Saturday, March 29, 2014

Dear God,

Sometimes we wait so long for an answer to our prayer.  When we don't receive the answer we long for, we grow impatient, anxious, and angry.  We begin to believe you have forsaken us, neglected us at the hour of our need. We grow weary and irritable.  What we don't take into account is the fact that your apparent silence gives us opportunity and time to hone our skills of trust, hope, courage, discernment, and faith.  These growing times can become some of the most important moments of our lives.

To some degree we are all recalcitrant children.  We want answers to our prayers now.  We want to know which turn in the road is better before we get there.  We don't like surprises.  Yet, waiting can reshape us.  It can transform us in ways we never knew possible.  An easy, quick answer leaves us with nothing but an answer but waiting can give us so much more.

Teach us patience,
O Lord;
show us
the way
to trust.
Grow our love
for you
so our trust
will always
hold us
in times
of trouble.
Make our
waiting times
fertile soil
for growth,
I pray.

Love, Andrea

Friday, March 28, 2014

Dear God,

"Last word", these two words came to me as I considered a recent conflict between two family members. When we insist on having the last word, we take the power to heal us out of your hands.  We refuse to listen to your encouraging challenge that can lead us toward healing and wholeness.

Just as I was reflecting upon the situation, I suddenly found myself guilty of the same thing.  I was going to have the last word where it affected me but just as quickly as your words came, I knew they were for me. They saved me from saying something I would have regretted and could have caused a chain reaction that would have contributed to the destruction of family relationships.  As I allowed you in, the conversation went a completely different way leading us to conclude to take the high road, to play for the long ball, to make a genuine Christian witness, and to be wise.  Later the person I spoke with thanked me for my kindness in handling the situation.

Now, I am not lifting myself up, O Lord.  On the contrary, I am making my confession to you.  I would have gone for the last word but every time I am in a conversation with you and I have the last word, I seal my fate. I go down the wrong path.  I get myself into trouble.  But, when you have the final word, new insights come, the heart is softened, ears are opened and so are eyes, and better, good ideas come.

What I realize is life is not about winning.  It is not about one person being better than another.  Winning the fight or the battle only gives us that and that alone can lead to worse things.  Being quiet and listening for your word can open doors to unimaginable things.  Giving you the last word will never let us down but will always lift us up for divine guidance.

Holy and Giving God,
thank you
for your
last word
which is always
the word
of faith.
Teach us
to trust you
so we
can learn
new ways
to handle
old problems.

Love, Andrea

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Dear God,

Why does peace elude us?  Why do we not choose to be redeemed?

Bitterness and hatred steal a full life from us, O Lord; yet, often we elect it rather than take the steps toward redemption.  Why do we do it?  Why do we decide to resist the work of your living spirit in our lives?

Today my loved one was deeply injured by a family member who has chosen to hang on to bitterness and hatred rather than surrender it for peace, hope, and joy.  In doing so my loved one suffers.

Why do we decide not to be healed?

Break down
the fibers
of bitterness
and hatred,
O Lord,
because sometimes
we simply
do not
have it
in us
to destroy it ourselves.
Show us
the way
to healing
and wholeness.
We need you,
dear God,
to lead us.
Thank you.

Love, Andrea

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Dear God,

Your word is blessed!  Your mercy is everlasting!

At the monastery this morning your word flew off the page and into my heart.  Your promises inspired me making me realize once again your power is supreme.  Your kindness is eternal.

As my colleague and I went into the small spiritual direction room after the liturgy we entered into silence, a time to listen, to wait, and to attune ourselves to your word made fresh for our lives.  When I read a writing from Taize, our devotion for the morning, I remembered your living spirit there when our covenant group visited in 2005. Then I was still as my spiritual friend spoke of your miracles in his life.

Faith makes everything come alive!  Your word becomes living flesh when seen through the eyes of faith, the music, the song of angels.  The Bible so full of your stories enlarges when we tell our own.  Love grows, your purpose is made known, and transformation claims us as we open ourselves wider and deeper to your work in our lives.  Joy erupts when peace comes and we just want to tell the story blessing you and others!

