Kim Wilbanks

Prayer.  It’s the best thing we can do.  As an empty nest mom I’ve learned that it is often  the only thing I can do.  I can’t discipline my adult children like I could when they were under my roof, or tell them what they should or should not do.  I can offer suggestions but it is up to them to receive and act on them.  More and more, I am learning to pour out my heart to Jesus on behalf of my adult children rather than fretting over them.

Many of my friends are in the same season of life.  Our children are grown and gone, some married and some with children.  After time spent together, our parting words are often assurances to pray for one another’s children.  I was delighted to discover the author of Talking To Jesus, Jeannie Blackmer,  is an empty nest mom like me.  Perhaps that is why her writing spoke to me.

The title of the book intrigued me and drew me in.  I guess I was hungry for a fresh perspective on prayer.  The author points out from the beginning that prayer is nothing more than having a conversation with Jesus.  She then uses events in the book of Matthew in the Bible to create stories that illustrate real encounters with Jesus.

I love this method.  Many of the stories are familiar; the leper Jesus healed, the four friends who took their paralytic friend to Jesus, the disciples in the storm on the Sea of Galilee.  It takes only a few short verses in the Bible to relate each story but, in Talking To Jesus, the author uses the scripture as the platform and imagines the details.  She creatively brings the Bible stories to life.

Don’t you find yourself doing that anyway?  I often think about those obscure people who are only mentioned in passing when I read my Bible.  After all, they were living their lives just as we are today.  I like to imagine what their lives were like.

Jeannie Blackmer doesn’t leave it at simply telling us a story of an individual’s personal encounter with Jesus.  In each chapter, she follows up with a modern day parallel, Bible verses for reflection and a couple of questions and observations to think about.  You can find out more about the author and the book here.

I really enjoyed Talking To Jesus and I think you will too!  And, guess what?  You are in luck because I have an extra copy to give away!  If you would kindly leave a comment below, I will enter your name in a drawing for the book.  Please respond by Tuesday, December 12 at noon so I can get the copy in the mail.  Most important, if I don’t draw your name, please consider purchasing the book.  I highly recommend it.