Serve One Another

September 12, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. ⁹Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. ¹⁰Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. ¹¹If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

1 Peter 4:8-11 NIV

“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.”

Galatians 5:13 NIV

We each get to choose each day the attitude we will embrace and how we will act when interacting with others. God has given us instructions in His Word and He has followed up His Word with actions that show His love, His grace.

Our job, our purpose is to seek Him and live out His will in our life every day. Put your trust in Lord and choose to live as Jesus lived, love and serve one another.

DSC_0229 publish

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

Galatians 6:2 NIV

(This photo was taken in July of 2021 at Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado)

The Name Of Jesus

September 11, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
¹⁰that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.”

Philippians 2:9-11 NIV

Jesus is the one who took our punishment…we are guilty of sin, of doing things we should not do. He was without sin and yet He came down from heaven to sacrifice Himself for us. We didn’t earn it and we don’t deserve it…So why did He do it?

Because that is how much He loves us and wants a relationship with each and every one of us. His name is Jesus. Savior of the world. No matter where you are of what you have done, call out to Jesus. He is waiting to hear from you. Amen.

What A Beautiful Name by Hillsong Worship

DSC_0227 publish

“For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah 9:6 NIV

(This photo was taken in September of 2022 in Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming)

Living Sacrifices

September 10, 2023 / mcalcagno / 2 Comments

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.

Do not conform any longer 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

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹²Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”

Romans 12:9-13 NIV

Every one of us has a choice, every day…do we chose to follow the ways of the world and put ourselves first or will we seek His kingdom first and live according to His Word? How will you choose to live this day?

dsc_0928-publish

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

Galatians 5:22-23 ESV

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

He Will Carry Our Burdens

September 8, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Cast your burden on the Lord,
and he will sustain you;
he will never permit
the righteous to be moved.”

Psalm 55:22 ESV

How often do you feel like you have to carry something all by yourself? That it all depends on you and what you do? We all have moments and seasons of life like this and God knows we will face them…in fact, He is the one that told us about them in Scripture…

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33 NIV

And He is the One who has given us the Way through these times in life…turn towards Jesus…tell Him about the things that you are carrying. During my morning prayer time with God I give thanks to Him, affirm my belief in Jesus and ask for His guidance throughout my day. I share my worries and my concerns and I work on changing the way I think in order to trust His way. Your experience may be similar or different, what is most important is that you do it.

He wants to hear from you and He wants you to know He is walking right along side you…you just have to acknowledge Him and seek Him. He is with you and He is willing to carry your burdens for you. May we find peace with the Savior. Amen.

DSC_1549 publish

“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

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 at Sapphire Point near Dillon, Colorado)

Anything Is Possible With God

September 7, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.

⁹The Lord is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.”

Psalm 145:8-9 NIV

No matter what, anything is possible with God. If you are discouraged or defeated and thinking this is never going to change or get better…turn towards God, put your trust in Him. If you are frustrated and at your wits end with your circumstances or another person don’t give up…pray to God and draw near to Him.

God has saved me in every way a person can be saved. He has carried me through difficult times financially, in relationships and with personal difficulties and struggles. Be encouraged by what others have experienced…in the Bible look at the story of Saul who became Paul…Saul was filled with anger and hate and he was leading the charge to kill believers in Jesus and yet this was the person God chose to change to help lead the charge to spread the Good News about Jesus. You can read more about him in the book of Acts.

If God can change my life and if God can change Saul to Paul, He can change you or someone you are praying for as well. Anything is possible with God! Amen.

DSC_0062 publish

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
    whose confidence is in him.
⁸They will be like a tree planted by the water
    that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
    its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
    and never fails to bear fruit.”

Jeremiah 17:7-8 NIV

(This photo was taken in April of 2020 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

The Lord Is Our Rock

September 6, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“You will keep in perfect peace
    those whose minds are steadfast,
    because they trust in you.
⁴Trust in the Lord forever,
    for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.“

Isaiah 26:3-4 NIV

You have been saved…you have a fortress of salvation…you have been delivered by Jesus Christ to eternal life. Trust in the Lord, there is no greater strength than the love of God. Let the Word of God wash over you and flow through you in your attitude and behaviors.

When you fall down He will pick you up, He renews us and restores us. His Word is a shelter from evil. When it feels like the world is crashing down around you look to the Lord for He is our Rock. Amen.

DSC_0920 publish

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

Psalm 18:2 NIV

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

Listen…Be Transformed

September 5, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”

Romans 10:17 NIV

Draw near to God…stay close to Him. Do not allow the world with its values and temptations entice you to drift away from Jesus. It is easy to start a new habit of connecting with God every day and it is also easy to let it slip away. Try to attach your new habit to something you are already doing every day. Start small and it will build naturally as you stick to it.

If you are a ‘I need coffee in the morning’ person…make it a point to spend your first cup reading or listening to scripture. If you are a ‘I like to read at night person’ give a few minutes to a daily devotional book each night. Maybe mid-day would work best for you…no matter when or what the important thing is to do it and trust that God will use that time to transform you.

DSC_0061 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. ²Do 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 in September of 2020 at a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

Hope, Joy And Peace

September 4, 2023 / 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.”

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

“You make known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

Psalm 16:11 NIV

“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

We have hope because Jesus Christ has risen from the dead and He is alive. We can have joy when we learn to understand that nothing in this life is too big for God to help us overcome. All of this provides us peace knowing that God loves us, provides for us and will never leave us or abandon us. Know this hope, be filled with this joy and you will have peace that surpasses understanding. Amen.

DSC_0044 (2) publish

“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 2021 at a Fish Sunflowers Field in Buffalo, Minnesota)

Daily Living…Seek First His Kingdom

September 3, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Romans 12:1-2 NIV

IMG_20150719_212711704 publish

“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 July of 2015 while on a mission trip in Denver, Colorado)

When You Pray…

September 2, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ⁶But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. ⁷And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. ⁸Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

Matthew 6:5-8 NIV

Amazing things can happen that only God can do, when you pray. It is not about the right words or the proper position…it is about what you believe! Prayer is for all circumstances and is meant to be communication with God…not only speaking but listening and reading His Word so it can be planted in your heart.

Look at Jesus…when the devil tempted Him He responded with Scripture and when He was struggling to follow through on God’s plan He prayed…He prayed so hard that He was sweating blood. When you do not know what to do, pray…when things are going well, pray…when you need help or to calm down, pray. God is with you and He is within you…He is also waiting to hear from you. So pray.

When We Pray by Tauren Wells

DSC_0135-1 publish