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

Looking Back…

Dear Lord; Well Father, it’s almost the end of another year.  It’s certainly been a roller coaster, and I’ve spent quite a bit of time the last few days reflecting on everything that’s transpired.

Financially, 2010 has been a nightmare for myself and my business.  Coming off a very positive 2009, the first half of this year saw one drain after another as the crippled economy took it’s toll on our clients.  We adjusted as best we could, and gained some ground back mid-year, but even today we’re still dealing with digging our way out of the hole that was created.  And like any other business owner, that shortfall has carried through to my personal finances, putting a significant strain on our household income.  The one positive financial change that happened this year was the additional income produced by the wonderful new job Shannon got in September.  It hasn’t completely balanced out the deficit, but it’s been an amazing Blessing to our household during these rough times.

Family health was all over the board this year as well.  On the positive side, Jonathan’s disease has stayed in remission and he’s done very well this year.  Thank You for that amazing Blessing!  Shannon had a couple of injuries during the year, including seriously straining her back in the spring and later in the year bruising her tailbone.  I managed to get Lyme Disease in the late spring, which caused me some significant issues, but other than some continuing joint discomfort that too seems to be staying at bay.  Other than that, we’ve all had bouts of the typical Delaware sinus crud but have remained for the most part, healthy.

This year was not without it’s heartache as well Father.  Following a painful battle with cancer, my best friend of 26 years left us to join You in August.  He was a wonderful man, the best man at my wedding, and Jonathan’s Godfather and we all miss him very much.  I take great solace however in the fact that he’s no longer in pain, and is now dwelling in Your Kingdom.

On the positive side though Father, we’ve had a number of wonderful things happen this year as well.  As I mentioned earlier, Shannon got a new job this year that has been an amazing fit for her as well as providing us with some additional income.  It’s wonderful to see her come home feeling appreciated, and fulfilled with what she’s doing, and I’m very proud of her.  We had another fantastic family vacation this summer in the Pocono Mountains.  We’ve come to really love Chestnut Grove, and the kids are already looking forward to going back there again this coming year.  Over the summer Shannon and I also celebrated our 15^th Wedding Anniversary with a surprise (to her anyways) Renewal of Vows Ceremony led by the Pastor that married us.  It was a wonderful affair with family and friends in attendance, and a time of great joy for us both.  And finally, a few weeks back Lord I was truly Blessed to be able to act as Your Emissary to bring two good friends together in the bonds of Holy Matrimony.  That was an amazing honor, and Your Presence was obvious to all that attended.

On the Blessings side Lord, I have actually quite a few to Praise You for.  My marriage to Shannon has never been stronger.  She’s an amazing lady Father, and my love for her continues to grow deeper with each passing year.  My children are growing, and learning, and happy, and healthy and dreaming Father.  They’re my light and my inspiration, and I thank You so much for making them a part of my life.  We’re surrounded by wonderful friends, and we feel their love and caring on a regular basis.  And possibly most importantly Father, this year has been an amazing time for my personal growth in You.  I feel Your Presence in my life more and more every day, and give Thanks and Praise for Your Grace in my journey to You.  And although this has been a tumultuous time for many of us, I’m quite secure in my Faith that in You, all things are possible.  Amen.

~Phather Phil

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!

Dear Lord; Merry Christmas Eve Father!  This morning, following the “tradition” I started on Thanksgiving this year, I’m going to let two of my biggest Blessings (my sons Jonathan and Aidan) compose the email to you.  I battled with what questions to give them to work from this morning, but couldn’t decide between two; “What does Christmas mean to you?” and “What Blessings do you want to thank God for at Christmas time?”.  Therefore, I thought we’d do both!  🙂

Jonathan (Age 11)

What does Christmas mean to you? :

“Christmas means to me that it’s time for Joy, Peace and Happiness.  It’s also the time to celebrate the birth of Jesus.”

What Blessings do you want to thank God for at Christmas time?:

“God has blessed me with many things; my family, my friends, shelter and food.  I have fun, and things to do.  God has helped me stay healthy after I was really sick.  Thank you God!”

Aidan (Age 8)

What does Christmas mean to you?:

“Christmas means celebrating Jesus’ Birthday.  You get to be with your family.  You get time off school.  You get to spend time with your friends.  You get decorate the house.”

What Blessings do you want to thank God for at Christmas time?:

“I want to thank God for money, health, food, shelter, my family, my brother, something to do, our pets, and for my life.”

