Meditations Mon… Tuesday?

Dear Lord; Happy Tuesday Father!

What a wonderful weekends’ respite that was Father!  I’m not usually a big fan of three-day-weekends as I tend to try to fit too much in, and end up more tired than usual.  This past several days however, we were Blessed to be able to spend time with family and friends, get some things done around the house, and yet still have ample time to rest and recuperate.  All-in-all, it was a lovely long weekend and I thank You for such Blessings in our lives.

Well Father, as yesterday was a holiday and I didn’t post our conversation to phatherphil.org, I thought I’d fly in the face of convention and write a Meditations Monday article… On Tuesday.  I know Lord, I’m a rebel.  🙂

Today’s Scripture comes from the Book of Romans, Chapter 8.  In this passage, the Apostle Paul is discussing our suffering while here on Earth, and how we should be looking at it in the context of Your Plan:

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.  For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.  For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.” – Romans 8:18-21 (NIV)

This is a terribly important piece of Truth Father, and one that all of us overlook from time to time.  Our existence here is a season; temporary, and in the eternal scheme of things, brief.  And while the suffering, trials and tribulations we go through may seem overwhelming upon occasion, their magnitude and duration pales in comparison to the glory those who are one with Christ will receive when finally raised up in Your Kingdom.  Paul also emphasizes the passing nature of our Earthly problems in 2nd Corinthians where he states:

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” – 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (NIV)

If we indeed view our trials here as “light and momentary”, and focus on the “eternal glory” that awaits those who persevere and preserve in the Love of Christ, then our burdens take on a completely different perspective… Through Your Eyes Lord.

Heavenly Father, as we begin this week’s endeavors I pray for Your guidance and assistance in assigning the proper level of importance to our burdens.  Please anchor our Spirits in Christ Jesus, and instill in our hearts a glimpse of the wonder and glory that is to come.  Amen.

~Phather Phil

The Lord Looks at the Heart

Dear Lord; Happy Friday Father!

As you’re aware Father, during my Scripture reading time as of late I’ve been reviewing the books of the Old Testament.  I always find wisdom and vital foundation in those pages, however once in a while I run into a passage that seizes my heart and connects me to Your Word even more deeply.

Such was the case as I read from 1^st Samuel last night.

Samuel had recently delivered Your condemnation of Saul’s disobedience in the battle with the Amalekites, and was mourning the situation when You instructed him that he was now to travel to Bethlehem for the purpose of anointing a new king.  You indicated that it was to be a son of Jesse, but gave no specifics as to which son had been chosen.

When Samuel reached Bethlehem and was received by Jesse and his family, he saw Eliab (Jesse’s eldest son) and due to the young man’s stature assumed that he was Your intended selection.  You however, used that moment to teach Samuel (and now me) a valuable lesson…

“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”” – 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)

You know Father, while I already knew that to be the case, this verse still left a powerful impression on my heart.  We spend so much of our time tending to our outward appearance and presentation, but in the end You know our hearts; what we think, our motivations, our fears, and our convictions.  The more we focus on true transformation of our inner selves and less on impressing the world around us, the more obvious Your Presence becomes in our daily lives.

What a wonderful lesson to pray on going into the weekend.  🙂

Amen.

~Phather Phil

Tempering Our Faith

Dear Lord; Happy Tuesday Father!

In recent weeks, I’ve been contacted by a number of friends and readers who’ve been going through some struggles in their Walk, and who were seeking perspective and encouragement.  And while I’m always happy to bring Your Message of Hope to the table Father, it did get me to thinking about ways that we can strengthen and temper our Faith in times of trial…

Stillness Sabbaticals

As we discussed a couple weeks ago Father, I’ve found that one of my most effective methods for communing with You is to block off some time, find a very quiet spot, and simply focus on Your Presence.  We live in an exceptionally “noisy” world, and with a seemingly constant deluge of activity and information surrounding us, Your Voice can sometimes be more difficult to distinguish in the chaos.  Whether it’s to spend time with Scripture or simply to pray in silence for guidance, that respite from the auditory onslaught can become a powerful, spiritual time.  “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10)

