He Will Renew Their Strength

May 3, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When you become tired and weary…frustrated and exasperated…looking for answers and your mind is swirling with questions…turn towards the Lord. Focus on Him, bring Him your worries and your burdens…He will help to quiet your mind and bring peace to your spirit. The Lord is a refuge for those who seek Him and nothing in this world can take His place. Amen.

DSC_0888 publish

“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

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

The Love Of Christ

May 1, 2020 / mcalcagno / 2 Comments

This is the foundation of our relationship with Him. His love for us is the reason He sacrificed Himself to reconcile us with God, even though we are sinners. Even while He hung on the Cross He pleaded for our forgiveness. No matter what happens in your life never forget how much Christ loves you. Amen.

“Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”^[a] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.”

Luke 23:34

DSC07553 publish

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

Ephesians 3:16-19

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 near Pike’s Peak in Colorado)

Take Time To Be Still

April 30, 2020April 30, 2020 / mcalcagno / 1 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.”

Psalm 37:7

DSC_0029-1 publish

“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”

Psalm 46:10

(This photo was taken in July of 2019 at a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

An Encounter

April 29, 2020 / mcalcagno / 2 Comments

The difference between faith and religion…faith is about trust and belief because we have experienced the Presence of God in our lives. Has it happened to you? It is hard to put into words…unexplainable…a time for me was putting together and delivering the eulogy at my father’s funeral. Not something I ever could have done alone…when I think about that time words are few, yet the ones that come to mind are comfort, unusual peace, clear thinking…that doesn’t fully cover it but what I can come up with…in the book of Exodus Moses was up on the mountain for 40 days with God without food or water, yet it does not say he felt hunger or thirst. An encounter with the Presence of God is unlike anything else in life. May His Peace be with you. Amen.

DSC09797 publish

“The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Exodus 33:14

(This photo was taken in September of 2014 on a walk near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Wait for The Lord

April 27, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Where have you seen God at work in your life? When you look back across your past, what moments or decisions do you believe God was working on for your good? He loves us and is always with us. When you pray? How do you pay attention for His response? He speaks to us many different ways. Be persistent, be patient and wait for the Lord. Amen.

IMG_20180730_062020 publish

“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

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

Nobody Like You

April 24, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Good morning. This morning has started as one of those days that I can’t stop hearing the words of a song playing over and over in my mind. The message in the words is clear…listen to the words of this song. I believe that God speaks to us in many different ways and it is up to us to listen. May peace and comfort be with you through the love of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Nobody Loves Me Like You by Chris Tomlin

DSC_0135-1 publish

“Show me your ways, Lord,
    teach me your paths.
⁵Guide me in your truth and teach me,
    for you are God my Savior,
    and my hope is in you all day long.”

Psalm 25:4-5

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

Hope

April 23, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

What drives it? Why do we have it? It comes from belief…it comes from trusting. Even when no one believes there is any hope…hope persists. Think about the day Jesus was crucified…nobody, not even the disciples had hope. Jesus, their teacher, the one who performed miracles had died…yet with God anything is possible. Jesus is risen! He is risen indeed, Alleluia! The stories of hope with God in the bible go on and on…Sarah who was barren has a son…Moses and the Red Sea…Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego survive the fiery furnace…Daniel in the lion’s den…Mary the virgin gives birth to Jesus and on and on it goes. Don’t give up hope…trust in God. Amen.

DSC09023 publish

“For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Luke 1:37

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

Walking With God

April 22, 2020 / mcalcagno / 2 Comments

A faith journey. It begins with prayer. It grows as we read the Scriptures, spend time in devotions, engage in our communities, serve others…it transforms us with a new attitude centered on God and His will for us. Trust in God, spend time on your relationship with Jesus Christ and pray…pray about everything, every day. Amen.

“Rejoice always, ¹⁷pray without ceasing, ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

DSC_0664 publish

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly^[a] with your God.”

Micah 6:8

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

You Choose

April 21, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

God created us with free will…the ability to choose our actions and behaviors. The reason is because a love worth having is love that is chosen, however, the risk is people will choose to reject God. We were created out of love and as we live we can choose whom we will follow. How do you choose to live this day? Amen.

“…But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Joshua 24:15

DSC_0597 publish

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh^[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. ¹⁴For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”^[b] ¹⁵If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”

Galatians 5:13.15

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 along Beartooth Pass in Montana)

Faithfulness

April 20, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Loyalty…dedication…devotion…commitment…dependability…truth. God is faithful in all He has promised. The struggles and the difficulties have been brought on by our chasing after sin and sinful desires. Even though we wander off…God the Father, our Creator and Jesus Christ His Son our Savior, with the Holy Spirit are faithful to loving us and saving us…if we are willing to confess our sins and trust in God. Amen.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

1 John 1:9

DSC_0027 (2) publish

“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.
²⁴I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
    therefore I will wait for him.”