faith

Jesus is Right on Time!

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”          John 11:21-22 ESV

Just like Martha we spend a lot of time worrying when Jesus is going to show up. I have an expectation that He must do something but no matter how much I fuss or complain about my problem, Jesus sticks to His own timetable. But if we will we still believe like Martha, then He just might surprise you with a miracle. Someone once said, “The hurrier I go the behinder I get.” Though it sounds funny it is no fun experiencing it. After all they had done for Jesus, Martha and Mary were probably shocked when He didn’t come to help their brother. Maybe they began to wonder if Jesus was as kind and loving as they thought. But they both knew in their hearts that Jesus hadn’t forgotten them. Even though Martha couldn’t understand she still believed that somehow He could still come to help. At the deepest point in her sorrow she still believed that it was not too late!

Part of our struggle is that God doesn’t have the same goal that we do. When Jesus waited an extra few days while Lazarus died it must have seemed cold hearted. After all hadn’t he already healed hundreds of other people? Why wouldn’t He come as fast as possible to heal one of His closest friends? But God had something better in mind. He didn’t just come for healing…He came for resurrection!

Faith and Feathers

/ pastorpete51 / 5 Comments

This week-end I came across a feather that one of the hawks in our neighborhood lost in a tussle with a mocking bird. It was still so well preserved that i brought it home and washed it and then mailed it off with this poem to our youngest grandson. I hope that it may be a blessing to some other child like thinking friends out there. I hope everyone has a great week!

Faith is Like a Feather

Faith is like a feather

That can move a million pounds

It can shake a mighty mountain

Without making any sounds

It sings when we are lonely

And sits close when we are sad

Then carries us to Jesus

To forgive us when we’re bad

It will teach us to keep praying

Even when we’re growing weak

And will fly with us to heaven

Where with Jesus we will meet

Faith and Feathers by Peter Caligiuri © 2020 All rights reserved

A Weaned Child

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. Psalm 131:2 ESV

Most of us who have been parents read this verse and remember battles with our children as we tried to get them off the bottle and onto baby food. But when I was in Bible College (which feels like a thousand years ago) one professor who was a Palestinian gave us a different perspective. He explained that in the Middle East, when a mother felt that it was time for their child to start on solid food they would smear something bitter on their breast just as meal time rolled around. Once Junior got a taste of that they would pull back in surprise and cry. Then the mom would offer something to eat.

Photo by Lombe Jr. on Pexels.com

But of course babies who are used to breast feeding don’t want anything except for sweet milk. According to our professor that process sometimes went on for more than a day until finally the child in exhaustion just rested on his mother and began to accept a tiny bit of rice or banana.  What seemed like punishment to the child was actually for their good. It is not that the milk was bad but that the solid food was better. Now looking back I can see how God has worked with me. Friends left behind, the death of my parents and the struggles of growing older have sometimes left me bitterly complaining and wishing for the good old days. But the good news is that God not only takes away, He also gives. In exchange for the sweet milk we lose, He gives us a deeper trust in His care and a confidence in the great embrace of God as we rest on His everlasting arms!