Author: mcalcagno

Humility

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Luke 18:10-14

DSC_0001 5-28 publish

“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[a] Do not be conceited.”

Romans 12:14-16

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

Joy

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

It goes much deeper than happiness…it comes from down in your soul where you are most closely connected to the Lord.  It comes from your perspective based in trust, faith and hope…choose joy.  Amen.

joy By for KING & COUNTRY

DSC_1529 publish

“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 August of 2016 near Lake Dillon in Colorado)

Be Strong And Courageous

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”

Joshua 1:7-8

DSC07503 publish

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 near Garden of the Gods Park in southern Colorado)

What Should We Do?

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly[a] with your God.”

Micah 6:8

2012-07-28_06-10-38_909 (2) (640x361)

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Ephesians 2:10

(This photo was taken in July of 2012 while on a walk in northwestern Wisconsin)

Believe

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,”[a] that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 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 10:8-10

DSC_0232 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. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”

John 3:16-18

(This photo was taken in March of 2018 while traveling in southern New Mexico)

The Goodness Of God

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

All that is good is from God…all that is suffering, troubling and leads to struggle is from darkness and evil…these are not from God.  Jesus Christ was sent by God to save us becasue the darkness has come from our sins.  Amen.

“I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”

John 12:46

Goodness Of God – Jenn Johnson

DSC_0203 (2) publish

“The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
    slow to anger and rich in love.

9 The Lord is good to all;
    he has compassion on all he has made.”

Psalm 145:8-9

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on Lake Superior near the Apostle Islands)

Problem Solving And Decision Making

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

The Book of Proverbs is full of good stuff…advice that is straight to the point, understandable and most of them are less than 140 characters…

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
    and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Proverbs 9:10

“The name of the Lord is a fortified tower;
    the righteous run to it and are safe.”

Proverbs 18:10

“Plans fail for lack of counsel,
    but with many advisers they succeed.”

Proverbs 15:22

“Listen to advice and accept discipline,
    and at the end you will be counted among the wise.

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

Proverbs 19:20-21

DSC_0021-1 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 July of 2019 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Turn Towards God

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

This is the first thing we should do with every aspect of our lives.  We often try to go it alone and then turn to God as a last resort…even then He will be there for us because of His mercy and grace.  No matter what the circumstances are…bring it to the Lord, trust in Him…it is never too late.  Amen.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

DSC_0004 publish

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

1 Peter 5:7

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

Be Reconciled To God

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

2 Corinthians 5:16-21

DSC_1355 publish

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Galatians 5:22-23

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 while visiting Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)