Trust And Faith

August 12, 2025 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
⁶In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

Hebrews 11:1 NIV

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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 15:13 NIV

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

The Way Of Faith

July 27, 2025 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. ¹⁹For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”^[a]; ²⁰and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”

1 Corinthians 3:18-20 NIV

“My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
²for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you peace and prosperity.

³Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
    bind them around your neck,
    write them on the tablet of your heart.
⁴Then you will win favor and a good name
    in the sight of God and man.

⁵Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.”^[a]

Proverbs 3:1-6 NIV

The way of faith is a wise way to live and a narrow path for life

Simple yet not easy

The way of faith is pursuing God’s Kingdom

God’s Kingdom is an upside down Kingdom when looking through the eyes of the world

Commit your way to God, trust in Him

Trust God’s way…follow Jesus and you will find peace

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“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Matthew 7:13-14 NIV

(This photo was taken while traveling in southern Colorado)

Be Faithful

July 20, 2025 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, ⁶so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁷Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”

Romans 15:5-7 NIV

Accept one another…

We spend so much time condemning, blaming and complaining

We all suffer from this condition in this broken world…no one is immune

Be intentional to be different

Trust God…even when circumstances say otherwise

Let the Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) flow through you

Be faithful to follow Jesus and His teachings

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“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV

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

Saved By Grace

June 6, 2025 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

^{8 “}For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV

Amazing Grace by Chris Tomlin

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^{14 “}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 Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)

He Did It All For You

April 18, 2025 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.
⁶We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
    each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all.”

Isaiah 53:5-6 NIV

From Genesis to Revelation the over-arching theme of the Bible points to Jesus and His love

This love is not a guarantee that life will be easy and always pleasant

Yet it is a love that is consistent, unchanging and comes to us directly in His birth, life, death and resurrection

Open your heart and mind to Jesus every day…everything He did was done for you

End Of The Beginning by David Phelps

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“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

John 3:16-17 NIV

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

Love God, Love People

March 20, 2025 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³²Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Ephesians 4:31-32 NIV

All actions and behaviors of violence and destruction against others are wrong

Nobody can rightfully condone violence at one event because it aligns with their opinion and condemn it at another…all actions and behaviors of violence against others are wrong

We need more listening that is seeking to understand even when we don’t agree

We need more kindness, more compassion

If we choose to condone violence at any time, against anyone…we are just going to get more violence in the world

Turn towards God, seek Him, seek understanding

Forgive as Christ forgave you

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

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NIV

(This photo was taken at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

He Restores

January 22, 2025 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”

1 Peter 5:10 NIV

We need time with God every day

When He is the source of life

We will find peace

We will be able to rest

He will renew us and restore us

If we try to go alone we will be consumed by sin

Trust in the Lord

He will restore your soul and give you all that you need

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“He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.^[a]
³ He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness^[b]
for his name’s sake.“

Psalm 23:2-3 NIV

(This photo was taken while driving through North Dakota)

Actions Of Hope

January 12, 2025 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

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

Romans 8:28 NIV

An action of hope means getting practical

It means working and doing things with trust in God’s plan even when the circumstances don’t reveal it

Actions of hope are a way to live in faith and to put your trust in God

In Jeremiah 32 there is a story of Jeremiah buying a field at a time when Babylon was coming to capture the city

This was not a logical action at the time rather an action of hope because God had said the people will return to buy fields, build houses and live in this land

Destruction was coming yet Jeremiah bought a field

Nothing in your life is wasted…God is at work

Turn towards God in faith and ask for His guidance for opportunities for you to take actions of hope in your life

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