Oct 23, 2012
Posted by PhatherPhil on Oct 23, 2012 | 1 comment
“How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight.” – Hebrews 11:32-34 (NLT)
When we strive to live lives of faith, choosing to focus not on worldly pursuits but instead on those which glorify God’s grace in our lives, we not only gain victory over death through Christ Jesus but also open ourselves to being instruments of God’s divine intent.
Oct 15, 2012
Posted by PhatherPhil on Oct 15, 2012 | 4 comments
“Remind everyone about these things, and command them in God’s presence to stop fighting over words. Such arguments are useless, and they can ruin those who hear them.” – 2 Timothy 2:14 (NLT)
As Paul entreats Timothy in this impassioned correspondence; as followers of Christ it’s important for us to spend our energies focusing on His divine example and teachings, and not allow our petty differences, disagreements and biases to divert that focus. In the service of our Lord, we must never miss the Message for the words.
Aug 30, 2012
Posted by PhatherPhil on Aug 30, 2012 | 4 comments
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 undertow threatened my heart’s footing…
I knew You were with me.
The “waters” have receded a bit these past few days Lord, delightfully revealing what I felt all along…
Your footprints in the sand, right next to mine.
Thank You Father; for being my anchor against the raging tide, even when I couldn’t see the rope.
As I continue to list some of Your many Blessings in my life Lord, today I’m feeling particularly grateful for:
621. The wonderful summer break my children have had, and that they’re heading back to school on Tuesday excited and refreshed.
622. The revealing and powerful video study our Tuesday night small group has been doing on the Beatitudes, and the truths You’ve brought us through those discussions.
623. Reconnecting with a friend I’ve not heard from in a while.
624. A fun time spent with friends at a BBQ this past Saturday.
625. A visit from a dear friend last weekend, and the visit of another one this coming weekend.
626. My son Jonathan being confirmed as a member of Ewell’s-St. Paul UMC this past Sunday.
627. Seeing Your light overcome pain, fear and doubt in the heart of a dear friend.
628. A new job for a close friend and young Christian after a long period of unemployment, and the fact his negotiations included the need for time off to attend church and our Tuesday night group studies. 🙂
629. A wonderful new job opportunity for my wife Shannon, and the call You’ve placed on her life to shape young minds and hearts.
630. The radical forgiveness modeled by our Savior on the cross, and the inspiration to strive towards that grace in my own life.
And so many more…
Heavenly Father,
I thank You Lord, for the many Blessings You grace us with each and every day; both those that shine like a lighthouse in the night, and those “hidden ropes” that anchor us to Your strength.
In Jesus’ name we pray,
Amen.
~Phather Phil
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Aug 10, 2012
Posted by PhatherPhil on Aug 10, 2012 | 0 comments
“As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” – Romans 14:1-4 (ESV)
One of the most damaging impediments to Christian fellowship and growing in God’s service is the judgment and condemnation of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Allowing our opinions and perspectives on issues of lesser consequence divide us from one another weakens our effectiveness as the Body of Christ, and only seeks to enhance our own glory, not that of our Heavenly Father.
Aug 9, 2012
Posted by PhatherPhil on Aug 9, 2012 | 2 comments
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 everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.
And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.” – 2 Peter 1:3-4 (NLT)
Through our new life in Christ Jesus, the presence of the Holy Spirit and Your continuous grace in our lives, You provide us the guidance and resources to live as You intend us to; to participate in Your divine company, and resist the forces of this world that seek to draw us from You.
Thank You Lord, for being my constant companion as I walk these roads…
Guiding my footsteps,
Catching me when I stumble,
And reminding me that throughout this journey I’m on…
I’m never alone.
As I continue to count my blessings today Father, I’m reminded that even when the road ahead seems barren and the going gets rough, signs of Your gracious love still abound. And while I know I fail to recognize Your many gifts more often than not Lord, this past couple weeks I’ve been especially grateful for:
611. A wonderful network of people I can reach out to when I need expertise or advice.
612. Finding inexpensive options for purchasing the medications that my family needs.
613. Learning more about Your grace in my life each day.
614. That Shannon and the boys are able to spend a couple weeks visiting her mother in Florida.
615. Finding some significant cost-cutting opportunities for my business.
616. Encouragement and inspiration from other clergy and believers I interact with on the Internet.
617. That the drive Shannon and the kids took to Florida went smoothly and everyone arrived safely.
618. An engaging discussion Tuesday evening with my brothers and sisters in Christ.
619. A fun afternoon at my father’s “Jimmy Buffet Theme BBQ” spent with family and friends.
620. Dear friends who reach out to me and keep me company while my family is away.
And so many more…
Heavenly Father, I thank You for the Blessings you grace us with each and every day. Please open our eyes and guide our hearts that we may recognize Your Glory in the world around us, and lead us to share those gifts more effectively with others.
In Jesus’ name I pray,
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. 
