Sunday, November 5, 2017

Dear God,

My husband wanted me to stay home from church to rest following the terrible tragedy in our family.  I told him I needed to go to worship with the God of Living Hope. 

When I started the car, a song came on..."I am weak but thou art strong; Jesus, keep me from all wrong:  I'll be satisfied as long as I walk, let me walk close to thee.  Just a closer walk with thee, grant it Jesus is my plea.  Daily walking close to thee, let it be, dear Lord, let it be."  My tears flowed, releasing all the sorrow and pain I had witnessed in the last 48 hours and giving praise to the God whose mercy is deep and never ending.

All during worship I drank in the living water always found in the deep well at church.  Again the song played as we sang together Just a Closer Walk with Thee.  How sweet your mercy when at the last minute I was able to add my nephew's name to the list of saints being named during the service.  To hear his name offered up by a church who accepts every rag tag one of us regardless of who we are or what we are about brought my tears forward once again. 

As we listened to stories of the saints of old, those whose courage, passion, and faith led them to do incredible things filled me with quiet joy as I reflected upon their gifts inspiring so many hundred years later.  As we stepped forward to eat and drink from your inclusive table, I felt your filling and your indwelling within me.  Then later as we sang His Eye is on the Sparrow, my tears of gratitude fell upon my lap as I recognized the depth of the love you have for your children, not just some of us, but all of us.

Precious Lord,
take all
our hands,
lead us home
to you.
Help our souls
to dwell
in peace.
Be our refuge
and our strength.
Give us determination
to love
and keep
on loving all
those in
your world.
Make us one
with you
and one another.

Love, Andrea