Jan 3, 2011
Posted by PhatherPhil on Jan 3, 2011 | 8 comments
Dear Lord; Well Father, the New Year is certainly upon us. However, instead of talking about new beginnings today, I want to go over last weekend if I may. As we’ve discussed at length, 2010 was in many ways an amazingly difficult year for myself and my family. Well, as of Friday morning I had yet one more potentially serious business nightmare crop up to finish off my year, and I’m afraid I crumbled. It was the proverbial last straw on the camel’s back, and I spent the bulk of my day sitting quietly in our bedroom, avoiding the world. I tried for quite some time to speak with You Lord, but I just couldn’t seem to let go of the troubles in my heart and open up that line of communication. I felt lost, and beaten, and angry, and alone.
I was of course none of those things, but at the time I couldn’t see past my own turmoil to realize it. Once again, You intervened through others to bring me back. Shannon and I were to attend a New Years Eve party that night, and although I was holding onto my pain she convinced me to keep our plans all the same. It ended up being just what was needed to get me out of the self-induced shell I was hiding in. The evening was spent surrounded by a fun group of friends, and I was able to finally release the hold that fear had placed on my heart.
The rest of the weekend continued on an upwards trend, and by Sunday afternoon I was back to my old self once again. I was able to start the week today with a positive direction, and a joyous heart knowing that as always, You were there to see me through, even when I wasn’t paying attention.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9
Thank You Father, for always being there to guide and help us even when our own frailties make us blind to Your Presence. Amen.
~Phather Phil
Dec 27, 2010
Posted by PhatherPhil on Dec 27, 2010 | 6 comments
Dear Lord; Good morning Father! Well, we’ve certainly started the week off with a blustery and snowy morning. Here in middle Delaware at least, the snow came down all day yesterday and into the evening, leaving a cleansing white coating on the ground. While it’s a travel impediment, I’ve always loved the way snow seems to purify everything and leaves the Earth feeling new, although I’m sure I’ll be a lot less enthralled clearing the driveway later on today when the wind settles down :-). Either way, I pray that all those forced to venture out into these conditions will feel You by their side, and get to their destinations safely.
I also wanted to thank You for a lovely Christmas weekend Father. From the wonderful Children’s Christmas Eve Service at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Friday night, to the time spent with my loving family on Christmas Day it was a joyous time and will inspire happy memories for quite some time to come. We are indeed Blessed, and I thank You from the bottom of my heart.
Searching for inspiration on this wintery Monday morning Lord, I came across a prayer that just hit home with me and therefore I’d like to finish our chat with it. It’s called “The Prayer of Saint Francis” and reads :
“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.”
~Phather Phil
Dec 23, 2010
Posted by PhatherPhil on Dec 23, 2010 | 6 comments
Dear Lord; First off Father, I want to follow up on our conversation yesterday. Last evening, I went to the local mall to pick up a couple of odds-and-ends. I was pleasantly surprised to see a significantly better perspective from the shoppers and vendors. I got smiles, Lord… Lots of them. And when I wished people there a Merry and Blessed Christmas, I got happy faces and well-wishes in return. Thank You for allowing me to witness those signs of Your Joy. It helped my spirits immensely.
Today Lord, my heart is already yearning towards the next couple of days. Work still holds many stresses for me, money is still extremely short and Shannon and I are still recovering from the bug that hit us last weekend, but the Light of the Blessed Event to come is overwhelming all of that. I’m very much looking forward to spending quite a bit of “quality time” with You over the next couple of days, and helping spread the Love and Hope the Birth of Your Son brought to us all. Please help me be an effective emissary of Your Word, and to bring Christ’s Message to as many others as possible.
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
Amen. ~Phather Phil
Dec 22, 2010
Posted by PhatherPhil on Dec 22, 2010 | 10 comments
Dear Lord; Good morning Father! Today Lord, I’d like to talk about an experience I had last night which made quite an impact on me… I went to the Super Wal*Mart.
I only needed a few items; Some food for dinner, and I wanted to pick up a couple Christmas gifts for the kids so I thought it would be a quick and easy trip. It was around 4:20pm, so I expected to avoid the truly heavy “after-work” traffic and in fact the parking lot was busy, but not as packed as I’ve seen before. I grabbed a cart, went inside, looked around at the hustle and bustle and almost immediately it hit me… No one was smiling.
Not the customers, not the cashiers, not the stock people, no one in eyesight had a smile on their faces. I’m not sure why it hit me so quickly, or affected me so significantly but the whole building suddenly seemed very cold and uninviting. Now, it wasn’t Wal*Mart itself. It’s certainly not my favorite place to shop, but I absolutely have nothing against it either. This was just an overall feeling being given off that pervaded the entire premises. And as I spent the next 45 minutes gathering what I came for, it only became more apparent to me that the people here simply were not happy. Even attempts to garner some positive responses from others in the store failed. I made eye contact, smiled and nodded to countless patrons, and yet all but one ignored my actions completely. In the end, I paid for my items and left the store feeling almost distraught at the overwhelming level of despair I had just witnessed. It hung with me for some of the evening, until I got some quiet time to contemplate and pray for guidance. That helped calm my spirit, but the experience still lingers in my mind.
So Father, this morning my heart is crying out to You for help. You’ve done so much for us, and yet there are so many who just can’t see past their earthly worries enough to bear witness to Your Glorious Works. Please fill these lost souls with Your Endless Love; Make it grow and spread so that Your Light shines like a beacon for all around to behold. Help me be an emissary for Your Word, and spread the Love of Christ and the Miracle of His Birth on to all those I possibly can. Amen. ~Phather Phil
Nov 29, 2010
Posted by PhatherPhil on Nov 29, 2010 | 6 comments
Dear Lord; Good morning Father! To start off with, I want to Thank You for a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend with my family and friends. It never ceases to amaze me that when I focus on the blessings in my life, how truly rich I feel. Thank You for that.
This morning however, I’ve been having a difficult time getting motivated Lord. Maybe it’s just the “coming down” effect following a four-day weekend, but I started the day feeling a little rough. After a little searching for inspiration though, I found Psalm 18:32-36 :
It is God who arms me with strength
and keeps my way secure.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he causes me to stand on the heights.
He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You make your saving help my shield,
and your right hand sustains me;
your help has made me great.
You provide a broad path for my feet,
so that my ankles do not give way.
I love this one… I know that no matter what Lord, You are my strength, my heart, and my salvation and you never leave my side, and this Psalm describes that perfectly for me. While I know this week is going to be filled with personal difficulties, I can approach it knowing You’re there for me. May everyone that’s dealing with fear, uncertainty or personal turmoil feel Your Loving Presence, and know that all Your Children are Blessed with Your Grace. Amen. ~Phather Phil
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. 
