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)

Freedom Isn’t Free

May 27, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

It takes humility, sacrifice and a willingness to put the needs of many before one. Freedom is earned by human beings working together for a common cause…not by shouting and trying to tear others down. Freedom is earned through courage and a belief in something greater than self. Jesus Christ is the one who provided the example of sacrifice and the willingness to forgive…we all would do well to read about Him and His example of love. Time to put down the flaming arrows of hate and to serve one another in love.

Thank you God, for all the people who serve and have served in the military services of this country…thank you for their willingness to put themselves in the line of fire so others can prosper. I give thanks for them and their families that sacrifice so much in the name of freedom for all of us. Amen.

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“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Philippians 2:3-4

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 at Mount Rushmore National Memorial)

Daily Living

May 17, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

This is defined as the activities we perform on a daily basis for self-care related to our needs. Caring for ourselves related to food, hygiene, our living environment, etc. Many people take these items for granted and for many people just getting through the day regarding these things is a struggle, for a variety of reasons. The Fruits of the Spirit provided by God are not worldly possessions that require wealth or privilege, they are not only for certain people. God’s love is for all in creation and we all have a responsibility to learn, to grow, to care for and to share with others. Give thanks to God for each day and seek to live as God intended. Amen.

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“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Colossians 3:12-14

(This photo was taken in July of 2015 while on a mission trip in Denver, Colorado)

Commitment

May 14, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Devotion…dedication…faithfulness…self-sacrifice….love. A commitment can be hard at times. A commitment is not something to be taken lightly. If you commit to something think carefully about how you will respond when things don’t go as planned or how you expect them to go. God made a commitment to love us and to save us even though we are still sinners and it was tremedously difficult for Jesus to keep that commitment…yet He was able to fulfill the commitment by staying close to the Father in prayer and trusting the will of God. Jesus is our example of how to get through the hard times and to remain committed to God and trust Him with all aspects of our lives. Amen.

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

Deuteronomy 6:5

(This photo was taken in June of 2018 near the border of Minnesota and South Dakota)

Peace From God

May 9, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

I saw a story about Mother’s Day and that the most popular request from Mom’s is to get a day away from their families. This is not true for all Mom’s, there was even an interview with one woman who was planning the whole day with her family and she spoke with a tone of…I know I am odd, but I just want to be with them. Wow, the human race is really messed up. We all, myself included, are so naive to look at life with ourselves in the center…we have allowed Satan to influence our perspectives so much that we have created a society in which “me time” is more important than anything else. We treat each other so poorly, that makes it hard to trust others. The only refuge, the one source of truth and peace is Jesus Christ. Seek Him and you will find true peace. Amen.

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“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 14:27

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

Shine The Light

May 8, 2019 / mcalcagno / 1 Comment

To follow Jesus, to read the words He spoke and do as He instructed is to walk in the Light of Christ. There are several references in the Bible to the darkness and the light. Evil and sin lead us into darkness and keep us from our relationship with God. When you find yourself physically in a dark room or outside on a dark night and you cannot see anything, what is your first instinct? We were made to seek the Light…when we invite Jesus into our hearts and we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit we will have the Light of Christ and as we study God’s Word and build our relationship the Lord, we will learn how God wants us to shine His Light into the world. Seek the Light of Christ that God has placed in you and ask Him how He wants you to let that light shine. Amen.

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“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:16

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

Free Will

April 23, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

God has given us the gift of free will. We are allowed to choose how we will respond to everything. When you think about it after everything that God has experienced with the human race…why did He do this? After all the things humans have chosen to do wrong starting with Adam and Eve, why allow us to choose? I believe it is because real love, joy and goodness offered voluntarily is the only kind worth having…the risk, of course, is we are filled with sinful hearts and minds and we often choose poorly and that is why bad things happen in the world. Use your free will to offer goodness, kindness, love and joy to others. Amen.

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“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Galatians 5:13-14

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 near Arches National Park in Utah)

Filling the Void

April 18, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We all are born with a void in our spirit. We all have free will, it is a gift from God. As we go through this life we make choices about what is filling the void. We choose sinful behaviors and we choose spirit led behaviors. It is up to each and every one of us to invite Jesus Christ into our hearts and lives…He will not force His way in without an invitation from us. Say a prayer and ask Jesus Christ into the void in you and see what God has planned for you. Amen.

The Motions by Matthew West

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“O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where this is no water.”

Psalm 63:1

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)

Attitudes And Actions Of Love

April 9, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Compassion…mercy…grace…forgiveness…humility…kindness…faithfulness…selflessness. Who should we share these with? Everyone…family…friends…neighbors…co-workers…strangers…people we will only pass by once in life today only to never encounter them again…look around at your surroundings throughout the day. What is the source of this amazing love? God, He is the source of perfect love. Seek the Lord and you will find love, joy and peace. Amen.

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“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.”

1 John 4:16

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

Amazing Love

March 31, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

There is no one in life that will be able to show us through their actions the love that God has demonstrated for us in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross. His love endures through every aspect of our lives. Through the greatest joys and through the deepest of sorrows…God’s love is surrounding each one of us. No matter where you are or what is happening turn towards the Lord and you will find comfort in His love. Amen.

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