Let The Light Of Christ Shine

January 14, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When we open ourselves up and invite Jesus into our heart and lives we will receive the gift of Holy Spirit to guide us and our thoughts. Leading us to a life that is filled with the fruits of the Spirit. In order to get there we must surrender the desire to serve ourselves be willing to serve the purpose that God has planned for us. This is not easy and it is not a one moment event, it is a daily journey to learn to die to self and live to God, changing from the sinful nature of this fallen world to an eternal nature of the Spirit. The world is dark but Jesus is the Light in the darkness. Shine on. May God’s peace be with you.

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“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

2 Corinthians 4:6

(This photo was taken in July of 2014 at a lake place in central Minnesota)

He Renews Our Strength

January 13, 2018January 13, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

One important aspect of a relationship with God the Father, Jesus His Son and the Holy Spirit is the power to renew us and restore us when we get off course or off track. When you spend time growing your relationship with the Lord you learn to become aware of His presence…there are few words that can describe the peace that comes from knowing that God is with you every moment of every minute of every hour of every day of your life. Ask Jesus to come into your heart and restore you…trust in Him…he is the one person that gave up everything he had to save you. May God’s peace be with you.

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“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.

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 40:28-31

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

Always With You

January 12, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

One of greatest mindset shifts that needs to occur on the faith journey is knowing no matter where you go or what you do God will always be with you. It is up to you to recognize Him and to be aware of his presence through the Holy Spirit. We all get off course and make mistakes or poor decisions as we live in a broken and fallen world. God knows this and wants to have a relationship with you to help you through life. Whatever is on your heart today…give it to Him…leave it at the foot of the cross and see what happens. May God’s peace be with you.

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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 at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)

Commitment

January 11, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Do what you say you would do…stay true to your word…demonstrate a willingness to be responsible…show integrity. When you read these phrases and think about them none of them say this is going to be all about ‘fun’ or ‘personally convenient’ or ‘this is all about being happy all the time.’ Commitment is hard and it takes dedication, it takes time and it doesn’t always serve personal desires.

That is the point about commitment…it is not about you! That is exactly why we need to build our personal relationship with Jesus, he knows what it means to be committed to something that is hard, not fun and not about him…yet he spoke openly with his father to help him keep moving forward and complete the task given to him…and he did it for you and me. May God’s peace be with you.

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“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”

Proverbs 16:3

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

A Purpose For Everything

January 10, 2018 / mcalcagno / 1 Comment

As I have traveled on this faith journey I have on occasion asked, ‘Why God?’ ‘Why is this happening?’ and through the reading of the Word and in the quiet of my time with God an answer sometimes is revealed. Maybe through the words of a song that comes to mind out of nowhere or in certain verses I am reflecting on. To me to trust in the Lord means I don’t have to get an answer to all my questions because I trust he is working for good in my life and if I am truly honest as I look at my life I have many blessings and just need to focus on gratitude. Eventually I come back to my purpose…To know Him and to make Him known…that is what I believe He has asked of me. 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 2016 at a lake near Minneapolis, Minnesota)

In God’s Hands

January 9, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

The bible often makes references to God the Creator as the potter and we are the clay. I tend to forget that we are in his hands every day and he is working for the good in our lives and even when things are marred and scratched or broken, God is still at the wheel and has re-creative power to help shape and mold us into something better. We were not made to formed once and put on a shelf…God wants us to be engaged in spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ…and not to worry because He is holding us in His hands. May God’s peace be with you.

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“Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.”

Isaiah 64:8

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

His Sacrifice For Us

January 8, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

How often is it that we come across someone who literally has everything they need and everything they could want…a person that willingly decides I am ready to give up everything I have to help others? It has happened and there are people in the world who have sold everything they own and gone overseas as a missionary. I am pretty certain that is not what God has planned for me and my life…but to stop and think about the fact that Jesus was literally sitting at the right hand of God and came down to be born as a baby…to become one of us, in order to save us because of his love for us…that someone would willingly give up everything to help save you and me…I am eternally grateful for Him. 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 July of 2016 in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)

Choose Holy Living

January 7, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

With each day the gift of free will means we can choose our attitude toward everything…we can choose our attitude towards what other people think, say or do. We can choose to be kind and compassionate or we can respond with vicious words and wrath…nobody can make you do this, it is up to you how you respond even if you don’t take the time to think about your response you are still accountable for your behavior every day. Choose patience…choose kindness and compassion…be forgiving and most of all no matter what choose to respond with love…after all that is what Jesus did for us. May God’s peace be with you.

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“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Colossians 3:12-14

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 at a lake near Minneapolis, Minnesota)

Once For All

January 6, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Never give up hope. Out of the most tragic circumstances can come the greatest peace and the greatest joy. Look at the people alive when Jesus was here on earth. They believed in him as the one person who was going to save them from corrupt government and tyranny. Then the most tragic set of events occurred…he died…he was crucified even though he was with out sin. For three days they mourned and were very frightened for there own lives. Then the most amazing and unexpected thing happened next…he was raised from the dead. Can you imagine the unbelievable joy they sensed when they were speaking with him? Incredible…yet without his death and the death of our sins there could be no resurrection. May God’s peace be with you.

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“For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

Romans 6:9-11

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 at a lake near Minneapolis, Minnesota)

Faithfulness

January 5, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Every generation of people has struggles and suffering…God wants to help us and guide us through the struggles. We suffer because humans beings invited evil into the world… God never said come follow me and life will be easy. If fact the bible states…“In this world you will have trouble, but take heart I have overcome this world” (John 16:33). He knows what you are facing every single day of your life, he knew it before you were born and he sent His One and Only Son to show us how much he loves us. Trust God’s plan by spending time with him each day, read the bible and you will see God’s faithfulness surround you. May God’s peace be with you!

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