Come, Holy Spirit, come
whenever and however
you want.
Speak to us
again and again.
Make us
living testimonies
to faith,
I pray.

Love, Andrea

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Dear God,

How do we keep hope alive?  What is the process that moves us from despair to hope?  How do we cling to life when death stares us in the face?

When loved ones are dying, when we learn we have ill health, when we lose a job, when our family falls apart, when nations move into conflict, when neighborhoods become scary places to live, or when we lose something very precious, it is difficult to keep hope alive.  Yet, what is faith if it does not buoy us up?

If faith is not practiced, hope is a shattered dream.  However, when faith is used, when we lean into faith, when we trust in you, when we stand up and walk, faith can lead us to courage, strength, wisdom, power, and peace.  All these gifts come from you and point us right back to hope.

All-Powerful God,
teach us
to walk
with you.
There is
no one
who can
show us cause
for hope
more than you.
Inspire us
to walk daily
with you
so you
can reveal
to us
every cause
for hope,
I pray.

Love, Andrea

Monday, March 24, 2014

Dearest God,

The sorrow on the mother/grandmother's face was so deep and despairing when she learned the plane had crashed killing her son, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren.  Only your kind of comfort, love, and mercy can heal her.

Hours after witnessing that image on the television I still see her face.  Only in some teeny tiny way can I feel her pain; for you have built into human beings the capacity to care about each other.  You have made us to care for one another.

No one is exempt from pain and loss.  When we love, we are vulnerable to pain and suffering.  When we invest in others, we are enabled to feel their pain.  When they hurt, we hurt with them.

I take heart in the fact you pour out your compassion upon us.  You show us the way to healing and wholeness.  You give us friends, family, and sometimes even strangers who come to our rescue bringing us the salve of relief.  Although we carry the mark of suffering somewhere deep in our soul, we learn your light and love go even deeper aiding the healing process from the inside out.

Compassionate God,
shine the light
of your
tender love
upon this mother
and grandmother.
Fill her
with your mercy.
Hold her,
cradle her
in your arms,
Heavenly Father;
show her
your grace,
I pray.

Love, Andrea

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Dear God,

"We know...", the preacher kept saying, "we know."  I was struck by the two words because they are words that emerge from faith.  Faith tells us we know we can overcome, we know we are not alone, we know we are loved, we know you are at work in our lives, we know you are the author of all that is good, we know you are God and we are your children.

When I feel down and out, blue and forgotten, or helpless and frustrated, you whisper words of encouragement and it helps me rise from the deep to proclaim what I know about you.  When you bring to mind that I am a woman of faith, I realize I have a strength within me that has your name on it.  I can say "I know..." because I am related to you and you call me to step out of the muck and into the light.  I can shake it off because I am yours.

Living God,
thank you
for daily reminders
of faith
and its power
and strength.
Thank you
for filling us
with the stuff
of faith
like belief,
discipline, hope,
courage, knowledge,
love, and mercy.
Thank you
for gifts
that go
way beyond
the bounds
of generous.
You are God,
that I know!

Love, Andrea

Saturday, March 22, 2014

Dear God,

You use every means to teach us life lessons.  When we listen and really see, we can learn so much from you.

Today a friendly landscape architect walked us through our yard and garden.  He talked with us about pesky thistles that have refused to die.  He pointed to a problem with grubs.  He told us to do a hardy prune on several bushes.  He confirmed our dogwood tree is dead.  He shared the fact that some of our plants, evergreens, and pines really need to be uprooted or cut down.  I realized I had a lot of work to do.

After our expert left, I went out with my pruning shears and began to cut.  I took the butterfly bushes and Russian sage to the ground.  I pruned the burning bush at least a foot.  I cut back the service berry tree where limbs were rubbing against each other.

The process of learning the truth about our property and continuing the work of maintaining our garden and grass taught me more about the spiritual life.  A soul that is not properly pruned will grow unwieldy, wild, and ugly.  A soul that is not fertilized will not achieve its full potential.  A soul that is neglected can die.  A soul that has the attention and love of its creator will rise up and do great things.

