Ann Farabee

By Ann Farabee

• Anguish — What must it have been like for Jesus to anguish in prayer in the garden of Gethsemane? Going a little farther? Falling on His face? His sweat like drops of blood falling to the ground? Praying and asking His Father to remove the cup from Him?
• What happened when Jesus prayed? An angel appeared from heaven and gave Him strength. When we pray, we too, can be given strength by angels from heaven.
• Acceptance — On three separate occasions during the time of the trial of Jesus, Peter denied that he even knew Jesus. Peter had denied knowing Jesus, but Jesus did not deny knowing Peter.
• Accusation — Jesus was falsely accused. Pilate could find no fault in Him and chose to wash his hands of the situation as the crowd cried, “Crucify Him!” The crowd also cried for Barabbas, a prisoner, to be set free. Pilate did not set Barabbas free. The crowd did not set Barabbas free. Jesus set Barabbas free!
• Agony — Jesus was scourged, which involved using a whip with balls of lead tied to leather thongs to tear into His body. A crown of thorns was driven into His scalp. Five- to 7-inch spikes were driven into His hands and feet. On the cross, His body pulled down on His outstretched arms and shoulders, intensifying the pain. While in agony, Jesus willingly carried the weight of the cross — and the weight of the world — on His shoulders, as He bore all our past, present and future sins.
• Assurance — As He was placed on the cross, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” As the thief on the cross beside Jesus was dying, he said, “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom,” to which Jesus responded, “Today, you will be with me in paradise.” Blessed assurance! Jesus is ours! We are forgiven! He will remember us! As we leave this world, we will be with Jesus forever.
• Arisen — Mary Magdalene and Mary went to the tomb and found it empty. The stone had been rolled away! Jesus was not there, He was risen! These are just a few words from God’s Word and from my heart to remind us of the greatest event in the history of the world. Jesus went to the cross, died for our sins, was buried, and rose again so that we can live forever.
• The tomb was empty!
• Ann Farabee is a teacher, writer and speaker. Contact her at annfarabee@gmail.com or annfarabee.com.

By Ann Farabee

Poor Samson. His tribe continued to wander in their inherited land, which was yet unconquered.

As he was growing up, he was with a warlike tribe that was yearning for a permanent home.

But, when he visited the tribal army camp, his heart was stirred and God began preparing him to be a judge and leader against the Philistines.

Judges 13:25 says it this way — “the Spirit of the Lord began to move him at times.”

Did you feel that when you read or heard those words? The Spirit of the Lord began to move him at times…

So what do we do when that happens?

When the Spirit of the Lord begins to move us at times?

I am getting Holy Spirit chill bumps just thinking about it. Being moved?

It reminds me of times in a movie theater or in a football stadium when someone wanted me to move.

You know what I am talking about. It is the middle of the movie. My drink and popcorn and pocketbook are in the perfect spots, when someone just has to come down my row, pushing themselves past me.

Excuse me. Excuse me. Excuse me.

Yeah, right. You are stepping on my feet and I am missing the movie. It is the same at a football game. For real.

Why can’t they wait until halftime to go get their refreshments?

Excuse me. Excuse me. I’m sorry. (No, they aren’t really sorry.) Even worse is when they don’t want to pass by you, but they want you to move down a seat.

But Judges 13:25 is a great improvement over that, because there the Spirit of the Lord began to move him at times. Not to ask Samson to move, but the Spirit of the Lord moved him.

Are we moved by the Spirit of the Lord ? Yes.

I have been moved by the Spirit of the Lord when I read my Bible, when I pray and while in a church service.

But that move is not just confined to places or situations we think of as being religious.

The move of the Spirit of the Lord can come at anytime, anywhere and in any form because the Spirit of the Lord is always with us.

If we need comfort or hope, the Spirit is with us. If we need anything or nothing, the Spirit is with us.

Judges 3:10 expresses it as a temporary spontaneous increase of spiritual, mental and physical strength. We may see it in extraordinary ways for special assignments the Lord gives us.

This will come through seeking the help of the Holy Spirit as we face not only major challenges, but also in our daily lives. Isn’t that beautiful? Moved by the Spirit of the Lord? It is a move we never want to be without.

Ann Farabee is a teacher, writer and speaker. Contact her at annfarabee@gmail.com or annfarabee.com.

By Ann Farabee

What’s your story?

We all have one, don’t we?

Our stories often come from our tests

. But instead of becoming bitter, we can allow our struggle to make us better.

