Jul 31, 2012
Posted by PhatherPhil on Jul 31, 2012 | 0 comments
“And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”” – Matthew 5:2-3 (ESV)
In His opening statement in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus laid this bombshell on the awaiting crowd; “Blessed are the poor in spirit…” Now, He wasn’t using the term “poor” in a material sense, but instead was referring to the fact that we’re all spiritually bankrupt, and rely completely on the Grace of our Heavenly Father to complete and fulfill our lives. By humbling ourselves in that realization, we will indeed be Blessed.
Jul 30, 2012
Posted by PhatherPhil on Jul 30, 2012 | 1 comment
“And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.” – Luke 23:33-34 (ESV)
Radical forgiveness; it’s what Jesus modeled for us on the cross, and what He calls for us to implement in our own lives as well. Seeing beyond our anger, bitterness and hurt to forgive those that we feel have wronged us is certainly no easy task, however it’s exactly the type of unfaltering, unconditional love that God desires we strive to have for one another.
Jul 27, 2012
Posted by PhatherPhil on Jul 27, 2012 | 0 comments
“For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.” – 2 Corinthians 4:6-9 (NLT)
As at the dawn of creation where God first brought light to the darkness (Genesis 1:3), so also He brings His divine radiance and strength to our fragile hearts through the life and teachings of Christ Jesus. Such a wondrous imbuing not only serves to grant us comfort and peace in times of trial, but makes any efforts to share His gifts more clearly of heavenly inspiration.
Jul 26, 2012
Posted by PhatherPhil on Jul 26, 2012 | 0 comments
“You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things?” – Romans 2:1-3 (NLT)
Just as Jesus warned us against the hypocrisy inherent in casting judgment on others (Matthew 7:3-5), the Apostle Paul reminds us in his Epistle to the Romans that when we look to the sin of those around us, we are in fact condemning ourselves in the process. We all sin, and we all need the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior to cleanse that corruption from us.
Jul 25, 2012
Posted by PhatherPhil on Jul 25, 2012 | 1 comment
“Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.” – Mark 1:35 (NLT)
Just as Jesus awoke early to commune with His Heavenly Father, so should we all make time each day to spend specifically with Him. Every moment spent intentionally in God’s presence strengthens our relationship to Him, and draws us that much closer to His desire for our lives.
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. 
