Be Still

Peace And Rest

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 14:27 NIV

Father God, it is so easy for us to worry about the circumstances in our lives.  Each day, help us to remember that You are always in control.  Help us trust in Your provision, protection and plans for our lives.  Because we know You care about every need and desire we have…we know we can rest in You.  Give us peace as we let go of circumstances that we can’t control and put ourselves into Your hands.  In Jesus name, Amen.

DSC01214 publish

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

Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

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

Peace And Rest

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 14:27 NIV

Father God, it is so easy for us to worry about the circumstances in our lives.  Each day, help us to remember that You are always in control.  Help us trust in Your provision, protection and plans for our lives.  Because we know You care about every need and desire we have…we know we can rest in You.  Give us peace as we let go of circumstances that we can’t control and put ourselves into Your hands.  In Jesus name, Amen.

DSC01214 publish

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

Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

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

Be Still And Know

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“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

DSC01215 publish

“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)

A Psalm And A Song For Giving Thanks

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2     Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he who made us, and we are his[a];
    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.”

Psalm 100:1-3 NIV

Forever by Chris Tomlin

A spirit of gratitude is transforming for our perspective.  Instead of worrying about what we don’t have, we can be thankful for what we have received.  Rather than having anxiety about what might happen, we can be grateful that God is in control.

Instead of dwelling in guilt and shame about our sins we can give thanks for Jesus Christ and that He has taken our punishment so that we can be redeemed and reconciled with God.  Give thanks to the Lord…for he is good…His love endures forever!

DSC_1549 publish

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

Psalm 100:4-5 NIV

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

Be Still And Wait For Him

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“He says, “Be still, and know that I am God…”

Psalm 46:10 NIV

“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

We are so impatient and so hurried.  We all spend so much energy on trying to save time and want everything to happen on our own personal time table.  We were not created to go full speed all the time and to expect things immediately…the goal is not to fill time with life…we should strive to fill life by spending appropriate time in all areas of life.  Starting with relationships…we were made to be in communion and community.  In communion with God our Creator and in community with each other…focusing more of our efforts on our relationship with God by taking the first step (Love God) and then working on our relationships with each other (Love Others).  Be still and wait for the Lord.  Peace be with you.

DSC_0178 publish

“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;
    therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.
For the Lord is a God of justice.
    Blessed are all who wait for him!”

Isaiah 30:18 NIV

(This photo was taken in May of 2020 along the north shore of Lake Superior)

Be Still…Wait For The Lord

/ mcalcagno / 2 Comments

“Be still before the Lord
    and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
    when they carry out their wicked schemes.

8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
    do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,
    but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.”

Psalm 37:7-9 NIV

Be Still And Know by Amy Grant

DSC_1625 publish

“I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.”

Psalm 27:13-14 NIV

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

Be Still

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;”

Psalm 46:10 NIV

It is so easy to get caught up in the busyness, the quick to respond without thinking speed of the world.  Yet our God does not operate according to our worldly ways…it may be better to be still and wait for God.  How can we know what He is doing or where He wants us to be?  By staying in close contact and communication with Him, every day.  The more we can take time to be with Him the better we can understand what He is saying to us through His Word and through others.  Be still…be patient…trust His way.  Amen.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 14:27 NIV

DSC_0888 publish

“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 NIV

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

Be Still…Trust In The Lord

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Be still before the Lord
    and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
    when they carry out their wicked schemes.”

Psalm 37:7 NIV

Don’t focus your time and attention on what others are doing, comparing yourself to worldly ways.  Focus on God and His Word.  Reflect and remember what He has done.  He says you are valued; you are important, and you are loved…no matter what others think, say or do.  Your worth is not defined by others…it is defined by your Creator and Savior…God says you are so important that He sent His Son Jesus to suffer and die in order to reconcile you with God.  Trust in the Lord, not in the world.  Amen.

Be Still And Know by Amy Grant

DSC_1529 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 NIV

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

Be Still

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;”

Psalm 46:10 NIV

It is so easy to get caught up in the busyness, the quick to respond without thinking speed of the world.  Yet our God does not operate according to our worldly ways…it may be better to be still and wait for God.  How can we know what He is doing or where He wants us to be?  By staying in close contact and communication with Him, every day.  The more we can take time to be with Him the better we can understand what He is saying to us through His Word and through others.  Be still…be patient…trust His way.  Amen.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 14:27 NIV

DSC_0888 publish

“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 NIV

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

Be Still…Trust In The Lord

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Be still before the Lord
    and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
    when they carry out their wicked schemes.”

Psalm 37:7 NIV

Don’t focus your time and attention on what others who are doing, comparing yourself to worldly ways.  Focus on God and His Word.  Reflect and remember what He has done.  He says you are valued; you are important, and you are loved…no matter what others think, say or do.  Your worth is not defined by others…it is defined by your Creator and Savior and God says you are so important that He sent Jesus, who suffered and died to reconcile you with Him.  Trust in the Lord, not in the world.  Amen.

Be Still And Know by Amy Grant

DSC_1529 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 NIV

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