Monday, March 30, 2020

Dearest God,

What a gift nature is right now.  She is speaking to us of hope and resurrection.  As the flowers blossom and the trees bud, they dance in the wind as if to say, "Trust in the Lord.  He is our hope and our salvation.  Rise, shine for new life has come."

As I watched this beautiful scene yesterday, I thought of how you always give us a picture of your living presence.  No matter where we live or what circumstances are ours, you give us a sense of your being with us.

Holy and Living God,
thank you
for the picture
of renewal.
Thank you
for new life
that has come
with spring.
Thank you
for teaching out
to us.

Love, Andrea

Sunday, March 29, 2020

Dear God,

So many people are doing so many good things.  People are sewing masks and gowns for medical workers.  Others are using 3D printers making face shields.  Some are collecting food for shelters and homeless persons.  Still others are making cards, writing good news messages on their homes and children and families are penning chalk messages on the sidewalks and parking lots.  Many are praying for loved ones and strangers who are ill and dying, people who are on the front lines fighting the corona virus and world leaders.  All these are acts of compassion that come from the heart to reach out to others.  They are your hands and heart.

You are showing us our capability to do more and be more for others.  Through a very difficult situation, you are bringing out the best in many of us.  You are guiding us toward love for all.  You are reminding us how we need one another.  You are urging us to show compassion, offer mercy and bless others who are frightened, anxious and worried.  You are inviting us to deepen our faith so we can trust you more and love others more as well regardless of who they are and what their situation is.

You are blessing us, Heavenly Father, in ways we could not have imagined!

Thank you,
Merciful God,
for living
life lessons.
Thank you
for opportunities
to love,
serve and give.
Thank you
for teaching us
the way
of love.

Always yours, Andrea

Saturday, March 28, 2020

Dearest God,

Yesterday was an especially difficult day.  I woke up, bleached down the kitchen, washed clothes, cut out more fabric for face masks for health care workers and I was exhausted.  I was angry, sad and depleted.  I learned that one of my favorite couples at my last church have the corona virus.  John is close to 90 and Jean is not far behind.  He is hospitalized and she is being tested at home.  So close to home and heart.

I recognized I needed to dwell with you all day.  I needed to surrender my fears, anxieties, frustrations, worries and hurts.  I had to let go, release everything that was troubling me.  I knew only you would take all I had to offer.  Only you could fill me back up.  I knew I had to drink from your well of living water and eat from your table of spiritual food.  Only then could I return to my sewing, my praying for others and my willingness to reach out.

All day long I felt your presence leading me home.

Only you
can heal.
Only you
can give hope.
Only you
can erase
all that
troubles us.
Only you
can fill us up
with mercy.
Only you.

Love always, Andrea

Friday, March 27, 2020

Dear God,

When all seems lost, when we are afraid, when we doubt, fear or lose our way, we come to you because we know anywhere else is a dead end.  When we come up short for answers or solutions and everything seems impossible, we fall at your feet.  When we are at our wit's end, we know there is only one place to go, only One to see.  It is you, Lord; it is you.

We all have those days, dear God.  Sometimes those days become weeks, months or years.  We like to think we are self sufficient but we find we cannot conjure up everything we need.  Only you can do that, Gracious God, only you.

As we stumble our way through this global pandemic, we know we need you.  You know our needs.  You know all your children need your help.  Brothers and sisters around the world, in every nation are hurting, dear Father.  Your children in Italy especially hurt, O God, but so are many others in Europe and in the United States.  But developing nations could lose millions of your children to this corona virus.  O, Compassionate One, help them.  Please help all who are sick and dying, for all who are losing their loved ones without saying goodbye and for all who are working sacrificially to aid all who are sick.

We turn to you, Heavenly Father, to you.

Merciful God,
hear our pleas,
hear our cries
and our need
for mercy.
Direct us
to your well
of healing hope.
Guide us
to you.
Lead us
to faith.

Love, Andrea

Thursday, March 26, 2020

Dear God,

I am making face masks for health care professionals.  So far I have made 48.  I feel purposeful.  I know I am doing important work.  But Lord, when I do so, I feel the fear, anxiety, worry, pain and loss for all those working with sick patients.  I feel their burden and at times I feel exhausted.

