Monday, April 28, 2025

Dear God,

In a world grieving for so many reasons, I want to be a lamp, a light.  Because of my desire, I have to reflect upon what I offer to the world.  Am I a light or am I darkness?  When people examine my life, what do they see, hear or experience?  If it is darkness, then I offer only hopelessness and despair.  If light, then I give hope, warmth, love, beauty and compassion.

Daily I need to begin with prayer to be light.  I need help and guidance to be aware of my attitudes, behaviors and actions.  I need to step into your light so I can reflect your light, not just my own.  Your light radiates like nothing else.  It is brilliant, glowing and shining greater than any other light.  Your light heals and helps.  It envelopes, embraces and holds.  While shining for others to bringing healing, I can heal too.

Holy God,

shine and glow,

radiate your love

into the world.

Give us eyes

to see

your light.

Then help us

be light

for others.

Bring your 

healing and hope

to all,

I pray.

Love, Andrea

Sunday, April 27, 2025

Dearest God,

With some regularity you return me to the table, that wooden flat top with four wooden chairs, the place where we eat, share, type, discuss, home can and prepare.  It really is central to all that happens in the home.  The question is who is welcome at the table, our table?

I remember Grandma's table.  In the morning, we read the devotional and prayed before eating at her table.  When we returned to the table for dinner and supper, we prayed again.  We welcomed the sick, the poor, the hungry, the neighbor and the stranger.  Everyone was welcome at that holy table.

I pray at my table too.  For the most part, I invite those same people to my table.  But even as I write this, I confess not everyone is welcome.  I do not invite those who injure people by specific name or by targeted population.  I cannot bear their purposeful, intentional meanness meant to harm others.  Yet, I realize even though I can hurt others at times by my own meanness, still your table is open to me.  It is always open to everyone regardless of who, what or where they are.  That is the beauty of your merciful table.  It is open to all, every day, every time of the day.

Loving and Compassionate God,

thank you

for allowing me

a seat

at your table.

Help make

my table

as open

and welcoming.

Forgive me

for my

own sinful ways.

Love, Andrea

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Dear God,

It is only after we die that the value of our life is measured in public sight.  Pope Francis died after a splendid final Easter message for Rome and the world.  Now around the world people are sharing their thoughts on his life and work.

What if we lived as if life were being measured right now?  How would we think and behave?  How would we treat our neighbor and the stranger?  How would our perspective and actions change?

Most of us are not Pope Francis.  Yet, our single life counts too and how we are and what we do with our life matters.   You are measuring us, O God.  You see and know all we are and do.  You alone know our full potential.  You know our flaws, prejudices and ways of being.  

O God,

we too

want to count

as a

worthy human being

who journeyed

a short while

on earth.

Remind us

who we are

and why

we exist.

Lead us

to you

and the world

once again,

we pray.

Love, Andrea

Monday, April 21, 2025

Dear God,

I woke up today realizing today is resurrection day as much as Easter day.  For Easter is not just on Sunday but also Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and so forth.  We can live it and celebrate it every day.

That is the miracle of faith.  It is alive and living.  Once the tomb is empty, it stays empty.  Although we may wish to roll the stone back, it will never be possible, thank you.

When I reflect and evaluate, I realize some of what is happening in our nation and world is meant to roll that stone back where it belonged.  In the minds of some, death is death.  Stoppage is stoppage.  Certain groups of people are supposed to stay in the tomb with the stone sealing the cave.  But that is not what you intend for any of us.  You moved the stone.  You freed every person.  Go ahead, step aside, breathe the air of freedom and release, you declared.  If resurrection was intended for me, then it is given to every person on the planet regardless of anything else.

Thank you

for today's lesson

of faith.

Forgive us

when we

act to

make resurrection

for some

and death

for others.

Thank you

for this

resurrection day,

this resurrection Monday!

Yours, Andrea

Sunday, April 20, 2025

Dear God,

First, it was the day dawning, then the sight of red tulips, the orchestra playing and the smell of Easter lilies.  But then it was the huge stained-glass picture of the risen Christ surrounded by faith-filled disciples, angels and cherubs all aglow in the splendor of the glory of God.  All throughout the Easter worship my eyes focused back on the view of that glory.

I realized about halfway through the service that when a person is warmed by faith, they enter a holy moment with God and that is when the glory shows.  When the glory shows, others feel the warmth, the reverence and peace.  That glory can spread, touch lives, bless and inspire others.  I know I felt it, saw it and praised you for it.  That was Easter, its faith, its holiness, its joy and its love.  

