On Track

Dear Lord; Happy Monday Father!

Well Father, it certainly was an eventful weekend once again in the Malmstrom home.  It seemed we were all running constantly, but in the end it was a wonderful time spent with those I love, and I have much to be thankful for.

Friday night, we began the evening by attending Jonathan’s music presentation at school.  He’s been learning to play the clarinet this year, and he did a fantastic job playing for the parents (no goose noises… yay!).  He may look like my little “clone” Father, but thank You so much for slipping his mother’s music DNA in there somewhere.  🙂  Following the short concert, we took the boys over to their Godparents’ house for an overnight visit and Shannon and I headed out to an 80’s party being thrown by some good friends of ours.  We had a grand time hanging out around a huge campfire, listening to 1980’s “hair band” music, having some food and a few drinks and laughing into the morning hours.  It was a lovely way to end a hectic week Lord, and I thank You for that stress relief.

After sleeping in a bit the next morning, we went and picked up the kids (who had a great night as well), and headed out to Port Mahon for some photo opportunities, and to scour the shoreline for bits of sea glass.  We were able to time it this trip so that we got there as the tide was beginning to go out, leaving fresh bounty upon the sands.  As you remake us each day Father, so do the tides remake the landscape revealing new wonders for us to find… Such a treasure hunt!

On the way back home, we stopped to handle the grocery shopping for the week, and then the boys and I crashed on the CuddleBags for the new Doctor Who episodes.  All in all, it was a wonderful day with the family Lord, and I thank You for that time together.

Sunday morning, Jonathan and I got up early and headed out to attend the Contemporary Worship Service at Ewell’s St. Paul’s UMC in nearby Clayton.  Through a friend of mine who’s heavily involved in the church there, I’d met with Pastor Kris for lunch a little over a week ago, and was invited to visit one of the services to see if Ewell’s might be a good fit for us.  The service was wonderful, the congregation was warm and friendly, and the message was delivered beautifully.

We’re planning to attend next Sunday as well.  🙂

As you know Father, we’ve been on the hunt for a spiritual home for some time now, and I think we may have found it there.  Thank You so much for leading us to this place, and to these people.

This service also marked something that brought tears to my eyes Lord… Jonathan’s first taking of Holy Communion.  It was a powerful moment, and as I knelt at the altar following the Sacrament I felt Your Presence wash over me, knowing somehow, that You were pleased.

Following the service, we headed home and after a hearty breakfast the boys and I headed out for a hike down some new trails in Blackbird State Forest.  We’d looked at some satellite maps and realized that the forest was cut through by a local railway line, so we decided our goal that day was to find those tracks.  After a mile or so, the forest opened out onto the railway we sought, and I was able to get this shot of my fellow adventurers:

I love this shot Lord, cheesy smiles and all.

The rest of the day was spent in catching up on housework that had piled up since the BBQ the previous weekend; laundry, dishes, cleaning, etc.  It was a wonderfully satisfying and productive Sunday Father, and one I won’t soon forget.

Did I remember to say thank You?  🙂

Heavenly Father, I thank You for all the Blessings You continue to bestow on us all.  In Your grace we are redeemed and made whole, and I praise You for that most wondrous of gifts we can never hope to repay.  Please guide us to decisions and actions that best glorify Your Will, and help us grow in Your Kingdom each day.  Amen.

~Phather Phil

The Final Project

Dear Lord; Happy Friday Father!

To close our week’s conversations Lord, I thought I’d share a smile with You.

The school that Jonathan attends uses a project-based approach to learning, which includes a number of long-term research projects over the course of the year.  For the last project this year, they allowed the students to pick their own topic of interest to research, and along with a paper on the subject they had to present a visual to the class as well.  Jonathan chose the Newsboys as his topic, and for a visual he and I whipped up a multimedia presentation for him to show on the SmartBoard.  As this isn’t a Christian school, I was pleasantly surprised that they didn’t argue with the content choice, and will be very interested to hear how it’s received by his classmates.

Either way, I thought I’d share the results of his efforts with You today:

I love seeing him excited about all aspects of worshiping You Father, and this just brought a smile to my heart.  🙂

Father God, I lift my heart in praise for Your Presence in my life each day.  You Bless us in so many ways Lord, and I pray that I’m effective in sharing that Hope and Peace with all those around me.  Amen.

~Phather Phil

Thankful Thursday: A Roller Coaster Week

Dear Lord; Happy Thankful Thursday Father!

And once again Lord, we come to one of my favorite conversations of the week; the Thankful Thursday list!  As you know Father, this has been an exceptionally eventful week for us; filled with both cause for joyful celebration, as well as news of a disheartening loss.  However through it all Father, I’ve felt Your Divine Presence in abundance and have much to be thankful for.

