Month: March 2022

Morning Prayer

/ pastorpete51 / 5 Comments 
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. 
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. John 15: 11 ESV

Many of the Amish who were praying this were on their way to farm work, cooking or carpentry asking for godly joyfulness in the middle of their everyday lives. For us, giving mercy might be just helping a neighbor mow his lawn, planting an extra row of tomatoes in our garden to give away or making up a plate of food for a friend. Jesus didn’t say we had to do miracles, in order to love others. In fact, just before He gives this command, had been washing their feet. The key to being joyful begins not by amazing them with miracles, but by serving them, just as Jesus did. So, as you begin your day, ask God to make you His tool of mercy by joyfully practicing the calling that He has given you. You will discover that there is no better way to love others than the smallest act of service done with the joy of Jesus Christ!

"Make us tools for your mercy and let us joyfully go forth and practice our calling. Amen

Considering that many of the Amish who were praying this were on their way to farm work, cooking or carpentry we get the picture of experiencing godly joyfulness in the middle of our most everyday things of life. They ask to be God’s tool of mercy as they begin to simply do ordinary acts of service. For us to give mercy might be no more complicated than helping a neighbor mow his lawn, planting an extra row of tomatoes in our garden to give away or making up a plate of food for a friend. Jesus didn’t mean we had to do miracles, in order to love others. After all, just before Jesus gives this command, He showed them His love, not by some amazing miracle but by washing their feet. The key to our being joyful begins as we love others, not by amazing them with miracles, but by serving them, just as Jesus did. So, as you begin your day, ask God to make you His tool of mercy by joyfully practicing the calling that He has given you. You will discover that there is no better way to love others than the smallest act of service done with the joy of Jesus Christ!

Softly With the Lambs – Poem

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment 
Go on ahead of me
I must lead softly on
The tender flock around me
Cannot run the whole day long

And if you climb to greater heights
We'll follow at a pace
That children and the lambs can walk
Just step by step in grace

Then together on that day
We'll meet you at the gate
For I must lead on softly
Until the break of day!

Softly With the Lambs by Peter Caligiuri copyright 2022 all rights reserved


Sitting Next to the King

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You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; 
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 
Psalm 23:5 ESV

We all love the parts of the twenty-third Psalm when God makes us lie down in green pastures and leads us beside still waters. But how do we feel about following Him on the path of righteousness; that lead into the Valley of the Shadow of Death? When the road grows dark, and we hear the howling of wolvers it is tempting to give in to fear, but God’s word gives us three things to give us courage. First, our Shepherd who let us rest in the green pastures and walked us down to the gentle stream is still around when danger comes. He leads us into the valley because we need more than just green pastures and fresh clean water. He knows that only when our faith is tested will it begin to grow. Secondly, in the darkness of the valley, our Good Shepherd teaches us to follow Him, one step at a time. We learn that wherever He has walked, we can safely follow. Whenever He stops to rest, we must also and when He says to pitch our tents, we can trust that His rod and staff will protect us through the night. Finally, and best of all, when we wake in the morning, He leads us to a banqueting table that is waiting for us! There in the middle of the dark valley, He brings us to the same table He sat at on the night when Judas betrayed Him. There He takes the bread and blesses it saying, “This is my body which is given for you.” and then He takes the cup that overflows and tells us, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood.” Then He says to remember every time we receive, that He passed through the Valley first and prepared a table for us there. At that table, no enemy, no problem, or suffering will matter, because there in our darkest valley we will find ourselves at a table sitting right next to the King!