Prayer And Listening

June 30, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

As we work to grow in our relationship with Jesus, we may begin to focus on offering ourselves up in prayer. To most of us when we think about prayer we thinking of speaking, however, as we can learn from our relationships with others, listening is a vital yet little used characteristic in the world. Every strong relationship involves communication two ways. Speaking and offering up your words and support verbally and then also taking time to sit quietly and listen. I have been doing my reading and devotions in the early morning for several years and I choose that time for me because the world is very still and quiet in my life in the early morning and I have found I can truly meditate on God’s Word and let it soak into to my soul. I start each day speaking and listening with the Lord and it sets my perspective and attitude for good things. Seek the Lord and listen for His voice. May God’s peace be with you.

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“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

John 10:27

(This photo was taken in April of 2016 at sunrise at a lake place in central Minnesota)

Jesus

June 24, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

To Him be the glory.

The world divided, broken and lost…how can there be hope? Lives of struggle, hearts broken, sadness…who can make this better? People hurting each other, selfishness in control, fear and anger rule the days…what can change our perspectives?

The answers to all of this; to every thought of despair, to every life looking for a new direction and for every individual wanting to make a change…Jesus is the answer. Believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, invite Him into your life everyday, spend time reading God’s Word, build your personal relationship with Him and you will see transformation. May the presence of God be in you and may the saving grace of Jesus Christ bless you each day.

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“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John 1:14

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 in Badlands National Park in South Dakota)

Be A Positive Example

June 13, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

The news and social media focuses so much time and effort on the anger, sadness, deception and evil that exists in the world. There are just as many good and positive things happening in the world each day…we just don’t get to see it or talk about it as much. Don’t let what others like to focus on be your only perspective. Feed your mind and spirit by reading God’s Word and spend time in prayer. Look for the good and be the good that exists in the world. It does not have to be on the national news or go ‘viral’ to make a difference to at least one other person. Your life is a gift and you were made to be who you are by a loving God. Seek His plan for your life and look to be the good in your daily walk. May God’s grace and mercy be with you.

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“Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another, be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”

1 Peter 3:8-9

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota)

Sacrifice

May 8, 2018 / mcalcagno / 1 Comment

He gave us His everything to restore a relationship with us. God loves us, God loves you so much that He came down from heaven to be born as a baby among us. From the moment of His birth different people in the world sought to kill Him. Even still God has forgiven us. The world is filled with darkness, anger and shouting about my rights…yet when Jesus was here He spent the majority of His time teaching and helping others. When He was persecuted He didn’t shout out you have no right to attack me, I am God…instead just before His death He said Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. Jesus has set us an example of how we should live, now it is up to us to choose our attitude and our behavior each day. May God’s love, joy and peace be with you.

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“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8

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

Follow Jesus

April 17, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Whenever we are learning to do something new or something we don’t do very often it seems easier to learn it when someone is guiding us and demonstrating for us what to do. Once we have observed the example we can begin to assimilate into doing the task or behavior. As we are learning to live a life centered on faith, we read the bible to learn about and understand the example that Jesus has set for us on how to live when He was here as a man on earth. He taught…kindness, goodness, gentleness, love, joy, peace, patience, faithfulness and self-control…that last one seems most difficult. He helped those in need and He taught about the relationship with God the Father to all. If you are wondering how to go forward, look to the life of Jesus and follow His example. May God’s peace be with you.

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“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Micah 6:8

(This photo was taken in March of 2018 outside of Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico)

Courage

April 14, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

It takes courage to be a follower of Jesus Christ in this world. It takes courage to not only say I believe but then to go out and act and do as one who believes. It takes strength and courage to stay the course of faith and let God be in control. We/I always want to take over control and management of life. Then we are surprised or sometimes frustrated when things go in a different direction then what we planned or tried to orchestrate. Trusting in God means surrendering the desire to control every aspect of your life…once again it’s simple but it’s not easy. Give to God all the things in your mind and in your heart and pick a few verses out to memorize so you can repeat them to yourself when needed. I have two recommendations for you Proverbs 3:5-6 and Philippians 4:13 they have helped me in many moments in my life and will continue to do so. May God’s love and peace be with you.

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“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 55:8-9

(This photo was taken in March of 2018 in White Sands National Monument in New Mexico)

Consistent

March 21, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We all experience times and events that are good times and bad times. Times when we can relax and be at peace and times when chaos reigns, it all occurs depending upon what is going on in our lives and who we are spending our time with. The environment we choose to spend time in will always impact our highs and lows. Who are we surrounding ourselves with, are we able to be ourselves or are we always performing for others consciously or subconsciously? Throughout history there is only one thing that has created a firm foundation to stand on…the bible. The Word of God and the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The values and principles of a life following Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are documented, solid and unchanging. If you are looking for a place to build your life on start with the greatest foundation available. May God’s peace be with you.

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“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Hebrews 13:8

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

The Path To Peace

March 8, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

The first steps to finding some peace for me have come from learning about faith and learning about Jesus. Through weekly worship, daily devotions, listening to christian music and serving to help others in need. The next steps to lasting peace are actually getting to know Jesus in personal relationship, through prayer and listening, taking time to sit outdoors in nature in the quiet and to be at peace. The farther down the path you go the harder it can be at times because of the world we live in…that is when it helps the most to remember that Christ is with me, even if I don’t sense His presence. Trust in God, trust also in Jesus as He is The Way to peace. May God’s love and peace be with you.

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

John 14:6

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

Redefine Needs

March 3, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We are fed a daily dose of what we should get or do to make our life easy, more convenient. The messages from the world and society are ‘get more,’ define yourself according to the world’s standards…this is all to keep us away from pursuing a life of faith and a relationship with God. The more we focus on our lifestyle comforts and what the world tells us we need to be considered successful, the less time and effort we focus on building up our faith and spending time with God. Just the way the prince of darkness wants it…to break the cycle we need to take courage and stand up to the barrage of ads and prodding to live by the standards of this world. People get frustrated when something doesn’t have instructions or information about ‘how to’…life and faith happen to have an instruction manual and it was delivered to us by the manufacturer…our Creator and loving Father. Pick up your bible, spend time with God and seek His instructions on what you Need. May God’s peace be with you.

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“Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Luke 12:15

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

A Walk With God

March 2, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

How can we feed our faith? Why does it feel like faith is separate from the rest of life? Where can I see God at work in my life? All these questions and many more can be answered…by doing one thing in our life. Take a daily walk with God. Choose a time and a place, make it a top priority…other things will come up against it but don’t give up. It takes a willingness to commit and you can pray for the strength to stick to it. There is nothing more valuable to me and my faith journey then my time with God each morning. There isn’t only one way or one time to do this, just be sure to have a version of the Bible that is right for you. God knows you, He knows about your life, He knows about your joy and He knows about your sorrow…He even knows the things that very few people on earth know about you. Take time to be with Him because He loves you like nobody else can. Spend some time and take a walk with God every day. May God’s peace and love be with you.

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