Sue Bradford Edwards

In All I Do

In All I Do Let me sing Your praisein all that I am:nurturing mother,loving daughter,faithful wife,supportive employer,disciplined employee,or humble volunteer. Let me sing Your praisein all that I do:bearing up the disappointed,guiding the lost,lending strength to...

Peacemakers

Peacemakers Blessed are those whospeak the words that calm us,quiet us, and bring us back to you.Blessed are those who,with a look or a touch,still the fear that leads to hate. Oh, help me to beone of your peacemakers.Where there is strife,Help me bring calm.Where there is pain,Help me bring healing.

Parades and Pinwheels

Parades and Pinwheels Food and fun, family and friends. So much busy-ness surrounds the holiday. Please help it be more than parades and pinwheels. Even as...

One Small Light

One Small Light Light is wisdom and learning.Light is warmth and shelter.Light is love and compassion.Light comes from You.Help me force back the dark.Help me spread learning and loving,home and hope.Let Your Light shine through meto brighten the world's dark corners.

Listening for You

Listening for You Time and time again,I bring my concerns and worries to You,but when I try to hear Your voice,something always gets in the way. The phone rings.The oven timer goes off.Someone calls my name. Please help me find a time,a place, a way to hearwhat it is You need to tell...

Mad Enough

Mad Enough I want to fight, to yell,to lash out at the worldin which these things happen.But good girls don't yell or clench their hands into fists.What would people think?I hold my anger tight,and it becomes a part of me.With You, I can let it go.

Ready to Grow

Ready to Grow You know how badly I want this promotion.To show them and myself, I am capable of so much more.Help me to go into the interviewfull of confidence without being arrogant.Help me stay centered but still be accessible.May I sense Your peace, and reflectit back to others in the room.Whether or not...

Unraveling

Unraveling Her marriage is breaking upand I want to help. Yet I wilt when I think how soon the phone will ring again,pouring her sorrow over my soul.I cannot give the answershe wants the most.I don't know if she will keep him. I don't know if she should keep him. Show me the path that will bring her peace. Please help me find the wordsthat reflect...

An Empty Lap

An Empty Lap My life and lap are emptywithout her comforting,purring presence.My friends want to sympathizebut they don't understand.How can I miss a cat so much?As day follows day,help me rememberthe love that You shared with methrough this one small animal.Help me to remember her warmthand her comfort as I...

Courage to Reach Out

Courage to Reach Out "Help those in need,"You tell me,but I hesitate. Will she welcome my helpor think I'm interfering?Because she has so little,will it look like I'mflaunting all I have,rubbing her face in my success?What if I do or say the wrong thing?Worries fill my minduntil...

Pray in Many Ways

Pray in Many Ways I pray when I am fearful.I pray when I am in need.I sing praise to You.I lift up my hands, my heart, my soul. Please take me beyond myselfand help me recognize the prayers of others,from eyes raised skywardto heads humbly bowed,from whispers in quiet cornersto voices spiraling...

Stepping Back

Stepping Back Please help me to step backfrom the rush and clamorof day to day life.  Help me to disconnectif only for a few momentsso that I may sit quietlyand do nothing but breathe.  In this way, may I find the space and the time to feel Your presence. To connect with the well-spring of peacethat comes only throughthat...

Forgiveness Step One

Forgiveness Step One “You have to forgive him.It’s the right thing to do.”Why do they tell me to forgive and forgetwhen he beats me down with his words?If I continue to live this life—  I will hate myself.Please, lend me Your strength.Let me lean on You as I walk away.Lend me Your...

Stuck in My Head

Stuck in My Head

Waiting Room

Waiting Room I wait to hear Your voice.What should I do? How can I help?Where do I turn?I wait to lend a hand to Your children,young and old, near and far,those I know and those who are known only to You.As I wait, prepare meto do Your workwith Your name on my...

Hearing Your Voice

Hearing Your Voice You know I don't always hear You,when the task is difficult,the journey hard,the way ahead frightening.Help me recognize the messengersYou send my wayeven as You help mefind the courageto carry out Your plans.

Time to Pray

Review of Time to Pray by Maha Addasi Daily prayer.  Many of us aspire to it although we don’t all succeed.  For Muslim faithful, the athan, or call to prayer, comes five times each day. Time to Pray is t...

