Friday, December 31, 2021

Dear God,

Oh, if only our ways were your ways!  We would anticipate, expect and celebrate daily living in your holy presence!

Yesterday when my great granddaughter handed me a Christmas bag, I was shocked.  "For me?"  I spoke.  She nodded yes.  I was not used to receiving a gift from Ryan and his family because I had not seen him in seven years.  I had always sent gifts but never expected anything in return.

I had no idea what was in the bag but when I drew it out, I swallowed hard, again shocked.  It was a lovely, colorful, wooden lighthouse.  What an unusual gift to receive, I thought until I remembered our covenant group conference call on Wednesday when a member called me a "lighthouse."  I knew then you were at work once again blessing, inspiring and leading.

When we ask you to open our hearts, minds and souls to your spirit, you do so.  Then when we actually use them for a deeper, fuller awareness of your spirit in our lives, we are shocked by your grace.

Blessed are you,

Almighty and Compassionate God.

Thank you

for your

wondrous gifts

of lighthouses

and grace.

Thank you

for reminding us

of your

holy presence.

Love, Andrea

Thursday, December 30, 2021

Dear God,

You draw us together in amazing ways.  Although we may be strangers from far and near, we can be pilgrims on the same path.  As we come together, we have opportunity to pray for one another.

This morning after writing my letter to you, I looked at the readers, the names of countries where there are those who are pilgrims like me.  As I read their names, I prayed for them in the United States, Canada, Serbia, Russia, Portugal, Romania and Ukraine.  Yes, we are strangers but still pilgrims together.  I smiled imagining us on the spiritual road together.

Loving God,

thank you

for bringing us together.

Thank you

for reminding us

we are 

not alone

on the pilgrimage.

Keep us close

to one another

in prayer

and contemplation.

Love, Andrea

Wednesday, December 29, 2021

Dear God,

Recently I had to leave home before the sun rose.  Making my way down a familiar road, I became disoriented and nearly turned into a tree and yard instead of the short road I always take as a shortcut.  Yes, it was a bit foggy but not enough to confuse me, nearly causing an accident.  Only later did I take into account cataracts on both eyes.  The optometrist said surgery should be done sooner rather than later.

Although my eyes have a physical problem, I confess they also suffer from spiritual problems.  Sometimes I allow conflict or emotional pain to cloud my vision.  When I can't really see, I jump to conclusions about people or situations.  That can cause me just as much trouble as cataracts.

The near accident caused me to ponder how faith can help clear our vision.  Out of faith can come discernment, wisdom and truth.  And each of these come from you.

Help me,

help us all,

O God,

see more clearly.

Help us

to trust you more.

Teach us again

the lesson

of faith.

Love, Andrea

Tuesday, December 28, 2021

Dear God,

No matter which way I turn in the early morning hours, I see the light shining in the darkness.  The way the Christmas tree is situated, it reflects its lights in the study windows so when I sit in the chair by the fireplace, I am surrounded by light.

I believe that is true.  Your light is all around me like it is everyone.  If your light shines on one, it must shine on all.  You have no favorites or rather all are your favorites.  Your light is for everyone.

During the Advent season you shined brightly on me giving me so many opportunities to be the light for others.  As you brought ideas to me of those I could reach out to with your light, I took the challenge and shined warmth, love and help to people in need.  Every day there was someone, a family, an organization, people facing tragedy, troubled men and women.  You brought them all to me.  I just got to carry the light, your light to them.

Thank you,

Holy God,

for shining

your light

on me.

Thank you

for giving me

the light

to share

with others.

Every idea

was yours.

I simply

got to 

carry the light,

what a privilege.

Love, Andrea

Monday, December 27, 2021

Dear God,

This early morning while doing my devotions, I gazed upon the Christmas tree beside me.  It is so beautiful, most ornaments having some special meaning.  With the lights all aglow, the red beads shining and the prized ornaments speaking their own language of love, I realized that although the tree is lovely, it would mean nothing without faith, without Christmas, without a baby in a manger.  It would simply be a pretty tree in the living room.  But why?

