Prayer

Praying For America

/ pastorpete51 / Leave a comment

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT

This Saturday we had a great meeting at Sunshine Village but our hearts are heavy for America. With young soldiers dying in Afghanistan and a storm of a lifetime threatening Louisiana we need God more than ever. 75 years ago Dr. Peter Marshall spoke on the American dream. “For freedom is not the right to do as one pleases, but the opportunity to please to do what is right. The founding fathers sought freedom…not from the law but in law;not freedom from government but freedom in government; not freedom from speech- but freedom in speech; not freedom from the press- but freedom in the press. Not freedom from religion- but freedom in religion.

How strange that after so many years that the struggle remains the same. We must hold our freedom firmly and our personal responsibility to use it well as a holy trust from God. How America needs our humble prayers today. Who will take the time to not only have a little talk with Jesus but be ready to hear what Jesus has to say!

The Pity Party

/ pastorpete51 / 5 Comments 
I planned a pity party at my little house today
I designed the invitations and I sent them on their way
First on the list was neighbor Rick and his wife and children too
But he shook his head and said "No thanks." I have so much to do

So then I called my sister
In hopes that she could come
But her voice mail came and told me
To just speak after the tone
Next I thought of pastor so I drove down to the church
But he was visiting the sick - at the Savior's work


So I went into my room alone and sulked before the Lord
"Does anybody care?" I asked
Then I heard His gentle word
"On the day that I was crucified
My closest friends all fled
And at Pilate's word was beaten
 And with thorns they crowned my head.
Between two thieves that day I died
Yet in faith one asked of me
To remember him in heaven
So I took him there you see

So in your struggle down life's road 
When you're feeling quite alone
Help someone with a heavy load
Bring them before My throne

That’s where you’ll see your Father’s face
For His goodness there is found 
 And you'll receive amazing grace
And His joy to carry home!


Pity Party by Peter Caligiuri copyright 2019 all rights reserved

God’s 911 Number

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

Blessed be the Lord, for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me when I was in a besieged city. I had said in my alarm, “I am cut off from your sight.” But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy when I cried to you for help. Psalm 31:21-22 ESV

When we lived in the inner city it was not unusual to have to dial 911 once a month. Though the reason for the call was rarely serious crime, there were many traffic accidents in front of our home, and the sound of crunching metal sent us first to the window and then to the phone. We didn’t call our pastor, our family or even our best friends, because we knew that if we dialed 911 that they would pick up the phone right away. In this Psalm, King David’s problem was that the city he was living in was being attacked by an army. Now I would say that’s a real emergency. David wasn’t just a little worried, he was scared to death, but instead of running away, he ran and dialed God’s 911 number because  he needed help and he needed it right away.

Photo by Negative Space on Pexels.com

Whether we are facing a critical health issue, a family emergency or a desperate financial situation, our assurance is that if we call on God that He will always answer. David tells us, “He heard the voice of my pleas.” and “he has shown His steadfast love!” Those two great promises were not only for David, in Bible times, they are also for us today. God still loves His people with a steadfast love and He is waiting to answer Heaven’s 911 if we will only call on Him!