Dear Lord; Happy Monday Father!
It’s been a good while since I’ve laid our conversations to print Lord… Quite possibly far too long. Which is why when I once again felt You urging me to pen my...
Dear Lord; Happy New Year’s Eve Father!
As my mind wandered this morning Father, drifting along this past year’s erratic path and pondering the days ahead You spoke to my heart; a...
As You know, each year my family and I spend a week in the Pocono Mountains at Chestnut Grove Resort. It’s a wonderful place, overflowing with charm, love, and life and we very much look forward to returning each Summer. The family that owns it and their staff go out of their way to fill our stay with wonderful memories, and are always diligent in their efforts to ensure that we all feel like extended family. It’s a place caught quite happily in a gentler, simpler time and a welcomed oasis from the chaotic world around us.
Today, I received the sad news that the husband of the family that owns it was killed on Monday.
Rob was a giving, caring man, and worked tirelessly to bring smiles to his guests’ faces. He was a good man Father, and will be sorely missed by all those who came to know him.
I pray that Your Comforting Embrace is felt by all those mourning his departure, and especially to his wife and children during this time of grief. We celebrate the light he shared while among us Lord, and although he will be missed we rejoice in the knowledge that he resides in Your Kingdom now.
In recent weeks, I’ve been contacted by a number of friends and readers who’ve been going through some struggles in their Walk, and who were seeking perspective and encouragement. And while I’m always happy to bring Your Message of Hope to the table Father, it did get me to thinking about ways that we can strengthen and temper our Faith in times of trial…
Stillness Sabbaticals
As we discussed a couple weeks ago Father, I’ve found that one of my most effective methods for communing with You is to block off some time, find a very quiet spot, and simply focus on Your Presence. We live in an exceptionally “noisy” world, and with a seemingly constant deluge of activity and information surrounding us, Your Voice can sometimes be more difficult to distinguish in the chaos. Whether it’s to spend time with Scripture or simply to pray in silence for guidance, that respite from the auditory onslaught can become a powerful, spiritual time. “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10)
Songs of Praise
Music has a way of reaching into us and touching places that few other things in our lives can. One of the best tools I’ve found for helping to keep my focus on You is listening to the positive and encouraging messages contained in Contemporary Christian Music. Be it listening in the car on my way to work, playing it in the background while making dinner, or streaming it from my iPod while mowing the lawn, today’s talented Christian artists bring the Joy of Christ to my heart every time I listen. “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.” (Psalm 40:3)
Scriptural Mortar
Without question Father, the Bible is the most important book ever written. Through Your Divine Inspiration to those penmen, You’ve Blessed us with the ultimate “Instruction Manual” for our journey while here on Earth. It contains a treasure trove of wisdom, encouragement and rules to live our lives by so as to grow in Your Kingdom. One of the most powerful and compelling ways to nourish our Faith and bring our Walk closer to Christ, is to spend time absorbing Your Word and praying on It’s messages. “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
Fellowship
One of our best sources of encouragement, enlightenment and inspiration can be found in the interactions we have with our fellow Christians. Whether it’s spending time together in worship and study at Church, or conversing with other Believers across the globe via the Internet, the support and assistance of Your Followers are wonderful resources to help steady us in our spiritual journey. “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your continued and faithful Presence in our lives each day. Please help focus our hearts to best receive You, and to support others in their Walk as well. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, and strengthen our resolve to live for Your Kingdom instead of focusing on the chaos around us. Amen.
Once again Lord, we come to the beginning of another work-week. It was a harried but enjoyable weekend, with much time spent in the company of family and good friends. Any lack of sleep incurred was more than balanced by the joy of being surrounded by those I love. As I’ve said many times before Father, I am truly Blessed and I thank You.
Today’s Meditations Monday Scripture selection comes from the Gospel of Matthew. As You know, I’ve been praying quite a bit as of late on new ways to reach out and share Your Love with others, and on expanding this ministry to serve those in need more extensively. It seemed appropriate therefore, to focus my thoughts and prayers today on one of Jesus’ most fundamental teachings:
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)
Such a significant directive You’ve placed on us Lord! The Light of Your Holy Spirit isn’t for private consumption, to be hidden and contained in silence waiting for others to notice it. Instead, as followers of Christ we’re led to make our joy manifest through actions that glorify Your Presence in us. Service to Your Children is worship in practice, and brings our Walk closer to You in the process.
