A Heavy Heart

Dear Lord; Happy Wednesday Father!

Today Lord, my heart is heavy.

As You know, each year my family and I spend a week in the Pocono Mountains at Chestnut Grove Resort.  It’s a wonderful place, overflowing with charm, love, and life and we very much look forward to returning each Summer.  The family that owns it and their staff go out of their way to fill our stay with wonderful memories, and are always diligent in their efforts to ensure that we all feel like extended family.  It’s a place caught quite happily in a gentler, simpler time and a welcomed oasis from the chaotic world around us.

Today, I received the sad news that the husband of the family that owns it was killed on Monday.

Rob was a giving, caring man, and worked tirelessly to bring smiles to his guests’ faces.  He was a good man Father, and will be sorely missed by all those who came to know him.

I pray that Your Comforting Embrace is felt by all those mourning his departure, and especially to his wife and children during this time of grief.  We celebrate the light he shared while among us Lord, and although he will be missed we rejoice in the knowledge that he resides in Your Kingdom now.

Amen.

~Phather Phil

Meditations Monday: Light of the World

Dear Lord; Happy Meditations Monday Father!

Once again Lord, we come to the beginning of another work-week.  It was a harried but enjoyable weekend, with much time spent in the company of family and good friends.  Any lack of sleep incurred was more than balanced by the joy of being surrounded by those I love.  As I’ve said many times before Father, I am truly Blessed and I thank You.

Today’s Meditations Monday Scripture selection comes from the Gospel of Matthew.  As You know, I’ve been praying quite a bit as of late on new ways to reach out and share Your Love with others, and on expanding this ministry to serve those in need more extensively.  It seemed appropriate therefore, to focus my thoughts and prayers today on one of Jesus’ most fundamental teachings:

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)

Such a significant directive You’ve placed on us Lord!  The Light of Your Holy Spirit isn’t for private consumption, to be hidden and contained in silence waiting for others to notice it.  Instead, as followers of Christ we’re led to make our joy manifest through actions that glorify Your Presence in us.  Service to Your Children is worship in practice, and brings our Walk closer to You in the process.

Heavenly Father, we give You thanks and praise for Your unwavering commitment to Your Children each day.  Please fill us with Your Spirit, and embolden us to go forth and share Your Light with others.  Strip away from us our selfish natures, and lead us to reach out in love and mercy to those in need.  Make us beacons of Your Influence, and guide us to endeavors that best glorify Your Holy Name.  Amen.

~Phather Phil

Spiritual Nudges

Dear Lord; Happy Tuesday Father!

Over the last few years Lord, I’ve been “hearing” more and more from You in my daily life and I have to tell You, it’s been a transformational change for me.  While I know through Scripture and Faith that You’ve always been with me and always will be, as my Walk has progressed and I’ve learned to “listen” more carefully, I find Your Voice in almost every part of my day.

You speak to me through…

The wave of comfort and peace I get when I reach out to You in prayer.

The quick inner “watch it!” scolding I get after doing something that isn’t in line with Christ’s teachings (eg. Letting loose a nasty comment when someone cuts me off in traffic).

The warm feeling that crosses my heart when I see my children do things that Glorify You.

The quiet urgings I receive each day to step “outside my box”.

The song that plays on the local Christian radio station which delivers a message I need to hear, exactly when I need to hear it.

Feeling Your Presence whisper through the trees when I take long walks in the forest.

The “Spiritual Nudges” you give me to reach out and share Your Love.

And many others…

Heavenly Father, You speak to me in so many wonderful ways and I delight in continuing to discover new ones.  As our steps grow closer, I pray that I’m able to hear Your Voice above all other sounds and make decisions that Glorify the Blessings You bestow on me.

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” – John 10:27 (NIV)

Amen.

~Phather Phil

Thankful Thursday: On the Fly

Dear Lord; Happy Thankful Thursday Father!

And once again Lord, we come to the “Thankful Thursday” post at PhatherPhil.org.  You know, I find it fascinating that all throughout the week I have no problem finding things to be thankful for, but when I sit down each Thursday to write my list… writers block!  I remember them eventually, but I don’t want to risk missing any that come to me “on the fly”.  Therefore, I’m going to start making a concerted effort to actually write them down as I experience them, instead of simply trusting my cluttered memory stores.  🙂

Anyways Father, here’s my list for the week:

61. Stillness Sabbaticals.

62. Jonathan taking his first Communion.

63. Children that are “fired up” for God!

64. “Dinner and Drinks on the Deck” Friday evenings.

65. Divine “nudges” when I need them.

66. Clean carpets.

67. A ROM for my Android phone that doesn’t crash twice a day.

68. Encouragement from unexpected places.

69. Verses of Scripture that “come alive” in my heart.

70. Thick-sliced country bacon.

71. A fresh cup of coffee in 20 seconds from my Keurig.

72. My Flickr.com account.

73. My iPod on shuffle mode in the “Gospel & Religious” genre.

74. The daily “Free App of the Day” on the Amazon Android AppStore.

75. A marriage Blessed by understanding, respect, love and trust.

(And Father, #75 is and has been one of Your BIGGEST Blessings in my life by far.  🙂 )

Heavenly Father, Your Blessings in our lives each day are truly never-ending.  You lift us up, comfort and encourage us, and teach us those lessons You know we need to grow in Your Kingdom.  Please guide and strengthen us to make good choices, and to always seek Your Will above all else.  Amen.

~Phather Phil

Thankful Thursday: Realigning My Thoughts

Dear Lord; Happy Thankful Thursday Father!

As I mentioned yesterday Father, I’ve felt a bit disconnected the past couple days so I think today’s “Counting My Blessings” post is just what the doctor ordered to realign my thoughts with all the Blessings You surround me with each day.  I’ve seen a number of other “Bloggy Friends in Christ” having similar issues to those I expressed in yesterday’s post, so today I also want to pray for Your Comfort and Peace to be with them as well.

And on to the list!  Continuing from last week…

46. An administrative assistant who makes sure I eat, even when I’m too hectic to think about it.

47. The encouraging and thoughtful comments that are left on phatherphil.org each day.

48. Spiritual Decompression time.

49. A Heavenly Father that’s never too busy to talk with me.

50. Having a local butcher who has wonderful, fresh meats at great prices.

51. A lull in the hot, sticky weather today (low 80s and a nice breeze).

52. The 12-foot market umbrella on our deck which allows us to be outside more often.

53. That the grass is growing slowly this week.  🙂

54. Godparents who take an active role in our children’s lives.

55. Friends willing to watch the boys now and again so Shannon and I can get out together.

56. Green’s Black Raspberry Blast Ice Cream

57. New sales that seem to show up just when I need them.

58. Afternoon coffee.

59. “Date Night” with Shannon.

60. Your Mercies in Disguise.

As always, I thank You Father for these and all the other Blessings You bestow on me each day.  Even at my lowest points, I can look up and always see Your Light above me, welcoming me back to You.  Amen.

~Phather Phil