Quite often Lord, when I sit down to write out my list of Blessings for the Thankful Thursday post, I have a difficult time putting them in writing. It’s not that I don’t feel Blessed of course, just that for some reason my mind goes “fuzzy”. When that happens, I replay the previous week’s events in my head, a day at a time, and when I reach something that makes me smile, I write it down.
What a wonderful exercise that’s turned out to be Father.
Forcing myself to go back, step-by-step, and taking special note of the Blessings You’ve graced me with over the past seven days makes me realize even more thoroughly how much You Love me. We allow so many of Your Gifts to slip by unnoticed, that the thought of “catching” some of them and giving thanks while they’re still fresh very much appeals to me.
And to that end Father God, this week I want to give special thanks and praise for:
106. Sixteen years of marriage to my wonderful wife Shannon.
119. No obvious significant issues found at Jonathan’s yearly checkup with his oncologist today. 🙂
120. A Heavenly Father that listens patiently to my prayers.
I have so much to give thanks for Lord…
Heavenly Father, thank You for all the Blessings you gift us with each day. Please open our eyes and our hearts to better recognize those moments around us that radiate Your Glory, and guide us to share those Blessings effectively with others. Amen.
Today Lord, my heart is rejoicing in celebration. Sixteen years ago today, in a little church in Newark, Delaware, You joined together Shannon and I in the bonds of Holy Matrimony. Our marriage is by far one of Your greatest Blessings to me Father, and I can’t thank You enough for Your abundant Presence and support during our life together…
We felt Your Presence that day, when we said our vows to one another.
You comforted and strengthened us when my mother passed away less than a month later.
You led us to find our wonderful new home in Smyrna when building plans fell through at the last minute.
You faithfully held us in Your arms through a number of serious medical problems with Shannon.
After being told by a number of doctors that we couldn’t have children naturally, You proved them wrong… Twice. 🙂
When Jonathan was born with a life-threatening disease, You surrounded him in Your Healing and gave us the courage to fight for his life.
Although we’ve gone through periods of severe economic uncertainty, You’ve always provided what we needed and given us the fortitude to move past the situation.
You’ve connected us with so many wonderful friends over the years who have Blessed and enriched our family, and continue to do so.
You refresh and renew my love for Shannon each day, and bind us ever closer as we go through time together.
I view our marriage as a testament to Your Love and Compassion Father, and I lift my heart in thanks and praise for the Blessings You bestow on us each day. I pray that You continue to Bless our union, and that we’re effective in reflecting Your Light to those around us as well.
Well Lord, yet another weekend has come and gone at the Malmstrom home. As seems to be our norm as of late, it was a somewhat hectic weekend but also one filled with fun, laughter, and the company of good friends. Your Presence was felt in abundance, and I thank You for Blessing us with these times of recreation and fellowship.
This week’s Meditations Monday verse is taken from Chapter 4 of Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians:
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” – Ephesians 4:31-32 (NIV)
Wow… no pressure there Father. 😉
This a powerful, relevant verse Lord, and one all Your Children should take to heart more thoroughly. As the fragile, broken beings we are, we often allow our sinful natures to overshadow Your Desires for us. Feelings of inner conflict and malicious intent eat away at our souls, and obscure us from Your Voice. In this passage, Paul reminds us that You Blessed us with the perfect example of Divine Forgiveness. You set the bar, and guide us in our Walk to emulate that behavior in our dealings with one another.
And as we discussed on Friday’s post Father, You know our hearts, not just the persona we put on for others. “Surface forgiveness” isn’t what Your edict to us defines, but instead we’re to strive for true, transformational benevolence. It’s a steep climb to be sure, but one that leads us ever closer to Christ’s Footsteps and to Your Kingdom.
Heavenly Father, I thank You once again for Your consistent guiding Presence in my life. Please help me to cast off the chains of sinful emotions, and reach out to others in the nature of true forgiveness and compassion. Help me to make decisions that best glorify Your Will, and to bring Your Light to those around me. Amen.
In recent weeks, I’ve been contacted by a number of friends and readers who’ve been going through some struggles in their Walk, and who were seeking perspective and encouragement. And while I’m always happy to bring Your Message of Hope to the table Father, it did get me to thinking about ways that we can strengthen and temper our Faith in times of trial…
Stillness Sabbaticals
As we discussed a couple weeks ago Father, I’ve found that one of my most effective methods for communing with You is to block off some time, find a very quiet spot, and simply focus on Your Presence. We live in an exceptionally “noisy” world, and with a seemingly constant deluge of activity and information surrounding us, Your Voice can sometimes be more difficult to distinguish in the chaos. Whether it’s to spend time with Scripture or simply to pray in silence for guidance, that respite from the auditory onslaught can become a powerful, spiritual time. “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10)
Songs of Praise
Music has a way of reaching into us and touching places that few other things in our lives can. One of the best tools I’ve found for helping to keep my focus on You is listening to the positive and encouraging messages contained in Contemporary Christian Music. Be it listening in the car on my way to work, playing it in the background while making dinner, or streaming it from my iPod while mowing the lawn, today’s talented Christian artists bring the Joy of Christ to my heart every time I listen. “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.” (Psalm 40:3)
Scriptural Mortar
Without question Father, the Bible is the most important book ever written. Through Your Divine Inspiration to those penmen, You’ve Blessed us with the ultimate “Instruction Manual” for our journey while here on Earth. It contains a treasure trove of wisdom, encouragement and rules to live our lives by so as to grow in Your Kingdom. One of the most powerful and compelling ways to nourish our Faith and bring our Walk closer to Christ, is to spend time absorbing Your Word and praying on It’s messages. “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
Fellowship
One of our best sources of encouragement, enlightenment and inspiration can be found in the interactions we have with our fellow Christians. Whether it’s spending time together in worship and study at Church, or conversing with other Believers across the globe via the Internet, the support and assistance of Your Followers are wonderful resources to help steady us in our spiritual journey. “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your continued and faithful Presence in our lives each day. Please help focus our hearts to best receive You, and to support others in their Walk as well. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, and strengthen our resolve to live for Your Kingdom instead of focusing on the chaos around us. Amen.
And once again Lord, we stand at the conclusion to yet another work-week. The weekend ahead is poised to be a busy one, but one where much of our time will be spent in the company of good friends and family, so I’m very much looking forward to it. You’ve Blessed us immeasurably through the souls You’ve brought into our lives, and we relish these times with them.
On my way in to work this morning, I was listening to the local Contemporary Christian radio station when a song came on that I hadn’t heard before. As the music played I found myself inspired by the lyrics, so when I reached the office I spent some time researching the song’s origins. As it turns out, although I hadn’t heard it before the song was part of an album released in 2005 by Paul Colman called “Let it Go”, and is entitled “The One Thing”.
What a great song.
But the one thing I don’t question is You
You really love me like You say You do
We question so many things in our lives Lord, but as long as we cling firmly to the knowledge that You love us unconditionally, all those other concerns pale in importance. 🙂
Heavenly Father, I thank You for the Blessings You’ve bestowed on us this past week. Please continue to guide our motivations and actions to best glorify Your Will, and stir us to act as Your Hands and Feet so that all those around us can’t help but see Your Love. Amen.
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.
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. 
