Our Hope is In the Lord

When our barns are filled
Or the fields are dry
Our hope remains in the Lord
Not a grip of despair
On the wheel of our life
But a joy and a rest on His Word


When grief comes to steal 
Our song in the night
His melody’s rings out so strong
That tells of the stream
And His pasture that’s green
And our Shepherd who leads us along


Our Hope is in the Lord by Peter Caligiuri copyright 2021 all rights reserved

Taking Care of Mom!

Today I am praying for another person serving in long term care ministry who is facing difficulties in continuing their ministry. The way we all serve has been challenged because-we have not only seen homes closed without notice and restrictions placed on how we can serve but also the lack of understanding in the church of how to help in practical ways.

If you are involved as a caregiver, chaplain, family member or friend,don’t give up whatever the difficulties. Jesus loves widows and orphans and their care has been entrusted us since the moment He gave Mary to John to take care of. She was not given to John as a problem to solve or a burden to carry but as a mother to love and provide for. Our calling as long term care workers is to keep on loving them in every way possible and through every opportunity that God puts in our hands. Notice also that none of the other 10 disciples ever understood or helped John out. While Peter and Paul had big public ministries, John stayed close to home. He was taking care of Mary as a life long commitment. That is our call. It is a life long trust. Some people “get it and others will not but Jesus knows and will give us strength and help and provision because after all- we are taking care of His mom!

In God We Trust

Lord you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them. Psalm 10:17

Here in the United States our national motto is “In God We Trust” and it is interesting that it appears, not on our flag, nor directly in our constitution but on our money. But it was not at the height of our prosperity that we adopted this phrase, but during the dark days of the Civil War. Despite the ultimate victory of the Northern States, the reality was that both sides suffered devastation, death and tragedy on a scale never seen before or since in our history. When our hopes were at their lowest it was introduced on the 2 cent piece in 1864. Maybe that is instructive for our day of social upheaval, violence and division. We must remember that our trust in God is not a bold boast but a cry to Him for help. Today’s verse reminds us that hope is not in victory or success, but in the promise that God will hear our cry. He is our hope this morning and forever. So what is your disappointment? What is your despair? Where are you feeling the weakest? Remember that He has promised to hear, to come and to comfort. If we put our trust in God, we are saying not that things are great but that whatever comes we will fully and only belong to Him!