Thank you
for lessons
that teach us.
Thank you
for love
that motivates us.
Thank you even
for the
pruning shears
that cut
but eventually
heal us
and make us new.

Love, Andrea

Friday, March 21, 2014

Dear God,

I am harboring a resentment.  There I said it.  Out of the blue the face will visit my memory and I feel anger. While there is good cause for my feelings, I know there is no benefit to holding on to resentment.

A heart filled with resentment has less room for love and mercy.  It hardens over time making the soul a less pliable vessel.  It can destroy.

So why carry resentment?  Because the pain is deep; it resurfaces from time to time when something triggers a memory.  The hurt that comes with it reminds me of the deed that not only pained me but also someone I love very much.  Their loss and my own was huge.  It was not a small thing.

As I think of you and your ways, I realize you know this kind of injustice and I know you understand.  At the same time you do not want any obstacle that keeps us from a good life.  Resentment will reside in the place I call joy if I do not release the resentment and move forward.

Be the power
in my life,
dear God;
rid me
of this darkness
in my soul,
I pray.

Love, Andrea

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Dear God,

The feelings of not being wanted must be among the worst feelings in the world.  The sense of estrangement, abandonment, and in some way solitary confinement can ruin us from the inside out, breaking our hearts.  Is that what you felt on the cross?

The best feeling in the world is knowing we are wanted by you.  Like a loving parent you come beside us whispering the truth of your love and mercy.  You caress us with compassion assuring us of your steadfast love.  You tell us we are the beloved.  You remind us you never leave us alone.  You return our hope, fill our hearts, and teach us to keep walking toward life.

Thank you,
Compassionate God,
for the gift
of your love.
Help us feel
the connection
between the human
and the divine.

Love, Andrea

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Dear God,

Why do small annoyances trouble us so?  Why do we allow ourselves to be irritated?  There are some things that get under our skin.  They disturb us causing us discomfort.  In order to rid ourselves of the problem, we behave in ways that do not bring honor to you or to ourselves.

When we eye ourselves under the spiritual microscope, we can readily see those characteristics that create problems for us.  When we insist on our own way, when we try to tell others what to do, or when we neglect or ignore someone else, we fail to be fully faithful.  When we fall prey to annoyances and we do not pray or ask for help, we continue to forfeit a promising life.  We miss out on joy, hope, peace, and life.

On the other hand, when we trust you to assist us in life's turns and twists, we are enabled to join the celebration of overcoming.  When we pause, breathe in faith, and turn our eyes toward you, we feel uplifted, humbled, and ready to surrender that which we allow to bring us low.

Teach us
the ways
of faith,
Holy God;
show us
the way home.
Let your
light shine
on our sin
so we
may address
the dark places
bringing them
into the light.
Cleanse us
from within,
I pray.

Love, Andrea

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Dear God,

Some wounds are so deep; only your spirit can heal them.  So many people suffer.

In prayer this morning suffering came to me.  I thought of the missing plane and all the people aboard.  I thought of family waiting for news.  I thought of the people residing in refuge camps and those who need food and shelter.  I thought of children, victims of war and strife.  I thought of families torn apart by as many reasons as there are people.  I thought of members of my family who are struggling right now.

I know we need to work through our suffering.  I know we need to do our part.  But we can only do so much when riddled with pain.  We need your healing power, O Lord; we need your strength.  We need faith so we can trust you to heal us.  We need courage, wisdom, and hope.

Almighty God,
full of compassion
for all
your people,
move us
to healing.
Refashion our suffering
into tools
for health
and wholeness.
Remove that
which divides us
and unite us
once again,
I pray.

Love, Andrea

Monday, March 17, 2014

Dear God,

The birds are singing.  The bulbs are pushing their tiny leaves through the ground.  The trees are showing off their buds.  All are in sync with you.

Do you use the seasons to teach us valuable lessons?  Do you want every season to help us learn more about the spiritual life?

Oh, if we, each one, would follow your lead!  When you ask something bad to die within us, how I wish we would let it go.  When you want something to root and grow, oh, to have the desire to be rooted in you, how I wish the soil of our soul would be made fertile! When you ask us to wait knowing the benefits, how I desire we would wait patiently growing our trust in you. Is it possible you give us spring for yet another chance to be made new?

