As we’ve discussed a number of times before, a huge Blessing in Jonathan’s life over the last couple years has been his involvement with Kay’s Kamp. It’s a wonderful organization, and it’s meant so much to Jonathan to have that connection with children who share and understand his medical situation. The bonds he’s formed with that group have been amazing, and we’re very thankful to be part of their “family”.
Over the rest of the year when Kamp isn’t in session, the Kay’s Kamp staff is wonderful about keeping everyone in contact with each other, and in passing along any important events that may occur so that everyone can come together when needed. Today, I heard from them… and it wasn’t happy news.
One of the Kampers’ medical condition has deteriorated, and he and his mother are in need of Your Comfort Father.
Whenever we come up against news like this, it hits us extremely hard Lord. We’ve worn those shoes, and I believe it’s one of the most difficult things that anyone can deal with in this lifetime. When I received the email, past realities flooded back to me and my heart caved knowing what they must be feeling. Although we’ve been truly Blessed that Jonathan’s disease has stayed in remission so far, the fact it still lives in him becomes much more real when we see others in that situation suffering. I realize we don’t have the “Big Picture” Father, and that You’re still in control even in cases like this, but those answers can seem very distant when our spirit cries for those in pain.
Heavenly Father, please bring Your Divine Healing to this little one and his mother. Let them know Your Love and Comfort, and the Eternal Hope that Christ brought to us all. Your Light is strong in these families Lord, and I pray that they see it and feel Your Peace in this time of turmoil and darkness. Amen.
~Phather Phil
P.S. For further information on this remarkable little boy and his struggle, they have a web page at: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/dorianh . Please pray for them.
My heart is light today Father; filled with the power of what this day of celebration represents!
Following a dreary, rainy Good Friday (which seemed somewhat appropriate weather to me), the weather broke late yesterday; almost as if the light were yearning for the coming dawn. Today I awoke to a beautiful sunlit morning, as if the world itself is rejoicing on this Day of Resurrection!
Brought up in a Lutheran Church, I’ve been hearing the following phrase whispered through my heart quite a bit the last few days:
Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again!
Such a simple, yet in my opinion powerful statement of Faith this is Lord. We can never hope in this life to comprehend the magnitude of the Gifts Christ brought to us, but my heart stretches and my spirit grows each time I contemplate these wondrous events.
This morning Father, I read the story of Jesus’ Resurrection from the Gospel of Matthew to Jonathan and Aidan. Over the last week, I’ve been talking with them about the significance and importance of what this celebration represents, and although they’re still young in their walk with You, I see Your Light in their eyes more and more each day. Please continue to bring Your Love and Guidance to their hearts, that they may grow in Your Kingdom and more fully appreciate the Blessings You bring to us all.
“After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”” – Matthew 28:1-7 (NIV)
Heavenly Father, we rejoice at the wonder of Christ’s Resurrection on this sunny Easter Morning, and for the Salvation and Hope that act of Love signifies. I pray that our hearts will all be filled with Your Glory, and for Your Will to guide us along the path Jesus laid for us.
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.
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. 
