My husband flew to Israel Sunday evening. He was traveling across the ocean all night while the kids and I slept in our beds (more accurately, they all tried to sleep in my bed!) On Monday morning the emails and FB messages started and the phone began to ring. “Have you heard from Michael?” “Is he safe?” “Are they on the ground?”

I spent most of the morning talking about Michael to all the well wishers and concerned folks and praying souls (I’m so grateful for the praying souls). But about 1:00 pm my computer started making a noise and I went to the screen to see “Video Call from Michael”.

The kids all gathered, I clicked the button and there we saw his face and heard his voice and all the girls kissed the computer screen. We were relieved. We were joyful. We were thankful and blessed to not just talk about him but to talk TO him.

Friends, we talk a lot about God. We hear lots of sermons with preachers talking about God. We read books about God. It’s nice to talk about God. But doesn’t your heart just long to talk TO him. There is nothing like it. The communion. The sound of His voice whispering in your ear. The relief of His Spirit. The joy of his presence. The thanksgiving it produces and the blessing that falls on you as you turn to Him. It is to kiss the face of God himself.

Jim Cymbala, in his book, “Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire” says, “If the times are indeed as bad as we say they are…if the darkness in our world is growing heavier by the moment…if we are facing spiritual battles right in our own homes and churches…then we are foolish not to turn to the One who supplies unlimited grace and power. He is our only source. We are crazy to ignore him.”

Don’t ignore Him today. And don’t just talk about Him. Talk to him. Remember the words to the old hymn:

Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer.

Connie

Hebrews 4:16 – “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most”.