Monday, March 31, 2025

Dear God,

Today is a good day to remember and give thanks!  It is a day to recall people in our lives who loved us, rescued us, taught us, believed in us, inspired us and blessed us. As we welcome them into our today, we relive the gifts they gave us long ago.

I remember my grandmother whose only agenda was to give love.  Her smile, faith and compassion literally shaped my life with goodness.  I could receive that goodness and live my life.  When I felt sad, I remembered Grandma's home, her delicious food and her kind ways.  No matter what I did or didn't do, Grandma loved me and by her faith, she gave me a example of how to have a living faith.

Although she joined you in eternity nearly forty years ago, I can still see her sweet smile right this moment.  That smile always gave out love, acceptance, mercy, grace and comfort.  And in my remembering it still does!

Holy God,

thank you

for Grandma Hughes

and all those

you brought

into my life.

I am

so very grateful.

Thank you

for the gifts

they still

give me today.

Yours, Andrea

Saturday, March 29, 2025

Dear God,

Just yesterday I heard someone say, "Grace is always better than bitterness."  This afternoon I am still thinking about those few words.

Although I am no expert on the subjects, you have taught me a few things about them.  Grace is an opportunity to surrender the hurts and injuries I carry within me. By letting go of the pain and sorrow I feel daily, I am free to step inside your reconciling, renewing, restoring love to find healing.  With bitterness, I am able to remember, judge and blame those who have hurt me.  I can keep my wall up so that I am not so easily hurt.  I can remain angry and hurt for as long as I want.  No need for grace if I choose bitterness.

So, today as I reminisce some of my own bitterness, I have the chance to choose once again.

Holy God,

it is

not easy

to let go.

It is

not easy

to forgive.

It is 

not easy

to trust you

and heal myself.

At the

same time,

what good

can bitterness

possibly give me?

Yours, Andrea  

Friday, March 28, 2025

Dear God,

There is no sweeter moment than awakening to your voice each morning.  The fact that I am waking up means I am alive by divine providence.  To know you are the first voice I hear each day gives me great joy!

Whose voice could be greater than yours, O God?  Daily it reminds me I am in constant communication with you as well as in close relationship.  There is no one closer, no one who cares more and no one who reaches out more than you.  Those intimate moments deepen my faith, grow my love and build more hope in me.  

During trials, fear and doubt, I am enabled to reflect upon our connection and realize I am not alone, I have all I need within me to face each day and I am so loved that I can live each day with reassurance, courage and strength.  Although at times I falter and fall, I am able to rise once again knowing I have help in getting up.

Thank you,

Compassionate God,

for your

great love.

Thank you

for teaching me

the tenets 

of faith.

Thank you

for your call

each morning.

I love you.

Yours, Andrea

Thursday, March 27, 2025

Dear God,

You have taught us through your word, our own experience and the experiences of others that hope is a living organism.  It cannot be killed, altered or reduced except by us.  As humans, we are harbingers of hope.  As we practice hope, live with hope and are hope, others will find hope for their own lives.  If there is anything we need for human living, it is hope.

There are always those who desire to dash our hope.  However, you have shown us how hope can weather even the greatest storms.  Although circumstances can cause us to waiver in hope, no one, nothing can steal it away from us.

One of the reasons why I enjoy reading historical novels set in war zones is because I learn how hope is held during horrific times.  I remember reading the diary of Etty Hillesum who was a prisoner at Auschwitz.  In her time there she prayed to you saying, "Help me, God, to help you safekeep that piece of you in me."  She dared believe that you and she remained deeply connected during the most difficult time of her life before dying in the gas chamber.  Periodically, I am drawn back to her for her hope and her faith.

As we weather the storm of evil in our time, you teach us to hang on to hope because after all hope is you!

Thank you,

Loving God,

for teaching me

about hope,

for being hope

for me,

for all

of us,

your children.

Thank you

for your compassion

that gives us

what hope

can bring.

Thank you

for the reminder

this morning.

