Joy Because God Is Faithful

January 7, 2025 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.”

Deuteronomy 7:9 NIV

“You make known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

Psalm 16:11 NIV

Father God, thank You for Your faithfulness, even when we have been unfaithful to You

Thank You for Your presence in our lives and for never leaving us alone

We know that You will continue to guide us and protect us as You work in us and through us

Help us remember to place our hope and trust in You, so that we can experience true joy

In Jesus name, Amen.

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“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
²³They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.”

Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV

(This photo was taken at a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

Be Still And Know

January 6, 2025 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

^{10 “}He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”

¹¹The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.”

Psalm 46:10-11 NIV

Be Still And Know by Amy Grant

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“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
    whose confidence is in him.
⁸They will be like a tree planted by the water
    that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
    its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
    and never fails to bear fruit.”

Jeremiah 17:7-8 NIV

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

The Goodness Of God

January 5, 2025 / mcalcagno / 2 Comments

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

Psalm 145:9 NIV

“The Lord is good,
a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him,”

Nahum 1:7 NIV

“Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”

Psalm 34:8 NIV

Goodness Of God by Jenn Johnson

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

Psalm 107:1 NIV

(This photo was taken at sunrise along the North Shore of Lake Superior)

Battles Along The Way

January 4, 2025 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6 NIV

“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 NIV

We are not alone while on this journey of life

No matter who or what or how much trouble we are facing in this world nothing is too big for God Our Father, His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit

Life should come with a warning label given to all at a young age…

WARNING: Life will be difficult do not try this alone

Take time to seek Jesus, read about His life on earth, His teachings, His sacrifice, His victory

It is all available for us to read in God’s Word

God made sure we would have the opportunity to see His Word and to know Him

May peace be with you on your journey

Remember turn to God for the battles along the way

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“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

1 Peter 5:7 NIV

(This photo was taken near Colorado Springs, Colorado)

God’s Love Holds Us Together Every Day

January 1, 2025 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your^[a] faith; ⁷if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,^[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”

Romans 12:4-8 NIV

Hold Us Together by Matt Maher

“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.”

Colossians 3:12-14 NIV

(This photo was taken along the North Shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota)

Remember With God, All Things Are Possible

December 31, 2024 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Luke 1:37 NIV

“But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Matthew 19:26 NIV

As we close out 2024 and look forward to the New Year…remember you have a Good Father in God and there is nothing He can’t handle in your life

When it looks and seems impossible

Know that God can conquer all things

He is with you…He is for you and He loves you

Good Good Father by Chris Tomlin featuring Pat Barrett

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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 NIV

(This photo was taken at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Commitment

December 27, 2024 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

John 15:7 NIV

Father God, we want to seek You with all our heart

You are in everything…so let our thoughts and actions match our words

Help us draw closer to You

Guide our decisions and inspire us with new dreams

We want to honor You with all that we are and all that we do

In Jesus name, Amen

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“You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you.”

Isaiah 26:3 NIV

(This photo was taken at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Advent Reflections – Love

December 22, 2024 / mcalcagno / 2 Comments

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV

Jesus stated the most important commandments are to love God and love one another – Matthew 22:37-40

So, what is love?

Love is action…it is not what the world defines as a feeling

The apostle Paul describes it for us in 1 Corinthians 13

It is about our character and what we do when it comes to relationships

So, when Jesus states it is the most important commandment…we should think about how do we love God? How do we love one another?

Love is for God to define and to give and He makes it available to all of us by how He has acted towards us

It is up to us to accept His love and to share it with Him and others

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“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. ⁹This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. ¹⁰This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. ¹¹Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹²No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”

1 John 4:7-12 NIV

(This photo was taken at the Nakalele Blowhole on the island of Maui, Hawaii)

Joy Because God Is With Us

December 19, 2024 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.“

Luke 2:10-11 NIV

No matter where you are or where you go

God is with you

He is there in the morning

He is with you all day long and when you go to sleep

Seek Him and His Word

Pursue a personal relationship with His Son, Jesus

And you will find a new level of joy that is only found with Him

God Is With Us by Casting Crowns

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“So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10 NIV

(This photo was taken on Paradise Island in the Bahamas)