Well Lord, today I had another one of those “geek views on God” moments.
We were installing a new server at a client’s site today, and were having some problems joining a couple workstation PCs to the freshly created domain (I know, I know… geeky stuff. I’ll keep this part brief). It’s a reasonably new client and site for us, so after some tests and investigation we realized that there was another legacy machine on the network that was improperly trying to “run the show” and causing conflicts with the new system. In effect, the new computers were trying to obey orders from more than one “boss”, which in effect rendered them non-functional.
Hmmm… Kind of like trying to follow our earthly wants and You at the same time…
The situation today reminded me of an excellent point I’ve seen on several other blogs recently; We have one Boss, one Father, one “Domain Controller” that we need to take our direction from. If we allow ourselves to heed the calls of other earthly “masters” instead, we become spiritually non-functional.
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”” – Matthew 16:24 (NIV)
I love seeing Your Lessons in my life each day Father. 🙂
Well Father, it feels a little odd to be writing to You on a Saturday morning. As You’re aware, I’m a reasonably schedule-driven person, so when I got home last night and heard You tell me to “just rest” it went against my grain just a bit. But I listened, and I’m thankful for Your Guidance. Between sleep deprivation from a week of insomnia, hectic work schedules and the daily family and household duties, I was truly wiped. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to just curl up on the couch with the kids and enjoy a movie together. I’m glad You always know what I need, especially when I’m too stubborn to admit it.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
What a beautiful and powerful promise Lord! Only in You do I find the comfort and rest I need for my tarnished spirit. Thank You so much for Your Faithful Care of us all.
Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your Guidance and Support in this season of my life. I pray that we all can experience the rest You Provide us, and find strength and delight in Your Divine Presence. Amen.
Wow Father, what a long and tiring day this was. I started the day at a client’s site at 7:45 this morning, and finally drove into my driveway at 8:45 tonight. I’m wiped.
Heading home this evening, I was driving along some back roads while Andrew Peterson’s “Counting Stars” CD massaged my mental temperament following the day’s toils. It was a dark and clear evening, and the stars seemed especially bright away from the street lights and incursions of blatant civilization. My mind drifted a bit, and I found myself pondering how much I actually enjoy driving at night; soaking in the Stillness and clarity of the draped surroundings.
And then track 9 started up…
It always fascinates me Father, how You manage to guide my thoughts and link them up with external reinforcements to get my attention. In this case, it came in the form of a song on the CD called “In the Night My Hope Lives On”. From my own thoughts of how in the Stillness of night I find comfort in Your Presence, this ballad reached in and awoke my spirit. What an amazingly powerful song this is Lord:
The lyrics are truly wonderful Father… such a potent description of the Hope we find in Your Love for us.
“I can see the crowd of men retreating
As he stands between the woman and their stones
And if mercy in his holy heart is beating
Then in the night my hope lives on
I remember how they scorned the son of Mary
He was gentle as a lamb, gentle as a lamb
He was beaten, he was crucified, and buried
And in the night, my hope was gone
But the rulers of the earth could not control Him
They did not take his life–he laid it down
All the chains of death could never hope to hold him
So in the night my hope lives on”
What a perfect way to end my day Lord; focusing on the Hope You so freely gifted us with. And in the night, my hope lives on.
Well Father, once again another work-week lies behind me. It’s truly been a period of transition, with some changes for the positive, and others not so much. However, through all of the highs and lows this roller-coaster of a week has brought I’ve been Blessed to have felt Your Presence beside me the entire time. You are truly ever-faithful to Your Children, and even though I may not understand why things happen the way they do, I have complete Faith that You’re always in control and guiding us along the proper path.
As I alluded to yesterday, due to a chain of events outside my control I faced a nerve-wracking situation at work this week that tried desperately to consume my spirit. More than once, in my communing with You over the last several days I bluntly heard you tell me to do something that seemed strangely out of context, so I foolishly allowed my besieged heart to put the message aside while I focused on my immediate crisis. Finally, worn and tired yesterday evening I listened to Your Insistent Voice and made the call You had been telling me to make.
In a ten minute conversation, the nightmare situation I had been dwelling on all week was taken care of.
You were trying to tell me all along what I needed to do Father, I just didn’t put the two things together. Once again, I’m humbled and reminded that only You have the “Big Picture”.
“”For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)
Thank You Father, for shining Your light in my dark moments, for teaching and guiding me (even when I’m being stubborn), and for Blessing me with Your Presence in my life each day. Amen.
Father, I’ll be honest; it’s been a rough time writing this post today. I usually look forward to composing the “Thankful Thursday” edition, but the last couple of days have been filled with nearly-paralyzing stress and anxiety, and I’ve been having a very difficult time focusing on the many Blessings You’ve bestowed on me. I know in my heart that You’re here with me, and have never stopped hearing my pleas but the voices of fear and doubt have been quite loud and insistent. Either way Lord, I thank You for being ever-faithful and ask that You forgive me this weakness. Our trials temper us, and I continue to cling to Your Strength secure in the knowledge that You will guide me down the proper path as always.
Therefore Father, for today’s “Thankful Thursday” post instead of focusing on some of the more “major” Gifts in my life, I’d like to run down a few simple, little things I’ve been thankful for this week instead:
This Blog. Not only does writing these daily chats with You help me solidify my thoughts and prayers, but I’ve been Blessed to meet some truly wonderful people through doing it as well.
Warmer Weather. I truly enjoy grilling Father, and for the last couple of weeks the weather has allowed me to do quite a bit of it. Milder temperatures have also allowed the boys to get outside for some much-needed recreation and for us to start our pilgrimages to Blackbird State Forest.
Simple Acts of Kindness. During this current period of fear and uncertainty, I’ve been uplifted by the kind actions of a number of people around me. Little signs of caring can speak volumes to a troubled spirit and have helped me immensely.
Hugs from my Kids. While I work diligently not to let my concerns and burdens be visible around the boys, they’re amazingly empathetic children and have spent a great deal of effort to show me extra signs of their affection this past couple weeks. 🙂
Heavenly Father, I thank You for all the Blessings You bring to my life each day. Please forgive my human frailties, and help me to cast my burdens at Your feet so I may find that Peace in Your Embrace. In Your Holy Name Lord, Amen.
Hi, I’m Phil Malmstrom, a.k.a. Phather Phil. I’m self-employed, father of two wonderful young men, an ordained minister who delights in spreading Jesus’ Message of Hope and Love, a science-fiction junkie, an aspiring photographer and above all that one of God’s Children who rejoices in His Blessings each day.
Hi, I’m Phil Malmstrom, a.k.a. Phather Phil. I’m self-employed, father of two wonderful young men, an ordained minister who delights in spreading Jesus’ Message of Hope and Love, a science-fiction junkie, an aspiring photographer and above all that one of God’s Children who rejoices in His Blessings each day. 
