Love One Another

September 13, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. ⁹This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. ¹⁰This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

1 John 4:7-10 NIV

Think about it…God sacrificed His one and only Son for other people just as much as He did it for you. He created all of us…yes even the person on your mind right now that chooses to reject God and shows it in their daily life. We are not here to be the judge of each other, we can’t because we are all sinful and we all need the Savior. Trust me I struggle with this in my faith as much as anyone else does…maybe that other person has never had anyone show them kindness, compassion or taken time to listen to them because society has decided they are not worth it. In the end it is not up to us…our purpose is to love God, love others and share the Gospel, that is how we can make a difference in our lifetime.

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“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹²No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”

1 John 4:11-12 NIV

(This photo was taken in September of 2022 in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming)

God Is Good

September 12, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

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

Psalm 34:8 NIV

Though circumstances and events around us are difficult, sad or frustrating in this broken world…God is still good. The difficulties have come because of sin and the rejection of God…bad things happen becasue of human choices to pursue sinful desires and not God. Take any difficulty in your life and pray about it openly and honestly to God every day for a period of time and you will see what God can do. Trust in the Lord, for He is good.

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“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ¹⁸He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.”

James 1:17-18 NIV

(This photo was taken in September of 2022 in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming)

Love

September 11, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“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

Love is more than words or feelings…love is action! We are told in the bible exactly what actions are love. Not only in 1 Corinthians, which is the most popular description of love. Again, this is more than the words you hear at a wedding…think about what it takes to live it out. When we review our life and our daily actions…how are we doing living out? I know I have work to do to be better, which is why a relationship with God is so important. We are broken, we are sinful and we need the Savior to keep us close to God and His love. The best part is nothing can separate us from His love…nothing. No matter where you are, no matter what your circumstances…turn towards the Lord and think about how you can act out in love. Amen.

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“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:37-39 NIV

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

He Gives Strength To The Weary

September 8, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
²⁹He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
³¹but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.”

Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV

If you find yourself weary and weak…struggling and feeling defeated. There is hope. Check yourself by reviewing your relationship with God. When have you last spoken to Him? Is He a part of everyday or just here and there as needed? I know I have found myself guilty of living distracted by my circumstances more often than I like to admit…walking with God takes time and effort on our part. God offers us so much yet we still have to do our part to make a commitment to follow Him. He will give you strength when you are weary and weak. Trust in the Lord and you will find strength.

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“I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”

Jeremiah 31:25 NIV

(This photo was taken in September of 2022 at The Chapel of Transfiguration in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming)

Gratitude

September 7, 2022 / 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? This is not something to consider only once a year in late November…it is an everyday prayer and worship attitude. What do you find yourself focusing your thoughts on each day…negativity? What is wrong or could be better? Why isn’t this working? When did this break or stop happening? Problems? Frustrations? Disappointments? It can easily become overwhelming…the Good News is we have the opportunity to change our perspective and our attitude without any of the external factors being different! How? Through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Spending time daily with God’s Word, taking time to sit quietly and pray…these are the keys to building our daily life on a foundation of positivity and living your best with whatever happens. Seek the Lord and shift your attitude to be one of gratitude.

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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 September of 2022 at Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming)

Renew Your Perspective And Strength

September 4, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:^[a] The old has gone, the new is here!”

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

Many aspects of life on earth can make us weary and tired, shaping our perspective to approach life with negativity, doubt and fear. We often forget, daily, that we can choose our attitude and perspective for this day. If we focus all our thoughts and energy on our problems and why me, then we may get stuck and begin to spiral downward. We can be renewed and draw strength by turning our focus to the Lord. No matter what you are facing remember God is in control and if you put your trust in Him, your strength will be renewed. Amen.

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“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary they will walk and not be faint.”

Isaiah 40:29-31 NIV

(This photo was taken in March of 2018 while traveling through southern New Mexico)

Encourage One Another

September 3, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Let 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.”

Proverbs 3:3-4 NIV

Receive encouragement from the Holy Spirit and be renewed by spending time with God and reading God’s Word. God’s love is for all of us and we are created to love God and to love others. Let His love flow through you and be encouraging for others with your words and your actions. Encourage one another.

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“Trust 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 3:5-6 NIV

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

Spirit of Truth

September 2, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”

John 16:13 NIV

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. Put your trust in the Lord and His will for your life…it may not be what you have always thought about your life yet God is the Creator and knows what is best for you. Stay close to the Lord and spend time with Him, be in His Word and the Spirit of Truth will wash over you. Amen.

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Jesus speaking to his disciples regarding the Holy Spirit in the Gospel of John…

“If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”

John 14:15-17

(This photo was taken last weekend at Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)

Our Strength Comes From God

September 1, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10 NIV

Our faith becomes most real when we experience something that is difficult to explain with words…when a need is met in an unexplained way, when courage came at an unexpected time, when peace overwhelms us during a difficult time, when we are able to do something that we normally would not consider attempting if we had time to think about it and analyze it…when we get out of the way and God is guiding us. Only later do we consider and realize that God came near to us. These are not once in a lifetime experiences, as God is with us in life every step of the way every day…we just need to be in communication with Him and trust in Him. May God’s peace be with you. Amen.

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“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9 NIV

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)

Our Help Comes From The Lord

August 31, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.”

Psalm 46:1 NIV

When things go side-ways or take an unexpected turn…what do we do first? Ask questions, try to figure out what happened, look for ways to get control of what is going on? None of these are bad yet they should come after we turn to the Lord and pray for help, pray for wisdom, pray for guidance. This is where our help really comes from and we typically wait to call on God as a very last resort. As you go through this day or this weekend try turning to God first for anything and everything…He loves you, He knows you and He wants to give you good things. Amen.

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