Where The Spirit Of The Lord Is, There Is Freedom

March 5, 2026 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“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. ¹⁴For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”^[b] ¹⁵If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”

Galatians 5:13-15 NIV

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

2 Corinthians 3:17 NIV

There Is Freedom by Josh Baldwin

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“Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants^[a] of God.”

1 Peter 2:16 NIV

(This photo was taken while traveling through southern New Mexico)

God’s Love For Us

March 3, 2026 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

¹⁹We love because he first loved us

1 John 4:19 NIV

⁹“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. ¹¹I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. ¹²My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you”

John 15:9-12 NIV

No matter where you go

No matter what you do

God’s love for you will not change

You can’t earn it and you can’t lose it

Nothing you do will make God love you more

Nothing you do will make God love you less

God loves you.

Accept His love and share it with others

And your life will be transformed

⁸But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us

Romans 5:8 NIV

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

Humility…Gratitude

March 2, 2026 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Colossians 3:12-14 NIV

Father God, when we are overwhelmed by the brokenness and darkness we see, help us to remember You are near

You are in control

We can’t stop all the pain and injustice we witness, yet we can help overcome evil by doing good

Please help us to do that

Give us the courage and humility to love other people well

In Jesus name, Amen

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^{15 “}Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Colossians 3:15-17 NIV

(This photo was taken while traveling in northern Colorado)

Patience And Hope

March 1, 2026 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

2 Peter 3:9 NIV

While I’m Waiting by John Waller

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“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…”

1 Peter 1:3 NIV

(This photo was taken at Sapphire Point near Dillon, Colorado)

Our Rock…A Firm Foundation

February 28, 2026 / mcalcagno / 1 Comment

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield^[b] and the horn^[c] of my salvation, my stronghold.”

Psalm 18:2 NIV

Father God, there is no one besides You

You are the only One who is holy and worthy of our praise

Thank You for being our Rock and the firm foundation we can build our lives upon!

We are grateful that You are always faithful, never changing, and the One we can put our trust in

We love You!

In Jesus name, Amen

Firm Foundation (He Won’t) by Cody Carnes

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“It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in humans.”

Psalms 118:8 NIV

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

God’s Promises

February 27, 2026 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“When you pass through the waters,
    I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze.“

Isaiah 43:2 NIV

Father God, Your Word is filled with promises for my life

Often times my circumstances distract me from Your faithfulness

As I read and re-read Your promises fill me with comfort and peace that surpasses understanding because I believe You are working for good at all times

In Jesus name, Amen

You Say by Lauren Daigle

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“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

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

Be A Cheerful Giver

February 26, 2026 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you^[a]—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.”

2 Corinthians 8:7 NIV

When we talk about giving and generosity, society and the world focuses on money and wealth alone

There is so much more to giving than money

To give of your time, your talents and your gifts

Giving generously is about perspective, attitude and encouragement of the spirit

So give whatever it is you have to offer, whenever you can

Give to those who are in need in your daily life and surroundings

Begin by thanking God for whatever it is you have been blessed with and ask Him to guide you to how you can share it

May each one of us seek a generous attitude with the gifts and blessings God has given us

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“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a Cheerful giver.”

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 NIV

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

Trust

February 24, 2026 / 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.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

Father God, when we are anxious and afraid, we will put our trust in You

We will rely on You no matter what comes our way because You are our source of strength and safety

You guide us and You fight for us

When we draw near to You, we have nothing to fear, because we know that You are in control

We know You will never leave us or abandon us and so we put our trust in You

In Jesus name, Amen

“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 a trail in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado)

Love One Another

February 21, 2026 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.”

1 John 3:11 NIV

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. ¹⁷If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? ¹⁸Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

1 John 3:16-18 NIV

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“And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. ²⁴The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.”

1 John 3:23-24 NIV

(This photo was taken at the Botanical Gardens in the Bellagio in Las Vegas, Nevada)

Walking With God

February 20, 2026 / mcalcagno / 1 Comment

“Do you not know?

    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
²⁹He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
³¹but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.”