Therefore Lord, my list for the week is:

31. Jonathan being off chemotherapy for 10 years as of this month.

32. Warmer, sunny days.

33. Air conditioning for those warmer, sunny days.

34. New friends.

35. Cheesesteak pizza.

36. A glass of Pinot Noir to go with that pizza. 🙂

37. Hidden Treasure in the basement.

38. Being perfectly loved by my Creator, even as imperfect as I am.

39. Inspiring Contemporary Christian music that uplifts me throughout the day.

40. My blood pressure medication.

41. Gas prices coming back down a little bit.

42. A job commitment for Shannon at the boys’ school next year.

43. Good friends coming to visit over the Memorial Day Weekend.

44. New episodes of Doctor Who on BBC America.

45. Daily guidance from my Heavenly Father.

Heavenly Father, as always, I thank You for continuing to be ever-faithful, and filling our lives with such a multitude of Blessings each day.  I pray for Your continued guidance in making choices that best glorify Your Will, and for Your aid in sharing Your Light with those around me.  Amen.

~Phather Phil

Hidden Treasure

Dear Lord; Happy Wednesday Father!

You know Father, I love the surprise Blessings and little bits of insight You present me with…

Last week, Shannon and I were digging through our basement in search of items to sell at the community yard sale, when we came across a box we hadn’t seen before.  It really didn’t shock me that there were boxes we hadn’t opened down there, as after my mother and grandfather passed away, the contents of both houses were packed up and split between my brother Chris and I.  Shortly thereafter, Shannon and I moved and the untouched containers moved as well.

Anyways, we opened the box and were presented with a number of items which had obviously come from my grandfather’s house.  At first glance, there didn’t seem to be anything of specific note, until we found a small cloth bag nestled in with some old silverware.  Inside the bag we found around 25 pieces of broken, tarnished spoons and forks lovingly wrapped and put aside.  The patterns and styles of the pieces were varied, they were worn and damaged, and none of them seemed to fit together in any way but for some reason they had been segregated from the rest and carefully put aside all the same.  As we looked over them in greater detail, we realized that they all had one thing in common; they were all marked “Sterling”.

A quick Internet lookup confirmed our suspicion; those broken, worn, tarnished pieces were hidden treasure.  🙂

Early this week I made some phone calls, and found a local metals dealer who gave us an excellent price for the pieces.  As this has been a financially difficult year, this was a truly amazing Blessing to us and came at the perfect time.

Then tonight Father, I realized the parallel in this story…

By ourselves we’re broken, and tarnished, and damaged and yet, through Your Grace we’re made precious, and wanted and valuable.  Like my grandfather did with those unwanted spoons, You see beyond our outward appearance and brokenness and nurture the hidden treasures inside us.

Heavenly Father, I thank You for the Blessings You Grace us with each day.  Although we are truly undeserving, through Your Mercy we’re drawn into Your Embrace and made whole.  I pray that, even if only for a moment, we’re able to see ourselves through Your Eyes and find that Hidden Treasure that You have placed inside each of us.  Amen.

~Phather Phil

In Your Loving Arms

Dear Lord; Happy Monday Father!

Today Father, my heart grieves for the mother of one of Your Children who lost his battle with cancer yesterday, and has left us to join You in Your Kingdom.  His earthly trials are over Lord, and he triumphs in Your Presence, and for that my heart rejoices.  His mother, family and friends however have a piece missing from their lives that will mourn his passing nonetheless.  I pray for Your Healing and Comfort to all those missing Dorian’s light today Father, and ask that You keep them in Your Loving Arms so they may know the joy he’s experiencing with You now.

Searching for words of comfort Lord, I came across a poetic prayer written by Edgar A. Guest that touched my heart so deeply that I wanted to share it here:

A Child of Mine by Edgar A. Guest

“I’ll lend you for a little while
A child of mine,” God said,
“For you to have the while he lives,
And mourn for when he’s dead.

It may be six or seven years
Or twenty-two or three;
But will you ’till I call him back
Take care of him for me?

He’ll bring his charms to gladden you
And, should his stay be brief,
You’ll have his lovely memories
As a solace for your grief.

I cannot promise he will stay,
Since all from earth return;
But there are lessons taught below
I want this child to learn.

I’ve looked the whole world over
In search for teachers true;
And from the throngs that crowd life’s land,
I have chosen you.

Now, will you give him all your love
Nor think the labor vain?
Nor hate me when I come to take
This lent child back again?”

I fancied that I heard them say:
“Dear Lord, Thy will be done.
For all the joys Thy child will bring
The risk of grief we’ll run.

We’ll shower him with tenderness,
We’ll love him while we may.
And for the happiness we’ve known
Forever grateful stay.

But should Thy angel call for him
Much sooner than we’ve planned,
We’ll brave the bitter grief that comes
And try to understand.”

Amen.

~Phather Phil

P.S. For those who haven’t been following Dorian’s struggle, his mother has a page at CaringBridge.org which can be found here.