Monday, November 29, 2021

Dear God,

Each morning as I sit with my circle of friends, devotional writers, I think how much more faith can possibly reside in the world.  All these faith-filled people tell their stories, of loss and hope, of tragedy and faith, of darkness and light, of doubt and insight and of chaos and peace.  As they speak through their writings, I breathe in their light, hope, wisdom, love and faith.  Sometimes I think I will burst!

I am exceedingly grateful to all who share their pilgrim journey.  They challenge me every time to rise up, to make up and to climb up, in other words, to move from where I am to where you are calling me to be.  Their honorable stories of transformation always point to you as their power, courage and strength.  They reveal what it means to be a light bearer, a hope giver and a peace carrier.  

Today as I count my blessings, I count each of them for the ways they inspire, help, guide, bless and move me.  

Thank you,

blessed God,

for the gift

of spiritual friends.

Thank you

for every gift

they offer.

Bless them,

O God,

I pray.

Love, Andrea 

Sunday, November 28, 2021

Dear God,

This morning I looked out into the dark night sky.  It was cold and clear so the twinkling stars radiated their mystical glow.  I just stood there looking at your wondrous creation.  Who else could have created this?  No one but you!

We often miss the magnificence of your creation.  We take sunrises, sunsets, stars, moon and sun for granted.  After all we see them every day.  What is the big deal?  We may ask ourselves.  But the truth is:  it is a big deal.  Nothing is more exquisite than your amazing creation.

As we look out the window at your creation, we find you.  We feel your presence.  We experience hope.  We are awed by your beauty.  We feel connected, a sense of belonging.  We see light in the darkness and know who that light is.  Just one tiny peek enables us to see your sacred glory.

Holy, holy, holy,

Lord God Almighty,

your creation

mirrors your light

in the world.

It tells us

your story.

It sings

your song.

Thank you

for time together

at the window

this morning.

Love, Andrea

Saturday, November 27, 2021

Dear God,

Authoress Ann Voskamp talks about bridges that connect our past and present.  That notion brought to mind how trust connects the bridge between faith and fear.  If I am on the precipice ready to fall, if I see no way out or if I feel lost without a friend and I am afraid, then all I need to do is trust you and I will see the bridge that will lead me from my fear to faith.  One step can lead me to peace and joy.

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997, I was sorely afraid.  I stepped inside the darkness of fear and felt paralyzed.  Knowing I could fall into despair, I simply uttered your name and peace swept over me.  I breathed in that sweet peace shocked that it came so quickly.  The light came dispelling my darkness and I found you beside me through the whole, arduous journey.  Faith, trust and the light saved me.

Holy God,

today is 

a day

to celebrate faith

and trust.

Thank you

for the gifts,

so many,

too many

to count.

Thank you

for bridges

that redirect us

and lead us

to you.

Love, Andrea

Friday, November 26, 2021

Dear God,

As I write I feel a deep sense of your spirit abiding within me.  As I rest in this quiet dwelling place, I know you are with me.  But more importantly, I am grateful you allow me to rest in you.

There is no better place than this.  Your dwelling place existence includes silence, a serene place of calm, where hope, peace and joy bubble up.  It is a praiseworthy, sacred space where human and divine meet so much like Michaelangelo's depiction of God and man with hands outstretched touching one another.  There is a well of living water where thirsty souls can drink.  

While my earnest desire is to dwell here with you daily, I know when I am distracted by daily events, I still carry that secret dwelling place with me.  I can visit and drink and rest anytime.

You are God;

there is none

like you.

Thank you

for the

rich blessing

of your

dwelling place.

Thank you

for the well,

the hope

and the love.

Yours, Andrea

Thursday, November 25, 2021

Dear God,

There is something truly heartwarming to know millions are celebrating Thanksgiving Day.  While we all have different ways of expressing thanks, at least we are thinking about gratitude.

During the course of the last few weeks, you have guided me to a deeper understanding of gratitude, particularly as it can lead to healing, restoration and peace.  Being thankful changes our perspective or it can.  Being grateful can help us find new paths that can lead to transformation.  Being appreciative can help us release old wounds because it helps us discover treasures that were hidden from our eyes.  

