“Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.” – James 1:17 (NLT)
When we allow our attitudes, our outlook, our words and our actions to be expressions of the many Blessings God places in our lives each and every day, we not only share His light with those around us but also find that our struggles and circumstances no longer define who we are.
Dear Lord; Happy New Year’s Eve Father!
As my mind wandered this morning Father, drifting along this past year’s erratic path and pondering the days ahead You spoke to my heart; a whispered phrase of things to be…
“Another Chance…” You promised.
And with that I realized Lord… Every day I wake with breath in my lungs You’ve granted me Another Chance…
“I will never forget this awful time,
as I grieve over my loss.
Yet I still dare to hope
when I remember this:
The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness;
his mercies begin afresh each morning.” – Lamentations 3:20-23 (NLT)
Another Chance to recognize my mistakes…
And hopefully to learn from them.
Another Chance to receive Your gracious love…
And to share that love with others.
Another Chance to look with wonder at the Blessings all around me…
And Another Chance to worship; to lift my heart to You in gratefulness.
Another Chance to cast off the chains of my self-imposed guilt and failures and place them at Your feet…
And Another Chance to grow closer to You in the process.
Another Chance to read Your Word…
And know You more through each passage and verse.
Another Chance to gracefully accept the assistance of others when it’s offered…
And Another Chance to reach out to them in love as well.
Another Chance to strive for righteousness Lord…
Another Chance to draw closer to the man You desire me to become.
Thank You Father…
For Another Chance.
Amen.
~Phather Phil
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Dear Lord; Happy Thankful Thursday Father!
Well Father, it’s certainly been a little while since I’ve sat down and written to You. And while our conversations haven’t diminished in the least, I have missed bringing the fruits of our time together to the written word. So Lord, when You laid it on my heart today to share this post, it gave me a much needed early-morning smile. 🙂
Back in January Father, my family and I attended a viewing at our church of the movie “Facing the Giants”. It was an absolutely excellent film, filled with inspiring messages and poignant reminders of where our true motivation and priorities should lie. At one point in the movie, a statement was made that really captured my attention, and has stuck with me since…
“God will send the rain when He’s ready… You need to prepare your field to receive it.”
Such a simple truth Father, and yet one I’ve missed on so many occasions. While I try to recognize Your many Blessings in my life and in the world around me, in many cases I’ve not been proactive in aggressively preparing myself to receive those gifts. I want to live my life expecting Your presence at every turn Lord; sowing my seeds in earnest…
Knowing without a doubt that Your Heavenly rain is coming.
Such is my desire Father… Today and every day.
Continuing to count Your many Blessings in my life Lord; these past weeks have been truly filled with Your Grace, and I’ve been especially grateful for:
571. Being given 18 wonderful years with my dog Brandy.
572. A marriage that not only has grown us as a couple, but also allows us both to grow as individuals.
573. Bourbon manhattans with a splash of grenadine.
574. An absolutely beautiful, warm sunny drive into work this morning.
575. Our caring, compassionate veterinarian who made a very difficult situation much easier.
576. A beautiful Valentine’s Day dinner out with Shannon.
577. Seeing Your grace powerfully impacting the lives of some good friends.
578. That no matter what missteps we make or how far we fall, when we come to You we’re welcomed with open arms.
579. The amazing outpouring of encouragement and concern we received upon Brandy’s passing.
580. A number of significant new jobs this past couple weeks.
581. A good “check up” service on Shannon’s van with no major surprises.
582. Those people You place in our lives that connect to our hearts in truly powerful ways.
583. A fun night out with friends last Saturday night.
584. The view of the world I receive when I look through eyes cleansed by faith.
585. The healing power contained in the smile of a good friend.
Heavenly Father,
I thank You Lord, for the wondrous gifts You continue to Bless our lives with each and every day; both those that cause the Heavens to ring out in song, and those that whisper Your mighty love quietly from the shadows.
In Jesus’ name we pray,
Amen.
~Phather Phil
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Dear Lord; Happy Valentine’s Day Father!
Today Father, much of the world’s attention turns to “all things love” as we celebrate Valentine’s Day. And yet, while the greeting card, candy and jewelry companies would like us to spend our time and money focusing on the romantic and tangible side of our affections, I choose instead to take this time to reflect on those aspects of love in my life that touch me most deeply:
The amazing, intimate bond I have with my wonderful wife, Shannon…
The powerful sense of care and commitment I have for my children…
The deep, very personal relationships I’ve established with a few close friends…
And the overwhelming, transformational and ever-deepening connection I have with my Lord and Savior.
Such wondrous examples of Your love for me Father; such astounding Blessings in my life.
Thank You Lord;
For seeding Your love in me,
For seeking me through my brokenness,
For reminding me that I’m Your Beloved Child,
And that above all else,
You love me; perfectly and completely.
I’m Yours Father. 🙂
Amen.
~Phather Phil
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Dear Lord; Happy Saturday Father!
I love those moments Lord,
When in the throes of our lives,
You announce Your presence.
Some see coincidence,
Some call it luck,
And yet,
I want see to them for what they are;
“God Moments”:
When just the right song plays on the radio, as if on cue…
While during a moment of self-doubt, a reassuring text message reminds us that we’re loved…
When the bills are due with no relief in sight, and yet somehow, the money shows up…
And while in the midst of our private pain, a quiet voice reminds us we’re Your Beloved.
So many times however Father,
I’ve missed the forest for the trees;
Seeing only frustration,
And struggle,
And pain.
Not viewing with eyes of faith and trust,
But instead through the world’s narrow lens.
Open my eyes Lord,
Open my heart.
Help me recognize Your hand
In every situation;
Not just those that make me smile.
For when I’m able to discern Your light
In everything around me,
Life itself
Becomes a “God Moment”. 🙂
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. 
