Has anyone here ever had to call 911? Why do we call 911?

(my mother needed an ambulance). Yes… we call 911 when we are in trouble and need help. We also call God when we are in trouble and need help. When this happens, we often promise God that we will do whatever God wants us to do after that. However, once the situation is alleviated, we tend to forget out promise and just go on with our everyday business.

There is another number that we sometimes call and that number is 411. Does anyone know why we call 411? (for information). Yes, that is right. God would prefer it if we called a little more often by dialing 411, than waiting until we needed 911.

A few years ago I found a way to talk with God more often at 411. I watched a TV program where a man named Fred Littaur talked about writing his journal in the form of a letter to God. I already kept a journal and I decided to start writing it in the way that Fred explained.

There are three parts to writing in my journal this way. The first part is where I thank God for all the wonderfulthings in my life… they might be small things or big things. Perhaps I thank God for the good food, or the fun we had square dancing the night before, or for getting through some experience safely. It can be just anything.

The second part of the journal is where I talk with God, like I would chat with any friend. When my son and daughter were in a country far away, I often talked with God about watching over them, and keeping them safe. I hoped that they would enjoy their experience and find a nice place to live and good friends, and all of that.

The third part of the journal is where I ask God for some suggestions on how I can live my life more in the way that God would want me to be doing.

One day I wrote in my journal, saying that most of the ways I had served God were through music… and I wondered if there was something else that God would like me to be doing.

The very next day, I was playing the organ at the church and the minister came out of the study with a paper in hand, and said, "Linda, I was wondering if you would be interested in taking the lay preachers course at PCTC." I immediately though. "Wow that was a quick answer… ad not what I was expecting. I thought maybe I should be spending more time in the kitchen or bringing more food to the church.

I said I would think about it. I took the paper home and told Lloyd about it. His answer was, "Hey, I'd like to do that too". I'm starting to get the idea that this was something that I am supposed to do. We did take the course and it was a wonderful experience, which has changed my life.

The point that I want to make here, is that God often uses the people close to us, to help us see what we need to do. We don't need to have a bolt of lightning strike us to give us the message. So watch for signs in the people around you… and ask God for guidance in the things that you do… and it will be there.

Let us pray: God, help us to listen to you for your guidance in the little things we do and in the big things we do. Help us to know that you are with us always. Amen.