On this holy Thursday, my greatest blessing is you, O God, our relationship, my faith and the hope I carry with me each day, all gifts from your hand.

Loving God,

thank you

for remembering us.

Thank you

for teaching us

how to

be grateful.

Thank you

for blessing 

us daily.

Love, Andrea

Wednesday, November 24, 2021

Dear God,

Trust, there is no substitute!  We could look long and hard, yet, never find it.  Trust is the one ingredient in faith that is indispensable.

There is only One who can be trusted completely and you are that one, O God.  When we give all our trust to you, we can rest easy knowing hope is ours.  Right now, I am fighting to trust.  With all of me, I want to trust completely.  I need to trust completely.  This morning I found what I needed:  "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."  Romans 15:13 NIV

It is an amazing wonder how you lead us to what we need.  You led me to this scripture just minutes ago.  I found it as I read one of my devotional books entitled One Thousand Gifts.  I immediately memorized it so I can whisper it all day long until trust fills in me toward you.

Holy and Living God,

my heart

is full

of love

for you.

Thank you

for blessing me

with your

merciful love.

You know

the intention

of my heart.

May I

truly trust you

in all things,

all, not some.

Thank you.

Yours, Andrea

Tuesday, November 23, 2021

Dear God,

You distracted me, diverted me to truth and love.  When I awoke at 2:00 a.m. worried and fearful about several things that are happening now to people I love, I began to think the worst but your gentle tug called me to the side, like a coach to a player, a teacher to a student, a mother to a child.  "Listen, you can choose a better way."  

A better way, yes, you always offer a better way.  A better way is trusting, hoping and believing in possibility.  That potential lifts the sorry, fearful soul to a higher place.  It inspires us to believe something else, more positive. It pushes worry, anxiety and fear to the side replacing it with hope, peace joy and even gratitude.

Your love

and mercy

is 24/7.

You never sleep.

As long

as your children

are troubled,

you are awake

and ready

to give provision.

Thank you

for this

morning's distraction.

I like

your better way.

Love, Andrea

Monday, November 22, 2021

Dear God,

Your spirit is always at work, Holy Father.  When you reveal yourself, we are amazed.

I did not expect the play to be anything but a play in which our grandson was the lead character.  When I found myself weeping halfway through the performance, I knew you were present in the theater.  

The Women of Lockerbie brought back memories of the tragic killing of my nephew.  After four years I heard my sister's thoughts.  What was Jason thinking in his last moments as he was engulfed in smoke?  Was he afraid?  Did he cry out to God?  As I listened to the "women" I realized more fully why my sister still grieves the loss of her son whose own adopted teenage son started the fire.  

Because I believe you are with us through all circumstances, I believe you were the only one with Jason, that he was not alone.  I believe you are also with Debi and I am grateful.  Help her to believe it too.

Gracious, Merciful God,

thank you

for blessing us

with your presence.

Help all those

who suffer

and grieve

terrible losses.

Be ever

so present

with them, Lord,

that they

may find healing.

Love, Andrea

Sunday, November 21, 2021

Dear God,

Hidden deep within the soul is divine DNA, a cell from your own self.  Every human soul has a portion of you.  How do I believe that?  It is because at a very young age, I sensed something wonderful inside me.  I knew it was more than me, a little girl who others said I look like my grandmother.  I intuited your presence within me.  Something powerful, something beautiful, something wonderful resided in me.  It took years to better understand that knowledge and my feelings.

I am not unique or better or more special than anyone else.  I believe all this to be true in every living soul.  I believe your love is so deep and wide that you had to give portions of it away to others.  You keep on doing it even today.

Thank you,

Blessed God,

for that

inner spot

inside me.

Thank you

for allowing

your own self

to be implanted

into me.

Pure grace.

Love, Andrea

Saturday, November 20, 2021

Dear God,

No one can take our joy away.  We can only give it away.

When worry, anxiety and fear enter our soul, there is little space for joy.  And the more we fear, the less room there is for joy.  I believe joy is planted in the human heart and soul by you.  Everyone gets a dose because when we are made in your image, joy naturally comes along with it.  But we get to determine how much joy we have.  We can multiply it by trusting more and more in you.  We can subtract it by lessening the space where it lives.  We can divide it by giving space to everything else.  Joy is divine, a gift by the greatest giver of all time.  We decide.