I know you are calling all of us to rely on you for courage, strength and peace.  I know you want us to surrender all that keeps us from peace.  I know you want to fill us with you and then we can do our work, whatever it may be, to help others.

Help us, O Lord.

Blessed God,
you are
the Great Physician.
You are
the Great Comforter.
You are
the Prince of Peace.
May I
breathe you in,
O God,
help me
breathe you in today.

Love, Andrea

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Dear God,

We shared how we felt about what is happening in our world.  We felt anxious, worried, angry, sad and even happy.  How is it possible to have such varied emotions swirling within us?

Our covenant group has met every Wednesday for 30 years.  As brother and sisters we talk by conference call.  For one hour we listen for your voice through our silence, sharing and devotion.  We have learned to trust one another completely.  Today when we spoke we realized how our emotions are all over the place.  But one thing was for sure...we are all trusting you.  We are leaning on you.  We are praying to you.  We are drawing close to you.  While we feel our closeness to one another, we rely on the knowledge of your closeness with us.

Years ago when I was feeling alone, frustrated, sorrowful, hurting and angry, you invited me to trust you, to fall backward into your arms and to dwell there for as long as I needed.  At the time it was the sweetest and best invitation because through a prayerful meditation, I did just that.  What I discovered was that you were waiting for me.  I felt loved, held and blessed.  I breathed in your essence and found myself at peace.

I am doing that now, O God; I am doing that now.

Holy God,
thank you
for strong arms,
a loving heart
and blessed grace.
You are everything
to me.
I need you now
and so do
my friends
and the
whole world.
Are your arms
big enough
for all of us?

Love always, Andrea

Tuesday, March 23, 2020

Dearest God,

For two days I did not sit with my circle of friends (all the authors of devotional books I am reading) because I was sewing face masks for health care professionals.  Today as I awakened the thought came to me that I could not forget my first love.

So I sat down and read and listened and prayed.  I realized how close anxiety and fear were to me before I sat down to dwell a while with you.  Suddenly you stretched my world larger so faith could have a chance at combating fear within me.  I smiled knowing why you wanted me to sit with you today first thing in the morning.

O Lord, I can become so distracted by many things.  While my work sewing masks is vitally important, my growing fear was making me less able to be and do my best.  I needed you first, then I could give my best to those I am sewing and praying for.

Remind me
of my priorities,
O God;
show me
the way
to faithfulness.
Teach me
once again
to come
to your first
for courage,
hope and peace.
Loving God,
thank you
for your gifts
this morning.

Love, Andrea

Monday, March 23, 2020

Dear God,

Your message is very clear:  Keep your eye on me!  Keep your eye on me!  Keep your eye on me!

In every way on every day you speak to us.  You hold us.  You teach us.  You guide us.  No one has more love for us than you.  Right now you want us to keep our eye on you.  In so doing we will find hope.  We will discover peace.  We will know help is here.  Courage will rise up and so will faith, wisdom and even joy.

These are hard times, O Lord, such hard times.  Help us keep our eye on you!

Loving God,
we need you
so much
right now.
Show us
the way
to help,
healing and wholeness.

Love always, Andrea

Sunday, March 22, 2020

Dear God,

Although we were online together as a community of faith, my heart and spirit soared seeing the faces of people I love and love me back.  In each one I saw the face of your son.

When we began our morning worship Lucy, our Outreach coordinator, listed several opportunities to care for our neighbors in homeless shelters, nursing homes, and health care institutions.  I was so excited to get started on a couple of projects to help.

I decided to make 100 face masks for health care professionals and other at-risk people.  I put out the word I needed elastic.  Before I knew it two baggies of 1/4" elastic was on my porch.  My high school friend in Florida told me to pick out what I needed on Amazon and she would buy it and ship it to me overnight.  My youngest daughter Jill who does not sew at all found eight packages of elastic in her craft supplies.  She too was excited.

I discovered hope today, Lord, and I know that hope comes from you.  Ordinary people are doing extraordinary things and I can't help but believe you are leading this unprecedented time in our world. I felt hopeful and I believe you are presenting hope to others through simple acts of kindness.

