Ann Farabee

By Ann Farabee

Feeling of Falling?

Normally I select the title of my column after I write it, but this one fell in line immediately. I was following my grandchildren around the backyard where there is a treehouse, a trampoline, a sandbox, a hammock, very wet muddy terrain. I was the only one who slipped and face planted on the ground. A day later, I lived to write this column and can add to my diagnosis that my neck hurts. Falling is hard at age ???  Hmm. I cannot remember my age! A concussion from the fall,  perhaps?

In case you are have not fallen lately, I will fill you in on the details. Falling is an uncontrolled interruption of balance, resulting in a descent toward the ground. When you begin to fall, finding a way to brace your fall can help. However, it was my head that braced my fall. My involuntary response apparently was to dirt plant my head. When you fall, you may stay in the spot where you fell until someone helps you get up. My first words were, “HELP! I hit my head.” The family members accompanying me got me to a sitting position on the ground, and did not laugh until they were sure I was okay.

Twenty four hours later, my head and entire body still hurt.

 Is that sympathy or laughter I hear resounding throughout the pages of the newspaper as you read this?

Consider this: London Bridge fell. Elvis Presley couldn’t help falling in love with me. Adam and Eve fell. David fell prey to temptation. Ann Farabee fell. That list puts me in a fairly special group.

Our body reflexes prepare our muscular and skeletal system for the imminent collision that comes with a fall. Our arms instinctively go toward the falling surface so we can catch ourselves. Although that sounds helpful, the help from my arms was minimal.

 Looking back over my life, I suppose I fell often, especially on the school playground.

I failed often, too. I still do.

Failing or falling is hard.

But, as hard as it sounds – falling or failing isn’t final.

As I was falling, there was no way to stop it. I could soften the blow a bit, but I was still falling.

As my fall onto the ground was becoming a reality –  I quickly put my best ‘bracing the fall’ technique into practice. That technique was to cry out, “Lord help me!”

I felt: Helpless. Hopeless. Unsafe. Unprotected.

A month later – I am still a pain in the neck.

NO! That was a typo!

I meant to say that I still have a pain in the neck.

The Lord upholds ALL that fall. Psalm 145:14

The Lord will never forsake us.

Realistically speaking, isn’t falling just another way to fly?

Psalm 37:23 -The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delights in his way.

By Ann Farabee

Baa! Baa!

While on a field trip to a farm with my twenty kindergarten students, we saw some sheep. You know – those beautiful pure white animals that softly and gently say, “Baa.”

Even though they were in a fenced in area and my students were safely huddled around me, I laughed when one of the sheep emitted a true, “BAA!” Every student and I backed away immediately and collectively, sticking closer than a brother to their teacher and their classmates.

Seriously, though. That “BAA” was really loud!

Plus, that fleece was nowhere near pure white!

Some sheep stats for ‘ewe’ to read:

 *They have no survival skills.

 *They will follow the sheep in front of them, even off a cliff.

 *They bleat, grunt, rumble, snort. (BAA is a bleat.)

 *Their main defense mechanism is to RUN.

 *Most die because of predators or from stress.

 *They have poor vision.

 *They feed from dawn to dusk.

 *They are often referred to as being dumb.

Some shepherd stats for ‘ewe’ to read:

 *They guide their sheep to the best pastures.

 *They are skillful, guard, lead, correct, and teach.

 *They tenderly search for sheep that stray.

 *They protect their sheep from harm.

 *They bind their wounds when they are hurt.

 *They nurture them through health problems.

 *They shear and clean them to provide better mobility and decrease stress.

 *They anoint them with ointment to bring comfort when troubled by insects, so they can rest.

 *They stay with them during the darkness of night, keeping them safe.

 *They put the welfare of their sheep above their own lives.

Those sheep. They sure are needy.

Those shepherds. They sure are good.

Reminds me of something. Oh yes! It reminds me of us!

John 10 says that Jesus is the good shepherd, and the good shepherd gives his life for his sheep. He knows his sheep. He calls them by name. They know him.

Say this aloud: The Good Shepherd.

Again: The Good Shepherd.

Beautiful words, aren’t they?

We like sheep have gone astray.

