My heart is light today Father; filled with the power of what this day of celebration represents!
Following a dreary, rainy Good Friday (which seemed somewhat appropriate weather to me), the weather broke late yesterday; almost as if the light were yearning for the coming dawn. Today I awoke to a beautiful sunlit morning, as if the world itself is rejoicing on this Day of Resurrection!
Brought up in a Lutheran Church, I’ve been hearing the following phrase whispered through my heart quite a bit the last few days:
Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again!
Such a simple, yet in my opinion powerful statement of Faith this is Lord. We can never hope in this life to comprehend the magnitude of the Gifts Christ brought to us, but my heart stretches and my spirit grows each time I contemplate these wondrous events.
This morning Father, I read the story of Jesus’ Resurrection from the Gospel of Matthew to Jonathan and Aidan. Over the last week, I’ve been talking with them about the significance and importance of what this celebration represents, and although they’re still young in their walk with You, I see Your Light in their eyes more and more each day. Please continue to bring Your Love and Guidance to their hearts, that they may grow in Your Kingdom and more fully appreciate the Blessings You bring to us all.
“After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”” – Matthew 28:1-7 (NIV)
Heavenly Father, we rejoice at the wonder of Christ’s Resurrection on this sunny Easter Morning, and for the Salvation and Hope that act of Love signifies. I pray that our hearts will all be filled with Your Glory, and for Your Will to guide us along the path Jesus laid for us.
Well Father, it feels a little odd to be writing to You on a Saturday morning. As You’re aware, I’m a reasonably schedule-driven person, so when I got home last night and heard You tell me to “just rest” it went against my grain just a bit. But I listened, and I’m thankful for Your Guidance. Between sleep deprivation from a week of insomnia, hectic work schedules and the daily family and household duties, I was truly wiped. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to just curl up on the couch with the kids and enjoy a movie together. I’m glad You always know what I need, especially when I’m too stubborn to admit it.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
What a beautiful and powerful promise Lord! Only in You do I find the comfort and rest I need for my tarnished spirit. Thank You so much for Your Faithful Care of us all.
Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your Guidance and Support in this season of my life. I pray that we all can experience the rest You Provide us, and find strength and delight in Your Divine Presence. Amen.
Wow Father, what a long and tiring day this was. I started the day at a client’s site at 7:45 this morning, and finally drove into my driveway at 8:45 tonight. I’m wiped.
Heading home this evening, I was driving along some back roads while Andrew Peterson’s “Counting Stars” CD massaged my mental temperament following the day’s toils. It was a dark and clear evening, and the stars seemed especially bright away from the street lights and incursions of blatant civilization. My mind drifted a bit, and I found myself pondering how much I actually enjoy driving at night; soaking in the Stillness and clarity of the draped surroundings.
And then track 9 started up…
It always fascinates me Father, how You manage to guide my thoughts and link them up with external reinforcements to get my attention. In this case, it came in the form of a song on the CD called “In the Night My Hope Lives On”. From my own thoughts of how in the Stillness of night I find comfort in Your Presence, this ballad reached in and awoke my spirit. What an amazingly powerful song this is Lord:
The lyrics are truly wonderful Father… such a potent description of the Hope we find in Your Love for us.
“I can see the crowd of men retreating
As he stands between the woman and their stones
And if mercy in his holy heart is beating
Then in the night my hope lives on
I remember how they scorned the son of Mary
He was gentle as a lamb, gentle as a lamb
He was beaten, he was crucified, and buried
And in the night, my hope was gone
But the rulers of the earth could not control Him
They did not take his life–he laid it down
All the chains of death could never hope to hold him
So in the night my hope lives on”
What a perfect way to end my day Lord; focusing on the Hope You so freely gifted us with. And in the night, my hope lives on.
Ah Lord, spring is truly here in all it’s glory; the grass is growing, the trees are sprouting, the flowers are starting to bloom…
And the pollen is everywhere.
Heading out to work and school this morning, we exited the garage and were faced with a lesson in color manipulation; my nice dark blue SUV had turned a fuzzy shade of green. The dusting of yellow pollen was so thick across the skin of the vehicle that it literally looked to be a different color.
Yuck.
The golden film held on all throughout the day, leaving the truck feeling dingy and old.
Driving home from a client’s office this evening, the colorful allergen’s grip on my vehicle was torn away as the skies opened and a cooling spring rain began to fall. The coating was quickly flushed off the surface of the truck, and everything once again seemed bright and clean.
Now, this seems familiar I thought…
Sin does to our souls what pollen did to my truck; it coats, and covers, and dirties and distorts. And like the cleansing rain, Your Grace washes that sin from our beings. We are made fresh and new in Your Love, and able to see Your Path more clearly.
“Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” – Psalm 51:2 (NIV)
Well Lord, it’s been a LONG day. Following an insomnia night, I was awakened this morning by an urgent message indicating that we had a server down in the hosting group. Out the door I ran, and the running didn’t stop until I sat down to dinner this evening at 7:15.
Whew.
Driving home from dinner tonight, I was going over the stresses of the day in my head trying to figure out how I was going to get everything I needed to do accomplished. I felt overwhelmed, and tired…
And then a song came on the radio:
I love it when Your Messages smack me in the head Father. 🙂
“When that muffled sigh
Says you’re barely getting by
Cut your burdens loose and just simplify
Simplify
This is not your floor
You’re going higher than before
Drop the weight now
Wait for the lookout guide
Look outside
As they all fall
Like a million raindrops
Falling from a blue sky
Kissing your cares goodbye
They all fall
Like a million pieces
A ticker tape parade high
Now you’re free to fly”
I think I’ll sleep better tonight Lord. Thank You.
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.
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. 
