Make A Commitment

October 17, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.”^[a]

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

How do we get better at staying the course? The worldly way we set goals is almost always a path to failure. Some of the most common mistakes is over-committing to too many things or setting unrealistic goals and achievements. Not to mention our lack of patience for change in this fast paced, immediately gratification world.

The biggest mistake we make is not asking God to guide us or not listening and looking for His will for our lives. We are easily distracted and believe we have to maintain everything on our own. The most important change we can make in our lives is turning towards God first and a make a commitment to follow Him in every area of our lives.

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“Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans.”

Proverbs 16:3 NIV

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

It Takes Courage…

October 14, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9 NIV

Courage is not the absence of fear…Courage is the willingness to move forward without knowing the outcome…to admit we don’t know the answers…to be patient…to share and be vulnerable with another person.

Having courage is placing your trust in God ahead of fear…it is about not allowing fear to stop you or defeat you. It takes courage to seek the Light…to surrender your plans for God’s plan…it takes courage to live the life that God has intended for you…and where can you find strength for courage?

In a relationship with Jesus Christ. There you will find joy, peace, patience, and strength for courage. Seek Him and His will and live with hope from God.

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“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. ¹⁴Do everything in love.”

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NIV

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

Believe And Overcome

October 12, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

Romans 10:9-10 NIV

“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. ²This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. ³In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, ⁴for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”

1 John 5:1-4 NIV

Believe…God is for you…God is with you. He is the Creator of all and He knows you personally. He knows what you are facing and He will be right by your side or, if necessary, He will carry you through to the otherside. God loves you…trust Him to lead and guide you.

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“Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”

1 John 5:5 NIV

(This photo was taken in October of 2018 near Winterset, Iowa)

Grace…Hope…Peace

September 27, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we^[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ²through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we^[b] boast in the hope of the glory of God. ³Not only so, but we^[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

Romans 5:1-4 NIV

God’s love for us is unconditional. This is God’s Grace…His love does not change based on our behaviors. It is hard for us to understand because we are human and He is God. The truth is He cannot love us any more and He cannot love us any less than He does right now. He is the only one we can truly count on in this life.

He sent His Son as a sacrifice to allow us to be reconciled to Him. If we are willing to believe in Jesus Christ and seek a personal relationship with Him we will be filled with Hope that only comes through Jesus. It is this Hope that brings us Peace that surpasses all understanding. May God’s peace be with you and flow through you. Amen.

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“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.“

Romans 15:13 NIV

(This phot was taken in August of 2016 at a lake in Glacier National Park in Montana)

Gratitude

September 17, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Rejoice always, ¹⁷pray continually, ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV

What are you thankful for? This is not something to consider only once a year at Thanksgiving…it is an everyday prayer and worship attitude. What do you find yourself focusing your thoughts on each day…negativity? What is wrong or could be better? Why isn’t this working? When did this break or stop happening? Problems? Frustrations? Disappointments?

It can easily become overwhelming…the Good News is we have the opportunity to change our perspective and our attitude without any of the external factors being different! How? Through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Spending time daily with God’s Word, taking time to sit quietly and pray…these are the keys to building our daily life on a foundation of positivity and living your best with whatever happens. Seek the Lord and shift your attitude to be one of gratitude. Give thanks to the Lord!

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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. ⁹Whatever 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 September of 2022 at Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming)

Living Sacrifices

September 10, 2023 / mcalcagno / 2 Comments

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.

Do not conform any longer 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

“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

Every one of us has a choice, every day…do we chose to follow the ways of the world and put ourselves first or will we seek His kingdom first and live according to His Word? How will you choose to live this day?

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“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

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

He Will Carry Our Burdens

September 8, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Cast your burden on the Lord,
and he will sustain you;
he will never permit
the righteous to be moved.”

Psalm 55:22 ESV

How often do you feel like you have to carry something all by yourself? That it all depends on you and what you do? We all have moments and seasons of life like this and God knows we will face them…in fact, He is the one that told us about them in Scripture…

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33 NIV

And He is the One who has given us the Way through these times in life…turn towards Jesus…tell Him about the things that you are carrying. During my morning prayer time with God I give thanks to Him, affirm my belief in Jesus and ask for His guidance throughout my day. I share my worries and my concerns and I work on changing the way I think in order to trust His way. Your experience may be similar or different, what is most important is that you do it.

He wants to hear from you and He wants you to know He is walking right along side you…you just have to acknowledge Him and seek Him. He is with you and He is willing to carry your burdens for you. May we find peace with the Savior. Amen.

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“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

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

Anything Is Possible With God

September 7, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.

⁹The Lord is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.”

Psalm 145:8-9 NIV

No matter what, anything is possible with God. If you are discouraged or defeated and thinking this is never going to change or get better…turn towards God, put your trust in Him. If you are frustrated and at your wits end with your circumstances or another person don’t give up…pray to God and draw near to Him.

God has saved me in every way a person can be saved. He has carried me through difficult times financially, in relationships and with personal difficulties and struggles. Be encouraged by what others have experienced…in the Bible look at the story of Saul who became Paul…Saul was filled with anger and hate and he was leading the charge to kill believers in Jesus and yet this was the person God chose to change to help lead the charge to spread the Good News about Jesus. You can read more about him in the book of Acts.

If God can change my life and if God can change Saul to Paul, He can change you or someone you are praying for as well. Anything is possible with God! Amen.

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“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
    whose confidence is in him.
⁸They 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 2020 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Stay Close To The Word Of God

August 26, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“God has breathed life into all Scripture. It is useful for teaching us what is true. It is useful for correcting our mistakes. It is useful for making our lives whole again. It is useful for training us to do what is right. ¹⁷By using Scripture, the servant of God can be completely prepared to do every good thing.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIRV

We are often easily distracted…taking our eyes off of Jesus and focusing on things we can’t control. Much like Peter who stepped out of the boat to walk on the water by faith (Matthew 14:22-33)…we learn that as soon as he took his focus off of Jesus, Peter began to sink. The first step of putting our faith in Jesus is extremely important that is how we get started on our faith journey…yet the next steps are just as important, keeping our eyes on Him, even when, especially when the winds of evil and darkness blow strongly against us. Keep God’s Word close to you and within your heart.

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

Psalm 119:105 NIV

(This photo was taken in May of 2014 at a lake in central Minnesota)

God Is Greater Than…

August 24, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“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 NIV

No matter what you are facing, no matter what the circumstances are, no matter how bad the tragedy or trauma that has occurred…God is bigger than that…God is greater than anything you will encounter in this life. Believe it and put your faith, your hope and your trust in Jesus Christ.

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“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
²³They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
²⁴I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
    therefore I will wait for him.”