Wisdom

August 12, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools^[a] despise wisdom and instruction.”

Proverbs 1:7 NIV

If you want to start reading the Bible but are unsure where to begin…try starting with Proverbs. Guess how many chapters God has in Proverbs…the answer is 31, you can read one chapter a day and you would complete the Book of Proverbs in one month. Not only that you will be reading the words of one of the wisest people that ever lived. There is so much good to learn in Proverbs, it will help you in your daily life and grow your relationship with God. God’s Word is a gift to us…pick it up and read.

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“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. ¹⁵Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ¹⁶For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

¹⁷But 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. ¹⁸Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”

James 3:13-18 NIV

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

Teach Me Your Way

August 11, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Teach me your way, O Lord,
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.”

Psalm 27:11 NIV

“Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.”

Psalm 143:8 NIV

Following the Lord is not a one-time check the box task…it is a daily connection and communication with God. It is putting your trust and faith in Him and His way…it is listening, learning and growing. It is about being transformed from the inside out and putting what we learn into action in our lives. It is not easy and success is not measured by worldly standards…we must remember anything is possible with God and He is with us and within us all the time. Praise be to God. Amen.

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“Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans.”

Proverbs 16:3 NIV

(This photo was taken in July of 2021 at Alberta Falls in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado)

Wisdom And Understanding

October 22, 2021 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“If you want to become wise, you must begin by respecting the Lord.
To know the Holy One is to gain understanding.”

Proverbs 9:10 NIRV

“It is much better to get wisdom than gold.
It is much better to choose understanding than silver.”

Proverbs 16:16 NIRV

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“If you really want to become wise,
you must begin by having respect for the Lord.
All those who follow his rules have good understanding.
People should praise him forever.”

Psalm 111:10 NIRV

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

Wisdom

October 3, 2021 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

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

1 Corinthians 1:25 NIV

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

James 1:5 NIV

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James 3:13-18 NIV

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

Wisdom

September 5, 2021 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

James 1:5

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James 3:13-18

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

Teach Me Your Way

August 6, 2021 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Teach me your way, O Lord,
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.”

Psalm 27:11

“Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.”

Psalm 143:8

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“Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans.”

Proverbs 16:3

(This photo was taken in July of 2021 at Alberta Falls in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado)

To Act In Love And To Serve

January 12, 2021January 12, 2021 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸may 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, ¹⁹and 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

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“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. ¹⁴Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. ¹⁶Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

John 13:13-17

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

Wisdom And Understanding

August 13, 2020 / mcalcagno / 1 Comment

Often times the writings in the bible can be misunderstood because the true intent of the word has lost its meaning in society. Take the word ‘fear’ as an example…in today’s world this strictly means to be afraid, danger or a bad feeling. In the bible to fear the Lord is to regard God with reverence and awe, to be respectful. When we learn we gain wisdom and when we understand the writing becomes clearer. We would be wise to regard God with reverence and awe. Amen.

“Blessed are those who find wisdom,
those who gain understanding,
¹⁴for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.”

Proverbs 3:13-14

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“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Proverbs 9:10

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

Our Call

June 26, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Submit to God and be at peace with him;
in this way prosperity will come to you.”

Job 22:21

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“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. ⁴Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

⁵For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. ⁸For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

¹⁰Therefore, my brothers and sisters,^[a] make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, ¹¹and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

2 Peter 1:3-11

(This photo was taken in June of 2015 while traveling through in South Dakota)

Wisdom And Understanding

May 13, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When we seek wisdom, we are striving to learn and grow in our knowledge and experience. The more we learn the greater the impact on our perspective and our attitude. This increase in knowledge and shaping of our perspective also will help us gain understanding for many circumstances and situations in our daily life. To put it another way…don’t assume something or judge others based on a social media post or a headline or as they used to say when I was younger…don’t judge a book by its cover. Seek wisdom, seek to gain understanding. Amen.

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“Blessed are those who find wisdom,
    those who gain understanding,
¹⁴for she is more profitable than silver
    and yields better returns than gold.
¹⁵She is more precious than rubies;
    nothing you desire can compare with her.
¹⁶Long life is in her right hand;
    in her left hand are riches and honor.
¹⁷Her ways are pleasant ways,
    and all her paths are peace.
¹⁸She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;
    those who hold her fast will be blessed.”