Saturday, October 29, 2016

Dear God,

A tree is bare all winter long.  Sometimes it makes long, dark shadows across the bright white snow.  It may seem lost, forgotten.  But spring comes and fills the branches with green and sometimes in the fall with berries or nuts.  However, in October that same tree will display spectacular color.  For those of us mesmerized by the beauty of Autumn we will gaze upon it day after day.

It makes me think about the spiritual life.  We too may seem dull, without color.  But like the tree, in the winter season of our spiritual journey, we may spend our time feeding on your word, listening to that word, and trusting in your word to teach us as we pray, meditate, and open ourselves more deeply to your wondrous spirit.  Suddenly, we begin to show growth.  We smile confidently, showing our faith more expressively.  Before we know it we display your glory because when we are full up with your word, your love, and your grace, we can't help but reveal what is inside.

Gracious God,
giver of all that is good,
thank you
for blessing us
with a
winter season
in our
spiritual life.
Thank you
for your word
that comes
to us
through the bible,
music, friendship,
nature, and
so much more.
Thank you
for the
blessed display
that proclaims
your glory
to the world.

Love, Andrea

Friday, October 28, 2016

My dearest God,

I read the words of Mother Teresa and find myself opened to the core.  Her words cut me open as she points to the poor.  She so identifies her spiritual life with the poor, the unwanted, the rejected, and the unloved.  And I have to ask the question, "Do I know them, do I love them, do I reach out to them?

Her ways of loving are simple.  They give dignity, hope, mercy, kindness, and love.  Is this the way I love?  Do I love the unlovable, the lost, the lonely even those closest to me?  Do I love my neighbor as myself?  Clearly, I fail to love as she loves, as you love.

So often you bring us to our knees.  You hand us a mirror to take a close-up look at ourselves.  You invite us to see ourselves as you see us.  When I take the mirror, you reveal my shortcomings, my mistakes, my sins not because you want to reign judgement on me but because you know in seeing myself, my whole self, I have an opportunity to see truth and the opportunity to change.  The truth is I don't like it when I accumulate unloveliness, when I store up anger, resentment or bitterness.  I don't like who I become and neither do you so you give me a way out by revealing the truth. 

Holy God,
only you
can open doors
to the heart.
Only you
can reveal
the truth,
not the falsehoods
we want
to believe,
but the
real truth.
Show us
the poor
in ourselves
so we may
reach out
and touch
the poor
in others.

Love, Andrea

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Dear God,

The days of October have nearly come to an end.  November waits on the horizon.  And my question is:  How did the time go by so fast?  This is the year I turned 70 years old.  I look in the mirror and recognize myself but I wonder how I got there so quickly.

You frequently remind me of Ecclesiastes 3.  "For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven; a time to be born and a time to die."  I know I am closer to death than I am to birth.  It is a sobering thought.  Yet, when I consider all the days of my life, the memories and the persons who have stepped into my life for a long time or little, I realize my greatest memories are those of you, your faithfulness and compassion, your continuing presence, and your unconditional love.  You and you alone know the time I wasted when I chose to walk solo, when I chose my own path, when I refused to follow you.  How I regret those decision.  However, during those moments you taught me valuable life lessons.  You let me go as far as I wanted but you never lost sight of me even though I could barely see you. 

I believe there is time ahead, how much I don't know.  What I do know is every day is a time and season to dwell with you.

Holy Father,
bless you
for giving us time.
Thank you
for holy moments
in which
you teach us.
Thank you
for faith
that tells
the story.

Love, Andrea

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Dear God,

As we wait in silence, you speak to us.  This silence is not just the absence of sound; it is a heart and soul, a mind and body quiet and open, attuned to your presence.  This holy space is one in which human and divine meet. 

Our covenant group meets because of you, O Lord.  For nearly 30 years every Wednesday we have gathered to be with you and one another.  We never know what will happen, what insight will come, or what challenge may be offered.  We just know you are with us leading us in the present toward the future. 

