Is He Worthy?

October 31, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

John 3:16-17 NIV

As we travel on the journey of faith, we will encounter questions and doubts along the way…that is natural and it is ok. We need to remember that the one simple truth of faith is that Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself to save us and reconcile us to God because He loves us.

His love for us will conquer every battle in our lives. He is worthy of our thanks and praise. Thank you God, for your Son Jesus Christ…Amen.

Is He Worthy? by Chris Tomlin

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“In a loud voice they were saying:

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”

Revelation 5:12 NIV

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

Our Rock

October 30, 2023 / 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 NIV

Life is hard…there seems to be difficulties, struggles, pain and suffering, hardships of every kind everywhere we look. Yet there is hope! How? Where? With the Lord who is our Rock and our refuge. The world rejects Jesus as Savior and His Way seems upside-down according to the world’s values.

But God, the Creator of all things, and following Jesus Way is the path to hope. God will have the final say about the world and He will make all things new again. Trust in the Lord and His will and His way…He is our Rock.

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“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 NIV

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

To Know Him…

October 29, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,^[a] ¹⁰so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, ¹¹being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, ¹²and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you^[b] to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.”

Colossians 1:9-12 NIV

There are two important aspects of faith…To Know Him and To Make Him Known. God is the Creator of all and He wants a personal relationship with each and every one of us…so much so that He sent His Son to die for us so that we can be reconciled to Him. Make time for your realtionship with Jesus and get to know Him.

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“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹⁴in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

Colossians 1:13-14 NIV

(This photo was taken in May of 2014 at a lake in central Minnesota)

Encourage One Another

October 28, 2023 / mcalcagno / 2 Comments

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
    bind them around your neck,
    write them on the tablet of your heart.
⁴Then you will win favor and a good name
    in the sight of God and man.”

Proverbs 3:3-4 NIV

Receive encouragement from the Holy Spirit and be renewed by spending time with God and reading God’s Word. God’s love is for all of us and we are created to love God and to love others.

Let His love flow through you and be encouraging for others with your words and your actions. Encourage one another.

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

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

(This photo was taken in September of 2022 in Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming)

Surrender

October 27, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. ²⁴For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”

Luke 9:23-24 NIV

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Galatians 2:20 NIV

His way is better than our ways. He is the Creator of all things and all people. He knows what you are going through and He cares for you. Turn towards God and trust in Him.

I Give You My Heart – Hillsong Worship & Delirious?

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“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ²Do 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 12:1-2 NIV

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

Be Still And Know

October 26, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Come and see what the Lord has done,
    the desolations he has brought on the earth.
⁹He makes wars cease
    to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the shields^[a] with fire.
¹⁰He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

¹¹The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.”

Psalm 46:8-11 NIV

Be Still And Know by Amy Grant

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“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.”

Jeremiah 17:7-8 NIV

(This photo was taken in April of 2016 at a lake in central Minnesota)

Choices…We Reap What We Sow

October 25, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Matthew 7:13-14 NIV

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

Proverbs 19:21 NIV

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“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. ⁸Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”

Galatians 6:7-8 NIV

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

Reflect On What God Has Done

October 24, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵And 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.

⁶You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. ⁸But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:3-8 NIV

The truth about life is we will see troubles. Jesus tells us directly in John 16:33, that trouble will come…not maybe or it might come…you will have troubles in this life. Take time to reflect on what God has already done for you. If we listen to the Lord and we know life can be hard, we should be more focused on how to get through our struggles and see what we can learn from them so we can share and help others.

God has provided the Way through difficult times…Jesus, His Son our Savior and God’s Word will guide us and see us through. Think about troubles in your past…looking back where do you see God in it? Remember all that God has already done for you through Jesus. Trust in the Lord and persevere through trials.

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“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

James 1:12 NIV

(This photo was taken in July of 2019 at a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

Listen…May God’s Word Be Your Guide

October 23, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Above all else, guard your heart,
    for everything you do flows from it.
²⁴Keep your mouth free of perversity;
    keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
²⁵Let your eyes look straight ahead;
    fix your gaze directly before you.
²⁶Give careful thought to the^[a] paths for your feet
    and be steadfast in all your ways.
²⁷Do not turn to the right or the left;
    keep your foot from evil.”

Proverbs 4:23-27 NIV

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”

Psalm 32:8 NIV

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“Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path.”

Psalm 119:105 NIV

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota)

Attitude Of Gratitude

October 22, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.”

Psalm 46:1 NIV

God is with you, He is for you. He will never leave you. No matter what happens, no matter what your circumstances…remember what God can do. Give thanks to God and strive to focus on choosing an attitude of gratitude.

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