Songs of Praise

Music has a way of reaching into us and touching places that few other things in our lives can.  One of the best tools I’ve found for helping to keep my focus on You is listening to the positive and encouraging messages contained in Contemporary Christian Music.  Be it listening in the car on my way to work, playing it in the background while making dinner, or streaming it from my iPod while mowing the lawn, today’s talented Christian artists bring the Joy of Christ to my heart every time I listen.  “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.  Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.” (Psalm 40:3)

Scriptural Mortar

Without question Father, the Bible is the most important book ever written.  Through Your Divine Inspiration to those penmen, You’ve Blessed us with the ultimate “Instruction Manual” for our journey while here on Earth.  It contains a treasure trove of wisdom, encouragement and rules to live our lives by so as to grow in Your Kingdom.  One of the most powerful and compelling ways to nourish our Faith and bring our Walk closer to Christ, is to spend time absorbing Your Word and praying on It’s messages.  “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

Fellowship

One of our best sources of encouragement, enlightenment and inspiration can be found in the interactions we have with our fellow Christians.  Whether it’s spending time together in worship and study at Church, or conversing with other Believers across the globe via the Internet, the support and assistance of Your Followers are wonderful resources to help steady us in our spiritual journey.  “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)

Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your continued and faithful Presence in our lives each day.  Please help focus our hearts to best receive You, and to support others in their Walk as well.  Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, and strengthen our resolve to live for Your Kingdom instead of focusing on the chaos around us.  Amen.

~Phather Phil

Thankful Thursday: Simple Answers

Dear Lord; Happy Thankful Thursday Father!

As I’ve mentioned before Lord, I’ve become quite fond of the Thankful Thursday post each week.  It serves as a wonderful look back and inspection of the prior week’s events, and helps me to truly focus on and appreciate Your Wondrous Gifts more thoroughly.  Spotlighting those simple joys in life that often go by unnoticed has proved to be inspiring, and humbling at the same time.  And each week, after carefully compiling my list I come to the same undeniable conclusion…

I am truly Blessed.  🙂

And therefore Father, without further ado, here’s this week’s Thankful Thursday list:

76. The local Contemporary Christian Radio Station (88.7 The Bridge – http://www.887thebridge.com).

77. Sweet Vidalia Onions.

78. Spiritual Nudges.

79. My Bloggy Friends.

80. Coupons.

81. The smell of coffee brewing in the morning.

82. A quiet Saturday with good friends.

83. Movie night snuggled up with the kids.

84. Hunny responding well to the Lasix.

85. Getting several decent nights sleep in a row.

86. Grilled hot dogs with cheese sauce.

87. Simple answers.

88. Quiet afternoon drives.

89. Online banking.

90. The cool, fresh breeze following a summer thunderstorm.

Heavenly Father, You Bless us all with so many things each day that this list could go on and on.  For all those Divine Gifts that we recognize, and for those that grace us quietly in silence, I give You thanks and praise.  Amen.

~Phather Phil

Meditations Monday: Scriptural Mortar

Dear Lord; Happy Monday Father!

To start our week’s conversations Lord, I want to thank You for yet another wonderful weekend.  From the “Dinner and Drinks on the Deck” get-together we hosted Friday night, to a relaxing day with good friends on Saturday, and concluded by an inspiring church service and day with my family on Sunday, it was a lovely couple days respite.  Thank You so much for those Blessings!

Today Father, I’m beginning a new weekly post which I’m calling “Meditations Monday”.  The concept for this recurring theme is to pick a passage in Scripture each week, and then to focus my thoughts and prayers on that particular piece of Biblical wisdom and inspiration.  I love the idea of anchoring the week’s conversation in “Scriptural Mortar”, and I’m excited to see where this initiative will take us.

As yesterday was the celebration of Pentecost Father, it seems only fitting that for our first Meditations Monday the verses of focus be taken from the second chapter of Acts, which describe the Descending of Your Holy Spirit on the Apostles of Christ:

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.  Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.  They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.  When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.” – Acts 2:1-6 (NIV)

This was a staggering Gift Lord, and one that continues to define our spiritual existence as Christians today.  In that moment of transformation, You Blessed us with access to the most invasive and encompassing relationship with You that our mortal shells can have.

Heavenly Father, we give thanks and praise for this most remarkable and Holy Gift.  I pray that we all take this time to search deep inside our hearts and dwell in that Divine Connection to You.  Please guide my motivations and actions to best serve Your Will, and make my witness of Your Works effective in sharing that Grace with others.  Amen.

~Phather Phil