It’s All Small Stuff!

/ pastorpete51 / 9 Comments 
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 ESV

Most of us probably remember the saying, “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” from the book of the same title by Richard Carlson. In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul makes an even deeper truth clear. There are three things that make up the big stuff in life. Everything else is temporary. Our accomplishments, our financial health and our position in this life only last for a little while. In fact, if we would go back to the beginning of this chapter, we would find that Paul even lists things such as, giving away everything we have to the poor or suffering a martyr’s death in flames are things that pale in comparison to God’s love. When life comes to an end, only three things will fit into our heavenly suitcase. Only faith hope and love will be carried into eternity. The times we prayed for a lost loved one or neighbor as we clung onto our hope in God’s promises, the fearful steps into the unknown that we took by faith because we trusted God knew best, and the loving words, actions or prayers that we gave even when we weren’t being loved in return: will be the only things that God will allow us to carry beyond the Pearly gates. Everything else is small stuff. May the words of C.T. Studd in his poem, Only One Life guide and fill you with God’s faith, hope and love today, because that is big stuff indeed!

Two little lines I heard one day,
Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Messes Become Miracles

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In my morning quiet time yesterday I was reading a devotional by Diana Derringer in The Secret Place and was inspired by her final thought: “Messes become masterpieces in our Creator’s hands!” That line of hers led me on a journey to write this week’s poem. I hope it will be a blessing to you as well. 

Messes Become Miracles

The dove whose nest the serpent robbed
While sleeping in the wood
Still sings her song at sunrise
Though no one thinks she should

And messes become miracles
In our Creator’s hands
Neither sorrows, nor our sufferings
Change His Almighty plans

For by His wounds our healing comes
And His sufferings took our sins
So by those hands once pierced with nails
He leads us home to Him!

Messes Become Miracles
by Peter Caligiuri
Copyright © 2024
All rights reserved

As He Died to Make Men Holy

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This past Sunday, we closed out the July 4th weekend with the classic songs, The Battle Hymn of the Republic and God Bless America. This weekend about 80% of our crowd came in from the memory care wing, and even though they don’t remember everything the way they once did, they do know all the words to these hymns. They sing with such joy that their voices give joy and hope to everyone who hears. They remind me of Bartimaeus who If there was anyone who should have given up hope, it would have been him. He was a blind beggar and, no one would have recommended this guy to be a motivational speaker on hope. First off, his hope of a career, a family and a comfortable lifestyle were unreachable in the society of his day. On top of that, he must have had neither friends nor family, so He simply sat alone by the side of the street begging. Yet despite all that was stacked against him, Bartimaeus had hope in one thing: the mercy of Jesus. He was sure that if he could get Jesus to listen, that there was still hope. So Bartimaeus began to shout out above the noise of the crowd, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Soon the unhelpful bunch of folks around Bartimaeus told him to shut up and sit down. “Have you met any of them lately? Maybe you hoped they would be the ones to help out, but instead, these were the ones telling you to give up. You’re too old, too young, too weak, too stupid, and on and on. Oh, they might even be a bit more kind than Bartimaeus’ buddies, but in essence they are thinking the same thing, “Why doesn’t this fellow just give it up. There is no hope for him!” But don’t throw up your hands and walk away. Our God is the God of ALL HOPE and just as Bartimaeus was about to discover, He hasn’t ignored your cry for help. Jesus is listening. Jesus is calling you and wants to fill you with all hope if you will simply throw off all your doubts and fears and come. He is waiting for you today!

When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 
Mark 10:47 NIV