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.

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“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.

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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

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

Holy Spirit

April 26, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Our Guide…our Advocate…our Counselor…the very presence of God. Amen.

Holy Spirit by Francesca Battistelli

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

John 14:26

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”

Romans 8:26

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“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but one of power, love, and self-discipline.^[a]”

2 Timothy 1:7

(This photo was taken in April of 2016 at a lake in central Minnesota)

Who Is It?

April 16, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Who is knocking on the door of your heart and mind? If it is Jesus, go to the door and open it and invite Him in…do not be afraid. If it is something else…if it is the sinful nature and the way of darkness, do not open that door…seek your relationship with Jesus Christ and He will go to that door for you…because that is what He did when He died on the Cross to save you. Who is knocking at the door of your heart and mind? Amen.

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“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”

Revelation 3:20

(This photo was taken in October of 2018 while standing on one of the covered bridges near Winterset, Iowa)

Shine A Light

April 3, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Our purpose is to learn about Him who loves us and sacrificed Himself for us… and then to shine a light on God’s love, God’s mercy and God’s grace for others to see not for ourselves but for God. We can show God to others by who we are in how we treat others and by our actions and behaviors. Shine a light in this dark world and trust in the Lord. Amen.

“For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”^[a] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”

2 Corinthians 4:5-6

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“Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. ¹⁴As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. ¹⁵But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; ¹⁶for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”^[a]“

1 Peter 1:13-16

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on Lake Superior near the Apostle Islands)

Stay Connected

March 25, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Both to God and to others. Yes, the world has changed and things are very different than they were a few weeks ago…most if not all of it was outside of your control…still today how you choose to respond is completely up to you. You can connect to/stay connected to God by reading His Word and praying or you can reject the opportunity to explore your faith and build your relationship with Jesus Christ…you can choose to find simple or creative ways to connect to family and friends or you can focus your time on what was lost with the changes you can’t control. Yes, we are all different and we all deal with change in different ways…and God gives us free will to choose our response…so how will you choose to respond? Choose God (verse above the photo), choose life (verse below the photo). Amen.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

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“Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

Ecclesiastes 4:12

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota)

Wisdom From Heaven

March 24, 2020March 24, 2020 / mcalcagno / 5 Comments

I pray we all seek the wisdom of God. His message in the bible…the example His Son Jesus Christ set for us…the guidance His Holy Spirit provides us as that small voice in our minds. The current times show how hurtful it is when we are selfish. Because we are human, we all are convicted of selfish behavior at one time or another and when unity is what the world needs the selfishness of human behavior is magnified. There are many people who are doing good things in the world right now to help others and I pray we hear more about those stories and we seek to live that way. Lord, forgive us when we are selfish and teach us how to care for others just as you have cared for us. Amen.

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“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”

James 3:17-18

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 while traveling through the state of Washington)

He Is With You

March 23, 2020 / mcalcagno / 3 Comments

No matter what, no…matter…what! No matter where you have been, no matter what you have done, no matter how long you have strayed or how long it takes you to learn…God is with you and waiting to hear from you. Profess your faith, confess you sins and trust in the one who stays with you through all things. Amen.

The God Who Stays by Matthew West

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“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:6

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

Come Near…

March 15, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Listen to songs of worship…go to a quiet place and pray…read God’s Word…reflect on where and when have you seen God at work in your life…have gratitude and give thanks for the blessings you have in your life…share whatever you can with those who are in need…these are just a few of the ways you can come near to God…none of them cost money, only a willingness and a desire to have a relationship with Him. Use this time to connect or reconnect with God the Father, Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

James 4:7-8

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Arches National Park in Utah)

For Us

February 25, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

All of us. God sent His Son into the world to save us from our sins…to reconcile us back to Him. God loves us…God created us…He sent His Son to save us…He gives us His Holy Spirit to guide us and lead us…He forgives us…nobody we meet in this life will ever be able to care for us like God cares for us. Turn towards God and give Him thanks and praise Him for His never-ending love. May you be comforted by God’s love today. Amen.

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