Celebrating Author Mary F. Caltenco's first book published at age 77

Journey to the Cross: 10 Meditations on the Day that Changed Everything

by Mary F. Caltenco was a book that I thought I’d put with my other devotionals and read one day at a time. But once I started reading it, I finished it in one sitting!

The subject of the cross is one dear to my heart and I could tell it is close to Mary’s heart also. This book is a reflection of her two trips to Israel.

It seemed at first that the compulsion to write this book was to help mothers who have lost children. That in itself is a worthy subject, one that is needed. But the many and varied places she took us in the course of the book expounded more than that.

The book started with a beautiful poem, titled The Way of the Cross. Then the journeys start: The Upper Room, The Garden of Gethsemane, the Church of Pater Noster, the Mount of Olives, Golgotha and more. It was a life-giving journey filled with love and was also very thought-provoking. It is a beautiful book to read as we approach Easter this year and would make a timely gift.

The titles of chapters give you a word to meditate on each day.

LOVING

SOLITUDE

PRAYERFUL

FAITHFUL

HUMBLE

SACRIFICIAL

COURAGEOUS

FORGIVING

ETERNAL-MINDED

VICTORIOUS

The stories within each chapter were beautiful especially concerning her son, Jeff. Mary’s grief-journey is unique but beautiful I could tell by reading this book that she is a woman whose main goal in life was to love her family and friends well. She has surely accomplished that.

Now, I’ll be reading it again, taking it a day at a time. Looking for more books by Mary F. Caltenco.

Donna Collins Tinsley

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=journey+to+the+cross+by+Mary+F.+Caltenco&ref=nb_sb_noss

Amazon.com : journey to the cross by Mary F. Caltenco

My Easter Devo for you, The Bleeding Parent

 We pray on Saturdays for those who have lost loved ones to death, it seems to hit close to home for many. The most unnatural thing in the world they say is burying your child , although Jesus was an adult at the time of His death, to Mary, He was her baby, yet also her Savior.

 Lord, send your strong Father arms of comfort to those who are grieving.

Though they are worn, give them new strength and vision for life. Give them the hope to press on and the ability to have joy again.

The Bleeding Parent

“Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, His mother, for the fall and rising of many in Israel and for a sign which shall be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also) that the hearts of many may be revealed.” Luke 2:34-35

            Mary was a young girl at the time she conceived.  She learned early what it meant to be a bleeding parent.  One of the first prophecies spoken to her was Luke 2:34-35.  As a mother, her natural impulse would have been to shelter, nurture and protect her son.  We cannot forget that although Jesus was God in human form, He was bone of her bone and flesh of her flesh.  Her womb was the first home for the king of kings.  Her body pushed him out.  With each contraction, His destiny and our salvation drew nearer.  She bore pain for Him, that He would bear our pain and sins.

             She watched and pondered, not even knowing fully it was He of whom was spoken, “He is a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.  And we hid as it were, our faces from Him.  He was despised and we did not esteem Him.”(Isaiah 53:3)

He went from son to Savior as she watched Him dying for her at the cross.  We forget sometimes that He was born for the cross.  She went from being His mother to being His child as He became a bleeding parent for her.

Prayer: Lord, you know how much we would like to hide at times from the pain of life, especially when it involves our children. Help us instead to help steer them to the blessings that are in our daily lives and the Season before us.

Thought for the Day: Sometimes as parents we bleed for our children when we see them go through painful situations.

Prayer Focus: Families in pain during the holidays.

Donna Collins Tinsley

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQan9L3yXjc

Easter, a time of new beginnings.

Easter is a time to think on the good things of your life, (Philipians 4:8) as the antidote to complaining and grumbling. It’s the old adage of counting your blessings.



As The Message puts it:


Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.

I read a book by Jay Adams recently about a good way to incorporate this into your daily life. When you find you are tempted to go over in your mind worries and problems instead of ruminating over them, have a plan. Write down 10 or 20 things to think about when your mind is tormented with worries and think on those things instead.


Think about how blessed you are to live in a free country, regardless of all the things that need to be improved in it. Think about how you can be part of the solution instead of the problem.

Think about those whose lives are in danger just because they spread the good news of the love of God and then spread that good news yourself.
Think about the gift of sight, hearing and mobility that you have that others don’t and remember Helen Keller who did so much in spite of disabilities.
Think about the ministries you love and want to be involved with and then go get involved.
Think about your children and grandchildren that are gifts from the Lord and say an extra prayer of thanks for them. Think about the funny things they do each day.
Think about laughing with friends.
Think about how quickly you got old and be grateful for each new day.


Think about Corrie Ten Boom who said, "Never be afraid to trust an unknown future


to a known God,” but my favorite quote is still "There is no pit so deep, that God's love is not deeper still."
Think about those who in the Military who gave their life for you.


Think about Jesus dying on the cross and the wonder of His salvation.
Think about Easter and love, life and hope. But don’t forget it started on Good Friday. If you feel that you are stuck in a painful, Friday experience, remember, Sunday is coming!
May your Easter be blessed.
A great song to cheer your day:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8n4iytp_TCM