Love, Andrea

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Dear God,

Very early this morning as I drove to the pharmacy to pick up a Covid test for my daughter, I noticed a number of homes and apartments that had strings of lights glowing around their patios.  Since it is no longer Christmas or New Year's I reflected upon why they still had lights up.  Although they could be just another way to beautify their outdoor area, perhaps it is because they need the light.

In our world today we all need the light because we know the darkness.  And what is the light and what does it offer?  I believe the light is a divine resource that provides beauty, warmth, comfort, peace and hope, even joy.  We look to the light to give us something we can't quite make for ourselves.  While electricity and a light bulb can give us light, only you can give us real Light. 

Loving God,

we need

more light

than we

can turn on.

Thank you

for giving us

the light

and for

being the light.

We offer you

our prayers

of thanksgiving.

Yours, Andrea 

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Dear God,

Sometimes, O Lord, we forget we are made in your image.  We fumble and bumble along acting anyway but holy.  We are judgmental, use poor language and hurt other people by our actions.  Often, we function out of a narcissistic center, replacing you as the true Center.  But you have given us freedom to make choices to be whatever we want.  Is this what we truly desire?

As we injure one another through thought or action, we lower the standard and moral center in our world.  We set new rules and behaviors.  Before long we can live in a cesspool forgetting we were ever created by a loving God who made us beautiful, bright and filled with light, hope and goodness.

As our country continues its decline through leadership who models this example, please call us back to the authentic center who calls us beloved once again.

Holy God,

restore us

to our

original design.

Reshape our DNA

so we

may once again

know when

we are home.

Please remind us

you are

our home.

Yours, Andrea

Monday, March 24, 2025

Dear God,

You are my hope, my strength and my song!  The psalmist declared these same words; it is clear he too had experienced hopelessness, weakness and his own silent voice.  When faith comes to life, all things are possible.

In these hard times, Lord, you want to fill us with all the good things of life, things that will serve to strengthen us, build us up and give us a song to sing.  These good things are discernment, wisdom, courage, faith and love.  You are the provider of all good things.  There is nowhere to turn that offers anything more or better.

When trials come, you whisper to us to trust you, to ask for these life resources and to receive them with thanksgiving.  Often, we turn elsewhere believing we can find what we long for but they almost always lead to dead ends and leave us empty.  Only you have the power and the love to give us provisions needed for daily living and daily hardships.

Loving God,

help us

turn to you

when we

are lost,

afraid or doubting.

We need you

and one another

in trying times.

Teach us

your way

again and again,

I pray.

Love, Andrea

Sunday, March 22, 2025

Dear God,

When evil has a foothold in daily living, it is a marvel to begin the day with a spectacular pink and purple sunrise!!!  It turns negative thoughts into positive ones.  It rids the mind of dark places with divine light.  And it replaces hopelessness with hope.

All this happened this morning, O Lord, and I give full credit to you.  Even though there should never be a surprise when glorious things happen, still it is always a surprise to witness your appearance especially coming out of the darkness.

How happy I am to have passed by the front room window this morning to see the amazing work you were doing just outside my bedroom window!

Thank you,

Creator God,

for creating

as I

walked by.

Thank you

for turning

my head

toward you.

I am blessed.

Love, Andrea

Friday, March 21, 2025

Dear God,

Thank you for the nudge, the invitation to connect with a stranger.  I was just getting ready to walk into the hospital restroom when I nearly bumped into a small, older woman of Mediterranean descent.  With a toilet brush in hand, I realized she was an employee of the hospital.  I immediately thanked her for keeping the restroom and hospital clean, remarking what an important job it was.  She smiled and thanked me with a thick brogue.  I went on to say, "I don't know where you are from but I am so glad you are here in our country."  She smiled even more and told me how grateful she was to be here.

You remind us that we are to practice daily hospitality but because we are busy with our own lives, it is easy to miss opportunities you give us.  Today you blessed me with your reminder and two days later I am still remembering her sweet smile.

Teach us

your ways,

Lord,

help us follow

your calling.

Your blessings

to us

is abundant.

Help us

share our abundance.

