Hi. I’m Randy Berg. I have been the pastor of Calvary Church on the corner of 15th and Pine in Hastings for the past 26 years. In this column you will hear from a few of us pastors in our community as we share the message of hope which God offers everyone freely. This past week I was talking to our church family about what we do when something comes up in our life that sabotages our peace. We are caught off guard when something major breaks in our house or car and we don’t have the money to fix or replace it. Or how about when the test result from your doctor turns out to be cancer or something equally scary? When this does happen, and it will to all of us, God wants us to come to Him, which is just what prayer is. Prayer is simply talking to God. Too often we panic when the better choice is to pray. I pray because God is real. God hears me every time I pray and God answers every time I pray. He is never too busy. My prayer can never be too big or too small, too simple or too complicated. I have learned over the years that being a Christian is all about the relationship I have with God. He wants me to call him father and know him as a father who wants the very best for me, his son. He loves it when his children talk to him about anything and everything. As a father of 3 children I love it when my kids call. I love to spend time with them and just be with them. Can we get it through our thick skulls that God loves to be with us in the same way? Jesus said it this way, “How many of you fathers, though you are far from perfect, if you know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly father, who is perfect give good gifts to you?” God wants to answer our prayers. He wants to bless the lives of his children. He wants us to be happy and enjoy this wonderful world He created for us. So think about what you may be in a panic about right now. Rather than panic would you dare pray about it? Would you take the risk and tell God all about it? Send me a text ([email protected]) and I would be glad to pray for you so that you can see that God really does care. He really does answer. He really does come through when we have faith. The Bible says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever comes to Him must believe that He exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” When we talk to God from our heart, not playing games, but honestly seek Him, He will answer us.

Pastor Randy Berg Calvary Church, Hastings Calvaryhastings.org