I spend hours decorating my tree.  I love the pine scent, the snow I spray on it and every ornament.  I love making it beautiful because I do it for you.  I give it to you; I dedicate it to you.  It is a symbol of my love for you.  

I keep it up for weeks, well past time most people take it down.  I keep it up because it feeds my faith, my prayers and my gratitude.  I just keep celebrating who you are, what you are about and what you mean to me.  I fill with joy and thanksgiving!

Loving, Compassionate God,

thank you

for the gift

of Christmas

and for

my tree

that speaks

your language.

Thank you

for blessing

and inspiring!

Yours, Andrea

Sunday, December 26, 2021

Dearest God,

The beauty of faith is that it enlarges our perspective, enabling to see and experience more.  Yesterday was Christmas.  What a beautiful day it was!  Yet, today Christmas continues as it swells my heart by the sweet memories made.

I can live yesterday again, not because I want to live in the past but because yesterday was full of faith.  My faith grew so yesterday that I carry yesterday's beauty today.  Faith equips me to do that because it points me back to you.  When I remember, I remember you.

Thank you,

Living God,

for all

the gifts

of yesterday.

I witnessed healing,

hope and joy,

none of which

were wrapped

in packages

under the tree.

Thank you

for Christmas blessings

every day.

Love, Andrea

Saturday, December 25, 2021

Dearest God,

It is Christmas again!  Your beautiful generosity in allowing us to sing the song of Christmas faith once again touches me deep down in my soul.  Year after year it is the same.  Your exceptional generosity, wondrous love and amazing grace inspire, heal, help, bless and touch us.

Thank you for every kindness during Advent, for miracles and healing, for help and guidance and for gifts, small and large.  They have overwhelmed me.

Last night's Christmas Eve service with its music, message and readings caused me to weep into my cloth mask as I whispered over and over again, "This is all for you, Lord, all for you!"  We sang our praises, offered our prayers and lifted our candles, the light of our faith to the heavens.  "All for you, Lord, it is all for you!"

Blessed are you

God Most High,

blessed are you.

All praise 

to you,

Holy One.

Thank you

for the blessings

of Christmas.

Love always, Andrea

Friday, December 24, 2021

Dear God,

Early this morning after reading my devotions, I turned out the light to pray but I paused instead by the light still in the room.  The Christmas tree lights reflected in the windows.  The outside lights reflected in the study windows and the front door windows.  Suddenly I whispered quietly, "I am surrounded by the light."  

I think this is the meaning of Christmas, being surrounded by the Light.  That one light, the star that shone brightly reflects all over the world.  The one light is Jesus, God made known by many names.  As I sat surrounded, I felt your Christmas presence.

Holy, holy, holy

are you,

God Most High.

Your light shines

in the world

and even

on me.

Thank you

for the

unexpected gift

this morning.

I love you.

Yours, Andrea

Thursday, December 23, 2021

Dear God,

This morning just before my devotions, I sat in the chair next to the Christmas tree and gazed into its branches.  The blue hue of the lights, the snowy branches and ornaments caused me to be transfixed on the mystery of Christmas.  Why would intelligent people cut down an evergreen tree, place it in a holder with water and then decorate it with baubles and bows if not for faith?

The Christmas tree declares Christmas exists.  Christ exists.  Faith exists.  Its presence says I believe.  I believe in the mystery and magic of Christmas.  I believe love came down at Christmas.  I believe in gifts, prayers, songs, laughter and hope.  I even believe in peace on earth, good will to all.

A smile spread wide on my face this morning as I pondered the dimensions of my faith.  

Holy are you,

God of my faith.

Thank you

for the holy

in my home.

Thank you

for coming

long ago

and just 

minutes ago.

Thank you

for faith

that opens doors

to you.

Love always, Andrea

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Dear God,

Once again you have surprised me with the sweetness of memory!  Thoughts of family long gone pervaded my memory bringing lovely, loving scenes where love flourished, grew and nurtured me.

Watching old Christmas movies helped create thoughts from the past.  I found myself smiling, savoring relationships, shared events and gifts of life given.  I held the memories close knowing you brought them to me.