This morning we read Psalm 40, prayed, and waited for your word to break forth.  One group member shared and we collectively and individually waited in the sacred quiet.  We were not disappointed.  As we closed our time in prayer, we walked into our day with renewed energy and openness to your Word in the world.  We were grateful and filled to the brim.

Holy Spirit God,
thank you
for your power
to communicate
with your children.
Thank you
for speaking
in and through us
this morning.
Thank you
for insights
that inspire
and call us
to action.

Love, Andrea

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Dear God,

How we welcome the light when it comes.  When in darkness, we stumble and fall.  We are afraid.  We cannot see our way.  But when the light of day comes, you come with it.

I love to write when it is still dark out.  The glass windows surround me in my little room.  In the early morning all I can see is darkness except for the sparkle of twinkling stars in the sky.  Sometimes while I write, the darkness eases back because the light has penetrated it.  It seems a miracle every morning.

The images of light and darkness are powerful because they always have a profound message of faith.  When we sit in darkness, we long for the light.  But when the light comes, we begin to see all the light reveals and what delight fills our soul.  We see things that are there all along.  We find you once again.

Holy God,
thank you
for holding both,
the darkness
and the light.
Thank you
for speaking
to us
of faith
and hope.
Thank you
for the miracle.

Love, Andrea

Monday, October 24, 2016

Dear God,

When we pray we walk the hallowed, holy halls of heaven.  In the quiet space we draw near to you and to those we pray for.

Sometimes it feels there is a great distance between heaven and earth.  Yet, when we stop ourselves, pause, and pray, we enter the holy of holies because you are always with us when we pray. As we make our offerings, pleading our case for family, friends, and even strangers half way around the world, you make yourself known to us.  You walk with us.  You listen and hear us but you remind us when our words have all been said, it is time to listen and hear you.  No prayer is finished when we say "amen," it is just a pause while we tune our souls to you.  Only then do we see, hear, and know what you have to say to us.

If we pray all day long, words and silence together, we walk with you all day long.  Breaths of gratitude, lifting up names of those we love and worry about, and sharing the truth of where we are in our own lives keeps us close.  Especially do you hear when we pray for the stranger, for the nation in trouble, for those whose pain is deep, for those who are lost, hungry, and afraid.  When we pray for those we do not know, you draw us close to them in refugee camps, hospitals, war zones, areas of disaster, and even national governments.  You inspire us to pray because you want us to remember them, to care, and to do our part.  As we pray fervently for them, we find ourselves deep in faith.  There we discover ourselves in holy places with you.

We thank you,
Gracious God,
for the gift
of prayer.
Thank you
for quiet moments
with you.
All day long
guide us
toward prayer
so we
may walk
with you,
so we
may walk
with our neighbor
far and near,
and so we
may walk
toward the holy.

Love, Andrea

Sunday, October 23, 2016

Dearest God,

When you bring us back to the center, the center of faith, the veil is lifted and our blind eyes see once again.  We see more clearly.  It is as if we are seeing for the first time.

Only when we have been to the far country and hungered for faith do we know the great value of returning to the center, home.  What great joy meets and greets us there.  Suddenly we feel lighter, cleaner, more whole.  We feel your sweet mercy and your mercy leads us to peace.

How many times have we felt all tied up in knots, tightly wound, no room to move?  It seems we have little air to breathe and our hearts pound as if afraid there will not be room for one more beat.  Our heads feel stuffed with thoughts that do not calm but rather stir chaos.   Every day is rough living.

But then, when we hear the Father's call crying out our name, calling us home, there is no better, no sweeter sound.  The journey home is one filled with delight, joy, and grace.  Warmth fills our insides.  Happy tears may flow.  Your Holy Spirit breath blows upon us like a gentle breeze on a hot day.  We fall into your arms and taste home.

Kind and Compassionate God,
thank you
for calling
our name.
Thank you
for kindnesses
of invaluable worth.
Thank you
for your welcome.

