Unplugging from the World

Dear Lord; Happy Tuesday Father!

I have a confession to make Father:

I’m a chronic multitasker.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been one of those people who delights in doing several things at the same time.  My brain tends to work on overdrive most of the time, processing stimuli from a number of different directions all at once and reacting accordingly.  Combine that with the amazing array of smartphones, tablets, personal organizers and computers that pervade my world, and I spend quite a bit of my day on overload.  And while it’s been a useful condition over the years for dealing with a rapidly moving business environment, I’ve come to realize that in many cases my predilection for multitasking is not only problematic, but can be unhealthy as well…

I have significant problems with insomnia.

I get frustrated easily when things around me don’t “keep up”.

I suffer from high blood pressure and hypertension.

My patience with others can become very limited.

I find that when I don’t accomplish as much as I expected to, it leads to feelings of self-doubt.

Thankfully Father, with Your help I’ve been making some headway in controlling this side of my persona.  By deliberately choosing to focus my attention on one project at a time, and listening to Your Voice for guidance all the while, I find I actually achieve more and at the same time gain the strength and peace of Your Presence as well.  I’ve also been doing some things to “disconnect” myself from the high-speed world around me such as…

Limiting my smartphone usage to emergencies and family needs only outside of working hours (this has been a difficult change for me).

Not spending time logged into Facebook, Twitter or social networking sites when I’m home in the evenings.

Going for long walks in the woods, along the shore, or other places where I can dwell in Your Abundance.

Spending quiet time in prayer, studying Scripture or reading other Christian-focused books.

Taking time out of the workday for a Stillness Sabbatical now and again.

Writing out these conversations we have each day.

While I realize that we live in a world that emphasizes constant connectivity and productivity Lord, I’m finding that as my Walk with You progresses my time spent in simpler pursuits is far more satisfying.  I’m not planning on finding a cave and becoming a hermit mind You, but I am enjoying the balance and clarity that comes from “unplugging” from the world, and “plugging” into You.  🙂

Amen.

~Phather Phil

Thankful Thursday: A Week Away

Dear Lord; Happy Thankful Thursday Father!

Ok Lord, yes I do know it’s actually Friday but as the day got away from me yesterday and I didn’t have the opportunity to post my Thankful Thursday article, I decided to do so this morning instead.  🙂

It’s been a wonderful, Blessed week away with my family Father.  Our visits to the mountains are something that we all look forward to eagerly each year, and it’s been a joyous, relaxing time once again.  Today is our last full day here, and although we’ll be headed home tomorrow the memories of this past week will stay with us for a long time to come.

So, without further ado Lord, this week I’d like to give special thanks for…

136. 78 degree days, and 52 degree nights with low humidity.

137. A sky so clear that at night with a full moon, the clouds light up like it was dusk.

138. Playing an evening game of Bocce with Jonathan.

139. A caring, thoughtful friend who cleaned our house for us while we’re away.

140. Getting the opportunity to attend church services with old friends.

141. Quiet time fishing.

142. Being surrounded by the abundant beauty of Your Creation.

143. An office staff who keeps the world at bay for me while I’m away.

144. Another wonderful visit to Claws ‘N’ Paws Zoo.

145. Seeing the joy on Jonathan’s face as he won the archery competition.

146. Children who continue to have a sense of whimsy and wonder.

147. Sitting on the back porch of the cabin late at night with good friends, good bourbon and a light breeze.

148. Having no signal on my mobile phone for most of the week.  🙂

149. The management and staff at Chestnut Grove Resort who always make our visit feel like coming home.

150. Reservations to come back here next year.

Heavenly Father, I thank You for a restful, rejuvenating and happy week away.  In these beautiful and peaceful surroundings I can truly feel Your Presence in abundance, and will be taking home with me a deeper sense of Your Wondrous Gifts to us.  Amen.

~Phather Phil

If You Prick Me…

Dear Lord; Happy Wednesday Father!

Today Father, my prayers are focused on my son Jonathan and my wife Shannon as they spend time at the A.I. Dupont Hospital for Children.  The appointment today wasn’t expected to be a big deal; simply an MRI with and without contrast to check and make sure that Jonathan’s LCH was still behaving itself.  As the scans were going to take a while and required Jonathan be perfectly still, the plan was to sedate him so that he could sleep through the process.  This seemed like a perfectly reasonable idea and after he’d been given some Versed to relax him a bit beforehand they got him ready for the procedure…

And then he saw the IV needle.  He was no longer relaxed.

Jonathan has a very serious fear of needles Father, and from what Shannon described he changed instantly from my gentle, loveable little boy into a raving, angry, terrified child.  In the end, they had to give him general anesthesia (gas) to get him under for the scans, requiring a longer stay at the hospital and leaving Shannon emotionally exhausted in the process.

