Saturday, August 26, 2023

Dear God,

The moment we cry out to you, the light begins to shine.  Why?  Because at that moment we are acting in faith trusting there is someone greater than ourselves that we can call to help us.   It is an affirmation of faith, a belief so strong that we can leap into waiting arms.  Even unbelievers will run to you out of their great need.

What good news it is that we have someone to cling to in time of trouble, someone that can be counted on to give us comfort, hope and guidance.  Although we may have a specific answer we are looking for, we may get another because you know more than we do.  You know more about our need than we.

Help us

to run

to you first,

O God.

Show us

the way

to hope

and light

and assistance.

Thank you

for every moment

you reach out

to us

even before

we reach out

to you.

Love, Andrea

Friday, August 25, 2023

Dear God,

What is prayer but a sacred murmuring between lovers?  It is an intimate presence shared together.  There hearts and minds are known.  Spirits entwine and become one.

When we pray, we think we are simply asking you for things we want for ourselves and others.  But it is so much, much more.  In fact words do not even need to be uttered for you know what is in our mind and what is on our heart.  Our closeness is all we need when we pray.

Holy God,

thank you

for the gift

of your

living, loving presence.

Thank you

for inviting us in.

Thank you

for prayer.

Yours, Andrea

Thursday, August 24, 2023

Dear God,

Hope can only be found by trusting.   As we trust, really trust in our self and in you, we can find hope, the kind that will sustain us.

In today's world we are deluged with chaos and conflict.  Social media puts us at the doorway of politicians, corruption and misinformation.  Such closeness can drive us mad.  We wonder if we will ever find peace not only in the world but in ourselves.  Hope is necessary for peace and hope can only come if we trust.

And who has an abundance of trust that will help, guide and comfort us?  You, O Lord, only you.  We can discover peace on the surface of things but it is never enough to hold us up.  We need you and a strong ability to trust enough for meaningful, hopeful living.

O God,

we forget

where trust

comes from.

We believe

we are enough

but we

are not.

We need you.

Help us,

we pray.

Love, Andrea

Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Dear God,

Your earth is filled with amazing wonders!  As we drove in the mountains of Vermont, we could not help repeating, "This is so beautiful!"  Their forests, valleys and mountains were something to behold but then you know that, Lord, for you created them.

When by your own hands you fashioned the cosmos, you created color, shape, texture, height and depth.  Who but you could imagine and orchestrate such exquisite beauty?

Blessed are you,

Most Marvelous Creator,

blessed are you

for all

you have constructed.

You are

always worthy

of our praise.

Thank you

for the

magnificent creation

of the state

of Vermont.

Love, Andrea

Tuesday, August 22, 2023

Dear God,

Quiet moments with you give us those things we need most in life.  We need peace, hope and love to get us through.  Without such times of relationship, we wander without real companionship.  Companionship can lead us to peace, hope and love. 

When we connect with you through nature, scripture, tradition, worship or other meaningful ways, our lives can find focus leading us to calm seas even when storms come.  Breathing in your living presence stills the soul, opens the door to your spirit and clears the way for perspective, direction and mission.  

Thank you,

dearest God,

for showing us

the way

to you.

Thank you

for leading us

to peace,

hope and love.

Teach us

to always

turn to you.

Love, Andrea

Monday, August 21, 2023

Dear God,

If I refuse to acknowledge you in the other, how can others see you in me?  When my practices, actions and behaviors are poor, how can I expect anyone to see your light, your goodness and your kindness in me?  My example reveals there is no God because your standards are much higher than my own.  I give no proof you are real, visible and at work in the world.

I must confess it is a battle, dear God.  When I hear lies, misinformation and exaggerations, I want to explode and demean.  I want to cry, "FOUL!"  I want to scream.  But you, you do not operate that way.  Your heart is always full of love, comfort and compassion, always.  I want to be like you but I am poor of mind and spirit.

Help me,

help all

of us

to be

more like you.

Rid us

of intolerance,

resentment and hatred.

Clear out

the mucky debris.

Fill us

with you,

Holy God,

I pray.

