Jan 4, 2012
Posted by PhatherPhil on Jan 4, 2012 | 6 comments
Dear Lord; Happy Wednesday Father!
This morning Lord, I spent some time chatting online with a friend regarding some trials she and her family were going through. We were discussing the importance of remaining open to finding Your assistance in unexpected places, and a story I’d heard some time ago came to mind…
There was a man whose farm was located on the banks of a flood-swollen river. As the water rose, a neighbor drove up in a Jeep, urging him to leave before the farm was flooded. “Oh, no,” said the man confidently, “God will save me.”
The water rose higher, and the man was forced to move into the second story of the farmhouse. A police boat soon came, and the officers called for the man to hurry and get into their boat.
“Oh, no, that won’t be necessary,” the man insisted. “God will save me.”
Finally the house was completely engulfed in water, and a Coast Guard helicopter swooped in to rescue the man, now perched on the roof. Again he refused. Just then, a huge wave of water swept over the house, and the man drowned.
When he got to Heaven, he stormed at the Lord, asking WHY God had let him die when his faith had been so strong.
“What do you mean?” asked the heavenly Father. “I sent a Jeep, a boat, and a helicopter … and you wouldn’t budge!”
When I look at some of the most powerful Blessings You’ve brought into my life Father, a good many of them came about in ways that I never would have expected.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV)
Help us Lord…
To realize Your Blessings don’t always present themselves as we expect,
To recognize Your gifts when You place them in our path,
And to suspend our disbelief, accepting Your aid when it’s offered…
To let go, and let God.
In Jesus’ Name we pray,
Amen.
~Phather Phil
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Dec 29, 2011
Posted by PhatherPhil on Dec 29, 2011 | 11 comments
Dear Lord; Happy Thankful Thursday Father!
Today Father, we come to the final Thankful Thursday edition of PhatherPhil.org for this calendar year. When I began this recurring post 31 weeks ago (whew!), I honestly never expected the profound impact it would have on me, or that it would draw me so much closer to You in the process.
As I sit down each week to write out my list Lord, my mind drifts back over the past seven days; revisiting those moments that left their marks on my heart. What I’ve found in doing so Father, is that even in those situations where things don’t seem to go my way, when I look closely enough, Your Blessings pour out nonetheless. That little shift in vision Lord, has been a major Blessing all by itself. I still have struggles and times that tax my strength, but when I look through my “Thankful Thursday Goggles”, I’m much more able to place those moments in their proper light. It’s been an eye-opening experience so far Lord, and I can’t wait to see what Blessings You’ll reveal to me in the coming year.
Therefore Father, to close out the year on a joyful note, this past week I’ve been especially grateful for:
466. Time spent alone with Shannon last Friday afternoon and evening.
467. Google Music which allows me to listen to my music on all my devices, anywhere, at any time.
468. The pain relief provided by our heating pad last night.
469. Hickory Farms New York Cheddar Spread (Used to be called Chutter).
470. That when my stubbornness blinds me to common sense, my wonderful wife Shannon “nudges” me back on track.
471. The Living Water that satisfies my spiritual thirst.
472. Having three days off over Christmas spent with those I love.
473. A beautiful candlelight Christmas Eve service at Ewell’s-St. Paul UMC.
474. Andes Mint Cookies.
475. Sharing the celebration of Jesus’ birth with friends.
476. An inspiring guest post on Tuesday by Jean Wise from Healthy Spirituality.
477. That the stabbing pains I had in my lower back yesterday have settled down today.
478. Seeing the expressions of wonder and joy on my children’s faces Christmas morning.
479. The opportunity to support other local ministries.
480. The trust of a good friend.
Heavenly Father,
We thank You Lord, for gracing us with such a multitude of Blessings this past year. As we start anew in 2012, please clear our eyes to reveal Your gifts in all circumstances; both those that lift our hearts in song, and those in which Your Blessings may be masked within our trials.
In Jesus’ Name we pray,
Amen.
~Phather Phil
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Dec 23, 2011
Posted by PhatherPhil on Dec 23, 2011 | 8 comments
Dear Lord; Happy Thankful… Friday?
Well Father, as You’re no doubt aware I didn’t manage to get my Thankful Thursday post out yesterday afternoon. Instead however, of going into the Christmas weekend without listing out some of Your many Blessings in my life, I decided to make this “Thankful Friday”. 🙂
As we focus our hearts on celebrating the miracle of Christ’s birth Father, it seems only fitting to mark the beginning of this weekend by giving thanks; thanks for the daily Blessings You grace our lives with, and thanks for that Greatest of Gifts that Blessed our world so many years ago.
On that note Lord, this past week I’ve been especially grateful for:
451. The inspiring and entertaining selection of Christmas Music that’s been playing on 88.7 The Bridge this season.
452. The official release to the world of the new Ewell’s-St. Paul UMC website.
453. A fun dinner out last night with Shannon and Aidan.
454. A lovely array of Christmas Lights that brighten my drive home from the office each evening.
455. Free overnight shipping from Amazon.com. 🙂
456. That Jonathan doesn’t see brokenness, flaws, or differences in other children, just opportunities for new friends.
457. That Jonathan had a wonderful sleepover birthday party last Friday night.
458. The Light of a Star leading my heart to His manger.
459. A wonderful Chick-Fil-A lunch bought for our office by a good friend.
460. Being asked to write a guest post for a friend’s wonderful blog next month.
461. A wonderful afternoon with friends celebrating their foster son’s birthday.
462. The healing power of a good laugh.
463. Simple beginnings.
464. A fun night of fellowship with our Tuesday night Small Group.
465. The most important Christmas Gift even given; the birth of our Savior.
Heavenly Father,
We thank You Lord, for the multitude of Blessings You grace us with each day; both those that shine high in the Heavens, guiding us to a manger, and those that whisper Your love for us gently on the evening breeze.
