Social media extend and multiply that access, allowing us to be recognized personally around the world. Although some of it can be helpful, most of it is surface recognition that has little depth or meaning, especially when it interrupts a real social get-together, such as a business meeting, a meal, or a family gathering.

But lately, I've noticed an increase in comments from people looking for respite from the faster pace of life, all of them wishing that it would slow down. However, we are unwittingly caught up in it. Texting is so much faster and cheaper than phoning. Let's confirm that pickup time now … oh, and what are you wearing? See how well it works? No voice contact required.

No matter how young and/or technically capable we are, we can process only so much information in depth at one time.

Back in the last century, when our teenagers were studying, they frequently tried to convince us, their parents, that they were perfectly capable of doing their homework while tuned in to their favourite radio station. Thankfully, we eventually won out. Studies have shown that the human brain is better able to absorb, understand, and memorize information in peaceful surroundings. Taking information in is one thing; learning it is something else.

So, too, when our bodies and minds are quiet, we are better able to narrow the spiritual space between ourselves and God. He has told us, "Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10 NIV), and He will do the rest.

Luke 5:16 – But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. (NIV)

Mark 6:31b – [Jesus] said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." (NIV)

In light of this, let us all make an extra effort to find our own personal quiet place daily, to get away from the fast pace of life for some respite, and share some quiet time with God. If we use this time also to simply listen, He will take it from there.

Prayer: Dear Father Lord, we so badly need Your peace, yet we are increasingly filling every waking moment with information that we think is important, and sharing it technologically around the world with increasing speed. We ask You to show each one of us how to slow down and share more precious time alone with You. Thank You for hearing our prayers for a closer walk with You. Amen.

Does God test us? You bet He does!

How many times have you thought or heard something that seems like it is a nudge from God, and have chosen to let it go until later? Maybe you questioned whether it might have been just a thought contrived by your own wishes.

Although God has given us the gift of free choice, as we move along our path to increasing sanctification, we need to learn how to truly trust our Lord for guidance.

In my case, there have been many occasions when I have slept comfortably after leaving a particular problem with God in my end-of-day prayers, only to awaken in the morning and start to make my own plans to solve that problem. But that's how God tests our faith.

God knows us well: He knows how we think, and He knows that the path of faith is difficult to follow and to avoid straying from.

So, He sends His nudges often, knowing that we just might not recognize them, but will perhaps see them for what they were, after the fact.

He connects with us on our own level. He can use phone calls, emails, text messages, conversations with friends, television shows, or even news reports to nudge us into His will.

In my case, God has communicated with me through music, usually first thing in the morning as I awaken. I believe that I recently experienced a faith-testing message from God.

I had some trepidation regarding the timing of the pickup of some furniture that I had donated, and as it was scheduled for a Sunday, I asked for a pickup time window. Unfortunately, they could not give me even an estimate.

As a result, I felt that I would not be able to attend my church service that day, and I asked for God's understanding, the previous night, in prayer.

On Sunday morning, I awakened to the strains of the song, Come to the church in the wildwood, which was unmistakably a message that I was not only to go to church that day, but also to believe that God had it all in hand — a faith test, without question.

But then, the usual "what ifs" kicked in as I prepared for church, but the memorable "Believe in Me" was uppermost, and I felt that I must accept His challenge, and challenge it was.

I went to the church service, heard and enjoyed the message, which, of course, was focused on faith — oh yes! — and was back home to welcome the pickup people just as they had arrived.

"Believe in Me," says the Lord.

I do think that this was another test of my faith in God. His message was unmistakable, even though it raised tough, "what if" questions.

I learned that we have to drop the "what if" factor.

Luke 7:50 – Then [Jesus] said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace." (NKJV)

As we travel along the daily path towards being true followers, we will find that God, through the Holy Spirit, will use times, places, and specific methods to connect with us, all of which are familiar to us, personally.

Like personalized email or a letter in our mailbox, He knows what we pay attention to. An important lesson that I learned many years ago is that there are no coincidences.

Be attentive, be still, and wait for Him. He is waiting for us to hear.

Prayer: Dear Father Lord, thank You for the messages that You send as guidance throughout our journey towards Your heavenly home. Help us to recognize the signposts and to follow their directions. We see the importance of being tested along this path of learning, so that we might graduate to another level, one that is closer to You. Amen.

Despite all the activity and busyness going on with his palliative care the many months before he passed, as the time went by, I was aware of a deep, ongoing sadness in my being.

I would find myself broken with self pity on many occasions, and when I was able to find a private space to let go, the bottom line was, How am I ever going to face this, after my dear one is gone? Based on what I believed that my lot would be when I was alone, I decided that it would be unbearable.

We shared a love of classical music, and our lifelong habit had been to play a record or CD at dinner every night. Daily choices were alternated: he one night, me the next. That, in itself, would be no longer. But the heart-rending part was the numerous passages, performed by our favourite singers, which would inevitably bring us both to tears. That was a strong emotional connection that I absolutely knew that I could never again share with anyone else. And so, I grieved heavily before he departed. It was legitimate emotional grief.