Today when I first awakened I thought about yesterday's worry that I allowed to spill over into my today.  I felt anxious and afraid but then I remembered joy, your joy, the joy that dwells within me.  So, I decided to give joy all the space it needed today.

Thank you,

Living God,

for joy

that heals,

renews and blesses.

Thank you

for giving us 

choices to make.

Thank you

for reminding us

of all

your daily gifts.

Love, Andrea

Friday, November 19, 2021

Dear God,

Thank you for my today, this brand new day where the sun has not yet risen, yet, is filled with hope and possibility.  Thank you for my yesterday, all the gifts, insights, discernment, hope and joy that came my way.  Thank you for my tomorrow that knows my future.

You constantly remind us that every day is a gift of monumental value.  It is like a blank slate waiting for us to write on it, or others or you.  In fact as I just wrote that the vision that came to me was me awakening first thing in the morning and see you have written on my slate, "Good morning my sweet Andrea."  

What more could I want?

Holy God,

how blessed

I am

to know

you know me.

Thank you

for letting me

know you.

Thank you

for daily writing

on my slate.

You are

my God;

there is none

like you.

Yours always, Andrea

Thursday, November 18, 2021

Dear God,

There is always a line, a space or an obstacle we need to reach before making our final surrender.  There may be many other things, thoughts, judgments or old habits we seemingly have to wade through before we reach that last step, the last stop on the way to release.  I think I finally figured out what hinders me from that last piece is admitting, confessing I am afraid.  

There I have said it.  I am afraid.  I am afraid of putting myself on the vulnerable line.  I am afraid of being hurt, injured again.  I am afraid of loss.  I lost so much before; I just don't want to face that again.

Now that I have finally confessed the line is fear, I realize the absurdity of my fear.  I don't have to be afraid because loss only brings more gain.  When I face loss, you come to me giving me more of yourself.  Whatever gaping hole I have in my soul is filled up more with you and no one can give more.

Oh God,

thank you

for this realization.

Thank you

for bringing me

to this place.

Thank you

for reminding me

the greatest filling

is always you.

Thank you,

Merciful God.

Love, Andrea

 

Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Dear God,

You are always calling us to rise higher, higher in compassion, love, understanding, mercy and forgiveness.  When we want to be angry, resentment or judgmental. you whisper, "Rise higher, my beloved child, rise higher."  I have to confess I do not always want to rise higher; I want to stay in my judgment.  On the other hand, of course, I want to do your bidding.  Why?  Because you always know better.  You have my best interests at heart.  You know what I need as well as others.

I am so grateful you are the voice of reason, kindness and wisdom.  You desire this world to be a better place, a better people and a better me.  Only you can clean us up, make us clean and get rid of the soils, sins and selfishness.  Only you can make your creation bright once again even if it is only in tiny spots at a time. 

Loving God,

thank you

for redeeming us.

Thank you

for loving

all the world,

not just me.

Thank you

for your

cleansing process

that renews us

and the world

at the 

same time.

Love always, Andrea

Tuesday, November 16, 2021

Dear God,

Every day I search for your spirit, Living God.  Sometimes it comes in the early morning rising of the sun.  Sometimes it is the movement of the trees dancing in the breeze.  Again it comes when I hear the pop of the seal on a can of peaches I home canned during the summer.  It always comes in the wide smile of my great granddaughter's smile.  And, of course, the moment I hear the grand organ sounds of hymns in worship on Sunday morning, I know I have found you yet again.

It seems I have been looking for you all my life.  Even as a small child, I wondered about heaven and God and creation.  Cousins would point out the moon and stars on a dark summer's night and there tell me I had found you.

As I write each morning, I think of you, of you in my yesterday, of you in this moment and of you in my tomorrow.  I know that I know that I know I will meet you in all my days and my heart wells up with great joy!

Thank you,

Loving God,

for your

living, loving presence.

Thank you

for allowing us

to know

and experience you.

Thank you

for this

holy moment

full of you.

Yours, Andrea 

Monday, November 15, 2021

Dear God,

This morning as I sat in my chair meditating on the devotional writers' words of faith, truth and challenge, I couldn't help but realize the holy work before me.  The quiet was simply the sound of your whisper.  I really wanted to sing, "Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!  Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee."  Although all I could see out my windows was darkness, I knew within a couple of hours, the light would come bringing first the outline of the landscape and then the full view.  Why would I not want to praise and give thanks?

