comfort

Peace Beyond Our Understanding

/ pastorpete51 / Leave a comment 
 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, 
will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 
Philippians 4:7 NKJV

Part of the joy as well as the sadness of nursing home ministry is walking with dear friends along their path of faith but then having to say goodbye when they reach the end. This past week our friend Don walked out of his room at Gulfcoast Hospice and into the presence of Jesus. The amazing legacy of his faith is a treasure indeed and the peace that Don showed to the very end was an inspiration. I hope you will be encouraged, rather than saddened by my short testimony and that this old song, “Peace Like a River” will lighten your load and brighten your path.

No Death Was Not My Plan!

/ pastorpete51 / 5 Comments 
“No death was not my plan” God said 
When Adam chose the names for beasts 
When I in secret fashioned Eve 
While He lay fast asleep 

Now when Spring seems far away 
And under snow the garden sleeps 
Remember that in frozen ground 
The Tulip’s promise keeps 

For as the last frost leaves the earth 
The flower finds its way 
And just as Jesus rose from death 
It breaks through to sunny day! 

No Death Was Not My Plan! 
by Peter Caligiuri copyright © 2022 
All rights reserved


The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
John 10:10 ESV








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Getting Back in the Boat
						

			 / pastorpete51						 / 7 Comments
								

			


		

		

And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Matthew 14:32 NKJV 





This short verse from Matthew’s gospel held a promise for me that I had overlooked till I desperately needed it. My mother was just sixty-two when she died of breast cancer and her passing left me feeling like I had been run over by a truck. The years struggling to rebuild our relationship, the prayers and the conversations were suddenly over. I felt as if I were locked in a room with barely enough air to breathe. I sleepwalked through months of guilt and regret for what had never been. I had often thought about God challenging me as He had challenged Peter to get out of the boat. At other times I had been comforted knowing that just as Jesus had reached out his hand to save Peter, He would take my hand in the middle of a crisis. But it was just as important for me to learn that Jesus wanted to help me back into the boat and restore calm when this storm had passed. I do not know how it happened but gradually light began shining in the dark places of my heart. I woke up to find that though I might never understand the why behind the pain, knowing only God knew had become enough





Do we struggle to see God as more than just challenging or rescuing us? What a wonderful surprise awaits when we realize that He is also delighted to help us back in the boat and calm our winds to a hush.