The Holy Spirit

June 5, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“If you love me, obey my commands. ¹⁶I will ask the Father. And he will give you another friend to help you and to be with you forever. ¹⁷That friend is the Spirit of truth. The world can’t accept him. That’s because the world does not see him or know him. But you know him. He lives with you, and he will be in you.”

John 14:15-17 NIRV

“But the Father will send the Friend in my name to help you. The Friend is the Holy Spirit. He will teach you all things. He will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

John 14:26 NIRV

With God all things are possible and all people can be redeemed…that is what Jesus Christ did for us. Not only that, God’s plan goes on by sending us the Holy Spirit to live in us and lead us and guide us. It is up to us to believe, to admit we are broken and in need and surrender our way for His way.

Holy Spirit by Francesca Battistelli

DSC09022 publish

“May the God who gives hope fill you with great joy. May you have perfect peace as you trust in him. May the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with hope.”

Romans 15:13 NIRV

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

Humility Is Love

June 2, 2022 / mcalcagno / 1 Comment

“Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Proverbs 16:18 NIV

“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ²then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

Philippians 2:1-4 NIV

DSC_0301 publish

“…All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.”^[a]

1 Peter 5:5 NIV

(This photo was taken in May of 2020 at the High Falls in Tettegouche State Park in northern Minnesota)

God Is With You

June 1, 2022 / 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

Do you have doubts? Do you wonder where God is in your life? Especially when facing a difficult and important issue? No matter where you are…no matter what has been done…no matter what is before you…God has promised He will never leave you nor abandon you. In the Deuteronomy verse above, Moses is speaking to Joshua who will be taking over leading the people of Israel after Moses dies. Can you imagine trying to follow Moses as a leader? As expected, Joshua had doubts and concerns…Moses reassured Him God is with you. In the verse below, God Himself comforts Joshua directly promising that He will be with Him. This promise is not only for Joshua alone…it is for all believers in Jesus Christ. He knows what is happening in your life…He wants good things for you and He is waiting to hear from you. He is with you wherever you go. Amen.

DSC_0462 publish

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9 NIV

(This photo was taken in May of 2020 on the shore of Lake Superior at Temperance State Park in northern Minnesota)

Trust In The Lord And Wait For Him

May 31, 2022 / 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

We are so impatient and so hurried and impulsive. We all spend so much energy on trying to save time and want everything to happen on our own personal time table. We were not created to go full speed all the time and to expect things immediately…the goal is not to fill time with life…we should strive to fill life by spending appropriate time in all areas of life. Starting with relationships…we were made to be in communion and community. In communion with God our Creator and in community with each other…focusing more of our efforts on our relationship with God by taking the first step (Love God) and then working on our relationships with each other (Love Others) will help us live in each moment trusting God’s will and waiting for Him to lead us. Peace be with you.

DSC_0178 publish

“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;
therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.
For the Lord is a God of justice.
Blessed are all who wait for him!”

Isaiah 30:18 NIV

(This photo was taken in May of 2020 along the north shore of Lake Superior)

Our Hearts

May 25, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

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

Deuteronomy 6:5 NIV

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.”

Proverbs 3:3 NIV

God has given human beings free will and His Word gives us instructions on how we should choose to live…unfortunately too many of us have turned our backs on God and put worldly things before Him in our lives. This choice by human beings of rejecting God is what invites evil into the world and evil comes to cause pain and suffering as described in John 10:10…“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy…” We need to turn our hearts to God and do the things that He has told us to do.

DSC_0005 (3) publish

“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

(This photo was taken in July of 2021 at a park near Sioux Falls, South Dakota)

One Hope

May 24, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. ²Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ³Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. ⁴There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; ⁵one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

Ephesians 4:1-6 NIV

Even when you feel surrounded by darkness and evil…we can find hope when we turn towards God and His Word and His Son. We can find hope when we remember that after the brutal and tragic death of Jesus…God raised Him to life. We can have hope because of what God has done and is doing in our lives. It is up to us to seek Him.

DSC_0228 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 in March of 2018 while traveling in southern New Mexico)

God’s Faithfulness

May 20, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.”

Deuteronomy 7:9 NIV

No matter what we have done or left undone…God is with us and God is for us. Even when we don’t see Him or the work He is doing in our lives…He is near. Every promise God made has been kept…He is faithful and His only promise yet to be fulfilled is when Christ returns. Trust in the Lord and His Word…He is trustworthy and faithful in everything. Amen.

DSC_0042 publish

“The Lord himself will go ahead of you. He will be with you. He will never leave you. He’ll never desert you. So don’t be afraid. Don’t lose hope.”“

Deuteronomy 31:8 NIRV

(This photo was taken in August of 2021 at a field near Kimball, Minnesota)

Seek First His Kingdom

May 19, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Matthew 6:33 NIV

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸Come near to God and he will come near to you.”

James 4:7-8 NIV

The most important part of our lives is our faith…put and keep first things first. When we put our trust in Him first and not as a last resort our faith will grow and our path will be clear. Choose to believe and put your relationship with the Lord first in your life.

We Believe by Newsboys

DSC_0005 publish

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

John 3:16-17 NIV

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

Rest In Him

May 16, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“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

“In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, Lord,
make me dwell in safety.”

Psalm 4:8 NIV

Jesus calls us to rest and to learn from Him and His Way. He set the example for us and provides guidance throughout God’s Word. Trust in Him and come to Him and you will find rest for your soul. Amen.

DSC_0323 publish

“Do 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 4:6-7 NIV

(This photo was taken in July of 2021 in Rocky Monuntain National Park in Colorado)

God Is Our Strength

May 15, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a 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.”

Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV

What is on your heart and mind? What is it that drains your energy? What worry, concern or circumstance is all consuming in your life? Bring it to God. Open up your communication with the Lord…tell Him what it is…talk to Him about it. Put your trust in Him for every aspect of your life…He is with you and He is for you…even though you have tried to go your own way. Read God’s Word and seek Him…for He is our strength. Amen.

DSC_0271 publish