Grow your life
in us,
O Lord;
teach us
to prepare ourselves
for a
springtime rebirth!
Make us ready,
I pray.

Love, Andrea

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Dear God,

In our lostness you help us find out way.  In our darkness you shine your light.  In our hopelessness you visit us as hope.  In our weakness you come to us as strength.  In our confusion you reveal clarity.  In our frustration you are the peace that passes all understanding.

You teach us to have faith.  In fact you are faith when suddenly our whole being fills with understanding or joy or peace or grace or love.  You reveal faith to us as a loving relationship.  You give us faith to help guide us through life.  You remind us we can have an ordinary life or an extraordinary one.  When we look through the lens of faith, you show us your many and vast gifts and blessings.  We exude with gratitude because we know we did not attain the gifts all on our own.

Regularly you urge us to inventory our life, to assess and evaluate events and happenings, and to look at the way life has unfolded.  You give us opportunity to see your hand at work.  You point to miracles, unusual turns and twists, revelations, and sudden understandings.  You assist us in clarifying truths.  You aid us in seeing your mercy and your challenge.  You inspire us to see blessings and gifts in new ways.

What can we say or do but say thanks and give praise?

Refashion us
to be
grateful recipients
of your
marvelous ways,
O Lord,
show us
how to give
glorious praise,
I pray.

Love, Andrea

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Dear God,

The plane is still missing after many days.  Authorities are trying to find it.  Relatives and friends pray pleading for answers.  Sorrow reigns.

Grief can eat away at our insides, O Lord.  When we cannot understand and our longing is deep, we feel such pain.  The families and friends do not understand and they are full of anxiety.  They need your mercy, Kind God; they need your help.  Rain your compassion on them.

When pain is felt in other places in the world, how can we not feel for them?  How can we forget them or neglect them?  They too are our family, part of the whole human family.

Be present
to these families
Mighty God,
for you know
the answers
to their
painful questions.
Help those
in charge,
I pray.
Remind us all
to pray,
I ask.

Love, Andrea

Friday, March 14, 2014

Dear God,

You give evidence of your miracle-working power.  You show us how faith can indeed move mountains. You reveal how you guide us toward healing and hope.

For several years I watched as one woman rose out of the ashes of a tormented life.  Abuse of all kinds held her back from a life of promise.  Carrying the responsibility of caring for her younger siblings, her health broke plaguing her with daily pain, suffering, and sorrow.  One day with great courage she began opening the doors to her past.  Confronted with unimaginable images, she took hold of faith allowing it to lead her out of the darkness and into the light.

Recently she trusted you to help her unfold a new life.  She started taking steps to move forward in faith. One by one she made decisions to leave her dead-end job, to move out of state, to find a living space that would help her truly live, and to forever leave behind all the burdensome weight of age-old messages that had held her captive.  She could do all this because now you are the power in her life.

Thank you,
dear God,
for power
from on high.
Thank you
for faith
that can
move mountains
and anything else
that stands
in our way
of a
good life.
Thank you
for divine love
that has
everything needed
to recreate anew.

Love, Andrea

Thursday, March 13, 2014

My dearest God,

Children cry from Syria, millions of them.  Another war has claimed the world's children.  What do we do to stop nonsensical conflict that puts so many people at risk?

With all my heart I believe you love every child on the planet whether a few weeks old or 100 years old.  I know each child is of inestimable value.  So how do we protect each one?  How do we provide for the needs of all, not just for the needs of some?

Give us wisdom, O Lord.  Teach us to care for our neighbor at home and far away.  Show us compassion so we may reach out, listen, and care.  Ideologies that destroy are never an answer!

Compassionate God,
please give us
a willingness
to listen
to our
neighbor's plea.
Forgive us
when we expect
our own way.
Guide us
toward justice
for all,
I pray.

Love, Andrea

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Dear God,

Tiny green shoots protrude from the ground where a foot of snow once stood for weeks.  They simply refused to be stopped and I am so glad.

