Faith

Believe…Trust

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly[a] I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

Mark 11:22-24 NIV

Father God, I believe in You.  No matter what comes my way…I believe You have overcome the world.  Even though trouble is all around me, You are my constant source of peace.  Nothing is too difficult for You to accomplish.  You guide me and protect me.  I praise You because You are the One in whom I trust.  Thank You for all that You have done and are doing for me.  In Jesus name, Amen.

IMG_20200528_162726 publish

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

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

(This photo was taken along the North Shore of Lake Superior)

Put Your Hope In God

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Why am I discouraged?
    Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
    I will praise him again—
    my Savior and my God!”

Psalm 42:11 NLT

Father God, we know You have a plan for our lives and that You want to bless us.  Help us lean into that promise.  Sometimes it is hard to see past our present struggles.  Fill each of us with Your hope and give us peace.  In Jesus name, Amen.

Find Rest by Fracesca Battistelli

DSC_0081 publish

“Have you never heard?
    Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
    No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
29 He gives power to the weak
    and strength to the powerless.
30 Even youths will become weak and tired,
    and young men will fall in exhaustion.
31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
    They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
    They will walk and not faint.”

Isaiah 40:28-31 NLT

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

Reflect On All That God Has Done

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:3-8 NIV

God Is In This Story by Katy Nichole & Big Daddy Weave

DSC_0029-1 publish

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

James 1:12 NIV

(This photo was taken at a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

Finding Joy

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

John 15:9-11 NIV

Father God, we praise You for Your everlasting love.  Sometimes life is hard and all we can see is darkness and death.  Help us remember Your promises and that You are at work, even when we can’t see it.  Please give us rest and the courage to find joy through You and Your Word.  We know You are faithful and that You have already won the battle through Jesus and His death and resurrection.  Thank You Father God! Amen.

dsc_0384 publish

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

Ephesians 2:10 NIV

(This photo was taken at a park on Madeline Island in Lake Superior)

Seek God’s Will

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV

Father God, thank You for loving us and pursuing a personal relationship with each of us.  You are everything to us, and we want to seek You first every day.  Please be a part of every decision, every thought, every word, and every action we have.  In Jesus name, Amen.

DSC_0090 (2) publish

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Romans 12:1-2 NIV

(This photo was taken at a park near Bayfield, Wisconsin)

Contentment…Gratitude

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“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.”[a]

Hebrews 13:5 NIV

God is always with us…if God feels distant, it is because we have wandered off and away from Him.  Believe in Jesus, confess your sin and invite Him into your life daily.  He will be with you and He will lead and guide you forever.  Thanks be to God.

Forever by Michael W. Smith

DSC_0022 publish

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

Psalm 136:1 NIV

(This photo was taken at a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

Peace

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 14:27 NIV

“You will keep in perfect peace
    those whose minds are steadfast,
    because they trust in you.“

Isaiah 26:3 NIV

Father God, I often find myself consumed by my circumstances that are beyond my control and I am distracted by things that don’t matter.  Forgive me for not consistently placing my trust in You.  No matter what I face, I know You are still with me.  You are the giver of peace, help me remember I can access Your peace whenever I draw near to You.  Remind me to make space in my heart and mind to be able to experience Your peace.  In Jesus name, Amen.

Breathe by Michael W Smith

DSC_0144 publish

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let 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. 17 And 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 3:15-17 NIV

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

The Love Of Christ

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

Ephesians 3:14-19 NIV

There is nothing greater in this world than the love of Jesus Christ.  We can spend our whole lives seeking to find happiness and contentment in the things of this world…yet this world is not our home.

In the Book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon, who was the wisest and wealthiest person to ever live, documented his efforts to try everything under the sun and found that the things of this world are not worth chasing…meaningless!  However, the things of God are the things we should spend our life pursuing.  Think about what Jesus Christ did for you…nobody and nothing in this world will love you like that.

DSC_0322 publish

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV

(This photo was taken in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming)

Persevere

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[a] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”

2 Corinthians 4:6-9 NIV

Father God, You call us to always be faithful and obedient, especially during difficult times.  Thank You for providing Your Word as a guide for us.  Remind us that no matter what our struggle is, You are near and will renew our strength and provide us endurance to persevere.  In Jesus name, Amen.

IMG_20180730_062020 publish

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

Colossians 3:1-4 NIV

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

Humility…Gratitude

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

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

Colossians 3:12-14 NIV

Father God, when we are overwhelmed by the brokenness and darkness we see, help us to remember You are near.  You are in control.  We can’t stop all the pain and injustice we witness, yet we can help overcome evil by doing good.  Please help us to do that.  Give us the courage and humility to love other people well.  In Jesus name, Amen.

DSC07425 publish

15 “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let 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. 17 And 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 3:15-17 NIV

(This photo was taken while traveling in northern Colorado)