Compassionate God,
there is
no god
like you.
Thank you
for blessing us
with hope.
I owe you everything
I have
and am.

Love always, Andrea

Saturday, March 21, 2020

Dear God,

Early this morning I drove to Walmart before it opened thinking I could park up close, run inside, grab a few things and get out.  Silly me.  When I arrived half the parking lot was full.  People were already lined up.  I turned around and came home.

As I was driving in the dark, something came to me.  What was that I saw?  I asked myself.  What was it that I saw as I looked at the people standing in line in front of the building?  Then it came to me and I saw it very clearly:  Christ in the Walmart line.

Many years ago I saw a piece of art.  Called Christ in the Breadline, it is a black and white picture of Jesus standing in the line waiting his turn for bread.  This morning it became Christ in the Walmart line.  The faces were different but Jesus was the same.

Thank you,
Holy God,
for the gift
of your presence
at Walmart
this morning.
Thank you
for drawing close
to all
of us.
Your love
is great enough
to encircle
the globe,
everywhere with everyone.
Thank you.

Love, Andrea

Friday, March 20, 2020

Dear God,

I am awed by the generosity of people right now.  That bit of holy mercy you put in us at creation, well, in many places it is paying off.  People are helping people.

We are capable of so much more than we think or believe.  We have a reservoir of your love that is seated in the heart of us.  We may not see it, feel it or know it often but it is there, sometimes invisible like love of family and friends.  We can't see it but we know it to be a real reality in our lives.  We can drink from that refreshing reservoir anytime we like.  It is free for the taking.

When we are afraid, alone or troubled, it is probably a sign we need to take a drink.  And the more we drink, the more we will have to share.

Holy, Gracious God,
give us
a drink
of your
living water.
Replenish our supply.
Help our minds
and spirits
to take in
what we need
so we
can share,
I pray.

Love, Andrea

Thursday, March 19, 2020

Dearest God,

Although our world is shaken upside down, there are some things that happen in the same way.  The sun comes up and sets.  Oxygen is plentiful so we can draw in deep breaths first thing in the morning just to be sure there is enough for us.  And spring is breaking.  New life is showing its face.

It is so easy to fall prey to fear, anxiety and hopelessness.  Yet, it really is the most opportune time to try out something new.  Try letting faith pierce our darkness.  Let worry be overcome by peace.  Count your blessings and acknowledge what you have versus what is absent.  All of these can tackle our fears allowing hope to rise up.  There are 180 references to hope in the bible if we want to crack open our bibles and look them up.

We are your people, your children, your family, O God.  You made us to dwell, walk and talk with you.  Help us to remember this today and every day.

Loving Father,
thank you
for making us yours.
Thank you
for your promises
that we
can rely on
especially today
during this health crisis.
Move us
to more
and more trust.

Love, Andrea

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Dear God,

When a limb is cut from a tree, it looks out-of-place, ugly and wounded.  But in time you help heal the wound and finally it becomes a beautiful part of the tree.  The tree itself encircles the injury, heals it and brings a kind of picturesque beauty to it.  Even now as I gaze at the pin oak tree just outside my study I see five beautiful rings that seem to be a testament to their trust in you and confidence in its own ability to heal.

We can be like that too, can't we Lord.  You give us the same abilities, love and heavenly touch.  You know that whatever happens to us, ultimately you leave signs of healing for the world to see.  We too can become a testament to our trust in you to help, heal and make whole.

Thank you,
Healing God,
for the signs
of healing
in our world.
We need that
right now.
We need you.

Love, Andrea

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Dear God,

As I sat on the couch reading my devotions and feeling helpless, sad and disgusted at our failure president in his handling of the Corona Virus, you summoned me to look outside my living room window.  There I watched and listened as birds playfully swooned and sang together.  You made it clear to me.  Birds don't know where their next bite of food will come; yet, they play and sing in the midst of it.

Every day you invite us to pause and reflect on life all around us.  You give us pictures of the spiritual life reminding us of hope present in you.  So often you use nature as a teacher.  This morning you asked the birds to speak to my ailing spirit and so they did...powerfully.

