Saturday, January 31, 2026

Dear God,

We are in a battle for the light, the good and the truth!  Never before in my 79 years have I lived through such a battle.  I did not know personally that a nation could or would turn from its history, beliefs, philosophy, truth and precepts. Led by a voracious tyrant, the United States of America has.  Yet there are those courageous individuals who are fighting to overturn this course.  God, please bless them!

Throughout biblical history there have been many who entered the battle of good versus evil.  Each time evil reigned.  But there were those who refused to succumb to the events all around them.  They stayed in the battle until goodness overturned evil.  Eventually the good won the day and the battle.

Please, dear God, lead us all to do our part to fight this evil for the truth is your truth, the good is your good and the light is your light!

Lead us

to your light

that will 

direct us

to you,

Almighty God.

We seek 

your hope,

your comfort

and your courage.

Yours, Andrea

Saturday, January 24, 2026

Dear God,

In today's American leadership there is one who gives a constant message that we do not matter, that we are not united to one another and that we must stay in line to follow a dictator.  He seeks to rid us of one human family, beloved and connected.  But nothing and no one can take us from one another, no one, nothing!

How can anyone dictate love's choice?  How can anyone separate us from one another?  How can anyone say one group is better than another?  I may not like everyone, their beliefs or practices; yet I still acknowledge them as family.  Even though there are millions halfway around the world whose lives and cultures are different from my own, still I count them as family.

In times of chaos and conflict, I find solace in being connected to all you have created.  You made us different for a reason.  You made us to help us understand differences and their unique gifts and how we need one another.  Whenever someone seeks to break us apart, there is trouble brewing.  

Today, O Lord, I give thanks for all people.  Thank you for making us as beloved, unique gifts and blessings.  Thank you for making us one.

Thank you,

Gracious, Compassionate God,

for all

you have created.

Guide us

to the realization

that we

are precious

in your sight

and precious

to one another.

Steel our spines,

renew our hearts

and help us

take the hand

of all.

Thank you

for your

divine plan.

Yours, Andrea

Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Dear God,

Thank you for the Buddhist monks who are on the Walk for Peace.  Not desiring anything for themselves, they take mindful steps all in the name of peace.  Each time I watch a clip on Facebook, I am awed, humbled and blessed.  My breathing slows, my heart warms and I feel hope.

I believe our whole world longs for peace.  For all those who have brought chaos and conflict to our lives, we feel helpless, sad and even depressed.  They have stolen the best of who we are.  They have taken human lives by withholding food, medicines and necessary help.  How can we find peace in these hideous acts?  There is much suffering no matter where you look.  Among national and international leaders who have surrendered their humanity, it appears evil has surfaced and has no intention of leaving us.  Yet, in the simple act of walking for peace, we can regain our footing, rise up and find nourishment.

Thank you

for blessing

our nation

with faithful men

who walk

for peace

in our land.

We need you,

Lord,

we need peace.

Thank you

for reminders

that there

are people

who are

walking and working

for peace.

Love, Andrea

Sunday, January 18, 2026

Dear God,

After surgery two weeks ago, I have found myself in so much pain, agony at times.  I could only stay in the moment giving it my all, trusting you, professionals and loving family and friends to help me.  Sometimes caught up in despair, I would think of you without words to help me rise to trust, faith and peace.  

I realize how much dark times call for the light to come, to shine brightly, to lead us up and out of difficult situations.  And it does.  Sometimes we don't know it until later reflection.  Today was one of those days.

This morning listening and watching worship online, the preacher spoke of the song we have each been given, a special song, one only I can sing.  Yet, it is a universal song, a song that lifts, nudges, encourages, loves and gives life.  A victory song, it is not about power and dominion but one greater, one more powerful, one more with hope.  It is a song that cannot be taken away.  But the caveat is whose song am I singing?

In today's world, we hear and witness the call to obedience, destruction, hatred, commanding power and injustice.  Inside us their song can turn us into monsters ourselves when we take the bait and breed more of what they espouse or we can sing the other song, the song of union, the song of hope, the song of love, the song of praise for One whose power calls us much higher than an earthly messenger.  No one can destroy that song.  It is ours and yours.  But the truth remains, we cannot sing your song on Sunday and the other the rest of the week.  We each have to determine whose and what song we will sing.  My God, even in my vulnerable state may I sing your song, the song of faith, a song we can all sing together.

Holy and Living God,

thank you

for the reminder

of our song

and yours.

May we choose

to sing

your song

every day.

Even while today

may seem dark

and filled

with evil,

your song exists

to be sung.

While we plant

our feet

on the ground

of injustice,

may we

be courageous enough

to sing 

the song

of justice, 

liberation and hope.

Yours, Andrea

Tuesday, January 6, 2026

Dear God.

Today is Epiphany, a day of joy for me to give gifts to you like the wise men, the three kings and all whomever has offered their own gifts throughout the years to the Christ.  I want to give my trust to you, Holy God.  I want to trust you more than all the rest.  I want to say here is my heart.  Here is my faith.  Here is my love.  I want to say so and live so.

Usually after Christmas we forget everything else but not today.  I want to remember their response to the great gift.  And I want to respond with my gift too.  Receive these today, receive these today.

There is

no God

like you.

May we

all honor you

today and

every day.

May I 

remember and 

give thanks

for every gift

you have given.

Love, Andrea

Monday, January 5, 2026

Dear God,

Early this morning as I stepped into the living room, I noticed a brightness through the window.  I paused to look up at the beautiful, bright white Wolf moon, a supermoon, a moon the closest to the earth it ever comes.  I gazed at its beauty, breathed in its peace and marveled at its rhythm on display every night.

