The Grace Of God

January 29, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We have been saved…the battle has been won. Jesus Christ gave of Himself to save us and to reconcile us back to God. We are not made to do life alone, God our Creator made us out of His love and His Son sacrificed His life because of His love for us and the Holy Spirit is guiding us through our days with God’s love. We haven’t earned it, we don’t deserve it. It has occured because of the mercy and grace of God our Father. He is not a distant figure in the sky looking for ways to punish us for every mistake, He is doing everything for our good, not according to our plans rather according to His. We would do well to turn towards God and thank Him and seek to grow our relationship with Jesus Christ. Amen.

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“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 while traveling through northern Colorado)

Do Good Things

January 27, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

This statement is all about being focused on persistence and patience. We often get stuck on narrow minded results of our actions or words. We lose sight of the fact the God is working for the good of all people and each of us plays a role in a much larger story that we will not always be able to see the results of first hand. His will and His plans are so much greater than ours and so it comes down to our willingness to trust in God’s plan more than our own desires. We know what it means to do good, we understand how to bear fruit in our daily lives and it is our responsibility to strive to do those things and leave the rest up to God. As they say, God is good all the time and all the time God is good. May we be blessed to share the goodness of the Lord today and everyday. Amen.

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“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Galatians 6:9

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 on the shore of Elliott Bay in downtown Seattle, Washington)

Give Thanks

January 26, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Lord, I thank you for the people you have put in my life. My family, my friends including all of those who help me to see things differently, the encouragement they provide and the joy and laughter we experience together. They help guide me through the rocky moments and events in life. Because of them I know you are near and I give thanks for your faithfulness and your love. Thank you, Lord…I love you…Amen.

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“For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

Psalms 100:5

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 in Badlands National Park in South Dakota)

Be Courageous

January 21, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

One of God’s great gifts is free will. He created us out of His love and His desire for relationship with us is one He wants us to seek, willingly. He did not create us to be robots or puppets, which means we have a responsiblity to make choices. We will find we are often presented with opportunities to make decisions and if we are paying attention to our faith journey over time it becomes more and more clear which choice is step towards God and which choice is a step toward our sinful nature. It will take courage to make decisions grounded in faith, it will be different than what the world thinks you should do. Don’t give in to fear, the journey will be very difficult at times and as it states in the Book of Ephesians chapter 6, put on the full armor of God and stand in faith. The choices will often be between courage and fear, be courageous in your faith. Amen.

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

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

(This photo was taken in July of 2015 at Red Rocks Amphitheatre near Morrison, Colorado)

How Deep Is Our Faith?

January 19, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

I have heard the faith journey described as a process of working from the inside, out. The first part of the journey is transforming and changing the inside of ourselves…our thoughts, our beliefs, our attitude and our behaviors…removing the focus on sinful desires and self-centeredness as we learn and grow in our personal relationship with Christ. As the inside changes we become better equipped to share what we have learned and to provide encouragement to others on the journey, just as we have been and will be given assistance on our own journey. The question today is regarding that inside part of the process…the learning and growing and the depth of our inside transformation is not to reach a destination. The more we learn and grow and spend time in our reltionship with the Lord the deeper and stronger that relationship becomes. As discussed yesterday the battles will come at us in this life and a deep, strong relationship with Christ is the most powerful weapon we have when it comes to fighting evil in this world. Continue to strengthen and grow your relationship with Jesus Christ. Amen.

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“But blessed in the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They 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

(This photo was taken in July of 2012 while walking on a trail in the North Shore of Lake Superior)

The Love Of God

January 17, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

To know the love of God means you are in tune with your relationship with Him and you know Him versus just knowing about Him. The love God has for us isn’t something to be measured or compared to others. It is an experience, it is about a relationship with Jesus Christ, His one and only Son. It is the reason we were created, it is why Jesus sacrificed Himself for us and it is the one thing we can always count on in life, no matter what. Seek to learn about God’s love for you and spend time getting to know Him. Amen.

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“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

1 John 4:10

(This photo was taken in June of 2018 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

The Cross

January 11, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

I offer to you today some praise and worship through music. Think about the things that keep you distracted, struggling and full of worry…bring those things to the only place where you can find healing and peace. The Cross.

The Cross Has The Final Word by The Newsboys

The Cross Has the Final Word

Newsboys

The cross has the final word
The cross has the final word
Sorrow may come in the darkest night
But the cross has the final word

There’s nothing stronger, nothing higher
There’s nothing greater than the name of Jesus
All the honor, all the power
All the glory to the name of Jesus

The cross has the final word
The cross has the final word
Evil may put up its strongest fight
But the cross has the final word

There’s nothing stronger, nothing higher
Nothing greater than the name of Jesus
All the honor, all the power
All the glory to the name of Jesus

The cross has the final word
The cross has the final word
The Savior has come with the morning light
The cross has the final word

O-o-oh! Woah-o-o-oah!
All glory and honor is Yours
O-o-oh! Woah-o-o-oah!
All glory and honor is Yours
Is Yours!

The cross has the final word
The cross has the final word
He traded death for eternal life
The cross has the final word (oh nothing higher)

Oh, the cross has the final word (nothing better)
The cross has the final word (all the power)
The Savior has come with the morning light
The cross has the final word

Songwriters: Cody Carnes

The Cross Has the Final Word lyrics © Capitol Christian Music Group

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“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

Romans 8:37

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

God Is Love

December 30, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

I am reminded this morning of this statement. When we fix our eyes on Jesus and not on the pain, struggle and our self-serving desires, we are able to rise above those things carried by the love of God. If we allow the hurt and pain of the past to rule our present day then we are missing out on so many opportunities to know joy and peace, to be thankful for what is good. If we desire forgiveness for our sins, we need to be just as willing to forgive others. The sacrifice has already been made for us, the race is already been won, death is defeated and Christ lives. Let us turn towards God in prayer and thanksgiving for His everlasting love. Amen.

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“If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And 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 him.”

1 John 4:15-16

(This photo was taken in April of 2016 on a lake in central Minnesota)

God’s Presence Is All Around Us

December 21, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

One of the most difficult things for us to accomplish is change. A change that will last, is sustainable and makes a difference in us and how we interact with others. One of the greatest changes in human history occurred when Jesus Christ changed Saul into Paul, His disciple. We read about this is the Book of Acts, chapter 9. What Jesus did to create and sustain this change was to illuminate His Presence to Saul. To show His Presence and then to give instructions to Saul as to what he must do. God is present in creation and in each of our lives everyday…we just need to do a better job of looking for Him. His Presence exists in nature, the change of the seasons and in the Fruits of the Spirit that we give and receive in our interactions with others. God is with you, He loves you and His Presence is what gives you strength. Thanks be to God. Amen.

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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

(This photo was taken in October of 2018 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Patience

December 9, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

During this Advent time of year, the Fruits of the Spirit keep coming into my mind. We wait for the celebration of the birth of our Savior. Nothing about His coming was designed by us, the human race. This is a clear example of God at work for the good of all people. We must be patient on our faith journey and not give up hope…no matter how bad things may get, in any situation. Prayer…thoughtful, sincere, true and honest prayer, that is based in trust and belief in Jesus Christ is very powerful. The answers to our prayers are not based on our plans or our desires and that is a good thing. When you are discouraged or frustrated regarding a person or situation…take it to the Lord in prayer and remember when God was at work with His plan over 2,000 years ago, the results both then and now have been better than any human plan ever conceived. I pray we all trust in the Lord and seek patience with His plan for our lives. Amen.

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