You are God;
there is none
like you.
You know
the heart
of every one
of your children.
You touch
and bless us
even when
we don't notice,
recognize or acknowledge.
Still, you
are God.
Thank you,
Blessed One,
thank you.

Love, Andrea

Monday, March 16, 2020

Dear God,

This morning as I awakened, I felt panicky and anxious.  I wondered if my loved ones would be diagnosed with this deadly virus.  Truly, I felt frightened but then I sat down with my circle of friends, authors of books who live a life of faith from differing time periods, those who lived during difficult times.  As I read and listened for your voice, I realized your words:  Do not be afraid.

Who can offer us more comfort than you, O God?  Who wants to put salve on our wounded hearts?  Who wants to anoint us with the oil of gladness?  Who wants to give us strength and courage and peace?  Who wants to put inside us the hope of the ages?  You, O God, you.

As I listen
to your voice,
dear God,
my mind
is calmed,
my spirit
finds peace.
You have everything
we need,
dearest God.
May I
live out
of faith,
not fear.

Love, Andrea

Sunday, March 15, 2020

Dear God,

Everything is changing.  We are creating a new normal but the good news is you are with us.  We do not create anew without a good shepherd to lead us.  These days we need a good shepherd and we are grateful for you, Almighty and Living God.

Today I sat in my pajamas as I tuned in to our online church.  It felt so strange, yet an hour later when we concluded I was so glad to have seen the faces and heard the voices of our worship leaders.  We had no altar, no communion juice and bread and no pew in which to sit.  However, our service where we were together was an altar, communion juice and bread and a holy pew.

Indeed you were/are with us, Holy God.  Hallelujah!

Blessed are you,
God Most High.
You are living,
not a
dry character
out of
a book.
You dwell
with us,
in us
and around us.
We are
so very grateful.

Love, Andrea

Saturday, March 14, 2020

Dear God,

I lift up my gratitude to you, O Lord, gratitude for faith, hope, peace, joy and love.  You give all these to us.  They are gifts from your hands.

I give you thanks for all who are working diligently to curb this terrible virus that threatens our whole world.  Thank you for doctors, nurses, researchers, medical technicians, global health workers, for janitors and food service workers, for all hospital and clinic employees and for all whose job it is to deal with medical needs.

Thank you for all who are singing to each other, who are sharing their goods with strangers and friends and for those who are providing for emotional and spiritual needs.  Thank you for all who are reaching out.

Thank you for leaders who are working to communicate factual information, who are making difficult decisions to care for their people and who are willing to change the way they do usual business to offer creative solutions to threatening situations.

Thank you for all who are praying not just for themselves and their loved ones but for the world, all the world's people.

Thank you for love and mercy that are showing up in different ways.

Holy God,
keep gratitude
on our lips.
Help us reflect
on all those
who are
helping us.
Thank you
for changing us
or at least
bringing out
the best
in us.
Show us
how to
be grateful people,
I pray.

Love, Andrea

Friday, March 13, 2020

Dear God,

This surely is a time for hope and trust.  Throughout all of scripture these two words appear so many times.  Why?  Because during difficult times we often lose hope and fail to trust.  We need hope and trust and who can better provide them than you, O God?

And what are these two things?  Hope is believing in something, someone larger than ourselves, one who knows our situation and our world's, who loves us and promises to be with us always.  Hope is knowing that while things may look bleak, the sun shines on the other side of gray clouds.  We don't have to know everything about everything right now but we can hope that this too shall pass but in the meantime we are held by One who cares and cares deeply.  Trust is placing my belief in God in a positive way to my fear, anxieties and worries.  It means surrendering my well being into the hands of one who made me.  It is believing and practicing that belief in what we know to be true.  The dark will give way to the light, the sun will rise, blue skies will replace gray ones, hope will help relieve our fears and no matter how bad things may get, tomorrow will come.

We have never had as much control over life as we have always thought.  This time of crisis is teaching us that.  But what an extraordinary time it is to lean back into the arms of God, offer love to those who are important to us, take up praying daily, counting our blessings and doing what we can to keep ourselves and others safe.

