Sunday, April 10, 2022

Dear God,

Thank you for faith that gives us opportunity to know you, to be loved by you and to love you right back.  When I think of faith, I remember drawing so close to you when I was diagnosed with two kinds of breast cancer.  You stood with me through two mastectomies.  As a child I remember listening to my grandmother pray my name as she knelt beside her bed. I was comforted. When I was facing a divorce, you came to me, held me up and kept me going.  

But more than all of these, you called me to be a pastor who walked with others through hell, to share the story of the gospel with congregations and to lead retreats for all of us to pilgrim walk together.  You allowed me to be your hands as I did mission work, your mouth as I helped people know your love and your feet as we stepped through crushing situations together.  To be your partner in ministry helped us all to take your love to all.

Faith not only sustains me, but it also sustains all who simply take your hand and walk forward.  Faith brings us back to life after we fall.  Faith shows us love like we can get nowhere else.  Faith offers us grace, hope, joy, compassion and peace.  Faith is the ultimate gift you give to us, O Lord.

Thank you,

Father,

for loving us

so much.

Thank you

for faith

that connects us

to you.

Thank you

for every blessing

you give

to us

and to all.

Love, Andrea