Do Not Worry…God Is With You

October 26, 2024 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life^[a]?“

Matthew 6:25-27 NIV

No matter what the circumstances or the possibilities

Turn your worry into prayer

He is with you…He is within you

God will lead and guide you

Every day, all the time…even when you can’t see it

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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 in Tettegouche State Park in northern Minnesota)

Overcome Trouble And Sorrow

October 25, 2024 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Our days may come to seventy years,
or eighty, if our strength endures;
yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow,
for they quickly pass, and we fly away.”

Psalm 90:10 NIV

The Bible tells us in this life we will have trouble and sorrow…it states very clearly that life is hard

Yet we still have hope and can be encouraged because Jesus Christ came into this world and sacrificed Himself to assure that we can have a relationship with God

Do not be overcome by trouble and sorrow…overcome these things with faith and trust in the Lord

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“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

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

Surrender

October 24, 2024 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. ²⁴For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”

Luke 9:23-24 NIV

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Galatians 2:20 NIV

His way is better than our ways

He is the Creator of all things and all people

He knows what you are going through and He cares for you

Turn towards God and trust in Him

I Give You My Heart – Hillsong Worship & Delirious?

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“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ²Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.“

Romans 12:1-2 NIV

(This photo was taken at the High Falls in Tettegouche State Park in northern Minnesota)

God’s Presence Is All Around Us

October 19, 2024 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9 NIV

God Is With Us by Casting Crowns

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“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV

(This photo was taken in Big Sky, Montana )

Courage…Patience

October 18, 2024 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?”

Psalm 27:1 NIV

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Hebrews 13:8 NIV

The pace of world keeps getting faster with new technologies all being offered in the name of convenience

Yet God is the same today as He was over two thousand years ago, He does not change according to popular opinion

His timing is perfect, our timing and our plans are based on our worldly desires

God is with you and God is for you

He is working in your life, even if you can’t see it

Have the courage to trust in the Lord and wait for Him to lead and guide you

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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 while traveling in southern New Mexico)

God’s Faithfulness

October 12, 2024 / 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

Father God, You make all things beautiful in their proper timing. Nothing is too hard for You to accomplish. You are faithful to keep Your promises. So often, we forget this and grow discouraged when our situations don’t seem to change. In those moments, it’s easy to forget that You are not done working. Through Your Holy Spirit, please change the way we think and behave. When we start to grow weary, help us remember that You are near and You are faithful. 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 sunrise by a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

Prayer

October 11, 2024 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Romans 12:12 NIV

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Philippians 4:6 NIV

No matter what the situation or circumstances, do not stop praying about it

Do not give up when God doesn’t meet your timeline, He knows more about everything than we could ever ask, think or imagine

Instead choose to trust in Him and His Way

He loves you, He cares for you and He is with you every step along the way

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“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

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

Jesus

October 10, 2024 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
¹⁰that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.”

Philippians 2:9-11 NIV

What A Beautiful Name by Hillsong

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“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. ²This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. ³In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, ⁴for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. ⁵Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.“

1 John 5:1-5 NIV

(This photo was taken at Temperance State Park along the North Shore of Lake Superior)

Compassion

October 4, 2024 / 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.

¹³As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;”

Psalm 103:8-13

Care…concern…warmth…kindness…gentleness…tenderness…love

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“The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
²⁶it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.”

Lamentations 3:25-26

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

Sacrifice…Savior

October 1, 2024 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.”

Isaiah 53:5 NIV

Father God, thank You for sending Your only Son to save us. Thank You for creating a way for us to be reconciled with You. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice our mistakes are forgiven! Help us never take this for granted. Give us courage to glorify You in every area of our lives. In Jesus name, Amen.

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