Prioritize

November 21, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Put first things first…when you don’t know what to do…when a decision is lingering and you are procrastinating…turn towards God’s word and pray. The more we put our relationship with Jesus first, the better we will be able to function in our daily lives. Too often, we want to keep God in a box off to the side with a sign that states ‘In Case of Emergency Break Glass.’ God wants more of a relationship with you every day, for every part of your life. Assess your relationship with the Lord and make spending time with Him top priority. May the peace and joy of the Lord be with you. Amen.

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“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Matthew 6:31-34

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 on a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

Seek Him

October 10, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Jesus Christ…He sacrificed Himself to save you. No matter what has happened in your life, no matter what you have done or left undone…He is waiting for you with open arms, to pick you up, to forgive you and restore you. He is ready to do that for you and for others in your life because He loves you and He loves them too. Jesus Christ is the way…He is the only way to fellowship with God. Amen.

The Way by Housefires

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“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6

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

One Year Ago Today…

August 31, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

I received one of those calls…something has happened with Dad…it is not good…Mom is riding in an ambulance on the way to the hospital…roughly 30 minutes later…a follow-up call…Dad’s gone…

Life can change forever in 30 minutes…I am here to tell you, the only way to walk through the pain and struggles of life is with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He truly carries us in the most difficult moments…if we are willing to surrender our ways and our plans for His ways and His plan…we can find peace and comfort that we never knew was possible. Truly I tell you, our God is an awesome God…Amen.

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“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

(This photo was taken in October of 2018 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

With Prayer…

August 20, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Bring your worries, your concerns, your questions and your thankfulness to the Lord with prayer. As with any relationship your personal relationship with Jesus will grow and become stronger the more you spend time with Him. Think about the people in your life, your closest relationships…most of the time, these are the people you are interacting with the most in your daily life or you have spent a significant amount of time with them in the past. The best investment of your time is to learn more about Jesus and you can do it at any time…He is waiting to hear from you. Amen.

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“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:4-7

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

Forever

August 9, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Give thanks to God for all that is good. When we struggle or get frustrated, we can find hope in His love. We tend to think we know what God’s plan is and we are surprised when things don’t go the way we were heading. Spiritual growth comes from realizing we are not the leaders; we do not know better and if we are willing to listen and seek the will of the Lord, He will lead us to things we never thought possible. Thanks be to God for His everlasting love. Amen.

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“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.”

Psalm 136:1

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

Comforted

June 13, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

To restore a sense of well-being…to soothe…console…reassure…to ease the grief or burden. To pursue your faith and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is about finding your starting point or ending point to each day. It is about coming back to the place that most feels like home in your heart. If you are seeking this comfort, choose a time that works for your situation and every day spend time with God…it will change your life in ways you can’t imagine. Amen.

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“What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Romans 8:31

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

Repentance

April 8, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

To admit when we are wrong…to be accountable for our actions and behaviors…to walk in truth. The hardest part is typically the first step when it comes to repentance. It takes a level of humility that pride is fighting against. Since we live in a broken and fallen world we know that judgement will come from others even though it is not theirs to deal out. The foundation of our faith, a relationship with Jesus Christ is what we all need to be able to move through repentance and begin to turn away from sinful behaviors. Offer up your repentance to God and His Son Jesus and begin to heal the wounds of guilt and fear. Amen.

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“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

1 John 1:8-9

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

True Hope

January 13, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

People are constantly seeking answers to difficult questions in life from a worldly point of view. Approaching situations with this perspective and mentality leads to phrases like…’I don’t know what else to do’…’It will never get better’…’I have tried everything’…’I give up.’ We were not made to do things alone. We are created out of love and that love is from God. He wants a relationship with us, all that is good in our lives is from God. Darkness and evil, the bad things in life, are rooted in sin which is the way of this world. Our hope, our peace comes from God and our time spent in our relationship with Jesus Christ, His Son, our Lord and Savior. Be renewed by the hope that we have in Jesus. Amen.

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“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed.”

2 Corinthians 4:7-8

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on the shore of Madeline Island in Lake Superior)

Comfort And Peace

December 15, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

It is astonishing to discover the comfort and peace that God can provide with His presence when we surrender control and strive to not only listen to the Word of God but actually do what it says. The process of surrender takes time and I have only sensed this amazing comfort and peace on few occasions because…well old habits die hard. The self is stubborn. One occasion most recently was when my Dad went home to the Lord, unexpectedly. I clung more tightly to the words in my bible and prayed more passionately…and as promised, God carried me through and is still carrying me and my family onward. The hardest part is trying to avoid slipping back into old habits or old ways of thinking, especially after sensing such a closeness with the Lord. The comfort and peace we seek and that God offers every single person is available to us today and everyday…if we are willing to put aside our selfish ways and desires and put our hope in God. Amen.

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“The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.”

Psalm 145:8-9

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

He Gives Us Strength

November 27, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When we feel weak and tired…when frustrations seem overwhelming…when the way forward is difficult or unknown. God the Father, Jesus Christ His one and only Son and the Holy Spirit lift us up and renew us. Everything and anything in life is going to better when God is at the center of our lives. Spending time in devotions and prayer, reading God’s Word these are ways to build your relationship with Jesus. The more our relationship grows the more we begin to sense His presence in our lives which can lead us to courage and strength at times when we need it most. We were never promised a life of faith would be easy…the promise is “…he will never leave you nor forsake you.” –Deuteronomy 31:6 The Lord is good and He is the provider of all we need. I pray we seek the will of the Lord and trust in Him. Amen.

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