We sure are needy, aren’t we?

The Lord is our shepherd. We shall not want.

We once were lost but now are found.

He sure is good, isn’t He?

I don’t know how you feel while reading this, but I sure was thanking God while writing it!

It makes me just want to look toward heaven, lift my hands in praise, and cry out to Jesus, “Baa…baa. I need You, Lord! Thank you for being my Good Shepherd!”

If we truly get a glimpse of how much our Good Shepherd loves and cares for us, I don’t think we will need to count sheep to help us get to sleep tonight!

By Ann Farabee

Be like Grandma

 I wanted to be like Grandma. She is not my real grandma, but she quickly became someone I admired. I had only known her a few days, but the first thirty minutes was enough to know that getting a new role model – even at my age – was forthcoming.

 What made her so special?

 She prays.

I know. Most people pray, right?

Many of us are thought to pray daily to some extent and in some form.

But Grandma – prays abundantly.

Let’s see – prayer. There is asking the blessing. There is the bedtime prayer. We pray with and for the kids and family. Yes, many of us check off that prayer box daily. Grandma does, too.

But – Grandma has her own personal approach when she prays for others.

On this day she stood at the altar of the church as those in attendance lined up wanting her to pray for them. The line was long, but everyone was willing to wait. She prayed powerfully over each person.

*She CARED. As each individual reached out to her for prayer, Grandma grasped their hands in hers, looked at them directly in their eyes, and began to quietly listen to their request. She would nod her head in understanding, making them feel as though their prayer need was the most important  thing in the world. She CARED – and it showed.

*She COUNSELED. At some point – before or after her prayer – Grandma began to counsel. It was godly counsel from her heart and from the Word of God. It was personal counsel based on  personal or family needs. It was counsel based on spiritual battles. It was counsel on living for Christ. It was counsel on giving our lives wholly to Jesus, as we fully trust Him. It was counsel on how God DOES answer our prayers. It was counsel based on God’s Word. Grandma had a spiritual word for each individual before she prayed, even if it was simply, “I understand.”

*SHE CONNECTED. She began to PRAY. No one had to wonder if Grandma was connecting – you could tell. Still holding on tightly to the hands of the one being prayed for, sometimes, it was a whisper. Sometimes, it was much louder than a whisper. But always – it was a prayer from a warrior – which is defined as a brave or experienced soldier or fighter. You see – as a prayer warrior in her 80’s, she had been there. She had experienced the death of loved ones and family members. She had prepared many meals, worked hard for her family, served Jesus with her whole heart, and served in her church well. She understood what those of us in attendance had been through in our lives – and it showed.

Because she understood, she grasped the hands of those in our women’s ministry who stepped forward to join her for prayer. She began to connect with her heavenly father on each person’s  behalf.  Then she would grasp the next two hands – caring, counseling, and connecting with her heavenly father on their behalf. Then she would grasp two more hands and continue to care, counsel, and connect with her heavenly father on their behalf.

I call her a prayer warrior.

I was blessed to be there. Those being prayed for were blessed to be there. I am sure that Grandma felt blessed to be there, as well.

If I didn’t know better, I would say it was magical. Magical means an extraordinary power or influence seemingly from a supernatural source.

Hmm. The difference is that it was not seemingly from a spiritual, powerful source in a supernatural moment. It WAS from a spiritual powerful source in a supernatural moment!

Having grandma there in our midst made it even more special – because she had come to pray with us.The fact that she was in her eighties made it even more special – and made an unforgettable memory.

May we all be like Grandma.

Pray.

Pray again.

Pray without ceasing.

By Ann Farabee

Living proof

Always – I am literally in awe of what God has done for me in my life. I consider myself to be living proof of the miraculous feats that the Lord can accomplish in the lives of His children.

God’s children?  WOW? That is an amazing way to think of ourselves, isn’t it?

One thing I am fairly knowledgeable about is children. My life has been filled with children and continues to be filled with children no matter the age I reach.

Forgive me as I reminisce for a minute  –

The number of children I have taught has reached into the thousands, for sure. 40 years in the public schools, sometimes teaching 4 classes a day, ten years in my tutoring business, Sunday School teacher for 30 years or more, children’s choir and youth leader.  How much more fulfilling could life be?

