Seasons of Change

Dear Lord; Happy Tuesday Father!

As I mentioned yesterday Lord, Shannon and I have been spending time recently going over everything we’re involved in, and making adjustments to prioritize our energies on those activities that best benefit the growth and harmony of our family, and glorify Your will for our lives.  It’s been a good, productive exercise for us, and we’re making some changes that we believe are the right direction for us at this point in our lives.

Reading through Your Word this morning, I came across a very fitting passage (it’s fascinating how often that happens Lord…  🙂 ).  It’s from The Book of Ecclesiastes, and is arguably one of the most well-known teachings in the Bible:

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.” – Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NIV)

Looking back over our marriage, we’ve certainly had a variety of distinct seasons Lord.  And while we may not have realized it during those times, each one has taught us something about ourselves, strengthened our union, and helped us grow as a family.  These verses speak volumes more than the words alone reveal, and I’m very thankful for their depth and meaning in our lives.

Heavenly Father,

We lift thanks and praise to You for ALL the seasons in our lives; both those that radiate with Your love and compassion, and those which bring lessons born in trial.  For while Your plans for us may not always keep us in calm waters, at the end of our earthly journey those seasons of change will have guided us closer to Your arms.

In Jesus’ Name we pray,

Amen.

~Phather Phil

A Foundation on the Rock

Dear Lord; Happy Meditations Monday Father!

Well Father, once again You Blessed my family and I with another lovely weekend.  As I was still recovering from my week-long illness and Shannon wasn’t feeling 100% either, much of our time was spent resting and “puttering” around the house.  Nonetheless, having that down-time to spend in the presence of those we love and enjoying that Blessed fellowship made for a wonderful respite from the week’s activities.

This week’s Meditations Monday Scripture was inspired by an extensive conversation Shannon and I had following church services on Sunday.  You’ve Blessed me with a wonderful wife Father.  Not only has the bond You’ve established between us grown closer over the life of our marriage, but we’re able to talk about absolutely anything with one another without concern of judgment or fear.  In this case, our discussion was centered around some of our past and current priorities as a married couple, and how as our Walks with You progress, we want to be sure we’re following Your desire for our lives in everything we do.  It was an excellent dialogue, and it allowed us to open and reexamine our perspectives on a number of things we’re involved in.

Today, as I spent time absorbed in Christ’s teachings, one particular passage brought our conversation back to mind, and reached into my heart:

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” – Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV)

We have Jesus’ words Father… Your words… And while those words have been researched, translated, paraphrased and debated over and over again, the meaning of them remains timeless and unchanged.  Through the power of the Holy Spirit You write those words on our hearts, and through our prayers their wondrous message is unlocked, and made to live inside us.  It’s up to all of us to put those divine teachings to practice in our lives, thereby bringing ourselves closer to You in the process.

Heavenly Father,

Your Word and Your Voice sustain us Lord; they nourish our spirits, and inspire our actions.  Please continue to reveal Your purpose for our lives, so we may proceed in the knowledge that Your glory is represented to the full.  Guide us Father; fill our hearts with Your presence, that our actions may justify the Blessings You bestow on us each day.

In Jesus’ Name we pray,

Amen.

~Phather Phil

Fresh Meat for the Lion

Dear Lord; Happy Friday Father!

Forgiveness Father, is sometimes very difficult.

This past week, I’ve had several instances where people have gone out of their way to say or do something they know will upset me.  Now, generally Father, I’m able to filter out that sort of thing and place my ire in Your hands.  This week however, my thresholds have been a bit lower than usual, and I’ve found myself holding on to those negative feelings instead of releasing them to Your care.

And then today, I reread the Scripture selections You placed on my heart to share on Facebook this week…

Tuesday : “We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.” – 1 John 4:19-21 (NIV)

Wednesday : “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” – John 13:34-35 (NIV)

Thursday : “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” – 1 Peter 5:6-9 (NIV)

I usually feel that You give me these verses each day to help others in their Walks Lord, but I think this time You were talking to me as well.

Jesus gave us two very powerful commands to follow, above all else;

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” – Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV)

In those verses this week, you were reminding me the importance of the second part to that teaching…

“Love your neighbor as yourself.”

In my weakened state, I allowed the enemy to use those moments of pain to gain a foothold inside my heart, temporarily blinding me to the fact that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ; even those who still need to find You Lord.  The “roaring lion” had fresh meat for a few days, but no longer.

Thank You for the reminders Lord.

Heavenly Father,

I thank You for Your gentle guidance when I waver from Your path.  Fill me with Your divine presence, and help me see others through Your eyes, that I may cast aside my earthly notions and recognize Your Blessings in us all.

In Jesus’ Name we pray,

Amen.