Love always, Andrea

Saturday, October 22, 2016

Dear God,

"Do I carry Jesus within me?"  When I read the line from the new book, A Call to Mercy about Mother Teresa, I stopped dead in my tracks.  Do I carry Jesus within me?  My answer was quick.  No, not right now.  My tongue is swift to judge, to criticize, and to complain.  Warm tears filled my eyes as I realized my own sinful condition.  I picked up the other book lying on my lap, Psalms for Praying - An Invitation to Wholeness and randomly opened it to Psalm 39.  More of the same, yet a prayer for help.

It is so easy to lift up the sins of others, complaining about something or other while hardening our own heart.  We may not even be aware of the depth of our situation until an angel points out the truth.  It's your way of causing us to pause, to assess, and to consider a different direction.

I was glad for my own tears.  I felt a release, an understanding.  For the most part I know what is going on in my own life but when I get too far away from the center, mercifully you call to me.  You give me opportunity to think, to cry, to let go, to take your hand, and to reflect upon a change.  It is then and only then I comprehend that I allowed the messiness all around me to make its way into my soul and I squeezed you into a corner where I could barely see you, know you were with me.

The woman who carried Jesus to the sick and dying, abandoned children, the lost and lonely and anyone else in her path who needed help was the angel who spoke to me this morning.  Mother Teresa helped me clear some debris from my soul so I could make space, holy space just for you.

Blessed God,
thank you
for Mother Teresa,
her witness,
and her
continuing call
to carry Jesus.
Thank you
for quiet moments
pregnant with possibility
for truth telling,
repentance,
and reconstruction.
Thank you
for mercy
that is always
an occasion
for hope,
peace, and love.

Love always, Andrea

Friday, October 21, 2016

Dear God,

Twelve hours after flying 1,000 miles to spend time with one daughter, I jumped into the car and starting driving north to see another.  Riding along I gazed upon magnificent beauty, of trees the colors of red, orange, gold, yellow, pink, green, and brown.  I looked out on freshly plowed fields, bright red barns, and old white farmhouses.  I suddenly realized I was peering out on your sacred artistry.  Yet, Fall is just one season, a small portion of your amazing creation.

How you bless us with your beauty, O Lord!  Each season you direct us to something new and wonderful.  You challenge us to pause, reflect, and receive the wondrous grace you have to offer.  But as we receive joy, you ask us to give back to others the joy we receive from you.  One gift given is to become a gift shared with another.  In some way or another we join you in the effort of painting the world bright for someone else.

Thank you
for the gift
of Autumn
with her display
of your
creative handiwork.
Thank you
for the gift
of your spirit
that comes
with all
you have created.
Thank you
for opportunities
to share
your beauty
and our joy
with others.

Love, Andrea

Thursday, October 20, 2016

Dear God,

You are my strength, my refuge, the One to whom I trust.  Only when I have fallen backward into your arms and trusted with my all can I cry out to you as the author of my strength and refuge.

I do not like flying.  I confess I am afraid.  Each time I walk onto a plane, I know I am leaning on you.  I carry my fear onboard but you, O my strength, you meet me there.

As I child, I longed to fly, to become a stewardess, to serve people on board a plane.  I imagined wearing tiny wings on my lapel and flying in the skies to all parts of the world.  Fifty eight years ago at the age of 12 I traveled with my younger cousin who was 10.  We watched out the windows looking at the world thousands of feet below.  It looked so beautiful.  I anticipated my adult life as one of adventure and excitement.  Then somehow seemingly a hundred teeny fears crawled inside me and I became afraid.

Today as I walked aboard the American Airlines Airbus, I felt my fears but I took my window seat and pulled my seat belt tight.  I remembered, for years I couldn't sit by the window.  It was too scary to look out.  I could feel my heart racing.  I watched as we took off and began rising into the sky.  I gazed out as we banked to the right and headed for Indiana.  As I prayed and looked at the clouds, I thought of the many ways you are strength to me.  I breathed in the air of your grace that enables me to fly and not be held back by fears that have no real power to overtake me.  I gave thanks observing your amazing world and your living spirit that inspires each of us to trust you more.