To you,
O God,
we lift
our hands
and hearts.
We need you.
Reveal yourself
to us
so we
may deepen
our faith.
Strengthen us
to hope
and trust.
Above all,
show us
how to put
our hand
in yours.

Love always, Andrea

Thursday, March 12, 2020

Dear God,

We fight change.  We resist suggestions to change.  We put our feet in concrete to stay right where we are.  Yet, the state of our world is forcing us to change.  The way we do things is changing.  We may not like it; we may hate it.  But change is happening in every level of life right now.  And it is not all bad.

Lord of the Cosmos, we resist your call to change.  You are always offering us ways to be transformed.  You know better than we that we need change in order to live better lives.  You want to take what needs changing, make tweaks and give us a better way to go.  Daily you call us to transformation.  You want to take the whole list of things inside us that do not do well by us.  You want to take them from us, relieve us of their power and remedy what hurts, embitters, breaks, betrays and injures us.  You want to offer us your healing salve to all that troubles us.

Now is the time, you tell us.  Be not afraid for I am with you, you whisper, while you change us.

Almighty and Gracious God,
we are
your children
in dire need
of change.
Take all
that wounds
inside and out,
bring us
your salve,
place it
on us
and in us.
Lead us
to healing change,
we pray.

Love, Andrea

Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Dear God,

Fear is running rampant all around the world for more reasons than we can count.  Life as we have known it from food availability to economic stability is impacting millions.  And because of it, many are afraid.

A simple bug is taking our world by storm perhaps like the plagues in Egypt.  While there is reason for alarm and concern, it is also the perfect time to kick the dust off our faith.  Now is the time to reconsider where our true source of peace, comfort and hope comes from.

When we are frightened by all that is around us, you whisper to us:  "Do not be afraid."  There are many measures we can take to keep ourselves safe but as for fear among us, there is One we can turn to calm our anxiety.  It is you, O Lord, only you can give us peace right now.

Loving God,
your people
are frightened.
Your people
are hurting.
Your people
are filled
with worries
and concerns.
Be our peacemaker,
our peace keeper.
Draw us close
like a
loving mother
holds her young.
Show us
the way
to peace.

Love, Andrea

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

Dear God,

There is a serious threat to everyone on the planet.  The Corona virus is out there spreading its contagious germs.  No one is exempt from its threat.

And yet, we are reminded as in all of life that we do not need to be afraid.  You are with us.  Right now your mercy is everywhere.  Your love holds us working to erase our doubt and fear.  We can trust you to help us keep safe by doing our own part to stay healthy, to pray for others and to be wise not to do anything that will harm or threaten or put fear in others.

It is a time to pray for all nations, all researchers, all health care workers, all who are right in the middle of everything including all leaders.

Show us
the way
to tackle
this threat,
O God.
You have answers
to our dilemma.
Show us
the way
to good health
and safety
for every soul
on the planet,
near and far
for all
are your children,
O God, all.

Love, Andrea

Monday, March 9, 2020

Dear God,

Winter debris is all over our yard, leaves that were not raked in the fall, twigs and branches broken and fallen during winter storms and pieces of oriental grass that detached and flew with the wind.  As I look out the window, it looks cold, muddy and unkempt.  The real questions that comes from this "nearly spring" scene is:  How is it with your soul?  Does it too need a cleanup?

The answer is yes I do.  Often you use nature to speak to us, to challenge and push us to reflect on our own interior lives.  Looking at my own, I realize I do need a cleanup in so many areas of my life.  But even as I examine my own insides, I believe you help us look at ourselves through the lens of hope and love which you always promise us.  We don't do hard things without you.

As I work in the yard to clean up for spring to truly emerge in a prepared area, I pray I will work on me too, to prepare for the spring spirit to come to me as well.

Loving God,
thank you
for nature calls.
Thank you
for faith
that teaches us
to trust you
so we
will see life
in a
deeper way.
Thank you
for my
cleanup lesson.

Love, Andrea

Sunday, March 8, 2020

Dear God,

It was a simple exercise with profound spiritual insight.  Each of us listened as you whispered qualities, characteristics and holy words that described us individually and then we cut slips of paper, wove them together, selected different colors for each word, and finally wrote the words on the paper slips.  In the holy exercise you spoke.

