put our players in a position where they could face sporting sanctions including bookings.” But the teams promised to show support for “inclusion” in other ways.
Opposition to any displays of LGBTQ has happened off the football pitches, too. Homosexuality is a crime in Qatar, and public displays of it are heavily fought against. Some patrons report being harassed in public spaces such as streets, and others tell of having their LGBTQ hats confiscated when they tried to enter stadiums. Football fans are being asked to respect the culture of the host country.
For the October 16, 1968, awards ceremony honoring the three medal winners in the 200-meter sprint, two young American, Black sprinters, who had won gold and bronze medals, stood and protested world-wide racism as they accepted their Olympic medals. Tommie Smith and John Carlos wore beads and scarves to oppose lynching and black socks with no shoes to publicize poverty. During the American national anthem they each raised a black-gloved fist and bowed their heads. The American IOC immediately expelled the two college students from the Olympic village and sent them back to America where they were threatened and vilified by the public and the press. Yet their protest is still to be found in pictures and articles, and over 50 years later their act is seen as what is was—heroic.
So, the federations of seven European nations say, “As national federations, we can’t put our players in a position where they could face sporting sanctions including bookings.”
Those managers, coaches, and players should read about Smith and Carlos and perhaps derive some spunk from their act of bravery. After all, how bad can a booking or removal from the pitch be when compared to what LGBTQ folks experience every day.
By David Freeze
Last Saturday’s South Atlantic Conference Cross-Country meet was hosted by Catawba College at Salisbury Community Park. Coach Jason Bryan’s men’s and women’s teams had solid finishes with men’s team finishing second on an 8K (4.97 miles) course while the women took third on their 6K (3.7 miles) course. A total of 13 colleges and universities competed.
Catawba’s sizzling freshman Madison Clay topped the women’s field with a time of 21 minutes 58.7 seconds. It was the fastest time ever for the 6K in the Catawba program and Clay was the first conference winner since 1997 since Allison Dupree Adams captured the crown.
Adams said, “It’s awesome to see the rise of track and field and cross country over the last 5-10 years at Catawba. Jason has done an excellent job, especially since the addition of the track and field program has allowed the school to bring more talented recruits into the program. Madison’s hard work paid off with an outstanding win last Saturday!”
Other highlights for the women’s program this year include their highest conference finish since 1998, two runners making the all-freshman team and five all-conference selections. Top five finishers for Catawba included Clay, Mikayla Jones, Raina Andrews, Natalie Almond and Rachel Overby.
Clay, from Morganton’s Patton High School, was named both Freshman and SAC Conference Runner of the Year, a first for the Catawba program. At 18, Clay knows there are lots of expectations as she continues her cross-country career. She said, “I still find my success hard to believe but I’m honored to represent Catawba as we try to take our team to the next level. It can be stressful but its nice to have goals. I just love running!” Coach Bryan says that Clay smiles constantly, even when she’s passing other competitors on the race course. Clay is an exercise science major and plans to be a registered dietician.
The Catawba men’s team was led by third place finisher Oussama Aiala with his season’s best time of 25:30.06. He was followed by Mooresville native and Freshman of the Year Tanner Smith, Erick Ramierez, EJ Threatt and Brannon Burns.
The men’s second place finish was the highest since 2002. Five all conference selections and two all-freshmen team selections were highlights of the conference meet.
“I am really excited about the group we have here right now,” Coach Bryan said. Both the men’s and women’s teams are dialed in this season and accomplished some great things at the conference meet. This has been building over the past several years and we are having a great team season. Past team members and coaches laid the groundwork for what is happening now, and I am grateful for their hard work. Our goal is to be one of the better collegiate cross country/track programs in the region while making the national level annually. We have a chance to do something special next week at regionals as we try to qualify both teams for nationals.”
Both the men’s and women’s teams will compete in the regionals on Saturday, Nov. 19, at Wingate University.
Next up for local racing is the always popular Butterball 5K Run/Walk at The Forum on Thanksgiving Day. It’s Salisbury’s largest 5K and a wonderful way to burn those calories ahead of a big holiday meal. All proceeds go to Prevent Child Abuse Rowan and participants get a commemorative T-shirt, refreshments and a chance to win awards for top three overall and top three in 13 age groups. Cash prizes total $500. Registration is available at The Forum, at Runsignup.com and by mail after printing a brochure at the SRR website. More information on this and other upcoming events can be found at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org.
By Ed Traut
Psalms 23:6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Prayer: My Father I bless Your holy name today in praise and adoration and declare to You that I am Yours and totally devoted to You. Thank You for Your kindness and mercy. You are my shepherd and I do expect these things (goodness and mercy) to follow me. Amen.
