This Is Love…

September 17, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Jesus came down from heaven…He came in human form as a baby…He taught the people how to live…He showed people kindness and compassion…He showed everybody love…He was treated terribly by others…He was beaten…He was tortured…He was crucified and died…and He did all of it for you and for me. God loves us so much that He sent His Son to save us. Thank you, Jesus…Amen.

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“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

1 John 4:10

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

Living In God’s Love

September 16, 2019 / mcalcagno / 2 Comments

No matter where we are or what we are doing, God’s love is with us. In the Old Testament God’s people lived in exile for seventy years before they could return to the land He promised to them…in all that time God asked them to live their best with what they had. That is what He asks of us today…live your best, right where you are because He is with you. Amen.

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“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:31-39

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

Start With These Things…

September 9, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When Jesus was here as a man, some people were unsure on how to respond to Him. The Pharisees felt threatened by Him, not directly, but they couldn’t see beyond themselves and they were supposed to be the teachers for others…they were fearful of losing their place in the world. They continually tested and questioned Jesus…the benefit for us is Jesus was asked direct questions about life and how to live and He gave all of us the answers. If you want to know ‘what is my purpose’ or ‘why am I here?’ Ask Jesus in prayer and pay attention for the answers…Amen.

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“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Matthew 22:36-39

(This photo was taken in October of 2014 on the north shore of the island of Maui)

Peace

September 7, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Peace comes from hope, trust and love. Peace is available to all of us. It is a quiet confidence in God and His Son. It comes to us when we are willing to bring our worries, our fears and our burdens and lay them down at the foot of the Cross. If we constantly assess our lives based on the world’s view or what others think, say and do…we will not find peace. Peace is about gratitude and sharing the gifts and blessings God has given us with one another. May the peace of the Lord be with you! Amen.

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“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 14:27

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

Patience And Persistence

September 6, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Keep going…learn from what has happened…know that God is working for good things in all situations…He is with you…it is His plan that is best…there will be plenty of opportunities to go your own way…stay on the path…walk with God. Amen.

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“The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.”

Psalm 145:8-9

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

The Promise Fulfilled

September 4, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

The birth of Jesus Christ fulfills the promises made in the Old Testament. In Genesis 3 and Isaiah 7 as well as Isaiah 53 and in other verses the Lord makes known the coming of the Savoir…a new covenant…One who will be a Light for Israel as well as the Gentiles. Jesus came down from heaven to reconcile us with God…He sacrificed everything He had and His life as a man for you and me. God fulfills His promises…trust in Him for every area of your life. Amen.

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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 Son, 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)

Reflect And Give Thanks

August 26, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When someone asks us, “Where have you seen God in your life?” We often quickly scan the last few days and maybe even the last week in our minds and come up with something…mostly in order to not disappoint those who are asking the question. What if we took more time to reflect? What if we look back 5 years ago or back to our childhood or teen years depending on what season of life we are in? The next time you are alone with God think about it, looking back now…”Where have you seen God in your life?” After all, He has been there all along, even when we were completely oblivious to Him. Thanks be to God for His love, His mercy and His grace. Amen.

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“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

Psalm 100

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

Tomorrow

August 25, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

None of us knows how many tomorrows we have…it isn’t up to us and it never was…the gift of life is about today…how you choose to think, what you choose to say and how you choose to treat others, today. Because of Jesus Christ we know there is hope, tomorrow…let’s not waste today worrying about what may come. As they say, we don’t know what tomorrow may hold…but we certainly know who holds us tomorrow. Amen.

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“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Matthew 6:34

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

Be Present

August 24, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Each day is a gift. Nobody is guaranteed to wake up to a new day. Keep your thoughts and actions focused on the present people and circumstances…for all areas of life we should pray and seek God’s will for us. God is with us and He is working for good things for all of us. Amen.

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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 one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. 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 August of 2016 in Glacier National Park in Montana)

Decisions…

August 11, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Don’t go it alone…don’t assume you have all the information…seek wisdom and knowledge…seek to understand. So often we fail to speak with God about decisions. We believe that God doesn’t care about this insignificant decision or event in my life…yet we know we can’t comprehend God’s infinite knowledge and the ways He is working in our life so who are we to say? I continue to be amazed at where God shows up in life and I only realize it because I am trying to make a conscious effort to pay to attention and ask myself where did I see God today? God is with you and He is working in your life…seek Him and His plan and ask God to help you see when you are making your decisions. Amen.

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