Thank you,

Loving God,

for recreating

holy events

from my past.

Thank you

for bringing

family members close.

Thank you

for unexpected blessings today.

Love, Andrea

Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Dear God,

Why is it so easy to lose faith?  How can we experience a miracle on Sunday and complain on Monday? 

We are finite humans prone to fall prey to sin.  We forget all you have done and are doing.  We let go of the joy of miracle to grab hold of "a mess of potage."

Teach us once again the lesson of faith, of trust and surrender.  Forgive us our failings, our desire to complain and our outrage when we don't get what we want. Guide us, Eternal God, to the well of grace.

Thank you,

O God,

for making

us discontent

with ourselves

when we fail.

More than anything

we seek you,

your way

and your will.

Help us

climb the mountain

of grace.

Love, Andrea

Monday, December 20, 2021

Dear God,

Why are you so generous?  Why do you give so many gifts?

Tonight, I watched a Christmas movie entitled, Noel; I watch it every year at Christmas time.  But this year something very special happened.  A movie about three troubled people, it points to ways people found healing and hope.

During the movie a vision came to me.  It was a picture with three scenes, three very significant scenes.  The first was of my grandmother in a nursing home, the second of my mother in the hospital and the third of my father in the hospital.

In the first I was sitting on the floor looking up at my grandmother telling her my woes when shockingly she began praying for me naming me as she asked you to help me.  A victim of Alzheimer's, she was lucid for just a minute as she put her hands on my head and prayed.  

The second was when I had stayed for days with my mother in hospice care.  She was nearing the end, but she kept hanging on.  I gave her permission to die without me if she needed to.  I went to the waiting room for 30 minutes.  When I came back, she was still alive.  I thanked her, slipped into my bed beside her and turned out the light.  I took hold of her hand and a couple of minutes later the room grew cold.  I turned on the light and watched Mother take her last breath.  

The third was when I was called to the hospital because my aging father, also a victim of Alzheimer's, was dying of pneumonia.  When I walked in the door, he was sitting up, awake and talking.  When he saw me, he spoke my name and told me he hadn't seen me in a long time.  Knowing I only had seconds, I said, "Daddy, I love you; I love you; I love you."

These gifts were all miracles of great proportion for me, and I knew you had a hand in each of them.  Tonight, I relived those those miracles and what gifts they were!

Thank you,

Wondrous God,

for the

rich blessings

called miracles.

Thank you

for the miracles

years ago

and the ones

you gave me 

again tonight.

I will always

be thankful.

Love, Andrea

Sunday, December 19, 2021

Dear God,

I want to call this Miracle Sunday!  Today was the most beautiful day of Advent!  The morning message given by Rev. Chris Henry was spectacular telling us how you came into the world letting nothing stop you, not the darkness, not chaos, not weariness, not anything.  You came because you were most needed to come!

I truly felt the rush of spirit wind breeze across my face as I listened to his message and the inspiring morning worship music.  As tears welled in my eyes, I kept whispering, "This is all for you, God, this is all for you.  We are singing our love song to you!"

Thank you,

Holy God,

for the gift

of faith.

Thank you

for Advent

and for

all that

is holy.

Thank you

for blessing us.

Love always, Andrea

Saturday, December 18, 2021

Dear God,

When harsh words are spoken, our hearts can feel the crush of rejection, sorrow and pain.  It can knock us down and we can stay down.  But your last words on earth whisper in our ear, "I am with you always."   Always means always.  Always.

Like a hurt child runs to a parent when they are injured, you invite us to run to you where your arms are always open, waiting for us to enter.  As we step inside those warm arms, we feel your love lifting our grief.  You tell us you love us and always will.

Remind us

the lessons

of love

and faith,

O God.

Show us

the way

to you.

Thank you

for open arms

waiting for us.

Love, Andrea

Friday, December 17, 2021

Dear God,

Your grace fills the world.  When we are open to you, doors and windows open presenting opportunity after opportunity to serve the world.  When we pray, "Open me to you, Lord," you do indeed open us to you.  Your loving power can open the human heart to a hurting world.

