Angels All Around Us

June 12, 2018 / mcalcagno / 3 Comments

As we go about our journey of life God knows we will need His ever-present help along the way. Creation has so much to offer us but we still live in a fallen world. God is constantly sending in His angels to guide and protect us throughout our life. Angels come in and protect us, and the help they provide is typically essential in our daily lives. When you reflect on moments in your life where something incredible was avoided or times when a decision you made quickly ended up keeping you and others safe…do you believe angels played a part in the process? I do. God does not do His work alone…it is written about in the bible and I believe He has an army of angels working for the good of those who love Him. May God’s peace and joy be with you.

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“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”

Psalms 91:11-12

(This photo was taken in September of 2014 on a walk in a neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Have Faith…Pass It On

June 10, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

There is nothing greater in this world then a belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Your relationship with Him is the foundation of your Faith. It does not mean life will be easy and it does not mean you will get everything you have ever wanted in life. The world and evil continues to send us messages that if what we are pursuing doesn’t end with convenience or an easy life it is not worth pursuit. Not true! True joy, peace and contentment does not come from chasing after things to satisfy the self. It comes from knowing that you are loved and you are saved from your sins no matter how much you mess up. True faith is built by spending time on your relationship with God everyday and by sharing the Good News with others, especially those in the next generation. May the peace and understanding of God in faith be with you.

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“How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver!”

Proverbs 16:16

“For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

Psalms 100:5

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

Holy Living

June 9, 2018 / mcalcagno / 2 Comments

We are broken but we are saved. We are sinful but we are forgiven. We live in a dark world but Jesus Christ is the light of the world. For every statement about human life on earth God has provided an answer and hope for a future. There is no need to dwell in negativity and sadness for an extended period of time. Pick up the Bible and read God’s Word. Read the stories of those who came before us and the real struggles they went through even when Jesus Christ was here on earth. We will never be perfect but we will always have hope because of God’s love. Choose positive responses to life’s questions and live your best holy life according to God’s Word. May God’s peace and contentment be with you.

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“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Colossians 3:12-14

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

Take Refuge In Him

June 8, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

The world is an attacking place filled with darkness, deceitfulness and evil. The only place to seek refuge from the storms of life is in God. There are several examples in the Bible of people who were under attack by others or by circumstances surrounding them…Abraham, Elijah, Job, the disciples, Jesus etc. They all took refuge in God, through prayer and listening. We don’t have to have all the answers and we never will…we just need the courage to seek our relationship with God everyday and be able to listen and understand where He is leading us. May you experience the peace and joy of God today.

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“As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.”

Psalm 18:30

(This photo was taken in October of 2014 at Kaanapali Beach on the island of Maui)

The Holy Spirit – Counselor

June 5, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

There are many times when we are praying to God and we just want Him to tell us in an easy to understand way, what should I do?! One of the greatest freedoms God provides is free will. He provides us the ability to decide our attitude and our behavior. Better still He has given us the instruction manual for life, the Bible and the guide to walk along with us, the Holy Spirit. The key to unlocking these resources?…Time. In order to understand the instructions and to sense the direction of the Holy Spirit, we need to spend time studying the Word and time in prayer. Jesus our Savior came and has saved us all from the defeat of sin and before He ascended into heaven He told of the Holy Spirit coming. Tune in to the Counselor and seek direction and guidance from the Word of God. May God’s love and joy be with you.

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“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

John 14:25-26

(This photo was taken yesterday while walking the dog in a neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Hope Everyday

June 4, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We are blessed with the love God has for us and because of His love we have hope that is never-ending. We will experience trials and suffering, it is expected because we live in a world filled with selfishness and brokenness. Jesus Christ and our relationship with Him is where our hope can be found. Even when things are at the darkest hour, hope is the glimmer of light Christ provides. He has overcome anything this world can throw at us and He is waiting to guide you through everything you have going on in your life. May God’s hope and love be with you.

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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 14:8

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

The Love Of God

June 3, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

It may be hard to believe sometimes…it seems unfathomable, an error in judgement or even misguided from our perspective. However, it is true…God loves you, unconditionally. There is nothing in all creation that can separate us from the love of God. It has all been tried over and over again throughout the Old Testament, so God took things up a notch and sent His one and only Son to triumph over all, forever. He had it written about before it occurred in the Old Testament and then again after it occurred in the New Testament. God loves you and He is right there with you, He knows the struggles and the victory you experience in your life every day. Talk with God, thank Him for His never-ending love and seek His will as you go forward in your faith and life journey. May God’s peace and joy be with you.

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“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:37-39

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 while driving through North Dakota)

Choose Love

May 27, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Relationships can be hard if we strive to seek power or control. If our self is driving during our interactions with others things will often end poorly. There will be bitterness, anger, frustration and all the things we don’t want to be a part of our relationships. There is a better way. There is love. Unconditional, never-ending love. This does not mean just let the other person walk all over you and do whatever they want whenever they want. This means both people do things to make life better for both of them. It is important in any relationship to build your time together on a foundation of faith. There will be times when each of you will need to lean on the Lord in prayer as each of you will have your moments when self will try to take over. Be strong together and God will watch over your life. Today my wife and I are celebrating 23 years in marriage, we were joined in marriage by God and nothing will keep us apart. We have had to fight some battles and we continue to get stronger as we go because we both know that there is nobody who will love us like we do each other. I am thankful for every day God gives us together. May you find God’s love and joy in your relationships.

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

Romans 12:9-13

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

The Joy Of Faith

May 19, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

The true form of joy comes from believing and knowing that the Lord your God created you out of love, knows the about the deepest part of you and will never leave you or abandon you. Faith has been and is the only thing that can overcome sadness, darkness and sin. Jesus came down from heaven and showed the power of faith by His actions and His sacrifice. He defeated sickness and illness, He defeated the devil in the desert, and He defeated death. He did it all for you and He did it out of His love…and that is why true joy is found only in Faith and nowhere else on earth. May you find joy in God’s peace and love.

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“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

1 Peter 1:8-9

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

The Path To Joy

May 15, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

It seems so often, we are trying to figure things out…why did this happen? why didn’t it go the way we thought? what went wrong? how did I do that? that is not what I planned? These thoughts take us on a roller-coaster of a ride in our daily life and near the end of the day we are exhausted with few answers. I believe we all need to simplify things a bit, narrow our focus and stay obedient to the way Jesus has taught us. Start by committing our day to the Lord. Spend time reading Scripture and praying that gives you a solid foundation to start on…then be present in the moments that are occurring in your life today. Listen closely to what others are saying, offer encouragement and be of service to others. If your current circumstances make this difficult or impossible in your mind then pray about that and ask God to help you find your way to a better situation. The point is you don’t have to do this journey alone and frankly God did not intend you to be alone. Reach out to the Lord and he will guide you to the right path. May God’s peace be with you.

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