Day In and Day Out

Day In and Day Out Today has been kind of low key,nothing much going on.Still I see Your work all around me.In the intricaciesof tendon and muscle and nervethat enable my hands to work.In the complexityof sun and waterthat supports lifeon this complicated planet.You are truly in all.

Letting Go

Letting Go Surrender does notcome naturally to me.Surrender meansrelinquishing control;letting go.Surrender meanstrusting that someone elsewill do as good,will care as much,will want the same result that I do.Surrender also meansopening my life and my selfto the wondrous possibilitiesthat Your wisdomand Your...

Builder or Destroyer?

Are You a Builder or Destroyer? “The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.”Proverbs 14:1This verse has been bouncing around in my head for about a week now.  When I first read it, I thought of a former co-worker.  Divorced with young sons, she never missed a chance to badmouth her ex. 

Grateful Start

Grateful Start Thank You for this day–a fresh start,a new opportunity,a gift from You.Thank You for filling itwith the joy of friends,the wonder of what might be,an awareness that You are here–watching, waiting, loving,more awesome than anythingthat stands against me.

Time of Waiting

Advent is a Time of Waiting Among other things, Advent is a time of waiting.  This theme was emphasized with the snowfall and frigid temperatures we in the Midwest experienced this weekend.   We live close to our church and my husband was head usher, so we pulled on sweaters and boots.  At church, we waited with our pastor who made the trip over u...

Keeping Perspective

Keeping Perspective As always, my to-do list is far too long with groceries to buy, the house to clean, and yard work to do. Please help me keep

With Thanks

With Thanks Thank You for all that I have,all that I am, and all that I may one day become.I know this is possible becauseof the opportunities You gave me,the teachers You sent my way.Please help me give back to the world,by being the glowing examplethat You mean for me to beeach and every day.

Room For You

Room For You In the tiny rooms of this apartment,I praise You.Only through You do I have shelter.Only by your hand,do I have laundry to do,food to prepare, and dishes to wash.It may not be a vast palace or a mansion full of servants,but it is where I am,and I praise Youfor all You have given me.  

Timbali Crafts

Timbali Crafts The book of James instructs us “to look after widows and orphans in their distress.” In Swaziland, that’s a big, big job. With a population of 1.2 million, this landlocked African country has the highest AIDS rate in the world at 39%;...

Too Mad to Pray

Too Angry to Pray Last week, the labyrinth simply wasn't working for me. Not like it usually does. I was simply too angry. A friend had called asking for prayers because of a problem in her extended family that put two children at risk. As I walked the winding path, I prayed. I prayed for the children. I prayed for the adults, but these weren't my best prayers. I was too angry. I strode down the...

Au Fait

Au Fait You know every sole that has ever left a footprint in the sand.You know every child who has ever flown home from collegeto spend a holiday with their family.You know every Scout leader that has hiked a forest trail.

Choices

Choices I watch as he weighs the choices.I want to tell him what to do.“Make the safe choice.”“Make the choice that I want,the one that keeps you close to me.”Help him to be more objective than I can be. Help him to make the choicethat takes advantage of his strengths and his passions,his knowledge and his...

Torment

Torment She used to come home from schoolchattering about friends and funand all the new things she had done.Now she drags herself through the door. She hangs onto me and cannot let go. Every day, their words hurt her heart and soul.Lend me Your wisdom,as I help her cope with these bullies.Lend me Your strengthwhen I call the...

My Last Pity Party

My Last Pity Party How did I get stuck doing this?  I fuss and fume as I make the calls,stuff the envelopes,and line up the name tags. I am slowly realizing that just because I can do something, doesn't mean I need to be the onewho says "yes." 

Coming to You in Prayer

Coming to You in Prayer Help me lift my mind and heart to You.Let me come in reverencefor You are greaterthan anything else can be.Let me raise my voice in thanksfor You have given me so much.Let me hold up my brothers and sisters,fellow humans in needof Your love, Your strength, and Your mercy.And last of all,let me...

Sick and Tired

Sick and Tired The aches still ache.The pain hasn't gone away.I'm sick of myself.Tired of being focused day and night on how I hurt.On what I cannot do,and what the next test might show or cost.Help me look beyond myself.Teach me to realizethat no one woman can live with pain, alone.Share Your: Compassion,Love,Patience.