Yours, Andrea

Sunday, August 20, 2023

Dear God,

In our divided country and world, we pick sides.  Each side believes it is right and the other side is wrong.  In America we line up with Republicans or Democrats, with liberals or conservatives.  This morning during devotions, you brought to mind another line, the line with you.  No one has the corner on the right or the best.  The line where you stand is neither of these former lines.  We forget this truth.

So often when we pray, we want you to get in our line, not some other.  We want you to bless our answer.  We want you to give us what we ask.  But again there is something better than that.  You always seek to give us more.

I felt convicted when I listened to you this morning.  I confess I sometimes, okay often, call the "other side" names.  As I heard your voice again today, I realized all people are yours.  All are called children of the living God.  All are beloved.  When we name call or do something worse, we are effectively mocking your own children.

Lord, we are

not God.

We fail

to see

what and who

you see.

We forget

all are yours.

Please forgive us.

Increase our love

for you

and others,

we pray.

Love, Andrea

Saturday, August 19, 2023

Dear God,

We cannot live for tomorrow or return to yesterday.  One has not yet come; the other is gone forever.  Yet, often we attempt to move from today backward or forward.  We forfeit today and miss the all the new day has to offer.

We forget the gift this very day can bring.  Wisdom, hope, insight, peace and joy can scatter in the wind when we are not paying attention.  Those prayers we have been praying may get lost because we may miss answers that come today.

Today has lessons to be learned, hope to take hold of and faith that wants to grow.  And you, O God, desire to meet us in this today. We will certainly miss you if we are looking too far ahead or behind.  What a loss!

Keep us close

in this

new day,

O Lord.

We want

to meet you

here and now.

Help us learn

the value

of letting go

of yesterday

so we

can meet you

in today.

Love, Andrea

Friday, August 18, 2023

Dear God,

"Hey there, come outside to see a beautiful rainbow!" My neighbor called to me through the open kitchen window.  I put down the pan, grabbed my camera and hurried out the front door.  There it was, not one but two rainbows.  It was a WOW moment.

Although it was my friend's voice, the words were yours.  Come and see, you spoke, come and see my creation.  Come, be blessed.  Join in rejoicing! 

You are always inviting us to exquisite scenes of love, hope, joy, beauty and wonder.  You want to bless us daily.  You want to make yourself known to us.  You want to do more for us than we can ever begin to imagine.  All we have to do is be open, listen and act.

Thank you

for the

amazing beauty

in the sky.

Thank you

for the

spectacular colors

of the rainbow.

Thank you

for reminding us

of your presence!

Love, Andrea

Thursday, August 17, 2023

Dear God,

A mind that is full of worry, anxiety and stress hardly has space for you.  In fact, it can feel full to overflowing.  We can be overwhelmed seemingly without comfort, hope and peace.  But it is during such times that you squeeze in, making space for your divine, healing love to enter.  If we are open and receptive, the warmth of it can help release all that holds us captive.

It is a miracle really, indeed a miracle.  Such transformation can lead us in a new direction giving us renewed perspective and purpose.  It is like a gift dropped from heaven.  

We need moments like these, Loving God.  We need to know you will always be present to make room for your spirit.  We need to know your love is greater than our every troubled thought.

Remind us

to expect you

to be

with us.

Help us

trust more

and worry less.

Lead us,

guide us

to your 

compassionate love,

Eternal God,

we pray.

Love, Andrea

Wednesday, August 16, 2023

Dear God,

A simple early-morning walk wrought enticing, unexpected scents, signs of your living presence.  A fireplace burning logs, a barbeque restaurant smoking meat and late summer flower wafting sweetness called attention to your existence in the world.  What lovely surprises of August.

We never know what you will bring to us, O God.  More often than not we do not anticipate anything more than a surface experience.  But when you are present with us, you inspire us with so much more.  An ordinary walk can become a mystical wonder.

