Put Your Hope In God

December 1, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Good morning. Welcome to a new day. There are many things happening in your life today, yet God is still with you because He loves you. Sharing the lyrics and music of the song on my mind this morning. Here is “Find Rest” by Francesca Battistelli

“Find Rest”

He never sleeps, He never slumbers
He’s been awake at every hour
No tear catches Him by surprise
He’s never lost, He never runs out
He never lives in the shadows of doubt
No fear catches Him by surprise

Find rest my soul
Put your hope in God
Put your hope, put your hope in God

He always is, He always will be
He always has been everything I need
How can this be catching me by surprise
He’s ever strong, He’s ever faithful
His love is real, now nothing is impossible
‘Cause nothing catches Him by surprise

Find rest my soul
Put your hope in God
Put your hope, put your hope in God

I close my eyes, and I can see
The arms of mercy holding me
I close my eyes, and I can see
The arms of Jesus holding me

Find rest my soul
Put your hope in God
Put your hope, put your hope in God

Put your hope in God
Put your hope in God

Songwriters: Francesca Battistelli / Ian Eskelin / Jared Anderson

Find Rest lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc, Capitol Christian Music Group

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“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”

Psalm 42:11

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

Trust In The Lord

November 30, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We struggle…we despair…we want things this way or that way…it is not up to us. We must learn to trust in God the Father our Creator, Jesus Christ, His one and only Son who saved us and the Holy Spirit, who guides us. God is love and He is working out all things for our good. Trust in the Lord. I pray for the courage and confidence to bring my worries and anxieties to the Lord. Amen.

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“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Romans 12:12

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

Accept One Another

November 29, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

In our broken and fallen world, it seems everybody is a judge of someone. One of the principles of being kind and having compassion is rooted in the fact that we as humans don’t know everything we think we know about other people. We are not created to judge one another…we are created to bear the Fruits of the Spirit to one another. There are several examples in the New Testament of how Jesus treated those that the rest of society had cast aside. We would do well to follow His example. I pray for the wisdom and courage to accept others for who they are and who God created them to be. Amen.

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“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Accept on another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”

Romans 15:5-7

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

A Christmas List

November 26, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Often this time of year people of all ages are asked by someone “what do you want for Christmas this year?” For younger children in large families ‘a list’ of Christmas wishes may be created. Think for a moment if you were to make a list of Christmas wishes or desires this year. What would go on the list? Would your list have needs or wants on it? How much time would be spent of thinking about your list for this Christmas? As we grow older how does your perspective change? Think about your list and think about what would be on it if you share it with Jesus? As many of you know I am a big fan of music and it’s impact when you really listen to the story of the song…and yes I do really enjoy Christmas music. I am mot referring to the songs of the children’s tales like Rudolph and Frosty but the spiritual Christmas music. Amy Grant recorded a song in 1992 entitled “The Grown-Up Christmas List” I am sharing the lyrics and a link to the song. May we all spend time reflecting on our own list and sharing it with Christ. Amen.

My Grown Up Christmas List

Do you remember me
I sat upon your knee
I wrote to you with childhood fantasies
Well I’m all grown up now
And still need help somehow
I’m not a child but my heart still can dream

So here’s my lifelong wish
My grown up Christmas list
Not for myself but for a world in need
No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end, no
This is my grown up Christmas list

As children we believe
The grandest sight to see
Was something lovely wrapped beneath the tree
But Heaven only knows
That packages and bows
Can never heal a heart-ached human soul

No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end, no
This is my grown up Christmas list

What is this illusion called the innocence of youth
Maybe only in our blind belief can we ever find the truth

Songwriters: Linda Thompson / David Foster

My Grown Up Christmas List lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Luke 12:34

(This photo was taken in December of 2013 while on a walk in northwestern Wisconsin)

Our Beautiful Savior

November 24, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When you think about it…when you look around your life and the world and see the things that the most attention is focused on…you may begin to see something of a trend or common theme. We are all living in a lost and broken world, where anger, hate, suffering, hunger and homelessness are everywhere, the primary focus and attention of many people is on me, myself and I. On the journey of faith I realize the only times I get worried or upset or feel like chaos is everywhere is when I have put my expectations or my plans or my wants and desires ahead of everything else. The self is very powerful and very stubborn and will lead us to destructive thoughts and behaviors. This is when we need to be renewed, to put our focus back on Jesus Christ and the Word of God. Our beautiful Savior who came down from heaven to save us from self-destruction. Come to the Cross and be renewed by Jesus Christ our one and only beautiful Savior. Amen.

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“The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?”

Psalm 27:1

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

Doing Good

November 21, 2018 / mcalcagno / 2 Comments

Patience…Persistence…Perseverance…Consistent…Helpful…Supportive…Kind. It can be difficult to sustain an attitude that focuses on good things. There is darkness and evil lurking everywhere in the world. When we state our belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and profess our faith that He is our Lord and Savior we will receive the Holy Spirit within us. The Holy Spirit along with the Word of God can be our foundation to stand on for doing good things and serving the needs of others. God is love and He has poured out His love to us through His One and Only Son. Let’s be grateful for His love, His mercy, His grace and His forgiveness and keep our courage up to do good things. Amen.

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“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Galatians 6:9

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 while traveling through Utah)

Questions

November 20, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

So many questions in our hearts and minds every day. We must be careful not to let them overcome us. We should bring our questions to the Lord in prayer and listen for Him to guide us. He is the light for our path. Whatever is troubling you this day, take it to the Cross and live. May we seek the will of the Lord everywhere we go. Amen.

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“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 along Beartooth Pass in Montana)

Humble And Gentle

November 19, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Be respectful…good listener…have compassion…acknowledge others needs. These are ways we can be one with the Spirit that is within us. These behaviors are neither common or natural to many people. Striving for these ways is learning to live differently than the world tells you how to live. When we put Christ in the center of our lives we are a new creation and our old ways are left behind, life should be different, our attitude should be different and the joy and peace of the Lord will be much more common in our every day. May the grace and mercy of God the Father wash over us and make us new. Amen.

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“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

Ephesians 4:1-2

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 along Beartooth Pass in Montana)

Commitment

November 17, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

This is hard when things are difficult, when it feels like at every turn we try and failure is right there to greet us. When we commit to something we naturally put some level of our own expectations of how things should go or what we believe should be the outcome. Here is the issue with this approach…we are setting “our expectations” on the result with little regard for God’s will and God’s plan. Following our faith and trust in the Lord means we can be free from the limited results our own minds can generate and be open to new possibilities. For me this is hard to grasp and at times very difficult to embrace…even Jesus struggled in the last moments of His commitment to save us right before He was arrested and He prayed to His Father…“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” – Luke 22:42 Bring your commitments to the Lord in prayer and seek His will. Listen for Him and for the Holy Spirit to guide you…find your quiet place and quiet time and rest in Him. May the peace and joy of the Lord be with you. Amen.

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“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.”

Psalm 143:8

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 near Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado)

Wait For The Lord

November 16, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

The ways of the Lord are exemplified by the Fruits of the Spirit…love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. It is so easy to get derailed and off track with these ways because the world is pushing for self-centered behaviors of hate, anger, dissension, me first, greed, faster, get out of my way and other similar attitudes. God keeps His promises and He will encourage you, hold you up and strengthen you for every and any battle…it is up to you to be engaged in your relationship with Jesus Christ and for you to read the Word of God to gain the wisdom and understanding God provides. If we are unsure of where God is in our life then we should continue in prayer and wait for Him…He always shows up, always. I pray we seek to live the Fruits of the Spirit in our relationship with the Lord and with others. Amen.

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