​For those who don’t know me well, I generally consider myself more technically savy than many folks.  The following situation nearly forced me to hang up my techie title and retreat into the ‘I declare myself clueless’ masses. 
 
 I have an iPhone 7 (I know a real nerd would have an adroid haha).  The phone posts a notification to the lock screen or at the top of the open app screen consisting of the sender’s id from my contact list and the body of the text when a text is received.  When I tap on the notification, the phone opens the message app and displays the new text at the bottom of the conversation I am having with the sender. The sender is clearly displayed at the top of the message app screen.  Sounds simple enough – I know the sender before I open the text itself, and, should my short-term memory fail, the sender is display with the conversation for me.  
 
A couple days ago I was in a fairly long conversation with my across-the-street neighbor.  Her name from my contacts displayed with each new text received notice and the conversation in the app.  After several texts back and forth, I became distracted with some tasks I needed to complete.  She texted me, I saw both her name and the message, but, since I was busy, I postponed texting her back.  About five minutes later I opened the message app on my phone.  Low and behold her name was not in my list of conversations.  There was, however, a conversation with ‘Directory Assistance’.  I’m fairly certain I have never held a text conversation with ‘Directory Assistance’.  Furthermore, I could tell by the text preview with Directory Assistance it was the conversation I was having with my neighbor.  Confused, I tapped the Info ‘i’ under the name.  It displayed name ‘Directory Assistance’ home number 411.  A totally woo-woo moment.  I poked around a bit and could see the text received notification had the correct name while the Messages app had the incorrect name.  Impossible, yet verified! 
 
I tell you all this first because it is a funny story and second because it illustrates how important it is to know with whom you are having a conversation.  I want to hear the voice of God in my life.  It means I need to recognize His voice among the many others around me.  Sometimes, God speaks and I don’t hear Him because the enemy crowds out God’s voice with his own so I will not pay attention.  It is important for me to know the voice of God so well I can recognize His voice among all the voices clamoring for my attention.
 
I did correct my iPhone employing the proven antidote to all unexplainable electronics troubles - power off, wait 10 seconds, power on.  When I realize my communication with God is off kilter, it is time for me to put aside distractions and reboot my relationship with Him through scripture reading and prayer.   
 
Are you distracted? Confused? Reboot. Become familiar with the voice of God through consistent study and prayer.  Then, when there are many conflicting voices, God’s voice will stand out loud and clear.     

​Or so our daughters chided me repeatedly when they were teenagers.  This is not a quirky story illustrating some facet of life.  Rather, an illustration of the unpredictable nature of our lives.
 
Around 7 AM yesterday we noticed a short news blurb stating 2 people had died overnight as a result of tornados in Nashville, TN area.  We have a son in Nashville, so Alan (DH) texted him to see how he fared.  Thankfully, neither he nor his house were directly impacted by the storm.  However, his estranged wife, had ‘nearly died’.  I’m not sure of the exact meaning of ‘nearly died’ and can only imagine how terrified she was.  In any case, our son went out to help her and others and returned home at 7 AM exhausted.   As the day went on, the death toll rose, current count is 25, and details of the destruction were publicized.  We chatted with our son later and he was devastated.  He had learned the path of the tornado started with in 1000 yards of his house and destroyed the establishment where he had been tending bar, killing two of his co-works. 
 
I know when our son arrived home from a hockey game shortly before the tornado hit, he had no idea he would lose two of his friends within a few short minutes.  I am sure the 25 people killed by the storm had no inkling their life would end yesterday.  The people who worked for U-haul, the corner gas station, the nail salon, YMCA Community Action and others did not conceive their lives blown topsy-turvy by a tornado.
 
I say all this to remind myself, and you, life is in fact short and unpredictable. Jesus told a parable about the end of a man who planned and hoarded for the future in Luke 12 starting in verse 13.  I will let you look it up for yourself.  We can plan and scheme but none of us can predict the next moments of our life.   James 4:13 - 15 tells us  ‘Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”’ 
 
So, make the most of the time at hand, love your family, be kind to your neighbors, share your stuff and your time with those around you and trust the Lord our God will be with you each and every moment of your life no matter how many or how few they are. 
 
 
Psalm 90 (ESV)
Lord, you have been our dwelling place
    in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
    or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
    from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3 You return man to dust
    and say, “Return, O children of man!”
4 For a thousand years in your sight
    are but as yesterday when it is past,
    or as a watch in the night.
5 You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,
    like grass that is renewed in the morning:
6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
    in the evening it fades and withers.
7 For we are brought to an end by your anger;
    by your wrath we are dismayed.
8 You have set our iniquities before you,
    our secret sins in the light of your presence.
9 For all our days pass away under your wrath;
    we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
10 The years of our life are seventy,
    or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span[c] is but toil and trouble;
    they are soon gone, and we fly away.
11 Who considers the power of your anger,
    and your wrath according to the fear of you?
12 So teach us to number our days
    that we may get a heart of wisdom.
13 Return, O Lord! How long?
    Have pity on your servants!
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
    that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
    and for as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let your work be shown to your servants,
    and your glorious power to their children.
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
    and establish the work of our hands upon us;
    yes, establish the work of our hands!