What I failed to recognize (and in that situation, God knows and allows for our human responses) was that things just might be different afterwards.

I am continuously amazed at how God works in His quest to show His children how He cares. He has shown me His love on many occasions, bringing me through several crises by showing me the way.

Now, on the other side of the death journey, I am in awe of His gift of comfort and peace, as I experience it.

The pre-conceived situations that I imagined have not happened, of course, because I have not initiated them as yet. But I know that when I do, it will not only be when God prompts me to do so, but also it will be a joyful occasion, planned by Him, that will surely bring tears of joy, and not just grief.

Psalm 119:49-50 – Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me. (KJV)

When we trust in the Lord's compassion and comfort, we will be amazed at His lovingkindness given, His peace bestowed, and His messages received. We will be humbled.

Prayer: Dear Father, thank You for showing us the absolute depth of Your promise to never leave us nor forsake us. Please continue to guide us, through the Holy Spirit, as we walk the difficult paths we must traverse. Amen.

Faith is a journey of trust in God. It starts with a walk along a path, and if we follow through, progresses to an ascent on a mountain. It is that important.

The goal is to understand exactly what God is asking of us. It is a worthy journey, but it often changes as we struggle through faith issues. These can range from trying to make routine decisions in our everyday lives, to finding ourselves in the midst of a storm, threatened by hurricane-force winds. If God doesn't appear to answer us, our faith meter often drops perceptibly. It seems that our measure of faith is only equal to His positive answers to our prayers.

God is asking us to believe Him, without question, without doubt, when He says, "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5 NKJV), and perhaps with a codicil that says, "but always remember, My will be done."

So, if life, lived prayerfully, proves to be painful and disruptive, God will remain steadfastly alongside, and will reward our faith in Him by one day showing us why it all came to pass.

Let us find our quiet place, listen carefully, and let a last prayer every night emphasize that we believe and trust in Him. Then, let us ask Him to increase our resolve.

When we summit the mountain, we will look back in amazement at His promises kept to His faithful child.

Prayer: Dear beloved Father, we know that You want only the best for us, Your children. Please open our eyes and ears during our quiet times with You, that we might understand the all-inclusive importance of faith. Amen.

There are still many children around the world, or even nearby, who do not experience the joy of melding their imagination with the characters in a book, and so immersing themselves in the action. That sad fact has always troubled me, as I was one of the many who were blessed with an unending supply of books as a child. But it all starts with someone telling the stories before we are able to read.

When we become adults, we continue to enjoy the relating of an event, fictional or historical. The follow-up of a good story produced as a movie event can be equally enjoyable, even if in some cases the original story is not necessarily well represented.

When it comes to biblical stories, I enjoy those reproduced in the form of a documentary. I like to hear more about the actual people, around whom history and God's plan were shaped. Even though the writers and directors are using some personal suppositions, I like to hear what might have been on the minds of those larger-than-life protagonists.

During the few weeks of Advent, the congregation at our church was given the gift of just such dramatic presentations. Our pastor portrayed such biblical individuals as Zechariah, Joseph, and the magi. He relayed the stories in the first person singular, and as a result, we were transported to a different time and place. There was rapt attention during the telling, and we, the listeners, were deeply moved.

Jesus was a master story-teller, and He used the parables to communicate eternal truths. A well-told story can do more than just capture the attention of the listener; it can reach depths that connect to the individual. And is that not what we Christians seek to do? A few words, whether dramatized or simply spoken in passing, can connect to people who are unsure or questioning, or are simply lacklustre in their understanding of Christian living. Let us all share our experiences in our walk with God, whenever the Spirit moves us, in whatever way.

I applaud all Sunday School teachers, pastors, and visitors to nursing homes as they accept the very important role of sharing the Word of God. What if they were to adopt, even just once, a biblical personality, and show the listeners what that person might have been thinking during their experience? Could you relate to the father of the prodigal son … or perhaps the brother?

Luke 15:17-19 – But when he came to himself he said, "How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.'" (RSV)

Tell them a story!

Prayer: Dear Father, Lord, we deeply desire to connect to others and to show how an intimate connection with You will change their lives. Whatever methods may be Your choice for us, help us to use them wisely and for Your glory. Amen.

I love old clocks. Their soothing, clockwork heartbeats are a comforting reminder of the passage of time, as opposed to the cold and impersonal digital timekeepers of today.

A decade ago, I decided to collect old clocks. There followed a few years of attending auctions and garage sales, and paying close attention to the "articles for sale" section of the newspapers. I acquired mantle clocks, regulator clocks, and even a grandfather clock that was missing a pendulum.