Heavenly Father,
thank you
for your love.
Thank you
for not
dismissing us
because we
are afraid.
Thank you
for gifts,
big and small.
Thank you
for strength
and courage
that comes
from trusting you.
Thank you
for grace
that covers all.

Love always, Andrea

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Dear God,

It is so easy to drop our eyes downward to see troubles, to believe all is lost, and to follow a common pattern of doubt, hopelessness, and despair.  The darkness we experience causes us to believe there is no light.  We walk day to day with no real purpose, dream, or goal.  We drag on, weary as we go.

But with just a slight shift, raising our eyes heavenward we are enabled to see the light shining through the darkness.  We can feel the sun's rays on our shoulders.  Our eyes are open to a world of color, hope, and possibility.  We see you.

Life can weigh us down making us believe that is all there is.  However, an ounce of faith can boost our morale, increase our thirst for living water, and make us new.  There are those who have trusted in you, O Lord, and have risen up from the dead to live purposeful lives.  They have found joy bubbling over like a fountain.  They have discovered peace and direction, courage and strength, wisdom and mercy.  In finding you they have found themselves.

Merciful God,
thank you
for tender mercies.
Thank you
for lifting us.
Thank you
for reminding us
to look up.

Love, Andrea

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Dear God,

Sometimes we think we've lost our way and can't get back home.  Our journey may take us down unfamiliar, long rutted dirt paths.  Yet, if the journey is your leading, what we find at the end of that turn may surprise and awe us.

My daughter wanted to give her daughters a special experience while on vacation so she registered them for a horseback ride along the ocean shore.  Not knowing exactly how to get there even with a GPS, we started driving and ended up on a dead end street in a somewhat scary place.  We turned around and took another route and ended up on yet another dead end road.  We made two phone calls and finally found the right road but the road was a two mile long, narrow, rutted dirt road.  There was no where to turn around so we kept on going.  Finally, at the end we came upon a lovely, green acreage where beautiful horses grazed.  One of the workers put us all in an old beat up van and drove us deeper into the marshlands.  At the end of that drive the horses were saddled and the girls climbed up and took off down one more dirt path which opened up to an amazing ocean scene where they rode for an hour.  One of the workers took pictures and the view was if from heaven.

When we trust you and take your lead, the way may seem suspect.  However, if it truly is your will what awaits us will take our breath away.

Amazing God,
thank you
for prized moments.
Thank you
for spectacular views
from heaven.
Thank you
for blessing us
in so many ways.

Love, Andrea

Monday, October 17, 2016

Dear God,

Every day is a new beginning, a fresh start, a blank slate, a day to write a new story.  The day is a gift!

This morning, O Lord, you awakened my granddaughter Sophie and me at the same time.  As we waved to one another from my wall bed and her couch, we smiled.  We realized that sunrise in Myrtle Beach was just minutes away so we moved to the balcony overlooking the ocean.  We turned and looked toward the east and slowly we watched the darkness turn to dusk and the dusk to light.  We gazed upon that giant yellow ball appear ever so small on the horizon and then begin to rise, Sophie clicking off a time progression as it rose fully, spreading shiny rays on the water.  What beauty, awesome beauty.

It was a brand new day for Sophie and for me, for everyone on the planet, a gift from you.

Loving God,
you bless us
with life.
You breathe
into us
your love
and mercy
every new morning.
May we
write a
good story
for you.

Love, Andrea

Sunday, October 16, 2016

Dear God,

"Hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."  Every time I discover your presence and give thanks, I pray this prayer of faith.

Every time I see a sad, disheartened face and observe someone reaching out to help, I realize your kingdom has come on earth.  When I see how tender care and gentle mercies are imparted and observe what change can come, I realize your will is being done.

