The Call…
Invites are great – the call asking you over to dinner. The card asking you to attend the wedding. The text saying ‘want to get coffee’.
Many years before my mom passed away I began calling her weekly. It became our habit and it never got old – and now those calls are silenced and I miss them.
We let time slip away all too easily – the calls don’t get made, the notes never sent, the time lost. Great relationships only develop one way: t-i-m-e. Yet in our fast-paced world it is a valuable commodity that we can’t store up or earn more of. And with all good intentions we still squander precious moments. How then to not look back with regret? How to make the most of what we’re given?
I wish right now I was going to write the answer. Ideas come to mind – prioritize, work harder at it, set goals. All human efforts – been falling short since the fall of man. Perhaps the answer is to first listen to the call: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28 NIV)
Jesus calls to us through His word, by His Spirit in us – and in the noise we miss it. If He could sit with you and me right this instant, I think He would tell us ‘Spend time with Me – get to know Me. Know Me so well that you feel My hand in yours all the time.’ It is in knowing Jesus that we find He redeems all things and quiets our souls.
“When Jesus says ‘Follow Me,’ He is saying, ‘Come out of the world and into the kingdom of God.’ ‘Come out of danger and into safety.’ ‘Come out of darkness and into the light.’ ‘Come out of stress and into peace.'” (Stormie Omartian)
The call is ‘Come’, He will do the rest. It’s always simple with Christ – not easy necessarily, but simple. “Come near to God and He will come near to you.” (James 4:8 NIV) It is in the nearness, that we find our answers. Trust is built. Faith deepens. What we consider loss, He can redeem. When there are not enough hours, He can make a way. When our soul feels His rest, we will want to extend His invitation. Timeless.
If you stopped by because you read my devotion today over at Encouragement Cafe, WELCOME! So glad you are here!
parisrenae 
Nice… I remember my mom and I talking on the phone. It was that connection I missed most. It keeps your hearts close. Two years later I would still think, I have to tell mom. Sometimes I just ask God to tell her.
😊
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Hmm, yes, I ask God to tell her too He knows our hearts and He comforts us all…
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Such a sweet thought, friend. Love the reminder that He calls us to come near to Him, to do life with Him, to quiet our hearts in His word. Such a beautiful reminder. Thank you and Happy New Year! xoxo
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This is one of my goals this year..to nurture family and friendships. I am also hearing the call of the Father to nuture my relationship with Him through time spent in His presence.
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I just read your post ‘The Roaring Lion’ – it was excellent. Yes, nurturing relationships is key as we live the kingdom life now and always. Knowing Him well gets us on the path to glorifying Him in every relationship. Blessings always…
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Your time is one of the best things you can give someone, it’s sad that people grow apart and families are divided. I will try to call or check on mine, often the calls are not returned, but I still pray for them. Those mother daughter bonds that are strong are blessing, mine is 74 and going strong, she has overcome so much and been a powerful influence on me. Yes, I tell people it’s okay to ask Jesus to talk to them for you, grief can be such a bad thing,
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