Strength Of Character

February 3, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When one describes the character of a person they talk about a list of elements that are a combination of a person’s behaviors and attitude. I have often heard statements like ‘well this is just who I am’ or ‘that is just the way he is’ as if at some point in life our behaviors and attitudes have stopped forming, changing or growing and have now solidified and are permanent. I have been guilty of this way of thinking myself at times. However, in the study of faith and in God’s Word the message of hope and transformation are central to the spiritual life. If anything our attitude and how we behave are two things we do have the ability to choose every day and these are influenced and can grow if we are open to it. Don’t give up on hope and transformation for yourself or somebody else…things may not change in the way or at the time you would prefer but our life is not about everything being perfect according to our timing, rather it is about God’s plan and His time. Trust Him and believe in Hope and Transformation…when you read about what He has done in the past you know He is working for the good of all people. May God’s peace be with you.

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

Galatians 5:22-23

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)

Grace

February 2, 2018February 2, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

To the Christian this is the free and unearned favor of God shown to us by the sacrifice Jesus endured to save us and it continues in the many blessings we have in our daily lives. Too often I get lost in the minutia of life, focusing or worrying about something that at the end of the day really doesn’t deserve that much of my time and attention, either because it is not something I can control or more commonly it is in the past and it can’t be changed. When we begin to spend time with the Word of God it will seep in to us in places we usually don’t like to acknowledge, deep in our souls to places we don’t show to the outside world. God knows about these places and still He loves us. We don’t deserve it, we didn’t have to pay for it…yet Jesus offered himself up and showed us…Grace. Let Christ in to your heart and mind every day, He loves you and He goes with you everywhere you go. May God’s peace be with you.

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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 near Pike’s Peak in Colorado)

Free Will

February 1, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We have been given a gift, a gift we take for granted far too often…free will. We are not designed to be robots that only perform a certain way when given appropriate commands…think ‘voice remote’ or talking to your phone. God has designed us with free will, the ability to choose how we will respond, act and interact with the world. Of course, this means we are responsible for the choices we make and we are accountable to our actions and decisions. I am sure I have heard a quote about ‘with great power comes great responsibility’ true words. Free will should not be taken for granted or used to do harm to others. It is a gift that has come at a price that Jesus Christ paid for on our behalf. Seek Him and ask Him how to best use your gift. May God’s peace be with you.

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“You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature, rather, serve one another in love.”

Galatians 5:13

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

January 31, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

One of the simplest ways to show love to others is to share. Share your time, share your ability to listen, share your ability to serve, share anything that you have been blessed with in abundance. The world is filled with people who have an abundance that they can share, something that is provided to them well beyond their own needs…this is not about only money, it is about gifts and talents and abilities. Reflect on your life and how your needs have been met. If you have been blessed with wealth, share that with those in need. What is an area of life where God has provided an abundance? Find out what it is and seek ways to share that abundance with others. May God’s peace be with you.

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“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.”

1 Timothy 6:17-18

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 while driving through Colorado)

True Joy

January 30, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When people are asked to define what joy is or what joy looks like it is often described in terms of being happy or upbeat or feeling good. I am learning that definition sounds more like feelings and a definition of happy then a definition of joy. To me joy is more consistent then our feelings…feelings come and go, up or down quickly. One only has to be a fan of any sport to understand how quickly feelings come and go and change. When the outcome of victory or defeat changes so do the feelings of the fans. Joy is more then a feeling…it is more of a sense of confidence and belief that even when things are really not going well we can still be assured that things will improve or we will find a way to go forward. This true joy can’t be achieved on our own it is only grasped as a part of faith in God, relationship with Jesus and an understanding that no matter where you are or what is going on, God is with you every step of the way. Ask the Lord to help you find this Joy. May God’s peace be with you.

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“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

John 15:9-11

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

Hope

January 29, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

One of the strongest feelings or drivers of action in our human lives is hope. Hope is about ambition, desire, goal setting and most importantly hope is about trust. Hope comes from belief and belief is driven by trust and trust operates very much like a bank account. There are events that occur between you and another that are trust deposits and there are events that are trust withdrawals. The tricky part is one withdrawal is typically much larger than just one deposit. So similar to when you are trying to build up savings in an account if there are too many withdrawals when you are first getting started your relationship gets stuck near zero. Trust continues to function like currency in what we give, if people make several withdrawals on us we have very little trust to give. We should reflect on our relationships and our trust accounts with others and know that no matter what the current balance is there is always hope to make it better because of Jesus. May God’s peace be with you.

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“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

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 while on a walk in northwestern Wisconsin)

Persistence

January 28, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

In a world that focuses on self-serving convenience, fast, time-saving rushing around and immediate gratification it takes persistence and patience to stay on your faith journey and to grow your spirit. You have to be willing to be different from the crowd at times and have the courage and confidence that God is with you always. We will all make mistakes and wonder off, I certainly have, and God is always able to guide me back when I take the time to be with Him. You won’t have all the answers and may not know all the reasons why…it won’t be easy, however, in the end when our time on earth is up it will all be worth it. If you don’t believe it…just ask God. May God’s peace be with you.

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“The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

Galatians 6:8-10

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 near Salem, North Dakota)

Gratitude

January 27, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

The messages that come to us through television, the internet, social media, and many other ways usually have a sense of negativity and complaining within them. The world is full of despair and suffering. We humans are inviting sin and darkness into our lives when we sit and consume hours of screen time and look only to serve ourselves…this is not a judgement it is a fact and it happens to me far too often as well. It is so easy to get sucked in to misery and despair…while it is important to recognize a time for sadness, and mourning, depending upon the battle you are fighting, it is not a state of mind or place to stay and live constantly. There should always be a time for hope and gratitude to coincide with sadness and despair…with everything in life there should be a healthy balance. The one place I can trust in hope is in the Word of God…the bible is not a fairy tale it is history and recorded observations. Jesus Christ came into the world to save us from our sins and He sacrificed himself to death to reconcile us with God…for that I am eternally grateful. May God’s peace be with you. (If you are wondering we got the computer working again)

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“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”

Psalm 118:1

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

Stand Firm In Your Faith

January 26, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We are constantly under attack from the forces of darkness and evil. Often the attacks are subtle and slowly take you away from faith with temptations and self comforts. The prince of darkness wants you to believe he is not real or not trying to lead you astray. Like this morning, as I went to start writing, the device I usually write on is not running correctly as I worked to see what was wrong, time was slipping away, maybe I will run out of time and not publish today…it is only one day, no big deal…right where evil wants me. Then a thought comes to mind…what about a different way to publish today? Why not try to write on a different piece of technology we have in this house? That will be different but let’s try it and see…(mostly because I have fat thumbs). While this is certainly not a critical issue or a matter of life or death, it is a small sample that shows us everyday, every decision is a step in the faith journey…we are either stepping closer to God or we are stepping away. By the way, as I am finishing my computer is still not operating…May God’s peace be with you.

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Deuteronomy 31:8

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 on a lake in central Minnesota)

Be A Giver

January 25, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When I feel things spiraling downward in my mind and I read Scripture I begin to see that my thoughts are filled with issues only surrounding myself. This is the sinful nature, to be consumed by self thinking. When I take off the blinders and begin to to see that I am not alone and there are others around me everyday who I can help and support in many different ways I begin to get a better perspective of purpose. Give of yourself to others in whatever way you can…just as God in the Christ Jesus gives to you. May God’s peace be with you.

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“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

2 Corinthians 9:6-7

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 near Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado)