The Gift of Reflection

Dear Lord; Happy Tuesday Father!

Well Father, to start off our week together I want to thank You wholeheartedly for the wonderful Christmas weekend You Blessed my family and I with.  Saturday evening we attended a beautiful candlelight service at Ewell’s-St. Paul UMC, followed the next day by a lovely Christmas morning with the kids and a trip to my (earthly) father’s house for a family dinner.  And most importantly Lord, I was Blessed to have three whole days spent wrapped in the love of my wife and children.  It was an absolutely joy-filled time of respite and celebration Lord, and for that I am truly grateful.

Today Father, I’m very Blessed to have the opportunity to share a guest “Email to God” from a dear lady and fellow Christian Blogger; Jean Wise from HealthySpirituality.org.  Jean’s posts never fail to inspire and encourage her readers (including me), and I’m excited to have her sharing her prayers here today.

Happy New Year, Lord!

I love the end of December – watching the transition from one year to the next. It is a time of new beginnings and renewed energy. You invite me to sit with You, reflecting on the past 12 months and praying about the coming year.

Lord as we “harvest” my journal, sort through my emotional ups and downs, and dig deep into my past experiences, help me to remember You were with me then, You are with me now, and will stay by my side into the unknown future.

I pause and lift up 2011 and my entire life journey once again into Your hands. With a highlighter and my favorite pen in hand, what shall we look for?

• ·      Cherished moments.
• ·      Unexpected joys and obstacles
• ·      Reoccurring thoughts or stubborn nudges that You won’t let me forget
• ·      Bible verses that guided me or still sing to me even if I don’t know why
• ·      Times I felt Your presence and times I walk in lonely darkness
• ·      Lessons I learned and lessons that will take a life time to fully comprehend
• ·      Answered prayers and dreams that still bubbled with life and passion

Lord, be my companion, teacher, and guide as 2012 unfolds. Let this coming year be filled with warm relationships and the strength and wisdom to help those You place before me. Help me to love You more, love others as You do, and to love myself as only You can.

And Lord I ask for a bit a whimsical joy in 2012. Give me childlike wonder to see your creation with new eyes. I ask that You lavishly send love, peace, kindness, and patience to fill my heart and remove the pettiness, greed, and jealously that I hide in its corners.

The gift of 2012 is not for me, but an opportunity to serve You, love You, and give You glory. Father, the One who “makes all things new,” help me keep my eyes only on You the coming twelve months.

Thank You for being the God of our yesterdays, of our todays, and all of our tomorrows.

Amen

~Jean Wise

 http://www.healthyspirituality.org

Thankful… Friday?: That Greatest of Gifts

Dear Lord; Happy Thankful… Friday?

Well Father, as You’re no doubt aware I didn’t manage to get my Thankful Thursday post out yesterday afternoon.  Instead however, of going into the Christmas weekend without listing out some of Your many Blessings in my life, I decided to make this “Thankful Friday”.  🙂

As we focus our hearts on celebrating the miracle of Christ’s birth Father, it seems only fitting to mark the beginning of this weekend by giving thanks; thanks for the daily Blessings You grace our lives with, and thanks for that Greatest of Gifts that Blessed our world so many years ago.

On that note Lord, this past week I’ve been especially grateful for:

451. The inspiring and entertaining selection of Christmas Music that’s been playing on 88.7 The Bridge this season.

452. The official release to the world of the new Ewell’s-St. Paul UMC website.

453. A fun dinner out last night with Shannon and Aidan.

454. A lovely array of Christmas Lights that brighten my drive home from the office each evening.

455. Free overnight shipping from Amazon.com.  🙂

456. That Jonathan doesn’t see brokenness, flaws, or differences in other children, just opportunities for new friends.

457. That Jonathan had a wonderful sleepover birthday party last Friday night.

458. The Light of a Star leading my heart to His manger.

459. A wonderful Chick-Fil-A lunch bought for our office by a good friend.

460. Being asked to write a guest post for a friend’s wonderful blog next month.

461. A wonderful afternoon with friends celebrating their foster son’s birthday.

462. The healing power of a good laugh.

463. Simple beginnings.

464. A fun night of fellowship with our Tuesday night Small Group.

465. The most important Christmas Gift even given; the birth of our Savior.

Heavenly Father,

We thank You Lord, for the multitude of Blessings You grace us with each day; both those that shine high in the Heavens, guiding us to a manger, and those that whisper Your love for us gently on the evening breeze.