Friendly Aging

Friendly Aging Walk with me, even when my back aches.Remind me of the gift of my good health.Allow me to return the favor,by sharing my time with those in need.

Brick by Brick

Brick by Brick Help me be the wise woman,the woman who builds her homebrick by brick, memory by memory.Help me to realize when I am tearing downthese carefully constructed wallswith harsh words or harmful habits.With Your help,I can love myself as You love me.With Your help,I can look at my mistakes

Committed to Each Other

Committed to Each Other As they commit themselvesto each other's hearts, hands and lives, I thank You.For helping them find each other—friends and lovers,supporters and confidants.   Thank You for letting me share in their joy-to bask in the loveof two such special...

Following My Own Path

Following My Own Path... After My Mom As Thanksgiving approaches, like many of you, I’ve been giving thought to what I’m thankful for.  I love that I get to work from home.  I’m incredibly grateful that we are able to make ends meets.  I’m also thankful to be able to host my friends and my son’s friends at mealtime. 

Song of Creation

Review of Song of Creation by Paul Goble Many readers will find that this text sounds a little familiar: "O all you works of the Lord, bless you the Lord: praisehim, and magnify him forever." "O...

Digging Out

Digging Out Dishes clutter the counters and sink.Laundry mounds up beside the washer.Junk mail, shoes, and morecover every flat surface.I can't get out from under it all.I need family and friends around me,but I'm ashamed of how I live.Lend me the vision I needto see one small taskI accomplish each day.Help me understand that thingsdid not...

Urban Dweller

Urban Dweller Among skyscrapers and city streets,You are here.I sense You in sun hot pavement,glinting glass and rumbling buses.When I take the train,I see You in the faces of Your children–Young and old, men and women, from all lands. You are here.    

You Are All

You Are All From the vastness of the universefull of darkness,stars and infinite space,to the tiny wonder of one small seedcradled in dark soil,bathed in spring rain,waiting to grow.You are in it all.It is all in You.From the ice of winter,sparkling, waiting, quiet.To the green of summer,insects...

Thy Will

Thy Will Not my will, but Thy will.I try to hold thisin my mind and my heartas I hold my worries up to You.Thy will may not mean a quick fixor the easy way out.It may take weeksto come together.But it is Your way,The Way,even when I cannot spy itthrough my nearsighted takeon the world;the world You lovingly holdin Your...

Counting to Ten

Counting to Ten My jaw clenches tight.My shoulders draw up.I snap and snarl at those around me.Help me gather myself quietly together.

Spread the Light this Advent Season

Spread the Light this Advent Season I'm writing this on Monday. Yesterday was the first Sunday in Advent. For anyone who is unfamiliar with Advent, it is the Christian celebration in preparation for the Advent of the King, the coming of Christ on Christmas day. Traditionally, it is a time of penitence, preparing yourself to be worthy of such a gift. It is also a...

Gazing Outward

Gazing Outward Whether we are reachingfor the last sale itemor helping someone in need,it is far too easyto get wrapped up in ourselves.We fail to see the other person,complete with their own needs,their own wants,their own fears.Please help me to turn my gazeto You so that I can look outward and upwardtoward something bigger than...

Women of All Faiths

Women of All Faiths We gather together, women of all faiths.We bring to you our thanks and our worries,our joy and our heartbreak. You are much greater than we can ever be.Please share with us the peace and...

The Best Gift

The Best Gift of All For the fourth Sunday of Advent, the couple who lit the Advent wreath read about the birth of Christ.  They discuss how the greatest gift of all came in the form of a tiny baby.  For those who were awaiting a warrior king, it was so far beyond their expectations, that they didn’t even notice.  Not only did the Messiah come as a baby, he was born in l...

Joyful Words

Joyful Words You gave us all the ability to laughand the desire to play.Please help me to not confusetaking You seriouslywith taking myself too seriously.Please help me to rememberthat a laugh and a smileand a bit of funcan go a very long way.

Keep It Simple

Keep It Simple Treat your neighbors as yourself.Don't lie or steal.Honor your parents.They seem pretty straightforwardright up until I seek clarification,that will help me findloopholes and exceptions.Just who are my neighbors?Do white lies count?Help me simplify my obedienceinstead of complicating itwith qualifications and...

