Month: June 2020

Live By Faith…Trusting In Our Father

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Seek wisdom from God not the world.  Learn from mistakes.  Trust God’s way more than your own ideas of what “should be”…even when you don’t understand.  It takes courage, it takes patience and a willingness to not give up.  God is faithful and as so many stories in the bible tell us…we are to live by faith.  Read Hebrews 11 for a review of how people in the bible lived by faith.  Be thankful today for our Father in heaven who loves us more than anyone else ever could.  Amen.

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

Hebrews 11:1

DSC_0273 publish

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

John 3:16

(This photo was taken in June of 2020 at sunset in northwestern Wisconsin)

God’s Way

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
    but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

Proverbs 19:21

DSC_0194 publish

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.[a] “

Proverbs 3:5-6

(This photo was taken in March of 2018 in White Sands National Park in New Mexico)

Be An Overcomer

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Do not give up…don’t quit…yes, you have been knocked down and it hurts…get back up…stand on the rock…look to Jesus as your guide…be one who overcomes.  Amen.

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Romans 12:21

Overcomer by Mandisa

DSC_1523 publish

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

21 To the one who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.”

Revelation 3:20-21

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 near Dillon, Colorado)

Living Out God’s Call For You

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“The Lord is my light and my salvation—
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
    of whom shall I be afraid?”

Psalm 27:1

DSC_0316 publish

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.[a] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

2 Corinthians 5:17

(This photo was taken in May of 2020 at the High Falls in Tettegouche State Park in northern Minnesota)

God’s Grace

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”

Ephesians 2:4-5

DSC_0005 publish

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Ephesians 2:8-10

(This photo was taken in July of 2019 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Give Thanks To The Lord…

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

It’s so easy to get blinded by worldly values and events that we lose sight of God.  How quickly we forget His love, His mercy, His grace and what Jesus Christ did to save us.  We have access to the instruction manual for life in God’s Word…it’s right there…yet we lay down our worries and burdens and ask Him for help…only to pick them up again and go our own way.  He provides all that we need…let us give thanks to the Lord.  Amen.

Forever by Chris Tomlin

DSC07553 publish

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.”

Psalm 118:1

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 near Pike’s Peak in Colorado)

Receive The Holy Spirit

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

Romans 5:5

DSC_0081 publish

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 14:26-27

(This photo was taken in April of 2020 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Renew Your Mind

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Whatever has been on your mind…whatever thoughts keep swirling…whatever is in your heart share it with the Lord.  Seek Him and His Word.  The Lord will lead and guide you and renew your mind.  May God’s peace be with you.  Amen.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Romans 12:2

DSC_0384 publish

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Philippians 4:8

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 at a park near Bayfield, Wisconsin)

Be Strong

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

God is with us every day, everywhere, no matter what happens.  I can say this because He promised He would be…our relationship with God should not be part of our weekend “To Do” list.  Spending time with Him daily and recognizing He is our Creator; His Son is our Savior and He will guide us with the Holy Spirit takes courage and a willingness to commit to His Word…a willingness to trust in Him…Be Strong.  Bring your worries, your burdens, your fears…your everything to Him…everyday…no matter what.  Amen.

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14 Do everything in love.”

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

DSC_0939 publish

“I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.”

Psalm 27:13-14

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Glacier National Park in Montana)

Walk In The Light

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[a] sin.”

1 John 1:5-7

DSC_0199 publish

“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

1 John 1:8-9

(This photo was taken in May of 2020 at sunrise along the North Shore of Lake Superior)