Help from Haggai

by   April 26, 2021 with No Comments

By Ann Farabee

• 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.

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


Passing the Torch

by   April 24, 2021 with No Comments

By Doug Creamer

Passing the Torch

            After a long pause caused by COVID, our church has decided to begin offering children’s church again. Our children enjoy the music with their parents, and then we take them to their own space for a lesson that is on their level. We divide the children into two groups. There is the two- to four-year-old class…God bless them and their teachers. I do not have the skills or abilities to teach or reach that age group.

            I work with the older kids. Currently, they are from five to ten years old. We start these children off with a Bible lesson, and then we will do an activity to reinforce what they learned. After that, we take the kids into a room where they can play on some inflatables. Where were they when I was a kid? Naturally, the kids have fun while they are learning.

            The interesting thing is that the kids are learning. Our first lesson began with a short video that I thought was a little corny. The kids laughed hysterically at the corny jokes. The lesson itself was short, but packed with details. After the video, there was a quiz to test what they learned, and the kids got most of the questions right. I was very impressed with what they picked up on in the lesson.

            The kids left with knowledge about the Bible story, a few laughs at the corny jokes, the activity we did, and a few minutes of fun in the inflatables. They were excited and told their parents that they liked it and want to come back. Isn’t that what Jesus would want, leaving them hungry for more? That is exactly what will happen as the students and teachers engage with the curriculum.

            I was thinking about attending Sunday school back when I was a kid. I can still remember some of the lessons I learned. One in particular that stands out is making the tablets with the Ten Commandments on them. We cut Styrofoam into the shape of the tablets. We covered them with some type of paper that looked like stone. Then we pasted the Ten Commandments on them. I remember that lesson vividly, and that was more than fifty years ago.

            The point I want to make is this. I assure you that the two women in the room helping us to create our stone tablets did not have seminary degrees. I imagine they were just moms from our congregation. They taught the children in that classroom lots of lessons, and at least one of those kids grew up to believe in Jesus as savior.

            I assure you that my co-worker and I made mistakes while we taught our lesson the other day. The women who taught me as a child made errors. But the point is that we each got in there and did our best to pass on our faith to the next generation. What will the kids remember? They will remember that we loved them, laughed with them, and taught them something from the Bible. We passed our faith on to them.

            That’s what we are called to do: pass on the torch of our faith. Whether it is the next generation of children, or our neighbors, co-workers, or friends, Jesus calls each one of us to pass along our faith. We are called to let others know the reason for our hope and joy. We can’t live with our faith hidden; it must shine brightly in the darkness.

            Jesus came into the world to reveal God’s great love for mankind. We were already painfully aware that our sin had separated us from God’s love. Jesus showed us the way back to the Father through the sacrifice of His life. We are forgiven and welcomed home like prodigal sons and daughters. How can we keep silent with such a wonderful message? If you stumble and make a mistake while sharing this message of hope, don’t worry, because God’s love is greater, and the lost and little children need to hear it.

            I want to encourage you to share the light of hope that burns brightly inside you. I imagine your church could use some help one Sunday a month with the children. It’s a great place to start. Don’t forget the waitress, cashier, your neighbors, and your lost friends. Share a smile, give them an encouraging word, and let them know that they are loved by the God who made them. It’s our job to pass the torch that we have been given. Let’s dispel the darkness with God’s glorious light. Share God’s love with others.

Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

What to Eat Before Exercise

by   April 20, 2021 with No Comments

By David Freeze

Eating before exercise is something that comes up in every group class and with almost every individual I work with. We all need to eat before exercise to stabilize our blood sugar and have enough energy to perform well without upsetting your stomach.

Body functions often speed up when exercise begins, and it takes some experimentation to make your best pre-workout food stay settled. And it gets even more complicated when the exercise is a race or other sporting event that might include pre-competition jitters.

Even for a marathon or any other long-distance event, I am not a big fan of a huge carbohydrate-laden meal the night before. I remember going to New York City for my first marathon and thought that everybody was supposed to eat at least two plates of pasta and a bunch of sides. All that huge meal did was disturb my sleep.

