There Is Power In God’s Word

October 17, 2021 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We have been told by Jesus that we will have trouble in this world. So, because of free will, it is up to us to choose how we will respond when struggles and challenges rise up. It is important to read and spend time in God’s Word and it is vitally important to choose a verse or some verses and memorize them…store them up deep in your heart and mind, so that you can recall them no matter where you are and whenever you need them. When Jesus was tempted by Satan He responded with Scripture…we should be prepared to do the same…when we are tempted we need to recall the verse or verses we have in memory to turn our minds towards God. There is power in His Word. Amen.

“God has breathed life into all Scripture. It is useful for teaching us what is true. It is useful for correcting our mistakes. It is useful for making our lives whole again. It is useful for training us to do what is right. ¹⁷By using Scripture, the servant of God can be completely prepared to do every good thing.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIRV

“Your word is like a lamp that shows me the way.
It is like a light that guides me.”

Psalm 119:105 NIRV

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“The word of God is alive and active. It is sharper than any sword that has two edges. It cuts deep enough to separate soul from spirit. It can separate bones from joints. It judges the thoughts and purposes of the heart.”

Hebrews 4:12 NIRV

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

Walking With God

September 24, 2021 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“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.

¹⁶So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

Galatians 5:13-16

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“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 October of 2013 in a neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)

The Spirit He Gave Us

September 14, 2021 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God ²²and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. ²³And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. ²⁴The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.”

1 John 3:21-24

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“This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. ¹⁴And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. ¹⁵If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. ¹⁶And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. ¹⁷This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. ¹⁸There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

1 John 4:13-18

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

The Fruit Of The Spirit

September 12, 2021 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:14-16

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“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Galatians 5:22-23

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

Pray

September 8, 2021 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Philippians 4:6

“Rejoice always, ¹⁷pray continually, ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

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“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

Luke 11:9

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

God Is With You

September 6, 2021 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!^[a]”

Matthew 14:27

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”

Philippians 4:4-5

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“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9

(This photo was taken in May of 2020 on the shore of Lake Superior at Temperance State Park in northern Minnesota)

The Spirit Within You

September 3, 2021 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 1:8

“Do you not know that you^[a] are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?”

1 Corinthians 3:16

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“You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. ¹⁰But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life^[d] because of righteousness. ¹¹And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of^[e] his Spirit who lives in you.”

Romans 8:9-11

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

Holy Spirit

August 1, 2021 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. ¹³When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. ¹⁴He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. ¹⁵All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”

John 16:12-15

Holy Spirit by Francesca Battistelli

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“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

John 14:26

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

Open The Eyes Of My Heart

July 14, 2021 / mcalcagno / 3 Comments

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. ²⁷And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”

Ezekiel 36:26-27

Open The Eyes Of My Heart by Michael W. Smith

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“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
⁶In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.”

Proverbs 3:5-6

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