Open Ended Praying

July 28, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When you pray leave room for God’s will and God’s plan to be the way you should go. We tend to think we have things all figured out and we just need to top it off with a quick FYI to God to get Him on board. Surrendering to God’s will and God’s plan means we are open to a new way for things to go…maybe in a way we haven’t considered or thought about yet…be open ended in your prayers…make room for God’s way in your life. Amen.

“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I entrust my life.”

Psalm 143:8

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“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:4-7

(This photo was taken in March of 2018 while traveling in southern New Mexico)

Trust In The Lord

July 27, 2020 / mcalcagno / 2 Comments

“Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
⁴Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

⁵Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this:
⁶He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.

⁷Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.

⁸Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
⁹For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.”

Psalm 37:3-9

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“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Matthew 6:33-34

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 while traveling through North Dakota)

There Is A Place…

July 26, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

A place to find redemption…a place to be forgiven…a place where we will know hope…a place where we will find peace. There is a place where you can find what you have been looking for…it is at the foot of The Cross. Amen.

The Cross Has The Final Word by Newsboys

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“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

John 3:16

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

Our Response To Trials

July 25, 2020July 25, 2020 / mcalcagno / 2 Comments

Believing in Jesus Christ and following God’s Word does not mean all of our troubles will disappear. In fact Jesus stated the truth about our trials very clearly…

“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

So we know that we will face struggles and trials, how we choose to respond in these times can provide us a path to peace. If we are praying for the trial to just go away…we need to go back to the verse above and remember that is not what we have been told. As we read the Scriptures we learn that the only way past our trials is to go through them and we can do that because we are not alone. When we follow Jesus Christ and the things He has taught us we can find our way through our trials and we can learn from them…and that growth will make us better prepared for trials we will face in the future. Trust in the Lord…spend time in God’s Word everyday and He will guide you through all parts of your life. Amen.

“God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.”

Psalm 46:1

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“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Romans 12:12

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

Put On Love

July 24, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Love is about actions…love is found in our behaviors and how we treat each other. Words are cheap…love involves sacrifice, it is not a roller coaster emotion that rises and falls on a whim. Paul describes the actions of love in 1 Corinthians 13…Jesus Christ lived the actions of love in everything He did and continues to do for you and me. If you are wondering what should I do next…put on love and see where the Lord leads you. Amen.

“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹²No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”

1 John 4:11-12

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“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. ¹⁴And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Colossians 3:12-14

(This photo was taken in October of 2014 at the Nakalele Blow Hole on the island of Maui)

Stand Firm

July 23, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When a person stands firm in faith they are often persecuted and told that their thinking is outdated or wrong. This is because the way of the world and the way of faith are constantly in conflict with each other. The world wants faith to be convenient, easy, self-pleasing and self-serving. The way of the world is about following the sinful nature. The way of faith is not about the self-first…it is about God’s Word and Jesus Christ…the way of faith is about being humble, admitting that sin is wrong and confessing our sins…the way of faith is about surrendering your will and following God’s will according to His word. The way of faith is about your relationship with Jesus Christ. Stand firm in faith. Amen.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷so that the servant of God^[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17

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“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. ¹⁴Do everything in love.”

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

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

Where Is Your Treasure?

July 22, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

One of the most precious gifts in life is time…where we spend our time gives light to what we value. When we spend too much time on things that are not aligned with God’s will for us, often we feel discouraged and drained. When we seek God’s wisdom and we strive to live in His will and purpose for our lives we feel renewed, peaceful and content. Take time to assess where you are spending your time and seek to look at your purpose through God’s will rather than the world’s perspective. May God’s peace be with you. Amen.

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““Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust^[a] destroy and where thieves break in and steal, ²⁰but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 6:19-21

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

Do What It Says

July 21, 2020July 21, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

It is one thing to read or listen to the Word of God…it is the next step in your faith journey to do what it says. We can go our whole lives reading the bible and listening to God’s word in church and if we never put it into practice in our lives…what have we accomplished? The bible is filled with Action words and many of them came directly out of the mouth of Jesus Christ. We are to go and do what He commands us to do. May His peace go with you. Amen.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John 13:34-35

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“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ²³Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”

James 1:22-25

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

God Knows

July 20, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

No matter where you have been…no matter what you have done or left undone…God knows. We may feel alone or trapped in our lives due to circumstances around us…don’t believe the lies that Satan is telling you…God knows about you…God loves you…He knows about everything and He knew it when He sent His Son to die for you. You are not alone…God is with you and God loves you. Turn towards God in faith and pray. Amen.

God Only Knows by for King and Country

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“The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.”

Psalm 103:8

(This photo was taken in October of 2018 on a bridge near Winterset, Iowa)

Recharge

July 19, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Spend time alone with God in prayer. Focus on your relationship with Him and your relationships with others. When you pray don’t worry about using the right words, be open and honest with the Lord and speak from your heart…then sit quietly alone and listen…focusing your mind on Christ alone. Do this every day and you will feel the nourishment of your soul, the unexplainable sensation of peace will wash over you and your spirit will be renewed. Recharge your spirit each day and God’s peace be with you. Amen.

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