Love One Another

February 21, 2026 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.”

1 John 3:11 NIV

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. ¹⁷If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? ¹⁸Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

1 John 3:16-18 NIV

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“And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. ²⁴The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.”

1 John 3:23-24 NIV

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

Walking With God

February 20, 2026 / mcalcagno / 1 Comment

“Do you not know?

    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
²⁹He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
³¹but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.”

Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV

When we are in step with God and His plan we will not feel weary, we will not feel weak

Weariness is a warning sign that something we are doing or are spending time on is not part of God’s will for us

When we are walking with Him there is no weariness or exhausted feelings as He provides energy and strength that we never knew existed

Take time to assess where and how you are spending your time and pray to God to guide you to His will

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“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Ephesians 2:10 NIV

(This photo was taken while traveling in southern New Mexico)

God’s Love Is Forever

February 19, 2026 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. ¹⁶And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.”

1 John 4:15-16 NIV

Give thanks to God for all that is good

When we struggle or get frustrated, we can find hope in His love

We tend to think we know what God’s plan is and we are surprised when things don’t go the way we were heading

Spiritual growth comes from realizing God is in control and we do not know better than God

If we are willing to listen and seek the will of the Lord, He will lead us to things we never thought possible

He does this because He loves us

Thanks be to God for His everlasting love

Forever (live) by Michael W Smith

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

Psalm 136:1 NIV

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

God Speaks To Us

February 17, 2026 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path.”

Psalm 119:105 NIV

God’s Word is filled with His promises to us

If you have questions for God or about God, pick up a Bible and begin to read

I recommend starting with the Psalms or Proverbs and the Gospel of John

The Bible is the Word of God and no matter how many times you read something in it, you will find new learnings or a new understanding unlike anything else

It never changes yet you can be changed forever

Word of God Speak by MercyMe

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“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. ¹³Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

Hebrews 4:12-13 NIV

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

Faith and Love…Inside Out

February 14, 2026 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“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

Faith and love work from the inside out

It begins with the events and circumstances of our life that us lead to have questions

The true answers to these questions lead us to Jesus Christ and His love for us

As we get to know Him and His love we become transformed on the inside

Yet this is not the end of the journey

As we learn and grow we will be led to go out and do good works in the world to help others

We learn to love and honor God

We go out and love and serve others

It is a journey throughout our time on earth…we are to live and love inside out

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“For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”^[a] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”

2 Corinthians 4:5-6 NIV

(This photo was taken at a park near Bayfield, Wisconsin)

Father God

February 13, 2026 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“There 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 4:4-6 NIV

We are encouraged by the grace and mercy God our Father gives to us

We stumble and fall and yet He loves us the same

He walks with us daily and still there are days we yell ‘God, where are you?’

His love for us is greater than any we will find in human relationships but yet we put our time with Him off to the side or as a low priority that easily can be removed for our busy lives

We seek His forgiveness and He delivers everytime…

The Word of God never changes…

He created us; He loves us; He calls us by name…at that point it is up to us to respond

The greatest Dad there is, is God our Father

We are His children

We are comforted and encouraged by His love

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“As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
¹⁴for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.“

Psalm 103:13-14 NIV

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

God’s Mercy and Grace

February 6, 2026 / 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.“

Psalm 103:8-12 NIV

Though we can’t earn it God offers us grace and gives us the opportunity to be free from sin

He loves us so much that He willingly went to the Cross to pay to price for our sins

Think of it this way you were charged with a crime and were brought to court…

You are found guilty and convicted…

Then as you are about to be led away…

The judge comes down from the bench and says He will take the punishment you deserve and you are set free

That is what Jesus Christ has done for you and me…

He has made a way for us to be reconciled with God

Thanks be to God for His forgiveness, His mercy and His grace

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“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”

Ephesians 2:4-5 NIV

(This photo was taken near Winterset, Iowa)

Ask, Seek, Knock…

February 2, 2026 / 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 NIV

Prayer and talking with God on a daily basis are key elements on our faith journey

Prayer includes confessing our sins, expressing gratitude, asking and listening

Keeping in mind that God is not a wishing well…rather He is your friend, your guide, your confidant

He knows about every aspect of your life and He loves you…

He sacrificed His one and only Son in order to reconcile you with Him

God loves you…He is with you…He is wating to hear from you

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“Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”

John 16:24 NIV

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

Consider Him…

January 29, 2026 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Hebrews 12:3 NIV

When you are tired and run down or discouraged and defeated, consider Him…

When you are frustrated or angry with others, consider Him…

When you feel like there is no hope, consider Him…

Consider Him who endured death on a cross between two thieves, for us…

Consider Him who was spit on and had a crown of thorns pushed onto His head, for us…

Consider Him who had His beard plucked out and gave His back to the whip, for us…

And consider Him who gave His blood and His life for us

He did it because He loves you and He wants good things for you

Turn your attention towards Him and give Him thanks, then you will find peace

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“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:4-7 NIV

(This photo was taken near Colorado Springs, Colorado)