Trust In The Lord

August 13, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

What is an event or issue you sincerely brought to the Lord asked for Him to guide you and to take care of you and others? What was the outcome? It most likely wasn’t exactly the way you thought it was going to go or it wasn’t the way you wanted it to go…yet you may be thinking it all worked out in the end…it also could be that the issue worked out for the betterment of others, more than for you. God is the God of all people. Having a personal relationship with God doesn’t mean more things will go the way you want…it means you believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior and that you trust God even when you are unsure how things are going to turn out because you know He is working for the good in all things. Put your trust and your hope in God. Amen.

Find Rest by Francesca Battistelli

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“Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

Psalm 37:3-4

(This photo was taken in July of 2019 at a lake place in northwestern Wisconsin)

The Same Power

August 7, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

If confess your sins and believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord then the same power that rose Jesus from the grave lives in you. Before Jesus died, He spoke about a Counselor that will come once He ascends and that this Spirit will be our guide. Take a look at the Gospel of John 14:15-21…we are not left alone to fend for ourselves. The Lord is with us and we must learn to trust Him and turn to Him regarding every aspect of our lives. Believe in the power of God, surrender your plans to God and seek His plan and trust in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord and you will find peace. Amen.

Same Power by Jeremy Camp

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“And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.”

Romans 8:11

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

Gifts And Abilities

August 5, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When you are unsure how you can best contribute…ask God. How can I help? Learn about yourself and your abilities. What comes naturally to you? What seems easy for you that others struggle doing? What can you do that fulfills the need of another? It can be anything. God knows you and knows how He created you…don’t believe your value based on the world’s standards, let God be the judge. Seek Him and His will. Pray about it and pay attention for God’s answers in your everyday life. Amen.

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“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 4:9-10

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 – the statue is called “Our Lady of the Rockies” and can be seen near Butte, Montana)

Jesus

August 1, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

He is all we need. He is the way to God for us. He took the punishment we deserve. The words He spoke when He was here are written in red in the bible. If you want to learn more about Him, pick up a bible and read the Gospel of John. Believe in Him, He is the Son of God, our Savior and our Lord. No matter what you are going through, no matter where you are and no matter what you have done, turn towards Jesus…He is waiting to hear from you. Amen.

Give Me Jesus by Danny Gokey

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“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

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Here I Am To Worship

July 28, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Wherever you are, whatever is going on in your life, take time for worship. God is with you and He is waiting to hear from you. Nothing that the world offers can compare with the blessings we receive from God. It is never too late to turn back to God, no matter how far off you have wandered, God still loves you and will forgive you…turn towards Jesus and renew your relationship with Him. May the peace of God be with you. Amen.

Here I Am To Worship by Michael W. Smith

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“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”

Revelation 3:20

(This photo was taken in July of 2019 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

The Truth Is In God’s Word

July 25, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We can search the whole world over and never find the happiness that the human race is searching to discover…what we seek in not of this world. True joy, love, peace and contentment can only be found with Jesus Christ. The Bible has stood the ultimate test…the test of time. It is based on truth and actual events in history…it is the unchanging Word of God. It is given to us so that we can learn and live our lives centered on Christ and not ourselves or our personal agendas. Read God’s Word daily and seek Him, for He is with you every step of the way. Amen.

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“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17

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

He Lives In You

July 23, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Jesus Christ is the foundation of our faith. Not only because of what He did when He was human on earth and not only because He sacrificed Himself for us and died on a cross or because He rose…He is the foundation of our faith today because of all these things and the fact that He Lives in us. Before He ascended, He promised the Holy Spirit would come to those who love Him and do as He commands. In the Gospel of John 14, Jesus promises the Holy Spirit and explains our connection to Him through the Spirit. The love of God can be found in the hearts of people and can be shared with others…it is up to each of us to seek Him and trust in His way rather than our own. May you be encouraged by the Holy Spirit within you today. Amen.

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“On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father,and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

John 14:20-21

(This photo was taken last weekend at a lake place in northwestern Wisconsin)

How We Spend Time

July 22, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

None of us knows the time we have and yet we easily take it for granted. The people in our lives and our relationships with them will end up meaning more than anything else in this world. As each generation lives through the phases of life, we all have different experiences and opportunities to share with each other. We eventually will get the opportunity to share with the next generation and that is what we truly will leave behind when we go home to the Lord. If you are thinking about your time, turn towards Jesus in prayer and ask Him to guide you to living your life more closely aligned to God’s plan. May the peace and joy of the Lord be with you. Amen.

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“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”

Ephesians 5:15-17

(This photo was taken last weekend at a lake place in northwestern Wisconsin)

Relationships

July 21, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

The attitudes and behaviors we choose to use towards each other are significant factors in our relationships. If we are self-focused, we will have many difficulties in our relationships or if we over extend ourselves in serving others and we lack self-care we can become unable to help anyone. Our guide for daily living is found by spending time with Jesus and reading God’s Word. Feeding our faith and doing it daily is the best thing we can do to influence all other areas of our lives. The most important relationship we will ever have is with our Lord and Savior, when we start with that and stick to it, everything else will get better. May you be comforted by God’s love today. Amen.

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“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, that person is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

2 Corinthians 5:17

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

The War Between Guilt And Grace

July 17, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We are forgiven…Jesus Christ has paid the price for our sins…we can let go of our guilt and live in God’s grace…because in the battle that rages on within us and within others…Grace wins everytime. Amen.

Grace Wins by Matthew West

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