Friday, November 29, 2019

Dear God,

Thanksgiving, a wondrous time of gratitude, for family, food, friendships, laughter, hope, smiles, hugs and faith.  Although my short trip to my daughter's home caused a dish of hot baked beans to slip under the front seat of my car, spill onto the rug and into the heat vent, nevertheless, my heart was full of love for all who gathered, family and friends.

I am so grateful, dear Father, for opportunities to express gratitude, to say thank you and be grateful.  Every year on Thanksgiving, we go around a circle and say something we are grateful for.  Listening to grateful hearts is heartwarming, beautiful and blessed.  When we open our mouths to say thank you, something amazing happens.  Smiles appear, hearts are warmed, hope is borne, faith increases and love deepens all because we are thankful.

How blessed
we are
to feel
and express gratitude,
O Lord.
Nothing touches
my heart more
than gratitude.
Thank you
for faith
where thanksgiving
lives and grows.

Love, Andrea

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Dear God,

Small things, small things can bring great faith. Just yesterday my covenant group talked about small things that really aren't small things at all.

During my quiet devotional time, you brought simple, small things to my mind.  Small things with big meaning and value.  As I prepared special homemade foods for our grandson and his little family, I thought of all the beautiful colors of food, their textures and their amazing flavors.  The way it all comes together, blending and companioning so marvelously.  All this you created; who could do the same?

When I made homemade vegetable beef soup, there were green beans, orange carrots, white potatoes, red tomatoes and juice, black pepper, white salt, brown mushrooms, stew meat and broth, and yellow mustard.  All this amazing color in one pot with a flavor and texture so heartwarming and so, so good.  A small thing took me right back to you.

Thank you
for faith
in a pot.
Thank you
for the extreme
you go
to bless us
with great beauty.
Thank you
for love
expressed every day.

Love, Andrea

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Dear God,

Today I watched as the winds blew at 60 mph outside my window.  The trees, shrubs and plants danced in the wind.  And I thought about a spiritual truth.  The more we are able to move with the wind of your spirit, the better we are able to survive and thrive the storms of life.  The less we are able and willing, the greater the peril to our well being.

As a pastor I have heard stories of breaking points, those who held on with a tenacity for resistance, and they fell, succumbed to tragedy and/or ill health.  I remember too those who trusted as best they could and they risked what they knew for what they could discover.  By your grace and power they not only overcame their difficulties but stretched and grew and found courage and strength to take many steps forward in life.  To outsiders they are a testimony to faith.

On this day before Thanksgiving, I give thanks to all those who surrendered to your spirit and found new life.  For those who still can't let go of the past for the future, I pray for them too.  Both are your children.

Holy and Loving God,
we come
before you
just as
we are.
Help us
trust more
so we
can surrender more.
Open us
to the future,
I pray.

Love, Andrea

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Dearest God,

Sometimes music serves to become the voice of God, your voice, Most Holy One.  This morning as I was cooking a pre-Thanksgiving meal, I was thinking of our children, some who are very close and others not so much, one in particular, way off.  One sentence came to me..."Pray for someone to minister to your child until they can come home."

The truth is we don't want someone else holding our child.  We want to hold our child. We want to nurture, love, and help them ourselves.  We don't want to share when our children are hurting and we hurt because we do not have the close relationship we want.  In fact we anguish, weep and long for them.

What you said this morning is the answer.  Surrender, you tell us to surrender our children into your hands, letting go and letting you lead someone to care for our children until such time they want/need/long to come home even as mature adults.  No child is too old for us to want to be close.

When we listen and turn to you, you speak, you challenge and above all, you love and heal hurting hearts.  Today was yet another lesson.

Loving God,
thank you
for your mercy.
Thank you
for showing us
the way.
Thank you
for speaking hope
to us.

Love, Andrea

Monday, November 25, 2019

Dear God,

Do you hold your love for us in your heart even when we don't visit often?  Do you think of us when we are long off?

I thought of this last night, O God, when I sat among friends and former church members at a local restaurant.  I go months without seeing them; yet, when we gather, we hug and memories awaken with us.  We laugh at old stories and I sense our deep love for one another.

How wonderful to know love does not end when we walk out the door.  How beautiful it is again when we see one another once more.  Endings or beginnings love remains, rich and deep.  Good, so very, very good.

You are God,
maker and creator
of love
at its best.
Thank you
when love
welcomes us home
and bids us goodbye
when we depart
from one another.
Thank you
for the capacity
to hold love
in our hearts.