If you have the option to eat several hours before the event, say a 9 a.m. 5K, get up early enough to have a carbohydrate-rich light meal with a small amount of protein. Experiment with different foods and beverages during practice and see what works. Liquid meal replacements and sports food, like quality energy bars, might be better tolerated than typical breakfast foods. Include small amounts of protein, and foods that are low in fat and fiber to help ensure tolerance, particularly when nerves are part of the equation. Race day or some other big event is not the time for experimentation.

Some possibilities might include a half bagel with peanut butter or honey, a small serving of oatmeal, granola and fruit and anything light that works for you.

Make sure that you’ve properly hydrated for multiple hours before your training run or race. I always maintain that hydration is the one single biggest factor in best performance. Additionally, I think most Americans and most athletes are usually dehydrated. Make sure by keeping your pee clear. Its OK to get up to pee overnight due to proper hydration.

And finally, within the last hour before the exercise begins, I have had many favorites over the years. Your last chance to stabilize blood sugar and energize your performance works best with something light and bland. My favorite was a Performance Power Bar until that company dropped out of the market a couple years ago. Now I use a Clif Bar, the flavor doesn’t really matter. Others have told me they use a small piece of fruit, peanut butter crackers or even a small PBJ sandwich. A few have mentioned other sports nutrition like gummies or gels. I actually used pizza-flavored Combos for years during my racing heyday. Some small volume of a sport or caffeine drink add to the mix often. A small swallow of honey is the last thing I do before heading out the door.

If your goal is a target race or other competition, use the buildup to that event finding what works best for you.

Two events are just around the corner for local runners and walkers. On April 24, we’ll have a SRR member only Prediction Run at City Park at 10 a.m. It’s not a race and involves thinking more than pushing the body. Just predict your 5K time and the closest prediction to the actual time wins. No clocks, no phones or any assistance to measure time. Non-members can join SRR just before race time.

Finally, Salisbury’s popular Bare Bones 5K has a new date on May 1, this time with Cathy Griffin Century 21 Town and Country as the title sponsor. All proceeds go to Rowan County’s Relay for Life. The 5K is for runners and walkers and there is a half mile fun run for kids, 12 and under. All of this takes place at Knox Middle School, starting at 8:30 a.m.

There’s more info at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org .

I See You

by   April 19, 2021 with No Comments

By Ann Farabee

Walking in the grocery store felt like a privilege. Every color imaginable was there. There was even fruit! The colors seemed brighter than I remembered. Hmm? The grocery store is a beautiful place? I had never noticed it.

Until… I was no longer going to it.

There were people.

They thought no one was paying attention to them.

They thought no one was even noticing them.

They surely did not think anyone was appreciating them.

But I saw you. Some of you I knew. Most of you I did not. When I passed by you, I may not have even acknowledged you. We may — or may not — have said hello in passing.

But I felt like I knew you.

You were a family member buying food for a meal, sometimes with a child in tow.

You were the one who helps your child daily with schoolwork.

You were the one who leads them in prayer at night.

I have seen you volunteering — at food pantries, at organizations, at church, with youth sports.

I see you investing in lives of your children — and some who are not your children — so they can be successful.

I see you — the one who prays for many daily, and they don’t even realize it.

I see you — the worker that always goes beyond expectations. You are the pastor, the teacher, the nurse, the plumber, the cashier, the businessman, the mail carrier, the delivery man.

I see you — the exhausted parents — or grandparents — raising children.

I see you — caring for the elderly or the sick who need constant care.

I see you — the father — the grandfather — who always finds time to say yes, even if your tired body is saying no.

I see you making sacrifices daily for others.

I am so thankful we are not in this journey called life alone.

I smile as I think about you — those who would be at my doorstep in a minute if I needed you. And… I would be at yours if you needed me.

That is the way life is…

We are family.

Not always by blood… but family in our hearts.

Never feel that no one cares.

Never feel that no one notices.

We see you. We know how hard you work. We appreciate how hard you work.

We just fail to tell you.

Sometimes we even live in the same house — and still fail to tell you.

But we know. We are all doing the best we can.

We are still in the midst of a season of life that has been like none other.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 says for us to encourage one another and build each other up.

Love and encouragement matters now more than ever.

Tell someone you appreciate them.

