The Goodness Of God

April 19, 2024 / 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

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“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 Tettegouche State Park in northern Minnesota)

Finding Joy

February 24, 2024 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. ¹¹I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

John 15:9-11 NIV

Father God, we praise You for Your everlasting love. Sometimes life is hard and all we can see is darkness and death. Help us remember Your promises and that You are at work, even when we can’t see it. Please give us rest and the courage to find joy through You and Your Word. We know You are faithful and that You have already won the battle through Jesus and His death and resurrection. Thank You Father God! Amen.

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“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Ephesians 2:10 NIV

(This photo was taken at a park on Madeline Island in Lake Superior)

The Goodness Of God

December 30, 2023 / 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

Goodness Of God by Jenn Johnson | Victory

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“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

December 9, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“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.”

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.

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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 July of 2021 at Bear Lake in Rocky Mountian National Park)

Good To All

October 11, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“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

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

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“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

September 30, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

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

⁸The 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 145:3-9 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

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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 June of 2013 while traveling in northern Colorado)

Love To All Who Call To You

July 29, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“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

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

Psalm 86:5 NIV

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“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

July 16, 2023 / 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

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“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)

Keep Doing Good Things

May 30, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

^“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Ephesians 2:10 NIV

Not for your benefit, rather for the benefit of others. We reap what we sow in this life. This does not mean we can earn our way into heaven by doing the right things…it means whatever we go out and do in the world will come back around to us at some point and none of us knows or can control how or when that will happen. This is further proof that God is in control and it is our responsibility to choose our behaviors and our actions in our daily life. We cannot control what others will think, say or do, yet we can control how we respond. Let’s choose to keep doing good things. May the Fruit of the Spirit flow through us each day. Amen.

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“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Galatians 6:7-9 NIV

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado)

Life By The Spirit

April 17, 2023 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“But the fruit the Holy Spirit produces is love, joy and peace. It is being patient, kind and good. It is being faithful ²³and gentle and having control of oneself. There is no law against things of that kind.”

Galatians 5:22-23 NIRV

Life by the Spirit is a life that is conscious of our impact on others. It is not always looking inward and seeking to satisfy the self. It is a balanced life, living present and not dwelling more on the regrets of the past or trying to control the future. It is a life that strives to put Christ in the center of everything…this is not easy to achieve in a dark and broken world full of distractions nor are we able to do this alone. We need to remember God’s grace and receive the Holy Spirit in our hearts…so that His love can flow through us into every aspect of our lives. Seek a balanced life that is led by the Spirit. Amen.

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“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

³⁷Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’^[a] ³⁸This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[b] ⁴⁰All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”