~Phather Phil

Meditations Monday: Spiritual Health

Dear Lord; Happy Meditations Monday Father!

Well Father, as always I want to begin the week by thanking You for the multitude of Blessings You bestowed on us over the past weekend.  Due to a nasty respiratory infection I’ve been fighting since late last week, our time was spent in much less energetic pursuits than usual, but it was a lovely couple days nonetheless.  On Saturday we went on a short outing with friends to a local alpaca farm, followed by a quiet afternoon and evening at their home enjoying a tasty home-cooked meal and wonderful conversation.  Sunday morning we attended the contemporary service at Ewell’s St. Paul UMC, and were officially accepted into the congregation as members of the church.  We feel truly Blessed to be a part of this church family Lord, and I thank You so much for bringing us together with them.

As You know Father, it’s been quite some time since I’ve gotten sick, so when this illness came on me hard and fast last week, it very much caught me off guard.  Respiratory infections have always hit me rather intensely, and this current bug is no exception.  However, as I was driving in to work sniffling and coughing this morning, something important dawned on me…

My physical body may be ill at the moment, but I’m more Spiritually Healthy than I’ve ever been.

The distinction between physical and spiritual health is actually one I believe to be fairly significant Father.  I’ve known a number of physically sound people who are absolutely lost spiritually, and yet, some of the brightest signs of Your Holy Spirit have come to me from people whose bodies have turned against them.

In the opening greetings of his Third Epistle, John indicates this division as well by wishing his friend Gaius good physical health, while noting that he’s already quite sure of Gaius’ spiritual well-being:

The elder,
To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. – 3 John 1:1-2 (NIV)

“…even as your soul is getting along well.”  John already knew Gaius’ devotion to Your Truth was firm, and with that “spiritual fitness” as a reference, he sent wishes that Gaius’ physical well-being would follow suit.

So Father, what can we do to achieve the Spiritual Health that’s so vital in our lives?  If we break it down clinically as we would a physical ailment, I believe it would go something like…

Examination: Evaluate our lives regularly, and ensure that we’re living as God desires us to.  Identify sinful behaviors and actions.

Diagnosis: For the “symptoms” noted during the Examination, consult the appropriate reference (The Bible) and seek additional consultation (pray) to determine the correct course of treatment.

Treatment: Follow the prescribed course of action as determined in the Diagnosis.  Quiet time and rest (Stillness), and increased fluid (Living Water) consumption will aid in healing.

Follow Up: A proper diet (Daily Bread, Eucharist) and exercise (Worship) will help maintain Spiritual Health.

Now that’s reasonable health care reform.  🙂

Heavenly Father,

I thank You for the “Heavenly Health Care Plan” You’ve provided for us Lord.  Please nourish our needy spirits, and bring to us that divine healing that only You can provide.

In Jesus’ Name we pray,

Amen.

~Phather Phil

In a Whisper…

Dear Lord; Happy Wednesday Father!

Following yesterday’s discussion Lord, I’ve been mulling over the whole “Ways God talks to us” question at length.

When I speak with people about their relationship with You Father, quite often they express frustration in trying to understand what You desire of them, and feel that they aren’t “hearing” You as they should be.  I’ll admit, early on in my Walk when I began to recognize Your communications, my “logical” brain cast them aside as stray thoughts and urges of my own making.  I’m not honestly sure at what point that changed, but now I’ve come to count on those intimate “nudges” in my daily life to keep my feet on the stalwart path, and my heart focused on You.

Today was a perfect example.  I hadn’t really decided how I should approach the topic of Your speaking to us, but as I was quietly reading my YouVersion Bible over lunch, I reached a passage You felt fit the situation…

“That’s the one.” You whispered.

The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 

After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 

When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” – 1 Kings 19:11-13 (NIV)

I love it when You do that Father.  🙂

When my journey to You was in it’s infancy Lord, I looked for some grandiose sign announcing Your presence; the powerful wind, the earthquake, the fire… Something that would scream “Hey Phil!  Here I am!”.  What I realized over time however, was that You were there with me all the time; I just wasn’t looking in the right place.  As Elijah found You at Horeb, I found You in the Stillness… In the whispers.

Finding those moments; those times of spiritual clarity where Your voice rings out through the noise we all live in, has become an important part of my days.

I yearn for those whispers Father… for those nudges that guide my way.

Heavenly Father,

I thank you Lord, for Your faithful presence in our lives each day.  Please open our hearts and our minds to better recognize Your influence all around us.  Help filter out the “noise” that congests our spirits, and bring us that peace that can only come through an intimate communion with our Creator.

In Jesus’ Name we pray,

Amen.

~Phather Phil