We all need to hear it.

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

Spread the News

by   April 17, 2021 with No Comments

By Doug Creamer

Spread the News

            I saw on a weather website the other day that we are expecting an inch. Can you believe that we might actually see an inch…of pollen? Did you think I meant snow? I looked out at my driveway the other day after a shower blew through and it was yellow with pollen. Sometimes if you look outside, you can see the pollen particles in the air, there is so much out there. I was wondering if the mask wearing for COVID was helping people who suffer from allergies.

            All the pollen comes with the beauty of spring. I was so afraid the cold nights we had a few weeks ago might spoil spring. The dogwoods, azaleas, flowers, and other blooming trees seem to be coming on strong. I love driving down the road and seeing all of nature coming back to life. It makes me wonder what heaven’s beauty might look like one day. 

            We made our first spring trip to a garden center last week. It is our favorite place to go every spring. We go often and stay for a while. For us, it’s better and often cheaper than going to the movies. Naturally, we want to see our old favorites, but we also want to see what is new in the world of plants.

            I spent some time picking out my vegetable garden seeds. I stuck with my tried and true varieties. I didn’t pick out any tomatoes or other transplants yet. I want to give it another week before I put them out. We have gotten some surprise frosts on more than one occasion.

            After a warm and dry week last week I decided that maybe I could till the garden. I have four raised beds and hoped to get one of them worked up. My tiller glided through the soil easily. I thought that maybe I could do two beds. The second bed went smoothly, too. I needed to be cutting the grass, but maybe I could try a third bed. When I finished that bed, well, there was only one more to go. I didn’t finish cutting the grass, but my garden beds are ready for planting.

            There is nothing quite like planting seeds in freshly tilled soil. I love the feeling of the soil and the excitement of getting seeds in the ground. I will go out every day to see if they have sprouted. Nothing can bring greater joy to a gardener than to see the soil starting to erupt and those new seedlings emerging.

            The truth is we should feel the same kind of joy when we have the opportunity to share the seeds of hope with those who are lost. When those opportunities arise where we can speak those words of life to another, we want to be ready. There should be a peace and a joy in our lives that others find attractive, something that they desire for themselves.

            Some people spray their religious thoughts like the annoying pollen of spring. It fills the air and turns people off to God. We need to be like flowers that attract bees to collect the pollen. People should be attracted to our lives, and then the pollen of our faith just sticks to them. It becomes food for their souls and they keep coming back for more.

            Jesus dealt with each person tenderly and compassionately. He never pushed His faith on anyone. People were attracted to His servant heart. They were drawn by the love that they found in His eyes. He didn’t espouse judgement on people, but He did encourage them to go and live changed lives. He welcomed all people, especially those who were living sinful lives and trapped with hopelessness. Jesus planted in them the seeds of life and hope.

            I am dependent on the Lord’s mercy and grace every day. I want to be the kind of vessel that extends His love, grace, and mercy to those I encounter who are hungry and thirsty for more of God. I want my life to be attractive to others. I want to have the same servant heart that Jesus has for the lost and hurting around me.

            I want to encourage you to bloom where God has you planted. He put you there so He could attract people to Himself through you. You are unique and God can express part of His unique character through you. People are hungry and thirsty, let them come to your well and drink and let them pick the fruit in your life and eat. God wants to use you. Yes, YOU.  

Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

Set Good Example for Young Runners

by   April 13, 2021 with No Comments

By David Freeze

It is always exciting for me when I see a young runner who enjoys the whole aspect of racing. I first met Brayden Self a few years ago. If Rowan has an event, it’s likely that Brayden will be there racing against the seasoned runners, nearly all of them a good bit older than him. It has long been my opinion that to be good at racing, a runner has to race often. Sadly, many high school runners only compete in their school events and are not seen otherwise.

Brayden said, “The first time I started running was in middle school doing hurdles in track. One day, Coach Roseman gave me the “you look like a runner” talk. As a freshman, I did hurdles in track again. I started cross country during my sophomore year and loved it, and every season since then I did distance events. I fell in love with the sport and loved seeing myself improve. You get out what you put in, and each year I kept getting progressively faster and just kept loving the sport even more.”

