Looking Forward…

Dear Lord; Good morning Father!  Yesterday, our conversation focused on the events of the year we’re about to leave behind, and what I’ve learned from it.  Therefore, today I thought we’d talk about moving forward, and some of the things I’d like to focus on for the upcoming year.

In holding with the last few Holiday posts I’ve made, I’d like to let my boys send their thoughts to You as well.  To that end, I asked them this morning what they were hoping 2011 would bring and what they were going to focus on to help make a positive change in their lives.

Here’s what they said :

Jonathan ( Age 11 ) – “I’d like to be able to spend more time with my family.  I want to learn how to do karate.  I want to spend more time with our friends and relatives, and have them over more often.  I’m going to be more involved in taking care of our animals.  I want to finish the new Bible I got for Christmas and learn more about God.  I’m going to work to be more thankful for the things that I have.”

Aidan ( Age 8 ) – “I’d like to see less crashes happen (car crashes) because I don’t want people to get hurt.  I want me and my friends to have a fun time in school.  I’d like my family to spend more time together.  I want less animals to get abandoned.  I’m going to finish reading my new Action Bible with Daddy and really want to learn about God.  I’m going to work to get better at reading so I can read bigger books.  I want to spend more time exercising.  And I want to wish God a Happy New Year.”

They’re still one of my biggest inspirations Lord, and I see so much of You in them each day.

As for myself, well I’m not big on New Years Resolutions but there are some things I’m planning on focusing on this coming year.

• As I mentioned yesterday, it’s been a rough year for my business.  I’m very much dedicated to it’s success, and I’m going to work diligently to get it back to the stability it once had.
• Although we are Blessed to have a very stable and wonderful home life, there’s always room for me to improve my contribution.  I’m going to continue to work to be a better husband and father, and set as positive an example for my boys as I can.
• 2010 was an amazing year for my personal growth in You Lord, and I want very much to expand on that in the coming year as well.  The closer I work to walk in Christ’s footsteps, the more I find the rest of my life gains meaning and direction.  I’m also dedicated to bringing Your Light into my children’s lives, and teaching them the Love and Guidance You provide us every day.

Heavenly Father, I humbly pray that over the coming year Your Amazing Gift of Grace is felt by all Your Children.  May we all experience the Joy in Serving Your Will, and walk the Path that Jesus has set for us in Your Holy Name.  Amen.

~Phather Phil

Don’t Fight the Wind

Dear Lord; You know Father, I think that sometimes You like to catch me off guard when You speak to me.  Most notably in the last couple of months, I’ve received Your Guidance in some of what I consider odd ways and places.  I’m guessing that some of it is that I’ve been working diligently to make myself more open to Your Presence in all parts of my life, but either way You’ve once again made Your imprint on me…

…But while I was cleaning snow off the driveway?

As You know already, we got hit with an intense little snowstorm on Sunday, complete with 40+ mph winds which made some lovely drifts to cover us up.  While I tried to wait until the winds had died down to clear the driveway, when I went out Monday afternoon with the snow-thrower there were still some pretty significant gusts making things more difficult.  As the wind was blowing across the driveway, one side was easy enough to do but when I started to try to throw the snow up on the other side, I was of course greeted with a face full as it blew right back at me and recoated the pavement.  I made some progress working between the gusts as best I could, but it seemed to be an uphill battle.

“Don’t fight the wind.” You said to me quietly.

I was a little taken aback, as I really hadn’t expected You to get involved in something as mundane as clearing snow off my driveway but I stopped for a minute and rethought it all the same.  It seemed like it was way too far for my little snow-thrower to heave the covering to the other side of the driveway, but I turned the thrower around and gave it a shot anyways.  Funny enough, the wind gave me the extra lift I needed and the piles of white soon moved aside.

After finishing up and sitting inside contemplating what had happened, it dawned on me that my experience was very much a metaphor for our relationship with You.  We struggle each day with all the earthly worries, fears and activities that seem to consume our lives, yet when we’re able to open our hearts and minds to Your Voice, our burdens become Yours and Your Will is done.  Intentionally or not, we “fight the wind” way too much, and I appreciate You reminding me of that.  Amen.

~Phather Phil