God’s Love Changes Lives

July 28, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“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.”

1 John 4:7-11 NIV

God’s love is the most powerful thing in the world. Nothing can compare to it…no matter where you are, no matter what has happened or is happening…God’s love can change what you believe is impossible. Trust Him, seek His Word, believe, confess your sins and surrender your ways for His way. Amen.

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“We love because he first loved us.”

1 John 4:19 NIV

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)

Be Still…Wait For The Lord

July 21, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“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.

⁸Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
⁹For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.”

Psalm 37:7-9 NIV

Be Still And Know by Amy Grant

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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 in September of 2016 at a lake in central Minnesota)

Faithfulness

July 20, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”

Hebrews 10:23 NIV

“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

God is with you…He cares for you…He is faithful in everything…nothing can separate you from His love.

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“Your faithfulness continues through all generations;
you established the earth, and it endures.”

Psalm 119:90 NIV

(This photo was taken in September of 2020 at a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

Trust

July 19, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Lord, those who know you will trust in you.
You have never deserted those who look to you.”

Psalm 9:10 NIRV

Firm belief…confidence…faith…count on…believe in…truth…certainty…love. The darkness and evil of the world are constantly working to turn us away from God and God is constantly speaking to us. Seek Him, seek His will, believe He has good things planned for you and be patient. Amen.

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“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.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

(This photo was taken in July of 2022 on a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

Living Hope

July 18, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, ⁵who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁷These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. ⁸Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

1 Peter 1:3-9 NIV

Praise the Lord…He is always with you even when you don’t think about it. God has provided a well-spring of hope through the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ to save us. Even though we do not deserve it God has forgiven us by His grace and we may have peace that surpasses all understanding. Praise the Lord.

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“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

John 8:36 NIV

(This photo was taken in March of 2018 while traveling in southern New Mexico)

The Truth About Love Is Actions

July 17, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

⁸Love never fails.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV

The truth about what and who we love comes forth through our actions and behaviors. Love is so much more than feelings. We can say what we love, yet it is what we do that tells the story. With who and where we choose to spend our time shows what we value most. Take time to reflect on your daily life and see what your actions and behaviors tell you about what you love. No matter what you find, pray about it and ask God to lead and guide…after all His Actions and the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for us on the Cross confirms how much He loves you.

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“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV

(This photo was taken in April of 2020 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

God’s Consistent Character

July 15, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

James 1:17 NIV

“I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.”

Malachi 3:6 NIV

God is faithful and trustworthy. He keeps His promises…He is consistent in character for all generations. All good things come from the Lord.

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

Hebrews 13:8 NIV

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

The Word Of God

July 12, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷so that the servant of God^[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV

Keep God’s Word close to your heart…read it, memorize it, use it to pray and let it lead and guide you in your daily life. It is more than something to consider once a week on Sunday morning and put away for everything else. God is the God of everything, every aspect of life…trust in the Lord no matter what and keep the Word of God in your heart and mind.

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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.”

Hebrews 4:12 NIV

(This photo was taken in May of 2022 along the North Shore of Lake Superior)

Stay Committed In Faith

July 9, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans.”

Proverbs 16:3 NIV

Success in life is most often tied to commitment…when you learn the details of a success story there is always a moment or moments along the way that a person had to make a choice to stay committed to a vision or mission in order to see it through. It is a willingness to commit that leads to success in relationships and our everyday life. When we reflect on our lives, we all are committed to something right now…what is it for you? Then ask the question how does that commitment tie into my faith and my relationship with God?

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

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NIV

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 near Arches National Park in Utah)

Do Not Be Overcome

July 6, 2022 / 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

The bible tells us that we will have trouble in this world…and it states clearly that we can persevere through trials and temptations. The bible also gives us examples of others who lived and suffered and how they interacted with God and lived their lives with faith. At times it wasn’t pretty, they didn’t live lives that were sweet and easy all the time. Read about Abraham and Sarah, read about Joseph in Genesis. Look through the pages of David’s life in 1 Samuel. Take time to read about the life of Jesus. Yes, there are struggles, trials and suffering and living a life of faith and in God’s love doesn’t mean these will disappear…what it does mean is you will receive the courage and the hope to get through the difficult times. Do not be overcome by darkness and evil look to God, pray and you will see hope. Amen.

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