Prayer Beads and Me

Prayer Beads and Me Crisis. Crisis. Crisis. That pretty much sums up the past week. Blessedly, they weren't technically my crises, but you know how it goes. Trying to convince the bill collector that, while Kelly's nonpayment is an issue, you are not Kelly . . . let's just call it fruitless and leave it at that. I really needed some...

Truly Giving

Truly Giving Sometimes,I don't want to hearwhat is being saidso clearly to me. The solutionI've already devisedtakes less timeand isn't as much trouble. Help me to see,that to give,as You would have me give,means dipping intowhat I'd rather keep.

Plea for Hope

Plea for Hope He stares unseeing into the distance.He is so young; his life full of possibilities— but he can’t feel it. I fear I will say the wrong thing and push himbeyond all hope, beyond all help.Please help me rea...

Praise Song

Praise Song Praise to YouWho whispers to usin a spring breeze,in the sigh of leaves overhead,in the chuckle of a running stream.Praise to YouWho cries out to usin the roar of waves endless,ever present,all encompassing,making You known.Praise to YouWho calls to usin the pop and creak of ice,in the thump of snow...

Mosque of Paris

Review of The Grand Mosque of Paris The Grand Mosque of Paris: A Story of How Muslims Rescued Jews During the Holocaust by Karen Gray Ruelle...

Choices and Consequences

Choices and Consequences  Is it Your will for meto bring this into my home;into my life; into my family?Will it enable us to live fuller lives,to be closer to each other,to draw closer to You?Lend me Your wisdom,as I struggle with this decision.

Remission

Remission The treatments are done.The doctors tell methat the cancer is in remission.Remission.Not gone.Not forgotten.Help me let go of the fearthat is waiting to pounce.Instead, help me feelthe sun on my face.

Greater Peace

Greater Peace I have no idea what today will bring.I know only that I will have to react quickly,as I take stock of the situation.Help me seize the information I needto give each patient the best possible care.Help me remain calm in...

Peace Planet

Review of Peace Planet: Light for Our World Peace Planet: Light for Our World, by Nan Merrill and Barbara Taylor, is both a call to prayer and a prayer for peace. I find myself turning again and again to this little...

Overcome My Fear

Overcome My Fear Help me deal with the worriesthe fill my heart with dread.What if I make a mistakethat delays treatment?What if I make a mistakethat prolongs someone’s pain?Or, even worse, shortens their life?Help me remember that you are here,not only for the patientsbut also for me, their nurse.Help m...

You Are There

You Are There I pausewashing the dishes,answering email,picking up the mess of an average day.I wish I could feel Youhere with me. Help me to realize thatYou are thereeven when I cannot sense You,that You are the constant in my life. Where I am today,there You are.Where I am tomorrow,You will be –

I Paid the Labyrinth a Visit

When I'm at Sunday service, I join in the Lord's Prayer and the Prayer of Confession. I take specific concerns to God and give thanks now and again throughout my day. But for years I struggled with meditative prayer. I'd get a cup of coffee and sit, determined to meditate and listen for God. Other people do it. I should be able to do it too. Eyes closed, I'd breathe deeply. In. Out. In. Did I remember to get the chicken out to defrost? No, no. Time for that later. Out. In. Out. Is the cat having a hair ball? Focus! In. Out. What on earth is that cat doing?

Gifted

Gifted Others praise You with voices raised in song.Still others paint awe-inspiringcanvases or raise buildings into the sky.Let me praise You with the talentsYou have given me.I can reach out a handto steady my elderly neighbor,or raise my heart in prayerfor a sorrowing friend.I can stir a pot bubbling on the stoveas I wait for my hungry...

Time Out of the Loop

Time Out of the Loop Last Sunday I found out that I didn’t have a meeting after all.  I had miscalculated – our meeting is next Sunday.  Yay!  Afternoons and evenings off are a gift from God.  Sure, my dyslexic inability to read a calendar contributed, but I recognize free time for what it is.  A great-big, wonderful gift.   This particular gift meant...

Me Time

Me Time

Reaching Up and Out

Reaching Up and Out When I feel that I cannot truly help, please help me reach up to You.  Lend me Your strength so that I can see, that although I cannot fix the problem itself, there are a hundred other things that I can do to bring comfort  and...

