The difference in "talking about" and "talking to"...

Karen and I start our mornings together. It is a blessing. We take time to have breakfast together, pray together and read (in German) several chapters in God's word. Understand that this is our hope, each day, to be able to do this, but sometimes the schedules get crossed and we have to miss a day doing this. Today we made this time together. It is a GREAT way for us to start our day. We actually have time to talk to one another when we start our day this way. On the days when we don't get/take the time to share together, we, more often than not, share with the people that we meet with in the day about the things that are going on in our life. So, you ask yourself, where in the world are you going with this line of thinking? It comes down to relationship. To have a relationship we have to do more than just talk about someone, we have to spend time with someone. We have to talk to that someone. Okay, now you are probably saying to yourself, DUH! That is a no brainer, of course we have to talk to someone, spend time with someone, invest ourselves in the other person if we want to have a relationship, develop a relationship or deepen the relationship that we have with that person. Like I said, a no brainer. Here is the catch. It is the same with our relationship with God. Oh, now it gets a little tougher huh? I am thankful that we have, as a Christian community, so many opportunities to spend time together reading and studying God's word. Getting to know who God is and how He is and especially what He expects/wants from us as His followers. But as we seek to come to "know" more about God, we have to remember that He is seeking a relationship with us, not just that we know a bunch of facts about Him, but that we KNOW Him. As we live out of lives as Christians we have to do more than talk about God, we have to talk to God. We have to spend time in His presence. So, ultimately my thought for you today is simple. How is your walk with God? Yes, I know, I am getting personal, but we serve a personal God. He took it so personal, that he sent His son to this earth. He sent him to live, breath, suffer, die, be resurrected and ascend back to heaven, with the promise to return for his followers... and he did it all for us, His creation! Are you talking about God or are you talking to God. Hopefully both! But before you can truly talk about God to others in a way that is going to make a lasting (eternal) difference in their lives, you MUST be talking to God first. It is often times so easy to get so busy doing GOOD things that we neglect the time with our Father. Seems a little backwards doesn't it. God is our lifeline. He is our support. He is our strength. He is our source of power. And yet, so often we run off each day to do our jobs, ministries, etc. without first spending the time with the one person (Being) who has more effect on what goes on in our day than anyone else. Seems a little... hmmm, for lack of a better word (even though it does sound harsh) stupid. Yes, that fits, it is just plain stupid not to take the time we need each day with our Father. Yes, I did say THAT WE NEED. God doesn't us, He WANTS US. And He wants us to grow closer to Him in our relationship with Him. I really miss those mornings that I do not get to spend with Karen. The mornings that I do get to spend with her are incredible relationship building times. How much more true is that of the relationship that I am seeking to have with my Father, that He is seeking to have with me? I really do not intend to beat you up. I do not want you to feel like I am kicking you because you are not spending enough time with God. What I want to do is challenge you to think... think about your relationship with your Father. Everything that we do flows out of that relationship... or at least it should. Put God first on your list. He will handle the rest of the day. It is His world, His creation and you are His child.