Do you believe we need to tell the Lord and loved ones we are grateful and thankful for them? Should we tell them our needs and how much we love them? Our Father and family members should see our needs and know that we love them. Why should we have to tell them every day?

The prayer Jesus taught the disciples teaches the importance of going to God daily, honoring, and asking Him to give us today our daily bread. Philemon 4:6 reminds us that ‘in everything, through prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, we should let our requests be made known to God.’

Therefore, we need to tell Him and them (people we share our lives with) that we appreciate, need, honor, love, love, love, and love them some more. You can never tell a loved one, or the One who loved you so that He sent His Son to die for your sins, that you love them too many times. Loving and appreciating one another, honoring and obeying, sharing and sowing seeds of harmony, joy, and peace are great gifts to give.

Prayer is a powerful means of telling God our needs. We should pray daily. Jesus modeled this in the prayer He taught, “Give us this day our daily bread” He knows our needs before we even ask Him. Matthew 6:8. However, prayer is not meant to influence God to give to us but to influence us that we are creatures of need. We can become too independent and lose close contact with Him. God may not need to be told that we love Him, but we need to tell Him…daily!

Prayer is not begging for blessings. It is becoming a blessing. Are you a blessing to the Lord, to your loved ones, to people you meet and may never see again? Recently, I treated my older group of children at The Learning Station for being awesome sunshine kids. We headed to Wendy’s and enjoyed a Frosty and fellowship around the big table in the center of the restaurant. Two ladies came toward us, one depending on the other for balance and security. I thought of getting older and what life holds for me in my senior years. Do you ever think on those things? It is humbling to see caregivers lovingly share their time with patience and protection. Mrs. Emma Faye, a neighbor from my childhood, called my name. Jumping up to hug her, I recognized Mrs. Joyce, a dear church friend, was holding tightly to Mrs. Emma Faye’s arm. I had seen neither of them in years but it seemed like yesterday. What a gift awaited me in Wendy’s! My children gathered around us; I introduced them to my old friends. Mrs. Joyce was eager to hug each of them and tell them they were precious. The children shared about our sunshine visits and how we always pray with people God puts in our path. So, in the middle of Wendy’s on a busy afternoon, two children led us in prayer. We talked to God and told Him we loved Him. The children’s faces were glowing; mine was wet with tears.

The children and I settled down to finish our ice cream treat but interruptions kept coming. People commented on how well behaved the children were and some stared at us; we had no idea the impact our prayer had on those who were watching while eating. One couple stopped by our table and said, “How do you do this? These children are amazing.”

I pointed toward heaven and said, “It’s God”! They told the children they were so impressed with their behavior and willingness to share their faith openly. They said they were driving through Clinton on their way home to Snead’s Ferry and decided to stop at Wendy’s. These strangers felt like friends before they waved good bye and went home to their little town by the sea. I told the children we would probably never see those people again, but we won’t forget their faces and loving words of confirmation. We were a blessing to them but would have never known it if they had not taken the time to tell us. That’s why it’s so important to tell people we love them… need them… appreciate them. My children will never forget the words from those strangers; we were blessed with much more than a yummy Frosty that afternoon.

We need prayer within our families. Praying together has power beyond what we can comprehend. It becomes a part of one’s life when time is given to communicate openly with the Lord and loved ones. Just as we can become too independent and lose close contact with our Father, the same is true for family. Don’t assume anything just because you are husband, wife, brother, sister, or other family members. Tell them you love them, show them you love them, do little things that mean so much to them, pray with them, tell them you love them every day, every night, every time you leave one another pledge your love with a kiss, a look of love, or a simple smile that shows love rules in your heart and home.

As a new year begins, we wonder what will happen in the next 365 days. Reflecting on year’s past, we realize prayer brought us through many trials and tough times. Have you chosen to distance yourself from God and the people who care about you, giving up on life and love, living in bitterness and missing the blessings God intends for you to have? Don’t let your communication with Him and them be a dropped call, putting off reconciliation and rededication. Forgive those who have offended you. Make things right in your heart with the Lord and loved ones. Take time to pray and tell them you love them. Then, you will become a blessing to Him and to them.

Make 2013 a year to get connected! Instead of spending countless hours on the computer, facebook, watching television programs and news that fosters fear and frustration…take time to pray and tell the Lord and your loved ones just how much you love them.

Thank you Father for a New Year, for family and friends to share my life with, for blessings beyond anything I ever imagined, for health and happiness, for opportunity to serve You and share my love for you with others through Tim’s Gift, The Learning Station, my church (First Baptist), my column in the SI, and my family. I love you and pray you will make me a blessing…out of my life may You shine, O Savior I pray…Make me a blessing to someone today. AMEN.