We can allow our test to become our testimony and our mess to become our message.

We all have a story to share that God can use to bless and encourage others. I have had some stories from my life that I did not feel the freedom to share for years because of shame or embarrassment, but God’s timing gave me the go ahead when the time was right. When, why and how do we share? We share when the Lord puts it in our spirit to share. It may be a friend in need. It may be a family member who needs help. It may be a stranger that God puts in our pathway. We share our stories because they can be related to by many who are going through similar situations.

When we share, others can find comfort, help, hope and encouragement.

Surprisingly, we ourselves — the ones doing the sharing — can find those things, as well.

We are overcomers.

Reflect with me for a moment.

Where are we?

Are we in His arms?

Are we standing in the shadows wishing we were closer to Him?

Are we headed to a distant country without even realizing we have changed directions?

Have we been in a faraway land way too long?

The amazing thing about responding to any of these questions is that no matter how far we have gone off the path — we are only one step away from that path — and all we have to do is turn around.

Ever been lost before?

Our tendency is to go a little further in hopes that we will recognize the way.

For me, that never works.

At some point, I always realize that all I need to do is to turn around.

We can overcome.

How do I know?

John 16:33 says, “These things have I spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world.”

What’s your story?

Are you an overcomer?

Lord, may we tell our story for Your Glory!

Ann Farabee is a teacher, writer and speaker. Contact her at annfarabee@gmail.com or annfarabee.com.

By Ann Farabee

Have I mentioned that I have two new grandbabies?

One of them is now 14 months, and the second one is 14 days. GG loves them very much.

The 14-month-old has learned a wonderful trick. Every time he sees me, he reaches his arms up to me, so I can pick him up.

It is a quite effective trick, as it works every time. How he can appear to be so desperate to be held in my arms, I really cannot understand. He either really loves me or he feels as if he can accomplish something great while in my arms that he cannot accomplish while standing there all alone.

He is right about that, you know.

Once I pick him up, he is no longer “alone” in the room.

He feels the power of the human touch.

From there, he is able to receive and receive and receive, while carried from place to place and more. He will be read to, talked to, sung to, walked around, bounced around, played with — the list is fairly endless.

Sure, I could do those things without touching him or holding him, but why would I do that?

When he arrives for his visit, his car seat is placed on the kitchen table, so he can be unstrapped. When he sees me, he begins kicking his feet and flailing his arms around, excitedly waiting to be held by his GG.

No words are needed.

Oh, he knows a few words, but why bother?

I will speak on his behalf. I have heard him say Mama, Dada and pig. I assume the word pig comes from the stuffed pig he carries around from the book, ‘If You Give a Pig a Pancake.’

Yes, he is a precious little guy who still speaks more with his eyes, hands, and feet than with his voice.

So I call him my quiet handful.

Quiet means peace, calm or still.

A handful means as much or as many as the hand will grasp.

Yes, I want as much peace, calm, or stillness as my hands can hold. Peace means tranquility and freedom from disturbance. Calm means peaceful. Stillness means the absence of movement or sound.

Ecclesiastes 4:6 says it is better to have one handful with tranquility than two handfuls of hard work and of trying to catch the wind.

Another translation is, ‘Maybe so, but it is better to have only a little, with peace of mind, than be busy all the time with both hands, trying to catch the wind.’

Catching the wind?

Really?

We know we cannot catch the wind. So why do we waste our time and energy? Peace? Calm? Stillness? Where is that?

It is in us.

1 Corinthians 3:16 says that the Spirit of God dwells in us. Dwell means lives in. The Spirit of God dwells in me. A quiet handful of peace, calm, and stillness dwells in us.

Hold out your hands

— Ask God to remind you of that quiet handful of peace, calm, and stillness that dwells in you.

Ann Farabee is a teacher, writer and speaker. Contact her at annfarabee@gmail.com or annfarabee.com.

By Ann Farabee

He was restless

– A man had two sons, and the younger one said to his father, “Give me what belongs to me.”

The father gave him his share of the inheritance.

He was rebellious

— He left home and wasted it with riotous living. He was reckless 

— He spent it all. He met reality

— There was a famine in the land. He began to be in want. He reached bottom

— He became a citizen of that country and had to feed swine. He had a revelation

— He came to himself. He remembered 

— How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough to spare and I am starving? He recognized his sin

— I will say, Father, I have sinned against heaven and you. He was remorseful

— I am not worthy to be your son. He responded

— He got up and went to his father. He was received

— When he was a great way off, his father saw him coming and had compassion and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. He repented

— Father, I have sinned and I’m not worthy to be called your son. He was reinstated

— The father told the servants to bring out the best robe and put it on him. He was reconciled 

— To put a ring on his hand. He was re-established

— To put shoes on his feet. He was redeemed

— To bring the fatted calf. Let us eat and be merry, for my son was dead and is alive again. He was lost, but is now found. Are we away from home? We can come to ourselves.

