Feb 17, 2012
Posted by PhatherPhil on Feb 17, 2012 | 7 comments
“Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.” – Jonah 1:1-3 (ESV)
Like Jonah, many of us make vain attempts to “hide” from God’s calling; we convince ourselves that His voice is our minds playing tricks on us, we ignore the signs He places in our lives each day, and we “write off” His Blessings as happy coincidence. When we open our hearts to the understanding that we’re in the grip of a loving Heavenly Father and accept His guidance into our lives, we take on new purpose and can truly live in abundance.
Feb 15, 2012
Posted by PhatherPhil on Feb 15, 2012 | 7 comments
“For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.” – James 3:7-9 (ESV)
Our words are powerful things; they can be used to either share the light of Christ with those around us, or to spread the venomous intent of our sinful natures. It’s very often not an easy internal conflict to resolve, but through the guidance and Grace our Heavenly Father offers us, we can make our speech reflect His glory and goodness.
Feb 14, 2012
Posted by PhatherPhil on Feb 14, 2012 | 3 comments
“So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us.” – 1 John 4:16-19 (ESV)
On this Valentine’s Day as our hearts are drawn to thoughts of love and romance, it’s important to remember the true source of that which we cherish; God loved us first, and from that precious, perfect seed all love springs forth.
Feb 13, 2012
Posted by PhatherPhil on Feb 13, 2012 | 7 comments
“”Yet even now,” declares the Lord,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
and rend your hearts and not your garments.”
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;
and he relents over disaster.” – Joel 2:12-13 (ESV)
No matter how far we’ve fallen, or how deeply we believe we’ve grieved God, He still loves us and pursues our return to His fold. When we truly seek God’s forgiveness and lay our burdens at the foot of the cross, He welcomes us with open arms.
Feb 10, 2012
Posted by PhatherPhil on Feb 10, 2012 | 3 comments
“We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.” – Romans 3:22-24 (NLT)
None of us lead, or have led spotless lives. By the very natures of the earthly shells that contain us, we’re in a constant battle against sin. Thankfully, through God’s benevolence and Grace we’re made whole by our faith in Christ Jesus, and our desire to draw closer to Him. Oscar Wilde summed it up beautifully when he wrote, “Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future.”
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. 
