Daily Verse

As He Died to Make Men Holy

/ pastorpete51 / Leave a comment

This past Sunday, we closed out the July 4th weekend with the classic songs, The Battle Hymn of the Republic and God Bless America. This weekend about 80% of our crowd came in from the memory care wing, and even though they don’t remember everything the way they once did, they do know all the words to these hymns. They sing with such joy that their voices give joy and hope to everyone who hears. They remind me of Bartimaeus who If there was anyone who should have given up hope, it would have been him. He was a blind beggar and, no one would have recommended this guy to be a motivational speaker on hope. First off, his hope of a career, a family and a comfortable lifestyle were unreachable in the society of his day. On top of that, he must have had neither friends nor family, so He simply sat alone by the side of the street begging. Yet despite all that was stacked against him, Bartimaeus had hope in one thing: the mercy of Jesus. He was sure that if he could get Jesus to listen, that there was still hope. So Bartimaeus began to shout out above the noise of the crowd, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Soon the unhelpful bunch of folks around Bartimaeus told him to shut up and sit down. “Have you met any of them lately? Maybe you hoped they would be the ones to help out, but instead, these were the ones telling you to give up. You’re too old, too young, too weak, too stupid, and on and on. Oh, they might even be a bit more kind than Bartimaeus’ buddies, but in essence they are thinking the same thing, “Why doesn’t this fellow just give it up. There is no hope for him!” But don’t throw up your hands and walk away. Our God is the God of ALL HOPE and just as Bartimaeus was about to discover, He hasn’t ignored your cry for help. Jesus is listening. Jesus is calling you and wants to fill you with all hope if you will simply throw off all your doubts and fears and come. He is waiting for you today!

When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 
Mark 10:47 NIV

Learning to Wait

/ pastorpete51 / 8 Comments 
When my mind grows impatient, 
And I’m pushed to the wall
And the problems I’m facing 
Aren’t changing at all

 Jesus teaches the waiting
Through His hours on the cross
Where He gave a thief mercy
In His suffering and loss 

Then in the sealed tomb 
He lay still the day
As He silently waited
Till Death’s stone rolled away!

I waited patiently for the Lord; 
and he inclined unto me and heard my cry.
He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, 
out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, 
and established my goings. Psalm 40:1-2 KJV

Learning to Wait
By Peter Caligiuri
Copyright © 2024
All rights reserved

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

/ pastorpete51 / 8 Comments 
 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36 ESV

July 4th, 1974, in Southern Missouri, was a hot day, but perfect for a church picnic. All kinds of things were happening that day in America, but what my wife and I remember most is the birth of our oldest son. That afternoon after lunch, we cooled off by tossing a frisbee around with the other young people from our church. So, when Nancy’s labor pains started, she was having so much fun that she declined to tell me until they only were five minutes apart. Then when she informed me, it took a moment for reality to set in. Finally, in a state of panic I ran for the pickup and together we sped the two miles up the dirt road, and then another twenty-five minutes down the state highway to the hospital. Let me just say that this was a trip which neither one of us will ever forget! Later that night, at precisely 11:45 P.M., our parenting adventure began, and the details of that special July 4th remain precious to us even after forty-nine years.

Two hundred and forty-five years ago on a different 4th of July, our nation was born. Part of the reason we celebrate, is found in the second paragraph of a document that we call, the Declaration of Independence and it began with the groundbreaking idea:

 “That all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” So on this July 4th, though we could find things to complain about in our nation, and plenty of people we would like to blame for those issues, let’s remember that both today’s verse, and the Declaration, remind us to honor and respect everyone. We do this, not because we agree with everyone or accept their lifestyle, but because we are all created by the same God who never changes, and we are all sinners in need of a Savior. That is why God sent His only Son, Jesus to the cross to die. There at the Cross of Christ the ground is level, and His grace is available to all who ask. So, as you see the fireworks go up commemorating our national freedom, remember that only Jesus can give real life, true liberty and a happiness that will last forever. Now that’s something to really celebrate about!

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