Flowers

To Simplest Hearts

/ pastorpete51 / 4 Comments

Not long ago Beverly of the blog, Becoming the Oil and Wine, shared the Jamaican proverb, “wise man rides donkey”. I was struck by that wonderful way of telling us how the wisdom of simplicity is best. This morning I was thinking that God also must like this proverb because he chose simple donkeys like you and me to ride on to show the love of Christ in our neighborhood. Here is my little poem to tell it the best I can. Have a blessed day!

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


To Simplest Hearts 
by Peter Caligiuri
Copyright 2021
All rights reserved

To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery which is Christ in you the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27

Fragrance of the Sacrifice

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

And live a life of love just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

I have often wondered about the prayer Jesus prayed in Gethsemane. The awesome power that Jesus had to command wind and waves and to raise the dead was humbled in His plea to be delivered from the cross. He could have miraculously hidden himself again or struck down a thousand soldiers by a word and yet He struggled and sweat blood as He yielded Himself to His Father’s will and the shame and suffering that lay ahead.

He could have prayed; “I know I have to die so let’s just get this over.” In sullen acceptance, but instead He yielded His heart in love. How often I have prayed and given grudgingly but without surrender? I dodge the bullet of disobedience but miss the mark of true sacrifice.

But because Jesus gave His life in loving obedience, Peter was brought to full repentance, Nicodemus had opportunity to be courageous and a thief was brought to paradise. A rich man had the chance to learn how to give and just three days later Mary Magdalene got to be the first to see Him risen and alive. These all received because Jesus gave himself willingly. They became a part of the fragrance of the offering of Jesus. So what about this morning? Will we surrender whatever is in our hands today to God? Will we willingly let go of what is ours to gain something for others? Will we surrender and follow our Lord and offer a sacrifice with a sweet fragrance to God today?

The Son of God Discloses

/ pastorpete51 / 9 Comments

I don’t know why but I am just totally addicted to snapping photos while I walk. I know this probably kills the cardio workout concept, but every new blossom seems to call out for my attention. This morning as I was reading the first chapter of Romans I was remind that God shows himself in all of creation.

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. Romans 1:20 ESV

Though He remains the invisible God it is almost as if He plays at peek-a-boo from behind every flower. Though the petals fall, the beauty that lies behind the blossom remains an eternal memory of our infinite God. So here are.my glimpses of our Savior’s beauty hidden in my rose photos taken this week. Like the line from the hymns says “And the voice I hear falling on my ear – the Son of God discloses…..and He walks with me an He talks with me!”