Love, Andrea

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Dear God,

Anyone can have a simple life directed by their own desires.  But why when a life of faith can give so much more?

I have experienced mountains and valleys both with you and without you.  But only the times with you have they had great meaning and value.

My greatest desire is to walk with you through the mountains and valleys of life.

Thank you
for allowing me
to walk
with you,
dear God.
Thank you
for all
you are.
Thank you
for faith
and all
it brings.

Love, Andrea

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Dearest God,

"There is a sweetness in God's mercy," so the song goes.  I know it to be true.  For 51 minutes and 32 seconds my daughter and her daughter and I talked, laughed, and teased one another.  A year ago it would not have happened.  Barriers, high and wide obstacles stood in the way but today the door to your mercy opened wide and we stepped inside and found you waiting.  Sweet mercy!

Holy God,
it is true
all things
are possible
with you.
You hold
the key
to mercy,
forgiveness, grace
and hope.
Thank you
for all these.
I experienced them
all today.

Love, Andrea

Friday, November 22, 2019

Dear God,

A simple Christmas tree ornament can speak of miracles, grace and transformation.  Just today I saw a picture of a purple sweater ornament handmade by a very special woman many years ago.  Wanda lived in a tiny efficiency apartment with her young son and drug dealer husband.  She was desperate when I met her but she had a faith like no other.  She trusted in you and prayed for a better life for her son and herself.  Through amazing volunteers who took Wanda into their hearts and under their wings, Wanda learned to read and write, get her GED, drive a car, and get a job.  Several years later she was made the director of a homeless shelter.  She enrolled in college.

After being with us and our church for about three years, she got a better job and moved away.  But before she left, she brought me a beautiful small gold box.  Inside was a handmade sewn purple sweater ornament, like the coat one of the women of the church bought her when all she had to wear to work when she walked was a thin white sweater.  She cried when she put it on telling us it was the first new coat she had ever owned and she was 34 years old.

As I gazed upon that ornament I thought of how you had brought a miracle into Wanda's life and allowed our church to be part of it.  We celebrated her new life and her amazing faith.  When I put the ornament on my tree this year I will remember Wanda, her faith, her courage, her strength and her love and I will be challenged by the gift she is to others, to you and to me.

Thank you
for Wanda,
for all
she is
by faith
and hope
and determination.
Bless her today
and always.

Love, Andrea

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Dear God,

The trees are so obedient to your spirit.  They grow when you say "grow."  They reach upward when you invite them to stretch upward.  They bud and blossom when you say so.  They turn color when you invite them to display their glory and yours.  But here is the best part: They surrender when you say "let go."

I wish I were that obedient.  I wish I were that faithful.  I wish I wanted what you want more than what I desire.  The trees are teachers.

Holy and Living God,
teach us
to be obedient.
Teach us
to follow your will.
Teach us
to be all
we can be,
I pray.

Love, Andrea

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Dear God,

When did we as a people determine integrity, truth and honesty were no longer of value?  Truth that is realized today becomes suspect and is altered the next day?  As an American citizen, I wonder if we have lost our soul?

We forget our own value and the value of one another.  We forget you and you alone have determined our belovedness.  And what that means is from the moment of our birth until death, we are to live into that sacred identity.  When we lose our way, we taint our community as children of God, global citizens and compassionate people.

How can you draw us back up from the abyss, O Lord?

Cleanse us,
Gracious God,
clean us up.
Remove the obstacles
of evil,
bring faith
back to us,
I pray.
Make us holy
as only
you can.

Love, Andrea

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Dear God,

Sometimes I think there are celebrations that inspire birds to sing and dance.  For some reason today was one of those days.  They seemed to be talking to one another.  From one tree to another, there were these voices singing away.  But that's not all, they were hopping, flying and flitting around.  They seemed to be dancing.

As I sat with my circle of friends in devotions, I paused to watched these little darlings, small and large alike and I was inspired and blessed.  Whatever it was that inspired them, they touched me as I watched the holy scene before me.

There are so many ways and times you speak to your creation.  I didn't miss it this morning!

You are gracious
and merciful,
Loving God.
You reach out
to us daily
and we
are blessed.
Thank you
for the birds.

