Dear Lord; Good morning Father!
As You’re undoubtedly aware Father, it’s a dreary, rainy day here in Delaware. It’s just one of those mornings where I wake up, look outside, and seriously contemplate finding some excuse to crawl back under the covers. Alas, today that wasn’t an option so out into the weather I went.
Driving into the office following teacher conferences at the boys’ school (which went very well… thank You!), I started contemplating the lingering clouds and falling rain a little bit more. Like all of Your Gifts to us, the rain has a purpose; it supports and nourishes life, and cleanses the landscape it traverses. While we may not always feel joyous when the weather shifts, it is one of Your Blessings to us all the same.
And then comes the rainbow…
“And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”” – Genesis 9:12-16 (NIV)
I LOVE this Lord: a rainbow is the reminder of Your covenant with us. What an amazing signature You have Father! Noah must have had such a smile on his face seeing that first rainbow. 🙂
Today Father, You also placed on my heart the idea to start “Thankful Thursday” here on phatherphil.org. The concept I had was that on each Thursday’s message to You, I’d close by listing some of the things I’ve been especially thankful for this week. Just for curiosity’s sake, I did a quick Google search on the phrase and found that it was already something that was being done and coordinated on another site. The site is a blog called “Grace Alone…”, and I’m pleased to link to her site today.
This week has been a hectic roller-coaster-ride Lord, but it’s funny that during those crazy days I find myself even more thankful for Your Blessings. As this is the first “Thankful Thursday” entry for me, I’ll start with the most obvious and significant miracle in my life:
I’m extremely thankful for the unending support of my wonderful wife Shannon. As You know Father, things have been difficult business-wise over the last several months. Through every up-and-down, she’s always been there for me with words of comfort and encouragement. Her love is an amazing gift Lord, and I feel truly Blessed having her as my wife.
There are so many other Blessings You grant me each day Lord, but we’ll start there. 🙂
Heavenly Father, I thank You for the cleansing rain and the vibrant reminder of Your Covenant that will soon follow. I pray we can all see through the apparent gloom and witness Your Shining Majesty in each of our lives today. 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. 
I am thankful for the cleansing rain that He sends my way sometimes too. And the rainbow is an added bonus!
Thank You Allison… I’m thankful for His rain as well. 🙂
Have a Blessed Day!
I think Thankful Thursday is a wonderful idea! It’s hard to be depressed or gloomy when we start counting our blessings.
Thank you Lisa, I couldn’t agree more. Your fellowship is certainly one of mine!
Have a Blessed Day!
What a very sweet post, both to God and to wife… the two you have strong, sure covenants with. Your life is truly blessed with Rainbows all around :0)
Thank you Tracye! You’re absolutely right, I am truly Blessed. 🙂
Have a Blessed Day!
Great post Phil! It is so important to count our blessings and be thankful for all God has blessed us with. Today I am thankful for my daughter’s health. Yes, she has issues. Yes, we may be headed to another surgery. But praise God she is alive, happy, smart, fun, beautiful, and most important, loves the Lord!
It is Jenifer… And your daughter is in my prayers.
Thank you, and have a Blessed Day!
I am thankful I have connected with you and your sharing of your time with the Lord. Thank you Lord for Phil!
Awww Jean… Thank you so much! I count you in my “Blessings list” as well!!
Have a Blessed Day Dear Lady!
Oh, it rained here today too and I love the rain… miss the Texas thunderstorms. When we drove away from co-op today there was a beautiful rainbow stretched across the sky!
I actually enjoy thunderstorms… They help me sleep for some odd reason! 🙂
Have a Blessed Day Heidi!
I’m thankful for the sunshine and the rain, and for these spiritual and philosophical inspirations from Phather Phil!
Blessings,
~ Debra
Thank you Debra! I’ve much enjoyed connecting with you and feel Blessed by your site as well!
Have a Blessed Day!
Thank you so much for this, Phil.
It took me back to those heady days, when I was a youngster. I loved to hear the rain and especially thunder and lightening.
At those times, I would sneak into my mothers bedroom and look out of her window. With cupped hands under my chin, I would just gaze at the drops of rain pounding on the the windowsill and I would think about God.
The God who my mother would always speak about – the God who made me!!
It was at those times, I felt close to Him, as I would wait for that rainbow to show itself!!
God bless, I am delighted that I followed you over here from Desire’s Blog
Welcome Carole, and thank you! What a wonderful memory that is! The majesty of thunderstorms remind me of God as well, and yet in the midst of all that power from the heavens the rain washes away the day’s impurities. 🙂
Have a Blessed Day!