Dear Lord; Happy Thankful Thursday Father!
And yet again Father, we come to the Thankful Thursday edition of PhatherPhil.org. To be completely honest Lord, this has been a painful and stressful week for me on a number of fronts. Ten years back, this kind of week would have seen me sleepless, highly agitated, and very likely drinking too much in an attempt to numb the angst. Thankfully Father, You’ve freed me from those bonds;
The misconception that I have to rely on my own strength to solve my problems…
The chains of trying to use alcohol, food or other distractions to “fill the hole” that I was feeling…
The overwhelming sense that I was truly all alone in my trials…
So although this week has brought along with it a number of challenges Lord, my spirit is much more at ease knowing Your presence is with me. I’ve felt that soothing embrace around me as I’ve struggled this week Father, and for that I am truly thankful.
Picking up where I left off on last week’s list of Blessings, this week I’m especially grateful for:
346. The fellowship of our church family.
347. The indescribable “God High” that I have following our Small Group gatherings.
348. Fresh, still-warm egg salad sandwiches.
349. Getting a significant jump-start on our Christmas crafting projects last weekend.
350. A wonderful, unexpected discussion of faith I had with a client last week.
351. Time spent teaching my boys about woodworking last weekend.
352. Finding a deli nearby my office that makes amazing subs and sandwiches.
353. Finding a good, free Twitter client that works on my PC, my Mac, my tablet and my phone.
354. The complex intertwining of souls that You grace my life with.
355. YouVersion offering a 48-hour period this weekend where I can download NIV and NLV translations for offline viewing.
356. The wide variety of inexpensive or free eBooks available online.
357. Your reminders to me each day that I’m always in Your loving embrace.
358. Neighbors that gave up their last three sheets of printer paper so our kids could finish a school project.
359. Eternal Prosperity.
360. Having a marriage where no matter how crazy or stressed things get, we’re able to cut through it all and support each other.
Even when the clouds loom above us Father, Your many Blessings cut through that haze every time. 🙂
Heavenly Father,
We thank you Lord, for the multitude of Blessings You bring to our lives each day; both those that announce Your presence with abandon, and those that quietly Bess us from the shadows. You are indeed a loving, giving Father, and I rest securely knowing that whatever path You lead me down, that Your grace will ensure my steps land on sure footing.
In Jesus’ Name we 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. 
Oh Phil, it has been that kind of week for me as well. I have just felt as though I were losing everything. But as my husband and sweet sister gently reminded me, I can lose it all and it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that I still have my God and my family. Nothing else matters.
Love your thankful list! 🙂
Amen Jenifer! I’m sorry you’ve had a rough week as well… I’ll pray for you Dear Lady!
Have a Blessed Day!
Great list, Phil. So thankful for His peace during stressful seasons as well. There is nothing else like it!
Phil, I can’t imagine going through those trials without God by my side – and I’m so thankful that I don’t have to. No matter what we are going through or what happens in our lives, God is ALWAYS in control and His love for us never fails.
I love this… “Even when the clouds loom above us Father, Your many Blessings cut through that haze every time.” It’s so true… the blessings are always there and counting them is the best repellent to our trials. Always love your list of gratitude… especially #’s 250 & 357 this week! Blessings 🙂
So it is true….similar weeks with similar outcomes! Thanking Him for…HIM! He’s such a great God! Great list this week!
Praise God for progress! I’m thankful He keeps chipping away at us to make us the best we can be and bring us closer to Him.
We’ve been on a wild ride here at our house, too. It was so refreshing and comforting to read your blog today and to know we can be thankful for blessings in the storm.
Our God is awesome!!!
Blessings always!
I just wrote in the comments of my latest post that I think thankfulness has some power to it: the more we are thankful, the more we see to be thankful for. It sharpens our vision and opens our heart. I see these list you do each week doing that. Every week something you list strikes me: This week such a sense of thankfulness for blessings we find in community. Thanks Phil!
No 360. Neat…. and amen. Always love to read through your thankful list. You bring the Lord great honor with your thanks.
Happy TT.
Have a wonderful November and a blessed Holiday season. Hugs, Lynn