For the record, some of these years overlapped, but either way, I am not a spring chicken, as you know. Hey, I worked hard to get as old as I am!

You see, God had a purpose for my life – and as part of that purpose – I believe He will keep me here on Earth until He brings that purpose for me to completion.

Yes, even as a teenager when I was first beginning to internalize what it meant for Jesus to know me – and for me to know Jesus – showed me that God had a purpose for me.

Yes, even during my college years – when I seemed to stray often – I never strayed so far that the Holy Spirit was no longer with me as He kept showing His love for me, guiding me toward Him, and keeping me safe until I returned home – which was located in His arms of love and forgiveness.

You see – God is our God of our lifetime.

He is not just our God of troubled times.

He is not just our God of good times.

He is our God that that knew us before we were born.

He is our God that has a plan for our lives.

He is our God of love, compassion, and forgiveness.

During the early years and situations in which I walked away from God’s Word, He was always with me – in the car, in the classroom, in the apartment, the dorm room, the work place, or at home living with my parents..

There was a song I often sang to myself back in the 70’s as I was finding my way, while working at McDonald’s, Pizza Inn, Roses, and going to college. What began as a song where I cried over a relationship with a boyfriend, became a song that I worshipped to as I realized my failure as a young Christian:

Maybe I didn’t love you

Quite as often as I could have

Maybe I didn’t treat you

Quite as good as I should have

If I made you feel second best

I’m so sorry I was blind

You were alway on my mind

You were always on my mind.

Thanks to Willie Nelson, BJ Thomas, Elvis Presley, Alvin and the Chipmunks, and others for singing this song that always brought me back to Jesus!

Sometimes, my mind begin to wander away from Jesus.

In my heart, he was never second best – but one could not tell it by the way I lived.

Thankfully – Jesus and the mind of God never wander away from us.

After I got saved at age 13, I realized that all I had to do to bring to Jesus to mind was to think of Him  – and there He was -lingering in my spirit – hearing every word I thought or said as He comforted me and hugged me to sleep each night. All I had to do to touch Jesus was breathe His name in my mind or in my heart.

Then came age 23. I was teaching middle school and I wrote a Bible verse each day on a post-it, put it in my pocket or on my desk and looked at it throughout the school day. Sometimes, I didn’t even look at that post-it because putting my hand on it was enough to remind me of promises from my Lord and Savior.

Walking around my classroom all day with a Bible verse in my pocket was probably one of the most important things I did to nurture my relationship with my Jesus.

I was reminded that God’s Word is alive! God’s Word was speaking to me!                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Hebrews 4:12 tells us that the Word of God is alive and active…

It does not matter if we are at work, at home, in the car, or wherever our day takes us – God can speak to our hearts where we are. He still will. He still does.

Shh… Listen. Did you hear that?

Did you hear His voice speaking to your heart?

Don’t you love that? I do too!

We are living proof that God still speaks to us!

By Ann Farabee

Help from Haggai

*Consider our ways.

How can we consider our ways? To consider means to think carefully about something. Ways means our way, our journey, or our manner. As we consider our ways, we could ask ourselves this question, “During my time on this earth, am I more concerned with my own needs than I am with fulfilling God’s will for my life?

Lord, help us to understand that we belong to You. Help us to consider our ways and make serving You our top priority.

 Repeat as needed: Consider my ways.

*God is with us.

This is powerful. To even begin to understand that God is always with us is more than

the heart can take. We are a friend of God. Do we deserve to be? No. But we are.

Lord, help us to truly grasp that You are surrounding us and that the Holy Spirit is living inside us. When we begin to understand, we will never be the same.

Repeat as needed: God is with me.

*We can be strong.

How can we be strong when we are so weak?  We can be strong because God is with us. God gives us strength. Psalm 29:11 says that the Lord will give strength to his people. That’s who we are – His people.

Lord, help us to see that we do not have to toil or labor for our strength. Help us to remember that you give strength to us. It is a gift from our heavenly Father.

Repeat as needed: God will make me strong.

*In this place God will give peace.

