Well Father, once again You’ve Blessed my family and I with a lovely weekend. Jonathan’s sleepover birthday party Friday night was a marked success, and the boys all seemed to have a wonderful time. Once all the “overnighters” had been picked up by their well-rested parents (smiles), we packed up and headed out to spend the rest of the day at the home of some truly wonderful extended family (eg. Good friends) celebrating the birthday of their foster son. It was a lovely visit, filled with laughter and love, and we were very Blessed to be a part of it. Sunday morning began with an inspiring church service including a powerful message from Pastor Kris, with the remaining part of the day divided between cooking, catching up on homework and housework, and just enjoying the company of one another. All in all Lord, it was an absolutely wonderful weekend, and I thank You for faithfully providing these times of joy and respite to us.
When I thought and prayed about what passage in Scripture to select for this Meditations Monday post Father, one immediately sprang to my heart:
“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” – Luke 2:1-7 (ESV)
As I read this passage in Luke Father, I was struck by the simplicity in which this miraculous event was described;
No fanfare…
No ceremonies…
No royal proclamations…
No pretense of any kind.
Such a transformational moment in our world Father, ushered in by the most humble of circumstances.
As I look around this Christmas Season Lord, it’s blatantly apparent our world today exists in stark contrast to that Silent Night so long ago. We fill these weeks each year with lights, and parties, and shopping, and decorating, and yet, in that defining moment some two thousand years ago…
Our world was forever changed, from the simplest of beginnings.
No lighting displays, no flying reindeer, no sugarplum faries…
Just a miracle, in a lowly manger, sent to save the world.
First off Father, I want to take a moment to thank You for a truly marvelous weekend. For once, we didn’t have much in the way of plans laid out in advance, so we used that wonderfully uncommitted time to spend enjoying each other’s company, sharing a meal and some laughter with friends, and reveling in the Blessings You’ve given us. It was a joy-filled, productive weekend Lord, and I thank You very much for that time of respite.
Last Friday Father, as I was driving to our veterinarian’s office to pick up some medication, Jason Gray’s song “Remind Me Who I Am” began to play on the radio. Now, I’ve heard this song more than a few times Lord, but for some reason this time the lyrics came alive for me and I found myself drawn into the song’s poignant message…
After a week comprised of what seemed to be a never-ending series of struggles and trials Lord, this simple reminder wrapped in verse made a wonderful connection for me. It brought to the surface an inescapable truth that my mind had laid to the sideline for much of the week…
We’re Your Beloved Children. Broken, hurting, rebellious or doubtful… You love us all the same.
“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” – 1 John 3:1 (ESV)
Through our rebirth in Christ, we exist as genuine Children of God; adopted completely into this divine family through the mercy of Your Fatherly love and grace. We walk in faith, knowing that the lure of this world need hold no control over us, as Your love has set us truly free. We live to be…
Your Beloved.
When the world seeks to draw me from You Lord, please, remind me who I am.
And once again Father, we come to the Thankful Thursday “edition” here at PhatherPhil.org. Today, I’m picking up where I left off on my list two weeks back, as for Thanksgiving I was Blessed to be able to present You with lists from Shannon and the boys instead. You graced us with a truly wonderful holiday weekend Father; filled with family, friends, fellowship and the beautiful promise that the beginning of Advent brings to our hearts. So much to be thankful for Lord, so much…
And on that note Father, continuing from where we left off, this past week I’ve been especially grateful for:
406. An absolutely beautiful Thanksgiving gathering with close friends and family.
407. You Blessing me with exactly what You know I need, when I need it. (Not to be confused with what I think I need, or what I want…)
408. Having close brothers and sisters in Christ to help keep me accountable.
409. An inspiring and encouraging Small Group gathering Tuesday evening as we delve deeper into the “Plan B” study.
410. Getting the outside Christmas lights up last weekend.
And the list continues to grow Lord, with no end in sight… 🙂
Heavenly Father,
We thank You Father, for the multitude of Blessings you bestow on us each and every day; both those that shine brightly with Your radiance, and those that uplift us quietly from the shadows. As we rejoice in the anticipation that this Season of Advent signifies, please open our hearts Lord, and fill us with wonder and gratitude at the coming of the Christ Child.
And today Father, we come to the original Thankful Thursday… Thanksgiving! On this day each year, here in the United States we take time to put aside the normal activities and concerns of daily life and focus our attentions on Your abundant Blessings.
As we’ve discussed many times Lord, when I begin counting my Blessings my wife Shannon and my two boys Jonathan and Aidan immediately spring to mind. They’re truly one of Your greatest gifts in my life Father, and I can’t begin to thank You enough for my life with them.
As precious as they are to me Father, it seems fitting that on this day where our focus rests in gratitude, that I share our conversation with them as well. Therefore, for this Thankful Thursday“Special Edition”, I present You with some things that my cherished family members are grateful for:
Jonathan (Age 11)
– Having the choice to follow the Lord.
– Having friends and family over for Thanksgiving.
– Having parents that are still together.
– Having the opportunity to get an education.
– That all my sins are forgiven.
Aidan (Age 9)
– For my family.
– For our home.
– For good food to eat.
– That I have people that love me.
– For the fun I have building Legos.
Shannon (Older than 11 :-))
– The love of a grace-filled man.
– Empathetic children who give their birthday money to help fill a church food pantry.
– Recipes from the past that shine like new.
– Music to share in ALL aspects of my life.
– Craft links on Pinterest 😉
Heavenly Father,
As we focus on Your many gifts in our lives Lord, Your love for us is so apparent. Open our eyes and our hearts Father, that we better recognize Your Blessings each day, and realize that Thanksgiving isn’t only once a year, but every day that we dwell in Your tender mercies.
And once again Father, we come to my favorite weekly post here at PhatherPhil.org; Thankful Thursday. As we draw closer to Thanksgiving Lord, it seems as if more and more folks are taking time out to focus on the many Blessings You bestow on us. And while my heart sings seeing such a wonderful outpouring of gratefulness this time of year Father, it also highlights to me one important thing that I think sometimes we all miss…
Your Blessings grace our lives EVERYDAY; not only at Thanksgiving, not just every Thankful Thursday, but every minute of every day.
Even when we don’t have a Holiday to direct our attention to Your many gifts Father, it’s important to recognize and celebrate the fact that we exist and thrive within Your mercy and grace each day. By keeping that fountain of gratefulness flowing in our hearts, we’re better able to weather our personal trials and at the same time to share that perspective of gratitude with others around us.
“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” – Colossians 3:17 (ESV)
When we do everything from that foundation of thankfulness Lord, our lives become brighter in so many ways.
And on that thought Father, here’s this week’s Thankful Thursday list! Looking back over the past seven days Lord, I’ve been especially grateful for:
399. Feeling better following a two-week-long respiratory illness.
400. An update to the Android version of the YouVersion Bible App that brought some great new features.
401. That nine years ago tomorrow, You Blessed Shannon and I with our youngest son, Aidan.
402. The encouragement, kindness and support I received from one of my Facebook friends this week.
403. A fun “one on one” dinner out for Aidan and I while Shannon and Jonathan were at church groups last night.
404. Getting caught up on bills last weekend.
405. That even in our brokenness, our sin, and our pain You forgive us, and seek to draw us to You.
We continue to live bathed in Your grace Lord. 🙂
Heavenly Father,
We thank You Father God, for the many Blessings You bring to our lives each day; both those that fill our hearts to overflowing with Your benevolence, and those that Bless us quietly from the sidelines. Please help us to maintain grateful hearts, and to reach out and share Your many gifts with others.
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.
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. 