Following the phone conversation with Shannon bringing me up to speed on the day’s events, I started thinking about the fear Jonathan must have been feeling at that moment.  His dread of needles has deep-seated roots, far beyond what he remembers.  As an infant, Jonathan’s disease and subsequent treatments required he be all too familiar with the prick of a needle.  And even though he’s not had to endure a large number of sticks since that time, there’s an underlying anxiety that grips him whenever he requires one.

So, how to address this fear with him Lord?  Well, if we examine Your Word there’s quite a bit of wisdom to draw on.  As I know Jonathan reads this Father, I’d like to use the rest of our time today to pass some of those thoughts along to him here if I may…

Dearest Jonathan,

“For I am the Lord your God
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.” – Isaiah 41:13 (NIV)

Whatever pain, fear or trials we face in this life, we need not be afraid because God never leaves our side.  He’s stayed close to you all of your life, and seen you through amazing hardships.  When fear grips your heart and threatens to take control, I want you to close your eyes and feel God’s Hand firmly grasping yours.

“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)

The Lord desires that we show our character and faith in him through acts of trust.  Courage isn’t the absence of fear Jonathan, it’s having fear and yet doing what you know is right with the knowledge that God will give you the strength to get you through when you lay those burdens at His feet.

“Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.” – Isaiah 40:28-31 (NIV)

We weren’t created to rely completely on our own strength Jonathan.  We get tired, and stressed, and scared.  Thankfully, we have our Heavenly Father to hold us up and provide us that “Holy Nudge” to get us through when we call on Him.  I see so much of God’s Light in you, and when you seek His help I know that you’ll find it in abundance.

“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” – Philippians 4:13 (NIV)

I love you kiddo.

Amen.

~Dad (Phather Phil)

Sixteen Years of Love

Dear Lord; Happy Wednesday Father!

Today Lord, my heart is rejoicing in celebration.  Sixteen years ago today, in a little church in Newark, Delaware, You joined together Shannon and I in the bonds of Holy Matrimony.  Our marriage is by far one of Your greatest Blessings to me Father, and I can’t thank You enough for Your abundant Presence and support during our life together…

We felt Your Presence that day, when we said our vows to one another.

You comforted and strengthened us when my mother passed away less than a month later.

You led us to find our wonderful new home in Smyrna when building plans fell through at the last minute.

You faithfully held us in Your arms through a number of serious medical problems with Shannon.

After being told by a number of doctors that we couldn’t have children naturally, You proved them wrong… Twice.  🙂

When Jonathan was born with a life-threatening disease, You surrounded him in Your Healing and gave us the courage to fight for his life.

Although we’ve gone through periods of severe economic uncertainty, You’ve always provided what we needed and given us the fortitude to move past the situation.

You’ve connected us with so many wonderful friends over the years who have Blessed and enriched our family, and continue to do so.

You refresh and renew my love for Shannon each day, and bind us ever closer as we go through time together.

I view our marriage as a testament to Your Love and Compassion Father, and I lift my heart in thanks and praise for the Blessings You bestow on us each day.  I pray that You continue to Bless our union, and that we’re effective in reflecting Your Light to those around us as well.

Amen.

~Phather Phil

Meditations Monday: Transformational Benevolence

Dear Lord; Happy Meditations Monday Father!

Well Lord, yet another weekend has come and gone at the Malmstrom home.  As seems to be our norm as of late, it was a somewhat hectic weekend but also one filled with fun, laughter, and the company of good friends.  Your Presence was felt in abundance, and I thank You for Blessing us with these times of recreation and fellowship.

This week’s Meditations Monday verse is taken from Chapter 4 of Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians:

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” – Ephesians 4:31-32 (NIV)

Wow… no pressure there Father.  😉

This a powerful, relevant verse Lord, and one all Your Children should take to heart more thoroughly.  As the fragile, broken beings we are, we often allow our sinful natures to overshadow Your Desires for us.  Feelings of inner conflict and malicious intent eat away at our souls, and obscure us from Your Voice.  In this passage, Paul reminds us that You Blessed us with the perfect example of Divine Forgiveness.  You set the bar, and guide us in our Walk to emulate that behavior in our dealings with one another.

And as we discussed on Friday’s post Father, You know our hearts, not just the persona we put on for others.  “Surface forgiveness” isn’t what Your edict to us defines, but instead we’re to strive for true, transformational benevolence.  It’s a steep climb to be sure, but one that leads us ever closer to Christ’s Footsteps and to Your Kingdom.

Heavenly Father, I thank You once again for Your consistent guiding Presence in my life.  Please help me to cast off the chains of sinful emotions, and reach out to others in the nature of true forgiveness and compassion.  Help me to make decisions that best glorify Your Will, and to bring Your Light to those around me.  Amen.

~Phather Phil