Chipping Away at Our Shell

Dear Lord; Good morning Father… And a frozen one it is!  The weather here has once again shifted and covered the Delaware landscape with Winter’s bounty.  This morning though, it’s not snow that layers the ground, but a shiny frozen sheet of ice and sleet.  This of course, makes traveling dangerous Lord, so please watch over those who are going out into this weather and keep them safe from harm.

As I was chiseling the ice from my “truck-sicle” this morning, waiting for the heater to add it’s inner glow to the effort it dawned on me that this was an interesting analogy to how You come into our lives (Ok, so this may be an odd tangent, but bear with me…).  We’re like the truck shrouded in ice; spiritually cold and covered in misunderstanding, pain and sin.  Little by little You scrape at our frozen shell, slowly revealing Your Light and Warmth to us until our inner heat kicks in and bridges that gap.

Ok.  I said it was an odd tangent, but I think a valid one all the same.  🙂

Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your Diligence and constant Presence in my life.  Please keep “chipping away” at my earthly shell, so that I may see You with more perfect clarity.  Amen.

~Phather Phil

Prayers on a Wintry Day

Dear Lord; Good morning Father.  Well, the storm came and went Lord and while those North of us got hit quite a bit harder, we were spared the bulk of it’s magnitude.  We got just enough snow to keep the kids home from school and for Shannon’s workplace to close for the day, but not too much for me to make it out to the office.  Thank You so much for that balance!

As you know Father, I’ve had quite a bit on my mind and in my heart as of late so I thought today I’d use our time together to cover some of those thoughts in prayer.

Heavenly Father, several days ago a friend of some friends of mine and his family suffered a horrendous house fire and lost all their earthly possessions.  While I don’t know them personally, several of my friends know him quite well and are working diligently to try and help them with getting the necessities his family requires.  Please provide Your Comfort and Healing to this troubled family Lord, and Bless those working to help them get back on their feet.

As we’ve discussed quite a lot recently Lord, many of Your Children are living with heightened levels of financial and occupational uncertainly in their lives.  Please send them Your Strength and Fortitude, and help them quiet the “noise” that fear and doubt places in their minds so that Your Voice can guide them down the proper path.

An old friend of my wife is fighting a battle with ALS, and has suffered one setback after another the last couple of months.  This is a truly terrible disease Father, and has caused him and his family significant pain and turmoil.  Please give them the Comfort and Peace that can only come from Your Presence Lord.  Help him see Your Light, and know Your Love in this difficult time.

As always Father, thank You so much for being the guiding light in my life and for listening to my prayers.  In Your Loving Hands I place all my hopes, dreams and burdens secure in the knowledge that Your Path is righteous and just.  Amen.

~Phather Phil

Be Strong and Courageous

Dear Lord; Good morning Father.  Today Lord, I’d like to spend some time talking about discouragement.  As You well know, I’ve been dealing with this particular feeling quite a bit recently and it can be an extremely overwhelming emotion if not kept in check.  I’ve also received messages from many others struggling against similar demons, so I thought it was worth discussing today.

In my case, the bulk of my challenges with discouragement are centered around running a business in a radically depressed economy.  While we’ve persevered through what I hope is the ugliest part, I was forced to make some very unhappy, but necessary decisions for the survivability of the company.  On top of that, the road that always seemed reasonably obvious for me has been clouded by a wide variety of uncertainties, leading to deep feelings of doubt, fear and discouragement.  I know that when the dust settles that we’ll be the better for our trials, but in the meantime not allowing Satan to use these moments of earthy weakness to attack my spirit can be a difficult task.

Of course, there are many other forms of discouragement as well.  Each day I see and speak with people struggling with these feelings over problems with schoolwork, dieting, quitting substance addiction and a plethora of others.  These situations lead to moments of emotional weakness which can truly leave us vulnerable and wanting, and keep us from hearing Your Voice clearly.

So Father, how do we combat these attacks on our spirits in times of turmoil?  Looking to Your Book for guidance, I find quite a bit to focus and encourage me :

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.  Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” – 1 Peter 5:6-8

We were never promised an easy life on earth, but we’re fragile creatures Lord and it’s easy to forget that sometimes.  You did promise us however that if we follow in You and honor You, that You will never leave our sides.  What an amazing Gift!  You’re there celebrating with us in our moments of joy, and You’re there to comfort us in our times of need… We simply need to quiet the “noise” in our minds, and open our hearts to Your Voice.

Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your Guiding Presence in our lives.  Please help us filter out that emotional “noise” and focus our hearts on Your Will.  Bring comfort and direction to all those struggling with feelings of discouragement and depression, and let them know the true worth they have being one of Your Children.  Amen.

~Phather Phil

A Fresh Start

Dear Lord; Happy Monday Father!  To start off with Lord, I want to thank You for yet another lovely weekend.  It was a hectic couple of days, but we were able to be productive and yet still have some fun in the process.  I went into Friday night still on a “God High” from the release You’d given me that morning, and it carried my spirit through much of the weekend.  My heart felt cleansed, and it very much let me recharge my batteries for the challenges that lie ahead.

Along with the concept of a “fresh start”, I spent quite some time this weekend working on reinventing the phatherphil.org web site as well.  It’s been quite a process in planning and implementing, but with Your Guidance (and a lot of help from Google) I’m quite happy with what we came up with.  It’s obviously still a work in progress, but It feels like a good start.  🙂

Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your Presence and Guidance in my Life and for the Love You’ve shown myself and my family.  We are indeed Blessed and renewed each day by Your Grace.  Please let all those who yearn for meaning, for purpose and for understanding find Your Truth and be emboldened and encouraged.  Lead us through this week in Courage and in Strength so that we can see past our earthly worries and focus on Honoring Your Glory.  Amen.

~Phather Phil

A Wondrous Gift

Dear Lord; Happy Friday Father!  Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!  What a powerful release Lord!  I truly feel like the floodgates on my heart have opened, and it’s an amazing sensation.  I can’t thank You enough for this, and I lift my Praises to You for this wonderful gift.

As there are others that read these conversations Father, let me explain.

The last couple of months have been filled with significant trials for me, my business and my family and although I’ve tried to maintain a positive outlook and listen for Your Voice, I’ve been very much eaten up with fear, worry and self-doubt.  These deep-seated demons have affected me severely enough that my health has suffered, and I’ve not been able to focus as closely as I should on ministering to those who count on me.  I didn’t lose Faith Lord, but I certainly felt beaten… until this morning.

I had just dropped off my boys to school, and was headed towards my office thinking about what new nightmares the day had in store for me, when You intervened.  In the middle of a thought, out of nowhere, I started crying uncontrollably.  The only way I can explain it is that my heart felt like a plug had just been pulled and all the pain, fears and worries burst from my chest.  It was a truly staggering feeling, and I’m still tearing up thinking about it.  You are indeed a Wondrous God!

I Accept Your Love, and Your Help, and Your Gift!

I lay my Burdens at Your Feet Lord!

Heavenly Father, I can’t thank You enough for this release and for staying close to me through my trials.  I know I am Blessed, and Loved and I feel Your Peace.  May all those in similar turmoil receive Your Presence as I was Graced to this morning.  Amen.

~Phather Phil