In Jesus’ Name we pray,

Amen.

~Phather Phil

Meditations Monday: The Simplest of Beginnings

Dear Lord; Happy Meditations Monday Father!

Well Father, once again You’ve Blessed my family and I with a lovely weekend.  Jonathan’s sleepover birthday party Friday night was a marked success, and the boys all seemed to have a wonderful time.  Once all the “overnighters” had been picked up by their well-rested parents (smiles), we packed up and headed out to spend the rest of the day at the home of some truly wonderful extended family (eg. Good friends) celebrating the birthday of their foster son.  It was a lovely visit, filled with laughter and love, and we were very Blessed to be a part of it.  Sunday morning began with an inspiring church service including a powerful message from Pastor Kris, with the remaining part of the day divided between cooking, catching up on homework and housework, and just enjoying the company of one another.  All in all Lord, it was an absolutely wonderful weekend, and I thank You for faithfully providing these times of joy and respite to us.

When I thought and prayed about what passage in Scripture to select for this Meditations Monday post Father, one immediately sprang to my heart:

“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” – Luke 2:1-7 (ESV)

As I read this passage in Luke Father, I was struck by the simplicity in which this miraculous event was described;

No fanfare…

No ceremonies…

No royal proclamations…

No pretense of any kind.

Such a transformational moment in our world Father, ushered in by the most humble of circumstances.

As I look around this Christmas Season Lord, it’s blatantly apparent our world today exists in stark contrast to that Silent Night so long ago.  We fill these weeks each year with lights, and parties, and shopping, and decorating, and yet, in that defining moment some two thousand years ago…

Our world was forever changed, from the simplest of beginnings.

No lighting displays, no flying reindeer, no sugarplum faries…

Just a miracle, in a lowly manger, sent to save the world.

Amen.

~Phather Phil

Thankful Thursday: Grumble, Grumble, Grumble…

Dear Lord; Happy Thankful Thursday Father!

Grumble, grumble, grumble…

This Father, was the response (the nicer version of it anyways) that greeted me upon trying to wake my “just turned twelve” son Jonathan this morning.  Now, he’s always been a little sluggish getting moving in the morning, but last night he ended up staying awake far later than usual to try and finish some homework, and this morning when I tried to get him up for school…

Arguments…

Attitude…

And Grumbling.

After much cajoling, some veiled threats of consequences, and yes, some “raised voices” (smiles), he finally got up and begrudgingly got ready for school.

Later in the day as I mulled over the morning’s epic struggle, it dawned on me that I’d been guilty of similar offenses this week as well…

I’ve grumbled to You Lord, more than once.

Money is exceptionally tight this year… grumble, grumble, grumble

I haven’t had a full night’s sleep in what seems like forever… grumble, grumble, grumble

The dogs just won’t stop barking… grumble, grumble, grumble

I never seem to have time to do the things I want to do… grumble, grumble, grumble

And yet Father, in the midst of all my grumbling, You’ve stayed by my side; encouraging me, comforting me, and faithfully guiding me through each and every storm.

And You’ve never grumbled about it.

Thank you Lord, for setting that example.  🙂

Now Father, as opposed to grumbling (smiles again), I’d like to present You with this week’s Thankful Thursday list!  Even though this past week has certainly provided more than a few challenges for me Lord, I’ve still found myself surrounded by signs of Your gracious love.  And while I’m thankful for all of the wonderful gifts You’ve Blessed my life with Father, this week I’m especially grateful for:

436. A fun, silly dinner at Friendly’s to celebrate Jonathan’s birthday.

437. Those guiding whispers to my heart when I’m about to say something I shouldn’t.

438. That our Tuesday night Small Group has connected in such a powerful way that we all feel comfortable coming to one another in times of need.