Not so long ago at a retreat we contemplated the Lord's Prayer.  I thought of how I repeat the prayer, yet feel far off from it.  However, during the retreat I felt myself move from the hinter land to your table.  I felt drawn to the table, the banquet table of love, sacrifice, and hope.  The words took on new meaning as I experienced the inner sanctum of that prayer.  Now, each time I pray it, in church, at home, or anywhere, I feel your nearness and I am filled with gratitude.

Holy Father,
thank you
for valuable
life lessons.
Thank you
for teaching moments.
Thank you
for kindness
that has
no end.

Love, Andrea

Saturday, October 15, 2016

Dear God,

Your call to remember is a powerful one.  You call us to remember your love given so many times, especially one great time.  You call us to remember your forgiveness given when we could no longer carry our burdens, shortcomings, and sin.  You call us to remember your mercy, that peace that came when all the world's voices filled us with chaos, frustration, and fear.  You call us to remember those quiet walks we took when we were confused and doubting,  You call us to remember moments of trust when we followed you and found answers to our greatest questions.  You call us to remember the waiting times when you challenged us to deeper faith, mustered courage, and greater strength.

As three generations made their way to South Carolina, my daughter, granddaughters, and I, we remembered stories of our lives, some serious but more funny and silly.  We laughed and laughed allowing the laugher to deepen our relationship and love for one another.  All the time I was giving thanks for the hard times that we overcame with your help.  We remembered shared experiences where love, trust, and faith helped us overcome great fear.  I remembered with great joy each of their births, especially one who was conceived when her mother had ovarian cancer and weeks later had successful surgery to rid the cancer once and for all.  I remembered the day of her birth because she came with 10 fingers and 10 toes, a fully-formed beautiful body, and everything working perfectly.  I remembered your amazing compassion and mercy during the long wait.

Your call to remember is not only a powerful one; it is a merciful one because it feeds us when we are lonely, lost, perplexed, distressed, and worn.  Your call to remember is a call to be loved.

Holy and Merciful God,
thank you
for the blessings
of faith,
for the call
to remember,
to be saturated
with mercy,
and to add
to our storage
the resources
given freely
to walk
the sometimes difficult path.
Thank you
for the joy
that comes
with remembering.
Thank you
for peace
that sweeps
over us
when we
are anything
but peaceful.
Thank you,
most of all,
for remembering us.

Love, Andrea

Friday, October 14, 2016

Dear God,

Some ask:  Is there a God?  Others ask, how do you know God is at work?  Today you led me to a beauty shop to answer both questions.

My hair stylist began sharing with me what has been happening in her life the last few months.  She had gone on a retreat and truly learned the meaning of grace.  "All my life I have been missing unconditional love.  My stepmother and my husband always offered something less.  I never really felt I was loved.  It took me 61 years to figure it out."  During the course of 15 minutes she described her retreat experience but also a miracle that happened through perfect strangers.  She went on to say, "God has been so good to me."

The wonder of faith is that you take us down paths to the truth.  You even put strangers in our path to provide us messages of faith, the gentle workings of your spirit. Every time we are once again surprised to hear the wondrous tales not only of your living presence but also the hand you have in our lives.

Gracious God,
thank you
for beautiful moments
of faith.
Thank you
for showing us evidence
of your
living spirit.
Thank you
for gifts
that bless us
again and again. 

Love, Andrea

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Dear God,

It is fun to watch the squirrels carrying nuts in their mouth, running along the top of the fence and then squirreling them away into the ground.  They are preparing themselves for the long winter ahead.

You have taught me to watch and listen to nature.  You have given me life lessons.  Today you let the squirrels speak the message of preparedness.

Am I prepared for drought, spiritual drought?  Am I prepared for the lack of water, living water?  Am I prepared for long stretches of difficulty, sorrow, and trouble?  Have I squirreled away hope, faith, and peace?  Am I ready to dig deep for all the spiritual resources you have given me for such times?

Observing the squirrel making preparations is a reminder for me too, to prepare.  Am I ready?

Thank you
for the message
of nature.
Thank you
for squirrels
who share
their message.
Thank you
for spiritual awareness
that aids us
in learning
to be prepared.

