Emails to God
Each weekday I transpose and share the whispers and messages God places on my heart in the form of “Emails to God”.
Not Captives of Fear
Dear Lord; Happy Thursday Father! They consume me sometimes Father; Worry… Fear… Anxiety… Painful reminders of the persistent earthly chains that fight to wrest me from Your side. And yet Lord, against these restraints You reach for me… Drawing me to You, and anchoring my heart to Your Heavenly foundation. For in our very design, You fashioned us to resist that pull; To live our lives as children of faith, not captives of fear. “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we...
read moreInto the Heart of the Potter
Dear Lord; Happy Thursday, and Happy New Year Father! To begin the New Year on the right foot Father, yesterday morning I began a new Bible Reading Plan on YouVersion.com called “The Essential Jesus”. It’s a 100 day reading schedule, focused specifically on the prophecy, teachings, ministry and life of Your Son as written in Scripture. The first reading covered the Gospel of John, chapter 1, verses 1 through 18; and while the entire passage gave me pause for prayer and reflection more than once, one verse in particular really spoke to...
read moreTo Bring Us Peace
Dear Lord; Happy Friday Father! It seems Father, that each Christmas season becomes more hectic and hurried than the last; Decorating to do… Gatherings to attend… Presents to buy… And cookies to bake. And although all of these things may, in their own way, help to bring the spirit of this Holy season more alive for us, if we allow them to they can also lead us astray from the pilgrimage our hearts are drawn to make this time of year… To kneel at the side of the manger; to bathe in the peace that only the arrival of our Savior can...
read moreChristmas is Messy
Dear Lord; Happy Thursday Father! “Christmas is messy… Humanity is messy… Family life is messy… And we get in trouble when we work so hard to make it all perfect.” As I listened to a recording of Father Jim Clifton delivering a message on Advent yesterday evening, these simple statements found a nerve… And I realized what a powerful, misunderstood truth it really is Lord. In this season of Advent we try to focus on hopeful waiting; anxiously preparing to celebrate that moment of perfection so many years ago. And in that...
read moreA Matter of Trust
Dear Lord; Happy Tuesday Father! People frustrate me Father… Or should I say, I allow people to frustrate me. And yet, in truth it’s not other people that are the cause of my angst Lord, it’s the unmet expectations I regularly place on them; thrusting undue responsibility on earthly shoulders to fulfill my perception of need. But that’s not really fair, now is it Father… To begin with, more often than not what I feel my needs are isn’t based on seeking Your direction for me, but instead on my reacting to a situation I’m in the...
read moreThankful Thursday: Footprints in the Sand
Dear Lord; Happy Thankful Thursday Father! As the Labor Day weekend beckons me welcome Lord, I find my spirit more at ease; bolstered by the coming days of rest no doubt, but mainly fueled by a reminder of Your divine and loving nature. I feel as if I’ve been treading water lately Father; constantly shifting focus in an attempt to quell the rising trials, yet never gaining ground. More than once in recent weeks Lord, those waves of fear and doubt have sought my breath, and left me weakened. And yet Father, even while that sinister...
read moreThankful Thursday: In Your Divine Company
Dear Lord; Happy Thankful Thursday Father! On the heels of our discussion yesterday Father, I’ve spent a good bit of time pondering Your promises to us contained in Scripture, and how You always remain faithful to those assurances, even when we fail to recognize it. And I think Lord, that much of the feeling of “disconnect” we experience in our daily lives may stem from the simple perspective that we believe our trials are ours to face, not roads on the journey You’re walking with us… “By his divine power, God has given us...
read moreOne Brick at a Time
Dear Lord; Happy Wednesday Father! Today Father, I want to start off by saying “thank You”… For Your faithfulness, Your grace, And Your persistence in pursuing me when I stray from You. As You’re aware Lord, my life has been a bit more complicated than usual and increasingly stressful as of late. And while I’ve tried as diligently as I can to keep myself open to Your voice throughout these trials, I’ll admit I’ve failed to do so more often than not. I’ve allowed my pain and fears to cloud my connection to You Lord, and...
read moreThankful Thursday: Through Brighter Eyes
Dear Lord; Happy Thankful Thursday Father! “Count your Blessings…” You instructed. “Really Father??” I responded… Following what could easily be described as a week of nightmare situations Lord, I’ll be honest, I was having a rough time focusing on the positives in my life. But driving into the office this morning, as I mournfully ran down the tasks at hand for the day in my head, You made it clear my head was in the wrong place… “It’s Thankful Thursday, Phil.” Ouch… I’d nearly forgotten about those posts...
read moreOut of the Valley
Dear Lord; Happy Tuesday Father! “I’m a failure Father. I’ve failed my family… I’ve failed my friends… And I’ve failed You… I’m so sorry Lord… Please forgive me.” Those words hung painfully in the quiet presence of the sanctuary at Ewell’s-St. Paul last Tuesday evening as I knelt at the altar, while the joyful sounds of children enjoying Vacation Bible School in the rooms below brought contrast to the silence. Tears flowed freely down my cheeks as I looked up at Hofmann’s painting of Jesus praying in the Garden of...
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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. 