There are visible moments every day that give us cause to pause and wonder, celebrate and give thanks.  All we need do is develop a sense of awareness and awe.  In so doing we will stumble on these gifts all day long.  If we truly want to be one with such divine happenings, we need to stop what we are doing and breathe, watch and contemplate.

This morning when I moved to the chair in my study, I watched the moon make her way down to the horizon.  Every few minutes I thanked her for blessing me.  She will disappear in a few minutes only to return in a few hours.  I will welcome her once again.

Holy God,

thank you

for the gifts

of your 

loving spirit.

Thank you

for leading me

to the window.

Thank you

for the view

of faith.

Please make

me aware

of your spirit

all day long,

I pray.

Love, Andrea

Sunday, January 4, 2026

Dear God,

The words that keep coming to me this morning are change, conversion and transformation.  They are words for the whole human race but especially for me this morning.  I need to be converted, changed and transformed.  And there is only two who can do that.  You and I, O God, you and I.  I can't do it alone and neither can you.  We have to work together.

I remember a vision I had many years ago.  The scene was one in which God and I were talking.  God invited me to go to the grocery story with him.  I said yes.  When we stepped into the door, God invited me to take a cart and move to the first aisle.  As we turned and I looked at the shelves, I saw the word conversion.  Puzzled, I asked if I could put that in my cart.  God said yes.  As I dragged it down off the shelf and into the cart, I noticed that judgement was already in my cart.  I asked if I could replace it and put it up on the shelf.  He said yes and I did so.  All throughout the store I filled my cart and emptied it at the same time.  I selected what I wanted and got rid of what I did not want.  When we went through the checkout, God paid for my items.  God picked up two bags of "groceries" for me and stepped out into the parking lot.  Then he simply said, "Change is just that easy."  I have never forgotten that.

I remembered that because I believe you are telling me I need to make another shift.  A new year, a new month, it makes sense that it would come at the beginning of this new season.  

Convert me,

dear God;

change me.

Transform me

like a 

ball of clay

needing a

new shape.

Make me malleable

in your hands.

And while

you are

reshaping me,

please help reshape

our nation

and our world,

I pray.

Love, Andrea 

Saturday, January 3, 2026

Dear God,

Who is listening?  Who is listening to the heart that longs for peace?  The Buddhist monks walk for peace reminds us there are those who listen.  They listen to the voice calling for peace.  They are putting their feet to work to make peace visible.  People are responding.

There is no better time to listen than now.  When we see a person despairing in the grocery store or on the street, an act of kindness means we are listening.  We are listening to their pain, their sorrow.  We are listening to their quiet cries.

Listening is so much greater than talking.  Talking is just words spoken into the air.  Listening is deeper, more intent, filled with compassion, faith and desire for understanding.  Listening says there is more to life than me.  When we listen, we long for a Voice, a sacred voice who will speak to the longing of our own hearts.  There is One who does.

Merciful God,

in this

new year,

remind us

to listen.

Stir our souls

to reach higher,

deeper and wider.

Teach us again

the art

of listening

and all

her gifts.

Yours, Andrea

Friday, January 2, 2026

Dear God,

This morning as I walked into the living room, I smelled a whiff of pine. I paused, touched a branch of the Christmas tree and breathed in that sweet scent.  I do that often because it speaks to me of beauty, warmth, peace, joy and love.  But more than all that, it draws me to you.

Winter's finery tells us the story of wondrous beauty, hope and peace.  It invites us into the deeper places of life.  Like a cup of hot cider on a cold wintry evening, it warms the heart, stirs the soul and clears the mind.  At least that is what it does for me.  I love every moment of winter!

There is no other season that teaches me more than winter.  It persuades me to reflect and contemplate, to sit a while and dwell in the present moment.  It encourages me, gives me hope and murmurs the sweetness of faith and love.  Like the trees that stretch their roots to find nourishment in the winter, it invites me to do the same.  In this cold darkness, I stretch too, longing to find living water, food for the soul and refreshment for the whole of me.  I am never disappointed.

Thank you,

Holy God,

for the

holy season

of winter.

Thank you

for her teachings,

her love

and her

stretching power.

Thank you

for the

Christmas tree

in my 

living room

that is

a reminder

of all

that is good,

beautiful and awesome

in winter.

Yours, Andrea

Thursday, January 1, 2026

Dear God, 

"A thousand lights for the nations" is a line that is being whispered to me right now.  I have heard it for a few days.  In my mind's eye, I see a magnificent Christmas tree rising up, tall and full, filled with crystal teardrop ornaments reflecting the light in every direction.  It is beautiful, exquisite because it represents light for and from each nation, all lights coming together shining on each other.  Each one brighter because of the others' light reflecting upon them.  It is my new year's vision of our world, no nation standing alone, each better, more beautiful because of all the others.  One tree, many lights.

A thousand lights for the nations is what I wish for and pray for on this first day of the first month of the new year.  I want light and warmth and beauty and hope and compassion and love for each nation this year. What I believe to be true is that you want this for every nation, O God, not just for some.  Your love extends to each and all.  You have no favorites.  All are beloved.

Living God,

creator of the cosmos,

thank you

for this

new year.

Thank you

for your light

and love.

In grace,

may each nation

see themselves

as you do.

And may

each nation

see other nations

as you do.

Guide us

to your light

and love

this new year,

I pray.

Love, Andrea