Advent Season

December 1, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Today is the beginning of Advent. The season of preparation and expectant waiting to celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas and His return at the Second Coming. We have many resources to help us observe this season, with calendars, candles, special devotionals, etc. Observing the rituals is one part of the process, actually preparing our hearts and minds with the meaning behind these symbols will help us to grow in our faith. For me the Advent wreath and candles are the symbols I choose to learn more about, there are four candles one for each week. Some traditions include a fifth candle called the Christ candle. As with many things different religions have different ways to celebrate these weeks. My preferred 4 themes are:

Hope–Peace–Joy–Love.

Hope is confidence in God’s faithfulness…even when everything going on around us is telling us something different, we can have hope because we know that God is working for our good in all things. Spend time this week reflecting on where you have seen God at work in your life or in the lives of others and renew your hope by remembering these things. Remember with God all things are possible. Amen.

DSC01031 publish

“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 June of 2013 in northern Colorado)

Come Near To God

November 25, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

He is with you…He knows everything about you and your life…He knows the struggles, the sorrows, the celebrations, the grief and mourning, the joyful gatherings, He knows the desires of your heart. To draw near to God is to seek Him daily, to turn away from sin and our sinful behaviors and to trust in Him…this is not a slick, quick, fast-food process…it is a journey, a journey filled with questions, doubts, sacrifice, repentance, surrender, peace, joy and love. And if you wonder why…the answer is found in His love. Amen.

DSC06842 publish

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸Come near to God and he will come near to you…”

James 4:7-8

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota)

Keep Doing Good Things

November 20, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Not for your benefit, rather for the benefit of helping others. We reap what we sow in this life. This does not mean we can earn our way into heaven by doing the right things…it means whatever we give out into the world will come back around to us at some point and none of us knows or can control how or when that will happen. This is further proof that God is in control and it is our responsibility to choose our behaviors and our actions in our daily life. We cannot control what others will think, say or do, yet we can control how we respond. Let’s choose to keep doing good things. May the Fruit of the Spirit flow through us each day. Amen.

DSC07416 publish

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 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 6:7-9

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

Love And Serving Others

November 4, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Love is so much more than a feeling…it is actions and behaviors. It is about looking at the needs of those you love and being willing to serve them…not so you can keep score…rather, you serve them out of love and care for them. To live and serve in love is not about expecting something in return, that is something the world is teaching. The world will always push the selfish mentality in relationships which fails. Be willing to serve in love because you know and trust that God will provide for your needs. Amen.

IMG_20141016_114917386_HDR publish

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

(This photo was taken in October of 2014 at the Nakalele Blow Hole on the island of Maui, Hawaii)

The Power Of Love

October 27, 2019 / mcalcagno / 2 Comments

When you have fear, choose to overcome it with love. When you are struggling, choose to keep going with love. When you don’t know what to do, serve others with acts of love. You may ask, ‘how do I do that?’ Start by reading 1 Corinthians 13…it explains fully what love looks like. Jesus Christ is our greatest example of God’s love for us, if we believe that He is the Son of God and we confess our sins, we will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and that will help us do our best to show the love of Christ to others. May the peace, love and joy of the Lord be with you. Amen.

DSC_1529 publish

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

1 Peter 4:8-10

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 at a park near Dillon, Colorado)

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.

DSC_0132 publish

“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.

DSC07425 publish

“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)

His Love Endures Forever

October 6, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Trouble will come…we will experience suffering and loss in this world…yet we do not need to have fear and we do not need to be afraid. We are loved by God with a love that is greater than anything we face. Pursue a personal relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior and our Lord, meet with Him every day…He sacrificed everything to save you because He loves you and His love will endure forever. Amen.

Forever by Michael W Smith

DSC09023 publish

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.”

Psalms 136:1

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

Rich In Love

October 2, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

No matter how far we wander off…God will invite us to come back to Him. His grace…His mercy…His compassion is all encompassing. Whatever your circumstances are…turn towards Jesus Christ…He died to save you and He is ready to walk with you. Amen.

DSC_1355 publish

“The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.”

Psalms 145:8-9

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

Believe It!

October 1, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

The Creator of all things knows you. He loves you and wants to have a personal relationship with you. He is greater than anyone and anything you will encounter in this world. When we walk with Him, we can conquer anything in this life. You are loved…you are forgiven…you have been saved. May the peace of the Lord be with you. Amen.

DSC_0135 (2) publish