Give Thanks

July 3, 2021 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

¹⁶Rejoice always, ¹⁷pray continually, ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:15-18

DSC_0060-1 publish

“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

(This photo was taken in June of 2021 in St. Croix State Park in northern Minnesota)

Grace

July 2, 2021 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

It is because of God’s grace that the battle has already been won…we are forgiven…we are healed…we are saved. Nothing can separate us from Him who loves us. Praise the Lord. Amen.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Ephesians 2:8-9

“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

Amazing Grace by Chris Tomlin

DSC07415 publish

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

2 Corinthians 12:9

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

Today Is The Day

July 1, 2021 / mcalcagno / 2 Comments

“This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Psalm 118:24

“Give us this day our daily bread…”

Matthew 6:11

DSC01214 publish

“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 April of 2016 at sunrise on a lake in central Minnesota)

Guided By The Holy Spirit

June 30, 2021 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”

John 16:13

“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.”

Romans 8:14

DSC_0462 publish

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 1:8

(This photo was taken in May of 2020 at Temperance State Park on the shore of Lake Superior)

Stand Firm In The Faith

June 29, 2021 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. ¹⁴Do everything in love.”

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

DSC_0332 publish

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”

1 Peter 5:8-9

(This photo was taken in May of 2020 in Tettegouche State Park in northern Minnesota)

Trust And Confidence

June 28, 2021 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.”^[a]

Proverbs 3:5-6

DSC_0050 publish

“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

(This photo was taken in June of 2021 from the top of the fire tower in St. Croix State Park in northern Minnesota)

Ask, Seek, Knock

June 27, 2021 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ⁸For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Matthew 7:7-8

DSC_0029-1 publish

“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ¹¹If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! ¹²So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 7:9-12

(This photo was taken in July of 2019 at a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

Patience

June 24, 2021 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“He says, “Be still, and know that I am God…”

Psalm 46:10

“Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.”

Psalm 37:7

DSC_1642 publish

“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

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

A Light In The Darkness

June 23, 2021 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12

DSC09389 publish

“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

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

Only God Can…

June 22, 2021 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Save us…

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

John 14:6

Heal us…

“He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.”

Psalm 147:3

Comfort us…

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

DSC_1250 publish