One Hope

November 16, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. ²Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ³Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. ⁴There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; ⁵one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

Ephesians 4:1-6

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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 March of 2018 while traveling in southern New Mexico)

Living As God’s People

November 6, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

Colossians 3:12-13

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“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Colossians 3:14

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

Everyone Is Carrying A Burden

October 26, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Evey person you encounter everyday is fighting a battle you know nothing about…we all have burdens of some kind. We are not here to judge whether one persons burden is greater than another…in love we are to strive to help others carry their burdens as much as we need someone to help us carry our own. We should strive to ask the question…”how can I help?” more often than “why isn’t someone helping me?” Jesus set the example for us and we would do well to follow Him. Amen.

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“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ²then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

Philippians 2:1-4

(This photo was taken in March of 2018 at White Sands National Park in New Mexico)

In The Midst Of The Storm

October 25, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

No matter what is happening…no matter what has gone wrong in your eyes…our God has promised to never leave you and never to abandon you, so don’t turn away from Him…don’t ignore Him…seek Him because He is waiting to hear from you always…even in the midst of the storm. Amen.

Praise You In This Storm by Casting Crowns

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“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

⁸Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”

1 Peter 5:6-9

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

Humility

October 5, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. ¹²I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

¹³“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

¹⁴“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Luke 18:10-14

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“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.^[a] Do not be conceited.”

Romans 12:14-16

(This photo was taken in May of 2020 at Palisade Head along the North Shore of Lake Superior)

Like-Minded Love

September 1, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Philippians 2:1-4

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“We love because he first loved us. ²⁰Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. ²¹And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”

1 John 4:19-21

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

A Servant Spirit

August 1, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

It takes discipline and a willingness to sacrifice self-serving ways. It is not about fame and fortune or ‘likes’ and ‘followers’. There are many in our society that choose a vocation to serve and it shows the goodness that comes from God that can shine through us. It really is a choice for each of us, how we want to live…what attitude we are going to put on each day. If and when you are finding it difficult due to the sinful nature of this world…turn towards God in prayer and put some of God’s Word in your heart to renew and refresh your spirit. I have often used Psalm 51:10-12 to help my spirit. May God’s peace be with you. Amen.

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Philippians 2:1-4

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

We Must Humble Ourselves

April 25, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

It’s not about me. There is a significant difference between self-care and self-centered. To be humble takes courage, to admit that we make mistakes and poor choices with an attitude of seeking redemption is a path to peace. Jesus taught us about humility…

¹³“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

¹⁴“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Luke 18:10-14

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“…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

2 Chronicles 7:14

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

Be Humble

April 6, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

This is Holy Week…a time to reflect clearly on what Jesus truly did for you, to save you. He entered the city of Jerusalem to cheers and the waving of palms…and days later He left the city, beaten, bloody and dragging the very cross He would die upon…in order to reconcile us with God. It is all written down for us in God’s Word. I am a sinner, thankful for the Lord Jesus Christ…for His sacrifice, for His mercy and for His love. Thanks be to God. Amen.

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¹³“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

¹⁴“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.””

Luke 9:10-14

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

Our Call

January 13, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

How do we know what God is calling us to do? For life decisions and direction? If we use the world’s measuring stick of ‘what we should do’ we risk missing God’s will entirely. To follow our call is to surrender self-serving desires, to be humble and patient and to have a foundation of a faith that is built on our personal relationship with Jesus Christ. That is what I have learned so far…nobody ever said it was going to be easy. We will face trouble and struggles of every kind in life and if we are willing to stand firm on the foundation of faith, we will persevere. Amen.

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