Sep 28, 2011
Posted by PhatherPhil on Sep 28, 2011 | 16 comments
Dear Lord; Happy Wednesday Father!
Well Father, today marks a milestone for PhatherPhil.org. This post is the 300th “email to God” that I’ve shared with the world. It’s been a wonderful journey so far Lord, and I feel truly Blessed to have been guided down this path with You.
Along with strengthening my bond to You Father, this site has also brought another wonderful and unexpected Blessing to my life as well; it’s connected me to an Internet fellowship of believers, many of which I’ve come to regard as valued friends. Without their daily encouragement, postings on their blogs that teach and inspire their readers, and their kind thoughts and prayers, PhatherPhil.org would not have come this far. Therefore, to celebrate this happy event Father, I’d like to give thanks to some of these wonderful people.
Jenifer at “~Sweet Blessings~” : Jenifer; you’re a wonderfully sweet and tender soul; a true Child of God in every way. Your posts each day bring a smile to my face, and never fail to inspire me. Thank you.
Lisa at “A Moment With God” : Lisa; I’ve learned so much from your posts, and from your friendship. You find messages in Scripture that make me reach deeper, and I’m Blessed each day by your efforts. Thank you.
Jean at “Healthy Spirituality” : Jean; Reading your site dear lady, I often feel as though I’m sitting quietly with you having coffee. Your beautiful spirit comes through in every post, and you raise questions that expand my mind, and make my heart reach for truth. Thank you.
Allison at “Beautiful in Him” : Allison; Your energy for the Lord is infectious! Your posts expose a beautifully vibrant heart, and your love of Christ shows through in every article. You’ve inspired me in many ways through your writing and your service to others, and for that I thank you.
Kelli and Heidi at “Mothers On Mission” : Ladies; Although your site is geared towards women, I’ve gained so much inspirations from reading your posts. And even though I’m not your “target reader” 🙂 , you’ve always encouraged me and kindly included me in the discussions. Thank you.
Eileen at “The Scenic Route” : Eileen; I think Eileen, you’re one of the most insightful people I’ve had the pleasure of knowing. You see God’s messages in everyday life with wondrous clarity, and relay them to your readers in eloquent fashion. You have a beautiful heart, and I thank you for sharing it with us.
Mandy at “Growing with God” : Mandy; I’ve very much enjoyed watching your Walk with the Lord grow closer in your posts. You’ve seen through the clouds of trial, and have emerged into His light. Thank you for sharing your journey with us.
Alida at “Blackpurl’s Knitpickings… An Expat Journal” : Alida; Through your photos, your postings and your comments here, I’ve gained wonderful insight into what it means to truly spend your life in God’s service. I seldom leave your site without a smile, and thank you for Blessing us with your work.
Kandi at “Get Out of the Boat” : Kandi; Your words are so transparently lovely Kandi… You bring your heart to every post, and I truly believe God smiles when you’re writing. Thank you for letting us peek in on your kind spirit, and for sharing your Walk with us.
Elaine at “Peace for the Journey” : Elaine; You have a stalwart energy, and a thirst for knowing Christ’s heart that I rarely see. Your writing is simply elegant, and I’ve gained much perspective and inspiration in sharing your journey this past year. Thank you.
Debra at “Pure and Simple” : Debra; You have a purity to your writing Debra, which I feel makes God’s presence shine in your postings. Your tender heart is always apparent, but is aligned closely with a wisdom that educates and inspires as well. Thank you.
Christopher at “The Happy Seeker” : Christopher; My dear friend, I feel a remarkable connection between us, even though we’ve never actually met. You have a beautiful energy that you share with your readers, and you bring that presence to everything you write. “Meeting” you has truly been a Blessing. Thank you.
And there are so many more Father… Blessed souls, all of them.
Heavenly Father,
Thank you Lord, for connecting me with such a wonderful fellowship of believers, and for Blessing this ministry as You have. I look forward to many, many more conversations. 🙂
In Jesus’ Name we pray,
Amen.