You whispered to me the words but more than that you spoke about how I was woven.  "Too tightly," you said.  I held up the weaving and saw that I had not left enough space for your light to shine through.  I pulled out a couple of slips and loosened others.  You told me to leave some blank so you could weave others in as they came.  By the end of the exercise all slips were loose and I realized you were remaking me, showing me the way you wanted my life to be.

Holy God,
on retreat
without distraction
where silence ruled,
you lead
the way
to valuable insights.
You showed me
the truth
that sets us free.
You whispered
your love
to me
once again,
to all
of us,
to each
of us.
You are God;
there is none
who love
like you.

Always, Andrea

Saturday, March 7, 2020

Dear God,

I awakened early in the morning to your loving presence in my bedroom at the retreat house.  I felt blessed, challenged and held as I lay in bed lifting my praise to you for the gifts all around me.  As a continuance of our retreat, I felt close to you, waiting to hear your voice challenge me.

Throughout the day you worked particularly in one of our lives.  You moved this one deeper and deeper asking hard questions requiring difficult answers.  But we knew this was coming.  We have known it for years.  But today it was time, time for this beloved child to face one of their greatest challenges.

What amazed me most was one... you first filled the space with unconditional love, great mercy and holy wisdom.  Two you gave us courage to ask the questions and to wait for the answers.  Third, you inspired a breakthrough where sobbing tears came, tears that were held for years and needed to be expressed.  We waited in the quiet while you stirred in the beloved soul.  We watched the miracle.

Loving God,
you astound us
by your
amazing grace
and holy love.
You comfort
and challenge
at the
same time.
Thank you
for your desire
to heal.

Love, Andrea

Friday, March 6, 2020

Dearest God,

For nearly two years we have not held a covenant retreat mostly because of illness, hospitalization and other problems.  As a group we have missed this very special time with you and one another.  Each of us expressed a longing for this one to take place.  As Susan and I rode together we talked about precious spiritual moments.

"As a deer pants for water, so do I long for you, Living God," I murmured like the psalmist.  I couldn't wait to arrive, hug my spiritual friends and then move into silence where silence becomes your holy voice.

Holy God,
thank you
for setting aside
sacred space
and time
for our
covenant group.
Thank you
for your spirit
that works
among us.
Thank you
for longing
that directs us
to you
and one another.

Love, Andrea

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Dear God,

As retreat time draws near, I am like a lightening bug drawn to the light in the darkness.  I search for the light and when I see it, I can hardly wait to get there.

It has been a couple of years since our last covenant group retreat.  Due to many serious concerns, we had to cancel our retreats and that has left Jan, Bill, Susan and I wanting.  We want, need this time away that challenges our roots to go deeper and deeper.  We are true pilgrims that seek your faith in daily living.  Our retreats are designed to grow our faith, nudge us toward change and transformation and motivate us toward deeper love and service.

As I pack my bag and reflect upon this holy, sacred time coming up, I realize how incredibly blessed I am.

To you,
all glory
and praise,
my gracious Lord.
Thank you
for spiritual time away.
Thank you
for growing
my faith
and teaching me
to surrender
and trust you
more and more.

Love, Andrea

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Dear God,

"Like a deer pants for water, so I long for you, O Lord," the psalmist whispered.  I found myself hungry and thirsty when I pulled into the driveway of the Benedictine Monastery.  It had been months since the temperatures were high enough that my colleague and I could sit in the car, participate in our hour-long covenant group conference call and then go inside for the liturgy.  But just the sight alone brought peace and joy to my inner spirit.

As we read and sang the psalms, memories of sweet grace flooded my soul.  Your monasteries from Indiana, Maine, and New Mexico have fed my soul, shifted my thinking and taught me many spiritual lessons.  The sisters have inspired me to spiritually imagine the road of faith.  They have motivated me to take the twisting, turning roads instead of the straight paths.  They have shown me what true, authentic faith is all about and to be sure, I have hungered for monastic expression.  Participating in the liturgy was like coming home after a long time away.

