The Word Planted In You

April 2, 2025 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

Hebrews 4:12 NIV

The Word of God will uphold you and sustain you

It will provide peace and calm in your mind and in your heart

Take time to memorize some verses…whichever ones speak to you

You will know which ones when you read them

Then put them deep in your mind and in your heart where nothing and no one can reach them

Then at anytime and in any situation you can remember them to lead you and guide you

God’s Word is a gift and one of the ways He communicates with us

DSC_0013 publish

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
    whose confidence is in him.
⁸They will be like a tree planted by the water
    that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
    its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
    and never fails to bear fruit.”

Jeremiah 17:7-8 NIV

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

The Road That Leads To Life

March 31, 2025 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

^{6 “}Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6 NIV

We all have different lives and different choices to make in our lives

Depending on where we live, what the weather is like, the environment of our home and where we spend our days

This can be all different…what is common among all people?

The place in our hearts that is made to be filled by God

He is the Creator and He made us with this special space that can only be filled properly by a personal relationship with Him

Now that certainly hasn’t stopped the human race from trying to fill it with just about anything other than God

If anything other than God is in that space you will not feel complete, content or know true peace

Make time to be alone with God and invite Jesus into the place reserved for Him

May we all know God’s comfort and God’s faithfulness

DSC_0387 publish

¹³“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Matthew 7:13-14 NIV

(This photo was taken near Winterset, Iowa)

Peace Of God

March 29, 2025 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“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

A peace that exceeds understanding is a the deep peace we can have when we put our trust, our faith and our hope in God

DSC_1614 publish

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

John 14:27 NIV

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

Trust…Rest

March 25, 2025 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“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

Father God, it is easy for us to worry about circumstances in our lives

Each day, help us to remember that You are always in control

Today, we are trusting in Your protection, provision and plans for us

Because we know You care about every need and desire we have-we know we can rest

Give us peace as we give You control of our lives

In Jesus name, Amen

DSC_0894 publish

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

(This photo was taken in Glacier National Park in Montana)

The Truth

March 22, 2025 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6 NIV

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

2 Timothy 2:15 NIV

The Truth by Megan Woods

DSC_0142_1 publish

“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. ³²Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:31-32 NIV

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

Worship And Praise

March 21, 2025 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;

let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
²Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.

³For the Lord is the great God,
    the great King above all gods.
⁴In his hand are the depths of the earth,
    and the mountain peaks belong to him.
⁵The sea is his, for he made it,
    and his hands formed the dry land.

⁶Come, let us bow down in worship,
    let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;
⁷for he is our God
    and we are the people of his pasture,
    the flock under his care.”

Psalm 95:1-7 NIV

The only thing in all the earth that brings about true unity among all people from all over the world is Jesus Christ…His birth, His life, His death, His resurrection and His never-ending love

Praise Him

My Only Response (Unplugged) by Eagle Brook Music

DSC_0035 publish

“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,
    burst into jubilant song with music;
⁵make music to the Lord with the harp,
    with the harp and the sound of singing,
⁶with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—
    shout for joy before the Lord, the King.“

Psalm 98:4-6 NIV

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

Do Not Be Discouraged

March 18, 2025 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV

“So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10 NIV

DSC_0005 publish

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[i] have been called according to his purpose.”

Romans 8:28 NIV

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

Serve One Another

March 17, 2025 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. ⁹Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. ¹⁰Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. ¹¹If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

1 Peter 4:8-11 NIV

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh^[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”

Galatians 5:13 NIV

DSC_0229 publish

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

Galatians 6:2 NIV

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

Search Me

March 16, 2025March 16, 2025 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“The Lord’s light penetrates the human spirit,^[a]
exposing every hidden motive.”

Proverbs 20:27 NLT

“Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
²⁴See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Psalm 139:23-24 NIV

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