Early morning is by far my favorite part of the day.  I love to wake up to darkness, turn on the light and sit in my chair where my devotional books await me.  There I listen and hear your voice.  I swell with joy because I know your holy presence right where I sit.  I drink in your word and breathe in your spirit.  Why would I not know your joy first thing in the morning!

Holy and loving

are you,

Merciful God.

Thank you

for early

morning revelation!

Thank you

for the

wondrous gift

of your

living presence.

I love you.

Yours, Andrea

Sunday, November 14, 2021

Dear God,

It was while I was praying that another miracle was forming.  I had sat with my circle of friends reading my devotional books and contemplating their trustworthy, faith-filled words when it was time to move to prayer.  When I prayed finally for the whole world and all who are in it and said amen, I opened my eyes.  There before me, my long-awaited dream came true.  It was snowing, so many fat, beautiful flakes were falling just outside my window.  As they collected on the grass, trees and shrubs, my smile spread as my voice declared your praise once again.

There is hardly a more beautiful sight this time of year!  Those tiny, white creations remind me winter is coming.  My most favorite season is a time of spiritual nourishment and refreshment for me.  Like the trees that dig their roots deeper into the ground searching for nutrients, so do I dig down searching for the same.  And I am never disappointed!

Holy and Loving God,

thank you

for the gift

of snowflakes.

Thank you

for each one,

created uniquely

and exquisitely.

Thank you

for the season

of winter

and all her

special treasures.

Love, Andrea

Saturday, November 13, 2021

Dear God,

As the seasons change before our very eyes, there is the whispering of your spirit inviting us to change as well.  Let go, surrender, rise up, breathe in, take a new path, step into the future, release those burdens, smile and trust me, all these we hear and know you are saying them to us.  You know the inner depths of our souls.  You know our troubles.  You know our hidden resources.  You know we are capable because you give us what we need.  The invitation is simply an encouragement for a brighter future beginning today.

Sadly, we are often like the last leaves on the tree hanging on to the known and familiar, resisting the call to let go.  We hang on for dear life not realizing new birth awaits us if we are courageous and trusting enough to surrender.

Teach us again

to reach

for you

while letting go

of what

keeps us bound.

Help us

leave the familiar

for the

"yet-to-be."

Create in us

the desire

to be free.

Love, Andrea

Friday, November 12, 2021

Dear God,

Thanksgiving is coming and I feel gratitude welling up within me.  Gratitude for faith, hope and love.  Thanksgiving is not just a holiday but a call to remember all your gifts to us.  It is time to assess life and the many benefits we gain by your generosity.  

Sometimes we focus on what we do not have rather than what we do have.  The air we breathe, your loving spirit and beauty all around us remind us of your love.  Food, medicine, clean water, loved ones and home are all gifts.

When I count my own blessings, they overwhelm me.  I am sorry when I forget or act as if I have too little.

Blessed are you,

God of All Blessings.

Thank you

for your kindness,

friendship and provision.

Help me 

live thankfully.

Love, Andrea

Thursday, November 11, 2021

Dear God,

Your words, your words were clear.  Do you want your past to be your present?  Do you really want to carry the past into your present and then keep it there?

Why do we let our yesterdays dictate so much of our today?  Why do we allow past hurts, disappointments and injuries to have so much power over us?  Why do we give in to continued sorrow, anger and resentment?  Why, Lord?

What you offer is a new today, one that has only just begun.  You give us opportunity to heal, renew and reconstruct our lives.  You invite us to share in your love, hope and energizing power.  Let go, you cry out, let go so you can drop the weight, the burdens and step into the future.

No one

cares more

than you,

Loving God.

No one

challenges us more

than you.

You want peace

and hope

for all

your children.

Help us surrender

all that

keeps us

from a 

good today.

Love, Andrea

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

Dear God,

Contemplation, a way to see you in the moment.  The monastic community of Catholic sisters taught me how to contemplate.  How?  I simply watched them close their eyes and mouths, move into a holy silence and open themselves to your living, present spirit.  Over time I realized how much love is in contemplation.