Love, Andrea

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Dear God,

How can a nation lose its moral compass?  How can it spiral downward as if there is no higher place to go?  How can it surrender its goodness, visionary leadership, and moral integrity?

Oh Lord, we have lost our way.  We have allowed lobbyists, PACs, and greedy people to tempt us, leading us to corruption, We have thought only of ourselves, fed our own egos, and lost sight of the people.  We have filled our own pockets while leaving children hungry.

How do we relinquish our desire for power, wealth, and control?  How do we step out of the darkness and head for the light?  How do we rise to you?

Help us,
Lord,
to be
the people
you want us
to be.
Forgive us
our sins.
Humble us
in prayer.

Love, Andrea

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Dear God,

No one takes better care of us than you, Holy Father.  When we are distressed, you are the first one we should call out to.  You are our friend, counselor, redeemer, teacher, and great physician.  You care more for us than any other.

Although we turn to doctors when we are ill or disabled, you are still the one who knits our wounds together.  No one heals like you.  As we turn to you, you give us courage, hope, love, compassion, and mercy.  You hold us all the way through our ailment.  You give us peace while we suffer.

As I observe a beloved family member slowly heal, I know you are lifting her up, holding her solidly so she does not fall deep into despair.  You keep her moving forward with hope and love.  Who else is available 24/7 with so much grace?

Loving Lord,
thank you
for offering us
hope and healing.
Thank you
for your
tender care.
Thank you
for showing us
a future
with promise.

Love, Andrea

Monday, October 10, 2016

Dear God,

The sweet sound of grandchildren's voices remind me of angel voices.  Angel voices remind me of you.

In the course of every day living, you reach out to us, making yourself known.  You whisper goodness and love to us, opening our eyes to the joy you create in the world.  You speak to us of deeper things, of faith, love, and compassion.  You challenge us to live lives of faith, to be loving, caring, and merciful.  Your joy is like no other.  We are blessed when your joy spreads to us.  As we become joyful, we spread that joy to others.

Holy God,
giver of all good things,
thank you
for touching us
with your love.
Thank you
to speaking
to us.
Thank you
for all
the voices
that speak
good will.

Love, Andrea

Sunday, October 9, 2016

Dear God,

Each time I drive to church to worship, the moment I drive into the parking lot, I discover a spiritual calm.  There is something holy and peaceful about gathering with your people to worship.

When you created the church, you knew this calm was possible.  You knew we would meet up with your Holy Spirit.  You knew the music would cause our souls to soar.  You knew our faith would increase, our doubts would subside, and our darkness would lessen.  You knew love would spread.

Sunday mornings are truly a holy day because there we gather with you.  We find our place in your spiritual community.  We feed upon your word, your love, your compassion, your mercy and your grace.  In some ways we gather to clean ourselves up, to consider our worries, our sins, and our shortcomings.  You give us opportunity to let go, to surrender ourselves and all our troubles, and to renew ourselves.  In the time we spend gathered and worshipping, you cleanse us, remake us, and love us so we can rise anew.

Blessed Lord,
thank you
for the gift
of your church.
Thank you
for worship
that moves
our minds
toward you.
Thank you
for spiritual treasure
that awaits us
every time
we make
our way
to worship.

Love, Andrea

Saturday, October 8, 2016

Dear God,

You give us opportunity to walk with others whose daily journey is difficult.  You ask us to walk beside them, to take their hand, and to make our way together.  What gift is ours when we observe their courage as we support them in their growth.

Because you have sent others to walk with me through the valley of the shadow, I know the privilege of being called to assist others.  I can remember the pain, the sorrow, and the challenge each day seemed but it is precisely because I have lived in that shadow that you have called me to help others.  It is a special joy when it is a family member we love so much.  When we see them rise up into the light, we know your hand has helped them.

Thank you
for prized moments
when we get
to observe others
in their walk
toward the light.
Thank you
for joy
that bubbles over.
Thank you
for love
that walks
beside us.

