Keep Doing Good Things

May 30, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

^“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Ephesians 2:10 NIV

Not for your benefit, rather for the benefit of others. We reap what we sow in this life. This does not mean we can earn our way into heaven by doing the right things…it means whatever we go out and do in the world will come back around to us at some point and none of us knows or can control how or when that will happen. This is further proof that God is in control and it is our responsibility to choose our behaviors and our actions in our daily life. We cannot control what others will think, say or do, yet we can control how we respond. Let’s choose to keep doing good things. May the Fruit of the Spirit flow through us each day. Amen.

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“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Galatians 6:7-9 NIV

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado)

Attitude

March 27, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

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

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NIV

It is your choice what attitude you present in the world, what you believe and what actions you will take. You can choose to let the circumstances in the world and what other people think, say and do drag you down and respond in an unpleasant way…or you can choose to believe in God’s Word and to follow Jesus Christ and His attitude and be encouraged by good things that you and others can do. The choice is yours everyday with every sunrise. Amen.

This Could Change Everything by Francesca Battistelli

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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 June of 2016 while traveling through western Minnesota)

Doing Good

March 21, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. ⁸Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. ⁹Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. ¹⁰Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

Galatians 6:7-10 NIV

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“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

¹⁵Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Colossians 3:12-17 NIV

(This photo was taken in May of 2020 at the High Falls in Tettegouche State Park in northern Minnesota)

Generosity

February 23, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Galatians 6:9 NIV

“Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.”

– John Wesley

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“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 NIV

(This photo was taken in March of 2013 at the Botanical Garden at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, Nevada)

Continue To Do Good

October 23, 2021 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Those who plan evil go down the wrong path.
But those who plan good find love and truth.”

Proverbs 14:22 NIRV

“Let us not become tired of doing good. At the right time we will gather a crop if we don’t give up. ¹⁰So when we can do good to everyone, let us do it. Let’s try even harder to do good to the family of believers.”

Galatians 6:9-10 NIRV

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“We are God’s creation. He created us to belong to Christ Jesus. Now we can do good works. Long ago God prepared these works for us to do.”

Ephesians 2:10 NIRV

(This photo was taken in July of 2021 at the Fish Sunflower Field in Buffalo, Minnesota)

In All Things

September 15, 2021 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[a] have been called according to his purpose.”

Romans 8:28

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“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Philippians 1:6

(This photo was taken in September of 2021 at Kathio State Park in central Minnesota)

Doing Good

July 5, 2021 / mcalcagno / 2 Comments

Galatians 6:7-10

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Colossians 3:12-17

(This photo was taken in May of 2020 at the High Falls in Tettegouche State Park in northern Minnesota)

With Freedom Comes Responsibility

July 4, 2021 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

2 Corinthians 3:17

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“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh^[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. ¹⁴For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”^[b] ¹⁵If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”

Galatians 5:13-15

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 at Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota)

Our Thoughts…Our Actions

May 16, 2021 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.”

Proverbs 4:23

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Philippians 4:8

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 at a park near Bayfield, Wisconsin)

Fruit Of The Spirit…Goodness

April 19, 2021 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

Galatians 5:22-23

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

Psalm 34:8

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