All Advent I have prayed for these holy openings and I have not been disappointed.  Door after door opened to me and I walked straight through.  You took me to our local food pantry, to a home for battered women and children, to a homeless shelter, to a family whose home and possession were lost to a fire and now the door has opened to people who lost family, homes and possessions by tornadoes in Kentucky.  You even put more money than I expected in my pension fund.  You have enabled me to help, to serve and to love.  None of this is because I am anything special; it is not.  It is all about you and what you do for us through prayer and a trusting heart.

I am so grateful to you, Loving God, for every door entrance, every opportunity and every chance to bless.  

Thank you

for your

incredible love,

Gracious God.

Thank you

for moments

to bless others.

Thank you

for leading me

to you

and to those

praying for help.

You create circles

of love

all the time.

Thank you.

Love, Andrea

Thursday, December 16, 2021

Dear God,

Love changes everything!  As I accept your love for me, really allow it to embrace the whole of me, I am filled with love to share with others.  I no longer have to be stingy with my life because I have more than enough overflowing all day long.

On days when I feel lonely, I fall backwards into your arms.  There I find so much love that at times I fall into a great laugh because I am so blessed, inspired and warmed that there is an overflow that comes out of me.  It happened today.

This morning you filled me with a wonderful idea.  I decided to be your hands and do it.  I went to the Speedway Gas station and bought $300 worth of gas cards.  I drove in the rain to Plainfield and delivered them to Family Promise.  When I was handing them over to the receptionist, a woman popped out from behind a wall.  "You have no idea how precious those are to people.  It makes all the difference in the world to them.  Thank you so much!"  She spoke.  "The joy was mine."  I replied and I meant it.  When I got back into my car and drove away, I burst into smiles and laughter because my joy was full to bursting.

Thank you,

Holy and Living God;

thank you

for the privilege

of sharing

your love.

You are full

of love

and grace

and you 

offer it

to your children.

Thanks for

allowing me

to help.

Love, Andrea

Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Dear God,

We couldn't help it.  Our hearts were full of gratitude.  After years of chaos, division, loss, pain and anger, our covenant group instead focused on the countless ways you have been blessing.  We shared healings, insights, transformation, joys, inspirations, answer to prayers, renewed hope, and peace found.  All of us; we celebrated your work, O Lord.

As we laughed, giggled and guffawed, we knew these were deep blessings that came from your hand.  It was almost like climbing out from under a rock, watching the dark cloud lift and feeling the air cleanse itself.  A new life, yes, that is what it was, a new life emerging.

Faith changes everything,

Loving God.

Trusting you

gives greater opportunity

for change

in our minds,

our spirits

and our souls.

Joy is possible.

Hope is possible.

Faith is possible.

Love is possible.

Peace is possible.

Thank you.

 

Love, Andrea

Tuesday, December 14, 2021

Dear God,

The greater our trust, the more love that falls from heaven.  Faith opens doors to heaven's ways.

The more we hold our lives tightly, the less space there is for faith.  Trusting makes life easier, happier and more fulfilling.  It eases tension, releases us from burdens and make us breathe easier.

So why do we hold on so fervently?  We are control freaks, Lord; we like power, authority and control.  We like to force others into our molds and our ways.  But our ways are not in our best interest or the best interest of others.  When we hold gently and softly, faith is able to make it into the cracks, changing us and giving us opportunity to transform others.

Holy God,

you are 

the power

of love

and faith

and surrender.

Thank you

for loving us

so much

that we

are able

to take hold

of your hand.

Lead us

to life,

O God,

a life

of faith.

Yours, Andrea

Monday, December 13, 2021

Dear God,

I had just spoken the words to my husband, "I want to send a love gift to one of the churches that was destroyed in the tornadoes in Kentucky but how do I know which one?"  In less than 30 seconds an interview came on television with a pastor from the First United Methodist Church in Mayfield, Kentucky.  My answer was swift and to the point.

You reveal yourself to us every day, many times a day.  If we are alert and willing, we will discover your daily appearances.  We will hear your voice, see your hand and feel your love.  This morning it was a quick, simple answer to a prayer.

