Father Forgive

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And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.   Luke 23:34 KJV

 

Whenever the president goes about nominating anyone for service in the government he makes up what people often refer to as a short list of names. These are the most qualified, smartest and powerful folks available. Add to those qualities the need of their having no embarrassing past, no criminal record or financial entanglements. Only after the best of the best have been narrowed down is the final the choice made. The good news for us is that God works in a different manner. His short list of candidates included corrupt politicians like Pilate; condemned criminals like the thieves being crucified with him and even a disciple named Peter who had denied him three times. Our greatest hope in the promise of Easter is in the forgiveness of sins that Jesus offers. We are as far from God as the soldiers who nailed His hands to the cross and Jesus reaches out to all of us in His prayer.

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Do you feel far from God’s plans for your life? Do you feel hopelessly tangled in a lifestyle that is leading you away from Him? The best news in the universe is; even if you had been one of those who gathered the thorns that were plaited into His crown, He would still want you as His child!

Free Caregivers Devotional

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As we move further into the new normal of Corona life more and more people may find that they are becoming a caregiver in a new sense of the word. Children are home and with even the parks closed we are being forced to come up with new ways of engaging with them, encouraging them and even helping with their online class work. For others who have a senior in the home, the reality that the senior centers, churches and restaurants are now closed means spending a lot more time with mom, dad, Aunt Linda or Uncle Bill. Though being a caregiver is a part of what we are designed by God to do, it can also be exhausting, intimidating and frustrating. When I wrote Grace for the Road it never entered my mind that it was for more than just people with friends or family either in Long Term care or with special needs at home. My small contribution this week is a free down load from now till Monday of a 30 day devotional written just for you. It is a combination of true stories from my several decades of ministry in long term care facilities, memories of our own family and a simple Bible based encouragement for the day. If you are suddenly a newly minted caregiver then my prayer is that this free resource may be a blessing to you.

Grace for the Road by Peter Caligiuri is available on Amazon and you can either search for that title or go directly to the listing by clicking on the link below.  So the until we break out into the sunshine from under this Covid-19 cloud in the words of Tiny Tim; “God bless us every one!”

Grace For The Road

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The Price Tag

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I am poured out like water and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax it is melted in the midst of my bowels. Psalm 22:14 KJV

As a teenager I always loved the Christmas presents I got from my stepmother Amy. She bought me beautiful expensive clothes, but she always left the price tag on! It wasn’t that she minded spending the money, but she wanted to be sure that I treated her gifts with special care! In some ways God is a lot like Amy. God loves lavishing us with His grace but He wants us to know the cost. When we are singing “It is well with my soul” we should humbly remember the price of that verse.

In the garden Jesus said that His soul was sorrowful unto death. He agonized in prayer in order to accept the suffering of the cross. He asked if there were any other way and then sweat ran down His face like great drops of blood. Just hours after He had finished praying, Jesus was nailed to the cross. The Bible tells us that He was poured out like water. Last, the spear pierced His side and the last drop of the lifeblood of Jesus flowed down to the ground. What a price He paid for us!  Today when you bow your head to thank God for His blessings take a look at the price tag still attached. We will treasure more greatly the gift when we remember the price that He paid.