He Is With You

July 14, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Trustworthy…reliable…constant…unwavering…unfailing…steady…faithful. God is with you at all times no matter where you go. All that is required is for us to come to the Cross and believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. There is nothing, no place or no one on earth that compares to what you can have in a personal relationship with our Lord. We often spend our lives looking for something or someone and we believe that if that place or person could be a part of our everyday life then we would be satisfied…Jesus Christ is all that we need. Turn toward Him and give thanks for all that He has done for you. Amen.

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“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Hebrews 13:5

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

Forgive As You Are Forgiven

March 11, 2019 / mcalcagno / 1 Comment

Many of us have something or someone in our life or in our past that stirs us up quickly. Just the mention of that situation or person begins to increase our blood pressure and we feel the tension increase. The bitterness and anger is only hurting us, we need to move through the pain and frustration to the other side, we need to seek to forgive. To be clear this does not mean someone else is getting a pass for something that was wrong and hurtful, rather it is declaring that you are not going to allow that issue or problem to define your attitude going forward. To forgive is to let go of the past and the pain and to embrace the new and the possible. This is a process and takes time and God is ready to guide us and hold us up through it all. Amen.

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“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Ephesians 4:31-32

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 in Badlands National Park in South Dakota)

Mercy And Compassion

October 20, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Grace…forgiveness…kindness…sympathy…generosity…tenderheartedness. It seems like sometimes people with these character traits are cast aside by society as weak or out of place. The fact is these behaviors are what make a community, a business, a church and a family strong and connected. It is focusing on living in this way that encourages others and keeps us from dwelling on self-centered behaviors. This reminds me of bible verses in the New Testament, such as: “…The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” (Luke 10:2) Meaning the number of people hurting, suffering and in need is many but those willing and able to help is few. Prayer and acting with these behaviors and finding the way God is asking you to serve others is a wonderful way to turn towards God and step out in faith on your faith journey. May we all be strong and courageous in showing mercy and compassion to others. Amen.

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“This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.”

Zechariah 7:9

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

Compassion

September 15, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

To be helpful…thoughtful…aware of the suffering of others…a desire to provide help and support…understanding the needs of another. One of the strongest elements of humility is compassion. Being aware that others are suffering and need assistance and then going and doing something that provides help and support. We all have different roles in our relationships with others, which means there are many different ways for us to provide help and support depending on who needs us and what has happened to them. When you know or get a sense inside you that you should do something for someone else but you are unsure what it is you should do, do not ignore that feeling, turn to the Lord and ask Him to help guide you to what the other person needs…then listen and watch for His reply. Be careful not to do something you believe they need from your perspective, rather be sensitive and aware of what they say they need. Compassion does not have to be something difficult and complex in order to be helpful…often times it is the simple and thoughtful things that make the biggest difference for others. May God’s grace and mercy flow through us and into our relationships.

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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 June of 2018 near the border between Minnesota and South Dakota)

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)

Forgiving

March 12, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Everyone has been hurt by others in some way, at one time or another. This is not a unique situation to be in, the key to peace and joy is what you do with the hurt and the pain…do we live with bitterness and anger at the sound of their name or place where the pain occurred? Maybe for a period of time, eventually we must find a way to forgiveness. We will be much better off to learn about what it means to forgive someone and proceed with removing the dark cloud from over our heads. It won’t make the pain go away and we will live with the scar of past hurts no matter what we do…what it will do is open us up for other future possibilities, some that we could have never imagined if we were still angry and bitter. Give forgiveness a try and see what God has in store for you. May God’s peace be with you.

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“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Ephesians 4:32

(This photo was taken in February of 2013 in a neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Choose Holy Living

January 7, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

With each day the gift of free will means we can choose our attitude toward everything…we can choose our attitude towards what other people think, say or do. We can choose to be kind and compassionate or we can respond with vicious words and wrath…nobody can make you do this, it is up to you how you respond even if you don’t take the time to think about your response you are still accountable for your behavior every day. Choose patience…choose kindness and compassion…be forgiving and most of all no matter what choose to respond with love…after all that is what Jesus did for us. May God’s peace be with you.

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