All this beckoned me to sing your praises and so I did.  "Why me, O Lord, why send me such gifts?  I am nothing special.  My heart is often filled with anger and bitterness.  Why bless me?"  I quite naturally do not expect beautiful things when my heart is filled with everything other than love and peace.  And yet, out of your generous spirit, you do bless and touch us.  Indeed, what gifts came this very morning!

Thank you

for such

a beautiful morning,

Blessed God.

Thank you

for all 

the scents

of your

loving kindness.

Thank you

for reminding me

all good gifts

come from

your hands.

Love, Andrea

Tuesday, August 15, 2023

Dear God,

Time is flying by.  We hardly know where every day's minutes have gone for minutes become days and days become months and months become years.  Before we know it, a decade has come and gone. Some say they wish we could turn back the clock.  However, lives lived in the spirit with you work to savor each minute recognizing it is a gift.

 

Too often we treat a day like any other without appreciation, hope and wisdom.  It may seem dull and boring.  In reality no day is like that when we realize the wonderment of creation.  A sunrise is a daily miracle all full of color, its rays stretching out in all directions.  Watching it climb in the sky can restore a weary, worn soul.  Opening our ears to the sounds of birds singing, children playing and adults laughing can renew hope in possibility.  Anticipating a heightening of all our senses opens doors to see, taste, touch, hear and smell the wonders of life all around us.  Ultimately it is not the big things we desire that give us gifts of your spirit, it is the day-to-day small things that can wow us and give us new life.

Holy, holy, holy

are you,

God Most High.

Thank you

for today

and all 

its minutes.

Teach us

to be present

in the NOW

so we

do not miss

the gift

it is.

Yours, Andrea

Monday, August 14, 2023

Dear God,

When we put our mind on you, doors open to our body, mind and spirit.  While walking, you may open us to the warmth of your love as the sun's rays lay their sweet kiss upon our cheek.  While resting, you may open us to the peace that passes all understanding.  While quieting ourselves in sacred silence, you may open us to insight and wisdom about those issues swirling in our heads.  When our whole being sits at your feet in quiet meditation, gifts come, one after another.

A life with you, O God, opens us to any number of gifts.  But how will we ever recognize and acknowledge them if we do not sit still and wait upon you.  Some gifts come quickly just by breathing free air of your spirit.  Some take longer as we listen for an answer to prayer or a challenge from on high.  Some take much longer because by the time they come, they reveal themselves in different forms that provide for our need better than that for which we prayed.

At the end of each day when we take just a few moments of quiet with you, we can offer up our expressions of gratitude for each gift given.  And what better way is there to end each day than spending it with you?

Thank you,

Loving God,

for welcoming us 

into your life.

Thank you

for breathing

your spirit

into us.

Thank you

for giving gifts

that touch,

inspire, guide,

help and comfort us.

Yours, Andrea

Sunday, August 13, 2023

Dear God,

Today you taught me a very valuable lesson.  If we have experienced a painful moment in life which remains unresolved, we stand at an intersection of hope and despair.  If we choose despair, then daily we can make the case to rip off a healing scab so we can feel the pain again and again and again.  We can sustain feelings of hopelessness and despair.  And we can remain there as long as we desire.  Or we can choose the road to hope by doing something different.

When we choose hope, we can begin by falling on our knees before you asking for help and comfort.  As we lay at your feet, we can feed on your compassionate care.  We can deepen our trust in you acknowledging your power and presence to aid us in our healing.  As we drink from your well and eat from your hand, we will draw strength and purpose.  We can discover courage and confidence to make healing possible within us.  The truth is all things are not always resolvable to our liking.  Therefore, healing is up to us.  We can decide to heal with your almighty and tender care.

Why would we do any less?

Holy God,

thank you

for your

continuing care.

Thank you

for your love

that is

always available.

Thank you

for making 

healing possible!

Yours, Andrea

Saturday, August 12, 2023

Dear God,

A contemporary Jewish writer said that our bodies carry the story of faith like the texts of the Bible.  I had to read that three or four times.  Our bodies carry the story of faith like the texts of old.  I believe that.

