Dear Lord; Happy Meditations Monday Father!
To begin our week’s conversations Lord, I want to thank You for yet another lovely weekend filled to the brim with Your Blessings. Friday night we attended a spaghetti dinner at Ewell’s St. Paul UMC to benefit the “Jesus Freaks” youth group. The food and fellowship were wonderful, and it was very well attended. Saturday, the boys stayed with friends for the day while Shannon and I got the opportunity to attend an end-of-summer pool party. Sunday began with an inspiring church service, and then while Shannon played her viola in the Dover Symphony at a local patriotic concert, the boys and I were able to catch up on overdue housework, grocery shopping and laundry. As seems to be our “normal” lately Father, it was a very busy weekend, but certainly time we’re thankful for.
As You know Father, each morning I’ve been reading a daily devotional message from the Stand Firm magazines that Shannon got me a subscription to for Father’s Day. This morning’s message was focused on love and commitment, and it very much resonated with things that You and I have been discussing quite a lot as of late. The passage cited in the devotional was from the first chapter of the Book of Ruth, and details Ruth’s response to Naomi when Naomi attempts to send her back to her family following the death of Ruth’s husband (Naomi’s son):
But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” – Ruth 1:16-17 (NIV)
Such a powerful statement of commitment Lord, and unfortunately something we see far too little of in society today. Unwavering devotion to those we love, and to You Father, should be our firm goal and desire each and every day. If we all looked to replace our selfish, wayward thoughts with the yearning to care for and serve others, and to praise You with each waking breath, our world would be truly transformed.
It’s certainly something I’ll be praying on this week Lord.
Heavenly Father,
As we go through the day Lord, please fill our hearts with the desire, devotion and drive to unselfishly and openly bring Your love to those around us. Grant us the resolve in our hearts Father, that we may committedly focus ourselves on those relationships that You Bless us with; our marriages, our families and our friendships, that we may glorify You thorough those connections.
In Jesus’ Name we pray,
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. 
“As we go through the day Lord, please fill our hearts with the desire, devotion and drive to unselfishly and openly bring Your love to those around us. Grant us the resolve in our hearts Father, that we may committedly focus ourselves on those relationships that You Bless us with; our marriages, our families and our friendships, that we may glorify You thorough those connections.” Amen and amen!
Thank you Jenifer! Our connections with others are truly some of God’s most powerful gifts to us, and need to be cultivated accordingly. 🙂
Have a Blessed Day!
Wonderful reminder about how SACRED our relationships are. Thank you.
They are indeed! Thank you!
Have a Blessed Day!
“If we all looked to replace our selfish, wayward thoughts with the yearning to care for and serve others, and to praise You with each waking breath, our world would be truly transformed.” How very true! I love the commitment of Ruth to Naomi. I want to be that committed to my God. Many blessings, Phil!
I want that as well Lisa… It’s something we should all strive to achieve. 🙂
Have a Blessed Day!
I love that you are reading that magazine! I think it’s great!!:) “Such a powerful statement of commitment Lord, and unfortunately something we see far too little of in society today.” So true! I want to be more like that verse… great reminders of encouragement!
It’s a wonderful magazine Kelli. When I saw it on M.O.M. and showed Shannon, she immediately ordered it for me. 🙂 (I’m such a Blessed husband!)
Have a Blessed Day!
“Unwavering devotion to those we love, and to You Father, should be our firm goal and desire each and every day.” Lord, give me that unwavering devotion… amen.
It’s one of my prayers as well Heidi… Thank you!
Have a Blessed Day!
Lovely, prayer at the end, Phil. I need this resolve. I so easily lose sight of this.
Thank you so much Eileen! We all lose that focus now and again, but thankfully God is faithful and nudges us back when we stray.
Have a Blessed Day!
Phil,
I love the story of Ruth and Naomi, it is such a powerful story of love and commitment, and a powerful testimony of the faithfulness of God as well, a story that started to heartbreakingly tragic ended so beautifully. Your prayers are always so uplifting so filled with hope and your love for Jesus shines through.
Blessings to you and your family Phil.
I do as well Kandi… Such a powerful story with many important lessons to glean from it.
Thank you!! 🙂
Have a Blessed Day!
WOW! Very good we can learn allot from this verse alone…We don’t do much of what Ruth was talking about these days seems like everyone is for themselves and left out the middle man completely.
It really is a deep and powerful statement, isn’t it Desiray? We should all have that level of commitment about those God places in our lives to love as Christ instructed us.
Have a Blessed Day!
I always take away so much from reading your prayers and devotions. From allowing me to get to know you to introducing myself to new ways of looking at things or lessons I need or may need at a later date. We have been struggling in relationships within our family and I needed the reminder to give thanks for the blessings and lessons from each relationship both those that have been good and bad. I need to pray more honestly and openly I think and I am glad that you are teaching me and leading me in how I can do this.
Tara, thank you so much for the kind words. One of the biggest Blessings I’ve received through this ministry is the pleasure of connecting with people like yourself so we can each learn from the other, and grow in God’s presence together. It does my heart good to know you’ve gained something from these postings… I certainly enjoy yours as well. 🙂
Have a Blessed Day!
I love the story of Ruth and Naomi. I pray daily that I’ll be open to the opportunities He presents to me!
Amen Allison! May we all keep that focus!
Have a Blessed Day!