Thank you,

Merciful God,

for all

the love

you send

to us.

Thank you

for offering us

a genuine relationship.

Thank you

for blessings

that come

from the heart.

Love, Andrea

Sunday, December 12, 2021

Dear God,

As the pastor ended his sermon with an amen, a thought came to me.  May the old story become a new story and may the new story become my story.

How many times have I read or heard Mary's story, of Gabriel coming to her to tell her she would become the mother of God?  I preached it for over two decades.  Sometimes it is difficult to find a new, meaningful way to preach the story.  Yet today the preacher did it.

Faith opens the door to old stories and new.  As we open our hearts and souls more and more to you, the old story can become new, and the new story can become ours.  As we walk the journey of Advent, who would not want to carry inside the old, new, my story? 

You are God;

there is none

like you.

As we

walk beside you,

Holy One,

old and new

become one

and the same.

Then miraculously

they can become

our story.

On this

holy morning

of worship,

it did become

my story.

Thank you

for the miracle.

Love, Andrea 

Saturday, December 11, 2021

Dear God,

Remember, you challenged us to remember you every time we meet at your table to eat the bread and wine.  You told us to remember you are with us always.  You reminded the Hebrews to remember the Passover, the rescue from slavery.  Remember, you said.

Last night I watched White Christmas, a movie I watch nearly every year.  Toward the end, tears began to well in my eyes as I remembered Christmases past at my grandparents' farm, my parents' home and various homes where my children grew up.  I lingered on the thoughts, remembering the gifts of their love

It astounds me what all we can remember.  The gift of memory can heal, help, bless, inspire and guide us.  When we remember you, our faith can grow and deepen.  When we remember people who have mentored, mothered and held us, we can feel nurture, acceptance and love.

As I watched my movie, I thought of you and all the amazing gifts of life!

Thank you,

Wondrous God,

for the blessings.

Thank you

for memory

and all

it holds.

Thank you

for teaching,

guiding, blessing,

challenging and 

loving us.

No one

does it

like you!

Love, Andrea

Friday, December 10, 2021

Dear God,

Sometimes we feel helpless to make good things happen.  We give up hope.  We collapse in on ourselves.  Yet, there are times when you surprise us.  Hard things become easy.  Good things come our way.  Hope rises up.

For years my husband's family has not come together for Christmas for oh, so many reasons.  But each year we have tried, only to fail.  However, just days ago, five families texted one another and within minutes, a gathering was planned for January 8.  Just like that.

It seems the secret is to trust you, to go to you in prayer, to listen to your will for our lives, to surrender to you and then to take steps you offer.  When we walk with you and follow your leading, we are surprised by many things.

Loving God,

thank you

for the

wondrous gift

of family love.

Thank you

for the gift

of faith

that helps us

move beyond ourselves

to trust you.

Thank you

for blessing us.

Yours forever, Andrea

Thursday, December 9, 2021

Dear God,

How do we keep suffering from despairing us?  Horrid things are happening.  Children are being sold.  Smugglers are taking money from desperate people, packing too many in trucks and people are being killed.  Many are choosing not to be vaccinated and many health care workers are collapsing, some taking their own lives.  Domestic violence, mass murders and political lies are terrorizing and killing people.  How do we deal with all the horrible suffering?  

Darkness threatens us from every corner.  It seeks to overtake us, sucking the life out of us.  Yet, at the same time your light refuses to be stomped out.  It pops up in strange places.  A life is saved by a stranger, people are giving generously to feed and house the needy, gifts appear out of nowhere.  It goes on and on.  

You remind us of your words long ago, "I am with you always."  That does not mean sometimes; it means always.  In these dark times, O God, you whisper your love to us through slivers of light that shine to give hope.  You offer us opportunities to become the light to light the darkness of others.  You give us opportunities to shine light at every level of human life.  When we find it, our darkness cannot remain as the driving force, only your light.

Let your 

light shine

on us,

Light of the World.

Reveal your light

in our darkness.

Help us

to not

hoard your light

but to

shine it

on others.

