Jan 31, 2012
Posted by PhatherPhil on Jan 31, 2012 | 4 comments
“Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.” – Romans 13:8-10 (NLT)
As Christians, we have one significant obligation to everyone; to love them, as Christ loves us. When we strive to wrap our lives in the outpouring of His mighty love, we draw ever closer to meeting those guidelines that God laid down for us. For in the light of true, all-encompassing love, sin cannot exist.
Jan 30, 2012
Posted by PhatherPhil on Jan 30, 2012 | 6 comments
“Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the LORD.
Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.” – Psalm 37:3-6 (NLT)
Trust isn’t easy. As we live our lives, finding people we can place our trust in can be a difficult and sometimes painful process. However, when we place our full faith and trust in God and allow Him to guide our hearts when making those connections, the result is stronger relationships that glorify Him as well.
Jan 26, 2012
Posted by PhatherPhil on Jan 26, 2012 | 5 comments
“Though I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, yet if he trusts in his righteousness and does injustice, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered, but in his injustice that he has done he shall die. Again, though I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ yet if he turns from his sin and does what is just and right, if the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has taken by robbery, and walks in the statutes of life, not doing injustice, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the sins that he has committed shall be remembered against him. He has done what is just and right; he shall surely live.” – Ezekiel 33:13-16 (ESV)
Life is a journey. Our Heavenly Father knows that we’ll make incorrect choices, and stray from His path from time to time. And yet, while we need to remain diligent in our pursuit of righteousness and fulfilling God’s desires for our lives, when we do err it’s important to remember that those moments don’t have to define us; when in humility and repentance we ask for forgiveness and learn from those mistakes that we’ve made, God joyfully refreshes our spirits and draws us to Him.
Jan 25, 2012
Posted by PhatherPhil on Jan 25, 2012 | 7 comments
“For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”” – 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 (ESV)
God doesn’t restrict His calling to deliver the gospel message to those of stature; the scholarly, the wise or the influential. For the Lord knows our hearts, and joyfully shines through all those who seek to glorify Him, and not themselves.
Jan 23, 2012
Posted by PhatherPhil on Jan 23, 2012 | 5 comments
“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” – Ephesians 6:13-17 (ESV)
Each and every day, our hearts and minds are tempted and assaulted by the broken nature of the world we live in. To combat this onslaught, it’s vital that we “armor up” in the resources that God has Blessed us with; firmly defending that which we’ve given over to Christ.
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. 
