A PERSONAL PRAYER God of love, There is a worm that lives in my heart. Most of the time, I think he must be sleeping. But sometimes, he wakes up and begins to eat away at all the good feelings inside. The worm has a name - envy. When the worm is at work, I compare myself to others and spend my energy wishing I was as good as they seem to be. I wish I had the gifts and talents they have, the success they have achieved, the friendships they enjoy, the courage they seem to muster, the discipline they appear [...]

A PERSONAL PRAYER God, I am so grateful to have lots of moms in my life - my own mom, the marvelous mom of my children, the amazing moms of my grandchildren, the spiritual moms who have shared their faith with me along my journey and who still pray for me and for my family, and the loving and caring moms in our congregation who like to "mother me." These are all people who have chosen to give themselves away, investing themselves in my life, sharing a piece of their lives with me. I am so grateful to [...]

A PERSONAL PRAYER  God, I remember when I felt that full fire in my belly, and I charged out the door every morning ready to change the world. I confess that sometimes now, God, I find myself coasting, hoping for easy rather than world-changing. I remember when I leaned forward toward the next exciting thing God had in store for me. I confess that sometimes now, God, I resist change and prefer to stay comfortable. Still, it seems that as I have grown older, my steps have become more consistent, more disciplined, more steady. I am coming to [...]

A PERSONAL PRAYER God of indescribable, unfathomable, incomprehensible love, As dawn broke on Friday morning, your beloved Son was on the way to the court of the pavements between the fortress and the temple. The long prayer of agony in the garden was accomplished. The betrayal was complete. The arrest was carried out. The midnight trial was over. Peter's denial was so fresh on his mind. Still ahead was the unfaithfulness of the crowd, the treachery of the religious leaders, the weak will of Pilate, the scourge and the thorns and beatings, the long walk with a crosspiece [...]

A PERSONAL PRAYER God of grace, Just like every year, I am trying to figure out what to say about Palm Sunday. There will be hosannas and palm branches waving, church family picnics and children's choirs singing and such happy worship. It all reminds me of donkeys and parades, children making a pathway of green for your entrance into Jerusalem. Yet there is something that seems shallow about Palm Sunday. I will say Jesus is king, but do I really mean it? Do I recognize his complete authority over me? Do I recognize that nothing I have belongs [...]