Hope From God

June 11, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

He gave us the greatest sacrifice to save us. He did it for love. God has promised to always be with you and God never breaks His promises. Jesus Christ died to save all of us and He has risen from the dead and it is because of His sacrifice and His resurrection that we have hope. Amen.

“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁷These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

1 Peter 1:6-7

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“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

1 Peter 1:8-9

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)

Set A Good Example

June 10, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. ⁹Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. ¹⁰For,

“Whoever would love life
    and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil
    and their lips from deceitful speech.
¹¹They must turn from evil and do good;
    they must seek peace and pursue it.
¹²For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
    and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”^[a]

1 Peter 3:8-12

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“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

⁸Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”

1 Peter 5:7-9

(This photo was taken in May of 2020 at Beaver River Falls in northern Minnesota)

Angels All Around Us

June 9, 2020 / mcalcagno / 1 Comment

“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

¹⁷And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

2 Kings 6:16-17

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“For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
¹²they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”

Psalm 91:11-12

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

The Goodness Of God

June 8, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

God is good all the time…and all the time God is good.

“Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”

Psalm 34:8

Goodness Of God by Jenn Johnson

“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

2 Corinthians 9:8

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

Psalm 107:1

(This photo was taken in May of 2020 at Palisade Head on the north shore of Lake Superior)

Come Near To God

June 7, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We often ask ‘where is God in all of this?’ Yet so often we think nothing of Him in our day to day life. Think about your relationships in your life and who would you feel most comforted by in your time of need. Is it that person you pass by frequently in familiar places…you have seen each other often…you have exchanged Hi’s or Hello’s and maybe even some small talk and you may know each other’s name but not much else? Is that the person you would run to first and wonder why they are not doing more to help you in crisis? Ask yourself…how much better do you know God and have spent time seeking Him than that acquaintance? If you truly want to know God and what He says and what He is doing…seek Him…come near to Him and spend time with Him…He is waiting to hear from you. Amen.

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

James 4:7-8

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“…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

2 Chronicles 7:14

(This photo was taken in May of 2020 at Beaver Bay Falls in northern Minnesota)

We Believe

June 6, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

Romans 10:10

We Believe by Newsboys

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“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 July of 2019 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Strength From The Lord

June 5, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“I love you, Lord, my strength.

²The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield^[b] and the horn^[c] of my salvation, my stronghold.”

Psalm 18:1-2

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“Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Nehemiah 8:10

(This photo was taken in May of 2020 at Cascade State Park in northern Minnesota)

Do Good Work

June 4, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Each of us can do good work that helps at least one other person in need. We can’t be everything to everybody…yet we can be somebody who helps another. Turn towards God in prayer and ask Him how you can help someone today…then pay attention to each part of your day and He will show you where you are needed. God’s peace be with you. Amen.

“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

2 Corinthians 9:8

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“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰For 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 May of 2020 at the High Falls in Tettegouche State Park in northern Minnesota)

The Path Of Peace

June 3, 2020 / mcalcagno / 2 Comments

“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ³⁵For whoever wants to save their life^[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. ³⁶What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?“

Mark 8:34-36

“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 14:27

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

Trust In The Lord

June 2, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
    whose confidence is in him.
⁸They will be like a tree planted by the water
    that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
    its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
    and never fails to bear fruit.”