Author: mcalcagno

Walking With God

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

Psalm 119:105 NIV

A faith journey.  It begins with belief, confession and prayer.  It grows as we read the Scriptures, as we spend time in devotions, as we engage in our communities and serve others…it transforms us with a new attitude centered on God and His will for us.

Trust in God, spend time on your relationship with Jesus Christ and pray about everything, every day.  He is with you, He is for you.  It is up to you to seek Him.  Amen.

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“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 NIV

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

Choose To Live A Holy Life

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“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Matthew 7:24-27 NIV

God created us and gives us free will to chose how to live.  Our lives and how we live will either show that we love God and trust in Him or that we reject God and His will for us.  Each of us gets to decide how we will live and how we will treat others.  God, guide us and help us make decisions that honor you and show love for each other.  Amen.

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“For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.”

1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 NIV

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 along Beartooth Pass near the border between Montana and Wyoming)

Living A New Way

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“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.“

Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!“

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

Every day brings new possibilities…don’t let the worlds values and the pursuits of ungodly things keep you distracted and lost.  Trust the promises of God…we will not find hope and fulfillment in other people because we are all broken and in need of Jesus.

The world is telling us we should value ‘me’ first and live a self-centered life…not true.  A Christ centered life…meeting with Him every day and trusting His Way is the New Way to live…every day.  May the peace of God be with you and flow through you.  Amen.

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“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. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.“

Philippians 4:8-9 NIV

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

The Light Of Christ

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“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.”

John 1:9 NIV

When we are discouraged and defeated it may be because we are clinging to the things of this world and therefore, we are living in darkness.  Comparing ourselves to others, believing our worth and our value comes from something or someone other than God.

If we are struggling to see, we need to remember the Light of the World…Jesus Christ…our Savior and Lord.  Let Him lead you and guide you…read God’s Word about His birth, His life, His death and His resurrection and remember He did it all for you.

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John 1:14 NIV

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“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12 NIV

(This photo was taken in May of 2023 along the North Shore of Lake Superior)

Is He Worthy?

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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.  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

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“I love you, Lord, my strength.

2 The 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…

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“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] 10 so 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, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and 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, 14 in 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

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“Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
    bind them around your neck,
    write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then 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;
6 in 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

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“And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For 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. 2 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 12:1-2 NIV

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

Be Still And Know

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

11 The 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.
8 They 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)