Peace

Joy Because Of Who God Is

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Shout for joy, you heavens;
    rejoice, you earth;
    burst into song, you mountains!
For the Lord comforts his people
    and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.”

Isaiah 49:13 NIV

We can have Joy because God is who He says He is

God’s character, His love, His grace, His mercy, His compassion and the comfort of His presence are reasons to celebrate and praise Him

We can have Joy when we choose to believe in Him and have a personal relationship with Him

Seek the Lord and you will know Joy

DSC_0144 publish

“The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
    slow to anger and rich in love.

9 The Lord is good to all;
    he has compassion on all he has made.”

Psalm 145:8-9 NIV

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

Ask…Believe…Receive

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

Matthew 6:6-8 NIV

“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”

John 14:12-14 NIV

DSC_0171 publish

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

Mark 11:24 NIV

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

Trust…Rest

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in 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. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For 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 Name Of Jesus

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.”

Philippians 2:9-11 NIV

There Is Power by Lincoln Brewster

DSC_0303 publish

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.”

Proverbs 18:10 NIV

(This photo was taken at Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming)

Pray…Find Peace

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:4-7 NIV

Prayer is available to us anytime, anywhere

It is not a wishing well, rather it is a foundational element in our personal relationship with Jesus Christ

It is about communication with God about all things, good and bad

It is listening, sharing your joys and your worries and most importantly, it is your path to peace

Peace Be Still by Hope Darst

DSC_0322 publish

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

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

Colossians 3:12-15 NIV

(This photo was taken in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming)

When Trouble Comes…

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.”

Psalm 46:1 NIV

Father God, You are strong and faithful.  Thank You for encouraging me through Your Spirit, even when I am struggling.  Help me never give up but to continue to follow after You regardless of my circumstances.  In Jesus name, Amen.

DSC06492 publish

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6-7 NIV

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

Draw Near To God

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“The Lord is righteous in all his ways
    and faithful in all he does.
18 The Lord is near to all who call on him,
    to all who call on him in truth.”

Psalm 145:17-18 NIV

Father God, thank You for allowing us to call on Your name!  Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to rescue us from a life separated from You.  Today and every day, please give us the courage to draw close to You, and to seek You with all our hearts.  In Jesus name, Amen.

DSC_0095 (2)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 NIV

(This photo was taken near the border between Minnesota and South Dakota)

When You Pray…

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

Matthew 6:5-8 NIV

Amazing things can happen that only God can do, when you pray

It is not about the right words or the proper position…it is about what you believe!

Prayer is for all circumstances

Prayer is communication with God…and your relationship with Him will grow, when you pray.

When We Pray by Tauren Wells

DSC_0135-1 publish

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

Mark 11:24 NIV

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

Life Through The Spirit

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you[a] free from the law of sin and death.”

Romans 8:1-2 NIV

There Is Freedom by Josh Baldwin

IMG_20130609_publish

“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”

Romans 8:5-6 NIV

(This photo was taken at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota)

The Promised One

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you[a] a sign: The virgin[b] will conceive and give birth to a son, and[c] will call him Immanuel.”[d]

Isaiah 7:14 NIV

“For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah 9:6 NIV

God promised to send a Savior

He kept that promise when He sent His one and only Son

We are made for relationship and God sent His promised One to earth to save us

We have a Savior who sacrificed Himself for us and He is wating to hear from you…His name is Jesus

What A Beautiful Name by Hillsong Worship

DSC_0232 publish

“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

14 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 1:9-14 NIV

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