Jesus Saves

An Encounter…

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Many of the Books in the New Testament are a letter written by the Apostle Paul to the people in the churches He started.  They are meant to teach, encourage and guide the people.  They are also His prayers for them.  Paul, formally known as Saul, had an encounter with the risen Lord on the road to Damascus and from that point forward everything single thing He did the rest of his life was about shining a light on Jesus Christ.  When we read his letters, we learn about Jesus and a new life that puts faith first.  Amen.

DSC07505 publish

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

Ephesians 3:16-19

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 near Garden of the Gods Park in southern Colorado)

His Sacrifice

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Jesus Christ was in heaven with God the Father and He came down to live as one of us.  He was born as a baby just like you and me.  He lived a life on earth before He was crucified…three days later He rose and He lives today…and He did it all so that we could have a relationship with God…He did it because He loves you.  Turn towards Jesus, our Savior, give thanks and invite Him into your heart, every day.  Amen.

DSC_0022 publish

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.

6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John 1:1-14

(This photo was taken in July of 2019 at a lake place in northwestern Wisconsin)

Saved By Grace

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When we read in the Gospel of Matthew 26 and the Gospel of Luke 22 there is a section that describes Jesus taking 3 disciples with Him and going off to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane…in these moments of prayer we get to see both the human side and the Godly side of Jesus…He prays “…My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”  – Matthew 26:39  In these moments right before He is to be arrested, which He knows is coming, Jesus pleads with God the Father to find a different way to save us…and in the same breath He shows us humility and God’s grace by surrendering to God’s will.  We have been saved from God’s wrath by God’s grace.  May the peace of the Lord be with you.  Amen.

DSC_0384 publish

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Ephesians 2:8-10

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 at a park near Bayfield, Wisconsin)

The Name Of The Lord

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

This time of year can be joyful and it can be painful…depending on your journey and the road you have traveled to get here.  The message of Christmas is the same today as it was thousands of years ago back in that manger.  Jesus Christ was born; the Savior has come to save us all from all of our sins.  He came to save all of us no matter who we are or where we came from, He came to save us no matter what we have done or what we have left undone…it is never too late to turn towards Jesus Christ, accept Him as your Savior and Lord and confess your sins.  He knows you; He loves you and He is waiting to hear from you.  May the peace of the Lord be with you.  Amen.

DSC_1250 publish

“The name of the Lord is a fortified tower;
    the righteous run to it and are safe.”

Proverbs 18:10

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

Jesus

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Immanuel…Light of the World…King of Kings…Lord of Lords…The Good Shepard…Bread of Life…Living Water…Prince of Peace…Wonderful Counselor…Lamb of God…The Truth…The Way…The Savior of the World.  Amen.

Give Me Jesus by Jeremy Camp

DSC_0158 publish

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John 1:14

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

Lay Down Your Burden

/ mcalcagno / 2 Comments

We have a Savior, born in barn over 2,000 years ago, because there was no room for Him in the world.  Yet He came to save us…He loves us, He forgives us and He will carry us through anything we are facing.  Turn to Jesus Christ and lay down your burden and trust in Him.  Amen.

Carry You by Amy Grant

DSC_0928 publish

“Cast your burden on the Lord,
    and he will sustain you;
he will never permit
    the righteous to be moved.”

Psalm 55:22

(This photo was taken in Augus tof 2016 in Glacier National Park in Montana)

Jesus

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

He is all we need.  He is the way to God for us.  He took the punishment we deserve.  The words He spoke when He was here are written in red in the bible.  If you want to learn more about Him, pick up a bible and read the Gospel of John.  Believe in Him, He is the Son of God, our Savior and our Lord.  No matter what you are going through, no matter where you are and no matter what you have done, turn towards Jesus…He is waiting to hear from you.  Amen.

Give Me Jesus by Danny Gokey

DSC_0166 publish

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John 1:14

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

Gratitude

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

There was only one way for sin to be properly punished and for the human race to have the opportunity for salvation.  When Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane with His disciples, He hit a very low point as a human…He knew what was about to happen worse yet He knew it was the only way to salvation for the world.  Jesus knows what it is like to struggle and suffer in this world and He prayed that God would remove Him from the situation…yet then He prayed something very few of us have ever prayed…He said, …“My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”  (Matthew 26:42) He offered Himself to God and God’s plan, for that we can have nothing but gratitude for Jesus Christ and His willingness to die for us.  Amen.

DSC_0015-1 publish

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8

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

Come As You Are…

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Come to the Cross…All are welcome…No matter what has happened or where you have been, Come lay down all your burdens and be healed.  As it says in today’s song, “earth has no sorrow that heaven can’t heal.”  Amen.

Come As You Are by Crowder

DSC01031 publish

“For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Romans 10:12-13

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 in northern Colorado)

Our Hope Is Found

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

In Christ alone.  We are saved by His sacrifice, His mercy and His grace.  Give thanks to God for all that is good.  We can search high and low and all over this world for peace but our source of strength and hope and true peace will be found in Christ Alone.  Look for where God is at work in your life today.  Amen.

In Christ Alone by Brian Littrell

DSC_0158 publish

“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6

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