Your glory heals,

helps, blesses,

inspires and loves.

It is 

just as

you created it.

It is designed

to do

all those things.

Thank you,

Blessed God,

for the gift

of Easter,

for faith,

for love,

for beauty

and joy.

Yours, Andrea

Saturday, April 19, 2025

Dear God,

Help our prayer to be one where your seed of love falls on good soil.  The trouble is so often our "soil" is rocky, unforgiving and dry.  What can we expect if we do not tend to the soil in our soul?

How easy it is to fall into lifeless soil!  When we do not drink from living water, eat spirit food or take in nourishing resources, our soil loses its ability to thrive.  We rob it of all the good stuff at our fingertips.

When our soil loses its ability to give good fruits, we don't have what we need to help feed others.  Lifeless ourselves, we have nothing to offer those around us.  Sometimes we take from others, leaving them lifeless as well.

Right now in our world, O Lord, our president robs goodness, mercy and beauty from so many.  People are frightened, lost and despairing.  They hardly know where to turn; yet, you have given us each other so we can nourish our neighbors when they are faltering.  In so doing we model what it means to be brothers and sisters, part and parcel of one another.  When one falls, another is there to pick them up.  Then when they fall, someone grabs hold.  In the midst of evil, goodness can come to life to help, guide and give love.  May we live in faith so this may happen for all of us.

Thank you,

Loving God,

for the gift

of faith

that keeps 

calling our name.

Nourish us

from the 

inside out,

we pray.

We so

need your

living water,

food and word.

Enrich our soil

so we

can enrich

the soil

of others,

we pray.

Love, Andrea

Friday, April 18, 2025

Dear God,

As I look out my study window, I can barely see the tops of the trees.  A new day is dawning.

I suddenly ask myself questions brought to me by my devotional readings:

    Today, will I be compassionate?

    Will I be merciful?

    Will I be forgiving?

    Will I be kind?

    Will I be understanding?

    Will I be loving?

I realize we don't wait until the middle of the day to ask these questions or when difficulties come.  We ask them first thing, even before the sun rises.  If we set our eye on being compassionate, merciful, forgiving, kind, understanding and loving, then we will be no matter what comes.

Merciful God,

I want

to be

the person

you created me

to be.

I want

to be compassionate,

merciful,

forgiving,

kind,

understanding

and loving;

however, 

I know

it is

not easy

to be

who I

am meant

to be.

Please, I pray,

grant me

the power

and strength

to bring glory

to you

by my

attitudes, actions,

thoughts and behaviors.

Love, Andrea

Thursday, April 17, 2025

Dear God,

Today I read the words of Father Richard Rohr, "Surrender is about a peaceful inner opening that keeps the conduit of living water flowing to love."  I've read it three times and each time I feel the conviction of pride that narrows the river of such living water.

Pride is nothing more than keeping one's self safe from harm or joy or whatever may come if pride were nonexistent.   We adopt pride in order to cover our weakness and fear.  We hide behind it because we do not want others to see our true self.  However, pride stands in the way of courage, growth, peace, hope and joy.  

Of course, you put these words in my path this morning because you and I know the challenge that stands before me.  You give me the choice.  I can grip tighter my pride or surrender it in order to change me and open the door to something more.

Holy Father,

your love

is deep 

and wide.

In our

living relationship

we speak

and listen

to one another.

Today you

invited me 

to listen

rather than speak.

Thank you.

Love, Andrea

i

Monday, April 14, 2025

Dear God,

At this very moment I am listening to the birds sing just outside my study window.  Like me they see the sun beginning to peek below the horizon.  Together we know it is a new day, a refreshing new day in which to begin again.

This time of day is my favorite.  I find more hope in the darkness just before the sunrise.  I watch its surrender to the light and hope rises up within me.  On my darkest days this divine action works hard to dissolve my fears and doubts.  Whatever I am facing, I know a new day means resurrection,

Thank you,

Most Holy Creator,

for the gift

of new life.

Thank you

for this

beautiful, new day.

Thank you

for surprising us

once again

with hope

and light.

Yours forever, Andrea 

Sunday, April 13, 2025

Dear God,

Sometimes we refer to you as the rock, sometimes as the lamp and sometimes living water and you are all these.  But for us to really know what we are saying, we need to reflect upon those times.  When were you my rock, my lamp and my living water?  

