Cross

High as the Heavens Love

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him – But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children. Psalm 103:11; 17 ESV

During Lent, many of us carefully consider what things we are willing to give up. But maybe we ought to think instead about what new thing we will dare to do for Jesus. While our love is defined by things like a ring, a promise of a gift of flowers, God’s love stretches far beyond our horizon. We often sing about how God loves us – no matter what we have done. But this love of His is also eternal and will extend after we are gone to our children, grandchildren, neighbors and even our enemies. God’s love is more than just passionate emotion; it is dynamic world changing power. God’s love stirs everything and everyone it touches into action. God’s love forms planets and feeds the hungry. The love of Jesus transforms water into wine and murderers of Christians, like the Apostle Paul into messengers and martyrs for the faith. So why not ask today how in some small way, can we reflect this “High as the Heavens are above the earth,” love of Jesus Christ? How can we show to others God’s everlasting love that was given at the cross and in the joy of Easter morning, when He rose from the dead?

Photo by Chavdar Lungov on Pexels.com

The Eye of the Artist

/ pastorpete51 / Leave a comment 
“Don’t you like the window that we just installed?”
He asked when he saw that she wasn’t enthralled
“But Gramma the level was perfect” he said
But she was certain still shaking her head

“It’s the eye of the artist,” she replied with a grin
So he went to the window to check it again
Then sure as the sun sets each day in the West
His level confirmed it was low on the left

Now, twenty years later I recall with a smile
That the work that we did was still off by a mile
We just didn’t notice the sag of the sash
But the eye of the artist saw all in a flash

And the Artist of Heaven, left His throne room above
To come to my window and fix it with love
For the eye of the artist sees beyond who I am
Then He lifts me up by the blood of the Lamb

For the Son of man came to seek and save the lost. Luke 19:10 NLT

The Eye of the Artist
By Peter Caligiuri
Copyright © 2026
All rights reserved

Photo by Jude Mitchell-Hedges on Pexels.com

Streams in the Desert

/ pastorpete51 / 2 Comments

 I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. Exodus 17:6 NIV

If the prospect of launching out into 2026 looks more like heading across a forbidding desert than launching out on a journey of discovery, then remember that God has promised us streams in the desert. When the children of Israel wandered in a desert (Ironically called the Desert of SIN) without water, they became so thirsty that they were ready to stone Moses for leading them there. Then God commanded Moses do a very odd thing (God seems to major in odd things!) He told Him to take His shepherd’s staff and hot a large rock. This technique isn’t in any well drilling manual I have ever heard of. The best you might expect out of hitting a rock with a stick is a broken stick. But God always has greater things in mind and when he hit the rock, a stream of water so large began flowing out that it was enough for hundreds of thousands of people to drink.

In the same way, in our own desert of sin, God sent His Son Jesus who was struck on the cross with a lethal blow. From His side flowed water and blood and that blood He shed opened for all who would come to Him in faith a mighty river in our wasteland and provision for our journey, no matter what lies ahead in the coming year. I hope you may be blessed by this simple message which I shared at Life Care Center last Friday. May God bless you richly and open for you a path in the wilderness and streams in the desert. Happy New Year in 2026!