In Jesus’ Name we pray,
Amen.
~Phather Phil
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Dec 19, 2011
Posted by PhatherPhil on Dec 19, 2011 | 5 comments
Dear Lord; Happy Meditations Monday Father!
Well Father, once again You’ve Blessed my family and I with a lovely weekend. Jonathan’s sleepover birthday party Friday night was a marked success, and the boys all seemed to have a wonderful time. Once all the “overnighters” had been picked up by their well-rested parents (smiles), we packed up and headed out to spend the rest of the day at the home of some truly wonderful extended family (eg. Good friends) celebrating the birthday of their foster son. It was a lovely visit, filled with laughter and love, and we were very Blessed to be a part of it. Sunday morning began with an inspiring church service including a powerful message from Pastor Kris, with the remaining part of the day divided between cooking, catching up on homework and housework, and just enjoying the company of one another. All in all Lord, it was an absolutely wonderful weekend, and I thank You for faithfully providing these times of joy and respite to us.
When I thought and prayed about what passage in Scripture to select for this Meditations Monday post Father, one immediately sprang to my heart:
“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” – Luke 2:1-7 (ESV)
As I read this passage in Luke Father, I was struck by the simplicity in which this miraculous event was described;
No fanfare…
No ceremonies…
No royal proclamations…
No pretense of any kind.
Such a transformational moment in our world Father, ushered in by the most humble of circumstances.
As I look around this Christmas Season Lord, it’s blatantly apparent our world today exists in stark contrast to that Silent Night so long ago. We fill these weeks each year with lights, and parties, and shopping, and decorating, and yet, in that defining moment some two thousand years ago…
Our world was forever changed, from the simplest of beginnings.
No lighting displays, no flying reindeer, no sugarplum faries…
Just a miracle, in a lowly manger, sent to save the world.
Amen.
~Phather Phil
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Dec 15, 2011
Posted by PhatherPhil on Dec 15, 2011 | 7 comments
Dear Lord; Happy Thankful Thursday Father!
Grumble, grumble, grumble…
This Father, was the response (the nicer version of it anyways) that greeted me upon trying to wake my “just turned twelve” son Jonathan this morning. Now, he’s always been a little sluggish getting moving in the morning, but last night he ended up staying awake far later than usual to try and finish some homework, and this morning when I tried to get him up for school…
Arguments…
Attitude…
And Grumbling.
After much cajoling, some veiled threats of consequences, and yes, some “raised voices” (smiles), he finally got up and begrudgingly got ready for school.
Later in the day as I mulled over the morning’s epic struggle, it dawned on me that I’d been guilty of similar offenses this week as well…
I’ve grumbled to You Lord, more than once.
Money is exceptionally tight this year… grumble, grumble, grumble
I haven’t had a full night’s sleep in what seems like forever… grumble, grumble, grumble
The dogs just won’t stop barking… grumble, grumble, grumble
I never seem to have time to do the things I want to do… grumble, grumble, grumble
And yet Father, in the midst of all my grumbling, You’ve stayed by my side; encouraging me, comforting me, and faithfully guiding me through each and every storm.
And You’ve never grumbled about it.
Thank you Lord, for setting that example. 🙂
Now Father, as opposed to grumbling (smiles again), I’d like to present You with this week’s Thankful Thursday list! Even though this past week has certainly provided more than a few challenges for me Lord, I’ve still found myself surrounded by signs of Your gracious love. And while I’m thankful for all of the wonderful gifts You’ve Blessed my life with Father, this week I’m especially grateful for:
436. A fun, silly dinner at Friendly’s to celebrate Jonathan’s birthday.
437. Those guiding whispers to my heart when I’m about to say something I shouldn’t.
438. That our Tuesday night Small Group has connected in such a powerful way that we all feel comfortable coming to one another in times of need.
439. Twelve years of having Jonathan in our lives.
440. That the new Ewell’s – St. Paul UMC website is nearly completed. 🙂
441. Chocolate and peanut butter oreo balls.
442. The divine gift of marriage, and Blessing me with the call to join two people in Your love.
443. A significant savings on gasoline through a local grocery store discount program.
444. That when my limited understanding obscures my needs, Your Spirit knows all the same.
445. Christmas cookies.
446. That in my weakness, Your grace strengthens and emboldens me.
447. That one way or another Lord, You always deliver on Your promises.
448. An exceptional friend that knew I needed a break, and stepped in without asking to help.
449. Guiding messages from my Heavenly Father that help steer me through difficulties.
450. The “Road Signs” in Your Word that help to guide my life.
Heavenly Father,
We thank You Lord, for the multitude of Blessings You surround us with each day; both those that light up the sky with Your brilliance, and those gifts that grace our lives quietly from the shadows…
Even when we grumble.
In Jesus’ Name we pray,
Amen.
~Phather Phil
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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. 