Love, Andrea

Wednesday, March 19, 2025

Dear God,

Fear is on the rise in our country and around the world.  People are losing their jobs.  People are losing their food source through food banks.  People are losing their freedom.  People are losing their medical assistance.  People are losing, Lord, people are losing their hope and their peace.

Perhaps the better way to say it is there are those who are taking away jobs, food, freedom, medical assistance as well as hope and peace.  In a society whose purpose and mission it has been to take care of its people, we wonder what kind of society we are becoming.

You said to care for the poor, the widows, the stranger and the foreigner.  You said to love your neighbor and your enemies.  How does any of this fulfill your will for all your people?  Only fear can come but not only that when people lose hope, they lose much more. 

Help us,

Lord,

to help

each other.

Stop the bloodletting,

we pray.

Remake us

in your image,

character and love.

Love, Andrea

Tuesday, March 18, 2025

Dear God,

A few days ago the tree was bare; today there are buds on every branch.  My nasturtiums will be blossoming within the next week or two.   There is no holding them back.  Spring is here intent on growing flowers, bushes and trees.

The same is possible with hope.  You built hope into the human soul.  If we keep the area clear of debris, hope will pop up as well and although there are a thousand things that may threaten to steal it, it stays with us whether we realize it or not.  Like the seeds in the ground, hope is determined to rise from the darkness to the light.  

In today's world, they are so many difficult forces at work threatening our peace, hope and joy.  There are those whose desire it is to kill it; however, these three things are tucked deep within us.  Divinely given and planted, they are ours.  No one can take them.

Like the surprise buds on the tree, I am finding hope coming to life in me too.  But it is not altogether satisfying unless I share it with others.  May it be so today.

Loving God,

thank you

for the

emerging spring.

Thank you

for gifts

that comes unexpectedly.

Thank you

for reminding us

that hope lives

whether we

recognize it

or not.  

Yours, Andrea

Monday, March 17, 2025

Dear God,

How in the world does a flower stem push itself up through compacted, crusty soil?  Seems like it would not have the power, strength or ability to do such a hard thing but every spring this event happens in every garden.

It is always amazing, miraculous really to see beautiful things begin to rise up out of the dark winter soil.  Although it always takes place to bring beauty to creation, it also serves as a teacher for humans living in dark places.  It reminds us that we too have the ability, strength and power to rise up out of our own ashes.  We do not have to remain in the dark because the light is calling our name.  

In this trying time in our nation and world, the light is calling all our names.  It is saying, "Do not give up hope.  Your time is coming.  Trust me, the Light of the World."  Because I have resided in the darkness many times in my life, I too have heard my name whispered.  I know what it's like to be crushed under the soil of life's trials but I also know what it feels like to rise up, to break through the forces holding me down and move into the light's warmth, joy and peace.

O God,

thank you

for your

springtime message.

Thank you

for giving us

nature's examples

about how

to live life

in the light.

What joy

it brings!

Love, Andrea

Sunday, March 16, 2025

Dear God,

This morning at worship I couldn't help but think about composers who wrote music and lyrics to feed weary people in difficult times.  As we sang great hymns, I thought about people facing persecution, injustice and conflict with ensuing loss, pain and sorrow.  Men and women with unique gifts, tender hearts and compassionate desires sat down at tables and created music to soothe and calm the human spirit.  Artists painted scenes the same way.  How grateful I was as I stood and joined my voice with all the others singing praises for the constancy of faith, hope and love in troubled times.

When we are facing hard times, it is easy to forget those who work to help us.  We forget precious people whose hearts and minds thought of us, reached out, inspired, helped and blessed us.  We forget about miracles large and small that happened in our lives or the lives of those we love.  We forget about insights received, gifts imparted, grace given, hope revealed and peace unveiled.  We forget about our own conversion and faith that came to life.  

In dark times, we are called to remember you, O God, in our midst at work within us and around us.  In our remembrance, we need to fall into gratitude once again giving thanks but it cannot stop there.  We must be those who challenge the darkness, who take the hand of those who suffer and fight against tyranny, injustice and destruction.  We cannot sit idly by while throngs of people are hurt, tossed aside or die because of evil forces at work.  You taught us that faith calls us to action in some way or another.  