Love, Andrea

Friday, October 7, 2016

Dear God,

I can't get my mind off nature's transition.  Every day there is new color in my back yard.  The air beckons me outside with dropping temperatures at night.  Who wouldn't want to sleep in the cool, crisp Fall air?  So, I put up my tent and invited grandchildren to join me.

You constantly remind us to go with nature's flow.  At the same time you call us to think about our own changes and what we need to shed for the next season of our own life.  You know better than anyone how important surrender is to a healthy, whole spiritual and emotional life and that is what you want for each of us.

As we move through this Autumn season, may we not be afraid to let go of obstacles that keep us from you and one another.  May we become free agents who trust the Master to lead us into new and bright areas of promise.

Thank you
for this
Fall day,
O Lord,
and all
its messages
to us.
Teach us
to listen
and follow you.
May we
be a blessing
to you
as we
transform ourselves
with your spirit.

Love, Andrea

Thursday, October 6, 2016

Dear God,

How grateful we are to be reunited with family after long absences from them.  When we come back together and hug one another, we are amazed again how it is love holds us together.

From your great well of love, you show us what true love is all about.  You reveal your love for us when we are adrift in the storms of life.  You come closer to us when we are spent from hurting.  You reach out to us when we are lost.  You forgive us when we make mistakes, big or small.  You penetrate our souls with light when we find ourselves in the darkness.  You instruct us how to be loved and how to be loving toward others.  You pour out your heart so our love can stretch and grow like yeast that doubles and doubles again.

When my granddaughters walked into my arms after my time away, I felt not only their love but yours as well, just as it is supposed to be.

Loving God,
thank you
for revealing love
to us.
Thank you
for directing us
to love.
Thank you
for love
that grows
while we
are far off.

Love always, Andrea

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Dear God,

We never have to look far for you.  You are ever present.  You allow us to find you.

Often it seems you are far away.  We can't seem to see you or feel you with us.  We know we have a habit of stepping aside, taking another road, or ignoring you.  The gap is what we create when we try to live life on our own.  Yet, we breathe your air, drink your water, and hear the rustle of your grace toward us.  You are never absent from us but maybe you are quiet while we reorient ourselves.

Reunions are sweet.  You are merciful and always ready to join us once again on the journey.

Eternal God,
there is
no real life
without you.
We may think
we own all
that is
around us;
however, everything
has your name
on it.
Keep us
ever close,
so we
may grow faith
instead of
abandon it.

Love, Andrea

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Dear God,

As we began to make our way back home, we had the privilege of gazing upon Autumn that is begging to come forth.  There was just a hint of color through the mountains of Pennsylvania.  I reminisced about my drive through that beautiful state during Spring, Summer, and Winter.  Wow, how awesome is your creation!

You challenge us daily to pause and look around, to see what only those with careful eyes can see.  You remind us to gaze upon the cosmos, the blue skies and even gray ones, green trees and bare ones, and hills rolling and straight.  You show us the creation from your view.  Suddenly we are enabled to see with an attentive eye the wonders of all you have made.  You invite us to count our blessings one by one.  You bless us beyond our wildest imagination!

Creator God,
thank you
for all
you have made.
Thank you
for this
transition time.
Thank you
for the color
that awaits
to unfold.
Thank you
for love
that makes it
all happen.
Thank you
for spiritual awareness
to see it all
through a
magnificent spiritual lens.

Love always, Andrea

Monday, October 3, 2016

Dear God,

If our roots are shallow, we can fall prey to the first threat.  Today I learned that lesson when I went out to the fence row to plant some spring bulbs.  Because I must have planted the others too shallow, I looked to find some animal had dug up every bulb.  They were not eaten, just simply scattered on top of the ground.

Every time something goes awry in my garden, you whisper a spiritual lesson.  You point me to spiritual truths.  While I dug my holes all over again, I made them deeper and put chicken wire on top to keep every critter out.  However, seeing some underground tunnels, it is just possible the bulbs were dug up from below.  Who knows?