You are God;
there is none
like you.
You speak
to me
in ways
so wonderful
that I have
no way
to truly
show you
my deep appreciation.
I am blessed,
blessed by
women of faith
devoted to you.
Thank you
for faith
that gives me life
and love
and grace
and mercy
and challenge.
I love you so much.

Always yours, Andrea

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Dear God,

In ways too mysterious for us, you draw us together to those we pray for.  For nearly two years I have been praying for Diana and Doris, a woman who works at Kroger who told me her mother was just diagnosed with breast cancer.  I began praying for her that day.  A year ago I met Kate and Sal on a plane headed east.  Both recovering addicts and struggling Christians, we shared together across the aisle until we arrived at our destination.  And then there is Ella, a seventh grader a year ago who was shot five times by a student at her school.  She represents all victims of mass shootings.  I pray for all these daily.  I don't know them but we live together in prayer.

Only you
have the power
to bring
strangers together.
Only you
can give us love
for one another.
Only you
can change us
in prayer.

Love, Andrea

Monday, March 2, 2020

Dear God,

St. Francis stands quietly beside our back patio.  Holding tiny birds in his hands, he calls me to be still and listen, to surrender my own selfish thoughts and be aware of your holy presence.  When I first envisioned him nearly fifty years ago, I did not know he would lead me on a holy path to the Divine.  I did not know he would lead me in singing, praising and giving thanks.  I did not know we would draw close, collapsing the centuries between us.

There seems to be a thin veil between humanity and the saints.  Only when we are silent and listening can we enter into the holy of holies where your spirit speaks, challenges, comforts, stretches and loves.  As I gaze upon him even now, I know our hearts beat with your own heart.

Thank you
for the blessing
of faith.
Thank you
for saints,
particularly St. Francis
who has been
a friend
for a long,
long time.
Thank you
for his insights,
his devotion
and his service.

Love always, Andrea

Sunday, March 1, 2020

Dear God,

This morning I noticed tiny green stems pushing up through the soil in my flower garden.  Snow had protected them and now they were feeling the pull of heaven to rise up from their sleep.  Although I have seen this happen for years, I am always awestruck by the seasonal rhythms of plant life.

Without the call of life, those plants would wither and die.  They would rot beneath the ground and never appear.  Yet, with their gentle call, they rise up to love, faith and hope.  Some would say they are simply flowers doing what they are designed to do but when seen through the eyes of faith, they are rising on your word knowing they will be given living water, warm sunshine and rising temperatures.  They too recognize the Creator's voice and they respond.

Loving God,
how I love
your master plan.
Your creation story
is told
once again
every year.
Through it
we find faith
and draw close
to you.
How grateful
I am.
Receive my love
and deep appreciation.

Yours, Andrea

Saturday, February 29, 2020

Dear God,

As I began to put away the olive wood nativity set, I looked at the small wooden pieces and thought how it was not just a set of wood figures but rather an amazing story.  As I placed the pieces, one by one, in the box to be put away until this coming November, I reminisced how valuable the story really is and how precious it is to relive every year.

It is amazing how you show us how to place value on items of faith.  You teach us the stories of faith, tuck them away in our minds, hearts and souls and keep them there all year long.  Faith is not seasonal but rather day to day, moment by moment living.  In these we find our relationship with you.  We step inside the stories and dwell there knowing we will meet you.

Holy God,
thank you
for this
quiet, holy moment.
Thank you
for reminding me
of the value
of your story.
Teach me
to live
and dwell
in you.
Spark my faith
to grow,
deepen
and share.

Love, Andrea

Friday, February 28, 2020

Dear God,

I watched as my granddaughter played 8th grade basketball.  Tourney time, I gazed at the teams running back and forth across the floor fighting for the ball and making baskets.  I thought about my granddaughter who has been playing since third grade.  Her goal is to play college ball and to eventually be a coach.

What a wonder it is to see the infinite number of ways you have made each of us!  My Lucy practices several days every week.  She is driven, driven to make excellent grades, to be a leader, to help others, to organize herself and to love all those around her.  She exudes all the good qualities you put in her DNA.

My granddaughter is but one of your precious images in the world, one I happen to love very much.  Yet, there are so many others walking the earth, doing their part and fulfilling your plan for them.  What blessing it is to observe your work in her.

