Peace Of God

September 7, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

As I have been fully immersed in working through life after my Dad has passed away 7 days ago…there are moments of busyness, so much to take care of and do and there are moments of calm and reflection. Life has slowed down and I am grateful for that pace change. It will not be this way forever, and from the moment my brother called and told me ‘Dad is gone…they couldn’t bring him back,’ life has changed forever. We can either fight it or we can embrace it…live it to the best of our ability…be present right where we are and trust in the Lord. May you find peace with God in your life.

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“They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works.”

Psalm 145:5

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

God Of All Comfort

September 5, 2018 / mcalcagno / 2 Comments

Our strength…we are forgiven…He comes near to us…He holds us up…He wraps His loving arms around us. I am so thankful for the Lord our God. His presence is all around all of us. The world does not want you searching for Him or trusting in Him. He is our Rock and our Redeemer and we can have peace because of Him. Look around you and your life and give thanks for the blessings God has given to you. May the peace of the Lord be with you.

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“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 while traveling through the State of Montana)

God Is Love

September 4, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

There is pain…we will have trouble…things will not go as we plan…what are we to do? Everyone is facing something, something big or difficult. Trying to overcome obstacles and find their way. Some will fail and some will succeed…any failure and any success is better because of love. Love powerful it is not weak, it can overcome pain, suffering and the troubles we face in life. Love begins and ends with God. We are created out of love, we are intended to live in God’s love while we are here and when we die Jesus Christ gave up His life to save us because He loves us. I am convinced that love conquers all and if you need something, turn towards God and speak with Him, because He loves you and He is waiting to hear from you. May the Lord bless you and keep you safe with love.

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“If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.”

1 John 4:15-16

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 in a neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Taste And See…

September 3, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

In our times of greatest need, the only thing that will uphold you or sustain you is the Lord. When things go sideways in your life according to your plans and it will happen I can promise you that much, any shred of hope, courage or peace will come from God. No matter what is going on in your life, in your mind or in your heart…take it to the Lord today. Share with God your fears, what you are worried about and trust in Him to uphold you…He promised He would and God never breaks His promises. The only way to find out if something is good is to taste and see for yourself. May God’s love and comfort surround you as it is surrounding all aspects of my family during this time of significant change.

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

Psalm 34:8

(This photo was taken in September of 2016 at a lake in central Minnesota)

I Know You Are Near…

September 2, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Friends I don’t have many words for you today…my family and I are working through the process of my Dad passing away this past Friday. When were discussing music for the service this hymn was mentioned, and it keeps coming back to me in my mind all morning long. Please pray for us and know that God is near you too. Below is a link to the hymn and the lyrics below that. Peace be with you.

Yahweh, I Know You Are Near ~ Dan Schutte

Yahweh, I know you are near
Standing always at my side
You guard me from the foe
And you lead me in ways everlasting

[Verse 1]
Lord, you have searched my heart
And you know when I sit and when I stand
Your hand is upon me
Protecting me from death
Keeping me from harm

[Chorus]
Yahweh, I know you are near
Standing always at my side
You guard me from the foe
And you lead me in ways everlasting

[Verse 2]
Where can I run from your love?
If I climb to the heavens you are there
If I fly to the sunrise
Or sail beyond the sea
Still I’d find you there

[Chorus]

Yahweh, I know you are near
Standing always at my side
You guard me from the foe
And you lead me in ways everlasting

[Verse 3]
Marvelous to me are your works
How profound are your thoughts, my Lord
Even if I could count them
They number as the stars
You would still be there

[Chorus]
Yahweh, I know you are near
Standing always at my side
You guard me from the foe
And you lead me in ways everlasting

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

Joshua 1:9

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 along Beartooth Pass in Montana)

Family

September 1, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We don’t choose them, we are born into them. It is meant to be a place where we find unconditional love. Like many aspects of life there will be pain, frustration, embarrassment and we will fail each other…over all of that there is love. No matter what we must go through we need to remember love. It won’t be easy and we all need to turn to Jesus through the most difficult of times for peace, for wisdom. My own family is facing an unexpected death as of yesterday afternoon and all I can do is seek peace from the Lord. Please pray for us as we work our way through the coming days, and tell the members of your family how much you love them. May we all find comfort in Jesus Christ.

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“Honor your father and mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”

Exodus 20:12

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 by a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

Take Some Rest

August 20, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We can’t keep running at top speed in our minds or in our daily lives. We must plan down time. To fill every moment with activity and planning and scheduling will lead to exhaustion. Mental exhaustion, physical exhaustion and spiritual exhaustion. We all need time to recharge, to be restored and renewed. When Jesus was here on earth He often would go off alone to pray. Before feeding the five thousand He told the disciples…“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (Mark 6:31) In order to be at our best we need to plan time to rest and that means resting our minds as well as our bodies. If you are someone who always has to be busy, plan some quiet time in small increments to get started. We all should pray about it as that time in prayer can be restful too. May the love, joy and peace of the Lord be with you.

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“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 near Arches National Park in Utah)

Every Generation

August 3, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

The cycle of life…we are kids playing in the sand…we learn to ride bikes and gain freedom…we experience our school years and activities…we learn to drive and get our first job…we make choices about post high school and become young adults…people our age are getting married…people our age our having kids and are off into their careers…everybody’s getting older…our parents begin to need more assistance…people our age are getting terminal diagnosis’…we are attending more funerals than weddings…we are slowing down…we go home to the Lord. This does not describe every aspect of every life, just some of the stages in life. Every single person you encounter is somewhere on the journey and every single person needs faith to help find the way. As we learn and grow we need to be purposeful in teaching the next generation about a relationship with Jesus Christ. Each one teach one to restore hope and to live in peace. May your life be filled with contentment and joy.

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“Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.”

Psalm 145:3-4

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on Madeline Island at Big Bay Town Park in Wisconsin)

He Knows You

August 1, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

That’s not what I meant…I wish they knew me better…I don’t feel like I fit in…Nobody understands me…have you had moments like this? I know I have. You can be surrounded by people but feel like you are isolated. God knows who you are, He knows what you can do, He knows how you think and He cares for you. If you feel like you are off the rails in your life, it is time to get back to God. He is waiting to hear from you. He is the Creator, the one who formed you and has been right there with you every step of the way in life. Turn towards God. Trust in Him. May you see the blessings from God in your life each day.

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“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Psalm 139:23-24

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on the shore of Lake Superior in Ashland, Wisconsin)

All That Is Good Comes From God

July 17, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Nothing is more refreshing for the mind and spirit than to take some time to sit peacefully, with nothing but the sounds of the world going on around you and to be with God. I hope you have a time like that in your life, no matter if it is in the morning, midday or in the evening. Whatever may work for your life, I can’t emphasize enough the difference it will make in every aspect of your life…it is something you must experience to understand…for me it is the single most important thing I have done to strengthen my faith and to change my life. Our lives are about our experiences and learning and passing on that experience to others to help them. Ask Jesus Christ to come into your heart and mind, again and again and again and let the Holy Spirit be your guide. If you are looking for goodness, kindness and compassion…all that is good comes from God. May the love, joy and peace of the Lord be with you.

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