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All Justice Fulfilled

/ pastorpete51 / 3 Comments

I have been struck by both the simplicity and power of Micah 6:8 since I first heard it read by President Jimmy Carter during his inauguration. Today I see more in this passage than I did then, though the depths and beauty of any of God’s word is far beyond what I can fully understand or possibly communicate in this short poem today. Have a blessed day all!

When did you show us to do what is just
And how did you teach us to walk where we must?
Was it in Bethlehem in the hay of a barn
There in the wonder our Savior was born?

Or when we saw your mercy
When you heard a man’s cries?
How you called Him to come
And you opened His eyes

Or could it be maybe 
We learned to walk by your side
 When You carried  Your cross
To the place where You died


Or was it when they laid you now silent and still
In the tomb before the night at the top of that hill?
Until on the day before dawn when you rose
In the garden you showed us all justice fulfilled 


All Justice Fulfilled by Peter Caligiuri
copyright 2021 all rights reserved

He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:8 NKJV

Early in the Morning

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

And Abraham got up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the Lord: Genesis 19:27

Often when we think of early morning prayer times, a picture of a hot cup of coffee and a Bible in your hand comes to mind. But Abraham had a different idea. He went outside and found a place to stand and listen to God. I can identify with Abraham because I have loved waking up super-early since I was a kid. One of my earliest memories is hearing my mom say, “Go back to bed, it’s only six o’clock!” Maybe I was hungry or maybe I just felt that I might miss out on something exciting if I lay under the covers any longer. Either way mornings remain special to me and today that time includes going outdoors, weather permitting. While I am out walking around our neighborhood, the song that often comes to mind is “This Is My Father’s World.” According to the story, this was also the hymn writer’s inspiration when he would head outside, telling his wife, “I’m going out to see my Father’s world.”

Some versions have attempted to “Improve” the song by removing all Father and male references. Such silly theology misses the point that we have not just a God but a Father in Heaven. He watches over us all through every night and is waiting every morning to greet us and speak to us about our day. There is nothing more important that we could do than to stand before him and listen. One day we will all stand before the Lord, why not freely chose to do so today? No one could ever love us like a Father who sent His only Son for us that we could spend every morning with Him in Heaven and worship at His feet!

Since it is Father’s day week I thought I would share my Father’s day video this morning which includes This Is My Father’s World. Have a blessed day everyone!

The Highway of Love

/ pastorpete51 / 4 Comments

These verses are God’s highway giving us both guardrails and a center line. The guard rails tell us all that love is not. They keep us from veering off to the left by wishing we had what others do. When we look there we lose sight of gratefulness for all God has given us. On the other side is a guard rail to keep us from boasting. Because it is so easy when we have been blessed, to want to tell others how special we are.

Instead we need to keep our eyes on the center line that tells us all love is. Love is patient and love is kind, stopping to help someone with a flat tire by the roadside and giving space to the person in front who is driving slowly. Love is joyful when others find their way back onto the highway. Love stays up all night to help the person at the wheel to stay awake. And at the end of the day those guard rails of God’s love keep us from crashing, but it is the center line that will lead us all the way home!