Flowers

Dried Flowers Bloom

/ pastorpete51 / 4 Comments 
Some Black-eyed Susans, some lilacs sweet
Join Roses and Foxgloves for one short week
In the vase on the table and displayed with pride
Till their petals fall and are gathered and dried
Then tenderly placed with one long last look
And pressed between pages in our memory book

When our petals fall and our beauties fade
We search for our rest in life’s growing shade
In the book written by the hand of the Lord
Where souls are remembered, and hopes are restored
While we wait for Spring by the empty tomb
And the word of the Lord makes dried flowers bloom

The grass withers, the flower fades,
    but the word of our God will stand forever. Isaiah 40:8 ESV

Dried Flowers Bloom by Peter Caligiuri
Copyright © 2026
All rights reserved



Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Alone With Jesus

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

And after six days Jesus took with Him, Peter, James and John and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them. Mark 9:2 ESV

One of my favorite hymns begins with the line, “I come to the garden alone.” I often think of those words as I go on my morning walks and as I sit to read the Bible with my first cup of coffee. Today’s verse might make you think you need to go up a mountain, to please God. But what Jesus was really asking, was for Peter, James, and John to be alone, with Him, so they could hear the Father’s voice. That makes me wonder when the last time was that my heart was quiet enough to hear HIs voice. God does not always lead us up mountains. Sometimes our path leads through the valley of the shadow of death, or the garden of Gethsemane, but wherever we find ourselves today, what is most important is to listen to Him there.

Because what matters is not just being alone – what counts is being alone with Jesus. Even if we began today so busy that we did not hear His voice, He still offers us an invitation come and be alone with Him. Whether sitting in a garden, climbing a mountain, or carrying a cross, when we walk with Him and talk with Him, He shares a joy with us that no one else has known. Listen for His voice. Today, He wants to be alone with you!

Gossip Weeds

/ pastorpete51 / 8 Comments 
So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! James 3:5 ESV

My New England home is famous for its Vermont cheese, maple syrup and Fall foliage, but one lesser-known product which we have in abundance is poison ivy. This lovely plant has nice shiny leaves, prolific annual growth and pretty red berries. Those lovely berries are greatly loved by the birds, which happily gobble them down and then generously plant them everywhere that isn’t paved or under water. In today’s verse, the Apostle James tells us about a far deadlier poison than that in our ivy: That is the poison of our words. A single seed of malicious gossip, whether by text, social media or by phone, can destroy relationships, careers and even lives. James says, that though started by just a tiny spark, that they can set an entire forest on fire. But the good news is that in the same way that gossip spreads, words of grace can also spread, and in an even more powerful way, In Galatians, we are given the list of the kinds of seeds that God wants us to plant:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; Galatians 5:22-23a

Right this moment we have the opportunity to begin planting loving words, joyful praises, peaceful phrases, patient encouragements, kind offers, good suggestions, faithful promises, gentle assurances and self-controlled responses. These seeds, when planted in our garden will lead to a far different and better harvest. James ends by calling it:

And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:18

Though we must be patient because it will take a season for these seeds to grow, the harvest will be worth it. So, what’s growing in your garden today?