God Is Greater Than _________

July 28, 2024 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

1 John 4:4 NIV

No matter what you are facing in life

No matter what circumstances you encounter

No matter how bad the tragedy or trauma that has occurred

No matter what…God is bigger than that ____________

God is greater than anything you will ever encounter in this life

Believe it and put your faith, your hope and your trust in Jesus Christ

What is it in your life you need to remind yourself that God is greater than?

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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.
²⁴I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
    therefore I will wait for him.”

²⁵The 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 3:22-26 NIV

(This photo was taken in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)

The Greatest Story Ever Told…

July 26, 2024 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was with God in the beginning. ³Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome^[a] it.”

John 1:1-5 NIV

“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 NIV

From Genesis to Revelation the over-arching theme of the Bible is God’s love through Jesus

This love does not guarantee that life will be easy and always pleasant…yet it is a love that never changes

This love comes to us directly in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ

You are part of this story…God chose you

Open your heart and mind to Jesus, invite Him into every part of your life

As you learn this story, help tell others about it

It is the greatest story ever told

End Of The Beginning by David Phelps

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“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. ¹⁷For 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

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

Wisdom And Understanding

July 25, 2024 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”

Proverbs 2:6 NIV

“Blessed are those who find wisdom,
those who gain understanding,
¹⁴for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.“

Proverbs 3:13-14 NIV

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“Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or turn away from them.”

Proverbs 4:7 NIV

(This photo was taken on the shore on Lake Superior near Ashland, Wisconsin)

Do Not Fear

July 24, 2024 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“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

Fear Is a Liar by Zach Williams

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“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

(This photo was taken at Sapphire Point near Dillon, Colorado)

Walk In The Light

July 23, 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

Father God, when we are overwhelmed by the brokeness we see, help us to remember that You see us. You are in control. We cannot stop all the pain and injustice we witness, yet help us overcome evil by doing good. Help us to walk in the Light with You. Give us the courage and humility to love people well today. In Jesus name, Amen.

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“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. ⁶If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. ⁷But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all^[a] sin.”

1 John 1:5-7 NIV

(This photo was taken in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)

Passion, Persistence, Perseverance

July 21, 2024 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹²Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”

Romans 12:9-13 NIV

We are loved

We are forgiven

The battle has been won

Jesus has claimed victory over sin and death

No matter where you are or what the circumstances of your life look like…don’t give up

Remember what Jesus did for you and stir up the passion of His love in your spirit

He is with you…always

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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 a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

Surrender

July 20, 2024 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. ²⁴For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.”

Luke 9:23-24 NIV

I once read in a daily devotional these words…”God does not need our help or cooperation in establishing purpose in our lives…only our surrender”

We need to remember that God is with us and within us always and at all times…instead of thinking He is only near when we pay attention or recognize His presence

We need to ask ourselves…What have I been trying to plan and control that I need to surrender to God?

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

Galatians 2:20 NIV

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

Our Refuge

July 18, 2024 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
²My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.”

Psalm 121:1-2 NIV

Father God, thank You for Your strength in us. Because of Your work in our lives, we are not defeated by the darkness in the world around us! Help us to remember that You overcame he who is in the world. You live in us, which means we can share in Your victory. Help us to remember who You are and all that You have done. In Jesus name, Amen.

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“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

(This photo was taken at Big Sky Resort in Montana)

Joy Because Of Who God Is

July 17, 2024 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Shout for joy, you heavens;
    rejoice, you earth;
    burst into song, you mountains!
For the Lord comforts his people
    and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.”

Isaiah 49:13 NIV

We can have Joy because God is who He says He is

God’s character, His love, His grace, His mercy, His compassion and the comfort of His presence are reasons to celebrate and praise Him

We can have Joy when we choose to believe in Him and have a personal relationship with Him

Seek the Lord and you will know Joy

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“The 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 145:8-9 NIV

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

Ask…Believe…Receive

July 16, 2024 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. ⁷And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. ⁸Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

Matthew 6:6-8 NIV

“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. ¹³And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”

John 14:12-14 NIV

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