If we believe our experience of you, O God, is carried in our being, then we can trust more in you and ourselves as well as the Old and New Testament scriptures.  While the stories of faith in the Bible can grow faith by reading and meditating on the scriptures, so can remembrances of stories in our own lives.  Is there proof of this?  Absolutely!  

I remember my bout with breast cancer, a mystery illness and a family member estrangement.  All these were devastating and nearly killed me; however, my faith grew and soared settling in me for the years ahead where I faced difficulties.  Those were all pivotal moments that I return to in times of doubt, anxiety and fear.  I recall your constant love and mercy, your help and compassion and your wisdom and grace.  I am different today because of these times of sorrow, loss and pain.  I remember and fill up with hope, peace and gratitude.

Holy God,

you are always

with us.

You tend

to our wounds.

You listen

to our pain.

You reach out

and touch us.

You fill us

with your

very self.

Love, Andrea

Friday, August 11, 2023

Dear God,

The invisible becomes the visible with faith.  When hope seems lost and despair fills our innermost cavity, allowing your living presence to enter through prayer, meditation or thought brings the breath of your spirit to us.  As we close our eyes and breathe in your spirit, something happens.  Maybe it is peace or truth or an insight.  What seemed impossible moments before becomes possible in the NOW.

While we do not always get what we want when we want it, faith moves us to patient waiting, hope in your presence and renewed energy to keep moving and believing.  We realize we do not wait alone.  We do not face our situation by our self.  We do not have to trust in our self only.  You are with us.  You care about us.  You care about our situation.

So often we lose hope because we want instant answers.  In this life "instant" rarely occurs.  We may get instant coffee or instant television or instant hot water but meaningful, purposeful answers do not come instantly.  There are always hidden gifts in waiting, in trusting and in faithing!  Faithing is a word because faith involves action, yours and ours.  When our answer comess, we will have more than we bargained for.

Holy, Living God,

thank you

for every gift

that comes

when we trust

in you

and wait.

Forgive us

when we

are impatient.

Remind us

how faith

can transform us,

strengthening us

for every problem

that comes.

Love, Andrea

Thursday, August 10, 2023

Dear God,

In the quietness of my morning walk, suddenly there was music.  I listened and continued walking.  The moment became holy because the lesson learned was that in silence, holy silence seeking you, music can come by way of heaven.  It can touch us, put a lift in our step and inspire us.

Holy lessons come every day.  To the discerning listener, we can hear your voice or feel the warmth of your light.  We can stumble into hope and even joy.  When we are open, we can sense the filling up of our own heart and mind with the goodness of eternity.  Treasures, gems of faith, can be revealed taking hold of us with a new perspective or new direction. 

Loving God,

you are here

and everywhere.

Thank you

for your miracles

all around us.

Teach us

to anticipate

and be ready.

Yours, Andrea 

Wednesday, August 9, 2023

Dear God,

There is a living gospel today, not one holding truths between leather binding but rather there are living, breathing pages.  Whenever someone forgives, is kind toward others or gives generously, the gospel is being revealed.  When compassion is shared, mercy is offered or a good hand is reached out, we are seeing the gospel in action.  One does not need a Bible in hand to experience the living gospel.

Not only that we can be the living gospel.  In today's world there is so much division, hatred and bitterness.  There are lies, exaggeration and cruelty.  It is difficult to counter so much ugliness; however, when we become the living gospel by our words, practices or actions, we can indeed come up against the darkness to spread light.  It can happen anywhere, anytime by anyone.  Spontaneous moments can be the best because we don't expect them.  They can surprise us giving us hope, love and faith.  One moment can become two.  Two can become four and so on.  We can be the living gospel to change the world, one home, one neighborhood, one city, one nation, one country and one world. 

Loving God,

help us recognize

the gospel

where it is

being lived today.

Help us

grab hold

so we

can see

the light.

Then change us;

help us become

the living,

loving gospel

for others

and the world.

Yours, Andrea

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

Dear God,

How will we ever discover the truth, Lord?  There are many forms of "truth" going around, most of which are not true at all.  You once said, "You will know the truth and the truth will set you free."  How can we get to your truth?  We want to be free.

