One of the not so fun parts of getting older is not sleeping as well as I once did. As a child, I slept like a baby- well, actually better than a baby, I slept all the night through. Sleeping well has served me well all of these years. But more recently, I have found my sleep patterns to be a bit broken up. Waking during the night may seem unpleasant, but actually, it has its good points. I get a lot of reading and writing accomplished.
Author Archives: Anne Farnum
Things that Cannot Be Seen!
Years ago, while in high school, our pastor came to our youth group to give a talk. Although I would like to say I remember much of what he said, I do not. He said one thing that stuck with me, and here many years later, I remember it well. Pastor Mike said that although we think this world is our reality, it is not. This world is temporal, and soon we will be in our forever home- with Jesus experiencing actual reality.
Mr. Brown and the Shiny Clarinet
Mr Brown was a stern and stoic music and band teacher. Had I known what he was like I would have never signed up to take clarinet and be a part of the band. He was a task master; there was no fooling around in his class! I was nine years old at the time and that shiny clarinet had wooed me into signing up. I wanted to be able to play it well. I just didn’t want to play the kind of pieces Mr. Brown was assigning. I tried everything I could to get out of practicing those pieces.
What is Your Dream?
My husband gave me several books for Christmas, and so I have been reading a lot lately. I had forgotten how much I love to read a good book. “Traveling” to a place you have never been is one great benefit of reading. Jumping into history is another. Reading a good book can help the reader see from another’s perspective, have fresh insight, and challenge the reader to consider what they believe. And sometimes reading a good book can jog the memory regarding a truth once known but forgotten. But often, what I love about reading a good book is how my mind is stimulated to think more deeply, to ask more questions, and to grow in faith.
As It Happened…
It was the late fall of 2012; I was beginning to think about a move to Paris, France. It wasn’t something I ever saw coming. No, if you had asked me where I might live, Paris was NOT one of the places. Maybe, Europe somewhere, but definitely Not France!
Two Plus Two Equals Five
The book of Judges is a book describing many sad days for Israel. Oh yes, there were good days, but more than once in Judges, we read, “all the people did what seemed right in their own eyes.” They had no compass, no true north; they just followed their gut feelings and did what seemed right to them. Of course, everyone had a different gut feeling. Two plus two is five, or six, or seven, right?
Just Tell Your Story!
A friend recently asked me what is the best way to tell someone about Jesus? My response, just tell your story. Tell where you have been and where God has brought you. Tell them what your heart looked like when it was stony and cold and how it functions now as a heart of beating flesh. Share your journey; tell how you met Jesus. Tell about the power of the Holy Spirit inside of you. Tell what he has done for you, how he has changed you. It is your story, and it is for sharing.
The Elusive Peace of 2020
If we were to take a poll of how difficult this year has been, almost all would say this year takes the cake. Most of us have never seen anything like it. The good news is we are almost to the end. I have to say that this year has been a doozy for my family; I’ll tell you more about that in another blog post. But needless to say, the best way I can imagine seeing 2020 is in the rearview mirror. Good riddance 2020!
A Very Slippery Slope!
I have been thinking a lot lately about how easy it is for a Christian to “slide” right out of a close relationship with Jesus. I use the word slide because usually, it is just that, a slippery slope downward right out of fellowship. It is often an unintended and unexpected slipping and sliding, but it happens regardless of the intent. Maybe on day one of being preoccupied elsewhere, things seem okay, but it doesn’t take many days of ignoring God to find yourself skidding rapidly and regrettably away.
And the Secret Is…
We were able to spend a month at the beach, one of the joys of being retired! We had a lovely little home to enjoy. From the back screened porch, I could hear the waves roaring. I couldn’t see the waves, but I knew they were just beyond the trees. The wind gently moved the palm trees, and the birds sang, too. It was rather magical. Of course, the first night, as we arrived and had to find our way around a new house- it didn’t feel as magical.
Anne Farnum 