God’s Hope

Outside the Tomb

/ pastorpete51 / 2 Comments 
But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.” John 20:11 ESV

After everyone had left the tomb that morning, still Mary remained. First, the soldiers fled, after first passing out in fear when they saw an angel roll back the stone. Then the women who had come with Mary, returned home once they saw that Jesus was no longer there. Finally, even Peter and John came, but only stayed for a moment before walking away. But Mary, overwhelmed by confusion, grief, and something more that she just couldn’t put into words, stood outside the tomb.

Many of us stand with Mary this morning. A friend has lost his battle with cancer, a wife or husband has walked away, or a child has chosen things we prayed they would never happen. No explanation makes any sense, and most difficult of all is that no one stands with us. No one that is, until…

“And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.”  John 20:12

When we stoop to look into the tomb, God gives something more. In Mary’s case, that something more began with angels, but for us it could be a phone call from a friend, a neighbor stopping by or even a Christian song heard on the radio. God has not abandoned us. He has not forgotten. Our weeping does come, but it comes to pass. It washes through us like tidal wave, but after it passes, there are angels, messengers of God, sent to ask us a question and calm our hearts.

 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.”  John 20:13

Notice, the angels didn’t say, “Stop it! Jesus is alive! Don’t worry be happy!” God understands the fragile nature of our heart, and He tenderly begins His work of restoration with a gentle question. Why are we weeping? Where is the source of our hope? Then as tears begin to dry and calm creeps into our hearts, Jesus Himself comes, though we may not yet recognize Him.

Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. John 20:14

Again, the message God brings, is not a loud, “Cheer up!” It comes with a question, asked this time from His very lips, “Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?…” God does not demand hope, command us to smile or require laughter. He comes with a hand to brush tears away and an ear to listen to our needs.

Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” John 20:15b-16a

He has come, calmed our hearts, and listened to our prayer. Now we are ready. He has gently prepared us to hear His message of hope, and that begins when we hear Him call our name. If you are struggling, in despair, grief or feeling hopeless, don’t give up. All you may have left is like that empty tomb, but don’t walk away. God knows your heart. He is listening, and He is coming, though we may not recognize Him at first. That’s okay! Jesus is standing near, though He might look like the gardener! He remembers you. He has come, and He is calling your name!

The Good Day God Has Given

/ pastorpete51 / 2 Comments 

Why not wake with joy to greet 
The good day God has given?
Like Mockingbirds and Cardinals 
Each with their songs from Heaven

The Red winged blackbird in the field
The swallow on her nest
Sing out their special melodies 
As God has chosen best

And once their hours have passed and they
Towards home begin their flight
They find the place to rest their feet
And trust God’s care all night!


This is the day that the LORD has made;
    let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 ESV

The Good Day God Has Given
by Peter Caligiuri
Copyright 2023 all rights reserved


Asleep in the Storm – 2

/ pastorpete51 / 8 Comments 
For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, 24 and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’. Acts 27:23-24 NLT

I had meant to write part two to this series sooner, but with our last two days filled with evacuating and setting up forty miles inland, things have been a bit busy. But as we await the arrival of hurricane Milton, I thought of the Apostle Paul who weathered a storm so long ago. Paul’s storm experience, unlike Jonah’s was not because of disobedience. He was there because of the decisions of others. Yet, in that storm, even as a prisoner chained below deck in a Roman ship, Paul continued to trust God. Meanwhile, topside, even the sailors were in desperation. They had battled through that tempest, without even being able to see either the sun or stars for two weeks. Yet when all hope seemed lost to everyone else, God sent an angel with a message for Paul, “Don’t be afraid Paul… God has granted you safety!”

To me one of the most amazing and wonderful thing about this message is that the deliverance that Paul was promised included even the very people who had put him in that storm! And even though it may feel frustrating being thrust into problems that you didn’t cause, God has a plan for good, and not only for you. Maybe that is you today. Your problem, your storm, and your dilemma has stuck you in a corner that you cannot get out of. But the good news is that we don’t need to figure a way out: God in HIs grace already has! Yet, in spite of the fact that God is going to do all the miraculous stuff that only He can do in our storm, He has given us something to do. “Don’t be afraid!”, or in the words of Jesus from John chapter fourteen, “Don’t let your heart be troubled!” God will do all the saving we need in any storm, but we must do the trusting. Jesus will calm the highest strongest winds and highest waves, but our part is to believe. Jesus has promised to be with us even to the end of the world. He will be by our side through this hurricane and by yours in whatever storm you are facing. Even if like Jonah, you brough this storm on yourself, God still has a way out and a way back to Him. Or if like Paul, others have made decisions about things that are out of your control, God has grace enough to help both you and them, if we will simply trust Him, encourage one another with His message and then do the small things that He asks for us to do.