We Are Not Alone

November 12, 2018 / mcalcagno / 2 Comments

Not only is God with us each day and everywhere we go, He has also put other people in our lives. Think about the people in your life. I read this morning about three types of relationships…people we minister to and we receive very little from…people who minister to us and we give them very little back…and the people closest to us, the ones who nourish us and our spirit and we nourish them and their spirit equally. Who are the people in these groups for you? One is your ministry to others, the second is someone else’s ministry to you and the third group…these are the people that are with you during your highest highs and your lowest lows, the ones you want to notify first when something happens. We need to be sure we are investing the majority of our time and energy in the third group, after all it is God who put them there to assist us and for us to assist them no matter what may come our way. I pray we all reflect and recognize who “our people” are and we strive to give them our best. Amen.

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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 September of 2016 at a lake place in central Minnesota)

Peace In Our Hearts

November 11, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Where can we find peace? We look around at the world and the actions and behaviors of so many people and wonder, where can peace be found? So much anger, hatred, rage and darkness…people choosing to follow the evil desires of greed, lust and the sinful nature. It is written that the peace of God is found only one way…that is to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. It has been the way of peace ever since that baby was born in a manger over 2,000 years ago. We can have peace through Christ because of the grace of God and only by the grace of God is peace possible. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14) If we believe and accept that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Lord we will find peace and we will be prepared to share the peace of Christ with others. I pray we all turn toward Jesus to seek peace that is provided to us by the grace of God. Amen.

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“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

Colossians 3:15

(This photo was taken in February of 2013 in a neighborhood near Plymouth , Minnesota)

Love Never Fails

November 5, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Love is found in our actions…love is found in our behaviors…love exists in our attitude…love is shown by a willingness to put the needs of others before our own. Life is filled with thoughts and emotions, questions and decisions. We can become overwhelmed when we get sucked into the swirl of news, headlines and information, etc. When the busyness becomes too much and we need to step off the carousel of craziness…we can ask ourselves, what can I do to show love to another person? When we decide we want to be different than what the world is telling us we “should” be and we want to live with Christ at the center of our lives…then the actions and behaviors that will show our internal change are actions and behaviors of love. Let’s be thankful for the love Christ showed us, by saving us and let’s take that love into our daily life. I pray we all have the wisdom and courage to live a life filled with actions of love. Amen.

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“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails…”

1 Corinthians 13: 4-8

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

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)

Be A Light In The Darkness

October 24, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

One of the most difficult things for many of us is being different from our surroundings. When our foundation for being different is rooted in God and the Fruits of the Spirit we can be sure we are standing on solid ground. None of us is equipped to judge the actions and behaviors of others. When we are confused or lack understanding that is a time to listen and learn. It is hard to be different yet God created each of us to be unique so that together we could build community and use our gifts to strengthen the body of Christ. I pray we all seek to learn how God wants us to use our gifts each day. Amen.

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“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

2 Corinthians 4:6

(This photo was taken in October of 2018 at one of the Covered Bridges of Madison County near Winterset, Iowa)

Do Not Be Afraid

October 23, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Fear can be powerful, if we let it. It can stop growth and progress, it can create major detours in our lives and relationships that none of us planned on taking. It is a weapon of evil that is used frequently on everyone. We can overcome fear, we can proceed with care and caution while still moving forward on the path God has put before us. We can’t do this alone and the good news is we don’t have to. God sent Jesus Christ into the world to save us and to teach us. We are not alone and if you find yourself in circumstances wondering ‘how is this going to change or get better?’ Remember, all things are possible with God. I pray we take our worries and our fears to the Lord and let Him guide our way. Amen.

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“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”

Luke 2:10

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

Love Conquers All

October 19, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

The driving force in any relationship is love. It is described by specific behaviors to us in 1 Corinthians 13, so that we know what it means to love. These words are read at more weddings than any other bible verse…just hearing or reading the words alone is not enough. How do each of us as individuals put the words in 1 Corinthians 13 into actions and behaviors in our lives and relationships? When we look at the life of Jesus…He did not only tell people to pray, He did it…He did not only teach people to help others in need, He did that to…He did not only speak about love…He did the one thing that showed the world His love for all people, for everyone and anyone who ever lives to see. True love that shows up in our actions and our behaviors will always win over the most difficult and tragic situations. How can we get better at practicing love in our lives? I pray we seek to understand where we need to be better at love in our relationships. Amen.

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“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

1 John 4:18

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

Be Still

October 18, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Take time to build your relationship with the Lord…find a still and quiet place to seek Him…the greatest joy can come from experiencing God’s presence when the Holy Spirit is allowed to flow freely in your heart and soul. God is with you, He hears you and He knows you…make time to be with Him. I pray for all to take time to turn towards the Lord and away from the sinful nature. Amen.

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“Be still, and know that I am God…”

Psalm 46:10

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

Live A Life Filled With Love

October 16, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Offer hospitality…speak encouraging words…serve the needs of others…offer prayers and praise to God. A life of love is not an ‘it’s all about me life’ rather it is a life with God at the center. How can we show the love of Christ in our life today? It is easy to get caught up in the world’s definition of something worth doing, you know…’go big or go home’…we can make a difference in the world just by fulfilling the needs of just one person…to them it may be the biggest or best thing that is done for them today. Don’t judge your value or your life by the world’s standards…God created you…He knows you, He loves you and He is with you. I pray we seek and know the love of God in our hearts and minds and we have the courage to share it with others. Amen.

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“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”

1 Peter 4:8-10

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

Fellowship

October 11, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Friendship…companionship…togetherness…mutual support…shared interests. A coming together and spending time together, that is what I think of when I think about fellowship. It is encouraging to come together and be able to openly discuss issues and topics while setting aside judgement and comparisons. In order for fellowship to be effective there is an element of forgiveness that must be present, because we are human, we will make mistakes and we will need to ask for forgiveness. The other key element that is necessary for fellowship to work is time. We need to devote time to fellowship and friendship. This is also true for our relationship with God. He has forgiven us of our sins and He is wanting us to spend time with Him. Reflect on your life and the people in it…with whom do you need to devote more time and where is a lack of forgiveness present? I pray that we turn towards God and ask Him to help us to see where fellowship is needed in our lives. Amen.

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