Dear Lord; Well Father, tomorrow’s the big day and I’m actually quite excited. Tonight I go to rehearse with the wedding party, and go over the Ceremony I’ve prepared. While the nerves are still there, I know that You’re with me, and I’m extremely Honored to be representing You by joining these two people in Holy Matrimony.
Today though Lord, I’d like to talk with You about something I’m extremely thankful for. Over the last several months as I’ve been making this blog a daily part of my life, I’ve spent quite a bit of time searching for inspiration and seeking Your wisdom in a number of ways. Some of it’s come from just looking at the events that unfold around me with different eyes, and some has come through deliberate searching through the Bible, and a variety of Internet sites created by like-minded individuals. These people Lord, are a true Blessing to me. I haven’t actually met any of them, and yet their posts and comments have provided me with amazing inspiration, encouragement and wisdom. On top of that Lord, they’ve made me feel a part of their journey of faith, and I feel very Blessed to have them a part of mine as well. Please continue to hold these amazing people in Your Embrace Father, and fill their hearts with Your infinite Love so that they may continue to Glorify You, and bring Your Light to many others. Amen. ~Phather Phil
P.S. While some the sites I frequent are in my Blogroll, it’s by no means all-inclusive. Therefore, please hear my special prayers for Jenifer, Lisa, Bryan, Elaine, Allison, Jean, Kelli and Christopher. These are Blessed Souls indeed, and make my journey to You much more full. Amen.
Dear Lord; First off, let me say Thank You for watching over Jonathan yesterday during his trip. He had a wonderful time, and seems to have learned quite a bit from the experience. Seeing that light in his eyes brings me more happiness than almost anything else in this world.
Secondly, I want to thank You for all of the inspiration You provided me with yesterday while finalizing the wedding script. I have to say, I’m very happy with the results and the Bride seems to be as well. Now I just pray that I can deliver Your Words with the reverence You deserve, and bring Your Loving Presence to those in attendance.
Also in my thoughts today Lord, is my Wonderful Wife Shannon. As You know, she teaches a preschool class and is absolutely amazing at working with those children. Like any group of kids, she has some that are far more challenging than others and over the last couple of weeks she’s been struggling with one in particular. Father, she takes her care of these children so personally that when she has difficulties reaching even one it hurts her heart very deeply. Please comfort her spirit Lord, and fill her with the understanding that every act of love she performs for these little ones is never in vain. Take her in Your Embrace, and let her feel Your Presence so that she can continue to bring her love to these children. Amen.
And today Lord, I’m actually going to add a P.S. to our conversation. The other night on TV, they showed “A Charlie Brown Christmas”. I was thrilled to see a happy piece of my childhood still being aired, and my kids absolutely loved it. More importantly Father, it’s one of the few Christmas specials that talks about the real meaning of Christmas and not the more generalized “Holiday” messages. One of my Facebook friends posted this link this morning, so I thought I’d close by sharing it.
Your Loving Message comes to me in so many ways Lord. 🙂
Dear Lord; Good morning Father! To start our chat off today, I’d like to say a quick prayer for You to keep a watchful eye on my son Jonathan as he goes on a class field trip to the Native American Museum in Washington DC today. I know he’s under careful supervision, but I worry about him all the same. Please let him feel Your Protective Touch throughout the day, and bring him home to us safely. Thank You!
Well Lord, as I’m sure You know this weekend I’ll be officiating a marriage for the first time. I hold marriage in an amazingly high regard, and while this is a true honor for me I’ll admit to being a little nervous. I’ve done some public speaking in the past, but this is quite a bit different and although I’m excited to be acting as Your Representative to bring together these two people, it’s somewhat daunting all the same. Please help me to be a Good Instrument of Your Love Father, and Bless their union through this Ceremony. Inspire my words, and give me the courage to deliver them with the conviction, emotion and reverence that this Blessed event deserves. Amen. ~Phather Phil
Dear Lord; This morning Father, I’d actually like to rant a little bit if you don’t mind. The focus of my rambling is the overabundance of “Political Correctness” that seems to be even more overblown this time of year. I’m generally a very flexible person Lord, especially when working with peoples’ beliefs and religious (or lack thereof) affiliations, however why do some people find it necessary to force those restrictions and connotations on the rest of the world? Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve started seeing the typical “Take the Christ out of Christmas so as not to offend anyone” actions brought about by certain governmental bodies and other secular groups, and it just irks me to no end. It’s actually funny, but I have friends that are Jewish, Wiccan and Buddhist and even they’re bothered by this attitude our culture seems to have as of late.
So Lord, this year to try and help balance all the “P.C.” that’s going on, I’m working even harder to focus on the true reason for this Blessed Season; The Celebration of Your Son’s Holy Birth! Please Lord, shine Your Divine Light on our hearts and minds, and help us all Honor the Greatest Gift the world was ever given. Fill our Spirits with Your Presence, and let the world feel the Peace that was ushered in that Holy Night. Amen. ~Phather Phil
Dear Lord; Once again Father, I want to start our Monday chat by thanking You for a lovely weekend with good friends and family. While I probably should have spent more time sleeping and recharging for the week ahead, the time spent with those I care about greatly outweighed the need for rest. Either way, it was a wonderful weekend and I thank You for that.
This morning Lord, I’d like to talk with You about the paradoxical effect this Season seems to bring on to some people. With all of the emphasis on the close relationships in our lives this time of year, those people experiencing a personal loss may dwell on that emptiness and end up having adverse feelings about the Holiday in general. Be it death, divorce, illness or physical separation causing those feelings, I’ve seen quite a few folks who are just having a difficult time embracing the love this Time of Celebration exudes. The true shame in this really is that these people are missing the most important relationship that they have… The one with You! Joshua 1:9 reads :
“Have not I commanded you? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be you dismayed: for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
While we all suffer from losses on this Earth at some point, if we put our focus on Your constant Presence in our lives, we are never truly alone. What an amazing Gift that is! Like all of Your Children at some point, I’ve been guilty of focusing my heart on mortal pains now and again. The closer I get to You though Lord, the less time I spend with my heart in turmoil and the more thankful I become. Please reach out Your Light to all those in pain Father, so that they may feel the Peace and Love of this Blessed time of year. 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.
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. 