~Phather Phil
Sep 22, 2011
Posted by PhatherPhil on Sep 22, 2011 | 20 comments
Dear Lord; Happy Thankful Thursday Father!
Well Father, as You know this has been a complicated week for my family and I. As I mentioned on Monday, the respiratory infection I contracted last week blossomed and it’s been beating my body up quite significantly. And although I’m very much still under this bug’s influence, I’m thankful that it seems to at least be getting a little better. Nonetheless, the true Blessing in all of this has been the amazing amount of support I’ve received from family and friends. Be it through prayer, dropping off of medicine, checking in on me, or just expressing concern, I’ve seen examples of Your presence throughout. I am truly Blessed Father, and I thank You for connecting me with each and every one of these kind people.
And now, on to this week’s list! This week Lord, I’ve been particularly thankful for:
271. The kind, caring people who reached out to me while I’ve been ill.
272. Being Spiritually Healthy.
273. Zithromax.
274. Blueberry Tea.
275. Having the “Torchwood” TV series on my media server for entertainment while laying in bed.
276. Officially becoming members of Ewell’s St. Paul UMC last Sunday.
277. A warm dog on the foot of the bed to keep me company.
278. A wonderful day spent relaxing, cooking and chatting with good friends.
279. A wonderful wife who’s picked up my slack and let me rest this week.
280. Banana Cake.
281. Inspiration from unusual places.
282. My staff providing me the quiet to take a short nap on my couch in the office yesterday.
283. A friend with an excess of nebulizer supplies.
284. The “Scrabble” application for my Android tablet that’s kept me from going stir crazy while resting.
285. New opportunities to spread Your light to others.
So many Blessings Father…
Heavenly Father,
We thank You Lord, for all those Blessings You bestow on us each day; both those that light up the Heavens, and those that grace us quietly without fanfare. For while our situations here on earth may change, Your bountiful mercies in our lives remain constant. We are truly Blessed.
In Jesus’ Name we pray,
Amen.
~Phather Phil
Sep 15, 2011
Posted by PhatherPhil on Sep 15, 2011 | 13 comments
Dear Lord; Happy Thankful Thursday Father!
Well Lord, once again we arrive at the Thankful Thursday edition of PhatherPhil.org. In addition to posting my usual list of 15 things I’m particularly grateful for this week, I also want to pay special notice to one in particular.
Last night was not one of my more restful evenings Father. Yesterday afternoon, I started feeling the tell-tale signs of increased sinus pressure and drainage, and some accompanying stomach discomfort. I increased my fluids and tried to push through it, but as of 3:30 this morning my head felt like it was in a vice and my whole body ached. I was awake, and uncomfortable, and exhausted, and grumpy… Not a good combination. I tried lying quietly in the bed, focusing on the stillness around me, but the thumping in my head readily thwarted my efforts. By that point, my frustration level was elevated and I resigned myself to the thought that I’d had all the sleep I was getting for the night.
“Rest in God’s Word.” drifted through my mind.
I’ll be honest Father, in the shape I was in at that wee hour of the morning the thought of focusing on Scripture (or on anything else for that matter) wasn’t particularly appealing. Nonetheless, I decided to trust the “urgings” and do some reading. I grabbed my Nook Color off the nightstand, fired up YouVersion and picked up where I’d left off earlier in the day in 1st Kings. I’d read three chapters or so when I realized…
The thumping in my head had stopped…
My nerves had quieted…
And I was feeling tired again.
I shut of the Nook, and lay back down. I’m not sure exactly how quickly I fell asleep Father, but it certainly didn’t take long. And while I didn’t have long before the morning alarm broke the silence and jolted me into the day, it was sleep I would not have had otherwise. Therefore Father, I want to give special thanks for #265 on today’s list. 🙂
Continuing from where I left off last week Lord, this week I’m especially grateful for:
