Month: September 2024

Abiding After the Storm

/ pastorpete51 / 2 Comments 
When the rain was raging
And the storm knocked at my door
Abiding meant still resting
In God’s Word and nothing more

After hours of cleanup
In the sunset’s fading light
Abiding was still walking
On with Christ throughout the night

In the middle of destruction
With debris now piled deep
Abiding is still trusting
God our hearts will daily keep!

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, 
neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 
John 15:4 NKJV

Abiding After the Storm
by Peter Caligiuri
Copyright © 2024
All rights reserved

Author's note: Though we personally were spared during this storm, many of our friends were caught in the worst of it. What little ways we are able to help, barely make a dent in the work that lies ahead, but as God's family we are trusting Him to get us through this together.

The Aftermath of Helene

/ pastorpete51 / 4 Comments

The stories are all different but the results are equally life changing here for so many of our friends. But one dear sister in our small group shared this verse from Habakkuk that encouraged her this morning.

Though the fig tree should not blossom nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3:17-18 Esv

Habakkuk sees trouble everywhere he looks, and since he is surrounded by problems he looks up and sees the Lord. We are so blessed to be on the edge of the devastation untouched, but our hearts go out to so many who are struggling today. We do not know the answers or have the solutions, but we can have hope and even joy because our Lord remains the God of our salvation, our helper and friend in time of trouble!

Shelter in a Storm

/ pastorpete51 / 4 Comments

We are thankful for having made it through Hurricane Helene unscathed, but friends, just a couple of miles away have lost everything due to storm surge. I can’t take time right now to go into detail but please keep people on the Gulf Coast in your prayers. Those who experienced that tidal flooding are told that there may not be power restored for a couple of days. I hope that will be sooner as all the food will spoil, if it hasn’t already. Also, living without AC, at the end of September in this part of Florida means dealing with 91-degree temps with rain again in the forecast tomorrow and Sunday. Please keep all of us, but especially the exhausted first-responders in your thoughts and prayers. If your church is doing a collection or you can donate blood, anything you can do will be a blessing. I have to go to check on some folks, but will update tomorrow, maybe with a few photos.