Following Jesus

Every Step of the Way

/ pastorpete51 / 5 Comments 
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15‭-‬16 NIV

On my morning walks I have been greatly enjoying watching one little brood of ducklings growing up as they waddle along with all their might after their mom. Their eager footsteps remind me of one of choruses we used to sing. “This is the Day that the Lord Has Made”. That was a song we sang with enthusiasm and hand clapping, focusing on the following line, “we will rejoice and be glad.” part of the verse. But even though we sang the words, usually we went out and lived the rest of the day, oblivious as to whom it truly belonged. We easily forgot that the day was not ours. When we just, “seize the day” as one popular saying urges us to, we will find ourselves on a pathway alone. That is because every day, not just the one we call, “The Lord’s Day” belongs to Him. Until He has redeemed it, we will miss His purpose. Until we put our time into His hands, we will miss the wisdom of my little web-footed friends, of following Jesus every step of the way!

He Safely Carries His Lambs

/ pastorpete51 / 2 Comments 
Are you a staff for the Shepherd to lean on
 A yielded heart to His plans for today?
A calendar filled with appointments
On His schedule and choice for your way?

For His burden grows lighter and lighter
And His yoke is a joy to receive
When He gathers the weak and the lowly
To follow and simply believe

Through trials and troubles He leads us
His voice rings more clearly each day
Though dark paths and steep valleys lie just up ahead 
He safely carries His lambs all the way!


He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. Isaiah 40:11 KJV

He Safely Carries His Lambs by Peter Caligiuri copyright 2021 all right reserved

Becoming a Water Walker

/ pastorpete51 / 6 Comments

He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. Matthew 14:29 ESV

When I first became a Christian, I was baptized in a swimming pool behind the church. That might seem strange for some people, but in Arizona having a church pool was not strange at all because it eliminated the need for an indoor baptistry and gave the young people somewhere to go on hot days. I had not read the Bible before Jesus found me and knew nothing more than the creation story and something about loving my neighbor. So, when I learned about Peter getting out of the boat and walking on the water to Jesus I was intrigued. I used to walk around the church pool putting my foot out on the water wondering if I could have enough faith to walk across it. Later, I learned that no one else has figured out that water walking thing since Jesus told Peter to come, 2,000 years ago but I still thought about what his first steps were like. Whether the sea was calm or churning with huge waves really did not matter. Neither option allowed for water walking. In fact, once you walk where feet are not supposed to be able to stand, it really does not matter how far you get from the boat or how deep the water is. You have now entered God’s universe of the impossible and the first thing to remember is that we are not standing on wave tops. We are launching out in faith on the word of Jesus Christ. If He says come, it no longer matters what others think. The only thing that counts is if He is calling, because when Jesus calls, He will also be there to catch you if you start to sink!