What Do We Learn?

June 9, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

To be patient…to be courageous and to seek wisdom. To trust in the Lord and to keep doing good things whenever you can. We learn that all that is good comes from God and we are blessed to be a blessing to others. We learn that God the Father is our Creator and Jesus Christ is His one and only Son who sacrificed Himself to save us and that when we believe we will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Spend time reading God’s word and praying…learn about the amazing relationship available for each of us with God because of Jesus. Amen.

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

Psalm 27:13-14

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Rest And Restoration

May 19, 2019May 19, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

With all that goes on in the world and in our lives we all need to find rest and to be restored. It is how we are all made. Balance is a key element in life. Eating a balanced diet is best…balance in our speaking and listening time makes us better in relationships…balance in our fun and wild times with our quiet times. The best recipes have a little bit of this and a little bit of that or a pinch of this and a pinch of that…excess will lead to destruction and definitely a poor tasting meal. In order to be at our best we need balance in all aspects of our lives…physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Seek the Lord and you will find rest and be restored. Amen.

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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 September of 2019 at a lake in central Minnesota)

Believe

May 10, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

You most likely know the information and the stories written about in the bible. You know the names of most of the books of the bible and many of the names of the people. There is one name that is above every other name, there is one who did the unthinkable for the undeserving. Jesus. You know about Him…the question is do you believe it? Believe in the power of God…believe in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord, who died and was rasied to life and lives in you today…when you believe you can achieve anything. Amen.

Give Me Jesus by Jeremy Camp

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“He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Matthew 17:20-21

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

God’s Word

May 2, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When we have questions or when we need guidance or when we seek comfort, the Word of God can provide for us in all these situations as well as in every other situation we may encounter. There is a sense of peace not found in the world that can come over you when you make time to read God’s Word and pray each day. There is guidance in there that we will not find anywhere else. May the peace of the Lord be with you on your journey. Amen.

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“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”

Psalm 119:105

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on the shore of Lake Superior near Ashland, Wisconsin)

The Presence Of The Lord

May 1, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When have you felt like you could sense the Presence of God? When have you felt like God has come near to you? Where were you? What was going on in your life or around you? How often do you ask or have you been asked where do you see God in this? All that is good is from God…all that is dark and evil is from the prince of darkness and human nature. Look to see the Presence of the Lord in your life and you will see that He has been with you every step of the way. Amen.

Holy Spirit by Francesca Battistelli

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“The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Exodus 33:14

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

By Faith…Persevere

April 28, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

How do we grow in faith? How can our faith become the cornerstone of who we are? It depends on your perspective…if your faith is more about religion and performing for the approval and acceptance of others, you will find it a poor foundation that will easily crumble. Faith is a living part of who we are, we must feed our faith as often as we feed our physical body…faith is fed by reading the Word of God everyday, praying and seeking the will of God for our lives…we build and grow our faith by establishing and building our personal relationship with Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. That is the foundation that has stood the test of time and that is the foundation that God promises will sustain us. Turn towards Jesus and begin building a foundation of faith that will last. Amen.

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“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give you a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”

2 Timothy 1:6-7

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

Attitude

April 24, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

A way of thinking…a point of view…outlook…perspective…belief. How would you define your attitude toward God? What is His role? How much time during a typical week are we thinking about God? The Bible has many of examples of different people and their attitude towards God, it describes their beliefs and actions. There is a lot for us to learn from those people. From Genesis to Revelation, we read about those who put God at the center of their lives and those who did not. The best example of an appropriate attitude towards God is that of Jesus Christ…He took time daily to walk with God and this is what He seeks from us as well. Spend time with Jesus every day and define your attitude towards God. Amen.

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“He has showed 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 with your God.”

Micah 6:8

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

Filling the Void

April 18, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We all are born with a void in our spirit. We all have free will, it is a gift from God. As we go through this life we make choices about what is filling the void. We choose sinful behaviors and we choose spirit led behaviors. It is up to each and every one of us to invite Jesus Christ into our hearts and lives…He will not force His way in without an invitation from us. Say a prayer and ask Jesus Christ into the void in you and see what God has planned for you. Amen.

The Motions by Matthew West

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“O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where this is no water.”

Psalm 63:1

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

The One Who Is In You

April 13, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Don’t forget the power of the Cross. The world is filled with violence, evil and darkness. The attempts to distract us and pull us into the things of this world are relentless. Read the Word of God and memorize some verses that speak to you…the verse you choose may change over time and different verses will come to mind as you plant the Word within you. The prince of darkness despises the Scriptures and it will defeat him. This is one of the foundational reasons I started to write this blog six years ago…so that we could learn how to take our faith with us…everywhere we go. The Word of God planted inside us is greater than anything in the world. May the peace found with Christ be with you. Amen.

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“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

1 John 4:4

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 while traveling through northern Colorado)

Practice What Is Preached

April 11, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

The faith journey has two main elements…the first is learning about and getting to know God the Father, Jesus Christ His Son and the Holy Spirit. It is a transformation on the inside, a redemption. The second element is about making Him known. Taking what we have learned and have experienced and sharing it by helping others in need, whatever that looks in your life. Both elements are vital to our spiritual life and to the Kingdom of God, as either one without the other has little lasting value or impact. Take time to know Him and create space in your life to make Him known. Amen.

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