When I consider all your handiwork, I marvel at the breath of spring.  I ask myself how a small flower bulb can continue to live and grow and die and live again every year but it does.  They all do.  In time purple, yellow, red, pink, and every known color will suddenly appear and for everyone who fell under the spell of a long winter, it will not only be a welcome relief but a rich blessing.

Thank you,
Wondrous God,
for springtime,
for growth,
and color
and warmth.
You think
of everything!

Love, Andrea

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Dear God,

Waiting...waiting for news of loved ones lost on a plane.  Waiting...waiting for a job.  Waiting..waiting.for results of a health test.  Waiting...waiting to find food for a very hungry family.  Waiting, Lord, waiting.
In life we have to wait and waiting is hard and stress producing.

You remind us there is a time and season for all things.  Waiting is a season.  But as we wait you wait with us.  You give us faith so we can breathe in hope.  You teach us patience.  You offer compassionate mercy. You show us the benefits of waiting so we can grow in grace and thanksgiving.

My friend is waiting for healing.  He has waited decades and now he is ready.  He wants to break free from the weight that has held him down.  He wants to fly, to soar to the heights in faith.  He waits...for how much longer, dear God?

Infuse us
with peace
while we wait,
Gracious God.
Hold us close.
Remind us
of the value
of waiting
while we wait.
Then set us free
to give praise
and thanksgiving
when our
answer comes,
I pray.

Love, Andrea

Monday, March 10, 2014

Dear God,

You move us to pray for strangers far away.  When something happens, particularly a catastrophe, you move our hearts to care in some small way.  When I heard the Malaysian jetliner with 248 aboard was missing, I felt pain in my heart for the lost people, for their family and friends, and for all those designed to provide safe passage for people traveling from one place to another. I prayed then and I have kept on praying.

I am grateful you inspire us to care for one another!  I am grateful you connect us as one human family on this planet.  I am grateful your love is so powerful that it can cause a heart to skip, to feel the pain of another. Thank you for motivating us to reach out in some way.  Thank you for entrusting each of us to use your gifts for compassionate care.

How many times
have others
cared for me
and mine?
Too many
to count.
Thank you
for moving me
to care
for those
half way
around the world.

Love, Andrea

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Dear God,

Your children wandered in the desert for 40 years searching for a home, a purpose, and a future.  To some degree we all wander in search of something.

Wandering for a new church home has been fraught with loneliness and a sense of lostness.  Yet, we have been aware of your guidance as we sat in the pews of three or four churches.  Today we returned to a church for the fourth time.  Although it takes time to make a church home, it seems this may be the one for us.

We want to do your will.  We want to follow your dream for us.  We want to be obedient and listen for your voice.  We want to be a vital participant in a community of faith where we too can offer our small gifts to your service.  We want to pray, worship, and serve you.

Thank you,
dear God,
for caring
about us.
Thank you
for your kindness
toward us.
Lead us home,
Lord, we pray.

Love, Andrea

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Dear God,

This morning you brought a simple, yet profound word to me.  Shed.  As I shared the word with my colleagues, my spiritual friends, we all heard the word for our lives.  We felt the challenge.  We reflected upon those things that are weighing us down.  We asked ourselves a question.  What do we need to shed in order to move forward in our lives?

During the discovery process we found painful experiences that put heavy weights on us.  We could see how we inadvertently worked to insulate ourselves by putting our souls at risk.  By adding more weights instead of dealing with them and lightening the load, we focused on dragging the weight around only to find more ways to add on rather than take off.

This morning's gift was brilliant!

Gracious God,
you teach us
valuable lessons
when we pause
long enough
to tarry
with you.
You reveal
to us
the ways
we harm ourselves
by shoving faith aside
in order
to continue
unhealthy habits.
When we recognize
your spirit
at work,
we fall
to our knees
in praise
and thanksgiving.

Love, Andrea

Friday, March 7, 2014

Dear God,

When hearts are open to you and minds are willing to be challenged, you come to us.  A breath of your spirit sweeps over us and suddenly we feel your living presence.

Just as you came into the lives of biblical characters, you present yourself to people of this modern age. You interact with us disclosing the truth in our lives.  You are gentle although sometimes the knife is sharp to pierce the membrane around our soul.

