Several years ago, it was reported that a bureaucrat met Mother Teresa at an airport and accompanied her in a limousine to her speaking engagement. The bureaucrat was puzzled because Mother Teresa would interrupt their conversation to speak with someone, using words of praise and thanksgiving. The man knew that they were the only passengers in the vehicle, but he secretly kept looking around the cab. Then it dawned on him: Mother Teresa was talking to God, her Friend! She did it easily, quietly, and naturally, because of her long relationship with the Almighty.

I had a somewhat similar experience some time ago when I was visiting an elderly saint, a woman loved and respected by family and friends. She lived her faith and was always baking up some goodies for her grandchildren or preparing a bowl of hot chicken soup for a sick neighbour. As I spoke with her that day, I, too, became aware that she was regularly speaking to an unseen person, and I realized that that person was Jesus! To her, Jesus was a close friend, a Person she knew well, and so, naturally, she walked with Him and talked with Him.

How wonderful to have a friendly relationship like that!

Too many of us regard God as a harsh grandfather, ready to chastise us for any wrongdoing. Some of us keep a respectful distance from God, always a bit wary and slightly fearful.

But Jesus holds His arms wide open, welcoming us into His circle of friends. How pleasant to know that Jesus is interested in all our wants, pleasures, and desires. The invitation is there, waiting for you and for me.

Remember the words of the old hymn:

Take time to be holy: speak oft with thy Lord.
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.

John 15:15 – [Jesus said,] "I do not call you servants any longer. … Instead, I call you friends, because I have told you everything I heard from my Father." (GNB)

My friend, have you talked with God today?

Prayer: Loving God, we know You are ready to listen to us, any time, anywhere. Indeed, we can share our deepest thoughts with You. Help us to realize that You are our gracious and loving friend. And we feel better just knowing that You are there for us! We pray in Christ's holy name. Amen.

Recently, we had a Sunday storm with winds of ninety kilometres per hour. Rain fell steadily, making slick the ice-covered church steps and parking lot. Because of the wind, I found it difficult even to stand without being blown sideways — truly, an invitation to a painful fall.

I had driven to the church entrance to discharge my passengers, and as I backed away, my vehicle came to a sudden stop with tires spinning on the glassy surface. I wasn't going anywhere! My wife, Freda, and I were to conduct the worship service within a few minutes. And here I was, blocking cars from reaching the church door.

I climbed out of the car, and stepping very carefully, retrieved a shovel from the car's trunk. Then, I looked about for a bit of gravel to put under the front wheels. But no gravel was in sight. Suddenly, Freda appeared beside me, and we both skittered about unsteadily. No one had asked her to help, but risking a fall, there she was, willing to assist in any way.

Strangely, as we slipped and slithered about, a scene from the musical Fiddler On the Roof flashed through my mind. Do you remember that Tevye asks his wife, "Do you love me?" Golde, thinking his question is foolish, replies, "For twenty-five years, I've washed your clothes, cooked your meals, cleaned your house, given you children, milked your cow. If that's not love, what is?" But Tevye persists, "Then you love me?" and finally Golde admits, "I suppose I do."

How often we express love in action rather than words, sometimes with no thought for our own safety or wellbeing. We see a need, and we act. That's love, real love in action, love that is sometimes too deep for words. I have always liked the thought expressed by the apostle John, "Let us not love in word or speech but in deed and in truth." (1 John 3:18 RSV)

By the way, as we stood helplessly that morning beside our vehicle, an unexpected sander drove up, and shortly our situation was remedied. And do you know what? I forgot to look and see if our guardian angel was driving that truck!

Prayer: Loving and gracious God, as we continue our days, may we ever watch for opportunities to lend a hand, to offer a comforting word. Help us to remember that Your love never ends; Your mercy is new every morning. Lead in Your way, Your never-ending love. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Once a month during the cold season, a group of us get together in one of our churches for a potluck supper and an impromptu sing-along.

The supper goodies are delicious, and then two or three people tune up their guitars, others bring out maybe a banjo and a fiddle, and the singing begins. John's a good leader, and soon his booming baritone voice fills the Fellowship Room.

"Sing with me!" he says, and we join in, timidly at first, then with enthusiasm. "There's a church in the valley by the wildwood…" Then we're on to the next.

"Life is like a mountain railroad, with an engineer that's brave… Blessed Saviour, Thou wilt guide us, till we reach that blissful shore."

No, we're not the greatest singers, but we sing with enthusiasm and from the heart. There are calls for one of our pastors to give a solo, and he responds with a vigorous version of "Just let the sunshine in", and soon he has us singing those familiar words.

And so it goes. An hour or so later, the evening ends with a lively rendition of "O when the saints go marching in".

Music refreshes the soul. The Bible writers knew this, and we hear the words of the psalmist, "Shout for joy to God our defender… Start the music and beat the tambourines; play pleasant music on the harps and the lyres…" (Psalm 81:1-2 GNB)

It's time to go now, but the words cling to our tongues. Someone remarks on her way out, "I'm glad I came tonight." Another starts humming the last tune, and some of us join in as we make our way to our cars. "Oh how I want to be in that number, when the saints go marching in!"

That's singing! Thank God for giving us voices to sing praises to our Lord!

Prayer: Lord God, may we always praise Your holy name. Let us sing with vigour; let us come before You with thankful hearts. May we join the choirs of heaven as we sing — maybe not very well — but with unbridled enthusiasm. Amen.