Text Messages to God

During my freshman year of high school, one Brad Camp, Younglife leader, told us that praying was like talking on the phone. You just pick up the receiver and talk to God. The difference is you never have to hang up. That really stuck with me.

Back then, 20+ years ago, cell phones were only on the Jetsons. Who could have imagined text messages to God then? Call me crazy. That is exactly what I've been doing.

Like many of you, I pray throughout my days, whispering up little prayers of praise and requests for guidance and protection.

But I found there is something oddly satisfying and possibly therapeutic about typing out a text message to God. After all, prayers seems to be whisked off into the vast universe much like my text messages are. Where do they go? How do they get there? It's kind of all on faith. One difference isthat I see text messages charged on my bill at the end of the month, but God doesn't accept cash, check or credit card. Kinda amazing how free prayer is, huh? I know God hears my prayers, whether I pick up my prayer "phone" or my cell phone.

But lately, with adrenaline coursing through my body on a 24/7 cycle (stress!), the text messages slow me down and I say exactly what I want to say, purposefully. Even if it is in text message slang. Dear God, U r so gr8, so powrfl, & awesm. U hve r future n ur hands.

He gets it.

Want to try it? Just make that God is in your network of friends. ;-)

And God Watch Over You As You Go......

Do you remember Grandma's Quilt Lotto she held in July? Just for fun, Granny sewed a festive Independence Day quilt, and the whole family bought raffle tickets! We swarmed to her house to purchase the tickets for a chance to become the proud owner of a precious quilt handmade by none other than Grandma I. On July 4th, we all gathered around for the big moment, the drawing of the winning ticket. We held our breath, and with our stomachs feeling like they were exploding with fireworks, waited to see whose name she would draw. When she read the name "Melanie," off the slip of paper, to tell you the truth, it was a bit deflating. While many of the grandkids had gathered in her tiny house for this moment, Melanie was in Florida, where she lives with her husband Lew, and 3 children. There was no one to clap or cheer, but when Mom gave her a call to let her know the good news, we understood exactly why Melanie's name was drawn. You know, nothing happens involving Grandma Ida, that isn't touched by the hand of God. Mom said, "Melanie, we want to let you know that you won the quilt!" Melanie broke into tears and said, "that's what will bring me comfort when Chris (her son) goes to Iraq." So it was, on this day, September 1st, that Chris' send-off party was held in Broken Arrow. It was this day, that Melanie received the stars-and-stripes quilt from Granny, and it will be just a few days away that Chris, a marine who just finished boot camp, will leave friends and family and the comforts of home to honor his country, and fight for our freedom. Please put Chris in your prayers, and pray for him to return safely to his fiancee and his family, who will all be waiting for him with open arms.