Ann Farabee

By Ann Farabee

Ah, nothing like going for a ride in our 1966 Rambler station wagon. Windows down. Our family of five was packed in the car, with the breeze blowing — or sometimes with zero breeze blowing. My younger brother had to sit in the middle of the back seat — with his feet on the hump, awaiting aggravation from his two sisters.

Daddy called it a joyride. We were on the road to nowhere. That road usually took us to the dairy bar. I can almost taste it: A big slice of pound cake covered with vanilla ice cream. Vanilla ice cream covered with hot fudge. Hot fudge covered with whipped cream and a cherry on top.

We ate it in the car.

No wonder I still eat ice cream daily.

Final stop on the way home — always the service station.

The attendant would be at the driver’s side window in a flash, “Fill ’er up?”

Every time.

My dad always wanted his tank to be filled up.

Did the tank need to be full?

I was not sure about that, but I did know that if you ran out of gas, the car would start sputtering and shaking, would be unable to function, and maybe have some damage.

This was all proven by me one day, as a young college student, trying to get back to campus without enough gas.

To be full means to hold as much as possible.

To be filled means that the amount of something occupies all the space in the container.

What does the Bible say about being filled?

Believe it. Receive it.

Luke 1:41 says, “Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Elisabeth believed — Mary’s child was the Messiah.

Elisabeth received — She was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Believe it. Receive it.

Psalm 81:10 says, ” Open your mouth wide and I will fill it with good things.”

We believe — We are to open our mouths wide.

We receive — God will fill it with good things.

Believe it. Receive it.

Romans 15:13 says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him.”

We believe — Trust in him.

We receive — The God of hope will fill us with joy and peace.

Daddy, I guess you would never have gotten the fill up had you not pulled up to the gas pump, allowed your gas tank to be opened, and received it. Thanks for the lesson!

Fill ’er up!

I mean — fill it up!

Here’s my cup, Lord. Fill it up, Lord.

Lord, empty me — of me — so I can be filled — with You.

By Ann Farabee

By Ann Farabee

By Ann Farabee

Oh, David! Surely you were drowning in hopelessness as you were in that sea of trouble.

Your words in Psalm 69:1-12 surpassed the ordinary in my mind — and took me right to where the waves had been relentlessly crashing in my own life.

For days, the Holy Spirit kept sending me back to read those words one more time. They obviously were from your heart, David, as you were one that was sinking in despair, seemingly without hope.

I understood. For I must admit, I have felt it, too.

Hopeless.

Your words kept piercing my heart:  The waters are coming into my soul. I am sinking in deep mire. I am in deep waters. I am weary of crying while I wait for God. Some hate me without a cause. They want to destroy me. I am a stranger to my brethren. Those that sit in the gates — the ‘higher ups’ and the drunkards — speak against me. God, you know my foolishness. My sins are not hidden from you. Shame covers my face. I am wearing a sackcloth to symbolize my grief.

You, David? The one God calls a man after His own heart? How could that have been you? Sinking in despair? Uncontrollable tears? Rejected by family? Circumstances beyond your capability to fix? Accused unjustly? Undeserved suffering? Bodily anguish? Broken hearted? Grieving? Bearing shame? Ridiculed? Humiliated?

Sometimes — we all feel it.

Sometimes — it feels hopeless.

Inadequate. Incompetent. In despair.

Oh, David.

We feel your heart.

Should we just give up?

What did you do about it?

We need to know.

David’s response began in Psalm 69:13 –

But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O Lord, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy, hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.

It was time.

He prayed.

He did not need to carry that burden by himself one second longer.

In the midst of hopelessness — prayer was the answer.

• Don’t feel like praying? David may not have, either.

• The chapter began with complaining to God — and ended with praising God.

• From prayer to praise — works every time.

• Hopelessness can still find hope.

• Guess you could say David went from woe is me to wow is He!

By Ann Farabee

It was one of those seconds in time that should have been forgettable, but was not.

My 13-year-old was talking to me about his school day when my phone beeped.

I was getting a message.

It diverted my attention for just one second.

I quickly saw that the message was unimportant, and looked back toward him to continue our conversation.

The moment had been lost.

Well, maybe not lost, because it did bring about this message to you.

How often have I missed the real message — because I was distracted by a message of lesser importance — or even of no importance?

No message is more valuable than THE message.

THE message is the one message that would be worthy of dropping everything else to hear. Have your ringer on. Listen for the beep. Do not let anything — or anyone — hinder you from receiving it.

Because it is from THE messenger.

It is a personal message just for you.

And at the same time — it is also a message for the whole world.

For the message you will hear is from the Holy Spirit, and the message will be heard in your heart.

