Mercy

Finding Refuge

/ pastorpete51 / 7 Comments

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Psalm 34:8 ESV

Storm shelters or at least a safe room are a must in North Texas where our son and his family live. They discovered this not long after their move there last year. One night as the rain was coming down and the winds suddenly picked up their cell phones went off warning them to take cover immediately. Ben, Deb and all five of our grand kiddos huddled together in the only room without windows in the center of their home. Fortunately the worst of the weather missed them, but it taught them an important lesson. Always be on the lookout for storms, and remember where to find shelter. Today’s verse puts together those thoughts in our our relationship with Jesus. Our Lord is with us and available, just like the safe room in our family’s house. They couldn’t rush out with 2 by 4’s, nails and plywood to build it after the warning came. It needed to be a familiar place they could find easily. When we daily taste and see the goodness and mercy of Jesus, we will know immediately and without asking, where to head when storm warnings light up our world and the wind is raging outside our door. Maybe you haven’t tasted and seen God’s goodness in a long time. Today is the perfect time to spend time with Him. Get to know Him so well that when the warnings come, there will be no panic or confusion. He longs to fill with calm assurance anyone who runs to Him for refuge. Today is your day to surrender to Jesus!

I was immensely blessed and in need of this new release fron Don Moen titled, Great is Your Mercy.” I pray that it ministers peace and mercy to you this morning. Have a blessed Sunday all.

Mercy’s Gifts

/ pastorpete51 / 6 Comments 

It's a pint of blood needed
For folks we don’t know
 Or a handful of tissues 
When their tears start to flow

 A quiet embrace 
When their world falls apart
And a light at the door 
When they come after dark

 It's that kiss of forgiveness 
When we still feel the hurt
 Or a check in the mail 
When they’ve been out of work

 Angel songs after midnight 
When we’re up watching sheep
 And a Babe in a manger 
On a night that's so deep! 

Mercy's Gifts by Peter Caligiuri
Copyright 2020
 All rights reserved

Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy – Matthew 5:7 KJV

Hope in the Lord

/ pastorpete51 / 6 Comments

O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is unfailing love. His redemption overflows. He himself will redeem Israel from every kind of sin.
Psalms 130:7‭-‬8 NLT

Life has been so busy here planning for our upcoming trip, finishing and then promoting my book so my wife wholeheartedly agreed for a sunset tour of a nearby park we had never been to. What a blessing to take a little break from our daily routine and spend a few quiet moments watching the sun set over the Gulf. It is as if every evening, Jesus takes His artist’s brush and paints a message of hope just before the darkness settles in.

Maybe He is telling each one of us individually to recall His faithfulness to forgive, by painting the ocean red. There is the place that He has promised to cast our sins if we repent and turn to Him when we stray. There under the waves, all our own actions and anxieties that have robbed the lives of ourselves and our families can be forgotten and forgiven because of the Cross. How glad I am of that new hope available for me!

So here are some photos of last night’s quiet sunset. They are just a few samples of the masterpiece of God’s mercy and hope for anyone who is looking. Where is your hope today?

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