Following our last conversation Father, I spent quite a bit of time this last couple days talking to You. As You know, last week was very long and complicated and I went into the weekend extremely stressed and emotionally exhausted. Spending more time in Your Presence this weekend absolutely helped me focus on my priorities, and gain peace for the week ahead. Thank You so much for that.
Shannon and I are also still working to get over this nasty respiratory bug we’ve had. It’s almost over with I think, but my chest still gets tight now and again requiring breathing treatments to open things back up. Driving home tonight, it dawned on me that those treatments and my time spent communing with You this weekend both served a similar function.
They both helped me to breathe.
While the Albuterol inhalation helps to relax and open my air pathways and loosen up my chest so that I can get air efficiently, my time spent in prayer and absorbing Your Word provides the same relief for my spirit. It opens my mind and my heart, and allows Your Love and Calming Influence in. My lungs need air, my soul needs You.
Nebulizer treatments for the spirit… Ahhh. 🙂
Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your continued Presence in my life; You clear my focus, and renew my tired soul. I pray that Your Divine “Breathing Treatments” bring that miraculous healing to all those in need. Amen.
Today Lord, I’d like to close the week by discussing something I read over on Pastor Pete Wilson’s Blog this morning which has had my thoughts churning all day. It was a short post based around a question that was phrased at a Church Leaders Conference he addressed recently. Another speaker at the conference, Pastor David Landrith asked the attendees:
“Are you talking about God more than you’re talking to God?”
Wow… Such a simple, yet powerful and convicting query.
Well Father, as it’s my predisposition to dissect things my mind immediately started contemplating all the different ways I involve You in my day and whether each of those were “talking to You” or “talking about You”. For example, I write these “Emails to God” each day and while they’re certainly based on my prayers and things You bring to my heart, in the end they’re talking about You, not to You.
Pastor Wilson made what I feel is a key point in his post:
“It’s possible to talk about God and not be transformed. However talking with God always leads to transformation.”
I’ve been Blessed to have had many transformational moments Father, but I also know I have a long way to go on the journey You’ve laid for me. Therefore, I’ll be “calling” more often. 🙂
Thanks for the wakeup message Pete.
Heavenly Father, I thank You for the Blessings You’ve brought us this week. Please refresh our spirits and deliver Your Message of Renewal to our hearts, so that we may serve You with our whole selves. Amen.
First off Lord, I want to thank You once again for bringing Your Healing Presence to Jonathan. So far today he’s been doing well, with no immediate symptoms to note. Please continue to keep him in Your Embrace, and watch over him.
Yesterday Father, while Jonathan and I were waiting for the doctor to see him I had a chance to finish my reading of the book of Exodus. I know the story well, but this time one particular passage very much spoke to me and I’d like to share my thoughts on it today if I may. The verses I’m describing come from Exodus 31:1-11:
“Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you: the tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant law with the atonement cover on it, and all the other furnishings of the tent— the table and its articles, the pure gold lampstand and all its accessories, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, the basin with its stand— and also the woven garments, both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests, and the anointing oil and fragrant incense for the Holy Place. They are to make them just as I commanded you.””
Now Lord, in the overall story of Exodus this may not seem like an overly vital or interesting passage, but two fragments just jumped off the page for me and got me thinking:
“…I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills…”
“Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you…”
During many stressful times in my life Lord, I’ve had people tell me that “God doesn’t give us any more than we can handle.” These verses actually put that statement in perspective for me quite nicely.
While speaking to Moses on the Holy Mountain, You gave him the designs for a number of staggeringly complex and detailed constructions to complete. The specifications were exacting, and the project required significant craftsmanship, ability and skill for all those involved. You knew this of course, and therefore gave them the resources and skills they needed to complete the tasks You set for them.
You didn’t give them more than they could handle.
I think sometimes Father, we miss this very important point. If You give us a task to perform, You always make sure we have the tools, skills and resources we need to get it done. We still may struggle and have to put forth a lot of effort, but in the end You never leave us without what we need if it’s truly Your Will.
What a reassuring thought that is Lord. 🙂
Heavenly Father, thank You for bringing me these essential life-lessons through Your Word. I pray that in times of trial I remember that You are indeed by my side, and that You truly never give us more than we can handle. Amen.
Following the example I began last week Lord, today I’m celebrating another “Thankful Thursday” here at phatherphil.org. While I’m truly thankful all week long, I love the idea of spending our time together one day each week focusing my prayers on one particular Blessing that You’ve granted me. If nothing else, with all the love You’ve shown me Father, I should have enough material for an infinite number of Thursdays! 🙂
“When we consider the blessings of God–the gifts that add beauty and joy to our lives, that enable us to keep going through stretches of boredom and even suffering–friendship is very near the top.” – Donald W. McCullough, Mastering Personal Growth
Friendships have been at the forefront of my heart this past week Lord. Over the years, you’ve brought some truly amazing and wonderful people into my life. Some are still nearby, some have moved away and some have passed on to Your Kingdom, but all have left indelible footprints on my path. From these vessels of Your choosing Lord, I’ve gained wisdom, acceptance, fellowship and encouragement.
You’ve even used technology to connect us Father. Thanks to the staggering growth of the Internet, it seems as though no corner of the world is outside our reach these days. Through this conduit, I’ve been Blessed to connect with many beautiful souls whom I likely would never have encountered otherwise. Your Children in this “global fellowship” give me fresh perspective and inspiration, and have enriched my journey to no end.
Heavenly Father, I thank You for the many friendships and fellowships You’ve Blessed me with. I am a better man, and a better Child of God for those relationships.
“Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” – Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NIV)
Well Father, it’s certainly been a hectic day around here albeit a positive and somewhat enlightening one. Some “puzzle pieces” in my life are starting to fit together into something recognizable. Thank You for that glimmer of a picture… I can’t wait to see the completed image.
Today Lord, I started the morning with a happy grin on my face. While driving the kids to school, the song “Children of God” performed by the group Third Day came on the radio:
My head was elsewhere initially, but I snapped to when I realized I was being serenaded by my two boys in the back seat singing the children’s part. What a joyous smile it brought hearing them praising You in song first thing in the morning! Better than coffee Father. 🙂
On another note Father, I started a new book yesterday that I’ve very much been looking forward to reading. It’s written by Pete Wilson, Senior Pastor for Cross Point Church and the book is titled “Plan B: What Do You Do When God Doesn’t Show Up the Way You Thought He Would?”. I only had time to get through the first couple chapters last night, but I’m enjoying it so far. Pastor Wilson brings a wonderful “genuine” feel to his writing, and I’m excited to see where this tome takes me in the chapters ahead.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the smiles of the day, for fitting puzzle pieces, for connecting me with others who inspire me along my journey, and for remaining ever-vigilant and ever-faithful in Your Love for us all. 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. 
