Well Father, tonight begins the start of a 3-day holiday weekend in observance of Independence Day here in the United States. Over these next few days, we celebrate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence which declared this country’s freedom from the control of the Kingdom of Great Britain. Thinking about the freedoms we enjoy on the drive into work this morning, it dawned on me that while celebrating our liberties this weekend, we should also be giving thanks for our most important freedom of all…
The freedom from sin You gave us through Your Son, Jesus Christ.
Your Word clearly shows us that although we are all besieged with sinful natures, if we confess and repent of our sins, and turn to You through Christ, we can be freed from the bondage that sin tries to hold us in.
“Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.” – 1 John 3:4-6 (NIV)
“But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.” – Romans 6:17-18 (NIV)
We have so many freedoms in this country that we should all be truly thankful for Father. And as I contemplate and celebrate those things which set our nation apart, I’ll also be giving thanks and praise for the greatest gift of freedom ever given; the freedom Jesus paid for on the Cross.
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.
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.
Over the last few years Lord, I’ve been “hearing” more and more from You in my daily life and I have to tell You, it’s been a transformational change for me. While I know through Scripture and Faith that You’ve always been with me and always will be, as my Walk has progressed and I’ve learned to “listen” more carefully, I find Your Voice in almost every part of my day.
You speak to me through…
The wave of comfort and peace I get when I reach out to You in prayer.
The quick inner “watch it!” scolding I get after doing something that isn’t in line with Christ’s teachings (eg. Letting loose a nasty comment when someone cuts me off in traffic).
The warm feeling that crosses my heart when I see my children do things that Glorify You.
The quiet urgings I receive each day to step “outside my box”.
The song that plays on the local Christian radio station which delivers a message I need to hear, exactly when I need to hear it.
Feeling Your Presence whisper through the trees when I take long walks in the forest.
The “Spiritual Nudges” you give me to reach out and share Your Love.
And many others…
Heavenly Father, You speak to me in so many wonderful ways and I delight in continuing to discover new ones. As our steps grow closer, I pray that I’m able to hear Your Voice above all other sounds and make decisions that Glorify the Blessings You bestow on me.
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” – John 10:27 (NIV)
And once again Lord, we come to the “Thankful Thursday” post at PhatherPhil.org. You know, I find it fascinating that all throughout the week I have no problem finding things to be thankful for, but when I sit down each Thursday to write my list… writers block! I remember them eventually, but I don’t want to risk missing any that come to me “on the fly”. Therefore, I’m going to start making a concerted effort to actually write them down as I experience them, instead of simply trusting my cluttered memory stores. 🙂
75. A marriage Blessed by understanding, respect, love and trust.
(And Father, #75 is and has been one of Your BIGGEST Blessings in my life by far. 🙂 )
Heavenly Father, Your Blessings in our lives each day are truly never-ending. You lift us up, comfort and encourage us, and teach us those lessons You know we need to grow in Your Kingdom. Please guide and strengthen us to make good choices, and to always seek Your Will above all else. 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. 