Father, on this Eve of Celebration of Your Son’s Divine Birth I want to thank You myself as well.  You gave Your Only Son to us to inspire us, teach us, set a Holy Path for us to follow, and then to die for our Eternal Salvation.  I can’t imagine a more amazing Gift, and I’m truly humbled by Your Love for us.  Please reach out Father, to those struggling to find the Peace Christ brought to us all and let them feel Your Loving Arms around them.

May we all take time during the next couple of days to stop, let our earthly stresses go, and focus on the Wondrous Gift Our Lord has given to us.  O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!

Amen.  ~Phather Phil

Angels Among Us

Dear Lord; First off Father, if I seem to ramble a little this morning, please forgive me.  This nasty bug that Shannon and I came down with Sunday morning has hit us so hard and so fast that I’m a bit disjointed at the moment.  However Lord, although all my body wants right now is to go back to sleep my heart cried out to speak with You about something wonderful that happened to us yesterday.

This was to be a busy weekend for us.  Friday night, we had Jonathan’s 11^th birthday party at the house and a number of his friends stayed overnight with us.  It was a bit on the crazy side with that many pre-teen boys running through the house, but everyone had a good time and we survived the onslaught.  Saturday afternoon, our boys then went to stay overnight with Aidan’s Godparents as Shannon and I had an “Adults Only” Christmas Party to attend, and it was to go quite late.  The party was lots of fun, and we got home somewhere around 2:30am Sunday morning.  Around 4:00am, both of us woke to fevers, chills, severe body aches and coughing.  This lasted throughout the rest of the night, and well into the morning.

As I mentioned, this was intended to be a busy and productive weekend for us, including Sunday.  With the hectic schedules we both have we were behind on all the typical household chores (laundry, dishes, groceries, etc.) as well as helping Jonathan with a school project due Monday and preparing a huge amount of homemade foods for Christmas gift baskets.  Sunday was set aside to be the day to get all that accomplished, and with us both in horrible shape, it was looking very unlikely most of those things would get done.  Being this was the last weekend before Christmas, this was a devastating blow to Shannon and I.

And then You intervened.

We have some friends that we’ve become quite close with over the last couple of months.  They’re good people, but have been dealing with one nightmare after another for some time now.  Their plate is more than full Lord, it’s overflowing.  And yet, when they found out that Shannon and I were down for the count, the next thing we knew the wife of the couple was at our door.

We helped as much as we could Father, but she ran the show.  She took Shannon to the grocery store, helped do the necessary cooking, did a number of loads of laundry, and even found time to help Jonathan with his project; All the while insisting that we rest and try to recuperate.  She was in every way Heaven Sent Lord, and I can’t tell You how much it meant to both of us.

Therefore Father, my prayers today are very focused.  Please bestow Your Love and Blessings on this wonderful lady and her family.  Continue to fill her heart with the Love of Christ, and give her Peace knowing that she is indeed Loved and Appreciated in so many ways.  Amen.  ~Phather Phil

Lay Your Burdens Down

Dear Lord; Good morning Father!  First off, I want to tell You how wonderful it was to have such an amazing outpouring of affection and prayers for Jonathan’s birthday yesterday.  Between the phone calls, Facebook postings, Blog Comments and emails it was VERY apparent to Shannon and I how loved he is, and how Blessed we are to know so many good people.

Today Lord, I’d like to revisit a topic we’ve discussed before; The sense of despair I’ve been seeing in far too many people lately.  The reasons for these feelings run the gambit from financial problems, to employment issues, to stressing over Holiday “requirements”, but it seems that even more than usual, many are letting these burdens overwhelm them.  I’ll be honest Father, our year has certainly been difficult in many ways as well, however it really hasn’t felt as desperate for me as I would have expected.  Thinking on this, and listening for Your Guidance I realized why… I’ve got Jesus in my heart!  What a remarkable Gift You’ve given me!  No, that doesn’t pay the mortgage or keep gas in the car, but it does put all those things in proper perspective.  Matthew  11:28-30 reads :

²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ 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. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Thank You so much Lord!  You make all my burdens feel so light when I lay them at Your feet!

Therefore Father, my prayer today is a simple one.  Please let those who feel lost, overwhelmed and full of despair feel Your Loving Presence in their hearts and rejoice!  May the Peace of Christ pass over all those in need, and bring them to Your Light.  Amen.  ~Phather Phil