As I practiced this newfound concept, I found new paths opening up.  Doors, windows and even cracks opened to me.  A refreshing, warm, loving spirit found me as I entered those paths.  Voices of faith spoke, joy bubbled over and peace came in fresh, new ways.  The longer I lingered, the more I saw the wondrous mysteries of faith, space and time.  And I fell in love...with you.

Loving God,

thank you

for the 

amazing gift

of contemplation.

Thank you

for the way

in which

contemplation can happen

any time,

anywhere,

any situation.

You are

in the middle

of contemplation,

that magnificent space

of holy love

and grace.

Thank you,

Father,

thank you.

Love, Andrea

Tuesday, November 9, 2021

Dear God,

This writing is about you, not me.  It is about who you are and what you are about on Planet Earth.  It is about the ways you touch humanity, how your love is full grace and beauty, how your mercy is the stuff of which we are made and how your essence is part of every human.  

It is about praise and thanksgiving and gratitude to all you are, all you give and all you teach.  It is an acknowledgement of your spirit present in every day living, in all things and how blessings, insight and inspiration come out of that.   

It is about love, a love that far surpasses any understanding of love we know here on earth.  A love that encompasses even the tiniest thing, a love that cherishes, embraces and holds.  One that empowers, equips and engages all.  It is a love that gives life.

Thank you,

Holy God,

for all

you are

and all

you are about.

Thank you

for breathing

your life

into us.

Thank you

for loving us

in every way.

Yours, Andrea

Monday, November 8, 2021

Dear God,

When we are so focused on our complaint, we are blind to you.  We cannot see you because we are so filled up with the picture of our trouble.  Day after day we pray but only remain fixed on our issue.  We miss the answer, your presence and your grace.  Why do we do it?

It is like walking with a really good friend down a path, chatting, having a good time when we see someone else and leave the path to walk with them.  The farther we travel with them, the greater the distance between ourselves and the friend with whom we journeyed.  This is the case of our lives with you.  We walk with you and then we are distracted.  We often leave the path for something else or someone else.  Before we know it we are so far away we fail to remember the way back.

Yet, when we realize how lost we are, you gently take hold of our hand and invite us back.  You make it easy to return.  You call our name and once again we know who is calling loves us and want us to return to the familiar path with the one who loved us all along.

Thank you

for life lessons.

Thank you

for teaching us

all we need

to know

about relationships,

paths and unions.

Guide us home,

Lord,

guide us home

once again.

Love, Andrea

Sunday, November 7, 2021

Dear God,

Today I was glad I was wearing a mask when I began to weep in worship.  As I listened to the pastor preach, inside the message were your whisperings to me.  You opened the door and window to my soul and told me what I needed to hear.  I did not cry because I was sad; I wept because I realized once again just how good you are to us here on earth.

Although I have been going through a rough patch, I could see how you have been beside me.  You never once left me alone.  You knew I needed to know that.  I also needed to see and hear what lay hidden inside me, feelings, fears and bitterness.  Although I thought I had completely healed, you showed me those dark places where I needed to let the light shine.  And it did.

Holy and Blessed

are you,

God Most High.

Your love

is unlike

any love

here on earth.

Your love

is wide

and deep,

full to overflowing.

It falls

on all

and each

of us.

Thank you,

Merciful God,

thank you.

Love, Andrea

Saturday, November 6, 2021

Dear God,

This morning as I prayed, I lifted up the names of the sisters of St. Joseph, Carmel and St. Benedict as well as the brothers of Christ in the Desert.  Each of these Catholic monastic communities have helped forge a deeper faith inside me.  When I think of them, I am reminded of God's work through them to change me.

Who could guess a United Methodist minister would find respite, challenge, conviction, forgiveness and grace in Catholic monasteries and yet, that is exactly what has happened.  I have been drawn to monastic communities and they have blessed and inspired me in ways I could not have imagined.  

What intrigues me, O God, is the way in which you nudge us toward unfamiliar roads down which you want us to travel for a while.  There you whisper to us in refreshing ways to give us insight, knowledge, wisdom, help and guidance.  You invite us to open wide our hearts, minds and souls.  When and while open, you speak and move and bless.  All this you have done in me.  How can I ever fully convey my heartfelt thanks?

