Christmas devotional

Merry Christmas!

/ pastorpete51 / 16 Comments 
And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 
Luke 2:10-11 ESV

Some of you have followed this blog for a while, and others are new, but I appreciate every one of you who has taken the time to interact. I do read as many of your blogs as I can, and appreciate the encouragement, challenges and even corrections offered. We serve an awesome and wonderful Savior and none of us has all the answers! Now, December 25th is a very unlikely date for the actual story of Bethlehem, but it gives us a unique opportunity to share the wonderful story of our Jesus. This world is far too busy and even radically opposed to His message of repentance, faith and hope most of the time, but on this day, many businesses are closed and much of the western world pauses to catch its breath. Why not use this brief opportunity to share the radical hope, joy and peace we have found in Jesus? Today, I offer to you my final Christmas message, from the Friday service and also offer two free books. The video is just a tad over six minutes, so it won’t eat up much of your time, and these two devotional books will be available for a free download, from Christmas Eve through the day after Christmas. Have a Merry Christmas and may God bless you richly with both a wonderful Silent Night and the great joy we can find only in Jesus Christ!

Here are the links to the two books. The first, Grace for the Road is a 40-day devotional book especially for caregivers. The second is a 30-day Christmas Devotional which I wrote for 2023. I hope that one of these two gifts may serve in place as a little something for your Christmas stocking. Blessings all

A Christmas Treasury

/ pastorpete51 / 4 Comments

After finishing, “A Christmas Star” last season, I thought that beyond a bit of editorial brushing up, it would be the last Christmas devotional that I would write. However; around June,  God began stirring my heart to put pen to paper once again, While at first I inwardly groaned, knowing how much work lay ahead, I nevertheless prayerfully began writing and day by day, page by page, A new book began taking shape.

A Christmas Treasury begins with a week of looking at how our Christmas carols have sung to us the stories of the birth of Jesus over the centuries and from around the world. Week two dives into the Gospel of John. We rarely expect to find stories about the birth of Jesus there yet hidden between its lines lie treasures just waiting to be discovered. Week three follows the journeys of the wise men, the shepherds, and Mary and Joseph as well as Jesus; the one who had come the farthest of all! Finally, in week four I walk with you down memory lane, sharing some of our family’s personal Christmas memories. Now of course, as always, you will find a space at the end of this year’s devotional, to use as a journal for recording your own treasured memories, lessons or Bible stories. Taking just a few minutes to write your stories down will give others the chance to laugh, cry and remember the Christ treasures that God has given you. But the beauty of Christmas, is about more than a cultural extravaganza or even lovely memories of time with our families. It is the timeless story of God’s amazing love to the world. Though it is more ancient than time itself and deeper that the farthest regions of the universe, God packaged his gift in swaddling clothes, so even the simplest of hearts could receive it! 

To Simplest Hearts

God has chosen us to Know
His mystery Of long ago
When He was born
Where shepherds bow
And cattle fed
And roosters crowed
To simplest hearts
His glory Show

At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;” Matthew 11:25 ESV

To Simplest Hearts by Peter Caligiuri
Copyright © 2021 All rights reserved

I am deeply grateful for my wife, Nancy, who has shared over fifty treasured Christmases with me and who has tirelessly helped to edit this book. On Amazon, you will find editions available in both Large and regular print, as well as eBook, for those who prefer to read via a tablet. Here is the link to the Large print and eBook editions.

His Face I Clearly See

/ pastorpete51 / 5 Comments 

Into creation’s workshop
Before the night and day
God strode onto the scene
And flicked on the sun’s first ray

And paused to smile and sit awhile
As He watched the darkness flee
Then spread out all His many tools
And drew up plans for you and me

Next, God chose an unroofed stable 
Where cows and chickens are
And in the center put a manger
So His Son could see the stars

Now through the long years of my life
That Hope still shines in me
And by starlight from so long ago
His face I clearly see

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. Genesis 1:3 ESV

His Face I Clearly See by Peter Caligiuri
Copyright © 2022
All rights reserved