Parenting Tips from Sinai

Dear Lord; Good afternoon Father.

As You know Lord, I’ve been spending time lately delving back into the books of the Old Testament.  There are so many treasures in those writings, and each time I read from those pages I get new life breathed into my spirit.  This past weekend I read through the entire book of Leviticus and although it was a long read for me, I did gain some quiet wisdom from those passages.  Inside of all of those pages of Laws and Rules You dictated to Moses for the Israelites was one common theme:

You care about Your Children, and want us to be healthy, obedient and prosperous.

Now, I realize that’s a serious overgeneralization Father, but I believe a reasonable one all the same.  You laid down Rules for worship, for cleanliness, for conduct and for medical treatment that served to guide them as a society in those times.  You cared enough to give them that foundation, those morals and that guidance.

It’s very much what I try to impress on my own children;

A sense of commitment…

A feeling of wonder…

Respect for laws, rules and ethics…

A sense of responsibility…

Empathy and compassion for others…

And a deep Love and Reverence for You.

And funny enough, that’s exactly what I got from Your Word this weekend.  Thank You.  🙂

Amen.

~Phather Phil

Spiritual Breathing Treatments

Dear Lord; Happy Monday Father!

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.

~Phather Phil

Calling More Often

Dear Lord; Happy Friday Father!

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.

~Phather Phil

Thankful Thursday: Sing Joyfully

Dear Lord; Good morning Father!

Well Father, today marks week three that I’m celebrating “Thankful Thursday” here at PhatherPhil.org!  I’m really enjoying these weekly postings, as it gets my head focused on all the wondrous Blessings You’ve granted me.  Starting my day thinking “What am I truly thankful for today?” is an excellent frame of mind to be in for the morning ahead.

Today Father, I’d like to thank You for the inspiration and encouragement I receive each day through the wonderful avenue of Christian Music.  Over the last several months I’ve switched to almost exclusively listening to Contemporary Christian Music each day, and it’s brought an amazing change to my mood and perspective.  Between the local radio station we listen to in the car, to streaming K-Love on my computer at work, to the Contemporary Christian Music Channel on our digital cable TV I leave on in the background during the evening hours, my ears are filled with songs praising You for much of my day.  I never have to be concerned with the content not being appropriate for my children, and we’re all the better for having this melodious form of worship going on while being entertained by such marvelous artists.

Jonathan and I even have tickets to see the Newsboys with Kutless and Disciple in a couple weeks!  He’s become a big Newsboys fan, and this is his first concert of any kind so he’s extra excited (ok… so am I.  🙂 ).  As I’ve mentioned to You before, listening to my boys sing these songs of praise along with the radio in the mornings on the way to school just warms my heart to no end.  This music is truly a Blessing, and makes a wonderful impact on our lives each day.

I think this piece of scripture states it beautifully Father:

“Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous;
it is fitting for the upright to praise him.” – Psalm 33:1

We do, and it is.  Thank You Lord!

Amen.

~Phather Phil

Young Minds Want to Know

Dear Lord; Good afternoon Father.

Today Lord, I’d like to start out with a quick prayer of support for my wife Shannon.  Between being ill for the past week, a busy work schedule, college classes and symphony she’s been burning the candle at both ends, and has been feeling the results the last couple days.  Please bring her Your Loving Comfort and grant her the rest she so dearly needs.

This morning Father I decided to get Jonathan and Aidan involved in our conversation.  Therefore, on the way to school I asked them both if they had anything to tell You or ask of You.  The responses I got were not exactly what I expected, but I felt good ones all the same:

Aidan (8) : “Is watching over everyone all the time hard?”

I don’t think Aidan realizes what a significant and deep question this is Father.  The more I thought about it, the more I realized that while we don’t have a definitive answer that fits in our limited understanding, there are some scriptural passages which shine some light on this question.

First off, we refer to You as “Almighty God”, which implies the omnipotence of Your Power and that You are “All-ruling” (from the Greek word pantokrator used in the early Bible translations) over what You have created.  Jesus summed it up quite clearly in Matthew 19:26:

“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”” (NIV)

You created us all, and have reign over all You have created; Your Word states this over and over quite distinctly.  This tells me You have the power to watch over us all without question.

The other piece of this answer in my mind, would be the omnipresence of Your Spirit.  Again, referencing scriptures for this I found Psalm 139:7-12:

“Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.” (NIV)

Through Your Spirit, You reach out and have complete access to the whole of Your Creation.  Ok, so you have the Power, and the Presence.  I realize that this doesn’t answer Aidan’s question specifically about whether or not it’s hard for You Lord, but Your Word clearly establishes the ability for You to do so, and the promise You gave us:

“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 (NIV) (one of my all-time favorite verses)

Great question Aidan!  🙂

Jonathan (11): “What does God have planned for the people of Japan now?”

Bless him Father, he worries about so much and so many people for an 11 year old.

I explained to him that in cases like this, we have to understand that we don’t truly have the “Big Picture” that You do, but that You were still there for those people, still loved them and were still in control.

I’m sure he’ll be talking with You directly later on about this Lord.  Maybe You can give him a better answer than I was able to at 7:45 this morning.  🙂

Heavenly Father, I thank You for the lessons I learn each day through my children.  I love seeing them growing in Your Kingdom and yearning to know You better.  Please continue to guide them along the path You have chosen, and help me bring Your Love and Wisdom to their hearts and minds.  Amen.

~Phather Phil