How can we have peace when our lives are not peaceful? Peace is inside us. God gives it to us. Psalm 29:11 says that the Lord will bless his people with peace.

Lord, help us to remember that You have blessed us with peace. Not just tomorrow’s peace, or yesterday’s peace, but peace in the place we are today – this place.

Repeat as needed: God will give peace in this place.

*The glory of the latter house will be greater than the former.

Haggai spent much time encouraging the people to make the work of rebuilding the Temple their top priority. It can be so easy to falter and without even realizing it not put God as our top priority – even though He makes us a top priority.

Lord help us to remember that this life is not about our earthly home – but is about the glorious kingdom not built by man. Thank you for the promise that You will make all things new and that the end will be better than the beginning.

Repeat as needed: The glory of the latter house will be greater than the former.

This has been brought to you from the book of Haggai.

Read it.

It is only two chapters.

By Ann Farabee

Embrace it

Although an embrace may not be a physical one, it can still be an embrace.

To embrace not only means to hold someone closely in our arms, but can also mean to accept or support something or someone willing and enthusiastically.            

It may be when your toddler holds his arms up to you, so he can be picked up.

That is an embrace.

It may be when a friend reaches out to you with kind words.

That is an embrace.

It may be when someone realizes that you may not be okay – and reaches out to help.

That is an embrace.

It may be when someone tells you they have been praying for you.

That is an embrace.

A little encouragement sure can go a long way. It can go from home to home. It can be in the workplace. It can be in the church. It can stretch across oceans and continents. It is everywhere. Encouragement is one of our greatest assets – and it is available at all times.

A few years ago, the virtual hug was invented. I suppose it was for the purpose of having a fake hug, so we would not touch each other. The good news is that when an actual hug is not available, a virtual hug can suffice.

I may be leaning a bit toward reinventing  and stretching out the definition and implementation of a virtual hug. Would these suggestions be sufficient?

*Reach out to someone with a letter or a card. If you have ever received encouragement in the mail, you know how special it can be.

*Reach out to someone with a text, email, or facebook message. Even though it is sent through technology, it sure can lift our spirits.

*Reach out to someone by sending them a basket filled with goodies. If you have ever received a basket filled with goodies, you know just how special that can be.

*Reach out to someone with a gift card for a meal. If you have ever received a gift card for a meal, you know how exciting it is to know that it is in your pocket – at your disposal – ready to be used whenever you want – at no charge.

These have all felt like being embraced with virtual hugs to me!

Recently, I received a message from a person I did not know. It said, “Thank you for your columns. I always cut them out of the newspaper and have been saving them for years.”

Those two sentences changed my entire perspective on the words I share each week. The impact to my mind and my heart from those words have stuck with me. Someone was reading my weekly columns – and saving them! Sure, I knew people were reading my columns, but hearing from someone that was saving them really brought me joy and the desire to continue.

We have no idea the impact we have on the lives of others, do we? But – any time we choose to let someone know – we are embracing that person with a hug that will be warmly remembered and felt forever.

By Ann Farabee

Powerful Privilege

‘Be strong and work for I am with you’ are words from Haggai 2:4.

They give us a daily plan to follow.

We do not have to do it alone.

The Lord is with us.

Maybe we need to put those words on our refrigerator, in our pockets, and on our hearts.

The glory of God – the presence of Jesus – is in our midst – at all times.

We are blood bought.

We are born again.

Jesus thought we were to die for – and He did.

God gave us two hands that are connected to our body by two arms.

For that, I sure am grateful.

A few years ago I had an injury causing temporary loss of mobility in my arm.

I needed that arm – and the hand that was attached to it.

It was difficult.

I no longer felt strong. 

I could not serve my family.

I could not serve others.

I could not do simple tasks I had taken for granted.

I could not lift my arms in praise.

I could not be the hands and feet of Jesus.

How could I serve Jesus – as I tried to do when I had strength?

I bowed my head and asked the Lord that question.

I waited for the response, not realizing it would bring tears along with it.

The answer came into my spirit, “Don’t you remember? When you are weak, I am strong. Life will not always be about spiritual weakness, but may also be about physical weakness.”

“Yes, Lord,” I cried, “That is where I am. My physical strength in my arm is gone.”

