Trust In The Lord

May 22, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

In our interactions with others it may become difficult to trust other people. We are all broken and we all have committed sin. We all have difficulty denying thy self, and we end up doing things that hurt another person. We have all been there…we have all been the one who hurts another and we have all been the one hurt by others. Depending on how bad you have been hurt or betrayed it becomes difficult to trust others. The place we can always trust is at the Cross. This doesn’t mean God will always do what we plan or want, it means we can trust that He is always working for the good in our lives according to His plan. Come to the Cross and learn to live trusting in the Lord first and He will guide us in our relationships with others. May God’s peace be with you.

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“Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

Psalm 37:3-4

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 at Falls Park in Sioux Falls, South Dakota)

Do Good Things

May 21, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

It is easy to look around and think, what difference does it make if I do this or I don’t? This type thinking can lead to a downward spiral of negative thoughts and low self-worth. This is the way of evil and darkness. When we act and do good things it will make a difference, to someone someday. Even if we never get to see the difference in our life or in person it is important to continue to do good things. We are made out of the love of God and we have the hope of eternal life with Him. This world is not our home but while we are here we should do whatever we can, wherever we are to help those in need. May God’s peace be with you.

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“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 6:9

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

The Joy Of Faith

May 19, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

The true form of joy comes from believing and knowing that the Lord your God created you out of love, knows the about the deepest part of you and will never leave you or abandon you. Faith has been and is the only thing that can overcome sadness, darkness and sin. Jesus came down from heaven and showed the power of faith by His actions and His sacrifice. He defeated sickness and illness, He defeated the devil in the desert, and He defeated death. He did it all for you and He did it out of His love…and that is why true joy is found only in Faith and nowhere else on earth. May you find joy in God’s peace and love.

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“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

1 Peter 1:8-9

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Wisdom And Understanding

May 16, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

These are two elements that will get us through anything in life. Wisdom from the Lord and understanding of His Word can help to lead us on the path to joy. To gain these we must spend time reading the Word, praying and sitting quietly with Jesus. For these activities are the true sources of wisdom and how we can gain understanding. The world is filled with darkness and the evil of sin and they will do everything to keep you from spending time with God. Don’t underestimate the power of sin, it is deceptive and persistent and will always be looking for ways to distract you. Seek wisdom from the Lord and read the Scriptures for understanding each day. Ask God to provide you the courage and strength to do so. He loves you and He is watching over you. May God’s peace be with you.

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“Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.”

Proverbs 3:13-14

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)

The Path To Joy

May 15, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

It seems so often, we are trying to figure things out…why did this happen? why didn’t it go the way we thought? what went wrong? how did I do that? that is not what I planned? These thoughts take us on a roller-coaster of a ride in our daily life and near the end of the day we are exhausted with few answers. I believe we all need to simplify things a bit, narrow our focus and stay obedient to the way Jesus has taught us. Start by committing our day to the Lord. Spend time reading Scripture and praying that gives you a solid foundation to start on…then be present in the moments that are occurring in your life today. Listen closely to what others are saying, offer encouragement and be of service to others. If your current circumstances make this difficult or impossible in your mind then pray about that and ask God to help you find your way to a better situation. The point is you don’t have to do this journey alone and frankly God did not intend you to be alone. Reach out to the Lord and he will guide you to the right path. May God’s peace be with you.

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“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

Proverbs 19:21

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 at a lake place in northwestern Wisconsin)

Mother’s Day – Cherish And Honor Your Mom

May 13, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Today is a day to give thanks, to reflect and remember how your Mom impacted your childhood and how she still impacts who you are today. We all know no human is perfect and not all Mom to child relationships are filled with fond memories but we must remember that people no matter who they are, are doing the best they can. Whatever your situation take some time today to give thanks for the good your Mom is or was and say a prayer to God about your Mom…whatever prayer is most appropriate for you and your Mom. Cherish and honor your Mom. May God’s love, joy and peace be with all Mom’s and with you today.

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“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:

“Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised”

Proverbs 31:25-30

(This photo was taken in March of 2013 in the Bontanical Gardens at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, Nevada)

Your Personal Relationship With God

May 12, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

It comes down to this…what is the status of your personal relationship with God? Is He someone you used to know really well and have lost touch with over time? Is He a social media friend who you only interact with in a superficial way? Is He a friend that you are unsure about? Is He someone you have heard some good things about but you have never really met Him in person? God wants you to know how He is involved in every area of your life…He wants you to want to be closely connected to Him daily. He is with you and He is waiting to hear from you. If you are wondering where is God…stop what you are doing and take sometime and ask Him. He knows you and He loves you. May God’s love and peace be with you.

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“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.”

Jeremiah 29:11

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

Believe

May 11, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

So often doubts and fears creep in on us and overwhelm us. We hear things and we read things and it becomes difficult to know who and what we can trust. This has been true through out all of history. In the bible the Israelite’s were afraid to go into Canaan except for Caleb and Joshua but everyone listened to those who were fearful and did not go. During the life of Jesus, many of the actions of people were based in fear. They had doubts about who Jesus was and they were afraid. When we let the fear and doubt rule us we are not living the life that God intended for us. His goodness becomes harder and harder to understand. As it says in Hebrews 11…

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

Hebrews 11:1

We must combat the fear when it paralyzes us from moving forward. Pray to God and offer up to Him what fears you have. It is okay to have doubts but when doubts arise think back in your life when you had doubts and you were surprised by the results of the situation, that is where God shows up. Believe in God, believe in Jesus Christ his one and only Son and trust the Holy Spirit as your guide…when you do you will sense His presence, His joy and peace. May God’s love and peace be with you.

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“He replied, “Because you have so little faith, I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Matthew 17:20-21

(This photo was taken in October of 2014 during sunrise on the island of Maui, Hawaii)

The God Of Peace

May 10, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Everyone is facing a battle and a struggle of some kind. It is natural in this broken and fallen world. Some battles are easy for others to see on the outside and some battles are kept hidden from others yet they rage on inside a person just the same. We are not equipped to fight these battles alone, the dark forces that exist in and around the human race are very powerful. Our Creator God knows this and He has promised to never leave you or abandon you. His presence is even more powerful than the darkness, He is the God of peace. He will calm your anxious thoughts just like He calms a raging sea. He has sent His one and only Son to be one of us to reconcile a relationship with us. And most importantly He loves us with an everlasting love. Bring your battle to Christ, no matter what it is, invite Him into your heart and mind and trust in God to bring you a peace like nothing you have ever experienced before. May God’s love and peace wash over you this day.

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“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 14:27

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

Living In God’s Love

May 9, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Never give up hope. Don’t stop believing in goodness. Trust in God to provide all that you need. A life that is centered in Christ and honors God looks very different than what the world tells you about living. The world looks to serve the self, to put me first. The life that honors God surrenders self and is open to God’s plan first. This is a significant shift in perspective and it will not happen overnight for most of us. In fact it is a daily endeavor to stay the course by studying the Word, praying, and serving the needs of those we encounter each day. Remember God is love. When Jesus was asked which commandment is the most important in Matthew 22 He stated:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Matthew 22:37-40

That is where we should start. Loving God with all that we are and loving our neighbors as ourselves. Once again we are given the answers to the questions and now it is up to us to go out and live it in our daily life and interactions. May God’s hope, peace and love be with you.

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