Believe…Overcome

October 26, 2021 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. ²This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.”

1 John 5:1-2 NIV

DSC_0229 publish

“In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, ⁴for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. ⁵Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”

1 John 5:3-5 NIV

(This photo was taken in July of 2021 at Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado)

Encouragement

October 25, 2021 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ²then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

Philippians 2:1-4 NIV

DSC_0126 publish

“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

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

Commit Your Way To The Lord

October 24, 2021 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Commit to the Lord everything you do.
Then he will make your plans succeed.”

Proverbs 16:3 NIRV

“In their hearts human beings plan their lives.
But the Lord decides where their steps will take them.”

Proverbs 16:9 NIRV

DSC_0546 publish

“I know the plans I have for you,” announces the Lord. “I want you to enjoy success. I do not plan to harm you. I will give you hope for the years to come.”

Jeremiah 29:11 NIRV

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota)

Continue To Do Good

October 23, 2021 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Those who plan evil go down the wrong path.
But those who plan good find love and truth.”

Proverbs 14:22 NIRV

“Let us not become tired of doing good. At the right time we will gather a crop if we don’t give up. ¹⁰So when we can do good to everyone, let us do it. Let’s try even harder to do good to the family of believers.”

Galatians 6:9-10 NIRV

DSC_0044 (2) publish

“We are God’s creation. He created us to belong to Christ Jesus. Now we can do good works. Long ago God prepared these works for us to do.”

Ephesians 2:10 NIRV

(This photo was taken in July of 2021 at the Fish Sunflower Field in Buffalo, Minnesota)

Wisdom And Understanding

October 22, 2021 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“If you want to become wise, you must begin by respecting the Lord.
To know the Holy One is to gain understanding.”

Proverbs 9:10 NIRV

“It is much better to get wisdom than gold.
It is much better to choose understanding than silver.”

Proverbs 16:16 NIRV

DSC_0001 (2) publish

“If you really want to become wise,
you must begin by having respect for the Lord.
All those who follow his rules have good understanding.
People should praise him forever.”

Psalm 111:10 NIRV

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on the shore on Lake Superior near Ashland, Wisconsin)

Holy Spirit

October 21, 2021 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“But the Father will send the Friend in my name to help you. The Friend is the Holy Spirit. He will teach you all things. He will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

John 14:26 NIRV

“If you love me, obey my commands. ¹⁶I will ask the Father. And he will give you another friend to help you and to be with you forever. ¹⁷That friend is the Spirit of truth. The world can’t accept him. That’s because the world does not see him or know him. But you know him. He lives with you, and he will be in you.”

John 14:15-17 NIRV

Holy Spirit by Francesca Battistelli

DSC09022 publish

“May the God who gives hope fill you with great joy. May you have perfect peace as you trust in him. May the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with hope.”

Romans 15:13 NIRV

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

Light Of The World

October 20, 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 NIV

“For 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 4:6 NIV

DSC_0730 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 NIV

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

Trust His Way

October 19, 2021 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“In the morning let me hear about your faithful love,
because I’ve put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should live,
because I trust you with my life.”

Psalm 143:8 NIRV

DSC_0090 (2) publish

“The Lord is gracious, kind and tender.
He is slow to get angry and full of love.
⁹The Lord is good to all.
He shows deep concern for everything he has made.”

Psalm 145:8-9 NIRV

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 at a park near Bayfield, Wisconsin)

He Knows…

October 18, 2021 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.”

Psalm 139:13 NIV

“Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from your presence?
⁸If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
⁹If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
¹⁰even there your hand will guide me,
    your right hand will hold me fast.”

Psalm 139:7-10 NIV

DSC_1448 publish

“Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
²⁴See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Psalm 139:23-24 NIV

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