Keep Doing Good Things

May 30, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

^“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Ephesians 2:10 NIV

Not for your benefit, rather for the benefit of others. We reap what we sow in this life. This does not mean we can earn our way into heaven by doing the right things…it means whatever we go out and do in the world will come back around to us at some point and none of us knows or can control how or when that will happen. This is further proof that God is in control and it is our responsibility to choose our behaviors and our actions in our daily life. We cannot control what others will think, say or do, yet we can control how we respond. Let’s choose to keep doing good things. May the Fruit of the Spirit flow through us each day. Amen.

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“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever 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.”

Galatians 6:7-9 NIV

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

Generosity

February 5, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Galatians 6:9 NIV

“Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.”

– John Wesley

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2 Corinthians 9:6-7 NIV

(This photo was taken in March of 2013 at the Botanical Garden at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, Nevada)

Contentment And Generosity

November 9, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ⁸But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. ⁹Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. “

1 Timothy 6:6-9 NIV

Give of yourself and be content when your needs are fulfilled. The world will tell you to want more and to get more. God has provided more than enough for everyone. Contentment and Generosity are topics that are about much more than money. They are about all aspects of life…our time, our talents, our emotions, our faith. The more we are able to be content the more we can share when we have received an abundance. Take time to assess where you stand…where do you have more than enough on your hands and how can you share to help those who are in need? May the grace and peace of the Lord be with you. Amen.

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“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.“

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 NIV

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

Keep Doing Good Things

May 30, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

^“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Ephesians 2:10 NIV

DSC07416 publish

Galatians 6:7-9 NIV

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

Generosity

February 23, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Galatians 6:9 NIV

“Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.”

– John Wesley

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2 Corinthians 9:6-7 NIV

(This photo was taken in March of 2013 at the Botanical Garden at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, Nevada)

Be Generous

October 27, 2021 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Here is something to remember. The one who plants only a little will gather only a little. And the one who plants a lot will gather a lot. ⁷Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give. You shouldn’t give if you don’t want to. You shouldn’t give because you are forced to. God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸And God is able to shower all kinds of blessings on you. So in all things and at all times you will have everything you need. You will do more and more good works.”

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 NIRV

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“Then the King will speak to those on his right. He will say, ‘My Father has blessed you. Come and take what is yours. It is the kingdom prepared for you since the world was created. ³⁵I was hungry. And you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty. And you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger. And you invited me in. ³⁶I needed clothes. And you gave them to me. I was sick. And you took care of me. I was in prison. And you came to visit me.’

³⁷“Then the people who have done what is right will answer him. ‘Lord,’ they will ask, ‘when did we see you hungry and feed you? When did we see you thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸When did we see you as a stranger and invite you in? When did we see you needing clothes and give them to you? ³⁹When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

⁴⁰“The King will reply, ‘What I’m about to tell you is true. Anything you did for one of the least important of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Matthew 25:34-40 NIRV

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

Thankfulness

February 14, 2021 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

Colossians 3:15

“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”

2 Corinthians 9:15

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Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
²    Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come before him with joyful songs.
³Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he who made us, and we are his^[a];
    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

⁴Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise;
    give thanks to him and praise his name.
⁵For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
    his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100

(This photo was taken in March of 2013 in the Botanical Gardens at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, Nevada)

Generosity

January 21, 2021 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.”

– John Wesley

DSC06492 publish

2 Corinthians 9:6-7

(This photo was taken in March of 2013 at the Botanical Garden at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, Nevada)

A Season Of Giving

November 18, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Remember that giving is about much more than money. Too much time spent focused on self only leads to sorrow and trouble. What has God blessed you with that you can give? Who does God want you to give to? Think about these things and act in faith. Amen.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8

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“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. ¹⁰Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

Galatians 6:9-10

(This photo was taken in October of 2018 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Generosity And Contentment

May 27, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Give of yourself and be content when your needs are fulfilled. The brokenness of this world will tell you to want more and to get more. God has provided more than enough for everyone. Generosity and contentment are topics that are about much more than money in life. They are about all aspects of life…our time, our talents, our emotions, our faith. The more we are able to be content the more we can share when we have received an abundance. Take time to assess where you stand…where do you have more than enough on your hands and how can you share to help those who are in need? May the grace and peace of the Lord be with you. Amen.

“For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, ⁴they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. ⁵And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.”

2 Corinthians 8:3-5

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1 Timothy 6:6-9

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