Joy In God’s Promises

December 17, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you^[c] a sign: The virgin^[d] will conceive and give birth to a son, and^[e] will call him Immanuel.”^[f]

Isaiah 7:14 NIV

“For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
⁷Of the greatness of his government and peace
    there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice and righteousness
    from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this.”

Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV

The promises of God are throughout the Bible. God has kept every promise He made…the last promise that will be fulfilled is when Jesus returns. One of the greatest promises God made and fulfilled is the promise of Jesus. The Book of Isaiah spoke about the coming Savior 700 years before it was fulfilled…700 years. Think about that…in the world today that is over 7 generations of a family. That strikes me with awe and wonder about how our lives are only a moment in God’s amazing story. It helps me reset my perspective…God is in control not me…His will, not mine. He is the Creator and what is so incredible about that is He loves us and wants a relationship with us so much that He sent and sacrificed His Son to reconcile us to Him. During this Christmas season, make time to think about the birth of Christ and the Joy we can have because of God’s promises. Amen.

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“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

Luke 2:8-11 NIV

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 at Sapphire Point near Dillon, Colorado)

The Good News Will Cause Great Joy

December 15, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV

O Holy Night by Point Of Grace

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“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

Luke 2:10-11 NIV

(This photo was taken in December of 2018 on Paradise Island in the Bahamas)

Joy Because Of Who God Is

December 14, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Shout for joy, you heavens;
    rejoice, you earth;
    burst into song, you mountains!
For the Lord comforts his people
    and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.”

Isaiah 49:13 NIV

We can have Joy because God is who He says He is…God’s character, His love, His grace, His mercy, His compassion and the comfort of His presence. These things and many more things about God is why we can have Joy when we choose to believe in Him and have a personal relationship with Him. Seek the Lord and you will know Joy.

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“The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.

⁹The Lord is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.”

Psalm 145:8-9 NIV

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

The Joy Of The Lord

December 12, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Nehemiah 8:10 NIV

We are not here to do this life alone. God created us for relationship with Him…He is greater than anything in this world and with Him we can overcome anything we encounter. If you think to yourself, I don’t have the strength…you were not made to have the strength to do life alone. Surrender to Jesus, He is alive, He is with you and His Joy can be your strength.

Joy Of The Lord by Rend Collective

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“The Lord is my strength and my defense^[a];
he has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt him.”

Exodus 15:2 NIV

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Glacier National Park in Montana)

Advent – Joy

December 11, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”

Luke 2:9-10 NIV

Joy…it goes deeper than happiness. It is not about our circumstances…it is based on the foundation of faith and knowing that God is good and that He wants good things for us. Our circumstances may not be very good at times yet joy in the Lord reminds us that we are not alone and that if we believe in Jesus and seek Him by reading God’s Word and growing in faith there is nothing or no situation He won’t help us over come. Remember Jesus came to bring great Joy to all.

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“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

John 15:11 NIV

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

Living Hope Perspective

December 1, 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…”

1 Peter 1:3 NIV

Hope in this world mostly gets aligned with wishful thinking in general conversations. This hope is not sure, not firm and is not based on belief. The hope talked about in the Bible is hope that believes and knows God’s promises for good things. This hope is supported by actions and behaviors. The hope we receive from Christ is a hope that knows and believes that Christ lives and that God is for us and working for our good, even when, especially when the visible evidence is against it. The hope from God’s Word tells us to not give up or surrender to sin and doubt, rather know that God is with you and you can trust in Him…not for the things you believe you should have but for the things God knows that you need. May the God of all hope be present in your daily life. Amen.

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“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 15:13 NIV

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

Hope From God’s Promises

November 28, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹²Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV

God promises to be with you and guide you, if you will follow Him. If God feels distant or far off it is because we have wandered off not because God has abandon you.

“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 NIV

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“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 at sunrise in May of 2020 on the North Shore of Lake Superior)

Prepare The Way For The Lord

November 26, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“…as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way”^[a]—
³“a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”^[b]

Mark 1:2-3 NIV

God’s story and God’s plan is greater than our self-centered desires…we are a part of His story, not the other way around. We all have been given certain gifts to use while we are here…our job is to recognize the gifts we have been given and to use them to help others. We are to do our part to Prepare the Way for the coming of the Lord. Amen.

Prepare Ye The Way by Michael W Smith

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“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 October of 2014 at sunrise on the island of Maui, Hawaii)

Thanks Be To God

November 24, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

John 10:10 NIV

“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. ¹²No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”

1 John 4:7-12 NIV

Happy Thanksgiving! Give thanks to God for all the gifts and blessings in life and for His presence to get us through the struggles and difficult times. God is good…thanks be to God. Amen.

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“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”

2 Corinthians 9:15 NIV

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

Trust In The Lord

November 22, 2022 / 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 NIV

Instead of trying to control things beyond your reach…put your trust in the Lord. Trust His way…trust His timing and trust the outcome to Him who has done more for you than any person in your life. He is with you, He is for you.

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