First off Lord, I want to thank You for a lovely weekend. Jonathan was feeling a bit better, so we were able to get out to visit with some good friends Saturday night and then spent Sunday afternoon and evening with my father (the earthly one… 🙂 ) and his wife. The children love visiting with their grandparents, and it was wonderful to be able to get out and spend time with them. All in all, a very restful and enjoyable couple of days and I thank You for that time of respite.
This evening Father, I’d like to discuss something that’s been on my heart quite a bit as of late.
A couple months ago, I was contacted via email by a lady I hadn’t met before about possibly presiding over her upcoming wedding. She was a friend of a very good friend of mine, so I asked some questions to make sure it was feasible for me to do so. The date seemed fine, but she really didn’t have much of an idea of what kind of wedding ceremony she was interested in. I pointed her to some online resources with sample ceremonies and told her to look through them to get some ideas about what fit her and her fiancée’s wishes. Last week, I finally got around to reading my emails on that account and found that she’d sent me what she deemed the “perfect” script for her special day.
There was absolutely no reference to You in any way, shape or form.
The ceremony she’d chosen was a completely secular proceeding, save for an “optional” prayer at the end. Now Father, it was a lovely, very sentimental and poetic script to be sure, but in my mind it completely misses the point; marriage is of Your Design for us:
“But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female’. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh.Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” – Mark 10:6-9 (NIV)
I sent the bride-to-be a politely worded response that although it was a lovely secular ceremony, it was my responsibility as a Christian Minister to bring Your Presence to the proceedings, and that I wasn’t able to represent Your intentions for the Holy Bond of marriage properly with that script. I hold marriage to be one of Your most personal and intimate Gifts to us, and I feel it’s very important to honor that Blessing appropriately during the formation of that union.
Needless to say, I haven’t heard back from her as of yet.
But this got me to thinking Father… Aren’t we doing the same thing in many other ways as well in society today?
We’ve removed open prayer in schools and many other public places as to not “offend” anyone.
Television commercials are being banned from airing during certain popular television programs to avoid giving a “platform” to any religious groups.
The Pledge of Allegiance has been under attack because the words “under God” upset some people.
It’s disturbing to say the least Father, and I’m seeing more and more signs of it each day. In an effort to not be “confrontational”, we as Christians in many cases “drop the ball” when reflecting Your Light and passing along Your Message of Love and Hope to others around us.
Heavenly Father, You’ve Blessed us all with remarkable gifts. Please help strengthen and embolden us to carry the lantern of Your Light proudly in front of us so that everyone may see Your Wonders and feel Your Presence. In God we Trust. Amen.
Well Father, today marks week three that I’m celebrating “Thankful Thursday” here at PhatherPhil.org! I’m really enjoying these weekly postings, as it gets my head focused on all the wondrous Blessings You’ve granted me. Starting my day thinking “What am I truly thankful for today?” is an excellent frame of mind to be in for the morning ahead.
Today Father, I’d like to thank You for the inspiration and encouragement I receive each day through the wonderful avenue of Christian Music. Over the last several months I’ve switched to almost exclusively listening to Contemporary Christian Music each day, and it’s brought an amazing change to my mood and perspective. Between the local radio station we listen to in the car, to streaming K-Love on my computer at work, to the Contemporary Christian Music Channel on our digital cable TV I leave on in the background during the evening hours, my ears are filled with songs praising You for much of my day. I never have to be concerned with the content not being appropriate for my children, and we’re all the better for having this melodious form of worship going on while being entertained by such marvelous artists.
Jonathan and I even have tickets to see the Newsboys with Kutless and Disciple in a couple weeks! He’s become a big Newsboys fan, and this is his first concert of any kind so he’s extra excited (ok… so am I. 🙂 ). As I’ve mentioned to You before, listening to my boys sing these songs of praise along with the radio in the mornings on the way to school just warms my heart to no end. This music is truly a Blessing, and makes a wonderful impact on our lives each day.
I think this piece of scripture states it beautifully Father:
“Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous;
it is fitting for the upright to praise him.” – Psalm 33:1
As is my usual practice Father, I’d like to start our chat this morning by thanking You for the weekend. While I spent the bulk of it at home caring for a sick child and trying to catch up on housework, any time I get to spend with my family is a Blessing and I do appreciate it. Please continue to provide Aidan with Your Healing so that he may feel even better today, and help all of us shake off the “drowsies” that always follow the shift into daylight savings time.
