Stay Connected

March 25, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Both to God and to others. Yes, the world has changed and things are very different than they were a few weeks ago…most if not all of it was outside of your control…still today how you choose to respond is completely up to you. You can connect to/stay connected to God by reading His Word and praying or you can reject the opportunity to explore your faith and build your relationship with Jesus Christ…you can choose to find simple or creative ways to connect to family and friends or you can focus your time on what was lost with the changes you can’t control. Yes, we are all different and we all deal with change in different ways…and God gives us free will to choose our response…so how will you choose to respond? Choose God (verse above the photo), choose life (verse below the photo). Amen.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

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“Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

Ecclesiastes 4:12

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

Together In Christ

February 2, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

There is a section in Ecclesiastes 4 that speaks about going through life alone versus with others. It provides a few examples of how much more difficult life can be alone. We are made to be in community, to work together to support each other. I am a sports fan and my favorite sport is football, today is a very big day in the football world…over the years I have reflected on the different sports and I have come to realize I often prefer team sports versus individual ones…it is not that individual sports are bad but I prefer a sport where we are more dependent on each other than individual talent alone…a sport that requires community for success. At its basic level, in football it takes all 11 people on the field to find success, individuals willing to sacrifice for the good of the team…community, working together for the good of all. May we all be engaged in community in our daily lives…if you are unsure of your community, turn towards God and seek His guidance. Amen.

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“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. ²Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ³Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. ⁴There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; ⁵one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

Ephesians 4:1-6

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 in Custer State Park in South Dakota)

What A Friend

January 28, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

What a friend we have in Jesus. He has done more for us than anyone ever could…He reconciled us to God. Here is a hand clapping, foot stomping song of praise and thanksgiving for our Friend, Jesus. Amen.

What A Friend by Matt Maher

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“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. ⁸But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:6-8

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

Be Patient

November 18, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Why all the rushing around? The hurry up, the plow through, the I have to finish this so I can rush off to that…and on and on it goes. No wonder we are lost…we don’t even take time to acknowledge where we are or what is going on around us. As we approach the holiday season, let’s not get caught up in the hustle and bustle of all the things we are supposed to do…let’s strive to acknowledge the reason for the season and to make time to be present with whoever God has us spending time with this year. May the peace of the Lord be with you. Amen.

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“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

Ephesians 4:2

(This photo was taken in December of 2013 in northwestern Wisconsin)

Friendship

November 11, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

A relationship in which both individuals are equally nourished by their time together. We all have different types of relationships. A true friendship is one where both people care for and provide for each other. Who are your true friends? In our relationship with Jesus, He provides for us…what are we doing to serve Him? May the peace of the Lord wash over your relationships. Amen.

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“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.”

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

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

Self-less

August 4, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

One of the most tragic afflictions of our time is selfishness. The me first with a lack of consideration for others attitude, constantly assessing my place in the world compared to others and then determining my own value based on what others think about me. This perspective pushes God to the side and puts me first as the top priority. This has always been an affliction on human society and it seems to have grown exponentially since the explosion of social media. One of the world’s greatest needs right now is more humility. Imagine the impact on human relationships when people are looking to lift others up instead of tearing them down. I am not suggesting we ignore self-care rather we put God first to guide us in the way we live. I pray that we all take time to be humble and serve others more than we look to be served. May God’s peace be with you. Amen.

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“Do nothing out of selfish ambition of vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Philippians 2:3-4

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

Friends

May 30, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Often times, not always, these are the people who are more like our brothers and sisters than the ones in our family. There is trust, honesty, a sharing of experiences, giving as often as receiving and love. Some friends are only for a period of time in our life and others last the whole way through, even when there are gaps of time. Like everything else that is good they are a gift from God. Who are your true friends? Give thanks to God for those people and say a prayer for them and their life this day. Amen.

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“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

John 15:12-13

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

Perspective

May 29, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When we talk about the rich and the poor our minds immediately go to someone’s value based on their financial position. There are more ways to be rich or poor than with money. People can be rich or poor in intellect or with emotions. The bible talks about spiritual poverty and spiritual riches. If we get it stuck in our minds that money is the key item to define poverty and wealth then we are missing out on so much joy and we are setting ourselves up for constant defeat and struggle. Turn towards the Lord in prayer and read God’s Word regarding wealth and poverty (1 Timothy 6:3-10) and be open to expanding and shaping your perspective of rich and poor. Amen.

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“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

Colossians 3:2

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

Give Thanks

January 26, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Lord, I thank you for the people you have put in my life. My family, my friends including all of those who help me to see things differently, the encouragement they provide and the joy and laughter we experience together. They help guide me through the rocky moments and events in life. Because of them I know you are near and I give thanks for your faithfulness and your love. Thank you, Lord…I love you…Amen.

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“For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

Psalms 100:5

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

How We Treat Each Other

December 31, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

The changing of the year signifies a milestone, a break point, a natural point in time to reflect and to begin again or renew or start over…we say things like ‘this year is going to be a good year’ or ‘I hope the next year is better than last year.’ We never truly know what the next year or even the next day will be like or if we even will be given the gift of life to live tomorrow, or next year. We so easily slip into taking the days and life in general for granted…until something happens and you lose someone. When 2018 started I had no idea we would lose 3 relatives this year…I did not know that the last time I said good-bye to my Dad on a Sunday in early August that he would not live to September. In fact on August 30th, 2018 none of us knew, including my Dad, that Sunday August 31st was the day he was going home to the Lord. Life is a gift…people and relationships are far more valuable than anything else this world offers you. We are created out of God’s love to bear good fruit to others in the world and to be loved. Life is a gift, let’s do our best not to take it for granted…every day we are allowed to wake up we should be thankful to God and treat others the way we would like to be treated. Amen.

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