Two Men in a Storm

I posted this poem last year but in light of the daily death tolls drubbing on our minds; I thought that maybe this little verse will help as you face yours.

clouds dawn nature ocean

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Two Men in Two Storms

Two men went down to the sea one day

Paul in chains and Jonah running away

“I need to lie down” was all Jonah could say

So he slept through the storm

When he should have prayed

 

But prisoner Paul cried to God in his boat

Till an angel came down with a message of hope

Then with joy he encouraged his friends

Saying Jesus would keep them all safe in the end

 

It took a big fish to get Jonah to go

Tell others of mercy and God’s love for the world

But our friend Saint Paul shows us the right way

That when God sends the storm we must trust and obey!

Two Men in Two Storms by Peter Caligiuri © 2020 All rights reserved

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The Last Puzzle Piece

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.  Acts 20:24 ESV

Over the first few weeks of our lockdown my wife and I spent several days putting together a 500 piece puzzle. It was one of the hardest  we had ever done because of the weird shapes of the pieces. Finally after 6 days it seemed as if we we were about to complete it when we sadly realized that it was missing 2 pieces! Looking back I can laugh but it reminds me that my life also has some missing pieces – like the answers to questions “Am I doing what God wants me to do?” and “What am I doing about that today?”

For each of us the answers are as different as the parts of our puzzle. Paul’s great way of answering that question for himself was rooted in his both faith and his determination to accomplish what God had called for him to do. Paul chose to leave behind his privileged life and no matter the cost take the journey God had chosen for him. The key to Paul’s clear thinking was that no one’s opinion mattered except the Lord’s. Now of course very few of us are called to leadership like Paul was, but all of us are shaped by God for our own moment in history. Our most important conversation today must be with Him. The good news for all of us is that He has promised to show us the way and how to fit the final pieces into our own life’s puzzle!

assorted puzzle game

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COVID-19: God’s Preferential Deference? — mulyalemutisya

I don’t re-blog many articles but I loved this post by Mulyale Mutisya from Nairobi, Kenya.  She put in clear practical and personal terms questions I have had about how the Corona Virus was changing everyday life in other parts of the world. I especially loved her quote from Monika Hellwig;

“The fears of the poor are more realistic and less exaggerated, because they already know that one can survive great suffering and want.”

Thanks Mulyale and have a blessed day all!

 

A few days ago, I took an evening walk with a friend who had visited. We follow the train track, breathing in fresh air from the surrounding forest. This is refreshing especially after spending time in quarantine. After about twenty minutes, the train track makes a diversion and leads us to a wide road and […]

via COVID-19: God’s Preferential Deference? — mulyalemutisya