Lead us,

O Lord,

to do

your will

in your way.

Give us

marching orders

to fulfill

that will.

Lead us

in faith,

hope and love,

I pray.

Love, Andrea

Saturday, March 15, 2025

Dear God,

Just yesterday I wrote about finding light in the darkness but today your word to me was to be the light.  Just as you are the light of the world so are we to be light for others.  Darkness can always find its way to darkness but the opposite is also true.  Light can find light.

In today's world where we see so much darkness unfolding, O God, it is difficult to be light.  Frankly and honestly, I stoop low, not high because I become so angry and name call those whose name is Darkness.  But why would I do such a thing?  Light knows light is always better because its qualities are warmth, goodness, joy, hope and beauty, just to name a few.  One way in which I remain dark myself is while I pray for leaders of our nation and world in general, I refuse to pray for them specifically by name.  Why would I pray for our president who I see as only darkness?  Yet, at the same time, I know he too has been made with the light like every creature because he is yours as well.

O God,

lead me

to the light

when I turn

toward the darkness.

I wish

to see

the world

as you

see it.

Help me,

help us all,

dear Lord,

to make

so much light

that the darkness

is dissolved.

Love, Andrea

Friday, March 14, 2025

Dear God,

Even though we are invited all day long to step into darkness, we do not have to; we can remain in the light.  There are so many forces pushing us to move from the light into the darkness.  Politics, health, family, money issues, conflict of all kinds can drag us into places we ought not to go.

But it is hard to stay in the light.  When we get tripped up and fall away, we find ourselves in dark spaces that move us into fear, doubt and depression.  However, once again we can remember the words of your son who said, "I am the light of the world."  We can take his words literally and commit ourselves to this place of warmth, healing, wholeness, hope and peace.  Why would we want to be anywhere else?

Holy God,

I want

more light,

not less.

Help me

stay close

to you.

Forgive me

when I

am wooed

to places 

that leave me

bereft and afraid.

Help me

hear your words

calling me

to come home.

Yours, Andrea  

Thursday, March 13, 2025

Dear God,

Am I really seeing all there is to see?  Or I am fixed on seeing things just on the surface?

Two things spoke to me today.  One was a book I have read three times because I felt led to reread it for Lent.  The other was the moon I gazed at at 6:30 this morning.

Although I have read Treasure in Clay Jars numerous times, today it seemed I read it for the first time.  The collection of faith stories spoke like never before.  I heard, saw and tasted the stories as if I had been on the scene when they happened.  And when I saw the moon first thing this morning, it was so spectacular that I could hardly take it in.  I couldn't stop staring at it.  The halo around it and its closeness to the earth seemed as if I could step outside, step on tippy toes and touch it.  I watched it until it slowly slipped below the horizon.

Both these events reminded me how easy it is to see with blinders on; however, in doing so, I only have a small frame in which to see.  Everything else is cut off.  I sometimes draw conclusions that are inaccurate.  

As I consider national and international events, I believe you are challenging me to look at a larger picture, one that contains more than I normally see.  As for the moon, I never want to see it again just on the surface.  I want to live on tippy toes just to see it the way you painted it.

Holy God,

you are

a great teacher.

You speak

to us

every day.

You remind us

to take

a second

and third look

to see

the way

you see.

Thank you.

Love, Andrea

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Dear God,

You made me for Lent.  You knew my mind and soul would fill up with sin.  You knew I would need a washing before you could put a clean heart within me.  Lent is the perfect time for cleansing.  But a clean heart does not give me the right to be a righteous, arrogant Christian.  Which, of course, leads me right back to a sinful fill up.

O God, how I long to carry you deep within me.  I want to say words that lift up not tear down.  I want to uphold goodness and mercy not fill the world with more meanness and arrogance.  I want to offer mercy not judgement.  I want to give love not hate.

