Love And Faithfulness

May 29, 2024 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

Deuteronomy 6:5 NIV

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.”

Proverbs 3:3 NIV

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“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.”^[a]

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

(This photo was taken at a park near Sioux Falls, South Dakota)

Love God

May 28, 2024 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.^[a] ⁵Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 NIV

Father God, we want to honor You. Too often, we fear people more than we love You. You are greater than any situation or circumstances. You alone are worthy of our devotion. Remove any distractions that keep our focus away from You. Help us to keep You first in everything we do. In Jesus name, Amen.

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“One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important? “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.^[e] ³⁰Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’^[f]

Mark 12:28-30 NIV

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

Reflect with Gratitude, Go Forward with Hope

May 27, 2024 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Rejoice always, ¹⁷pray continually, ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV

Father God, thank You for being faithful. Thank You for making a way for us in this life. When we reflect on past events give us an eye for gratitude in all circumstances. Please show us how You are at work in our lives. We want to choose to patiently wait on You, becasue we know that You will finish the work You have started in us. In Jesus name, Amen.

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“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

John 15:5 NIV

(This photo was taken at sunset by a lake in Plymouth, Minnesota)

Love Comes From God

May 26, 2024 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.”

Deuteronomy 7:9 NIV

God’s love is unconditional

We can’t earn it

We don’t deserve it

He chooses to give it to us

Not because of what we do or don’t do

He chooses to give us His love becasue of who He is

Thanks be to God!

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“God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. ¹⁷This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. ¹⁸There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

¹⁹We love because he first loved us.”

1 John 4:16-19 NIV

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

To Know Him…

May 25, 2024 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“This is what the Lord says:

“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom
    or the strong boast of their strength
    or the rich boast of their riches,
²⁴but let the one who boasts boast about this:
    that they have the understanding to know me,
that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness,
    justice and righteousness on earth,
    for in these I delight,”
declares the Lord.“

Jeremiah 9:23-24 NIV

I Want to Know You by SONICFLOOd

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“After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:

“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. ²For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. ³Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.“

John 17:1-3 NIV

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

Remember God Is Faithful

May 24, 2024 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
²³They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
²⁴I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
    therefore I will wait for him.”

Lamentations 3:22-24 NIV

God is greater than any circumstances or situation you are facing

God is faithful, He will never leave you or abandon you

Trust God’s faithfulness

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“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.”

Deuteronomy 7:9 NIV

(This photo was taken in Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming)

Anything Is Possible

May 23, 2024 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Luke 1:37 NIV

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

Matthew 19:26 NIV

Haven’t Seen It Yet by Danny Gokey

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“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.“

Philippians 4:4-7 NIV

(This photo was taken at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

The Battle Belongs To God

May 22, 2024 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.”

2 Chronicles 20:15 NIV

Battle Belongs by Phil Wickham

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“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹²Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Romans 12:11-12 NIV

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

His Sacrifice For Our Salvation

May 21, 2024 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John 1:14 NIV

^“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Mark 10:45 NIV

Father God, we are so grateful for the good news of Jesus and our eternal relationship with You. Help us each day to share Your Word with those around us so they can experience Your love. Guide us to live a life that honors You and inspires others to know You and love You. In Jesus name, Amen.

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⁵But 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 NIV

(This photo was taken on a walk near Plymouth, Minnesota)

God Is Our Refuge

May 20, 2024 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.”

Psalm 46:1 NIV

Father God, nothing is impossible for You. You love us even when we are unlovable. You are good to us even though we don’t deserve it. You are kind and compassionate towards us even when we mess up and get ourselves into trouble. You are our faithful refuge. Thank You for never leaving us or forsaking us! Remind us of how You have shown up in our lives so that we can intentionally give You praise. In Jesus name, Amen.

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