children

Being Friends With God

/ pastorpete51 / 6 Comments

And He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them,  “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; Mark 9:36-37a ESV

Several years ago, my wife sometimes babysat for two children at our church. David was seven and his little sister Leticia five. On Sundays, I would wave and say, “Hey guys! Good to see you!” David would wave back and smile, but Leticia always hid her face. Every week, I would smile and wave, and every week the results were the same. “I’m sorry.” her mom said, Leticia is just so shy.” “No problem. She’ll smile when she’s ready.” I always answered. But I wondered if that day would ever come. Then one Sunday, just as I was about to sit down, Leticia slipped out of her pew, looked right at me and came running full speed and jumped up in my lap! That scene reminded me of today’s verse. As Jesus walked down the road and his disciples argued about who was the most important, He interrupted their conversation, reached out, and took a child by the hand. Just as I had learned, small children do not stay near to people they do not trust. You can lecture them all day about being polite to guests, but you cannot force friendship. Jesus had children around because they knew he was a friend. He had raised a little girl from the dead and healed a boy with seizures. Children showed up because they liked being around Him. They knew they mattered to Him. He noticed them, talked to them and on occasion even took them in His arms and blessed them. So, if you need healing or even just someone to talk to, Jesus is close by. We do not need to convince Him how important you are. All children are matter to Him. We can all run and jump up into his lap if we are ready, because Jesus is waiting for us to come!

Our son and granddaughter

 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. John 15:15

Friends are those rare people who ask how we are and then wait to hear the answer. – Ed Cunningham

If we want to experience friendship with God then we must do the same!

Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends leave footprints in your heart. – Eleanor Roosevelt

If you have decided to make God your best friend then the footprints of His love will be seen in us every time we pray!

Photo by James Wheeler on Pexels.com

Children’s Book

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As Promised from a couple of weeks back, my new book All Creatures Most Small is now out. This is my first book that is exclusively children’s poetry and was appropriately illustrated by my young friend Emilia (9 years old). Watching both Emilia and my friend and graphic designer Robert Keller come onboard to illustrate and frame my poems was a huge blessing in my life. I am grateful to them for their enthusiasm and advice as well as the kind and encouraging words from both Emilia’s mom and grandmother.

Here is another little peek – Into what All Creatures Mostly Small is about

We were having a great time storytelling and singing around the campfire, late into the night at our church camp out for boys. The youngest of them felt like we were in the wilderness even though it was really just behind the house of one of our church members. When the time came for everybody to head for bed, it took a while to get the boys settled into their sleeping bags. While I lay there listening to the cicadas singing and the frogs chirping, a little voice whispered from the back of the tent, “We can’t sleep. It sounds scary!”

“Oh, don’t be afraid.” I told them. “That just sounds like God talking to me.” I answered back. “Oh!” The small voice whispered. Then just a few minutes later things got quiet and I could hear the gentle snoring of the boys telling me that yes, they had heard God speaking too. I am thankful for all the lessons both large and small that God has taught me with the voice of even His tiniest creatures. and I invite you in these poems to hear God talking to you too.

Here is the softcover edition which is available on Amazon today. This is also an e-book format for those who prefer tablets instead of physical books.

Poetry in Motion

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I have been at work on my Winter/ Spring now turned Summer writing project of a book of children’s poetry. Beyond the writing part I am not too sure of what I am doing but have been blessed to have several friends jump on board to help with everything from illustrations to some graphic design advice. Hopefully “All Creatures Mostly Small” will be out by early July. If like me you feel bogged down by a writing goal, don’t give up, resort to imitation of others or settle for less than your very best. The toughest part of course is that often our very best gets knocked down, ignored or rejected along the way. But if we are called to write, then doing our best in the way we are gifted is pleasing to the author and editor of our faith. I am not sure why God has given me a fascination for tiny things. No matter where I turn it seems He is talking to me through the smallest members of His creation and so I give you my smallest for HIs highest. If you would like a sneak peak here is a little sample from the introduction. I hope it brightens your weekend. Blessings to you all. 

Hummingbirds and Eagles


Of hummingbirds and eagles
And ears and eyes and nose
Of Ibises and flower seeds
And how God’s garden grows
These pages are all filled for you
With creatures mostly small
That God made God’s to show to us
His amazing loving plan!


Hummingbirds and Eagles by Peter Caligiuri copyright 2021 all rights reserved.