Saturday, July 26, 2025

Dear God,

How do we ever get to the way of love?  How do we take our anger, hurt and resentment and turn it into love in action?  How do we say yes to you knowing we are very limited in our understanding, wisdom and knowledge?  How do we trust you enough to follow your will and your way?

It is so much easier to be angry than to love during very difficult times.  Anger keeps us, so we think, safe from further harm.  Anger gives us an extra layer of protection so we do not have to be hurt again.  But the truth is anger also keeps us from being healed.  When we hold on to pain and anger, we shut off doors and windows to the healing truth of your love and our own inner love established by you from the very beginning.  The further truth is we are in need of radical healing, the kind that not only cleanses the wound but heals it permanently.  So why am I resistant?  I want no more hurt.

What we need is a deeper trust in you, Ever-Healing God.  We need to remember you know more, you know what is best and you know what is good for us and our situation.  Trusting you unlocks the door to what we need most.  Most of all it opens us to your grace-filled love, support, understanding, help and healing.

O God,

we lack

so much faith.

I am guilty.

Yet, I 

want you more

than anyone

or anything else.

Help me follow

my own

inner voice

that reminds me

of this truth.

Thank you,

Loving and Compassionate God

for this wisdom today.

Yours, Andrea

Friday, July 25, 2025

Dear God,

Your way is always better.  When we can be the voice of the voiceless, we are called to speak, to act and to care.  

On my way to my physical therapy appointment, I drove past protestors who were doing this very thing...speaking for hungry children, for fair treatment of immigrants, for federally funded monies for research and education, for upholding the rule of law and the constitution and for more than I could see as I drove by.  They were the voices, the compassionate ones loving and caring those whose fight for human rights is exhausting, painful and depleting.  Although I only saw them making witness to compassion for a few seconds, I knew they were living your way and doing your will.

Holy God,

help each

of us

to life

your way

and do

your will.

For your way

is always compassionate,

loving and wise.

Bless those

who listen

and act upon

your call.

Yours, Andrea

Sunday, July 20, 2025

Dear God,

We could never know the power, warmth or beauty of the light without the darkness.  Black night skies are extraordinary with the teeny, white, sparkling lights piercing the dark.   Then why, O Lord, do we resist the darkness in order to find the light?

Throughout the ages we have equated the light with goodness and the dark with evil.  We have separated them into categories and have fought again all we consider to be dark.  We have forgotten they are intrinsically tied together.  We assume to be lost and without direction in the darkness and at peace in the light.

Insight, growth and newness are frequent guests of darkness.  When we are stopped in our tracks by loss, sorrow, and lost ways we assume the negative side of darkness; yet, this is the quiet time of surrender, quiet and wide, open space to reflect and give way to your way in our lives.  For you, O God, know more than we.  You know what is ahead of us.  You can give us a new way into our future, one filled with hope, peace and faith.

Darkness teaches.  Light celebrates.  Both sides of the same wondrous coin.

Teach us

to trust you

when we

are confused,

lost or afraid.

Guide us

to new truths,

new paths

and new blessings.

Forgive us

when we

want to

rid ourselves

of the 

many gifts

that darkness brings.

You are God

and we

are grateful!

Yours, Andrea

Monday, July 14, 2025

Dear God, 

The birds are singing, the tree limbs are barely moving to the gentle breeze and my feelings of gratitude are full.  Even when life is not the way we want it, still nature, the creation sings her song of love, creativity and joy.  When we open ourselves to what is taking place all around us, we can join her in praise.

Early morning is the best time for me to assess the joys of my life.  I need to do that especially when I am tense, angry or hurting.  Setting aside a little time for evaluation, I prioritize what is important and what is not.  Doing that in your company brings such blessing and hope.

As I make cherry marmalade for sale to support four mission causes and do daily chores today, I pray I will give praise to you all day long.  For you are God; there is no other like you Holy One.

Thank you

for blessings galore.

Thank you

for daily pause

to pray

and praise.

Thank you 

especially for

this time.

Yours, Andrea

Saturday, July 12, 2025

Dear God,

The ways of faith are not about a set of rules, practices and rituals.  It is about a personal relationship to One who is greater, wiser and full of grace and love.  This kind of faith is about divine awareness, surrender and growth.  It is never about being stagnant, the same and telling others how they should be, act and function according to our faith.  It is always about leaning in, not leading.  Faith is about you and our desire meshing with yours.

Faith is like a dance, one who leads and one who follows, yet, offers opportunity to teach us how to lead, how to do different steps and moves and how to move toward others in the dance of creation.  Who wants to dance alone forever?  Who wishes to dance the same move over and over again when there are billions of others waiting to learn?  Who wants to always lead?  There is nothing more wonderful than being in the arms of the Great One and being twirled around among the twinkling stars of the cosmos!!!

Holy God,

thank you

for the blessing

of faith

and all

its lessons.

Forgive us

when we

want faith

to be

our way,

our will

and our set

of beliefs.

Free us

for the dance

of life,

Gracious Loving God,

I pray.

Yours, Andrea

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Dear God,

So often we want you to think as we do.  We want you to baptize our way of thinking, being and doing.  But do we really, long term?

The beauty of faith is that you are God and we are not.  We do not have to make up rules, say who is in and how to do things.  Because we are human we will always be limited in our thoughts, ways and will.  The cosmos will grow smaller and smaller under our leadership.  We will begin to create boxes to live in and we will force others to live in those tiny spaces as well.  We will rob us all of the delight of faith and all its sacred pieces.  Who really wants to carry that burden and responsibility?

Thank you,

Holy God,

for being God.

Thank you

for allowing us

to share

in eternity's ideals.

Thank you

for making us

in your image

but not

giving us

all the work.

Love, Andrea

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Dear God,

It is easy to fly off, to get enraged by injustice caused by power-hungry, greedy political leaders.  It is so easy to lose our way in anger.  And we must do our part to stem the tide of meanness, resist policies that intend to harm and help support those who are facing devastating losses.  Yet, you call us not to lose our way but to find it.

O God, your love is the only love that is steadfast and sure.  You make it available 24/7.  You give us wisdom, ideas and a way to make a difference however small it may be.  At the same time, you ask us to keep ourselves rooted and grounded in you, your way and your will.  That is so difficult at times because we want the hurt to stop now.  Your words call us back every time..."Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them."  Your way is always better.

Help us

help others,

Holy Father.

Break down

the powers

of evil

and despair.

Make your way clear

so we

may follow

instead of

try to lead.

Yours, Andrea

Sunday, July 6, 2025

Dear God,

You have called me to make the stranger a friend, in the grocery store, on the street, in my car and anywhere else I come in contact with people I do not know.  You whispered to me to offer a gesture of kindness, a word of encouragement, affirmation or hope or do some act of giving sacrifice.  In doing so, I am offering tiny gifts to others and finding joy, peace and hope for my own soul.

In this chaotic, contentious time in our nation and world, many of us want to run away or charge into the fight with blind ideals.  We are desperate to change the environment but more importantly shift the lives of those in peril by recent decisions by the administration in Washington, DC.  When I think about it, I am enraged, pained and frustrated by the lack of compassion and the downright evil motives of Washington leadership.  How can you freely, intentionally choose to injure so many people in a society at home and abroad?  How can it be so?  How is it possible, Lord, how is it possible?

Make the stranger

less of

an enemy

and more

a friend,

dear Savior.

Help me

bring hope,

support and peace

to all

who are hurting

and afraid.

Lead me

to you

and then

back into

the world,

I pray.

Love, Andrea