Thank you
for your gift
of life,
Holy One.
Thank you
for making
each one uniquely
in your image.
Thank you
for bring joy
into the world.

Love always, Andrea

Thursday, February 27, 2020

Dear God,

Very tired from my long journey home, I watched out the window as snowflakes whirled and twirled in the air outside my bedroom window.  I thought of every unique flake and the power of the wind to move them all around.  Beauty gripped my full attention.

Daily you provide great scenes of your living presence.  The wintry scene outside my window began my day as I thought of you.  Creation is one of your greatest gifts, the seasons, colors, rhythms, sounds and scenes cause us to pause, to think and to reflect.  It is a great motivator and inspirer to me.

On such days you give me special time to consider what is blessing and then I have opportunity to name them and give thanks.

Thank you,
Loving God,
for reminders
of your
living presence.
Thank you
for the snowflakes
that revealed
even more
of your
wondrous artistry.
Thank you
for every gift
of every day.

Love, Andrea

Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Dearest God,

I started the day in the fog and ended the drive in windy, steady-falling snow.  For nearly 400 miles I thought of how the last 30 days were all gifts.  The silence, the work, the insights, the wintry landscape, the simple meals and walks back and forth to the hermitage were all holy, happy moments. It's amazing what will come when we are quiet and listening.

Every day is a day to count blessings, to reflect upon past and present and to dwell in the lap of luxury of your amazing presence.  Each day I found more blessings for which to give thanks and while thanking you for gifts given to me, I prayed for the world, for every nation and people, for all the suffering and oppressed, for the gifts of generous givers, caretakers and lovers of those in need.  I realized how, if we really think about it, we could be giving thanks every moment of every day.

When I pulled into the driveway of my Indiana home, weary and worn, I murmured my prayers of thanksgiving for a safe drive home and a very long list of blessings.

Holy God,
no one
gives good gifts
like you.
Everything I have
is a gift
from you.
I am
most grateful
that I know that.

Love, Andrea

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Dearest God,

As I pulled out of the driveway to begin the thousand-mile drive home, I thought of you, your goodness and mercy, your love and friendship and your help and guidance.  All during my stay in Maine, you were my strength.  On days when I was tired, you lifted me up.  When I started a task I didn't especially enjoy, you came to me in a song.  When I needed to accomplish many things in one day, you reminded me how important, valuable and wonderful it was to begin our day together with my circle of friends in reading my bible and devotional books, listening and praying.  Only then was I ready to fully begin my day.

I counted my blessings as I drove, oh so many, so very many blessings.  I whispered, sang and even one time shouted my thanks.  All day long you added to my blessings as I gazed upon the sleepy winter landscape in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York and Pennsylvania.  You showed me your creation and what a creation it is.  You gave me strength to drive 677 miles today.

Thank you
for faith
and spiritual awareness
that call me
to be attentive
to blessings
all day long.
Thank you
for today.
Your creation
is something
to behold
with holy hands
and I did.
I love you.

Yours, Andrea

Monday, February 24, 2020

Dear God,

Today I have a to-do list a mile long.  It is my last day before traveling home to the Midwest.  As I completed my task, I simply checked it off.  But not before I paused to reflect upon how much I finished during my visit.  Wow, was all I could say.

What interested me most about my month-long stay is just how much help you gave me daily to complete my work.  Each day I started with a passion for my tasks.  I found strength and desire to do a very good job because each assignment was something I could do for you.  I wanted to do my tasks with a desire to please you.  Most, if not all my work, was done with faith.

Faith is always before me as a whisper and a challenge.  The whisper is the invitation to do what I do for you first.  The challenge is to do my best and with a heart full of love.  Oh, there are some things that are not my favorites but even those remind me what it means to be a partner with you, to work with you, to take your lead and guidance, to follow through and to give thanks and praise for our living, loving relationship.

Eternal God,
thank you
for your
constant presence.
Although I
may not always
feel it,
I always know
you are
with me.
I do
not have
to beg you
to come
and be near.
You are
already present.
Thank you
for the work
we did together.
It is
always a joy
to work
with you.

Love, Andrea