Love, Andrea

Monday, November 18, 2019

Dear God,

From a child's view, life is simpler than an adult's.  Yesterday, I offered Holy Communion to a young boy, perhaps four years old.  I leaned down, smiled and offered him the body of Christ, the bread of heaven.  He put out his open hands and said, "We only have white bread at home."  "Really," I said and he nodded.  "Well," I continued, "this is special bread."  Once again he reminded me.  "We only have white bread at home."  "That's okay," I said.  I thought I would try it one more time.  "This is bread that Jesus made just for you."  "We only have white bread at home."  To comfort this charming, serious young man I finally said.  "You know it is okay.  If you are uncomfortable eating this bread, that's okay.  Jesus loves you."  He reached for the bread, popped it in his mouth and walked away.  I could hardly hold back my smile bordering on laughter.

Just as the little boy walked away, a little girl about the same age stepped in front of me.  It was clear she was chewing the bread given by the other priest.  I leaned down to her and she said, "I wanted it twice."  Of course, I smiled and gave her the bread of the presence of Christ.

What a morning, I thought in my mind.  I think it was a spiritual lesson.  Some of us have to be convinced of the value of the Eucharist while some of us want a double dose.  I know which side of that coin I want to be on.

Holy God,
you give us
the bread
of life.
You feed
the whole
of us.
We are
so very grateful.

Love, Andrea

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Dear God,

All the senses are a gift from you, O God, all.  Today I am baking a new cookie recipe...creamy and gooey lemon butter cookies.  The flavor is delight.  The color is so pretty.  The lemony scent is so nice.  All these are only possible from you.

We forget all your gifts.  We complain when we don't have something we want; yet, we are given so many daily gifts that we have forgotten them.

Thank you,
Blessed God,
for all
the gifts
of your
living spirit.
I am
so grateful
for my
special cookies.
May they
bless others
at church
where they
are going.

Love, Andrea

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Dear God,

When we stand bare before you, we see our truest selves.  We have no need of pretending to be someone other than who we are.  We strip away all the parts of our false self.  There together, you and we or you and I breathe in the full relationship of who we are as parent and child, student and teacher, and creator and created.  This is the most meaningful of our relationship,one with the other.

The tragedy, O God, is that we resist this nakedness, this authenticity, this vulnerability.  We think we can fool you but we cannot.  All the game playing robs us of honest holy moments.

When we are able and ready, such holy moments together can bring us to new understandings, clearer views and release us from our craziness.  It can help us shed all that remains an obstacle between us.  It can give us hope, joy, peace, grace and forgiveness.  It can also provide a fresh, new start at life and help us know we are beloved by the one whose love and acceptance is greater than any other.

Thank you,
Merciful God,
for the gift
of relationship.
Thank you
for making us real.
Thank you
for the cleansing
that comes
when we
spend time
with you.

Love always, Andrea

Friday, November 15, 2019

Dear God,

Each morning when I arise early, I look for the moon.  During my devotions, I watch it travel through the sky from left to right and finally fall away.  I think of the moon and its own trust in the creator who holds it every moment of every day.

This morning I couldn't see it.  I figured there were clouds holding back the beautiful, white ball.  Yet, after about 20 minutes it peeked out and I gazed upon it giving thanks for the beauty it provides.  When it rests in the sky with twinkling white lights, I think nothing could be more beautiful.

You provide
so many
beautiful things,
O Lord.
Thank you
for the moon
that stuns
the watcher.
Thank you
for the
magnificent sky
and all
its twinkling stars.
I am blessed
to see it.

Love, Andrea

Thursday,November 14, 2019

Dear God,

It is a beautiful thing to watch hope come to life!  As I sat in the doctor's office with my daughter, I watched as the physical therapist and my daughter worked together on the problem Jill brought to her.  Remembering Jill's anxiety on the trip there, she was worried she would never be well, that her neck would have permanent lingering problems.  Yet, in the hour and a half visit, hope was borne as the therapist assured her the problems were correctable.  It would be some time before her pain was completely gone but she would be healed.

Jill has a mighty faith.  She trusts you most of the time.  For sure she leans on you for all the issues that face her and her family.  She prays and works hard to leave her worries and anxieties in your hands.  Today she exhibited that faith as she and the doctor worked together to heal, restore and renew.

Thank you,
O God,
for the healing
that is coming.
Thank you
for hands
that heal,
help and
produce hope.
Thank you
for the healing
for us both.

Love, Andrea

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Dear God,

It is cold, the ground is covered in snow, it is beautiful!  You remind me we need winter, a time for quiet peace, self examination, and spiritual growth as we feed on all that is you.  There is no season like winter.  Yes, I know winter is not official until December 21 but winter has already arrived in my soul.

