After much encouragement from my Mama, my Daddy finally got himself a cell phone.  Daddy needs a cell phone, he wears many hats and someone always needs him for something.  However, Daddy did not want a cell phone.  Finally he caved in to the pressure and got one.

At first the family was excited; Daddy had a cell phone and we could call him anytime we needed him.  If someone called Mama and they were in dire straits because of a busted water pipe, Mama could easily get in touch with Daddy on his cell phone – life had just gotten better.

This euphoria was short lived.  You see, even though Daddy got a cell phone, he still did not really want a cell phone.  The grandchildren have tried to teach him about putting his “contacts” in his phone, he doesn’t like caller ID (because he didn’t ask for it), and forget text messaging.

I must admit that my Daddy’s children and grandchildren enjoy giving him a hard time about his cell phone.  My husband loves to sit across the room from my Daddy and text him just to watch him trying to figure out how to read it.  Don’t worry, Daddy enjoys it and we all get a good laugh.

Since Daddy has a cell phone he has a habit of “Fredding” people listed in his contacts.  This phenomenon of “Fredding” is known as pocket dialing to some people.  You never know when you might get a phone call from Daddy.  The call usually goes like this:

Ring, ring – “Hello,” I answer.  “Did you call me?” Daddy asks.  “No sir, you called me,” I say.  “I didn’t call you” he replies.

I respond “My caller ID says that you did.”  “I don’t know about caller ID, but I didn’t call you.”  What I really want to say sometimes is, “Yes, Daddy, I called you.   Its 5:30 in the morning and my eyelids were doing okay perfectly closed with that little bit of drool positioned just right on my chin.  So I decided to wake up from a peaceful slumber and give you a call.”

I’m only kidding; I would never say that to my daddy.  I love my Daddy and I don’t care what time he calls because I love to hear his voice. This is the voice that I have heard my entire lifetime offering discipline when it was needed, love when it was needed, and laughter that filled the house.  This is the voice that calls me Diny.   Sometimes, I wonder if he doesn’t get that little grin on his face and pretend to pocket dial us.  Maybe, he likes to hear our voices too.

While I love to hear the sound of my Daddy’s voice, I love even more to hear the sound of God’s voice.  People often ask if I hear God speak to me.  I answer with a resounding “Yes!”  I often hear God speaking to me.  It may be through the voice of someone else that He sends my way, the words of a song, scripture, or the peace that passes over me when the world around me is in chaos.  I long for times of quiet with God ; when I sit in His presence and commune with Him.

Recently I had a lot of concern and care in my heart for several people.    Earlier in the day I had been reading Psalm 104; later that day I was in the ER with my family; my sister has been very sick and we were there with her.   As I left I saw the concern on the faces of my parents and I poured my heart out to God all the way home.  When I got home and everyone had gone to bed (you know that precious time when all is quiet) I got out of bed and walked to the living room.  I noticed how bright the night sky was, I pulled the curtain back and sat by the window looking at the stars and remembering the words of Psalm 104.  “O LORD my God, how great you are! You are robed with honor and majesty.  You are dressed in a robe of light.  You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens; you lay out the rafters of your home in the rain clouds.”

I needed to hear those words from God.  “O LORD my God, how great you are!”  In that instant, I was reminded by God that His love and majesty are all that I need.  The God who “placed the world on its foundation so it would never move; who  made the moon to mark the seasons” loves me so much that He chooses to speak to Me so I may know that He is my God.  How awesome is that?

We live in an uncertain world – I think we can all agree on that.  However, when I long to hear my Father’s voice, He speaks.  I know without any doubt that God continues to hold the world in his hands.  Just as my biological Daddy protected me and provided shelter for me as a child, my Heavenly Father protects me and loves me beyond anything I can ever imagine.  Oh, how I long to hear His voice.

Have you heard the voice of God lately?  Maybe all you need to do is begin reading scripture.  I can promise you this, God wants to reveal Himself to us and when we stop and listen, He speaks.

May God’s peace that passes all understanding be experienced in your heart and soul today!

Diane Everette is the pastor of Bethel United Methodist Church.