The different size of each clock, the quality of the movement, even the type of wood and its density make each sound individual and produce different gradients of tonal warmth. The downside of my collection, for some members of my family, was that I kept the clocks running. So every quarter hour, half hour, and hour, there was a cacophony of chimes, from soprano to bass, Ave Maria to Westminster.

The grandfather clock, however, remained silent. Continued shopping trips produced a lyre pendulum, but it was the wrong size, so I hung it on a wall beside a regulator, just because it looked lovely. It remains there to this day, and as I watch it, it brings to mind the grandfather clock, now relegated to downstairs — silent and alone. This causes me to think of how so many people in this world are struggling through life's storms and stresses without knowing Jesus, experiencing an emptiness that can cause sadness or a feeling of hopelessness. So many times, we read about individuals who ask themselves, What is this life all about? or Why am I here?

We are all equipped with moveable, physical parts that function well, for the most part, responding to signals from the brain. Even our emotions are responses to everyday happenings and are designed to help us deal with unforeseen glitches and overwhelming change. There's a fix, patch, or app available for almost all of the physical or medical help that we need. But even if all of our physical parts work properly and in unison, people need a spiritual pendulum to produce a balanced rhythm and to ensure that the spiritual guides the physical. When a pendulum is properly adjusted, the perfect balance can be achieved. Our spiritual health needs the perpetual motion offered by God. And we can access that, daily.

My pendulum is Jesus, and for God, I want to demonstrate that pendulum for others. With a smile or, if appropriate, a few words, I want to be an example of how He has changed my life. I'd like to be able to start something ticking in the minds of those who are searching for purpose in their lives, or who are simply having a bad day.

We are not perfect, but with God's guidance, we can start a movement towards Him in other people, perhaps filling a gap that will answer their longing for meaning in their lives. What a joy it is to awaken each morning knowing that He is still offering the impetus we need to make the best of another twenty-four hours. As we begin a new year and think about the passage of time, let's share that joy with someone today. Let us ask God to provide just the right words at just the right time.

Prayer: Let us pray using the lyrics to the tune of the Westminster Quarters:

Lord, through this hour,
Be Thou our guide;
So, by Thy power,
No foot shall slide.

Dear Father, Lord, continue through Your Spirit to direct us in how to show others the way to Your saving grace. We know that we are not learned, but help us to confront their personal denial by simply using a few meaningful words at the right time, so that Your will may be done. In the name of Your Son Jesus, we pray. Amen.

When we open our hearts to God, and position ourselves physically and mentally in a quiet place, God sends us messages of guidance through the Holy Spirit, our Comforter. Sometimes, the messages are clear to us; sometimes, we miss or misunderstand them. For that reason I have always included in daily prayers a request to open my eyes and ears to His daily guidance.

At other times, His communications are so subtle that they are judged by some to be a coincidence. I have even found strong, timely, personal messages directed to me in many devotionals, like a recent PresbyCan Daily Devotional, whose author described her long and trying struggle as caregiver to her ailing husband, who passed away after years of bravely dealing with a debilitating illness. Her message hit home with me, as I had just recently been made aware that my husband had terminal cancer. Her words were helpful and poignant, pointing out certain circumstances that applied directly to me. It was, most certainly, a message of comfort at just the right time.

But there are so many ways that God connects with His children. For example, God has always spoken to me through music in my quiet times.

About ten days before my husband and I received the bad news, I was watching a Gaither Gospel Hour program on television. I don't always catch the show, and indeed, it was almost finished when I tuned in as a group was singing "Jesus Saves". It lasted awhile, as certain different singers offered their rendering of each verse. I found myself singing along to the end, hearing words that I had long since forgotten in my youth.

I awakened the next morning with that song on my heart, loudly and clearly, and it continued throughout the day … and the next day. After three days, I began to wonder when it would end, and whether it was just an "ear worm", so persistent it was.

After the fourth day, I began to ask what God was telling me, for by then, I saw it as a message. And it was not a gentle refrain — it was loud. Just as "ALL CAPS" is declared shouting in literature, this song was uppermost in my mind from dawn to dusk and wanted attention. As time went on, I found myself wondering what God wanted me to know, and feeling that I just didn't "get it". But He was persistent, and the one thing that got through to me was that something was about to happen.

After we received the diagnosis, I certainly understood … in part. I wondered whether He was planning to grant us healing or whether my not-yet-believing husband would indeed be "saved".

Well, the song continues in my heart to this day, and from that, I have all the answers I need. I know that God is with us and that He is in control. I believe that He continues to send the message to emphasize His promise to us when He sent His Son: Jesus saves!

We can be deeply grateful for God's loving messages, be they subtle or strong, always being vigilant and sensitive to His Spirit, so as not to miss any.

Prayer: Dear Father Lord, thank You for Your loving care of us, Your children. Please continue to send us Your messages of hope and love. We want to hear and understand them, so open our hearts, allowing our human frailties to be overridden, to let us view and hear Your guidance clearly, as we know so well that Yours is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Your will be done, dear Father. Amen.