Let Lent

be my call,

Compassion God,

a call

to rightful living,

caring ways

and a

tender heart.

I simply

cannot be that

without you.

Fill me

with more

of you

and less

of me,

I pray.

Love, Andrea

Love, Andrea 

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Dear God,

It's the little things that give us comfort, hope and peace.  It is the twinkling of a single white star in a dark night sky.  It is the birds in the mating dance, flying, soaring on the wind.  It is a child's response to a beautiful surprise.  It is the little things.

Often, we pray for big things, Lord, but the answer comes back in small packages.  They delight and bless.  At a time of great difficulty in our nation and world, we need to look for the small things and offer the small things to one another.  Really, at the end of the day, it will be the small things that happened that touched and inspired us the most.

Thank you,

Wondrous God,

for challenging us

to watch

for the

small blessings

of life.

Thank you

for each

and every one.

Give us eyes

to discover

what you

have waiting

for us.

Love, Andrea

 

Monday, March 10, 2025

Dear God,

Who are we as a people?  Are we meant to rule like kings and queens separating out undesirables, the lowly, the afflicted, the "other", anyone who does not rise to the level where we consider ourselves?  Who are we?

Have we forgotten that you spent far more time with the marginalized, the poor, the broken, the forgotten, and the unclean?  As your son walked this earth, he always carried compassion, grace and love with him.  He did not demand allegiance; he asked for discipleship.  He did not tell us to avoid the hurting; he asked us to be good Samaritans.  He did not throw people away; he brought them close.  He urged leaders to care for the poor, to love the neighbor and to remove the plank in their own eyes.  

In our nation and world, particularly during Lent, you are the one asking the question?  Who are you?  After looking us over, will you say, "Come, my beloved."  Or will you remark, "I don't know you."

Holy and Loving God,

only you 

can shape

and reshape us.

Only you

can renew

and restore us.

Only you

can make us new.

For your sake

and the world,

refashion us

in your image,

we pray.

Love, Andrea

Sunday, March 9, 2025

Dear God,

Where do we turn when our minds are worried, our bodies are anxious, and our spirits are restless?  There is only one place in which to return, and that is to you, Merciful God.  Who knows and understands our trials, conflicts and troubles more than you?

In your arms we find comfort, hope, and calm.  In this crazy, chaotic world, we are desperate for a place of serenity, truth, love, compassion and peace.  Here we find living water to drink, spiritual food to eat and quiet repose to care for the soul.  In your word, your presence and your creation, we can receive what we need in order to face an uncertain future because we have a certain and promising God.

Loving God,

thank you

for arms outstretched

to us.

Thank you

for always

welcoming us home.

Lead us,

we pray,

to green pastures

and pools

of clear water.

Thank you

for tending

to our needs.

Love, Andrea

Saturday, March 8, 2025

Dearest God,

Fill us with the power of your Holy Spirit, not just for us alone but for all the powerless.  

Fill us with the love of your Holy Spirit, not just for us alone but for all the unloved.  

Fill us with the compassion of your Holy Spirit, not just for us alone but for all who need mercy.  

Fill us with the hope of your Holy Spirit, not just for us alone but for all who are hopeless.  

Fill us with the peace of your Holy Spirit, not just for us alone but for all who are afraid.  

Fill us with the strength of your Holy Spirit, not just for us alone but for all who are weak.

Fill us with the courage of your Holy Spirit, not just for us alone but for all who are timid. 

Fill us with the wisdom of your Holy Spirit, not just for us alone but for all who doubt, are mixed up and directionless.  

Fill us with the beauty of your Holy Spirit, not just for us alone but for all who feel ugly and unacceptable.  

Fill us with the wonder of your Holy Spirit, not just for us alone but for all who cannot see beyond their troubles.  

We cannot ask for ourselves without remembering all others, all, not some.  

Let your power, love, compassion, hope, peace, strength, wisdom, beauty and wonder change us, transform us and create us in your likeness and character.

Love, Andrea

Friday, March 7, 2025

Dear God,

The sun is shining after a string of gray, dreary days.  It is beautiful, the clear, blue skies, the single bird sitting high atop the oak tree and the grass beginning to green up once again.  Spring is not far away.

