Month: March 2023

My Life on the Road – As a Five-Year Old!

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If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your right hand shall lead me and your right hand shall guide me. Psalm 139:9-10 NKJV

One day, when I was just five years old, I announced to my mom that I had decided to go live with my grandparents. To my surprise, instead of arguing, mom told me that I had a great idea. So, she pulled my little suitcase out of her closet, and began packing some clean underwear, a pair of socks and my cowboy shirt. Once she added a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, I was pretty sure I had all I needed. Then as we waited for my stepdad to get home from work, mom explain the directions. “You see, Main Street where we live is also called Route Six and that road goes all the way from Pennsylvania to your grandparents’ house in Connecticut.” That made my journey sound like a cinch, and the three hundred miles in between didn’t bother me because there would be no turns along the way!

After my stepdad got home, he and mom thoughtfully agreed to drive me to the edge of town, to give me a good head start. I was so excited and pictured in my mind the astonished look on my grandparents’ faces when they opened the door! After the car was parked, they helped me get my suitcase out of the trunk. I hugged and kissed my mom goodbye, waved to my stepdad and shrugged off nervousness as I began walking. After about twenty feet, I glanced back and was surprised to see that my parents were gone. It was beginning to get dark, and the first car sped by, and as the car’s headlights blinded me for a second, I realized that this was a lot more than I had bargained for. Then another car passed and suddenly tears began to run down my cheeks. “Mom! Mom!” I called out desperately. Then I saw my parents come running and relief flooded over me. Later, they told me that they had only been a few feet away, behind some bushes, waiting to see how far I would get. Today’s verse reminds me that both King David as well as you and I sometimes think that running away is the solution to our problems. We imagine that things will be better somewhere else. Just like my parents, God sometimes helps us pack our bags and He even drives us out to the edge of town. But if we are His child, we will soon begin to look for Him and cry out for His help. There, at the uttermost part of our sea, we will discover how much we need God. Just like my folks, He is watching and waiting for us to call desperately for Him. Then He comes, wraps us in His arms and shows us that no matter where we have wandered, that His hand will guide us and His right hand will hold us fast!

“Jesus Tells Us to Be Brave”

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Our area has been captivated recently by the story of Peyton, an eight-year-old girl, who went out to compete alone in a cheerleading competition, because the rest of her team didn’t show up. I watched her performance and the interview with her, while she was sitting on her mom’s lap and was touched by her final statement, “Jesus tells us to be brave.” Many of us who are older Christians need to follow that advice. When I was a teenager, I remember my grandmother telling me, “Old age isn’t for sissies!” and I used to think it was cute or sweet, but now I know the truth. Growing older sometimes leaves us in positions where we feel just like Peyton. The family we grew up with, some of our neighbors and close friends are gone. The world we once knew has changed forever and we feel very – very alone. That is when I turn to one of my go-to verses, like Psalm 34 –

I sought the Lord, and he answered me
    and delivered me from all my fears.
Psalm 34:4 ESV

That is when we need to remember that Jesus tells us to be brave. We are never alone. He hears us. He is with us. He promises to walk with us through the competition and to deliver us from ALL our fears. So whatever you are facing today, bring it to the Lord Jesus. Surely no one understands better than He what it means to be alone, misunderstood or abandoned. He loves us and has allowed us to face these things alone so that we can discover that He can deliver us and bring us through…. P.S. Peyton won first place!

See Peyton perform here

Contentment

/ pastorpete51 / 5 Comments 
Hilltops show miles of blessings
But content in the valley is learned
As in darkness our God lights a candle
And our steps to His pathway are turned

Not all His messages have yet been delivered
As for now He leaves some things unsaid
And the time may not be today my dear friend
For all of His mail to be read

But one day we’ll receive all that He promised
Though today is our battle with fears
In the presence of Jesus it will be forgotten
As He kneels to dry all of our tears

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for 
I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 
Philippians 4:11 ESV

Contentment by Peter Caligiuri
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