For the most part, I have always thrived in winter.  I long for this time of year where I am less active and have both the opportunity and desire to grow.  I love sitting with my circle of friends who right now are Harriet Tubman, Job, the psalmist, Jesus, Macrina Wiederkehr and Chuck Colson.  There is such richness in our conversation as we sit together.  I am quiet as I listen to their stories and how very often we talk about the same thing.  But always, always faith is central to every discussion.

It is winter.  My heart and soul are wide open.  I long to travel with you in the quiet.

How I
love you,
O God;
how I
want to learn
at your feet.
Teach me
a winter faith
so I
can dig deeper
and strike
the well
of living water.
I am yours,
O Lord,
yours only.

Love, Andrea

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Dear God,

There are so many ways you let us know your presence.  You reveal to us your loving, living presence.

As my daughter is recovering not only from her surgery, an abscessed tooth and pneumonia, I sense we are recovering too.  Living a long dry spell together, we have been returned to one another as I have helped out with family, laundry, transportation, meals, and general assistance.  Not only that, we play board games, especially Boggle.  We are finding our way home together.

Some things we just aren't capable of doing on our own.  We can do so much but you offer us more...resources, ideas, grace, mercy and wisdom.  With these we are able to move from our positions to somewhere else better.  With your aid, all things are possible.

Holy God,
you are powerful,
understanding and
full of hope.
You give us
these gifts.
You bless us,
giving us
another chance.
You make
yourself known.
Thank you.

Love, Andrea

Monday, November 11, 2019

Dear God,

Sometimes everything just looks the same, no change.  If we are in a difficult situation, this can be disconcerting.  But then, you, O God, can show us a different picture.

Snow came today.  And you know winter is my favorite season.  I love snow.  What the snow showed me today is how the same thing can look different with a simple small thing.  As I looked at the landscape yesterday, I just saw brown leaves falling and blowing in the wind.  The end of the Autumn season looks messy and dead.  When the snow came, everything glistened and looked beautiful.  I could not keep my eyes off the developing snow storm.  When morning arrived, I looked at the same place and saw something different.

I realize, dear God, you want us to take a second look at our own situation.  You want us to see possibility, hope and the opportunity for transformation.  When we look with a second set of eyes, we begin to see as you see.  Change is always possible.  It will come at some point or another, maybe not the way we had hoped, sometimes it is even better.

Thank you,
Heavenly Father,
for the challenge
to be open
to the change
you want
to bring.
Help us
see more.
Give us trust
to believe
and surrender.
Thank you
for the
beautiful snow
and the lesson
it brought.

Love always, Andrea

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Dear God,

Worship is like being invited to a special friend's home, welcomed to their table, given special hospitality and food and beverage to drink.  It is a time to hug, shake hands, listen, laugh, share, cry if it is needed, and fill up on all the good offerings.  When we leave we are full up.

Worship is simply a perfunctory gesture unless we step inside the welcome door.  To imagine that it is imaginary is to stop short of visiting the real place.  If we acknowledge it is the home of our most beloved Jesus and really believe we have come to meet him, only then can we travel to holy places in worship.  The music will sound different, the liturgy will come alive, the scripture will become vivid, the Eucharist will become real, and the presence of our living God will be evident.

I have tried both.  I've spent a lot of time talking and worshipping as an outsider but when I really paused and understood the significance of the call to worship, I suddenly realized I was at the home of my Lord.

All praise
to you,
Lord and King.
Thank you
for the blessing
of faith.
Thank you
for worship
and a
place at
your table
and home.

Love, Andrea

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Dear God,

A candle sits on my desk, its flame dancing in the air.  Funny how a simple candle can lead us to you.

How I long to dance in the wind of your spirit.  How I desire to lift my eyes and hands to the heavens awaiting a breath of your Holy Spirit.  How I want to move and lean and twirl in the spirit of love and joy particularly as I do it with you, Holy God.

Way too often I am rigid and unbending.  I like choosing my own path, doing my own thing.  Yet, at the same time I want to become flexible, ready to move at the slightest sign of your spirit.  I want to do the dance of faith, to laugh at the sheer joy of giving my hand to you, taking your lead.  I want to be part of you, Gracious God, because doing so opens me to a larger, more beautiful, deeper and wider world.

