faith

To Simplest Hearts

/ pastorpete51 / 4 Comments

Not long ago Beverly of the blog, Becoming the Oil and Wine, shared the Jamaican proverb, “wise man rides donkey”. I was struck by that wonderful way of telling us how the wisdom of simplicity is best. This morning I was thinking that God also must like this proverb because he chose simple donkeys like you and me to ride on to show the love of Christ in our neighborhood. Here is my little poem to tell it the best I can. Have a blessed day!

God has chosen us to show
His mystery Of long ago
When He was born
Where shepherds bow
And cattle fed
And roosters crowed
To simplest hearts
His glory know!


To Simplest Hearts 
by Peter Caligiuri
Copyright 2021
All rights reserved

To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery which is Christ in you the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27

Resting in the Arms of God

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
Romans 8:26 ESV

“Everything is going to be alright. God’s got this.” and, “He works everything for good.” Are all great sounding Christian ideas but in times of grief and discouragement the words often feel hollow and empty.

Some years ago we used to trade babysitting duties with another young couple so we could each have a kid-free night out. Their smallest was Debbie. From the first night she came Debbie decided that the only way she would go to sleep was if I held her in my arms and walked back and forth in our apartment for at least 20 minutes. Though my arms ached by the time she fell fast asleep I grew to have a special attachment to her.

That is what prayer is supposed to be between us and God. He invites us to bring Him our inconsolable griefs and welcomes us to be carried in His arms. Often I need Him to walk me back and forth across the throne room of heaven for much longer than I needed to carry Debbie. But the comfort and assurance I find there alone helps me embrace the truth that He is working all things together for good. Yes He is a good God – but only prayer keeps me close enough to His heart so that I can learn to rest in Him. Are you resting in the arms of God today?

How Can Faith Grow?

/ pastorpete51 / Leave a comment 
How can faith be
Like a bird in the air
Who wings without worry
And rests in God's care?

Or the faith of the woman 
Who was caught in her sin
And just silently waited
To find He won't condemn

Or the faith on the seas
As Christ slept in the storm
Till they cried out in fear
Shouting "Save us from harm!"

Then he rose and commanded
Winds and waves by His word
For in storms our faith grows
When we find Christ as our Lord!

How Can Faith Grow?
 by Peter Caligiuri
copyright 2021
all rights reserved

The apostles said to the Lord, “Show us how to increase our faith.” Luke 17:5 NLT

Photo by Rodrigo Souza on Pexels.com