Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Dearest God,

It's enough that you love us.  It's enough that you offer forgiveness.  It's enough that you give us grace.  It's enough you give us an extraordinary cosmos.  It's enough you give us air to breathe.  It's enough you give us hope.  It's enough you bless us all year long.  It's enough, O Lord; it's enough. Yet, you never stop.  You never give up on us.  You never abandon us.  You never forget us.  Never.

At the Christmas Eve service I watched with great anticipation for the Christmas miracle I find every year, sometimes so very visible, sometimes subtle, but always there.  Three times I heard the words, "Come to Bethlehem, come to Bethlehem."  The birthing place, you invited me to the birthing place where hope comes to life, where courage is found, where transformation is possible, where love is given, where mercy abounds, where perpetual light shines, where beauty sparkles, and where hearts, minds, and spirits are opened.  The birthing place of our Lord, we can come anytime and hear the sounds of heaven and let them open us to faith ever wider, ever deeper. What blessing I found in the wondrous worship service filled with probably 1,500 hungry people.  To be there, to listen to the eternal story, to hear its song, and to be drawn into its life is gift enough but you invited me, all of us to the birthing place.

Today my heart is full of you.  And with everything I have I want to honor you, my savior, lord, comforter, friend, and teacher.

I love you, Lord.
I thank you
again and again
for every gift,
for every blessing,
for every challenge,
for every correction.
Thank you
for the invitation
to the
birthing place,
living love
where you
await me,
all of us.
How good
you are,
so worthy
of every ounce
of my praise.
Be blessed,
my God;
be blessed
on this
Christmas day.

Love always, Andrea