Give Thanks

August 23, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Grateful…to show appreciation…gratitude…content with what you have…to recognize others. It is important to pause and to give thanks for what is good, for what we have been given or for what someone else has done for our benefit. It is a choice of attitude to be thankful instead of feeling you deserve somethings or demand and expect things. Choosing an attitude of gratitude focuses our thoughts the positive, the good and helps to drive a feeling of greater appreciation for something or someone. Take a moment to look around you and around your life…who needs to know you appreciate them, who are you thankful for in your life. Tell them, and remember Jesus Christ and what He did for you so that you could be reconciled with God…and tell Him how thankful you are for what He did and is doing. May the Word of the Lord be planted in you.

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“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

Psalm 100:4-5

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

The Road That Leads To Life

August 22, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We all have different lives and different choices to make in our lives. Depending on where we live, what the weather is like, the environment of our home and where we spend our days. This can be all different…what is common among all people? The place in our hearts that is made to be filled by God. He is the Creator and He made us with this special space that can only be filled properly by companionship with Him. Now that certainly hasn’t stopped the human race from trying to fill it with just about anything other than God. If anything other than God is in that space you will not feel complete, content or know true peace. Make time to be alone with God and invite Jesus into the place reserved for Him every day. May you know God’s comfort and God’s faithfulness.

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

Matthew 7:13-14

(This photo was taken in March of 2018 in Madison County, Iowa)

Cast All Your Cares On Him

August 21, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We are all searching for something or someone in life. A way to know the answers to some of the most difficult questions. We look to archaeologists and historians to tell us about the past, we look to leaders in business, technology and politics to inform us about the present and we look to scientists and other predictors to provide information about the possibilities in the future. Through it all we take on worries, anxiety and frustration about all of these things…the past, the present and the future. Yet here sits God the Father, Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord with the Holy Spirit and they have a handle on all of it. God has forgiven us our sins of the past, Jesus Christ has reconciled us with God for our present day and the Holy Spirit will guide us to live with eternal values for life in the future. Take your worries, your fears, your burdens and all your frustrations to Christ, He will gladly carry the load if you are willing to trust in Him. May you sense comfort and peace trusting in our Lord.

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

1 Peter 5:7

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

Take Some Rest

August 20, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We can’t keep running at top speed in our minds or in our daily lives. We must plan down time. To fill every moment with activity and planning and scheduling will lead to exhaustion. Mental exhaustion, physical exhaustion and spiritual exhaustion. We all need time to recharge, to be restored and renewed. When Jesus was here on earth He often would go off alone to pray. Before feeding the five thousand He told the disciples…“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (Mark 6:31) In order to be at our best we need to plan time to rest and that means resting our minds as well as our bodies. If you are someone who always has to be busy, plan some quiet time in small increments to get started. We all should pray about it as that time in prayer can be restful too. May the love, joy and peace of the Lord be with you.

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“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 near Arches National Park in Utah)

God’s Presence

August 19, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

It is true…He is with you…He gives to you…He holds you…He comforts you…He blesses you…He guides you…God is always with you. There will often be times in this world when you will feel like you are alone, that God has somehow left you. It is not true, when that happens take a moment to reflect on what you have been focusing on. I have found in my own life that usually means I have turned away from God for some reason, not the other way around. We can’t always expect the miracle event to prove that God is with us, let’s face it even people who lived to witness the miracles in person struggled to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. It is a matter of faith to know and believe that God is with us. He did not bring sin into the world and the bad things that happen are from evil and darkness in the world and they want you to blame God for everything. God made sure you know that He created you, He loves you and He is with you…it is all written down for you to read for yourself. Trust in God and you will see the good things too. May the presence of God surround you and what you see today.

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“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10

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

Give And You Will Receive

August 18, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

The messages we keep getting from all around us are “get more”, “take what is yours”, “protect it”, “mine”, “not yours” or “me first”…the world emphasizes selfish behaviors and attitudes and people wonder why there is so much conflict and suffering. This is not how we were made to be. When God created us out of His love He gave us free will because when we choose to give, it has such a deep impact compared to being forced to give and serve. Let’s talk about our pets as a simple example…if you have ever owned a dog or a cat you may have experience in the joy one feels when our pets give love and affection freely versus when they choose to do other things…and often times the pets receive better attention and affection when they are givers rather then when they are demanding to get! If you have never owned a pet I recommend watching the movie ‘Marley and Me’ to see this illustration. The point is when we make a choice to help, to serve and to give we are showing the love of God through our actions and we will have no need to worry about what we receive. May the peace and joy of the Lord be with you.

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“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Galatians 6:9

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

Solid Rock

August 17, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Firm foundation…strength…courage…determination…a shield…a place of refuge. When we think about solid rock it gives us the impression of strength to stand on or the protection to shield us. All of us has a rock in our lives, whether it is another person, a place or something else. The rock we all need is a solid relationship with Jesus Christ. He is our firm foundation, He gives us strength and courage, He gives us the fortitude to keep going and He is our shield and protector. Anything we could ever need will come from Him. Make time to build your relationship with Jesus Christ our Solid Rock! May you seek the Lord in your everyday life.

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“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

Psalm 18:2

(This photo was taken in July of 2015 at Red Rocks Amphitheater near Morrison, Colorado)

He Will Restore You

August 16, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Keep going…be steadfast and determined to find a way…don’t quit…don’t give up on them. With so much of the world focused on convenience and saving time there seems to be less and less stories about the long journey of success. The truth about most accomplishments is that they occur over a significant period of time. In athletics people will tell stories of an “overnight success” a player just emerged from out of nowhere. When the truth is that individual worked their tail off for the last 5, 10 or 15 years to get to that moment and the world just noticed them now. Hard work is expected to achieve anything. Dedication, commitment and a willingness to fail and try again, these are the things that lead to success. Especially in relationships and faith. If you or someone you care for is struggling, start or keep on praying, don’t give up on the situation. The world and society throw people away all the time…be different, believe in hope and God will restore the situation one way or another. May God bless you with courage and strength.

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“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”

1 Peter 5:10

(This photo was taken in June of 2018 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Shine The Light

August 15, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When we believe that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior and we receive the Holy Spirit we receive the Light of Christ in our hearts. It transforms our thoughts and our actions and it changes our attitude and behaviors. These transformations are not only to put the the Light in us, they put us in places where we can let that light shine for others to see and begin to know about God and His Son Jesus Christ. Letting the Light of Christ shine shows others the love God has for them and encourages them to seek Him. So shine on and let the love and the light and Christ shine through you. May your actions show the love of God to others.

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“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.

Instead they put it in its stand, and if gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:14-16

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

Making Plans…

August 14, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Thinking about taking a trip…making a decision about where to live…job transitions…people and relationships…family gatherings and celebrations. All these things and many more can involve decisions that will have a lasting impact on our lives and the lives of others. As we grow our relationship with Jesus we must learn to start the planning process by connecting with God first and not wait until things have gone completely off the rails and we are in desperate need of saving. When we are early in our faith journey we tend want to keep God in a box with glass door that says “In case of an emergency break glass”…that is us trying to be in control and not fully surrendering ourselves to trusting in God’s plan. Don’t misunderstand me, I still struggle with this in my personal faith journey often. The change I am trying to make is to be aware of something that your mind spends a great deal of time on and openly offer it up to God’s will. To spend more time in prayer on the topic and less time stewing about it in my own mind. May’s God’s goodness and compassion be with you.

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