As You know Father, I’ve had a troubled heart as of late. I faithfully try to lay my burdens in Your Capable Hands, but as the broken and limited being I am, I’m certainly not always successful. Seeking inspiration this morning, You placed this in my path :
“Cast your burden on the Lord—and He will sustain you.” Psalm 55:22
Cast your troubles where you have cast your sins; you have cast your sins onto Jesus—cast your troubles there also! As soon as the trouble comes, quick, the first thing, tell it to your Father in heaven! Remember, that the longer you take telling your trouble to God—the more your peace will be impaired. The longer the frost lasts—the more likely the ponds will be frozen.
Oh! It is a happy way of smoothing sorrow, when we can cast our burden upon the Lord. Oh, you agitated Christians, do not dishonor your religion by always wearing a ‘frown of concern’. Come, cast your burden upon the Lord. I see you staggering beneath a weight, which He would not feel. What seems to you a crushing burden—would be nothing but a bit of dust to Him. See! The Almighty bends His shoulders, and He says, “Here—put your troubles here!”
“Cast all your cares upon Him—because He cares about you!” 1 Peter 5:7
– Charles Spurgeon
What a wonderful and energetic sermon to pray on Father! Reading this, I realized that in many cases I tend to let problems and stresses build up inside me before talking with You about them. By the time they truly beset my spirit, I’ve let them grow into a much deeper hold on me than if I had just worked them through with You when they first presented.
Such a simple lesson that I’ve ministered to others more than once, and yet somehow I’ve allowed myself to fall into this trap.
Heavenly Father, thank You for placing this message in front of me today… I absolutely needed it. As I’ve said many times, I’m a work in progress and awed by Your Faithfulness in leading me along Your Path. Amen.
Well Father, it’s certainly been a roller-coaster of a week. You’ve been extremely “chatty” with me as of late and while I don’t completely understand these urgings You’re placing on my heart yet, I’m starting to put some of the pieces together. Either way Lord, I am paying attention. 🙂
Today Father, I’d like to lift a dear friend of mine up in prayer. He’s going through a very rough time at the moment, and he’s hurting deeply inside. He’s been an incredible support and Blessing both to myself and my business over the years, and has always encouraged me on my journey to Your Service. Please bring Your Healing Presence to his heart Father, and grant him the comfort he needs to be strong during this time of trial.
To close out the week Lord, I’d like to once again share some music that uplifts and inspires me. One of my favorite Christian Artists for many years has been Mark Schultz. He initially grabbed my attention almost ten years ago with “He’s My Son”, which I first heard while Jonathan was going through chemotherapy. Recently however, he seems to be coming out with one amazing new song after another. One of those that truly makes my heart swell is “Love Has Come” :
He’s a truly talented artist Father, and I can feel Your Love each time I hear this song. The chorus says it all :
“Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess
That God is love and love has come for us all
Every heart set free, every one will see
That God is love and love has come for us all”
On my way to a client’s office this morning, I was listening to the local contemporary Christian radio station and they were airing a piece about an outreach program they’d conducted a couple weeks ago. During the clip they played, one of the participants was discussing how wonderful it was that You used that event to reach out to those who were in need.
That got me thinking Father… The idea of “being used” usually has such a negative connotation in the context of our earthly relationships, and yet as Christians we yearn for You to use us.
If we examine Your Word, we find that even Your enemies are used to accomplish Your Works. For example, in the story of Exodus You not only used Moses to bring the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt, but You also used Pharaoh as well :
“Then the LORD said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet. You are to say everything I command you, and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of his country. But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in Egypt, he will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty acts of judgment I will bring out my divisions, my people the Israelites. And the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it.”” – Exodus 7:1-5 (NIV)
By manipulating Pharaoh and hardening his heart, You used him to make Your Might known to the Egyptians. Even those that stand against you in doubt and defiance may be used for Your Purpose.
For those who follow You however Father, there is no greater joy than being used for Your Divine Works; to be Your emissary, Your instrument and Your servant.
Use me Lord. Lead me. Let me be Your Hands. Let me shine Your Light for all to see. This is my prayer, today and every 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.
A couple months ago, I was contacted via email by a lady I hadn’t met before about possibly presiding over her upcoming wedding. She was a friend of a very good friend of mine, so I asked some questions to make sure it was feasible for me to do so. The date seemed fine, but she really didn’t have much of an idea of what kind of wedding ceremony she was interested in. I pointed her to some online resources with sample ceremonies and told her to look through them to get some ideas about what fit her and her fiancée’s wishes. Last week, I finally got around to reading my emails on that account and found that she’d sent me what she deemed the “perfect” script for her special 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. 