The more deeply we have stuffed painful memories or hidden from ourselves events, feelings, and hardships that rerouted our lives from the peace that passes all understanding, the greater your visit to promote healing. Like a pregnant woman who begins her labor, we know pain will bring new birth.

Over the course of 26 years you have revealed yourself to our covenant group of four.  Individually and together you have made yourself known.  We have each felt the knife that led to a birthing of truth.  We have labored with you to bring new birth.  We have known your mercy, kindness, and grace.

Last night we witnessed the harnessing of your spirit as our covenant retreat began.

We give thanks,
Great God,
for your
loving power.
We thank you
for moments
of truth
that lead us closer
to your will.
We praise
your name
for promptings,
nudges and openings.
There is
no power
like yours.

Love, Andrea

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Dear God,

Your power can transform us, reshaping our lives forever.  As a covenant group we watched The Way, a movie about a father's personal pilgrimage on the El Camino de Santiago.  As we reflected upon the film, we remembered our own pilgrimages where faith led us to transformation.

So often we live in rutted lives where we go round and round on a hamster wheel.  We resist change because we are afraid.  We don't like to be out of control.  Yet, when we open ourselves to the wonders of faith, something happens to us.  When you breathe the air of transformation into us, we see hope and possibility.  You give us a willingness to grab hold of the future.  As we take steps forward we find you waiting.

Direct us down
the path
of transformation,
O Lord;
show us
the way home.
Teach us lessons
along the way.
Open our hearts
to friends
we meet.
Change us
from the
inside out,
I pray.

Love, Andrea

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Dear God,

How good, how sweet, how meaningful it was to worship today on this Ash Wednesday, one of the most profound for those who intentionally pilgrim during Lent.  Sitting in the second row we immersed ourselves in the many acts of worship.  We heard once again what it means to be Christian during the Lenten season.

Every year it is challenging to make a solitary journey to the cross through faith.  As I remember with fondness our journey to Israel, the walk through the old city of Jerusalem, and finally to the Church of the Sepulchre, you brought to mind my need to draw close, to release my bondage to anything that separates me from you, and to walk anew through faith.  I recall the pondering, the movement, and the joy of walking in your steps.

As I step more deeply into Lent, I pray for my own soul that I will step every day nearer to the cross, to you, and to every brother and sister on the planet.

Draw me nearer,
nearer, nearer
Precious Lord.
Rid me
of obstacles
I deliberately put
in place
to keep you
away from you.
Refresh my mind
and spirit
with your
Holy Spirit,
I pray.

Love, Andrea

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Dear God,

Faith is like a safety net.  It stretches from side to side, ready to hold us when we fall.  Faith is like a deep well, a container that can hold living water.  Faith is like the moon.  It may wax and wane but it is always there, a light in the darkness.

Faith is a gift from on high, O Lord; it comes from you. I believe you put faith into our DNA.  It is as necessary as human lungs that heave and ho so we can breathe life-giving oxygen.  Faith helps us make sense of life and troubles.  Faith can cause us to soar, see the sites, and explore possibilities.

Right now I pray for faith for G, D, M, J, G, S, C, B and D, all people going through rough times.  I pray for your faith that can work miracles, bringing hope.

Gracious God,
giver of hope
and faith,
please pour out
your love
upon all these
who desperately
need faith
right now.
Make them
open and willing recipients
of your
greatest gift,
I pray.

Love, Andrea

Monday, March 3, 2014

Dear God,

Why does peace look so different to each of us?  Why do we perceive peace as something that comes to us only when someone else changes?  Why is our peace so often dependent on others?  When do we take control of our own peace?

I know we each must change.  I know societies need to change.  I know groups need to change.  I know families need to change.  Everything changes.  It must for the sake of growth and well being.  However, when we blame others for our lack of peace, we stay in constant frenzy.  We judge others as the reason for our restlessness.

Even faith must change.  It needs to be fresh every day.  Yesterday's faith may lead to today's complacency if we are not alert to what is happening around us.  Sometimes tragedy reshapes our faith, making it stronger. Sometimes loss can cause us to rethink what we believe.  Sometimes we may even learn how small our faith has been.  Sometimes we discover our faith is really not even our own.  It may have been our grandmother's faith or a friend's faith.  Leaning on other's faith does not inspire us to grow our own.