That was when the Lord spoke these words into my spirit, “Not only are you my hands and feet, but I am also your hands and feet.”

It was simply stated. It took me a second to understand, but I knew it was from the Lord.

I can do nothing on my own – but through the hands and feet of Jesus – I can be the hands and feet of Jesus.

Not only am I to be strong and to work for Him,  but Jesus is my strength and He works full time on my behalf.

Jesus walked from town to town each day, sharing God’s Love by not only using words, but also by using His hands and feet, showing us the power and importance of serving with humility.  Jesus touched lepers. He touched criminals. He touched the poor. He touched the powerless. He knelt beside the little children. He was often on His knees.

Jesus worked.

Jesus got dirty.

Jesus got tired.

The same opportunity is offered to us.

We can serve others with love and compassion – like Jesus did.

Not just with words – but also with our hands and feet.

It is a powerful privilege.

By Ann Farabee

Do we hear more powerful words than those spoken by a three year old?

Sure –  but not this time.

Our family lost Nana recently. She was the grandmother of eight.

We really did not lose her though. We know where she is.

She is in heaven – with Jesus.

My two and three year old grandsons that Nana and I share, found their way to Nana’s chair often.They knew where she would be sitting. I am sure conversation flowed easily, as they probably had lots of questions for her and she had lots of answers for them.

I am not sure if they have yet internalized the meaning of the emptiness of Nana’s chair where they often stopped to share their thoughts, but the older one  said this, “Nana went to heaven. She’s not coming back.”

The younger brother was standing beside him, looking up toward the ceiling, with his big brown eyes trying to see her in the heavens. No doubt but what Nana experienced that loving moment from heaven with them.

I had expected the words, “Nana went to heaven,” but the words, “She’s not coming back,” hit me a little hard as I looked into their eyes. They wanted encouragement, so I gave it to them, “We will see her in heaven one day.” They knew that already, but they needed to hear it again.  – and I needed to say it again.

The younger one’s eyes met mine with a bit of a question, but the older one’s eyes were shining, as he said, “I know.”

The nine year old granddaughter, who was with Nana daily, looked to me, knowing God’s Promise of  Heaven. Her beautiful eyes were wider and brighter than ever, filled with tears that she held back for a few seconds until two huge teardrops fell onto her cheeks. Although always beautiful, something about the raw emotion in that moment filled with the largest most intimate tears I had ever seen, will forever be etched in my memory as the most beautiful she had ever been.

The younger grandchildren were a bit young to completely internalize this moment in time – but I believe they did. That is called – the Holy Spirit – speaking to our children’s young hearts.

It happens through the Power of God.

They knew Nana was in heaven. They knew Nana was not coming back. 

They also knew that one day they would be in heaven with her.

They knew they would see her again.

Not only did they know, but they fervently and without a doubt believe it.

What does it take for a little child to know and believe?

Perhaps they know and believe because their family knows and believes.

Jesus not only speaks to our hearts, but He also speaks to the hearts of our children..

As we were in the middle of three hours at the funeral home visiting with others, remembering and talking about Nana, and comforting one another, I stood still and listened for a moment. Standing still brought comfort. Not only was there the natural feeling of grieving the loss of an amazing lady of the Lord, but there was another overpowering emotion. It was love. Love for Nana, of course, but the love reached out even further – to everyone in the room – and  Jesus in our midst.

As Christians, we do not have to grieve as those who have no hope, We can grieve with hope. 

We grieve over losing her, but rejoice that she is with Jesus and that we will be with her again.

The earth is the Lord’s and so are the heavens. That lets me know that it all belongs to the Lord. We belong to Jesus. Whether it is our last step as we leave Earth or our first step into heaven, Jesus is with us. No matter the place, the way, the time – Jesus walks with us. We do not need to fear.

Death is about our life on Earth coming to an end and our life in Heaven beginning.

That is why we call it ETERNAL LIFE.

By Ann Farabee

One more

Most of us were aware of it.

Many of us prayed about it.

Help them find one more, Lord.

