Holy Living

November 9, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

The people in our daily lives, the family and friends we interact with everyday, these are the people on earth who should know the most about us. How we treat each other, whether or not we trust each other, these are the cornerstones of our relationships. It is too easy to take others for granted or think they will always be there because for such a long time they have always been there. Yet things will happen in this broken and sinful world or time and age itself will catch up with every single person, and one day you may get a phone call that will change everything in an instant…they are gone. None us really knows what is in-store for us each day, only God knows. He doesn’t make the bad things happen, the sins of the human race has done that…however, He will bring comfort, He will bring courage and He will bring His presence to strengthen us. Let’s strive to not take people and relationships for granted, each day. I pray we attempt to live our best and present others with the light and love of Christ that we have so graciously received. Amen.

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“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Colossians 3:12-14

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

In The Midst Of The Storm

October 28, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

What is the storm in your life? Think about a weather storm…what is the process people go through? Prepare for the event…look for where are you going to be safe…ensure others have safety as well…ride out the most difficult and stressful action of the storm…after it passes, come out and assess the damage…clean up…begin the process of repairing, rebuilding, restoring…make things new again.

These are the same steps and a similar process we all go through for many different reasons on our faith journey and in our spiritual life. Just like the weather you will not be able to completely avoid the storms and God knows this…He sent His Son to save us and He sends the Holy Spirit to guide us. The storms of life can last for many years but no matter what the world throws at you…God is a refuge and a shelter in all the storms. May we all seek to the Lord to get us through in the midst of the storm. Amen.

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“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

1 Peter 5:7

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

The Message Of Hope

October 22, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

No matter what is happening…no matter the circumstances in your life and relationships…even when you can’t see the way…The Word of God provides the message of Hope and a future with the Lord. The world will provide false truths and absolutes…through the prophets of the Old Testament, through Jesus and the disciples in the New Testament, God provides Hope. Throughout human history there has been suffering, tragedies and evil, God knows these things will occur in a fallen world filled with sin. Yet only God can take the broken, suffering, worn down people of this world and give them a new perspective, a renewed strength and a belief in the Hope of good things even in the darkest hours. Jesus Christ experienced the worst suffering and treatment that humankind can offer and God used that event to provide the greatest moment of Hope the world has ever seen. I pray we take time to read about God’s message of Hope and believe in what God has in store for us and our lives. Amen.

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“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 15:13

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

The Narrow Road

October 2, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

As we move along the journey of Faith and grow in our relationship with Jesus we will begin to see differences in what people are pursuing (ourselves included) and what we read and learn about in the Bible. When we read things like…“All people will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” – Matthew 10:22 or “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5:10 And there are many other verses in the Bible that make us squirm in our seats…as people living in this world, when we read these things it makes some of us want to ask “really? persecuted? hated? and then forgiveness, kindness and compassion?”

It is at that moment that we should stop and think for minute…close our eyes and see the Cross, see Jesus Christ hanging there…He was beaten, hated, persecuted and crucified and He went through all that and offered a prayer of forgiveness just before He died…He did all of this for me and for you. A life living in Faith is not a promise of easy street and all happiness all the time…in fact it is the life you will often find that needs to take the road less traveled and know in confidence that there is One who showed us how to travel that road. May we all find refuge and comfort with Christ. Amen

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“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Matthew 7:13-14

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 in Badlands National Park in South Dakota)

Living Hope

September 19, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When we talk about hope, it mostly gets aligned with wishful thinking in general conversations. This kind of hope is not sure, not firm and carries many doubts. The hope talked about in the Bible is hope that believes and knows the Word of God and God’s promises for good things. The hope we receive from Christ is a hope that knows that God is for us and working for our good, even when, especially when the visible evidence is against it. The hope in the Word of God tells us to not give up or surrender to sin, rather know that God is with you and you can trust in Him…not for the things you believe you should have but for the things God knows that you need. May the God of all hope be present in your daily walk.

