Trust In The Lord…Praise Him

October 9, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
⁴Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

Psalm 37:3-4 NIV

Only God can do the things we wish we could control…only He can transform the way people think and change their hearts. Faith is about trusting His way and His timing…be still and wait patiently for Him. Keep doing good things according to God’s Word.

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“I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.”

Psalm 86:12 NIV

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

Guard Your Heart

October 7, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Jeremiah 29:13 NIV

We all face trials and struggles. The one thing we can control during these times and situations is how we choose to respond. Many of us quickly try to gain control and take charge, determined not to let the situation get the best of us…others do an about face and get away from the situation as quickly as they can.

All of us can do better if we start with bringing the situation, the difficult time or difficult relationship to God first. We need to stop waiting and trying to do things our own way…going into battle against darkness and evil without God is like a soldier heading into a battle without any weapon. If we turn towards God first, the more likely we will find peace and be able to overcome the troubles of life.

“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

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“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6-7 NIV

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

Give Thanks

October 5, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Rejoice always, ¹⁷pray continually, ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV

What are you thankful for today? How often are we able to see something to be thankful for during difficult times? It is not easy…yet it is a choice. An attitude of gratitude may not come naturally to us but we should strive for it…gratitude can make such a big difference in our lives and the lives of others. So as you reflect on your life what are you thankful for?

Give thanks for little things and big things…start by thanking God for Jesus Christ and what He did for you on the Cross and see where God leads you. Amen.

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“Let 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 3:15-17 NIV

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 while traveling through North Dakota)

Learn, Share, Give Thanks

October 4, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Colossians 3:15-17 NIV

Faith is a journey. Not an event, not something we do to check the box…it is a life learning and life-giving experience. We learn by reading God’s Word, spending time in prayer and through our own experiences…we share with others the things we have learned and we learn from others experiences. We can help others by sharing the things we learn and we give thanks to God for all that He has done for us.

God is with you, right now, today and He wants a relationship with you…turn towards Him every day…learn from Him…share with others what you have learned and give Him thanks and praise. Amen.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:19-20 NIV

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 while traveling in southern Colorado)

Wait For The Lord

October 2, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
²⁶it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.”

Lamentations 3:25-26 NIV

Hurry and impatience are causing more bad things to happen to us than we are willing to admit. Why are we rushing around? This is not how God created us to be. Look at how Jesus lived on earth. He took time sit quietly alone with God and to pray. Filling our life with busyness is a sickness and will cause damage to our bodies and our relationships with others over time. If you are often tired and weary take a moment to slow down…pick up God’s Word and pray to the Lord. Remember God’s promises and wait for Him to guide you and lead you.

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“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;
therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.
For the Lord is a God of justice.
Blessed are all who wait for him!”

Isaiah 30:18 NIV

(This photo was taken in May of 2023 alomg the North Shore of Lake Superior)

The Truth Will Set You Free

October 1, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. ³²Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:31-32 NIV

Faith in God means believing the truth. The truth that God sent His only Son to save us from our sins. If we allow temptation and sin to rule our lives…it will keep us away from God and we will be inviting trouble into everything we do.

If we follow the truth and put Jesus in the center of our lives, we will know peace. Peace that surpasses all understanding.

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“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

(This photo was taken in September of 2022 at Big Sky Resort in Big Sky, Montana)

The Goodness Of God

September 30, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
    his greatness no one can fathom.
⁴One generation commends your works to another;
    they tell of your mighty acts.
⁵They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
    and I will meditate on your wonderful works.^[b]
⁶They tell of the power of your awesome works—
    and I will proclaim your great deeds.
⁷They celebrate your abundant goodness
    and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

⁸The 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 145:3-9 NIV

God is good. The reason sin and evil are in the world is because of us. We have pain and suffering and we ask God why…yet we are the ones who have drifted away from Him. No matter what, God is patient with us and is always ready for us to turn towards Him and come near to Him. He knows us, He knows everything about us and yet He still sent He Son to die on the Cross to save us.

God is good and He is with you and He is for you, every day, all the time. Thanks be to God for His Goodness!

Goodness Of God by Jenn Johnson

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“I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.
¹⁴Wait for the Lord;
    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.”

Psalm 27:13-14 NIV

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 while traveling in northern Colorado)

The Voice of Truth

September 28, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6 NIV

In this world that is fallen and filled with sin and lies we have many thoughts and opinions speaking to us through many forms of communication. Yet while Jesus walked on earth he taught using the phrase “I tell you the truth…” He spoke this phrase more than 75 times as recorded in the New Testament. With so much input coming at us in the world from so many sources it is important to seek the One voice of truth.

This is not always easy…in fact when Jesus spoke he knew not everybody would openly accept the truth. In our lives, the hardest things to do are often really the right thing to do. Truth takes courage, truth takes trusting that no matter what happens God has got you in the palm of his hand. He knows what you are facing, He knows your fears and the temptations pressuring you…open your heart, mind and soul to Him. He has the truth and His Son delivered the message of truth personally to us.

Voice Of Truth by Casting Crowns

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“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free’.“

John 8:31-32 NIV

(This photo was taken in the summer of 2013 at Falls Park on the Big Sioux River in South Dakota)

Seek God’s Will

September 25, 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. ¹²Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV

God has given us the gift of free will. It is up to us to choose how we will live each day…seeking Him and His Word or following the ways of this fallen world? God tells us the truth in the Bible. He lays out what will happen based on what we choose to believe and do.

So what do you believe? What will you choose to do today? I encourage you to seek Him and seek Him with all of your heart. May God’s peace wash over you. Amen.

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“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 July of 2018 at a park near Bayfield, Wisconsin)

Teach Me Your Way

September 21, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Show me your ways, Lord,
    teach me your paths.
⁵Guide me in your truth and teach me,
    for you are God my Savior,
    and my hope is in you all day long.”

Psalm 25:4-5 NIV

God invites us into a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. It is up to us to respond to that invitation. If we ignore God’s call and go our own way we will bring about more pain and suffering without God’s presence and guidance.

We need to be willing to open ourselves up to God’s way and His plan, that happens with His timing. It is a willingness and an ability to surrender our self-centered ways to Him…God is not in a hurry, like we typically are in this world. God is faithful and will guide you and lead you if you are willing to put your faith and trust in Him and His Way.

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