Through my divorce, call to ministry, health issues, family relationships, deaths, challenges and hardships, you have been all these.  As my rock, you stabilized me, kept me grounded.  As my lamp, you uncovered the truth, helped me see what I was blind to before.  As my living water, you refreshed, restored and renewed me.  Time after time after time you have been for me what I needed. 

And so today, my God, I simply want to praise you, give you thanks and offer you my earnest devotion.  For all these gifts and more, you are my God, the one to whom I owe everything!

Thank you,

dearest God,

for all

the gifts

of life.

Thank you

for allowing me

to walk

beside you.

Thank you

for opening

my eyes

with your lamp,

for being

my rock

and holding me steady

and for 

offering me

living water

to drink

to live.

You are God;

there is none

like you.

Love, Andrea

Saturday, April 12, 2025

Dear God,

There is no greater joy on earth than time spent with you.  Whether in prayer, celebration or fear, just knowing you are here with me fills me with joy.  I realize more and more, I am a flawed person.  I do not rise to the highest level of loving, caring or appreciating the gifts all around me.  I fail.  I sin.  I forget.  I fail again.  Still, you remain with me reminding me, challenging me, convicting me, teaching me and loving me.

You have taught me to consider my blessings.  You whisper to me daily to count my blessings and like the song, count them one by one.  Although they are as many as the grains of sand, your constant divine presence is the best.  I can breathe in your air, gaze upon your creation and feel the love and suffering of your people, stranger and friend alike.  You have made me for this.

As I live into this day, may I be mindful of all your lessons and at the end of day give praise to you!

Holy God,

I am

but a spot

on this earth.

Yet, you

have found me

and love me.

Help me

love others

so they

may see you

as well.

Yours forever, Andrea

Friday, April 11, 2025

Dear God,

One of your many gifts is friendship.  To have a friend and be a friend triples our joy.  To be in the company of a friend, whether laughing together over a silly happening or sobbing together over a deep loss, clears the mind, deepens our hope, and keeps us connected to the best this life offers.

I just spent time with my covenant friend Susan.  We have journeyed together for forty years on this path called life.  Surely, we have wept together, laughed together, prayed together, searched together and grown in faith together.  We have shared our lives on many levels.  Many times we have talked together about being sisters separated at birth.  

We visited German Village in Columbus, Ohio.  We enjoyed the architecture, history, spring flowers and trees, food and coffee shops.  More importantly we were able to let go of the political upheaval currently taking place in our country.  Through our time together we shared calm, peace, joy, beauty and faith.  What gifts!

Thank you,

Gracious, Loving God,

for the

gift of Susan.

Thank you

for her friendship,

love, faith,

wisdom and compassion.

As she

blesses me,

I discover

your blessing

as well.

Yours, Andrea

Monday, April 7, 2025

Dear God,

In dark times we need to seek the light.  It is shining, in many ways and many places, often right before our eyes.  It may be difficult to find but always, always worth the search. 

Today at worship, I was drawn to the light brilliantly glowing behind the stained-glass window of Jesus in a white, flowing robe.  I have seen him hundreds of times and always felt the warmth, peace and joy he gives.  But today it returned me to my youth.

I was a Job's Daughter, a Christian organization for girls.  At the end of every meeting, we all knelt down in the form of a cross and we sang the hymn Nearer My God to Thee.  I was the soloist.  For me it was the highlight of the evening.  In fact, I don't even remember what else we did.  But I sure do recall the song, its lyrics and the beauty of our voices blending together, lifting us higher and higher.

Yesterday as I listened to the choir sing the beautiful song in church and gazed upon your son, I felt hope, hope that the darkness never has the last word, never eradicates the light and always provides what we need when we need it most.  In the deepest darkness, a tiny match sparking the light can make a new way out.

Dearest God,

thank you

for holy moments.

Thank you

for the beauty

of all

your gifts,

especially the light.

Guide us

toward your light,

your divine light

to help us

as we stumble

in the dark.

As we 

find it,

help us

become a

light bearer

for others.

Yours always, Andrea

Sunday, April 6, 2025

Dear God,

Yesterday I protested with thousands of concerned citizens about our country and world.  We were young and old, families and singles, friends and strangers, gays and straights and every color, gender, sexual orientation and everything else that makes us unique.  We were united together as one with a common purpose...a concern for everyone on the planet and the planet as well.