Although winter is my favorite season, I love springtime with all its hope, warmth and beauty.  Before long we will see signs that yes, spring has returned.

You remind us that this is a perfect time to remember the words of the psalmist, "There may be tears during the night but joy comes in the morning."  We are not still mired in yesterday because today is a new day.  The chaos of earlier times is yesterday's possession.  We can find new hope in today.

Although it is difficult to live in chaotic times, still we have hope hidden in our hearts, minds and spirits and that hope cannot be taken from us.  Like the signs of spring, there are signs that while you work in nature, you are working in us to bring hope once again.

Loving God,

thank you

from nature's sign

that hope

is returning.

Forgive us

when we

give up hope.

Remind us again

and again

and again.

Love, Andrea

Thursday, March 6, 2025

Dear God,

Through your word we hear the words of challenge to rise to higher levels of being.  You call us to be a people of truth, authentic truth, not just reconditioned or massaged, but real truth.  You call us to be a people of integrity, dignity and morality.  You do not give us free reign to be and do whatever we desire because you know as we become folk of a covenant we look more and more like your son.

Yet, still, we throw away the calls to be more because we like making up things as we go.  We avoid faith because faith always calls us higher.  And we really don't want anyone else telling us what to do.  We give away the great gifts of faith like discernment, wisdom, compassion, vision and love.  What we end up with is a puddle of crap, yucky debris that robs us of the good stuff.  But we can choose this way because you give us the freedom to be who we want to be without any sense of checking into "home" where all the good awaits us.

O God,

on our own,

we choose ourselves

as the

highest order

of things.

We forget

the substance

of which 

we are made.

Please awaken

us to

this real truth

which will

not only reveal

but set us free

on the route

to the divine.

Yours, Andrea

Wednesday, March 5, 2025

Dear God,

We are hungry, really hungry.  We are hungry for hope, for peace and for wisdom.  We need food, spiritual food that will strengthen us, nourish us and renew us.  Where can we go?  Where is this food?

For two days I drove over 1,000 miles to get home.  I didn't listen to the radio or any device.  Rather, I listened to the silence.  It reminded me that spiritual food is here and now.  It is in us, beside us and around us.  Spiritual food is not always tangible, visible or revealed.  But it is present.  How do I know it?  What God would give us the need without providing the resource?

Now is not a time to rely on a dry, predictable faith.  It will crumble and fall, providing no nourishment at all.   Faith must be a living faith, one that is available and accessible like the breath we breathe.  This faith is divine, full of love, mercy and grace.  It whispers, "What do you need?"  A living faith is one where two become one, one God and one child of God.  We cry out, "We need hope, O God, we need hope."  Then you reply, "Then let me be your hope."

Hope is built into our DNA.  And no one can take it away from us.  There are forces, even evil forces that want to steal it from us.  But they are the small gods of the world with little to no power.  They look big when we are hungry but they are not.  Really, they are smaller yet.

O God, when we are hungry, help us turn to you so we may eat and drink with you, listen and live hope.  Only then will peace and wisdom come.

You are

our hope,

Loving God.

Help us

rely on you.

We give you

our praise.

Love, Andrea

Saturday, March 1, 2025

Dear God,

Is there anyone who holds our tears like you?  Anyone who understands tears?  

Twenty years ago when I visited Jericho in Israel, I searched for tear jars.  They were small with watercolor on glass.  I used them in a women's retreat.  Why?  Because there is a scripture regarding how you notice and catch every tear we cry.

O Lord, there are so many weeping now.  So many are afraid or have lost so much.  With anguish boiling up or bubbling up, it comes out as tears.  How do we make a way to hold each other's tears?  How do we respect and love those who weep?  How do we show care and work to be tear holders?

Thank you

for blessing us

and holding

our tears.

For no one

loves us

like you.

Make our tears

holy tears

when we

capture and hold

one another's tears.

Make love

the drive

of our lives.

Yours, Andrea