By His Wounds We Are Healed

May 5, 2020 / mcalcagno / 2 Comments

Our sins leave a mark on us. Some mark our hearts or our minds, some leave a mark on our bodies and some sins leave long lasting wounds. These wounds occur because we chase after sinful desires that hurt us and may hurt others. He took the punishment for our sins…He sacrificed Himself for us because He loves us and we are not capable of saving ourselves. Jesus Christ suffered, was crucified and died for us and it is by His wounds we are healed. Amen.

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”

1 Peter 2:24

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“But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.”

Isaiah 53:5

(This photo was taken in July of 2015 at a lake in central Minnesota)

Work In Progress

May 2, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Each day we live means God is still working on us. He knows the number of our days and He is with us for each and every one of them. It is up to us to seek Him…to acknowledge Him and His Presence…we have the task of learning, growing and sharing as we go…it doesn’t have to be perfect and it never will be. God tells us we are His work in progress and if we live our lives trusting and believing and spending time with Him good things will come. Amen.

God’s Not Done With You by Tauren Wells

“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy ⁵because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, ⁶being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 1:4-6

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“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Ephesians 2:10

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

Take Time To Be Still

April 30, 2020April 30, 2020 / mcalcagno / 1 Comment

“Be 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.”

Psalm 37:7

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“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”

Psalm 46:10

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

Be Present

March 31, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Stay alert of your thoughts, words and actions. It is so easy to slide down a dark path and to be led astray by temptations. Keep the Word of God in your heart and verses will come to mind when you need them most. When an opportunity presents itself, share your faith and what you believe respectfully. Trust in the Lord, He is with you. Amen.

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“Be 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 5:8-9

(This photo was taken in July of 2012 while on a walk in northwestern Wisconsin)

Transformation

March 28, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Change…conversion…revision…reshaping…remolding…rebuilding…reworking…renewing. God is our Creator and He made each and every one of us. He made us with a purpose and as we live our lives we get influenced and distracted by the world, by worldly desires and worldly expectations and we lose sight of what God made us to be. This is not about what you do as a job or career, that should not define you, rather it is about who you are as a person in your everyday life and interactions. Turn towards Jesus Christ and your faith, revisit the person God made you to be according to His plan. Amen.

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“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; ²³to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ²⁴and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Ephesians 4:22-24

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

Stay Connected

March 25, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Both to God and to others. Yes, the world has changed and things are very different than they were a few weeks ago…most if not all of it was outside of your control…still today how you choose to respond is completely up to you. You can connect to/stay connected to God by reading His Word and praying or you can reject the opportunity to explore your faith and build your relationship with Jesus Christ…you can choose to find simple or creative ways to connect to family and friends or you can focus your time on what was lost with the changes you can’t control. Yes, we are all different and we all deal with change in different ways…and God gives us free will to choose our response…so how will you choose to respond? Choose God (verse above the photo), choose life (verse below the photo). Amen.

“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

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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 July of 2016 in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota)

Wisdom From Heaven

March 24, 2020March 24, 2020 / mcalcagno / 5 Comments

I pray we all seek the wisdom of God. His message in the bible…the example His Son Jesus Christ set for us…the guidance His Holy Spirit provides us as that small voice in our minds. The current times show how hurtful it is when we are selfish. Because we are human, we all are convicted of selfish behavior at one time or another and when unity is what the world needs the selfishness of human behavior is magnified. There are many people who are doing good things in the world right now to help others and I pray we hear more about those stories and we seek to live that way. Lord, forgive us when we are selfish and teach us how to care for others just as you have cared for us. Amen.

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“But 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 3:17-18

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 while traveling through the state of Washington)

The Way

March 21, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

The way to get through times of difficulty and struggle is found with Jesus Christ. The current days show clearly that what the sin of the world values is finite and can vanish instantly without warning…leaving us lost and our minds wandering with questions about our choices in life. It is never too late to turn towards Jesus Christ your Savior and tell Him you believe in Him…confess your sins and let the Holy Spirit be your guide. If you are searching for the way to get through difficult times, start there and see what God has in store for you. Amen.

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“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 takne in June of 2016 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

The Word Of God

March 20, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

It is a source of comfort…it renews us…it purifies us…it teaches us…it guides us. If we plant the seeds of the Word in our hearts and minds it will come to us at times when we don’t have our bible with us. It can calm our fears…it can relieve our stress and it can provide unexplainable peace. Read God’s Word every day, build your faith, seek His wisdom for your life. Amen.

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“Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path.”

Psalm 119:105

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

Our Hope

March 18, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Comes from God. Easter is approaching and that event more than any other shows us that from the worst of tragedy God can bring about the greatest joy. Nothing is more powerful and wonderful than God. We do not know what tomorrow holds for us but we know full well who holds tomorrow. May God’s peace and comfort surround you this day. Amen.

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