Lead us

to your truth,

Holy God.

We want

nothing less.

Make us free,

we pray.

Love, Andrea

Monday, August 7, 2023

Dear God,

On a dark, rainy day, we complain.  Yet, dark, rainy days can offer more than just a sunny day.  Gray days afford us the chance to reflect, look deeper at creation and drink in faith that is even deeper yet.  Cloudy, stormy days can remind us of what we know to be true.  The sun still shines above the clouds.  The darkness will pass.  The light will return.  While we wait, we can ponder lessons to be learned and experienced.

We miss special, unique opportunities to be with you when we complain that the sun isn't shining.  If we journey for a few hours or a few days when the skies are gray, we can grow in faith, increase our love for you and all our gifts and make shifts in areas that are getting us nowhere.  Gray days, unexpected treasures!

Holy God,

teach us

to take

what comes

and find you

in it.

Remind us

that all

is yours.

Open us

to what

you bring us.

Yours, Andrea

Sunday, August 6, 2023

Dear God,

Pilgrimage, so different than a vacation!  Pilgrimage is intentional movement toward something of greater good.  If we go on vacation, we can see the sights and report on them when we get home.  But pilgrimage is an interior exercise seeking more than sights and scenes.  Not only can we experience the beauty of places we visit, we also have opportunity to reflect upon creation, the meaning and purpose of life, faith, hope and challenge.  The two together can make for amazing times with you, Creator of the Cosmos and Humankind.

Our spirits can be titillated by the beauty of creation all around us.  But when we combine the beauty of what we see with the One who created it, it is an altogether different experience.  There is more gratitude, wonderment and faith.

I have been both, a vacationer and pilgrim.  There is no comparison.

Open our spirits

to yours,

O God.

Teach us

to look

more deeply,

listen more closely 

and walk

more humbly

with you

wherever we are

and wherever

we go.

Remind us

there is 

always more.

Make us pilgrims,

dear God,

make us pilgrims.

Love, Andrea

Saturday, August 5, 2023

Dear God,

We never fully know the goodness of humanity until we lean back again the front wall of a take-out restaurant waiting 30 minutes for our food to be served.  That was my experience today.

It was steamy hot, the sun bearing down on us.  Thirty or so hungry people stood waiting for their food.  As I stood by window number one, I witnessed people coming up to the window asking for boxes, extra tartar sauce, sacks, napkins and more.  I couldn't help but hear the conversations.  What overwhelmed me was the number of people who expressed their gratitude.  One after another said thanks.  Although I was hot, my heart was warmed by strangers speaking kindly to one another, sharing their gratitude and smiling.  

Since we live in such a divided country today, where anger and hatred seem so prevalent, it was noteworthy to watch something different.  I couldn't help but express my thanksgiving to you.

Thank you,

dear God,

for your

generous spirit.

Thank you

for teaching us

a better way.

Thank you

for a 

hot day,

a wall

to lean against

and an ear

to hear expressions

of gratitude.

Love, Andrea

Friday, August 4, 2023

Dear God,

When we awaken with gratitude in our hearts, we begin our day with great possibility.  If we walk with an air of thanksgiving during the day, we will witness much for which to give thanks.  A beautiful flower, a smiling child, a helpful gesture between strangers, a special kindness or filled grocery shelves can lead us to continue our desire to be grateful.  By the time we lay down for sleep, we will be full to overflowing with joy.

Gratitude doesn't seem like much.  It costs nothing, is small and easy and reaps great benefits.  While blessing others, it blesses us right back.  Not only that it rids us of ugly debris in our emotional and spiritual lives.  It cleanses and heals.  It reveals the light and removes darkness.  

Why wouldn't we start every day that way?

Gratitude comes

from you,

O God.

You know more

than we

about all

the gifts

gratitude brings.

Reshape us

for grace,

dear God.