Charles Spurgeon explains that when the father saw him, he saw who he was, where he had been and what he would be soon. The father is looking for us.

When we come home, he will kiss us “much.” As referenced in translations from the 1800s, Spurgeon explained “kissing us much” as meaning:

• much love

• much forgiveness

• much restoration • much joy

• much comfort

• much assurance

• much communion In his sermon, ‘Many Kisses for Returning Sinners,’ the emotion from that moment can be clearly visualized:

Perhaps the young man looked down on his foul garments, and said, “Oh the past, my father, the past!”

The father would kiss him again, as if to say, “Never mind the past.”

“But the present, my father, the present, what a dreadful state I am in!” and with another kiss would come the answer, “Never mind the present, my boy. I am content to have you as you are. I love you.”

“Oh, but father, the future, the future. What if it happens again?”

Then, would come another kiss, and the father would say, “I will see to the future, my son.” There is some good stuff, I mean God stuff, in Luke 15. Is it time to go home?

Tap your heels together three times and repeat after me: There’s no place like home.

There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home.

(Just kidding. I was wanting to see if you were paying attention. It’s actually easier than that.)

Let’s try again — time to go home? 

Come to yourself. Get up. Go to the Father. While you are a long way off, He will see you because He’s been looking for you and He will have compassion on you, and He will run, fall on your neck, and kiss you much.

And that is exactly what He did for me and has done, or will do, for you.

Ann Farabee is a teacher, writer and speaker. Contact her at annfarabee@gmail.com or annfarabee.com.

By Ann Farabee

It was time to write my weekly column.

You know what? I didn’t feel like it.

My mind was telling me to skip this week, but my spirit told me to sit down and get to work.

As I headed toward my computer, I passed some reminders framed on my wall: “Faith,” “family” and “friends.” And then ones for love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness and self control.

Yes, it’s me — Ann Farabee.

I write a weekly faith column. I have spiritual words on my wall. I walk by those words numerous times a day, but I rarely notice them.

As I sat down to begin to write, I did what I would usually do first — I checked my phone. I sure am glad I did because:

• If I applied for the Chase Sapphire card, I could get 60,000 extra bonus points.

• If I clicked on the “5 Tips for Health” it might change my life — or maybe not.

• If I clicked on “What African Countries Speak Spanish?”

I might learn something! Maybe I had not really needed to check my phone. I walk by those words on the wall every day going back and forth to the kitchen.

Most times, I don’t even notice them. I sat down at my work table, and moved my Bible over so I could get to the stack of work that needed my immediate attention.

It’s me — Ann Farabee. I write a weekly column. I have spiritual words on my wall.

I had moved my Bible out of my way so I could do my other stuff. I probably should have hit myself in the head with my fairly large Bible.

Yes, I had moved it out of my way so I could do my other stuff. Don’t get me wrong — we all have to do other stuff. Yes, stuff has to get done.

But on this day, the thought, “Moving my Bible out of my way so I can do other stuff,” left me shaking my head. Perhaps because I realized I had then immediately picked up my phone again. I apparently was planning to skip Bible reading.

But I kept looking over at it and when I came to myself, I picked it back up and opened it to a random, or maybe not so random, page. I read these words: “Thou shall call his name Jesus, for He shall save his people from their sins.”

Those words were followed by: “God with us.” Jesus saved us from our sins — God is with us.

What more do we need? When we open the Book, no matter what page we land on, God has a word for us!

Ann Farabee is a teacher, writer and speaker. Contact her at annfarabee@gmail.com or annfarabee.com.

By Ann Farabee

Fasting is not a topic I have ever chosen to write or talk about.

If I were to score myself on fasting, I would give myself a score of zero. I did fast technology — including cell phones — for a few days, and one time I actually fasted food one day a week for several weeks.

When the suggestion would come up, I have normally tended to go with an excuse for not participating.

Verses about fasting have been read in church services I have been in, but rarely as the main part of that passage for the message on that particular day, so I could easily ignore it.

I guess I could call myself a fasting failure, a fasting flunk-out or a fasting fizzle-outer.

