We’re All in Need

“Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God;

for it is written,
“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall confess to God.”

So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.” – Romans 14:10-12 (ESV)

As followers of Christ, it’s vital that we not fall into the trap of judging our fellow Christians in their Walks.  Instead of finding fault or issue, we’re instead called to uplift and support one another’s relationship with Jesus; providing an environment where His grace is felt by all of His Children.  In the end, we’re all in need of God’s tender mercy.

Meditations Monday: The Spark of Anticipation

Dear Lord; Happy Meditations Monday Father!

Well Father, the long Thanksgiving weekend has come to a close and once again we find ourselves in the grip of another workweek.  And while I’m sorry to see that celebration of gratitude pass, my heart is already embracing the beginning of the Season of Advent.  It’s a wondrously exciting time of year Lord, filled with a spark of anticipation as we celebrate the miraculous birth of our Savior, and at the same time eagerly long for His return.

This past Sunday, my family and I were Blessed to have the opportunity to light the first candle on the Advent Wreath at Ewell’s St. Paul UMC.  Along with the lighting ceremony, Shannon and the boys recited some devotional statements, and I read to the congregation from the Gospel of Luke:

“In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.” – Luke 1:26-38 (ESV)

Such a powerful, pivotal moment this passage describes.  Approached by an Angel, and told that her virginal womb was to bear the Son of God, Mary handles this overwhelming news in a truly amazing way; with humility and obedience.

Here she was; betrothed to be married, maintaining her virginity prior to that marriage, and in the midst of her carefully laid plans an Angelic visit turned her world completely upside-down:

She didn’t know how Joseph would take the news…

She didn’t know how society would treat her…

She didn’t have a clue why You had chosen her for this…

And yet, even beneath that mountain of uncertainty, she placed all of her fears and doubts aside and affirmed her commitment to You Father:

“Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”

Such a commanding statement of faith Lord… And the beginning of a transformational journey.

Heavenly Father,

As we begin this Season of Advent Lord, please open our hearts to embrace the spirit of wonder and anticipation this holy time imbues.  Guide us Father, to not only revel in the glory of this Season, but to take a cue from Mary’s example, and always place Your path above our own.

In Jesus’ Name we pray,

Amen.

~Phather Phil

The Lord Shall Renew Their Strength

“Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength.
Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.” – Isaiah 40:28-31 (ESV)

Waiting is tough.  Whether it’s a short-term trial, or a longer more complicated struggle, sometimes waiting for that light on the horizon can seem extremely daunting.  Know however, that no matter how difficult a road lies ahead, God isn’t shaken.  When we rest in the confidence that our Heavenly Father desires the best for His Children and persevere towards furthering His works, our waiting takes on a completely different perspective.

Thankful Thursday: “Special Edition”

Dear Lord; Happy Thankful Thursday Father!

And today Father, we come to the original Thankful Thursday… Thanksgiving!  On this day each year, here in the United States we take time to put aside the normal activities and concerns of daily life and focus our attentions on Your abundant Blessings.

As we’ve discussed many times Lord, when I begin counting my Blessings my wife Shannon and my two boys Jonathan and Aidan immediately spring to mind.  They’re truly one of Your greatest gifts in my life Father, and I can’t begin to thank You enough for my life with them.

As precious as they are to me Father, it seems fitting that on this day where our focus rests in gratitude, that I share our conversation with them as well.  Therefore, for this Thankful Thursday “Special Edition”, I present You with some things that my cherished family members are grateful for:

Jonathan (Age 11)

– Having the choice to follow the Lord.

– Having friends and family over for Thanksgiving.

– Having parents that are still together.

– Having the opportunity to get an education.

– That all my sins are forgiven.

Aidan (Age 9)

– For my family.

– For our home.

– For good food to eat.

– That I have people that love me.

– For the fun I have building Legos.

Shannon (Older than 11 :-))

– The love of a grace-filled man.

– Empathetic children who give their birthday money to help fill a church food pantry.

– Recipes from the past that shine like new.

– Music to share in ALL aspects of my life.

– Craft links on Pinterest 😉

Heavenly Father,

As we focus on Your many gifts in our lives Lord, Your love for us is so apparent.  Open our eyes and our hearts Father, that we better recognize Your Blessings each day, and realize that Thanksgiving isn’t only once a year, but every day that we dwell in Your tender mercies.

In Jesus’ Name we pray,

Amen.

~Phather Phil

Thankfulness in Our Hearts

“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” – Colossians 3:15-17 (ESV)

In everything we say and do, above all it’s essential to keep the love of Christ in our hearts.  For when we have that personal, intimate relationship with our Savior, every day becomes Thanksgiving.

Have a Blessed Thanksgiving!

Choosing the Good Portion

Dear Lord; Happy Wednesday Father!

Tomorrow Lord, as You’re well aware, here in the United States we’ll be gathering together with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving.  And while I absolutely love having that time to focus on togetherness and gratitude Father, for many this Holiday takes on an entirely different focus…

Details.

Instead of dwelling in Your many Blessings and focusing on spending time with those we love Lord, for some the Holidays become a flurry of “to-do lists”, household chores and shopping trips.  And while some preparations are certainly necessary to host our festive gatherings, it’s very easy to allow the myriad of details to overwhelm us, and to take our eyes off the One who made it possible.

And while getting ready for work this morning Father, You decided I needed a reminder.

Standing in the shower, my mind wandered; so many things to do before tomorrow… I started a mental list, carefully going over all the details of the day ahead, and trying to work out exactly how we’d complete everything in the time we had remaining…

“Like Martha and Mary…” You whispered.

Ouch!

“Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”” – Luke 10:38-42 (ESV)

Okay, okay… Point taken Father.  🙂

It’s not about the house being spotless…

It’s not about mountains of carefully prepared food…

It’s not about a meticulously laid-out table…

It’s not about being the perfect host or hostess…

It’s not about the details…

It’s about You Lord… All about You.

Heavenly Father,

We thank You Lord, for the multitude of Blessings You grace our lives with each day.  As we prepare for the upcoming Holidays Father, please help focus our hearts to see past the tasks at hand, and prepare a spot at Jesus’ feet where we might rest, and listen…

In Jesus’ name we pray,

Amen.

~Phather Phil