Good Father

The Goodness Of God

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Taste and see that the Lord is good;
    blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”

Psalm 34:8 NIV

“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

Father God, thank You for being our good Father.  We are so grateful we can always count on You.  You bless us and Your love is poured into us.  Thank You for Your mercy and grace.  Thank You for sending us Jesus.  Remind us of Your goodness in everything and help us remember You are greater than any circumstances or difficulties we face.  In Jesus name, Amen.

Goodness Of God by Jenn Johnson | Victory

DSC_0332 publish

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.”

Romans 8:28 NIV

(This photo was taken in May of 2020 in Tettegouche State Park in northern Minnesota)

Wait For The Lord

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
    therefore I will wait for him.”

Lamentations 3:22-24 NIV

Our lives are usually so busy moving from one thing to the next, so much so that planning and preparing become dominant activities…the problem is if we are always planning and preparing for what’s next when are we living in the present moment?

A difficult part of surrender for all of us is letting go and not always trying to control what’s next.  A life of faith doesn’t mean we always go and do what we want…Jesus said in Luke 9:23 “…If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”  We all have a cross to bear in life, it is different for everyone…and bearing a cross is doing what needs to be done.  It is sacrifice.  It means being obedient to God and we do things because we love God and others.

Be in prayer and talk with the Lord about what He needs you to do then wait and listen.  May each of us be surrounded by the love of God each day.

DSC_0229 publish

“I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.“

Psalm 27:13-14 NIV

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

Come Near…Trust God

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

James 4:7-10 NIV

Spend time reading God’s Word, take time to get to know Him.  Believe in God…put your trust in Him.  Turn away from self-centered living and begin to strive for God-centered living.  He loves you…He is with you…He is for you.  Come near to the Lord.

DSC_0056 publish

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.[a]“

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

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

Good To All

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

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

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

Psalm 145:8-9 NIV

God is patient and persevering with everyone…yes even with that person that came to mind for you and me when we see those words.  The depth of His love is incomprehensible for our minds.  Jesus suffered and died and was resurrected so that everyone has the opportunity to choose to follow Him.

No matter what happens in our lives…look at the people written about in the Bible?  They showed their humanity and made sinful choices just like any of us do.  This does not stop God from pursuing us and calling to us to come near to Him.  God is relentless…He loves us and wants us to choose to believe in Him, love Him and trust Him with our lives.  This is why I have chosen to love Him so much!

Reckless Love by Cory Asbury

DSC01031 publish

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.”

Romans 8:28 NIV

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

The Goodness Of God

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
    his greatness no one can fathom.
4 One generation commends your works to another;
    they tell of your mighty acts.
5 They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
    and I will meditate on your wonderful works.[b]
6 They tell of the power of your awesome works—
    and I will proclaim your great deeds.
7 They celebrate your abundant goodness
    and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

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

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

Psalm 145:3-9 NIV

God is good.  The reason sin and evil are in the world is because of us.  We have pain and suffering and we ask God why…yet we are the ones who have drifted away from Him.  No matter what, God is patient with us and is always ready for us to turn towards Him and come near to Him.  He knows us, He knows everything about us and yet He still sent He Son to die on the Cross to save us.

God is good and He is with you and He is for you, every day, all the time.  Thanks be to God for His Goodness!

Goodness Of God by Jenn Johnson

DSC07425 publish

“I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.”

Psalm 27:13-14 NIV

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

Love To All Who Call To You

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

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

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

Psalm 145:8-9 NIV

“You, Lord, are forgiving and good,
    abounding in love to all who call to you.”

Psalm 86:5 NIV

DSC01031 publish

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.”

Romans 8:28 NIV

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

The Goodness Of God

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

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

Psalm 145:9 NIV

“The Lord is good,
    a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him,”

Nahum 1:7 NIV

“Taste and see that the Lord is good;
    blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”

Psalm 34:8 NIV

Goodness Of God by Jenn Johnson

DSC_0199 publish

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.”

Psalm 107:1 NIV

(This photo was taken in May of 2020 at sunrise along the North Shore of Lake Superior)

Remember With God, All Things Are Possible

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Happy Father’s Day to all the Dads out there…never quit doing your best to be a father and trust in our Good Father in heaven to lead and guide you.  Amen.

Good Good Father by Chris Tomlin featuring Pat Barrett

“For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Luke 1:37 NIV

“But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Matthew 19:26 NIV

DSC_0021-1 publish

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

Ephesians 4:1-6 NIV

(This photo was taken in July of 2019 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

With God, Anything Is Possible

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Luke 1:37 NIV

“But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Matthew 19:26 NIV

Spend time in your relationship with God…remember the things He teaches us.  Keep doing good things and doing your best according to His Word.  Keep praying, keep believing…keep moving towards God.  The next moment might be the best moment…a breakthrough is coming if you are willing to be persistent and patient.  Anything is possible with God…God is working even when you can’t see it.  Praise be to God.

Haven’t Seen It Yet by Danny Gokey

DSC_0021-1 publish

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

Ephesians 4:1-6 NIV

(This photo was taken in July of 2019 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Love Each Other

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

John 15:9-13 NIV

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:6-8 NIV

DSC_0316 publish

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.”

John 15:16-17 NIV

(This photo was taken in May of 2020 at the High Falls in Tettegouche State Park in northern Minnesota)