Yours, Andrea

Thursday, August 3, 2023

Dear God,

Cool mornings call me to remember Autumn is coming soon.  But more than that, it is telling me to revel in the rest of this season giving thanks for the beauty, warmth and goodness of summer.  How glorious it has been to listen to the birds sing each morning, to watch the buds unfurl revealing amazingly-beautiful flowers and to sense your living presence daily in nature.  Sometimes I am overwhelmed by it all.

This has also been a season of gratitude.  Assessing daily blessings, giving thanks by whispering quiet prayers, and feeling simple gestures of love from family, friends and even strangers have touched me deeply.  And even more so, you have presented me with thoughtful moments when and where I was able to offer others the same kind of love given to me.   What a beautiful season it has been!

Thank you,

Gracious God,

for the gifts

of this season.

Help me

never forget

all your

kind and 

wonderful mercies.

Keep praise

and thanksgiving

on my lips,

I pray.

Yours, Andrea

Wednesday, August 2, 2023

Dear God,

We walked together, you and I, in the early morning.  It was nice.  We didn't talk.  The silence, however, allowed us to hear angels singing.  Funny how it is, when we pause to quiet ourselves long enough, we are enabled to hear from the depths of the cosmos.  We stopped walking.  I closed my eyes and smiled listening to the sounds of praise.

Such possibilities are offered every day.  Why don't we pause more often?  Why don't we live more in the depths than in the shallows?  We pretty much know what comes from the shallows, not much.  But from the depths, ah, so much more.

Praise to you,

Lord God Almighty,

praise to you.

Thank you

for the walk,

the gentle breeze

and heavenly singing.

Thank you

for reminders

of what

is happening

every day

in the depths

where you

wait to

show us more.

Love, Andrea

Tuesday, August 1, 2023

Dear God,

I sat in the dirt picking green beans from a local farm.  A gentle breeze blew.  The clouds moved slowly across the sky.  I listened to the geese singing their song.  I smiled reflecting on the ground I sat upon.  Months ago it was barren, covered by snow but today the plants flourished as I scooted along the path picking enough beans to can for the upcoming winter.

How is it you are so generous to your people, O Lord?  Once there was nothing and then something nourishing, colorful and delicious.  My granddaughter who loves my green beans will open the can, smell the contents and microwave them for dinner.  She will smile and give thanks.  I will too!

Thank you

for harvest time,

dear God.

Thank you

for green beans

and every vegetable

on earth.

Thank you

for the sweetness

of your love

for all.

Yours, Andrea

Monday, July 31, 2023

Dear God,

This morning temperatures dropped considerably after a very hot summer in New England.  As I walked in the early hours, I felt the subtle whisper of Autumn.  I pondered the passing of blooming flowers, trees and shrubs.  Soon leaves will shine with colors of red, orange and gold.  Another season will pass.

I couldn't help but wonder what season I am in.  I am 76 years old, soon to be 77.  My health is pretty good, my knees and arthritis not so much.  My heart is strong, my soul content to be with you and my faith sustaining me day after day.  But you ask me to grow and change like nature's own.  Am I ready for the next season of life, one that you have anticipated for me?

Open me

to your will,

O Lord.

Persuade me

to change

and grow

as you

have designed.

Make me desirous

of your will

for me.

Love, Andrea

Sunday, July 30, 2023

Dear God,

Why do we hang onto resentment and bitterness for so long?  I know hurt is deeper and feeds feelings of anger and injustice; yet why do we clutch onto bad feelings that are harmful to body, mind and soul?  You made us, Lord, tell us why please.

The Bible is full of such emotions.  The psalms display pain, anger and even hatred.  The psalmist and his friends demand the destruction of their enemies.

A newly-adopted, troubled teenage son killed his adoptive father by setting a fire and running away.  The father was able to save his husband and two younger sons but he was too large to fit through the window and so he perished in the fire.  My sister harbored the loss of her son and her bitterness for years.  It nearly killed her.  Today she is but a shadow of her former self.

We long to eradicate feelings that eat away at us, Lord.  How do we do it?

Embrace us

until we finish

our tears.

Take away

our pain.

Replace it

with your

hope, peace

and love,

dear Father,

we pray.

Yours, Andrea