A Psalm And A Song For Giving Thanks

October 15, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“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.”

Psalm 100:1-3 NIV

Forever by Chris Tomlin

A spirit of gratitude is transforming for our perspective. Instead of worrying about what we don’t have, we can be thankful for what we have received. Rather than having anxiety about what might happen, we can be grateful that God is in control.

Instead of dwelling in guilt and shame about our sins we can give thanks for Jesus Christ and that He has taken our punishment so that we can be redeemed and reconciled with God. Give thanks to the Lord…for he is good…His love endures forever!

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“Enter 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 100:4-5 NIV

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

Give Thanks

October 5, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Rejoice always, ¹⁷pray continually, ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV

What are you thankful for today? How often are we able to see something to be thankful for during difficult times? It is not easy…yet it is a choice. An attitude of gratitude may not come naturally to us but we should strive for it…gratitude can make such a big difference in our lives and the lives of others. So as you reflect on your life what are you thankful for?

Give thanks for little things and big things…start by thanking God for Jesus Christ and what He did for you on the Cross and see where God leads you. Amen.

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“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Colossians 3:15-17 NIV

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 while traveling through North Dakota)

Learn, Share, Give Thanks

October 4, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Colossians 3:15-17 NIV

Faith is a journey. Not an event, not something we do to check the box…it is a life learning and life-giving experience. We learn by reading God’s Word, spending time in prayer and through our own experiences…we share with others the things we have learned and we learn from others experiences. We can help others by sharing the things we learn and we give thanks to God for all that He has done for us.

God is with you, right now, today and He wants a relationship with you…turn towards Him every day…learn from Him…share with others what you have learned and give Him thanks and praise. Amen.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:19-20 NIV

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 while traveling in southern Colorado)

The Goodness Of God

September 30, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
    his greatness no one can fathom.
⁴One generation commends your works to another;
    they tell of your mighty acts.
⁵They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
    and I will meditate on your wonderful works.^[b]
⁶They tell of the power of your awesome works—
    and I will proclaim your great deeds.
⁷They celebrate your abundant goodness
    and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

⁸The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.

⁹The Lord is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.”

Psalm 145:3-9 NIV

God is good. The reason sin and evil are in the world is because of us. We have pain and suffering and we ask God why…yet we are the ones who have drifted away from Him. No matter what, God is patient with us and is always ready for us to turn towards Him and come near to Him. He knows us, He knows everything about us and yet He still sent He Son to die on the Cross to save us.

God is good and He is with you and He is for you, every day, all the time. Thanks be to God for His Goodness!

Goodness Of God by Jenn Johnson

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“I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.
¹⁴Wait for the Lord;
    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.”

Psalm 27:13-14 NIV

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 while traveling in northern Colorado)

Give Thanks…His Love Endures Forever

September 19, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Psalm 100:1-3 NIV

Take time to reflect on your life and remember what God has done for you. Think about the storms you have already come through…how He protected you or guided you safely. Remember that no matter what God loves you…He is with you and within you.

Jesus left the comfort of heaven to come down and live as one of us…He sacrificed Himself to be beaten and crucified and to pay the penalty for our sin so that we could have a relationship with God. God will do for you that which you can’t do for yourself…put your trust in the Lord and give thanks to Him.

Forever by Michael W Smith

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Psalm 100:4-5 NIV

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 while traveling in northern Colorado)

His Love Endures Forever

May 28, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
    slow to anger, abounding in love.
⁹He will not always accuse,
    nor will he harbor his anger forever;
¹⁰he does not treat us as our sins deserve
    or repay us according to our iniquities.
¹¹For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his love for those who fear him;
¹²as far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

Psalm 103:8-12 NIV

Forever by Michael W Smith

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

Psalm 136:1 NIV

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 while traveling in northern Colorado)

Living In God’s Will

May 26, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, ¹³and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?”

Deuteronomy 10:12-13 NIV

How we treat each other in our everyday lives says a great deal about our hearts. Whether we are talking about family members, friends or complete strangers we encounter during a day…each interaction is an opportunity to live in God’s will…even when, especially when others don’t meet our expectations. We are all human and we are all broken…remember every person you meet may be fighting a battle you know nothing about…just like you are fighting battles others don’t know about. God knows and He wants to help us, all of us…it is up to you and me to choose Him and His way…let us set aside our self-centered ways, our worldly values and choose to live according to His will and His way. Amen.

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“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

¹⁵Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Colossians 3:12-17 NIV

(This photo was taken in April of 2020 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Gratitude

May 9, 2023 / mcalcagno / 4 Comments

“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.”

Psalm 100:1-3 NIV

There is no one who loves you more than God…He sacrificed His Son in order to give you a way to be with Him. He is near, He is working out His way in your life. Surrender your ways and give thanks to Lord for all that He has done and is doing in your life. He is faithful and His love endures forever. Amen.

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Psalm 100:4-5 NIV

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

Give Thanks To The Lord

April 10, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Praise the Lord.^[a]

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

Psalm 106:1 NIV

We are saved by grace. We can not earn it nor do we deserve it. It is a gift from God. Let us give thanks to the Lord for all He has done for us. He is with us, He loves us and He will never leave us. Amen.

Forever by Chris Tomlin

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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 NIV

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 along Beartooth Pass in Montana)

Is He Worthy?

April 5, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

John 3:16-17 NIV

As we travel on the journey of faith, we will encounter questions and doubts along the way…that is natural and it is ok. We need to remember that the one simple truth of faith is that Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself to save us and reconcile us to God because He loves us. His love for us will conquer every battle in our lives. He is worthy of our thanks and praise. Thank you God, for your Son Jesus Christ…Amen.

Is He Worthy? by Chris Tomlin

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