It Was Love…

July 24, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When we look around the world today and we look at how people treat each other, what do we see? Quite often we see selfishness, hatred, anger, a lack of respect for human life, an unrepentant and unforgiving society. As a human race we have free will and this is how we have chosen to live? This isn’t new, as you can read in the Old Testament the exact same behaviors were happening in a different time…so what could we possibly do to change this? What can we do to try to make things different? Better? We can look to the One who was tortured in every way possible and follow His example…the man who did no wrong and was sentenced to die on a Cross…and after He was flogged, beaten, He had thorns pushed into His head and after He was hung on that Cross to die in a horrible way…He asked God His Father to forgive them? How in the world could He do that? It was love…Amen.

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“Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

Luke 23:34

(This photo was taken in March of 2013 at the Botanical Gardens at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, Nevada)

Alive With Christ

June 19, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

All people are unique and different in some way. Yet all of us suffer from similar temptations and the sinful nature. We are sinners because of things we do and the things we do not do. Because of God’s love, God’s mercy and God’s grace we have been saved and we can become a new creation that is alive with Christ. He took upon Himself the punishment we all deserve and He did this because of His love for each of us. Nothing and no one on earth can do what Jesus Christ has done for us. Amen.

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“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.”

Ephesians 2:4-5

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 along Beartooth Pass near the Montana and Wyoming border)

Life With The Spirit

June 4, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We can be content knowing God is in control. No matter what the world does to try and keep us away, God is always with us. We do not need to live in worry and anxiety when we put our trust in the Lord and seek His Word. The bible talks about becoming a new creation, choosing to live different from the way of the world and the sinful nature. Ask God to help you open the eyes of your heart and to see with the eyes of Jesus. Live with God at the center of your life and you will find peace. Amen.

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“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be 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 July of 2018 at a park near Bayfield, Wisconsin)

Believe

May 10, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

You most likely know the information and the stories written about in the bible. You know the names of most of the books of the bible and many of the names of the people. There is one name that is above every other name, there is one who did the unthinkable for the undeserving. Jesus. You know about Him…the question is do you believe it? Believe in the power of God…believe in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord, who died and was rasied to life and lives in you today…when you believe you can achieve anything. Amen.

Give Me Jesus by Jeremy Camp

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“He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Matthew 17:20-21

(This photo was taken in April of 2016 on a lake in central Minnesota)

Renew Your Mind

March 29, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

A time for daily devotion and reading of God’s Word is critical to feeding your spiritual life. It helps with perspective, attitude and gratitude, it can be a guide to living if we are willing to take time to know Him who saved us. Jesus Christ is the center of our faith, He sacrificed everything to save us…we do not deserve God’s mercy and grace and yet He loves us so much that He offers it to us anyways. We are sinful, but we are redeemed because of Jesus. Renew your mind with God’s Word and a prayer of thanksgiving to Jesus Christ. Amen.

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“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Romans 12:2

(This photo was taken in September of 2014 on a walk in a neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Jesus

March 15, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We are saved because of Him. We are forgiven. We can find joy, peace and contentment in life because of Him. Even when we have turned away from God, maybe for long period of time because we are frustrated or mad at God or we have been over come with doubt and fear. He calls to us, He cares for us and He is The Way back to a relationship with God. The things of this world will come and go…time, money, people and friendships. The one constant for us, the one thing we know we can rely upon no matter what is happening or where we are in life…we can always rely on the love of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Give Me Jesus by Jeremy Camp

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“…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

John 10:10

(This photo was taken in August of 2012 while hiking on the North Shore of Lake Superior)

Our Faith And Our Actions

March 13, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

These two things are linked and interwoven together. If we focus on only one without the other we are not complete. A faith journey can begin on the inside, molding and shaping our thoughts and our attitude, as we grow, we begin to show what we have learned in our actions and our behaviors towards others. We have had the best example possible set for us in the life of Christ. He not only spoke the Words of faith and taught others, he went out and lived it…He befriended the hurting, the sick, the lonely and the mistreated and came to bring healing to our broken world. When we are able to join our faith and our actions they feed us, help us to grow and bring joy and peace. Amen.

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“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”

John 15:11-12

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

The Facts Of Faith

February 24, 2019February 24, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Jesus Christ was born and lived life as a human being for 30+ years. He performed miracles that thousands of people witnessed and recorded. He was arrested, beaten, presented to the people as a criminal. He was innoccent and yet He was sentenced to death. He was flogged and finally He was crucified and died. His body was placed in a tomb and it was sealed…this is not the end of the story. Three days later Jesus Christ rose from the the dead, many came to the tomb but He was not there, His body was never found, after His resurrection He was seen several more times, the fact is Jesus Christ is alive and living with God our Father in heaven. “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6

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“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Corinthians 15:57

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 near Colorado Springs, Colorado)

Be Humble

February 9, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When we take time to reflect and think about how we interact with others and what our relationships with others look like, what do we see? Are we good listeners? Do we seek feedback? How do we handle missteps or miscommunications? The triat of humility is lost on many in the world. If we want to learn about it we should read about the ultimate example of humility in the bible, turn to the Gospel of John, chapter 13…that is a standard of humility all of us can learn from…may we all seek to find ways to be humble in this world. Amen.

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“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”

John 13:13-15

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

To Know Him

February 7, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

As it has been said, faith is a journey not a destination. So what does that mean? For me it is about making progress, every day. We learn, we pray, we live, we give thanks, we cry for help, we forgive others and we learn some more. We are human, we live in a broken and fallen world. Nobody is perfect, even if their social media profiles try to project it. We are not made to do this life alone. We need to know Him, Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. He gave His life to save us and to reconcile us to God. Give faith a chance, spend time learning about Jesus Christ and His birth, His life, His teachings, His death and His resurrection. Pickup God’s Word and seek Him daily, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Amen.

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