Years ago when I learned I had breast cancer, I was filled with fear and terror.  I was paralyzed and could hardly breathe.  When I asked the doctor what would happen if I did no treatment, he told me I would die.  I wasn't ready for that.  And so I did the only thing I knew to do, I fell backward into your arms.  I entrusted myself into your hands and that is when I danced.  You took me in your arms and we danced among the stars and planets.  Such beauty I had never witnessed before or since.  I will never forget those precious, holy moments.

So, teach me again, Loving God, to bend, to move and to dance.

Thank you
for your spirit,
Creator God.
Thank you
for faith.
Thank you
for lessons
that teach me
to trust you.

Love, Andrea

Friday, November 8, 2019

Dear God,

Do you create some people with extraordinary courage and faith or do you create all people with the possibility of courage and faith depending on how we use it?  How does it work, Merciful God?

I sat in the movie theatre and found myself praying as I watched the movie Harriet.  I could hardly believe someone could exhibit that much courage, strength and faith.  As I listened to the story of Harriet Tubman, I wondered if I could ever possibly display that much courage, faith and strength.

All across history people have been born with extraordinary gifts to do seemingly impossible things.  As we encounter their lives, we are inspired, challenged and moved to become something more.  Something more.

Thank you
for Harriett Tubman,
O Father,
for her
amazing faith
and trust
in you.
Thank you
for her determination
to save
her people.
Thank you
for her inspiration.

Love, Andrea

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Dear God,

Gray days open doors to your spirit.  They call out, "Come in and sit a spell."  Inside the warm space of your holy spirit, you speak of trust, warmth, grace, hope, love, mercy and surrender.  There in your presence we are given opportunity to reassess, realign, restructure, restore, renew and revitalize ourselves.  There is no safer place to become new again.

There is just something wonderful about gray days for me.  I feel your spirit.  I feel the need to draw closer to you, to find you waiting, to drink in fresh living water and eat of your spiritual food, to sit in holy silence, to enjoy the greatness of all your blessings and to receiving your living hope.  Gray days open me to all the colors of the cosmos where I experience the incredible vibrancy of faith and all its many gifts.  Sometimes I just feel like dancing, singing or simply praying always knowing you are here.

Blessed are you,
Lord God.
Thank you
for gray days
that speak faith
to me.
Thank you
for trust
and love
and mercy.
I love you.

Forever yours, Andrea

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Loving God,

You point us to you every day.  I am reading an old book entitled, Mister God, this is Anna.  Each morning during devotions I think of how this child is leading me to you, to faith and to hope.  Anna takes my hand and in her own, funny, quirky way talks about holy things and holy matters.  I am moved, so very moved.

I love it when you turn the world upside down, forcing us to look from another angle, another perspective.  You switch things up, shake them up too and then you present a story to us that helps us look, perceive, judge, shift, and alter our thinking.  You want to stretch us and cause us to grow.  You want us to consider the world and life in new and diverse ways; otherwise, we become stodgy, unbending, dull, boring, and ineffectual.  You want us fluid, flexible and anticipatory.  You want us to move forward on our seats to see what you have for us today.

Thank you
for Anna
and Fynn,
O Lord.
Thank you
for the lessons
I am learning
from them.
Show me
the way
to growth,
Heavenly Father,
I pray.

Love, Andrea

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Dearest God,

A few days ago I witnessed one of the most stunning sunrises I have ever seen.  I could not keep from staring as changing pastel colors danced against the sky.  It lasted for only a few minutes but it was spectacular.

Every day that happens.  Every day!  The sky lights up in a canvas of color.  Every day.  Every single morning you paint an amazing canvas that wows.

I thought to myself...we should all be calling one another.  "Hurry, step outside.  Look up!  See what God is doing!"  Every day we should all be standing with open doors, looking out, looking up, and whispering praises and prayers of thanksgiving.  And it is only the beginning of the day.  Every day you stun us with beauty, every day.

Holy God,
thank you
for your
wondrous creation!
Thank you
for early
morning beauty.
Thank you
for reminding us
you exist
and care
and love.

Always, Andrea

Monday, November 4, 2019

Dear God,

There is no one more worthy of praise than you, Almighty God.  Who could create the cosmos giving it spectacular color, form and function?  Only you.  Who could design love, mercy and compassion with all its passion, depth and width?  Only you; no one else.  Who could produce humanity with all its detail, heart and perspective?  None but you.