Ed Traut
Prophetic Life
By Ann Farabee
It seemed that he talked about it non-stop. The same stories over and over. I remember very little about it — mostly about him being in Normandy, France, and some stories about being a cook in the Army.
After the war ended, my father later became a member of the VFW — Veterans of Foreign Wars. He served a term as commander there, and always participated in everything that was offered.
He arranged for Taps to be played at funerals of soldiers, and he would often hold the flag during military services.
One day, our family went on a long car ride to Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C. My father’s nephew, who was in his early 20s, had been transferred there from Vietnam. He had been shot.
After being discharged from the hospital, he came to live with our family of five in our small mill house. Cannon Mills sent out a crew to build a wheelchair ramp for him, because he was now paralyzed.
I do not remember my cousin talking about what happened in Vietnam — but I do remember him wheeling that wheelchair around the house, trying to go about his life, and holding out hope that he would be able to walk again. He never did.
Both died at what now seems to be a young age — my father at age 60, my cousin at age 46.
What you have read so far is all I really remember about the military lives of my father and my cousin, who defended our country in two different wars — World War II and the Vietnam War.
Yes, it is all I remember!
My father talked about it and I did not listen. My cousin did not talk about it and I did not ask. And that I greatly regret.
How I wish I could hear their stories now. How I wish I could ask a few questions. How I wish I could know more about what it was really like for them.
But, no. I was too busy growing up and thinking about other things, like “young girl” or “teenage” things. Things that I was able to enjoy because I was living in a free country. A country whose freedom has been defended daily by those who have served — and are serving — in our armed forces.
Veterans Day is a day dedicated to veterans of all wars. It occurs on Nov. 11. In 1918, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, an armistice was declared between the Allied Nations and Germany in World War I. In 1938, it became known as Veterans Day.
Know a veteran? Love a veteran? Listen to their stories. Ask lots of questions. Don’t let the stories die.
To all the veterans — we thank you. We know that our freedom is not free, and it has been paid for by your sacrifices.
Ann Farabee is a teacher, writer and speaker. Contact her at annfarabee@gmail.com or annfarabee.com.
By Lynna Clark
Have you ever gotten bad advice? It sounded like a good idea at the time, but somehow things didn’t go as planned.
“We could remodel that old house ourselves and save a lot of money.”
“Put some icy hot on your forehead. Your sinus infection will clear right up.”
“Here, you lead the conga-line. Let me hold the video camera.”
“Let’s get Zumba. We’ll just dance that poundage off.”
Makes you wonder who we hang out with doesn’t it.
Poor ol’ Nehemiah tries to do a good deed in chapter 6, verse10. He goes to visit a shut-in, who apparently had a godly reputation as a prophet. That’s where he got some bad advice. Thankfully Nehemiah recognized it for what it was: another trap. Some really good looking people, can tell us some really smart sounding stuff, and we can fall face first into a vat of “sure wish I’d’ve seen that coming!”
So how can we recognize truth? You are already thinking it. Jesus is Truth. His Word is Truth. Pure, wise, works in all situations, Truth. And it works in regular normal stuff. However, when there are many, many details to hammer out, and many, many decisions to make, the odds of getting it ALL right are much slimmer. And then you have all the good looking, godly sounding people standing around making wise observations. Stuff like, “When God closes a door He opens a window.” I always wonder why, if God slams a door in my face, why would He want me to squeeze my big ol’ hind quarters through a window?” Maybe He does. Maybe He’s teaching me persistence or some other virtue. Or maybe He wants me to put those Zumba lessons to good use. See how tricky this can get?
That’s why today’s prayer is for wisdom for those in the decision making roles. James has a couple great passages on wisdom. Chapter 1 talks about going through trials and letting our endurance grow, so we’ll be ready for anything. Verse 5 tells us if we need wisdom, just ask. I think the Lord loves hearing us own up to the fact that we don’t get it. But we are at least wise enough to admit that. And He doesn’t go for a lot of floundering around either. Ask. Step out of the way. Trust.
A verse that comes to mind is “Without faith, it is impossible to please Him.” Hebrews 11:6. The other passage in James regarding wisdom is chapter 3:13-18. If you get a chance read it. Wisdom there is described as pure, peace loving, gentle, willing to yield to others, full of mercy, etc. What it is NOT, is braggadocios, jealous, selfish, etc. So pray. Wisdom is a precious thing and in short supply in this world. Pray today, that we as a church tap into the only Source of true wisdom. Pray for the Lord’s great guidance in every single move, every tiny step, for His glory! He has promised to give it if we ask!
More: James 1; James 3; Hebrews 11:6
Listen to the interview of Jonathan Roumie about season 3 of the Chosen and The Jesus Revolution. It’s GREAT!!