Heavenly Father, we give You thanks and praise for Your unwavering commitment to Your Children each day. Please fill us with Your Spirit, and embolden us to go forth and share Your Light with others. Strip away from us our selfish natures, and lead us to reach out in love and mercy to those in need. Make us beacons of Your Influence, and guide us to endeavors that best glorify Your Holy Name. Amen.
And once again Lord, we stand at the conclusion to yet another work-week. The weekend ahead is poised to be a busy one, but one where much of our time will be spent in the company of good friends and family, so I’m very much looking forward to it. You’ve Blessed us immeasurably through the souls You’ve brought into our lives, and we relish these times with them.
On my way in to work this morning, I was listening to the local Contemporary Christian radio station when a song came on that I hadn’t heard before. As the music played I found myself inspired by the lyrics, so when I reached the office I spent some time researching the song’s origins. As it turns out, although I hadn’t heard it before the song was part of an album released in 2005 by Paul Colman called “Let it Go”, and is entitled “The One Thing”.
What a great song.
But the one thing I don’t question is You
You really love me like You say You do
We question so many things in our lives Lord, but as long as we cling firmly to the knowledge that You love us unconditionally, all those other concerns pale in importance. 🙂
Heavenly Father, I thank You for the Blessings You’ve bestowed on us this past week. Please continue to guide our motivations and actions to best glorify Your Will, and stir us to act as Your Hands and Feet so that all those around us can’t help but see Your Love. Amen.
As I’ve mentioned before Lord, I’ve become quite fond of the Thankful Thursday post each week. It serves as a wonderful look back and inspection of the prior week’s events, and helps me to truly focus on and appreciate Your Wondrous Gifts more thoroughly. Spotlighting those simple joys in life that often go by unnoticed has proved to be inspiring, and humbling at the same time. And each week, after carefully compiling my list I come to the same undeniable conclusion…
I am truly Blessed. 🙂
And therefore Father, without further ado, here’s this week’s Thankful Thursday list:
90. The cool, fresh breeze following a summer thunderstorm.
Heavenly Father, You Bless us all with so many things each day that this list could go on and on. For all those Divine Gifts that we recognize, and for those that grace us quietly in silence, I give You thanks and praise. Amen.
You know Father, I always find it fascinating to look over the statistics information for the readership of PhatherPhil.org. I’ve been Blessed beyond words with a steadily increasing fellowship of readers, met a wide variety of Your Children I most likely would have never crossed paths with otherwise, and gained immeasurable perspective and insight from the comments made to our conversations each day. I’ll admit, it’s not what I initially envisioned or expected when I started writing these “Emails to God” each day, but You obviously had other plans for this ministry, and I’m excited to see where they lead next.
As more and more people find this site in the vast sea of cyberspace, I find it interesting to read through the statistics pages to see exactly how they came to be here. One parameter that’s tracked is the list of phrases entered into Google, Bing and the other search engines that led them to click on this site. It’s a fascinating variety of terms to be sure, and it gives me a much better perspective about some of the things that people have on their hearts.
Today, I thought I’d share with You some of those searches that directed people to our daily chats. This obviously isn’t a complete list by any stretch, but these were some search phrases I found interesting…
“my son’s birthday” *This was the most searched for phrase in the list
“being used”
“thanks to my wife”
“a beautiful prayer”
“god’s gps”
“birthday prayers and blessings”
“there is a time for everything”
“thoughts on selflessness”
“dear lord of mercy and father of comfort”
“running on fumes”
“mercies in disguise”
“lord you know where I’ve been”
“prayers of motivation”
“prayer for a troubled friend”
“inspirations for sons”
“skillful hands”
“prayers of thanks for healing”
“thoughts on prayer”
“thank you to my wife, mother of my children”
“biblical reference to “i can’t fix everything””
“husbands love your wives”
“my sheep listen to my voice”
“thoughts on regret”
“lead me lord cause i can’t do this alone”
“blessed inspirations”
“kindness is contagious”
“more on us than we can handle”
“miracles and wonders”
“love the lord with all your strength”
“spiritually malnourished”
“websites of beautiful prayers”
And I just think this one is funny…
“christian song supernaturally where is superman when you need a helping hand wonderwoman hummin”
Heavenly Father, I thank You for the wonderful fellowship and community this site has enjoyed. I’m Blessed each day by these conversations we have, and by the beautiful souls that You’ve guided to join us here.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” – Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV)
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. 
