Jan 16, 2012
Posted by PhatherPhil on Jan 16, 2012 | 8 comments
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV)
Our fears, doubts and anxieties can weigh heavily on our hearts, and keep us from the abundant lives God desires us to have. In this transformational promise, Jesus reminds us that when we place our faith in Him and release our burdens to His care, our souls can truly find peace.
Jan 13, 2012
Posted by PhatherPhil on Jan 13, 2012 | 4 comments
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” – 1 John 4:7 (ESV)
Jesus came to us with a completely radical perspective; He told us to love one another. In this bold statement from his first Epistle, John reminds us that when we allow love for others to flow from our hearts, we connect with our Heavenly Father in a very powerful way.
Jan 12, 2012
Posted by PhatherPhil on Jan 12, 2012 | 4 comments
“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!” – Psalm 46:10 (ESV)
We live in a very noisy world. Between TV, radio, cell phones and computers, we’re constantly being deluged by a seemingly never-ending stream of information. In that din that surrounds our lives, sometimes our conversations with God can become muffled, leading us to feel disconnected and stressed. Finding time each day to simply “be still” and refresh the link to our Heavenly Father is an important part of our spiritual journey, and can make all the difference when dealing with uncertainties in our topsy-turvy lives.
Jan 11, 2012
Posted by PhatherPhil on Jan 11, 2012 | 3 comments
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” – Matthew 6:1-4 (ESV)
In this powerful passage from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warns against performing acts of charity strictly to obtain the recognition of others. While we’re certainly called to reach out to those in need, it’s important to do so with pure intentions, and in such a way that God’s glory is the recipient of those Blessings, not our own.
Jan 10, 2012
Posted by PhatherPhil on Jan 10, 2012 | 3 comments
“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?” – Romans 6:1-2 (ESV)
When we are reborn in Christ Jesus, we are in effect “dead unto sin” through His sacrifice on the cross. This certainly doesn’t mean that we’ll be freed from the temptations that sin attempts to tyrannize our lives with, but it does give us the ability to gain victory over our broken natures and become the people that God desires us to be.
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. 