Blessed are you,

God Most High.

Thank you

for every moment

of blessing

and inspiration

in monasteries

of faith.

Thank you

for opening

my spirit

to yours.

Thank you

for transformation,

love and grace.

Bless you,

God of Great Love.

Yours, Andrea

Friday, November 5, 2021

Dear God,

Courage, faith, bravery, commitment and determination are the words that struck me as I walked through the Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.  Could I have ever been that courageous to put my own self and my family at risk to help others whose lives were on the line?  Could I have been a conductor on the Underground Railroad?  I wish I could say an absolute yes but I think I am I would be too afraid, too weak.  I hate even saying that; I hate it.

While learning more about freedom through the underground railroad, I heard the voices of courageous men and women speak about faith and its power to overcome enough to take risks for others.  Each time one more slave found freedom, their courage, faith and determination grew.  What I know is I want to be that person.

I am weak

but you

are strong.

Help me become

a person

of strength,

faith and courage,

O Lord.

Thank you

for all

whose witness

changed bondage

into liberation.

Love, Andrea

Thursday, November 4, 2021

Dear God, 

We cannot hide from you.  You know all our thoughts, secrets and worries.  All.

Sometimes we don't say the words aloud pretending like keeping them inside will hide them.  We only fool ourselves.  Yet, when we are open and honest with you, when we say the words and confess them, they fail to have power because whatever needs correcting, you guide us to do so with your loving power.  

No one cares for us more than you.  You care what is in our minds and our hearts.  Anything kept in the dark will come to the light and there is no greater loving light than the Light of the World.

Help us

empty our minds,

hearts and souls

of all

that needs ridding.

Help us

let go

of all

that is hidden.

Let your

light shine.

Love, Andrea

Wednesday, November 3, 2021

Dear God,

It happened again this Wednesday morning during our covenant group conference call.  Loss, sorrow and grief became a time of healing rather than despair.  Yet, another miracle!

It is often so easy to misinterpret happenings particularly when we are personally involved.  It may be there is more at play.  As I poured out my heart, my covenant members saw what I could not fully see.  As they listened to you and spoke, they led me down a spiritual side road which gave new perspective and helped me see the open door to healing.

I am constantly amazed at the work of your hands, the love deeply embedded in your grace and the power in discernment and wise vision.  You lead us.  When we follow closely, we can see the ways in which you uncover deeper truths.  When we keep on following, our path is opened to greater understanding, insight and hope.  Today we did just that!

Faithful and Merciful God,

who can dispute

your great love

for us?

You want us

to lean close,

trust much

and follow you.

Thank you,

thank you,

thank you!

Love, Andrea

Tuesday, November 2, 2021

Dear God,

This morning I awakened with a gloomy spirit.  Last night I was hurt by someone that I allowed to wound my soul.  I was still feeling the pain.

As always I moved to my study where my devotional materials waited.  I sat in my chair, circled round with spiritual writer friends and listened to them and to you.  Once again I read about your grace, our belovedness and hope.  The more I read, the more my spirit lifted.  I realized I have the power to change my own self as long as I hold onto your power that enables and empowers me.

Thank you

for this morning's

life lesson.

Sometimes I am

a slow learner.

Thank you

for allowing me

to breathe

the air

of your spirit

last night.

I fell asleep

in your arms.

Love, Andrea

Monday, November 1, 2021

Dear God,

Already the work of Autumn is doing its awesome task in my soul.  Fall is a time of transition, a true time of change.  No denying it, the leaves are dying, the tree is readying to shed its leaves.  Before long every flower and tree will be barren.  But the work of seeds, plants and trees will begin anew.

My soul is also crying out for change.  In recent days devotional writers have tugged at my heart, mind and spirit.  I need to let go too.  I need to get ready for what is coming.  I need to listen and follow your instructions like all of nature.  Only by listening and doing Autumn's work in my heart can I experience the fullness of life.  I want to do it because you are calling me to this transition time of change and transformation.  The best is yet to come.

Holy and Loving God,

thank you

for reminding us

that nothing

remains the same.

Teach us again

the need

for change,

sometimes radical change.

Make the whole

of myself

be open

to your call.

Love, Andrea