256. Our cat curled up on my chest, purring softly.
257. A strong cold front coming through bringing with it mid-60s temps for the weekend.
258. Allergy medication.
259. Unexpected opportunities.
260. Discerning Your whispers in the noise.
261. Courteous, responsive customer service at the online pharmacy I use.
262. The opportunity to host an upcoming Small Group Bible Study in our home.
263. Free stock photo sites from which I can pull images for my blogs.
264. Finding three pairs of jeans in my size at the local JC Penney, and on sale.
265. That on those nights when I can’t sleep, I have Your Word to bring my spirit rest.
266. The opportunity to read the Old Testament Scripture at church last Sunday.
267. Pizza nights with the kids.
268. Inexpensive, reasonably reliable high-speed Internet at my home.
269. Key Lime Pie.
270. The daily devotions found in Stand Firm Magazine which start my days off in the proper frame-of-mind.
My life is truly “chock-full” of Blessings Lord…
Heavenly Father,
I thank and praise You for the multitude of Blessings You bestow on us each day; both those that light up the Heavens in glory, and those which grace us in relative silence. We are truly Blessed!
In Jesus’ Name we pray,
Amen.
~Phather Phil
Sep 7, 2011
Posted by PhatherPhil on Sep 7, 2011 | 16 comments
Dear Lord; Happy Wednesday Father!
We’re a cautious bunch Father… Too cautious in many respects.
Over the last month or so Lord, I’ve felt You urgently calling me to take some leaps; to step outside my “comfort zone” and reach out to others in a much more significant way. I love those “nudges” Father, and I’ve enjoyed increasing my outreach efforts…
But it’s not enough. I’ve still been playing it safe.
I’ve fallen into the trap that so many others have Lord; instead of placing my fears, insecurities and biases completely in Your hands and bringing Your message to those who may desperately need it, for the most part I’ve kept my efforts within “comfortable” boundaries…
And You desire more than that of me.
As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” – Matthew 9:9-13 (NIV)
Heavenly Father,
Help me reach those whose spirits are sick; the lost, the broken, the lonely and the hurting. Draw me to where You need me most Lord, and embolden me to effectively share Your light with those in need. For my comfort zone isn’t nearly big enough Father, I need to work in Yours.
In Jesus Name we pray,
Amen.
~Phather Phil
Sep 1, 2011
Posted by PhatherPhil on Sep 1, 2011 | 20 comments
Dear Lord; Happy Thankful Thursday Father!
Once again Lord, we come to the day of the week on which I add to the ever-growing list of Blessings You’ve bestowed on me. Between Hurricane Irene, the kids starting school, Shannon starting her new job, and a significant spike in business at my office, it’s certainly been a roller-coaster of a week. Funny enough, through all of the ups-and-downs we’ve gone through this past seven days, Your Blessings have shined brilliantly through it all.
Therefore Father, continuing where I left off last week, today I’d like to give special thanks to You for:
226. Shannon getting “back on track” with her thyroid medication.
227. That even when my prayers are “arrogant”, You know my heart and forgive me.
228. Dove chocolates with caramel centers.
229. The boys doing well taking on increased household responsibilities.
230. An extra day off work to enjoy with friends and family this weekend.
231. The arrival of my Blood Pressure Medication shipment today.
232. Minimal damage to our home and no injuries from Hurricane Irene last weekend.
233. That I have a Heavenly Father who always has confidence in me, even when my view of self-worth is in question.
234. Dreams that make me wake up with a smile.
235. Finding a new Family Doctor after our existing one closed his practice.
236. Connecting up with all my “Bloggy” friends on Facebook.
237. Five days of absolutely beautiful weather following the hurricane.
238. Merlin’s seizures continuing to be suppressed by the Phenobarbital he was prescribed.
239. The loan of a carpet cleaner by a good friend when ours broke unexpectedly.
240. Being married to a lady who goes out of her way to remind me that she loves me every day.
…Such a multitude of Blessings You grant me Lord. 🙂
Heavenly Father, once again I lift thanks and praise to You for the many Blessings You grace us with each day; both those that light up the sky with Your presence, and those that Bless our lives without fanfare. You are indeed a doting Father, a watchful Shepherd and a skillful Potter, and we marvel in the fact that with all that You have in Your care, You still give us individual, personal attention…
Our most precious Blessing.
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. 