You remind us to consider how deep to dig our spiritual values.  You tell us to think about what we are doing in order to live healthy spiritual and emotional lives.  You show us the way to safety and growth.

Holy God,
thank you
for daily lessons
that speak
to us.
Thank you
for causing us
to pause,
to reflect,
and to consider
the ways
we live
our life
and practice
our faith.
Thank you
for giving us opportunity
for a
do over.

Love, Andrea

Sunday, October 2, 2016

My dearest God,

This morning you filled me up with your Holy Spirit.  You filled our church as we sang, prayed, listened, fellowshipped, and gathered at your table.  As we ate the bread and drank the wine, we remembered your son and millions of Christians around the world.  World wide Communion Sunday gave us opportunity to unite ourselves together around a common table.

How good it is to circle round your table with others.  How good it is to hold the hand of our neighbor.  How good it is to pray for one another.  You lift us up so we can live our faith in praise and thanksgiving.  How grateful we are, how blessed.

Creator God,
thank you
for your table,
open to all.
For it
is your table,
not ours.
You invite us there.
You feed us.
You bless us.
Thank you,
Blessed Lord.

Love, Andrea

Saturday, October 1, 2016

Dear God,

October 1, how can it be October 1?  Days, weeks, months, and years fly by and I wonder how I can be 70 years old.

Life seems so fleeting.  The past is an array of experiences, good, bad, miraculous, surprising, and hard.  Yet, no one holds the past like you, Great God.  You are the only one who has walked through life with us.  You have seen every day.  You know us like no other.

As I look at this day, I do know I have been blessed.  Among all I have been given family, a ministry, friends, homes, and so many gifts I cannot count, the greatest of all these over all my 70 years is the gift of a spiritual awareness of your living, loving presence in the world.  Every day I walk with you.  Sometimes it is a straight path but more often than not, I walk up the mountain and down the valley.  I make wrong turns and U turns.  I fall off the edge but your great big hand catches me.  My earliest memories are of you.  You have always been there with me.

Holy God,
thank you
for leading me
and then
following me
when I make
stupid moves.
Please forgive
my tardiness
in turning back
to you.
May I spend
the rest
of my years
blessing you.

Love, Andrea

Friday, September 30, 2016

Dear God,

You bring us together to heal us.  You want to reconcile us with those we love and with you.  You want us to make peace with one another.

Sometimes our attitudes, beliefs, and practices reveal a total disregard for your desire in the world.  Often we turn away from you because we do not want to change our lives even if it means life would be better.  We sing our own tune and walk our own walk.  But we miss what your grace can do.  We lose opportunities to stretch and grow and see and transform and bless.  We fail to see the light and bask in its warmth.

You never give up on us.  You never abandon us to our own devices.  You never leave us alone.  You are always very present.  Every day you reach out to us in some way or another.  Sometimes it is in the silence that you speak the most profoundly.  When we truly listen and hear, we drop to our knees in praise and adoration because we know that we know that we know, you are with us to guide us to healing and wholeness.  Even now you are at work in our family and we are so very grateful.

Blessed God,
thank you
for nudging us
along life's journey.
Thank you
for daily reminders
of your spirit
at work.
Thank you
for your peace
that is different
than any
other peace.
Bless you, Lord.

Love always, Andrea

Thursday, September 29, 2016

Dear God,

We face uncertainty every day.  We are not totally convinced that all will be well.  There are some who believe something bad will happen today.

It doesn't take long to realize we have little control over life.  There are so many forces at work.  We live with worry, anxiety, and fear.  Yet, as people of faith, you give us the spiritual peace knowing we are in your compassionate hands.  It does not mean something will not occur; however, we know that we are yours.  We are your children.  We began with you and we will end with you.  You will help us no matter what comes our way.  Of that we can be sure.

Thank you
for the assurance
of your love
and grace.
Thank you
for helping us live
with the knowledge
of your
living presence
in the cosmos.
Thank you
for bringing calm
even during
the storm.

Love, Andrea