Sure — I have my excuses, I mean, my reasons.

Let’s see:

I will get sick if I fast.

I will be cranky if I fast.

I have to prepare food for my family anyway, so it would be hard to fast. I like food. It’s a highlight of my day. My days are built around when it’s time to eat again, and those who know me well can concur.

Food comforts me and makes me happy.

But, a few years ago when I was going through one of the darkest, deepest and most stressful periods in my life, there were days I had no ability to pray. It was then that the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and sent me a three-word reminder that I could not ignore: fast and pray. It was not just once, but over and over in my head until I understood. I needed to fast and pray.

Matthew 17:21 says, “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” This kind of what? What was it talking about? The previous verse tells us that if we have the faith as a grain of mustard seed, we can move mountains and that nothing will be impossible unto us. I needed this kind of faith.

So I did it. My situation that I needed God to guide me through was personal, and my fasting and prayer was personal, too. Every time I felt my stomach begin to growl, I made sure to pray specifically for my need. When I would feel the rumblings of hunger, I would pray and read God’s Word. I would lay on my bed, cover myself with a blanket and ask the Lord to hold me as I prayed. It was intimate. It was personal. It was “God and me” time.

The hunger was enough of a distraction to get my mind off my regular routine and focus on my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Have you ever been somewhere so beautiful and experienced something so amazing that you told others, “I wish I had the words, but I don’t?”

Not only is that how it felt, but that is still how it feels when entering into a time of intimacy with Jesus.

Fast and pray — it is worth it.

Ann Farabee is a teacher, writer and speaker. Contact her at annfarabee@gmail.com or annfarabee.com.

He had become well-known and a man of fame in that city and abroad. He had gained a magnificent reputation, and He was known as one of exceptional character. He was the Healer.

Multitudes had come to hear him speak and to be healed of their infirmities. Luke 5:15-16 says, “But Jesus walked away from the crowd and went into the wilderness — to pray. Yes, Jesus left the crowd and went to an isolated place to talk with the Father on their behalf.”

That is remarkable.

Jesus loved everyone, so I am sure He loved those in the crowd. But at that moment in time, He needed a “praying in the wilderness” experience.

Sometimes, we need that, as well. Not always just on our behalf, but also on behalf of others. A prayer for someone is one of the greatest gifts we can give or receive.

As for me, I need to give that gift more often. Sometimes, it may feel that our prayers are not a big deal — but they are. Our prayers reach God!

Our prayers transcend the world and go straight to our Heavenly Father.

When God freed His people from slavery in Egypt, instead of going straight to the Promised Land, they went on a journey through the wilderness. But while wandering around in that wilderness, God revealed Himself to them.

Being in the wilderness sounds horrible, but if it brings us to a place of solitude with our Savior, we have the victory. That sure beats sitting around complaining about our difficulties, right? Going into His presence is His present to us — as we are surrounded by love, rest, and peace that comes with being in the presence of our Savior.

If God leads us there, why would we not go into the wilderness — apart from the crowd — to pray?

It would be like failing to accept the gift of His presence. God’s Word tells of many times Jesus prayed. Here are some of my personal favorites:

• “Early in the morning while it was dark.” — Mark 1:35

• “On the mountain during the night while making a decision.” — Luke 6:12-16

• “At a special occasion.” — Luke 3:21

• “With others — Peter, James and John went with Jesus to the mountain to pray.” — Luke 9:28

• “When in need — in the garden, Jesus asked that the cup be removed from him.” — Luke 22:42

• “When in pain — On the cross, He cried out in agony.” — Matthew 27:46

• “For those who had hurt him, Father forgive them.” — Luke 23:34

• “In surrender to God’s will — Father, into your hands, I commend my spirit.” — Luke 23:46 Jesus prayed, and so should we. 1 Chronicles 16:11 says, “Look to the Lord and His strength.”

Seek His face always.

Always means always!

Ann Farabee is a teacher, writer and speaker. Contact her at annfarabee@gmail.com or annfarabee.com.

By Ann Farabee

I love the sound of that — Part 1.

But I love the sound of this even more — believe for it.

This column begins with an honest Q&A session I had with myself: How often do I pray?

My answer — not often enough.

How long do I pray?

My answer — not long enough.

Why is that?

That is what I am going to attempt to figure out over my next few columns — so join with me. I think we will all be blessed — and hopefully renew and strengthen our prayer lives.

