Our Ultimate “Fixer”

Dear Lord; Happy Tuesday Father!

You know Father, all my life I’ve seen myself as a problem-solver; a “fixer” of things if You will.  Cars, electronics, furniture… You name it, I’ve repaired it.  In fact, over the years I’ve taken great pride in being seen by others as someone who can deal with anything that’s thrown at them.  There’s only one real problem with projecting that image though…

It’s an illusion.

In the end Lord, I’m at least as broken as those items I repair and yet…

I can’t fix myself.

Those I love and care for are hurting too Father; physically, emotionally and even spiritually…

But I can’t fix them either.

And in the course of my day Lord, I connect with so many people in true need of help; some battling addictions, some struggling financially, and others that are trying desperately to cope with feelings of despair…

And while I try to offer what assistance I can Father, I know I can’t patch all the holes in their hearts.

Thankfully though, I have a Savior who can.

Gracious Lord…

The Great Physician and Healer…

Our Ultimate “Fixer”.

Through You Lord Jesus, all can be made whole.

Please help me Father…

To cast aside all illusion of control and submit my heart to You in entirety…

To be Your instrument of aid when called to do so, while recognizing my limitations and yielding those “repairs” to the One who has none…

And to accept and reveal the unparalleled peace and joy You so willingly offer to those around me.

For it’s in Your Holy Name I pray,

Amen.

~Phather Phil

Deliberately Seek Joy

I’ve been chewing on some advice given in my Daily Devotional reading from the “Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life – A Daily Devotional” Reading Plan on YouVersion.com…

“…

God wants His children to have some fun. The Bible says a merry heart does good like medicine. I think we all need a healthy dose of laughter every day – many times during the day. You just can’t overdose on joy!

I encourage you to deliberately look for something to smile or laugh about every day, and be sure to share a smile or a laugh with someone else and brighten their day too!

Prayer Starter: Lord, Your Word says that a cheerful heart is like good medicine. Thank You for helping me to find the joy and fun in life!”

I think in many cases, we allow the trials, struggles and worldly requirements placed on us each day to detract from seeking the joys God places all around us. It’s important for us to remember that while we’re certainly going to have difficulties in our lives, God very much wants us to fully delight in the peace and joy He offers us as well.

Not Captives of Fear

Dear Lord; Happy Thursday Father!

They consume me sometimes Father;

Worry…

Fear…

Anxiety…

Painful reminders of the persistent earthly chains that fight to wrest me from Your side.

And yet Lord, against these restraints You reach for me…

Drawing me to You, and anchoring my heart to Your Heavenly foundation.

For in our very design, You fashioned us to resist that pull;

To live our lives as children of faith, not captives of fear.

“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” – Matthew 6:31-33 (NLT)

I cast my cares at Your feet Lord;

Torn from my breast and washed in Your blood that my heart may pursue You unencumbered…

Embraced by Your love Lord, and emboldened through that union.

For it’s in Your Holy name that I pray,

Amen.

~Phather Phil

Mending the Chasm

“For God in all his fullness

was pleased to live in Christ,

and through him God reconciled

everything to himself.

He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth

by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.” – Colossians 1:19-20 (NLT)

When sin entered our world, it painfully corrupted the harmony between creation and Creator.  Through the blood of Christ, that chasm was mended, allowing us to enjoy the intimate and personal relationship with God that we were intentionally designed to have.

Into the Heart of the Potter

Dear Lord; Happy Thursday, and Happy New Year Father!

To begin the New Year on the right foot Father, yesterday morning I began a new Bible Reading Plan on YouVersion.com called “The Essential Jesus”.  It’s a 100 day reading schedule, focused specifically on the prophecy, teachings, ministry and life of Your Son as written in Scripture.

The first reading covered the Gospel of John, chapter 1, verses 1 through 18; and while the entire passage gave me pause for prayer and reflection more than once, one verse in particular really spoke to me…

“He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him.” – John 1:10 (NLT)

Ouch.

How many times Lord…

How many times have I rejoiced at something wonderful that’s happened in my life, but neglected to give You the glory…  Or marveled at the beauty of the sun boiling away as it sets behind the trees, yet failed to remember that those colors are fresh from Your divine palette…

If I’m honest with myself Father, I allow the world to captivate my view far more than I recognize the Hand that shaped it.

Therefore Lord, my prayer today is a simple one:

Open my eyes Father; let every image I see and every sound I hear rush You to my heart.  Help me see past the beauty of the pottery, and gaze instead into the heart of the potter.

Lift that earthly veil Lord; help me realize Your presence in every part of my life, and through that divine acknowledgement to love in Your name with abandon…

So that when others observe my life Father, they recognize You in it.

Inhabit me Lord… Come into the world through me…

That in my words and actions Lord, Your presence shines for all to see.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen.

~Phather Phil

A True Resolution for Change

“Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.

So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” – 2 Corinthians 5:14-17 (NLT)

True change begins when we accept Christ into our hearts and give ourselves fully to His care.  When we live in Him, our identity and direction are no longer constrained by the way the world sees us, but are instead freed to experience the peace and joy He desires for our lives.  Therefore, as we approach this New Year and the world pulls at us to make resolutions for change, all we need do is draw closer within the gentle embrace of our Savior and allow Him to transform us.