It’s All About Jesus

August 6, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“The name of the Lord is a fortified tower;
the righteous run to it and are safe.“

Proverbs 18:10 NIV

“Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
    and gave him the name above all other names,
¹⁰that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.”

Philippians 2:9-11 NLT

The answers we seek for everything and anything will come…if and when we turn towards Jesus Christ.

Heart Of Worship by Michael W. Smith

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

Psalm 18:2 NIV

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

Friendship

June 9, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”

Proverbs 17:17 NIV

“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

Proverbs 18:24 NIV

The best friendships are the relationships in which both individuals are equally nourished by their time together. We all have different types of friendships…some that nurish us, some where we nurish others and a true friendship, one in which both people care for and provide for each other equally. Who are your true friends? In our relationship with Jesus, He calls us His friends and He provides for us…and asks us to trust in Him. May the peace of the Lord wash over your friendships. Amen.

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“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.”

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NIV

(This photo was taken by oen of my friends in July of 2014 at a lake place in central Minnesota)

To Know Him And To Make Him Known

March 20, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“This is what the Lord says:

“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom
    or the strong boast of their strength
    or the rich boast of their riches,
²⁴but let the one who boasts boast about this:
    that they have the understanding to know me,
that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness,
    justice and righteousness on earth,
    for in these I delight,”
declares the Lord.”

Jeremiah 9:23-24 NIV

Our purpose, to Know Him…our ministry, to make Him Known. Amen.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:19-20 NIV

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

Come To The Lord

January 28, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“The name of the Lord is a fortified tower;
the righteous run to it and are safe.”

Proverbs 18:10 NIV

There is only one place to find the answers we seek and that is with the Lord. He is good, His love endures forever. He wants a relationship with us. Nothing is impossible for Him. He is greater than any issue or circumstances in our lives…no matter what it is you are facing come to the Lord.

Come, Now Is The Time To Worship by Phillips, Craig and Dean

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“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Hebrews 4:16 NIV

(This photo was taken in July of 2021 in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado)

Come To The Lord

October 20, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“The name of the Lord is a fortified tower;
the righteous run to it and are safe.”

Proverbs 18:10 NIV

Come, Now Is The Time To Worship by Phillips, Craig and Dean

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“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Hebrews 4:16 NIV

(This photo was taken in July of 2021 in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado)

Turn Towards God

September 16, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”

Psalm 34:8 NIV

“Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
⁴Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

Psalms 37:3-4 NIV

Don’t go your own way…come near to God. Trust His way and most importantly His timing. The world pushes us to be impatient and to seek immediate gratification…this is the work of evil. Set aside self-serving desires and learn about God’s promises. Turn towards God and put your hope in Him and you will know peace.

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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 in August of 2016 in Glacier National Park in Montana)

Jesus

March 30, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

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

1 Peter 5:7 NIV

He is all we need. He is the way to God for us. He took the punishment we deserve. The words He spoke when He was here are written in red in the bible. If you want to learn more about Him, pick up a bible and read the Gospel of John. Believe in Him, He is the Son of God, our Savior and our Lord. No matter what you are going through, no matter where you are and no matter what you have done, turn towards Jesus…He is waiting to hear from you. Amen.

Give Me Jesus by Danny Gokey

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“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John 1:14 NIV

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

Come Near To God

March 23, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Come near to God and he will come near to you.”

Hebrews 4:8 NIV

“The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.”

Psalm 145:18 NIV

Take time to sit alone with God…pickup His Word and read. Acknowledge Him and give thanks to Him for where you have seen Him…give Him thanks for the blessings He has given you…they are there and you will see them if you look for them. Spend time with your Savior, come near to Him and He will come near to you. Amen.

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“If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
    and you make the Most High your dwelling,
¹⁰no harm will overtake you,
    no disaster will come near your tent.
¹¹For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways;
¹²they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
¹³You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
    you will trample the great lion and the serpent.”

Psalm 91:9-13 NIV

(This photo was taken in July of 2019 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Living Water

February 26, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“The Holy Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And the person who hears should say, “Come!” Anyone who is thirsty should come. Anyone who wants to take the free gift of the water of life should do so.”

Revelation 22:17 NIRV

The water of life comes only from Jesus Christ. Just like our bodies must be fed and hydrated, we must feed and nourish our faith for it to be strong and to grow. It is so easy to become too busy and to drift away from God with everyday life and events. Our source of strength and hope is the living water that comes from Christ. Amen.

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“Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

John 4:13-14 NIV

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

The Experience Of Following

February 15, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12 NIV

Jesus was very clear about what it takes to follow Him. It does not mean life will be easy and you will not have to face any trouble or suffering…it means we will have trouble because we live in a world that pursues the exact opposite of what Jesus teaches us. It also does not mean your life will be miserable…again it is the opposite, you can have joy and peace and contentment. It all comes down to what do you believe? Your beliefs will drive your values, your perspective and even your attitude. And so, Jesus said…“Follow me” – Matthew 9:9 NIV

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“And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ³⁵For whoever would save his life^[^a^] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. ³⁶For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?”