I had begun to lose hope that there were enough people who cared about others.  Shame on me!  Yes, there were those who protested on issues that affected their own lives but there were many more worried for the ways Washington politics are affecting everyone.  It was wonderful, Lord, and I thank you for nudging me in the direction of being part of such an effort to help.

You are God;

there is none

like you.

When we listen

to you,

we get

marching orders.

When we fail

to listen,

we sit

idly by.

I am guilty

of that.

I want 

to listen

to you,

to get

my call

from you

and to

follow your will

and your way.

Help me,

I pray.

Love, Andrea

Saturday, April 5, 2025

Dear God,

A few days ago I watched my new daffodils dance in the wind.  It was mesmerizing because I thought of how beautiful it would be for every soul on the planet to be able to dance with your spirit breeze.  But we can't.  

Some don't know there is a dance or a breeze for that matter.  Some know it but can't dance because of so many reasons.  Others simply refuse to dance.  There is something so pure and innocent about flowers dancing, nothing holding them back, just a simple act of joy to celebrate and praise life.

In a little while, I am joining a protest in our state capitol.  I am carrying a sign that simply states, "I am here protesting for the poor, the vulnerable, the tossed aside, the kicked around, the mocked, the threatened, the despairing and the lost."  I just simply can't stay in my warm, safe home on a rainy, cool day.  I have to be among those who are calling for better for all people in the world.

Guide us

by your spirit,

Lord.

Help us

do the dance

of justice

for all citizens

of the planet.

Teach us

again and again

and again

your will

and your way.

Love, Andrea

Friday, April 4, 2025

Dear God,

How can I not protest for the poor, vulnerable, marginalized, the threatened, the tossed aside, the lost and despairing?  You invited us into the suffering of others.  You asked us to walk together, to care for others and to love one another.  How can we not protest when they are suffering?

All I can think about is suffering people, people being made to suffer under the tyrant president whose mean spirit, uncaring heart and corrupt ways are deliberating hurting people.  Why, O Lord, why do such people behave this way?  Why do we injure people to fill our own self with power, greed and more?  I do not understand; I simply do not understand.

Help us know your ways, O Lord.  Lead us to help those who need help.  Keep before us your mandate to help, to love and to serve.

You are

the only way

to hope,

peace and joy,

dear God.

Enable us

to see

the path

you set

for us.

Guide us

first to you

and then

to others.

Love, Andrea

Thursday, April 3, 2025

Dear God,

Last night severe storms came through our town, a tornado with it.  It was a powerful storm, scary too.  But it reminded me of your great power.

Lord, how do we ask you to channel that power that will help rather than hurt people?  In our nation and world, our newly-elected president is doing horrible things to innocent people.  His executive orders, policies and rhetoric is intended to injure and do harm.  How do we stop it?  We need your power to stop a narcissistic, power-hungry tyrant from doing major damage.

On the other hand, is this your will or my own?  Am I simply asking you to rubberstamp my desire for action?  Or is this what you desire?  How do we discern your will in troubling times?

Lead us

to your will,

dear God.

In the end,

we desire

your will,

not our own.

Teach us

your way

and will today,

I pray.

Love, Andrea

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Dear God,

What joy overwhelms me when you and I sit together for devotion in the early morning!  To also sit with devotional authors daily, anywhere from seven to ten, to listen to their stories of faith and doubt, fear and love, their questions and wisdom.  Together we hope, pray and praise as one.  I learn from them and I am included in their story as I combine my own faith and questions.

In the silence and in the words, I feel strengthened and accepted.  I grow and so does my faith as I allow their sharing to touch my soul, inspire my mind and lift my spirit.  What wisdom fills me as I feel such blessing and inspiration.

Holy God,

thank you

for spiritual friends

that join us

every morning.

Thank you

for bringing them along

as we listen

and share

in deep places.

Thank you

for joy

that overflows

every single day.

Yours, Andrea

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Dear God,

How much is it worth to fight for truth?  You said to your disciples and to us that we will know the truth and the truth would set us free.  How do we fight for truth when our current government is leading us with lies, manipulation and threats?  I don't understand; I simply don't understand!

At our book club we shared our deep concerns.  One woman is ready to go to jail to protect her transgender and gay children.  Although all the world's children are our children, it has become very personal as we reflect upon this one woman's children and my own grandchildren.  How are we to fight for them, O Lord?  What word do you have for us?  

Hold us

to the truth,

Merciful God.

Teach us

to give ear

only to

the truth.

Help us reject

all else.

Lead us,

we pray.

Love, Andrea