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
Hi, I’m Phil Malmstrom, a.k.a. Phather Phil. I’m self-employed, father of two wonderful young men, an ordained minister who delights in spreading Jesus’ Message of Hope and Love, a science-fiction junkie, an aspiring photographer and above all that one of God’s Children who rejoices in His Blessings each day. 
I’d vote for that health care reform! Thanks for sharing with us what you are learning despite feeling under the weather. Feel better soon!
Thank you Eileen! I think the politicians in Washington need to bone up on The Word a bit, don’t you? 🙂
Have a Blessed Day!
First off, I pray you sleep well tonight and feel better.
Second, I love the way you put this. Our Heavenly health care plan, that’s great!
Thank you so much Jenifer. Sleep has been difficult, but with this bug beating me up like it has, I’ve been able to just “pass out” and at least get some physical rest. Thankfully, God’s presence has kept me positive and calm throughout this illness. Thank you for all your prayers!
Have a Blessed Day!
LOVE this post! May I constantly be working on my spiritual fitness!
Thank you Lindsay! It’s something we could all stand to work on I think. 🙂
Have a Blessed Day!
What a great health care plan! We would do well to live by this everyday. Praying you are feeling better soon!
Maybe I should submit this plan to Congress Lisa? LOL Thank you!!
Have a Blessed Day!
Oh, Phather Phil, I do hope you feel better soon! I loved your spiritual health reform immensely! I don’t know if it would be applicable in a future blog as I go by the daily readings prescribed by the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer, but would you mind if I saved these to use in the future? Know full well that you would be given all the credit in the blog, but I do understand completely if you would rather me not share or, at least, send you the blog well in advance to permit or not.
I look forward to hearing from you on this matter, and, remember, chicken soup is good for more than the soul!
Blessings and recover soon, my friend!
Martha
Thank you Martha! You’re more than welcome to use these in your posts as you see fit, but a link back to my site would absolutely be a Blessing!
Have a Blessed Day!
I love that health care plan! And I pray that you get well soon.
Thank you Alida!
Have a Blessed Day!
John always greeted with health and I wonder how many of us today do what John did? Not many I am sure…
Not a bad idea for us to adopt that perspective though… 🙂
Have a Blessed Day Desiray!
Thank goodness our sick bodies are no reflection of our spiritual wellness. So sorry you have been sick! I hpe you feel better!!
Amen Kelli! Thank you!
Have a Blessed Day!
I love the spiritual health plan. On a side note I was not able to sleep last night thanks to a Claridon D that has weird effects on me. But thanks to your suggestions I did not lay there in desperation. While my mind wandered in the beginning I then went to prayer from there I went to let go and let God mantra and I just let myself be still with no thoughts which is not typical for me. Then I landed back in prayer and then to the Bible I went. While I would much rather have grabbed an ereader I went to the living room and opened up IJohn which I am working on for a Bible study. Then back to prayer and the mantra and being still. While I would say I got 3 hours of sleep total I felt so rested today and I know that it is because I was still in God, his Word and prayer. Thank you for that very much. While I do not hope for many more sleepless nights I at least now have faith that I will not be lonely or tired if I be still in the Lord.
Resting in God’s presence is amazingly refreshing, isn’t it Tara? 🙂 I’m so happy that it helped you!!
Have a Blessed Day!
Love this ‘heavenly health care plan’ Phil!
Thank you Allison! I hope you feel better soon as well!
Have a Blessed Day!
Phil,
Praying that you are feeling better, and get well soon. I agree with everyone else, I vote for your health care plan! Blessings you Phil and heres to hoping you have a restful nights sleep.
Thank you for the kind words Kandi… It’s beaten me up quite a bit this week, but I think it’s finally starting to break. 🙂
Have a Blessed Day!
Get well Phil. Those respiratory problems are the pits; I should know, I’ve had my fair share.
And I’ll take your health care reform any day over the government’s 😉
~ Love and prayers
It’s absolutely not been fun Debra, but I think it’s finally improving. 🙂
Have a Blessed Day!