With God…

November 1, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

What are you facing today? What burdens and worries are you carrying in your life? It is easy for us to get caught up in the problems and the struggles, we also tend to think that others aren’t suffering as we are…friends, the world is a broken place, the whole world and everyone in it is fighting some type of battle. Just because we haven’t seen it or it hasn’t been shared with us or we haven’t read about it doesn’t mean it isn’t happening. If we try to go it alone and depend on our own will power…we will continue to fail. With God, we can get through anything…it won’t be easier and the problem won’t magically go away…rather when we believe and we trust in God we will be filled with encouragement and courage. When we read God’s word a sense of comfort and peace will calm our worries and we can replace our fears with faith. You will be amazed at what can happen when you walk with God. Amen.

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“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Matthew 19:26

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

Faith

October 31, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Trust…belief…confidence. Faith is not about the quantity of it that you have…it is more focused on do you have it or not? We sometimes think, ‘if I just had more faith’ or ‘if I just prayed the right way,’ things would have gone the way I wanted them to…as if we are somehow in control of the outcomes in life. God, our Creator and Father of all, gave us the gift of free will to choose how we will live and what we will believe…He loves us and wants a personal relationship with each one of us. The facts of faith are in the bible and the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are events that happened here on earth…so as you think about your life, your relationships and your circumstances ask yourself…’what do I believe?’ As for me, my response is the words of the Apostles Creed. May the peace of the Lord be with you. Amen.

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“Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

Matthew 21:21-22

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

Give Your Best

October 30, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Trusting in God means trusting in Him for the outcome of circumstances and events. If we can offer the best of what we can give, whether it is our time, our ideas, our attention or our money and we trust in God, He can take what we offer and do so much more than we can do on our own. In Matthew 14:13-21, the disciples gave Him all they had, five loaves of bread and two fish and with that over five thousand people were fed with plenty of leftovers. When we give our best and trust God for the outcome, amazing things can happen. May the peace of the Lord be with you. Amen.

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“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

Matthew 25:37-40

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 at Garden of the Gods park near Colorado Springs, Colorado)

Doubt

October 26, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Everyone has doubt. We all experience moments when we question…’where is God in all of this?’ or ‘Why is this happening?’ This has happened to people throughout history. Even the disciples, who lived during the life of Jesus on earth had doubts. Having doubt and questions is natural and it is a starting point to explore and learn, so what do you do to find answers to your questions and your doubts? God wants us to have questions and to ask Him…having doubt and questions is ok…what you do with those doubts and questions is key to your faith journey. Amen.

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“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

Matthew 14:28-31

(This photo was taken in July in 2016 at Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota)

Be Transformed

October 25, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

To change…modify…reshape…rebuild…reconstruct…renew. A transformation is the creation of a new way, a new way of thinking, a new approach. For something or someone to be transformed the old ways and old thoughts must be broken down so that the new way can be created. Transformation is personal and it is not easy…we should be careful that we do not assume that one person’s transformation will be the same as another person. The greatest power we have in the transformation process is prayer. Take time to be with God in prayer and be transformed. Amen.

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“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Romans 12:1-2

(This photo was taken in October of 2018 at a park near Winterset, Iowa)

Seek God’s Will

October 24, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When we pray the Lord’s prayer, which is written in the Gospel of Matthew 6:9-13, verse 10 states…“your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Take a moment to think about that…we are asking for the will of God to be done on earth every time we pray this prayer. So, after we speak the words, what’s next? God’s will is done by people willing to seek Him and His will rather than their own wants and desires. But then we think, ‘then I won’t get what I think is right for me.’ The thing is what we do receive is so much more than we ever imagined possible on our own with our own plan. We need to learn to trust in the Lord and seek His will. Amen.

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“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God…”

Colossians 1:9-10

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)

Show Compassion To One Another

October 19, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Everyone has troubles…everyone is fighting a battle most of us know nothing about. Don’t assume the worst in others…don’t assume the thoughts, words and actions of others are all about you. Have mercy, show compassion and pray about your interactions with others. We were all created by God…all of us, and He loves every one of us. We all are broken and Jesus died to save us from our sins. Give your best to one another and shine the Light of Christ’s love to each other…even when we don’t think others deserve it. Amen.

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“And the word of the Lord came again to Zechariah: “This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.”

Zechariah 7:8-10

(This photo was taken in October of 2018 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

The Fruit Of The Spirit

October 18, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

The way we think…the words we say…the actions and behaviors we put into practice in our daily life can be built on the nine qualities described as the Fruit of the Spirit. None of these things cost money, they are free. It is up to us to choose how we live. Our best life is one led by God and His Holy Spirit. Seek Him and live your best each day. Amen.

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“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

Galatians 5:22-23

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

The Holy Spirit

October 17, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We have access to a guide, a comforter and one who will hold us up in our weakest moments…it is the Holy Spirit. This is a gift from God. If we believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord and we confess our sins, we will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. This is a gift that is greater than anything we will encounter in life. Listen for the Holy Spirit in your life and seek the peace that comes from knowing God is with you. Amen.

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“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 14:25-27

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

Timing

October 15, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We spend so much effort trying to line things up, make things happen just the way we want, just when we want…as if we are in complete control…when will we learn? The timing of events in life are not up to us! God is in control…we would do well to acknowledge Him and wait patiently for His timing. Put your hope in God and trust He is doing good things in your life. Amen.

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