The Prayers of a Leader

Dear Lord; Happy Tuesday Father!

Well Lord, first off I want to say a quick thank You for a break in the steamy weather we’ve been having.  It’s still good and warm to be sure (90 degrees or so), but the humidity has dropped substantially and the over-100 degree temperatures have abated for the moment.  Based on the forecast things will be getting warmer again soon, but nonetheless the intermission is very much appreciated!

Today Father, I was reading in the Old Testament in 1 Kings, Chapter 3 and came across something that touched my spirit and got me thinking.  It was early on in king Solomon’s reign and while visiting Gibeon to offer sacrifices to You, You came to him in a dream with an amazingly magnanimous offer…

At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” – 1 Kings 3:5 (NIV)

Wow… Now that’s a proposition!  The Author of all Creation asking “what can I give to you?”.  For most people, this question would instantly flood their minds with thoughts of wealth, power, longevity or other earthly gifts.  Solomon however, had a slightly different request of You…

“Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 

Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 

So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” – 1 Kings 3:7-9 (NIV)

Such a humble, thoughtful answer he gave to You Father!  It makes me wonder what kind of world we’d be living in if all of our leaders petitioned You in such a way?  Or for that matter, what kind of world would it be if we ALL prayed for the strength, wisdom and temperament to serve others selflessly in Your Name…

It’s a powerful and inspiring thought Father, and one I’ll be praying on.

Amen.

~Phather Phil

Thankful Thursday: Every Season

Dear Lord; Happy Thankful Thursday Father!

Well Lord, once again we come to the Thankful Thursday post here at phatherphil.org.  It’s been a pleasant week following our return from vacation, however I will admit to missing the wonderfully comfortable weather and serene environment we enjoyed in the mountains.  We’ve been beset by days of hot, humid weather here, so the contrast to our time away is made even more obvious.  However as one of my fellow Christian Bloggers noted, every season exists for a purpose, and this too shall pass when You intend it to.

Anyways Father, no matter the weather conditions I always have a multitude of Blessings to give thanks for.  Such as…

151. Quiet back roads on which to travel to and from work each day.

152. Having the vast research resources of the Internet at my fingertips.

153. A safe drive home from our recent vacation.

154. A lovely dinner out with Shannon on her birthday.

155. Being able to attend the Meet & Greet last Sunday for Kay’s Kamp (Jonathan is SO excited).

156. Whispered challenges on my heart to Dig Deeper.

157. Time spent “Plugged into You”.

158. The perspective gained from visiting other churches.

159. Being a Father to two wonderful little boys.

160. Discussions about Scripture with fellow Christians that help me grow in Christ.

161. Having my children just give me a hug for no specific reason.

162. Quiet time to sit in the dark and read Your Word through YouVersion on my Nook Color.

163. Finding a little hole-in-the-wall restaurant with amazing BBQ.  🙂

164. Receiving my shipment of Pocket Gospels of John from The Pocket Testament League (ptl.org).

165. A good cappuccino after church on Sundays from The Young Bean.

Heavenly Father, thank You once again for all those Blessings you grant us, both those that are obvious and those that may go unseen.  As we Strive for full restoration in Your service, please open our eyes and hearts to better recognize the amazing gifts You bring to our lives each day.  Amen.

~Phather Phil

Meditations Monday: Bridging the Chasm

Dear Lord; Happy Meditations Monday Father!

Today Father, I’d like to start the week by thanking You from the bottom of my heart for the wonderful vacation You Graced us with last week.  The weather was gorgeous, the scenery was breathtaking and all of us had a fantastic time away together.  For the first time since starting my business in 1997, I actually made a conscious decision to leave my mobile phone in the cabin and not call into the office each day… It was a practice that I’ll certainly be repeating on future trips.  The personal impact of using that time to focus on my family and on Your Presence, and to recharge my spiritual and emotional batteries can’t be overstated.  It was truly a Blessing to all of us, and I thank You wholeheartedly.

Today’s Meditations Monday Scripture reading comes from the book of John, and addresses an issue that all followers of Christ deal with at some point in their Walk; Disdain and in some cases, persecution for our Faith.

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.  If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own.  As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.  That is why the world hates you.  Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.  If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.  If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.  They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.” – John 15:18-21 (NIV)

Now Lord, I don’t know of any cases where I’ve been outwardly hated for my relationship with You.  However, I have been aware more than once of some people avoiding my company because of the public emphasis I place on Your Word and Your Presence in my life.  These daily chats, along with my outreach efforts and scripture postings make some people uncomfortable, leading them to shy away.  By drawing the division between “children of the world” and the “children of God”, Jesus warns us that the rift between the two would lead to such conflicts, and to not be surprised by it.  Instead, we’re charged to reveal Your Light within us and allow it to bridge the chasm through signs and examples of Your Gracious Love.  The important thing to remember is this; although we will likely see hardships and resistance as Christians in a confused and troubled world, by keeping our gaze fixed firmly on Jesus, we’re assured the strength and peace to stand firm against the world around us.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33 (NIV)

It’s lovely to be back Father.  🙂

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

Thankful Thursday: Days of Clarity

Dear Lord; Happy Thankful Thursday Father!

And once again Father, we come to the Thankful Thursday edition at phatherphil.org!  It’s been an eventful seven days to be sure, and I’ve felt Your Blessings overflowing around me throughout.  I usually have to take some time to go back over the past week carefully in my head to pick out the little Blessings I’ve missed, but today for some reason they sprang to mind quickly and easily.  It’s wonderful to have days of such clarity, and to feel like I’m walking the right path with You.  🙂

Anyways Lord, on to the list!  This week, some things I’ve been thankful for are:

121. Living in a country that allows me to worship You without fear of persecution.

122. Our upcoming family vacation to Chestnut Grove Resort in the Pocono Mountains.

123. Shannon getting to play her viola with the praise team at church.

124. The patient and professional doctors and nurses at A.I. Dupont Hospital for Children.

125. Shannon finally connecting with a helpful agent at the State of Delaware.

126. Having a GPS to help me navigate when we travel.

127. Big sales on items just when I need them.

128. Empathetic gestures between my two boys.

129. Being able to spend a long holiday weekend in the company of good friends.

130. A wonderful new Christian book to read while on vacation.

131. Friends who offer to watch our dogs and the house while we’re away.

132. Our Most Important Freedom.

133. The power of prayer.

134. Spam filters.

135. The medical technology that allows Jonathan to live a normal life.

Heavenly Father, I thank You for all the Blessings you grace us with, both those that are seen and those that may pass unnoticed.  You are indeed a God of compassion and of wonders, and I pray that my choices, decisions and actions will properly Glorify Your gifts to us all.  Amen.

~Phather Phil