Our lives are busy. I know very few people who get to stay home all day while having the luxury of doing whatever they want to do whenever they want to do it. So, how do we handle our prayer lives in the midst of our busy seasons and daily routines?

As you read my column over the next several weeks, I will be looking into what Jesus said about prayer. I will be sharing about times I “failed” to pray. I will share about times I “fell” to pray — on my knees.

Seeing, hearing, feeling and touching Jesus as He works is perhaps the most amazing thing in the world, except for knowing that Jesus died on the cross, was buried and rose again after three days, so that we could have victory over death and live with God forever in Heaven!

So, if you are looking for great knowledge about prayer, it probably won’t come from my writing, but if you are looking for one who has experienced the power of prayer and the results of prayer, stay tuned, as I will attempt to share some personal insight into the importance of staying committed to a strong prayer life.

How would I know this? It is because I have been on both sides — committed to a strong prayer life — and also committed to a life of barely praying at all.

If we just pray at church, at a meal or at a time that someone expects for us to pray, we are missing out on the power of prayer that God has unleashed in our lives!

I have certainly been in a place and a time where praying was not what I wanted to prioritize. But making prayer my priority is where my heart desires to be and where I know I should be. So join me on this journey as we delve into making our prayer lives greater and stronger than ever! It sounds like something worth pursuing!

Our prayer lives may feel personal and private, but the results are often public. Prayer gives us a way to talk personally with Jesus. That is unfathomable, to say the least. To think that God provided a way for us — you and me — to connect with the creator of the heaven and the earth. To connect with the one who said let there be light and there was light. To connect with the God who made the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night — and the one who made the stars also.

Feel free to share some thoughts on your prayer journey with me at annfarabee@gmail.com, so that I can have more ideas to share with my readers.

As I was completing the writing of this column, I received an email prayer request. Here is part of what it said, “Will you believe for me until I can believe for myself?”

I sure will. I sure will.

I knew immediately that God was putting His stamp of approval on this prayer journey! Believe for it part 2 will be next week!

Ann Farabee is a teacher, writer and speaker. Contact her at annfarabee@gmail.com or annfarabee.com.

By Ann Farabee

My family had spent the day at Black Mountain Campground with approximately 100 friends from our church. As the daylight began to end, we began to gather around the campfire, set up our folding lawn chairs, and joined the group to end our day with testimonies, singing, conversation and laughter. The darker it got, the more prominent the light from the fire became. As the darkness began to overcome, the light from that fire became even brighter. If anyone walked away from the circle we were sitting in surrounding the fire, soon they were in darkness. Our focus became the light from the fire — and we stayed there for hours.

Later, some children began falling asleep in the arms of mom or dad. The crowd began to dwindle and families began to slip away to their tents.

It had been a special evening, watching daylight be overcome by the darkness. Flashlights had been turned on and lanterns had been lit. (Yes, this was before we all had cellphones with lights.) Many of us chose to stay around the fire late into the night, soaking in the goodness of God with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

The hour grew even later, the fire dwindled, and we sleepily headed into the darkness toward our tents. I settled in on my air mattress that was on the floor of our tent, and began the process of trying to sleep. I knew I would not be able to, and I was right. Lots of snores were coming from lots of tents. But…the snores were not what bothered me the most.

The main reason I could not get to sleep was because it was too dark! I held my hand in front of my face. I could not see it. Even with my eyes closed, I knew. If I opened them, it would be too dark to see anything. There was no way I could sleep in total darkness. My solution was to take possession of the flashlight from my snoring husband, so that I could flip it on and off anytime the darkness began to overwhelm me. At times, I turned the flashlight on briefly, just to make sure I was still there. I had zero sleep and was thankful to finally see the morning light return.

Light and dark — it is definitely in the Bible.

Darkness has always been a part of our world, but so has light! In the darkness, Mary gave birth to Jesus in a stable so that we could see the light! The wise men were in the darkness, when they saw the light from the star. The shepherds were working in darkness when the angel of the Lord shone on them.

First Peter 2:9 tells us that Jesus has called us out of the darkness into his marvelous light and John 8:12 tells us that Jesus is the light of the world.

That’s about all we need to know, isn’t it? No one wants to live in darkness, although sometimes we allow ourselves to do just that. I will repeat:

Jesus has called us out of darkness, and He has called us into His light.

That light is the light.

Do you need to come from the dark into the light?

Reach up.

The light switch is right above you and the power is always on! Ann Farabee is a teacher, writer and speaker.

Contact her at annfarabee@gmail.com or annfarabee.com.