Be Patient…Be Present

December 19, 2025 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

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

Galatians 5:22-23 ESV

Why all the rushing around?

The hurry up, the plow through the checklist, the I have to finish this so I can rush off to that…and on and on it goes

No wonder we are lost…we don’t even take time to acknowledge where we are or what is going on around us

As we live out this holiday season, let’s not get caught up in the hustle and bustle of all the things we are ‘supposed’ to do

Let’s strive to acknowledge what Jesus has done for us in this season

Make time to be present with whoever God has us spending time with this year

May the peace of the Lord be with you and flow through you

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“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

Ephesians 4:2 NIV

(This photo was taken in northwestern Wisconsin)

Humility In Relationships

December 1, 2025December 1, 2025 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

Romans 12:17-18 NIV

Father God, You invite us into a peaceful relationship with You where we can be fully known and loved

You also invite us to pursue peace with others around us

Please help each one of us to appraoch our relationships with humility, grace and wisdom

Grant us knowledge to recognize when we should speak and when we should listen as we pursue peace

In Jesus name, Amen

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“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ²then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

Philippians 2:1-4 NIV

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

Wisdom

November 9, 2025 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, ²⁹so that no one may boast before him.”

1 Corinthians 1:27-29 NIV

We have so much to learn…it is easy to think that we have lived our lives long enough to know what is right for us

We have experiences to draw on and we rely on feelings and emotions

Yet God knew all of these things before we were even born

He is our Creator and He loves us so much that He sacrificed His Son to save us…He knows what is best for us

For example, how many people would believe that Saul of Tarsus could become the Apostle Paul…the greatest enemy of Christians would become one of the greatest disciples?

You can read about it in Acts 9…this is the wisdom of God and it is far greater than any human wisdom

Trust in the Lord and seek His will for you and your life

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“For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.”

1 Corinthians 1:25 NIV

(This photo was taken in White Sands National Park in New Mexico)

We Must Humble Ourselves

October 17, 2025 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹The 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. ¹²I 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 NIV

It’s not about me

That is a statement we need to remind ourselves of often

There is a significant difference between self-care and self-centered

To be humble takes courage, to admit that we make mistakes and poor choices with an attitude that seeks redemption is a path to peace

Jesus taught us about humility…

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“At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” ²And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them ³and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.“

Matthew 18:1-4 ESV

(This photo was taken at a lake in central Minnestoa)

Humility

September 7, 2025 / 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 NIV

Imagine if more people in the world were working for fairness for all people…instead of trying to push and pull others down to get a step up

People often can’t trust that other people will be honest and work for the best intentions of all due to selfishness…due to sin in a fallen world

Think about what it felt like when someone did something kind and generous for you that had no benefit for them

That is where you see God at work

The only one who can overcome the rule of sin and self in the human race is God

He can be trusted, He has kept every promise He has ever made and He has one promise left to fulfill

Walk humbly with God and trust in Him

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“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Philippians 2:3-4 NIV

(This photo was taken on the shore of Lake Superior in Ashland, Wisconsin)

Humility…Perspective

June 29, 2025 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

Philippians 2:3-4 NIV

“Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, ²⁷and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— ²⁸just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”“

Matthew 20:26-28 NIV

When something needs to change…start with your perspective

How do you view yourself?

How do you view others?

Rather than complaining about how I am not being served

Consider what has God provided me with that I can share to serve others

Time? Money? Good physical health to assist the needs of others?

Ask God to guide you and lead you in how He wants you to serve

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“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹²Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”

Romans 12:9-13 NIV

(This photo was taken along Beartooth Pass near the Montana and Wyoming border)

Lay Down Your Burdens

June 9, 2025 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

1 Peter 5:6-7 NIV

Carry You by Amy Grant

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

(This photo was taken in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado)

Humility And Patience

May 30, 2025 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

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 NIV

What we need in the world is less “look at me” thinking and more of a “how can I help others” way of living

The best way to work on making this change in life is to have time every day with God and His Word

Turn towards the Lord and away from worldly thinking

Seek to learn about Him and He can lead you to humility and patience

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“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

2 Peter 3:9 NIV

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

Surrender

April 13, 2025 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? ²You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. ³When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”

James 4:1-3 NIV

Read Isaiah 53 to learn how Jesus would submit to God’s plan to save you and me

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“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. ⁹Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

James 4:7-10 NIV

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