The Seed of All Love

“So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us.” – 1 John 4:16-19 (ESV)

On this Valentine’s Day as our hearts are drawn to thoughts of love and romance, it’s important to remember the true source of that which we cherish; God loved us first, and from that precious, perfect seed all love springs forth.

With Open Arms

“”Yet even now,” declares the Lord,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
and rend your hearts and not your garments.”
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;
and he relents over disaster.” – Joel 2:12-13 (ESV)

No matter how far we’ve fallen, or how deeply we believe we’ve grieved God, He still loves us and pursues our return to His fold.  When we truly seek God’s forgiveness and lay our burdens at the foot of the cross, He welcomes us with open arms.

Thankful Thursday: Comfy Jeans

Dear Lord; Happy Thankful Thursday Father!

Ok Father, yes, I realize it’s not Thursday anymore but I really didn’t want to let the week pass by without adding to my ever growing list of Blessings.  It’s been an amazingly busy week Lord, but one that absolutely overflowed with Your love for us.

Continuing to count my Blessings Father; while this week Your many gifts were abundantly apparent, I’ve been especially grateful for:

556. A powerful, Spirit filled evening at our Tuesday night small group gathering this week.

557. Finding new truths in Scripture that I’d overlooked before.

558. Some extra income this month through jobs Shannon’s had playing her viola, and teaching violin lessons.

559. My “comfy jeans”.

560. The arrival of a “DVD 3-Pack” containing “Fireproof”, “Facing the Giants” and “Flywheel”.

561. Your subtle reminders of who I was, who I’ve become, and the man You desire me to be.

562. The cozy feeling of wearing clothes straight out of the dryer.

563. Protection from the lions.

564. God Moments.

565. A new MIUI ROM release for my Nook Color.

566. Having dear friends that pray over my marriage, and my family.

567. That Shannon has been healed from the sinus and ear infection she suffered with last week.

568. Getting good seats for the Casting Crowns concert coming up in July.

569. Your benevolent Grace which cleanses and renews me.

570. An ever-deepening relationship with my Lord and Savior.

Heavenly Father,

We thank You Lord, for the many Blessings You bestow on us each and every day; both those that light the sky with Your radiance, and those that grace the night in silence.

In Jesus’ name we pray,

Amen.

~Phather Phil

It’s About a Relationship

“Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!” – Philippians 3:8-11 (NLT)

While belonging to and attending a church, participating in worship services and being involved in ministry can absolutely help bring us closer to God, only through a deep, personal relationship with Christ can we truly experience the peace, majesty and love our Heavenly Father offers us.  It’s not about a religion, it’s about a relationship.

Protect Me From the Lions

Dear Lord; Happy Tuesday Father!

When I was little, one of my favorite Bible stories was that of Daniel in the lion’s den.  The Children’s Bible I read it from contained some beautiful illustrations and a wonderful translation of Daniel’s “adventure”, and I found myself returning to it often.

Yesterday Lord, my morning Scripture readings led me once again to the book of Daniel, chapter 6:

“Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him.

Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.” – Daniel 6:16-23 (ESV)

Now Father, when I read this as a young boy, the amazement this story inspired was mostly directed at the Angel’s presence in that den; Your benevolent power protecting Daniel’s life.  When I read the passage now however, I’m struck by the powerful truth of Daniel’s trial in that den…

When we lay our faith and trust in You, You’ll always be by our side.

I know I’ll be beset with trouble in my life Lord

And things may not go the way I expect or desire,

But I give myself to You Father… wholly and faithfully

And lay my life at Your tender mercies.

Thank You Lord,

For protecting me from the lions.

Amen.

~Phather Phil