Sweet peace

"Peace, peace, sweet peace" - I remember the words of that hymn from when I was younger. I haven't heard it in a very long time, but those words from the chorus come back to me so many times and I feel that exquisite peace roll right over me. It fills me, it covers me, it envelops me.

God thank you for that wonderful, comforting, glorious peace that you send when we need it. Thank you for assuring us, in our most trying hours, that you're with us - that you love us. And thank you for never leaving us without your presense. Your promises are forever and you never forget us.

Peace. Peace. Sweet, sweet peace.

Attention!

I realize that sometimes you allow hard things in our lives to get our attention, but Lord - enough for right now! This past two-and-a-half years have been really hard at my house and I don't need anymore at the moment. But you do have my attention! I am listening to you God. I want and need to know what you are saying to me. Teach me. Touch me. Hold me. I want to feel the "love that will not let me go" right now. I need you God. I know you are there for me and I know you will always be there for me. But just now, I'm feeling a little lost. Turning over control to anyone else is not easy for me.

But I am listening carefully God!

Optimism

Lord thank you for times of joy and optimism in a world of trials and stress! Here we are on the verge of inaugurating a new president, which is always a time of excitement and optimism in the country, no matter what your political affiliation. We all hope for the best - we are optimistic people by nature. We expect nothing but good things from our leaders until they disappoint us by being human and therefore flawed. And then of course we wail and carry on about their horrible failings and wonder how we ever trusted them in the first place.

We are complicated people Lord!

Please keep this new president in the palm of your hand and close to your heart. Prick his conscience with the knowledge that he needs you - must seek your wisdom, and desire your grace. Dear Lord, help us all! May our optimism be rewarded...this time...

Snow

Dear God the snow is beautiful today. What an incredible concept, snow! The flakes are just drifting to the ground, which is covered with a white blanket of cold, and the world looks like something out of a fairy tale.

Sometimes your world just amazes me Lord. Such a wonderful place you've created for us. There's beauty all around us and amazing things to see if only we are willing to open our eyes and look.

When life is hard - which it often is - and I'm feeling a little low, my God, thank you for sending a miracle like the snow.

A new year

Lord thank you for a new year. I love to open a new calendar and see all those lovely blank pages, ready to be filled with "life"! There is nothing but promise ahead. I feel blessed to have come to another year and I'm overhwelmed with the potential that it brings. Lord help me to make use of it wisely! Help me to prioritize. Help me to use my time carefully, treating it like the gift that it is. And help me to set goals for this year that are reachable and pleasing to you.

Lord thank you for this new year. And please - help me not to waste it!

Whew!

Well Lord, another Christmas is over! Thank you for helping me to keep things in perspective this year - to not forget what the celebration is all about! Thank you for helping me make this Christmas one of joy and wonder and not stress and anxiety. Thank you for allowing me to rejoice this year after such a sad holiday one short year ago when I was missing my mother so painfully. Lord, you know I still miss her! But you have allowed me to come through to the other side of grief and enjoy so many wonderful memories, whether they make me sad or not. I no longer dread the memories. Now I embrace them.

Most of all Lord - thank you for the gift of the very first Christmas over two thousand years ago. Thank you for a tiny baby that came to earth for me. And thank you for reminding me throughout this past month how important that gift was and is to me.

Busy season

Lord help me to slow down long enough to think about what the season is all about today. I have so many things to do, so many places to go, so many errands to run - but I want to make sure I never lose sight of what is really important about Christmas while I am busy checking things off my "busy" list.

Lord, give me the peace that only comes from you. As I run my errands and do my cleaning, as I wrap my gifts and plan my menus, I pray for this. And I pray that the trappings of Christmas will never overshadow the real meaning of the celebration: a tiny baby sent to earth to bring us salvation, to teach us love, to show us grace.

Thank you Lord, for the ultimate gift.