Reflect And Share

June 27, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

I am going to be reviewing and re-sharing some previous posts from the last several years for a period of time as I believe now is a time to listen, to reflect and to seek God’s wisdom. May God’s peace be with you. I hope you enjoy some posts from days gone by. Amen.

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“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, ²⁰because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. ²¹Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.”

James 1:19-21

(This photo was taken in May of 2014 at a lake in central Minnesota)

Don’t Stop Praying

March 22, 2020 / mcalcagno / 2 Comments

As I awake this morning there are 2 songs that I can’t stop hearing in my mind that are constant reminders to not give up…we must learn to be patient and persistent. No matter how long you have been praying about something and you haven’t seen a change…don’t quit…keep praying…believe…many people fall away from God because He does not work on our time line. Remember He is God and He knows what is best for us even if we can’t see it. Trust Him in everything. Amen.

Haven’t Seen It Yet by Danny Gokey

Blessing I Can’t See by Building 429

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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

“For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Luke 1:37

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

The Truth

March 2, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

The word ‘truth’ appears over 200 times in the bible. Jesus often taught using the phrase ‘I tell you the truth’ or ‘Truly I say to you.’ On our faith journey we have to be willing to be honest with God, ourselves and with others regarding what we believe and what we say. When we are ready to be truthful about who we are and who God is we are ready to walk in the light to the best of our ability in a fallen world. It won’t be easy but we have been assured it will be worth it. Amen.

“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, ³²and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:31-32

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“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

1 John 1:8-9

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on Lake Superior near the Apostle Islands)

Forgiveness

February 24, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

This is something we need to give as much as we need to receive it. Forgiveness is more than God’s grace given to us through Jesus Christ…we need to be able to give forgiveness to others as well. If we choose to hold on to the pain, the bitterness and the anger it will eat away at our very life and end up affecting our relationships with everyone. To forgive is not to say someone gets a free pass for hurting you…it is the act of letting go of the things that are continuing to hurt you in your daily life. Christ will help you through this…come to Cross and give thanks to Jesus for His forgiveness of your sins and ask Him to help you find your way to give forgiveness. Amen.

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“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³²Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Ephesians 4:31-32

(This photo was taken in September of 2016 at a lake in central Minnesota)

Hope

January 8, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

There is always hope…if you can’t see it or don’t believe it…look again. Life is not about whether or not hope exists, rather it is about what you see and what you believe…there is always hope. If you don’t believe it maybe you are looking for it in the wrong place…have you ever lost something where you live, like keys or something similar and you are certain of the last place you saw them and you scour the area all around with no luck? Then eventually you find them in a completely different place that has nothing to do with your original thought? If you don’t see hope or don’t believe it exists you may be looking for it in the wrong place…pick up a bible and read, turn towards Jesus Christ and pray and you will find hope. Amen.

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“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 15:13

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 while traveling through North Dakota)

Saved By Grace

January 3, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When we read in the Gospel of Matthew 26 and the Gospel of Luke 22 there is a section that describes Jesus taking 3 disciples with Him and going off to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane…in these moments of prayer we get to see both the human side and the Godly side of Jesus…He prays “…My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” – Matthew 26:39 In these moments right before He is to be arrested, which He knows is coming, Jesus pleads with God the Father to find a different way to save us…and in the same breath He shows us humility and God’s grace by surrendering to God’s will. We have been saved from God’s wrath by God’s grace. May the peace of the Lord be with you. Amen.

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“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Ephesians 2:8-10

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

Thanks Be To God

September 21, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

What are you thankful for in your life today? Giving thanks is not reserved for once a year in November. Being thankful and having gratitude is about changing your perspective to a positive point of view. It is easy to focus on what is wrong, what I don’t have and what I can’t do or even what other people are doing wrong…be different…take inventory of your life today…look around, what are you thankful for? Pray about it and ask God to help you to continue to see the good. All that is good is from God and for that we give Him thanks. Amen.

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“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

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

Father Of All

June 16, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

To all the Fathers out there:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your path straight.”

Proverbs 3:5-6

God the Father, is the Father of all. None of us will be as good of a Father as God is to us. We will make mistakes, yet as long as we stay close to the Lord, He will encourage us, strengthen us and help us to do better. Do your best…and leave the rest up to God. Amen.

Good Good Father by Chris Tomlin

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“…one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

Ephesians 4:6

(This photo was taken in July of 2014 at a lake place in central Minesota)

Friends

May 30, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Often times, not always, these are the people who are more like our brothers and sisters than the ones in our family. There is trust, honesty, a sharing of experiences, giving as often as receiving and love. Some friends are only for a period of time in our life and others last the whole way through, even when there are gaps of time. Like everything else that is good they are a gift from God. Who are your true friends? Give thanks to God for those people and say a prayer for them and their life this day. Amen.

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“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

John 15:12-13

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

God’s Love

May 18, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

There is nothing greater, nothing stronger and nothing higher than God’s love. He showed the human race His love by sending His one and only Son into the world to save us. No matter what the circumstances of your life are today, turn towards the Lord in prayer and ask Him to help you see God’s love in your life. Amen.

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