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“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 15:13

(This photo was taken in September of 2016 on a lake in central Minnesota)

A Quiet Place

August 29, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Peaceful…Prayer…Meditation…Rest…Renew…Restore…Recharge. Where and when are you spending time in a quiet place? If you live a busy existence keeping schedules and deadlines for either the family calendar or a job you usually have to wait until late at night or early in the morning while others are sleeping. I have had co-workers who prefer to get the office really early before others because it is quiet. We need to have a balance of going and doing and being productive some of the time and being at peace and resting at other times. If we don’t have both we will either become completely worn out from running around all the time with no rest or become isolated from community because we are always off on our own. This isn’t a choice of which one should I be but more of a mindfulness of what does my mind and body need right now? Go and do and then rest and recharge…(rinse repeat) May you find peace and rest in the Lord.

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“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest’.”

Mark 6:31

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

Draw Near To God

July 28, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

It is so easy to get drawn into a worldly perspective. To judge others and have thoughts that justify ourselves in our own minds. Eventually we may find that things are beginning to draw us farther away from our relationship with Jesus and our faith life. This can be a very gradual process, during this time when you start to question something from a faith perspective be sure to draw close to God and His Word. In order to persevere in faith we must look to God and the Holy Spirit for guidance. I believe it is true that all people were made to be able to be good and do good things as we are all created by God. The hard part for us as humans is managing our free will. It is a gift from God and when it is used to pursue the sinful nature we are choosing to turn away from the Lord. May the grace and peace of the Lord be with you.

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“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 15:13

(This photo was taken in June of 2018 near the border between Minnesota and South Dakota)

Wisdom From Above

July 21, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

I don’t know…I’m not sure…I don’t understand…Can you help me…I need help. Statements like these make us vulnerable, they open us up, they make us humble. To the world these phrases can be seen as weak and needy. More importantly than just the words are the attitudes and behaviors that you show along with these statements. If we learn wisdom from God we will gain wisdom like this…“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.” (James 3:17) Wisdom from the world is self-focused, gain more oriented, no time for losers, me first mentality. The most significant thing about choosing the wisdom of the world is we can lose the opportunity to pursue relationships with others. God our Creator, Jesus Christ our Savior and the Holy Spirit as our guide have the all the wisdom that is so desperately needed in this world. May the peace and joy of the Lord be with you.

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“For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.”

1 Corinthians 1:25

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

The Holy Spirit Within Us

July 20, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When we turn in faith to God and strengthen our relationship with Him, evil and darkness will increase its attacks on us. The primary goal of this darkness is to have us turn away from God. To distract us, to keep us focused on worldly values of wealth and possessions and a self-serving mentality. Evil wants us to stir up anger, hatred, dissension and all the things we were not made to do. God knows these will come, Jesus experienced these attacks personally when He was in the desert. Knowing this God has provided us with the Holy Spirit. In the Bible it says…“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7) When we stay focused on God and His Word, when we put our relationship with Jesus Christ first with devotions and prayers then we are equipped to fend off darkness. Take courage in your faith and trust in God. May the wisdom and peace of the Lord be with you.

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“In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”

Ephesians 6:16

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 at the Garden of Gods near Colorado Springs, Colorado)

Highs And Lows

June 27, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Our journey is filled with these…moments where things are good, we are strong, confident, faithful and filled with hope and joy – Highs. We also have moments of fear, concern, sadness that are filled with despair – Lows. Every life has both whether you see it in others or not, they both exist for everyone. The key to living with all of this is how are you reacting to your highs and your lows? Reading and learning from God’s Word with the Holy Spirit as your guide is a great place to start. After that, the way to give and receive celebration for highs and support for lows is with Friends. Personal relationships, that is the key to living, learning and growing through out your life journey. Reflect on your personal relationships, with God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit as well as with your friends. Pray about them and find ways you can enrich those relationships. Faith is not a destination, it is a way of living through the Highs and Lows that come to all of us no matter who we are or what we are doing. May God’s peace and joy be with you.

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