Do you listen when God speaks to your heart? He really does speak to His children, even though He gets busy signals when we aren’t connected. Though we may not hear Jesus’ gentle voice calling, He will get our attention…one way or another. Just ask Jonah!

I am reminded of a song little children taught me when I was on a mission trip in Belize. “Jesus on the telephone, tell me what you want, tell me what you want right now. Some want silver, some want gold, I want Jesus in my soul.’

Jesus lives in us. He is a trusted, loyal, Holy, forever Friend to be honored with a reverent fear. His Word reminds us to stay closely connected to the Vine. He desires to have a close relationship with His children. Our God is awesome; His grace is amazing, and His voice is clear when our hearts are in tune to His calling and our hands are willing to work.

I was more than willing to clean my mother in law’s front yard recently. When my task was done, I smiled and started inside to wash my hands, but God stirred my heart to clean the side yard too. ‘What, Lord! … she can’t even see the side yard that well. I have a baby shower to attend and I’ll be filthy, James is inside with Mom, I’ve been out here a long time, and I’m ready to go’.

With a deep conviction, it was as if thunder erupted inside my soul…’but you’re not finished, clean the side yard with gladness!’

I was happy to clean the front yard. It was visible to Mom’s eyes from her chair where she spends time looking out the window wishing her children would call or come. I didn’t always understand the importance of staying connected daily or every other day, even weekly… not from my mother or from Tim’s mother. My father and father-in-law went to be with Jesus when my mother and mom were in their fifties. We often visited our mothers, but not nearly enough. For, when my mother went to heaven, I was lost. I dialed her number months after she was gone, a habit that was hard to break, for I called her every single day when she was alive on earth and told her I loved her. Visiting and sharing time with loved ones is difficult when sadness overwhelms them. Their good bye hugs with tear filled eyes told how they longed for us to come more often; our busy schedules with little children and demanding workloads begged them to understand. Then, when I was 53, (the same age Mama was when Daddy died and Mom was when Mr. Odell died), Tim went to be with Jesus too. It was then, that my heart understood. I encourage anyone who does not visit loved ones to do so more often, even if it’s a five minute drive by with a ‘hug’ and ‘how are you?’. Our busy schedules should never take precedence over time spent with the Lord and loved ones. God is first; family comes next. Do you have priorities in the right order in your life? Loving and cherishing time together with the Lord and loved ones is time well spent with eternal dividends. When one you love is about to leave this world, silver and gold won’t matter…it’s having Jesus living in your soul, friends and family by your side, and love that gets you through the tough times and brings good from the bad according to His purpose for your life.

Take time today to share a phone call, a visit, a prayer with a loved one who may be sitting by their window hoping you will call or come. God desires this same close relationship with His children. Is He waiting to hear from you? Staying in touch and in tune each day helps keep the enemy away. Stay connected!