Love, Andrea

 

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Dear God,

Heaven's song is in the air.   Outdoor Christmas lights, holiday movies, special programs and books, musical concerts, winter air and seasons greeting cards all tell me so.  Each and every one point me to the One who came long ago and lingered.  The world knows Christmas is here.

The genius of faith is that we see the holy, the sacred, the divine in daily living.  We do not have to search for every day we see it all around us.  A sunrise, a baby's cry, an unexpected gift, a pearl of wisdom or an early morning birdsong all tell me you are present.

This season, my very favorite, gives me much opportunity to pause, reflect and give thanks. It is an inspiring time to dig deep into the soil of your mystery where we can deepen our faith, challenge our negative thoughts and find new spiritual treasure just waiting to be discovered.  If taken seriously and intentionally, I can truly arise in faith, resurrected on Easter morning.

All praise

to you,

Glorious Savior.

Thank you

for this

marvelous season

full of

pregnant possibility.

Thank you

for every gift

of this time

of year.

Love always, Andrea

Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Dear God,

All day long I had to choose faith over fear!  I really do not like to fly.  Annoying, frightening thoughts rush into my mind before a flight; none of them ever good.  At the same time, you remind me it is simply a moment for choice.  Will I dwell on these troublesome scenes, or will I grab hold of faith exchanging one action for another?   I breathed and chose faith over fear.

This simple act of faith works!  As I whisper to you, Almighty God, "I choose faith over fear; I choose faith over fear," I know your power is enabling me to trust you for the fear I experience, real or imagined. Sometimes it is easy to trust.  At other times I have to really bolster my trust in you.

Today I learned my daughter has Covid.  With underlying conditions, I felt fear rise up within me.  As a chosen unvaccinated person, she came down with the dreaded disease.  My fear for her life and my anger at her for choosing not to be vaccinated threatened to overtake me.  But once again I heard your still small voice, "Can you trust me for this too, Andrea?"

Gracious and Merciful God,

thank you

for daily nudges

to choose you.

Thank you

for hope

and peace

that comes

when I

choose to

trust you.

Thank you

for a 

living faith.

Love, Andrea

Monday, December 6, 2021

Dear God,

As the airplane roared down the runway, I leaned toward the window to watch as we climbed into the dark early morning skies.  As we lifted up, I could see the twinkling lights below.  What a beautiful sight!

Even now as I think about it, I realize we can't often see the light without the darkness.  In that dark, black sky in the airplane, I could see thousands of white lights spreading out across cities and states from Indiana to Florida.  It reminded me of how you shine your light to and from all parts of the world.  I loved looking and receiving not only the lights from below but from the Light above.

Holy God,

you are

the great source

of light.

Daily in

so many ways

you radiate

your light up

and down,

out and in

and side

to side.

Thank you

for being

the Light

and for sharing

your light

with us.

Love, Andrea

Sunday, November 5, 2021

Dear God,

As the sun slowly rose from its sleeping place, I moved quietly from the sleeping house.  Turning the corner on the unfamiliar street, I felt the gentle breeze upon my skin.  I began to pray feeling the need to lift names of those in trouble right now, a friend's nephew in a rehab center, an anxious mother, grieving parents and school mates, a worried husband and our world so often spinning out of control.  As I prayed, your song came to my lips.  "Come, thou long-expected Jesus, born a child and yet a king..."

As I continued my walk through the foggy morning, I felt your loving presence.  I praised your spirit at work in my life and the lives of those around me.  I recognized how void life would be without you.  I sang the rest of the way back home. 

Thank you,

Caring God,

for the

amazing gifts

of your spirit.

Thank you

for including me

in your life.

Thank you

for all

your blessings,

especially the

sweet blessings

of this morning.

Yours, Andrea

Saturday, November 4, 2021

Dear God,

What joy filled our hearts as my daughter and I caught sight of Lori, my cousin.  We had flown to Florida to bring Christmas cheer to Lori and her husband Steve.  You gave her a new heart in July, her old one failing.  A very generous man donated his heart when he died in a car accident.

As we talked together, we marveled that Lori was here.  Doctors had given her a year to live, and that time would have been up about this time.  But here she was sharing happily with us.  Her laughter and joy were such a welcome sight and sound.  All we could do was smile.

