Let Go, and Let God

Dear Lord; Happy Wednesday Father!

This morning Lord, I spent some time chatting online with a friend regarding some trials she and her family were going through.  We were discussing the importance of remaining open to finding Your assistance in unexpected places, and a story I’d heard some time ago came to mind…

There was a man whose farm was located on the banks of a flood-swollen river. As the water rose, a neighbor drove up in a Jeep, urging him to leave before the farm was flooded. “Oh, no,” said the man confidently, “God will save me.”

The water rose higher, and the man was forced to move into the second story of the farmhouse. A police boat soon came, and the officers called for the man to hurry and get into their boat.

“Oh, no, that won’t be necessary,” the man insisted. “God will save me.”

Finally the house was completely engulfed in water, and a Coast Guard helicopter swooped in to rescue the man, now perched on the roof. Again he refused. Just then, a huge wave of water swept over the house, and the man drowned.

When he got to Heaven, he stormed at the Lord, asking WHY God had let him die when his faith had been so strong.

“What do you mean?” asked the heavenly Father. “I sent a Jeep, a boat, and a helicopter … and you wouldn’t budge!”

When I look at some of the most powerful Blessings You’ve brought into my life Father, a good many of them came about in ways that I never would have expected.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV)

Help us Lord…

To realize Your Blessings don’t always present themselves as we expect,

To recognize Your gifts when You place them in our path,

And to suspend our disbelief, accepting Your aid when it’s offered…

To let go, and let God.

In Jesus’ Name we pray,

Amen.

~Phather Phil

A Matter of Integrity

“Like the partridge that gathers a brood that she did not hatch,
so is he who gets riches but not by justice;
in the midst of his days they will leave him,
and at his end he will be a fool.” – Jeremiah 17:11 (ESV)

When we make the achievement of worldly success and material gain of a higher priority than conducting ourselves with godly disposition and integrity, we sacrifice building our eternal treasures for the lure of seeking worldly riches.

Anchored to the Rock

“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” – Psalm 18:2 (ESV)

Life is unpredictable.  From one moment to the next, we never know exactly which way our paths will turn… But thankfully, God does.  Instead of clinging to the constantly moving targets of this world, when we anchor ourselves firmly to our Rock, we gain His strength, His stability and His peace.

Meditations Monday: The Year of Drought

Dear Lord; Happy Meditations Monday, and Happy New Year Father!

As we bid farewell to 2011 Lord, I confess that my feelings on it’s passing are somewhat conflicted.  In a number of respects, this past year brought with it some of the most difficult trials our little family has experienced in quite some time.  And yet, along with those stresses and struggles, I can honestly say that Your presence in our lives has never felt more powerful, or been more obvious…

In the midst of our fears, You comforted us.

When we struggled for direction, You guided our hearts.

When we doubted our value, You reminded us that we’re Your Beloved.

In our moment of need, You provided a path.

When we sought for community, You led us to our church family.

As our financial security was threatened, You showed us that our true wealth lay elsewhere.

The world knocked us down Father, over and over…

And yet, You were there… each and every time.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
whose trust is the Lord.
He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit.” – Jeremiah 17:7-8 (ESV)

While from a worldly perspective 2011 was a trying, difficult year for us Father, every time we stumbled, You picked us up and drew us to You.

The drought came Lord, but in You we were nourished.

I pray that 2012 brings us even closer.

Amen.

~Phather Phil

Our Heavenly Family

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” – Romans 8:14-17 (ESV)

We, as followers of Christ and our Heavenly Father’s beloved children, are significant; we matter.  When we are one with Christ Jesus and have begun a new life in Him, we no longer are slaves to our sinful natures, but instead can place all due effort into our daily trials knowing our Heavenly Family is by our side.