On his last earthly visit your son said in today's words, "Peace I leave you, not the world's peace but peace of a different kind."  Oh Lord, if only we would trust you wholly to lead us in peace even when we live in the midst of chaos.

Great Peace-Loving God,
teach us
to trust you.
As we
move toward change,
give us
a peaceful center.
Shine your light
on truth
that reveals
real peace
is an
inner work
not an
outer one.
Show us
the way
to peace
for all people,
I pray.

Love, Andrea

 

Sunday, March 2, 2014

My dearest God,

Your word comes just when we need it.  When we allow you to pry open our hearts, minds, and souls, you speak your powerful word and that word can prop us up, change us, and lead to a brighter future.

It hurts to watch someone hurt especially when we feel there is nothing we can do to help them.  Yes, we can pray and support them.  But when hurts get some age on them, they can become dark and threatening. They can suck life out of us.

Today when the roads were icy and snowy, we decided to stay in.  We turned on the television and watched two worship services.  Both pastors preached excellent messages.  One was about giving up our "damaged goods" image so you can make something better out of us.  The other was on encouragement.  When my husband came downstairs, he told me how both messages had brought comfort and hope to him.

Thank you,
O God,
for your
loving word.
Thank you
for faith
that can
change us
on a dime.
Thank you
for hearing
our pleas
and coming
to our aid.
Thank you
for mercy
that can
heal our wounds.

Love, Andrea

Saturday, March 1, 2014

Dear God,

While others give up on us, you remind us we are yours.  You whisper to us the possibilities for our lives. You show us how to unearth undiscovered skills, talents, and inner resources.

My sister was told she would never be good at art.  She failed art class in high school.  The teacher made her feel like she was a failure and would always be a failure.  When the teacher dropped her, you stepped in to make something of her.

This weekend at my home, fifty years later, she completed a beautiful baby quilt.  She almost finished making her Hawaiian wedding dress she will wear when she renews her vows this October.  Her creativity and her handiwork are beautiful.

You continually amaze, O Lord, when you do your mighty work in us.  Your love can take a little bit of nothing and make it into a work of art.  That's what you did with my sister.  I am deeply grateful.

Thank you
for your
miracle-working power.
Thank you
for remaking us.
Thank you
for transformation
and a cause
to celebrate.
You are awesome!

Love, Andrea

Friday, February 28, 2014

Dear God,

When we witness hurts so deep, our own hearts feel the cut.  When we hear the cries of the wounded, we want to embrace, to comfort and soothe.  When we see despair, we want to pour upon it the oil of gladness, the promise of hope, and compassion that heals.

Tonight I observed this kind of pain and suffering.  I felt the sorrow and wanted to partner with you to bring healing.  I wanted to help make new, to cut away all the unhealthy thoughts and debris.

I watched you work through two parents reaching out, listening, giving aid, not holding back.  I observed faith trusting in gifts given to assist one in despair.  I witnessed love doing its miracle work.

You are
the light
of the world,
the living water
we drink,
and the joy
of heaven
and earth.
Thank you
for providing
for us.
Show us
how and when
we can
reach out
to hurting others,
I pray.

Love, Andrea

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Dear God,

How wonderful you built love into us!  You give us the ability to love and be loved.  Because you first loved us, we can know that love and let it grow inside us.

There are so many ways you show us love.  You give us magnificent sunrises and sunsets.  You give us children's laughter and big hugs.  You give us grace, an ability to start again.  You give us mercy when our hearts are broken.  You give us beauty and eyes to feast upon it.  You give us each other.

I came to realize that more today when my sister arrived to stay a few days.  We remembered and laughed. We sewed together.  We created together.  We helped each other.  We talked and celebrated.  We shared our concerns and worries.

When love comes to me from any source, I know you have visited me once again.

Holy God,
full of surprises
and blessings,
thank you
for your gifts,
for your kindness,
and for
your love.

Love right back, Andrea