439. Twelve years of having Jonathan in our lives.

440. That the new Ewell’s – St. Paul UMC website is nearly completed.  🙂

441. Chocolate and peanut butter oreo balls.

442. The divine gift of marriage, and Blessing me with the call to join two people in Your love.

443. A significant savings on gasoline through a local grocery store discount program.

444. That when my limited understanding obscures my needs, Your Spirit knows all the same.

445. Christmas cookies.

446. That in my weakness, Your grace strengthens and emboldens me.

447. That one way or another Lord, You always deliver on Your promises.

448. An exceptional friend that knew I needed a break, and stepped in without asking to help.

449. Guiding messages from my Heavenly Father that help steer me through difficulties.

450. The “Road Signs” in Your Word that help to guide my life.

Heavenly Father,

We thank You Lord, for the multitude of Blessings You surround us with each day; both those that light up the sky with Your brilliance, and those gifts that grace our lives quietly from the shadows…

Even when we grumble.

In Jesus’ Name we pray,

Amen.

~Phather Phil

Thankful Thursday: Mary’s “Plan B”

Dear Lord; Happy Thankful Thursday Father!

As You know Father, for the past several weeks our Tuesday night study group has been working through a DVD Book Study based on Pastor Pete Wilson’s book : “Plan B: What do you do when God doesn’t show up the way you thought He would”.  I’d read the book earlier this year and very much enjoyed it, so when the time came to choose a new study, I was quite pleased that everyone agreed to pursue “Plan B”.  As of this week, we’ve completed three sessions of the study and so far it’s been an inspiring and encouraging examination of how even in the midst of seemingly hopeless situations, You perform some of Your most powerful work in us.

As I was thinking today on some of the things we’ve been discussing in the group these past few weeks, it dawned on me that Christmas itself is the celebration of Mary and Joseph’s “Plan B”.  Before being visited by the Angel Gabriel, Mary’s life was proceeding along a fairly normal path.  She’d become betrothed to a man named Joseph, and was very likely planning for her role as his wife, and the future mother of their children.

And in a moment, her world turned upside down…

And our world was forever changed.

Her “Plan B” was Your “Plan A”.

This hammers home a very important point Father; in the midst of those situations where our lives seem to be flying desperately off course, You’re not shaken or confused.  What we view as turmoil, You see as opportunity…

May we all seize those opportunities Father; embracing the understanding that our “Plan B” moments, were Your “Plan A”s all along.  🙂

And now Lord, on to this week’s Thankful Thursday list!  This past week has been simply overflowing with Your Blessings Father, but I’d like to give special thanks for:

421. Having friends that pray for me.

422. Getting to spend much of the day Saturday cooking for family and friends.

423. A quick healing for the eye I scratched.

424. Some helpful advice from a friend that helped get the Jaguar running again.

425. New glasses for Jonathan.

426. That the Rimadyl is making an obvious improvement in Brandy’s pain level.

427. Having friends that can tell when I’m having a rough time, and pushing through my “wall”.

428. A quiet walk in Blackbird State Forest with Jonathan last Sunday.

429. That even though I fall short in so many ways, You know my heart and guide me ahead.

430. Candy Cane Hershey’s Kisses.

431. Real kisses from my loving wife.

432. The Kids Construction Workshops at Home Depot.

433. Seeing my children reach out with giving hearts.

434. Knowing that I’m Your Beloved Child.

435. Having a full collection of inspiring Christmas Music to play on my iPod during the day.

And so much more Lord.

Heavenly Father,

We thank You Lord, for the many Blessings you bestow on us each day; both those that announce Your presence like sirens in the night, and those that grace our lives in Stillness.

In Jesus’ Name we pray,

Amen.

~Phather Phil