As I look out upon the Fall turning Winter, I smile because I am inspired, delighted and mystified by all you do for creation.  If we only paused for a few moments and reflected upon all that is around us, we would be born anew in thanksgiving, hope and joy.  We would live our lives differently allowing gratitude to fill us and become the motivating factor in every day living.

As I gaze out the window at the berry-laden tree and watch the birds feed in all their glory, I see you, your hand and your love.

Thank you,
Gracious God,
for blessing us
with creation.
Thank you
for scenes
and sounds
that display
the wonder
of your grace.
Thank you
for today's
awesome blessings.

Love, Andrea

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Dear God,

Her face looked familiar but I couldn't identify her when she came up to me at church.  With tears in her eyes, she told me about the time probably 20 years earlier when I had done a healing service at a former church.  "You put your arms on my shoulders and I felt this feeling, a real power and I have never forgotten it.  I wanted to tell you thank you.  It changed my life." She told me.

As I listened to Lisa share her story, I thanked her but explained that I am only capable of creating a setting where you do the miracle work.  I only present the door and those who are interested can open it a crack or wide open.  I don't know what Lisa's wound was but somehow, O God, you stepped inside and healed her.  I just want to thank you.

Holy God,
you alone heal.
You alone
reconcile and
restore us.
You alone
make us new.
Thank you.
Bless you!

Love, Andrea

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Dearest God,

You make hearts for stretching.  When we think we are full up, we discover there is still more room.  How can it be?

When I am invited to share in the lives of my grandchildren, I feel the stretch of my heart.  I think I cannot love them more, but a smile, a hug, a kindness pushes against the walls and my heart fills more.  They are growing up, starting to college, having families; I watch them and remember all the wonders of their childhood.  And I fill more and more and more.

Your love is like that, isn't it, O God?  Your love for your children is endless, infinite.  What is more is you give us the capacity to love you back more and more.  How can it be?

O Father,
thank you
for your
amazing gift
of love.
Thank you
for making us
with stretchy hearts.
We are blessed,
so very,
very blessed.

Love, Andrea

Friday, November 1, 2019

Dear God,

How wide and deep is your mercy, O Lord!  In our religious tradition we celebrate All Saint's Day.  As I ponder the upcoming worship, I pause to remember all those you brought into my life, those who loved and nurtured me, those who taught me, those who challenged me and those who hung in there with me during difficult times.  So many, dear God, so many you have placed in my path.

On this first day of November I remember Grandma Hughes.  Oh, how much I love her even though she has been gone nearly 25 years.  She loved like no one I ever knew before.  Her kindness and loving ways touched my life so deeply and not only mine but all who shared in her life.  I celebrate her life of faith that drew me in to the God she loved and loved her.  I will always cherish my memories of her, always and forever.

Blessed are you,
Good God of All Gifts.
Thank you
for Grandma Hughes
and all
like her
who love us unconditionally.
Thank you
for days
to remember.

Love, Andrea

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Dearest God,

This morning the moment snow fell from the sky, I saw it.  I literally ran to the window to witness the first flakes of the season.  I wait all year long for this event and today I did not miss it!

I know you did not make winter just for me but each year as it comes, it is like my first Christmas gift.  I receive it like a child, smitten by tiny snowflakes that together blanket the ground and trees and roofs and sidewalks and my heart.  When I stepped inside the car on my drive home from my daughter's home, I saw a teeny, weeny pile of snowflakes caught in the corner of my window.  I put my finger there trying in some way to communicate my thanks.  But, of course, my warm finger through the glass melted the unique treasures.  I couldn't keep from smiling.

You give
good gifts,
Eternal God.
You bless us
again and again.
Thank you
for today's
amazing gift.
I loved it!
I love you.

Always, Andrea

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Dearest God,

All creation speaks in one voice.  Your message comes to us on a breeze, in a smile, a birdsong, a quiet plea or a joyous uproar of laughter.

Today's voice was one of surrender and trust.  As colorful leaves drop from their safe branches, they cry out, "Let go, release, trust, surrender."  Oh, if it were just that easy and yet, in faith it is.

Every day you send a call from heaven.  You touch human hearts and inspire all.  Yet, we usually miss the invitation to respond, to interact, to relate, to let go, to speak and to listen, and finally to fall backward into your arms. We are blessed to have you as our God and to be your children.

O Lord,
thank you
for this
morning's message.
Thank you
for your kindness
and love.
Speak to us,
O Father,
and help us
to hear.

Love, Andrea