They were young girls at a Christian camp in the middle of the night, as a flood carried away their cabin, every person, and every thing  inside of it. Quite frankly, it is hard for me to fathom. As soon as I typed the word fathom, my eyes blurred with tears, and  I looked up the definition to make sure the word was strong enough to express how I feel. Yes, it is hard to fathom, for sure.

If I knew the definition, I had forgotten it –

Definition 1. Noun –  A unit of length equal to six feet, mostly used in reference to the depth of water.

Definition 2. Verb –  Difficult to understand after much thought.

As I often do during a tragic event, I watched TV coverage non-stop, hoping for just one more person to be found alive. When that did not happen, I began to hope for just one more body to be found.

Yes, many of us who watched the coverage were praying for the same – one more!

A tragedy is defined as an event causing great suffering, destruction, distress, and sometimes death. How tragic it is for those who lost their lives in that unimaginable circumstance.

The ‘one more’ I was hoping for from the Texas flooding was not found.

I had written down the words ‘one more’ in my sermon notes the previous Sunday at church during the pastor’s message.

The phrase has stuck with me. A few years ago on a mission trip to Jamaica, people of all ages accepted Christ, and we found ourselves praying for just one more. In our everyday lives, reaching the thousands is unlikely, but reaching one more is very likely IF we make the effort.

While in Jamaica visiting many churches and towns to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I was a little surprised on our last day there, when the bus driver who had been taking us everywhere, watching and waiting for us at each stop, turned toward those of us loaded on the bus – and asked if he could have a Bible.

We had ministered to hundreds that week, but the bus driver became our one more.

As the writer of this column, I feel blessed to reach thousands each week. One day, a reader emailed me that she had accepted Christ as a result of reading my columns. She was my one more!

Sometimes, for all of us as Christians, as a result of our testimony and God’s grace and mercy, there is one more. And maybe another one more.

What greater victory can we have in our lives than to experience the spiritual salvation of those we cross paths with along the way?

I am praying that God will send us all one more!

By Ann Farabee

Got your permit?

I got my permit! Those four words may very well be the most exciting words a 15 year old will ever say to their friends.

A permit is defined as the official documentation or authorization to do something.

But… the emotion that goes along with that permit, may pale in comparison to how the parent feels about relinquishing the driving of their 3000 pound vehicle to them while they practice.

And it does not get any easier when they are allowed to practice at night.

However, even though my preferred bedtime is 9:30, I willingly got in the car and traveled on the passenger side to purchase a much-needed milkshake at 10:00, because my 15 year old wanted to practice driving in the dark.

I reported to my passenger seat duty – ready to alert him to any  – and all – pending obstacles.

The first comment he made after driving a few minutes was, “Look how the light lets you only see what is right in front of you. We are completely surrounded by darkness everywhere else.”

I felt a ‘God moment’ may have come, so I dared to shift my line of vision from the road in front of us and took a look around me.

He was right. We were enveloped by darkness – except for the light shining out from our vehicle.

I think I actually felt the darkness. To the right. To the left. Above. Behind. It was everywhere. Except in that one place – the direction we were heading – where it gave us all the light we needed to see the way. 

Then, a few seconds later, a car was coming from the opposite direction without their lights on, and it honestly seemed a little scary for us both.  That was when my 15 year old asked this wise question, “Why would they do that?” 

I responded, “They failed to turn their lights on, and they probably do not even realize they don’t have light. They will figure it out before it’s too late, I hope.”

As I said those words, I instantly became a distracted supervising driver, because that was when I remembered a Bible verse I had read that morning: Isaiah 45:7 – I form the light and create darkness. I make peace and create evil. I, the LORD, do all these things.

That Bible verse that had seemed unusual that morning sure was making sense on the dark road that night. It enveloped me – hovered sweetly in my mind –  letting me know that my God created the darkness, but He also formed the light – and He watches over us in both darkness and light.

We may prefer to drive through life in the times of light, but we experience both light and darkness, don’t we?

And…both can help us to learn to be the person who God intends for us to be – and to serve the purpose that God intends for us to serve.

*And we do not have to be afraid of the dark because even when it seems to surround us, the light still shows us the way.

*So, I guess we all have our permit – if we know God – because He is the only documentation and authorization we will ever need. He is in control of it all!