We are all looking for second chances, O God, for oh so many reasons.  When we see what you can do, it 

makes us want to fall to our knees in thanksgiving.  We are so blessed, inspired and know grace has especially come our way.

Blessed are you,

God Most Loving.

Thank you

for all

your generous gifts.

Help us

live up

to your hope

for us.

Love, Andrea

Friday, November 3, 2021

Dear God,

As I pieced the flannel comforter together, a gift for my husband for Christmas, I thought of the way you piece our lives together making it whole.  Who has the power to connect all our pieces together?  No one but you, Holy, Loving God.

I remember having lost pieces through estrangement, divorce and cancer.  At times I was overwhelmed, unable to keep it all together.  But when I began to trust you more and more, you showed me the way to reclaim, renew and restore my life.  I could not do it alone; you were the power of this amazing transformation.

We all have fallen pieces, Merciful God; nothing is lost to you.  You know it all.  You hold every piece.  When the pieces begin to come together, it is then we remember whose power and love enabled the whole process.

Thank you

for your

amazing work,

O God.

Thank you

for your

generous spirit

and loving way.

Thank you

for remaking us

and making us

whole again.

Love, Andrea

Thursday, December 2, 2021

Dear God,

I do believe life is made up of hundreds of choices we make every day.  When I rise for the day, I can choose how I will live the day, full of gratitude or stinginess.  I can cling to the light or walk in darkness.  I can spend the day judging others or find your image in them.  I can respond to daily occurrences with love and forgiveness or anger and resentment.  When your son asked people questions, he was offering them a choice of how to live.

Oh, if only I choose to live in the light, hope and appreciation, my day will be a happy, calm day.  Faith gives us the edge.  By faith I can choose the light.  By faith I can choose love.  By faith I can choose grace.  It is all about choosing with your help.

Merciful God,

thank you

for giving us choices

to make.

Thank you

for offering light

in our darkness,

hope in 

our despair 

and faith

in our fear.

You always

bless us

by your

many gifts.

Thank you,

Loving Savior.

Yours, Andrea

Wednesday, December 1, 2021

Dear God,

December 1, I cannot believe it.  When this first day of December rolls around again, I cannot help but think about you, about faith and hope and love, peace and joy.  It is the Advent season, the holy time of waiting, anticipating and giving.

I revel in these days when millions of hearts turn toward you.  There is something so very special about this season.  I love giving gifts to family, strangers, people who have special needs, to church, homeless shelters and to food pantries.

You turn our hearts inside out.  You show us how to show our hearts by listening to your voice, following your will and blessing others.  As we love with your love, we begin to see you in those around us.  You want us to find you in one another.  You truly want peace on earth for all.

Lead the way,

Holy God,

lead us

to you

and one another.

Open our hearts wide.

Stretch us

to love all,

not just

the lovable

but the unlovable

as well.

Yours, Andrea

Tuesday, November 30, 2021

Dear God,

I look all around the living room filled with Christmas decorations.  The tree stand is empty waiting for the one special tree to fill it.  Snow people lay on the floor waiting to be placed on tables, cupboards and counters.  Although it is all in disarray, I smile anyway.

My living room will become a beautiful space with lights, ornaments, snow people, gifts and handmade coasters.  My grandchildren will look it over and tell me how lovely it is.  But when I look at it, I see beyond the Christmas decor, I see the pregnant mother on a donkey, a nervous, first-time father, a stable, wise ones and shepherds.  I hear the angels singing and the prayers of mother and father for this special God-loved baby.  I see Christmas as it is meant to be, more than gifts, seasonal beauty and expectation.

I see faith, that vulnerable, tender love that reveals the intention of and for the world.  I see your light and hear your son say, "I am the Light of the world."  I smile because this is it; this is what we live for, you and we together celebrating, praising and loving.  Redemption, grace, agape love, restoration and renewal even in my living room.

Thank you,

Holy God,

for the joy

of this season.

Give us eyes

to see beyond

the trinkets.

May we

honor you

this season

of faith.

Love, Andrea