Shift Change

Shift Change I have no idea what today will bring.I know only that I will have to react quickly,as I take stock of the situation.Help me seize the information I needto give each patient the best possible care.Help me remain calmin the face of fear and painas I release my patients into Your care.I can only do so much,but with You I can do so much...

I Am More

I Am More My own body has turned against me.Cancer.It is more than a word.It is a weight pressing me down.Help me breathe.Help me hear what the doctors are saying.Help me be more than this one word,this diagnosis and this set of symptoms.I am so much moreas I draw on Your strength,created in Your image.  

Choosing Life

Choosing Life So many times I hear myself scoff.“There’s no way that can be true.Too easy. Too nice. I’m no one’s mark.”Help me see that when I harden my heart,I close myself off to those around me,to the...

Not Perfect, But Not Broken

Not Perfect, But Not Broken For so long I’ve known something is wrong.No eye contact.No happy babbling.Now the doctor has put a name to my fear.My darling, beautiful child has autism.When I have cried myself out,help me see the gift you have given me—a child in Your...

Playtime

Playtime Trees must be climbed,pebbles thrown and puddles stomped.Instead of calling him back,help me share in the joyof these sights, these sounds,and these experiences.Help me fight the urgeto look for the stain removeruntil after we have had our fun,run our race,and laughed out loud.With Your help,I can relearn joyin the sticky hands...

Spread Life this Advent Season

Spread Life this Advent Season Last Sunday was the second Sunday in Advent.  From the children’s message to the sermon, the theme of Life shone through, especially when Saint Nicholas came up.  You’ve probably heard of him.  After all, his life and legend gave rise to our tradition of Santa Claus. Don’t you see it?  Claus is short for...

Stuck in My Head

Stuck in My Head

Trust the Connections

Trust the Connections When and whereI will connect with Youisn't something I can predict,yet I judge when and whereothers will make these connections. Only with Youcan I lead without pushing,wait without impatienceand give others the spaceto find You.

Just Desserts

Just Desserts I knew I shouldn’t... even before I ate it.But it was so tempting, so delicious, so mine.I say I want to lose weight, I know what it takes— really.I do know, but somehow I can’t bring mysel...

As I Dine

As I Dine As I sit down to this meal, I thank You for the gift of this day and the opportunities it brings, opportunities to live and love and grow in Your light. 

Soothe and Comfort

Soothe and Comfort They've had a big fight.I want to join in, shouting out loud.How dare she accuse him,condemn him,not love him as much as I do?Help me hear without judgement.Help me weave together an understandingthat I could not find on my own.Help me draw peace from Your presence.Help me listen, soothe, and comfort...

Broadcast

Broadcast Help me silence the relentless roarof newscasters and fanatics.So much of what we hear each dayseeks to separate us from one another.I watch the news because I want to knowwhat is going on in the world.What I see and hear is hate.Help me look into the faces around meand see the divine spark You have given

Help Me See

Help Me See Please help me look awayfrom the narrow view created by the media.Please help me go into the worldand find families who love.Help me open myself to the natural wondersYou have put all around me:from dew on a leafto mountains soaring overhead.With Your help, may I movewith a sense of purpose as I seek outways to do Your...

Fussing Over the Folks

Fussing Over the Folks Help me to not worrywhen the phone rings and ringsand my messages go unanswered.Let me take a deep breathand picture them;not in a ditch,but where they usually are these days—touring a winery,hiking a woodland path,or on yet another trip. The life they are living today...

Our Connection

Our Connection I grew up with prayeras a quiet quick few seconds before bed,but that's no longer enough.Adoration,praise,supplication,and pleas for intervention.They may not have been part of my past,but maybe they will be part of our future,Your's and mine, together.   

Longing to Love

Longing to Love I am so tired of eating alone, of sleeping alone, of waking up to no one but myself.I date, but it never leads to anything long term.For so long, I’ve been looking for my type, my ideal man.Help me keep my eyes and my heart opento the possibilities You place b...

Epiphany

Epiphany: How Little ThingsMake a Big Difference Just the other day, I had an epiphany – ironic since Epiphany is coming up on January 6th.  Epiphany celebrates when the Magi visited the Christ Child and recognized him as Holy.   In the more common sense, an epiphany is a realization.  Mine concerned how quickly little things add up.