As you receive it, may the love of the Messenger begin to pour out over you. May you know in your heart that Jesus died on the cross for your sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day.

And, as a result of that, you can have victory over death and live eternally in heaven.

I call it the message of salvation. And it is for each of us.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” — John 3:16

“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” — Romans 3:23

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” — Acts 16:31

“That if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and will believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” — Romans 10:9

Some say it is as simple as ABC:

A — Admit you are a sinner.

B — Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

C — Confess Him as your Lord and Savior.

After you pray, tell someone. Begin to read the Bible daily. Talk to God throughout the day.

Receiving the message will be the best decision you will ever make.

The God of the universe living in our heart — that’s a whole lot closer to us than our cellphone!

Best message ever.

Let me know if you received the message at annfarabee@gmail.com.

I would love to hear from you!

By Ann Farabee

By Ann Farabee

By Ann Farabee

I remember the moment vividly. After retiring from 30 years of teaching, I worked part time as a math coach in elementary schools. Sitting alongside a young student one day, my focus was to help him discover subtraction. But his focus went elsewhere, as he said, “What’s wrong with your hands?”

I looked.

I saw nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

He kept staring. Then he said, “They have lines in them.”

I looked. They did have lines in them. A lot of lines.

I stared at them.

For I began to remember:

They were the hands that I used as a little girl — climbing trees, playing school, playing games in the back yard.

They were the hands that I used to learn to write with — and began to understand the power in knowledge.

They were the hands that were guided by others throughout my childhood years. Parents, teachers, mentors, friends, those in the church. I learned to do things. I learned about life. I learned about love.

They were the hands that worked tirelessly since I was 16: Roses, McDonalds, Pizza Inn, a cafeteria, and have taught thousands during my years as a teacher.

They have cooked, cleaned, done laundry, made needed purchases — and a whole lot more — so that my home could be a place of love, life, comfort, and joy for my family.

They were the hands that I reached out with to minister to others.

And the hands that I held out as others ministered to me.

They were the hands that held onto some things I did not want to let go — but knew I must.

They were the hands with which I have turned the pages of my Bible.

I feel with them. Touch with them. I give and accept with them.

Grab things with them — sometimes just in the nick of time.

They are hands I held out as I made commitments. Some were kept. Some were not.

Hands that held my baby girl. Hands that held my baby boy. Hands that changed diapers. Hands that reached out to my babies as they learned to walk — and comforted them when they fell.

Hands that wiped away their tears of sadness, failure, disappointments, and joy as my children began their own journeys through life.

The same hands that held my children then became hands that held their children.

The hands that now are used in raising my grandsons as my own.

They are the hands that held onto family members and loved ones that I watched slip away into eternity.

They are the hands that I have lifted in prayer and praise to God.

The word hand or hands is in the Bible almost 2,000 times.

The mind and the heart get much attention — but the hands — should not be overlooked.

For they do the work.

Some day, these hands will be held by a ‘carpenter’ named Jesus, who has nail prints in His hands. The hands that He held out willingly as he offered them to die on the cross for my sins.

What’s wrong with my hands?

I am not sure how I responded to the little guy that day, but his words sure have filled my heart with joy as I ponder that question on this day.

I now have an answer for him:

Nothing, buddy. As a a matter of fact, there is a whole lot right with my hands.

By Ann Farabee

By Ann Farabee

We say it in daily conversation. We say it in the church. We say it to those grieving or suffering.

We often say it lightly, to let someone know we see that they are busy busy busy — or perhaps overwhelmed with something.

The most popular ‘bless you’ may be when someone sneezes. This began when it was believed that as you sneeze, your heart stops — and that the ‘bless you’ could set your heart back to go.

We say it often — but maybe not often enough.

In Numbers 6:22-26, the Lord told Moses to tell Aaron and his sons that they should bless the children of Israel with these words:

The Lord bless you.

This is asking God to show favor.

And keep you.

This is asking God to give protection.

The Lord make his face shine upon you.

This is asking God to be pleased.

And be gracious to you.

This is asking God to be compassionate and show mercy.

The Lord lift up his countenance upon you.

This is asking God to give his approval.

And give you peace.

This is asking God to bring quiet, calm and serenity.

Bless you.

The Hebrew for ‘bless you’ is on bended knee.

It is a prayer.

It is a prayer worth praying.

Pray it for someone you love — now.

Pray it for someone who needs encouragement — now.

Pray it for yourself — now.

Pray it for our country — now.

Put it to use.

God desires to bless us.

You never know — The ‘bless you’ may change a heart that has stopped — and set it back to go!

Bless you!