The abbreviated high school cross country season still was as exciting as usual. Brayden’s East Rowan High School team surprised a few to win the North Piedmont Conference. He said, “My most satisfying moments running so far have to be the county cross country meet and winning the conference championship as a team. I got my PR during the county meet and winning the conference championship was super special because it showed how good we were as a team and how hard we worked all season.”

About competing against the older runners, Brayden said, “I enjoy running against the older runners because I can always learn something from them. I am still just starting to run and usually at every race there is someone who is a lot faster than me. I’ll talk to them after the race or see what they are doing differently and learn from them. After the 5K this past weekend, Dave Shields talked to me about how to improve in the mile and 800. It is always nice learning from the people who have already been through what I am experiencing right now.”

The past two years, Brayden has been training year-round, another key to success. He said, “I will typically take 4-7 days off after a season, whether it is cross country, indoor track or outdoor track to let my body recover. And during the off season, I will steadily increase my mileage and start speed work as the season approaches.

Brayden’s family includes his mom, dad and two brothers. He said, “My brother Cohen runs track and cross country for East as well and I think he can be very fast in the future. Younger brother Thatcher is in sixth grade and he will run track at Erwin when he gets a little bit older, but he loves running as well. Mom Ashlee enjoyed running when she was younger but was never a ‘runner,’ but she always loves to come watch and support me. Dad Jamie ran track in high school but didn’t do long-distance races, he mostly ran the 400 and 800. Uncle Joey also runs. Most of my family has running history which is really cool!”

Brayden plans to continue running. He said, “Until I can no longer do it anymore. I’m attending App State in the fall and looking forward to running recreationally there. I will come back to Salisbury and run the 5Ks here when I can because I have always loved racing. At college, I will up my mileage and start training for a half marathon. After completing a half, then a full marathon will be next.”

I asked Brayden to explain the benefits of running, He said, “I love being physically fit year-round. And the best part about running for me is the people I’ve met and become friends with along the way. Some of my best friends are people I have met or grown closer to due to running.”

The calendar for April includes a prediction run for April 24 and a new date for the Bare Bones 5K, this year moving to May 1. Go to www.salisburyrowanrunners.org for details.

A Little Farther

by   April 12, 2021 with No Comments

By Ann Farabee

What an evening it had been! Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. He took part in the Last Supper. He predicted his betrayal and foretold that Peter would deny him. Jesus told the disciples that He is the way to the father. He promised that he would not leave them comfortless, but would send the comforter. He taught them that he is the vine and they are the branches who produce fruit. And, that even though the world would hate, they needed to love. And…they needed to pray.

He finished this time of preparing his disciples for what was to come by praying for himself, praying for them, and praying for us — the future believers.

He then took his disciples with him to the Garden of Gethsemane. He began to feel sorrowful and very heavy. He told them to watch and pray, as he had taken them as far as they could go. He had to face this — for them — and for us — alone.

For, Jesus was to bear the cross, carrying the weight of the sin of the world. Our sin. Each of us. All of us. What he would have to face was unimaginable. Suffering. Pain. Agony. Anguish. Darkness. Separation.

Then, Jesus went a little farther. He fell on his face and prayed, while in deep agony. In his prayer, he asked the father to let the cup pass from him, and then submitted to the will of the father as he continued, “Nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done.”

He had just prayed the greatest prayer in the history of the world — as he made a way for the salvation of the world. The heart of Jesus was now prepared for what was to come.

As the evening was ending, Jesus was betrayed and arrested.

He then entered into the worst day in human history.

He who was not of the world — came to the world — for the world.

I am so glad He went a little farther.

And… he went to the father.

He went farther than anyone had ever been…for anyone.

That anyone was everyone. It was you. It was me.

I believe, without a doubt, that as Jesus looked down from the cross to those who were putting Him to death, and said, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do,” that He looked ahead in time and thought of me — Ann.

And, I believe he thought of you.

Three days later, the best day in human history arrived. The stone was rolled away. He was not there! For he was risen!

It is not just a story, my friends. It is history — his story.

Jesus, thank you for going a little farther that day in the garden for us.

Thank you for going all the way — to the cross. 

Help us each day to go a little farther for you. Amen

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

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