Do Your Best

January 15, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

The struggle is real…we strive and we press to finish and to see the result…only to find the race is not over…there is more that needs to be done. We were made for community to lift each other up and encourage one another. Each of us has been given different gifts to offer to others, we can’t be everything to everyone and if we try, we will be going off course with God’s plan. Learn what God has planned for you and the blessings and abilities He has given to you for this life. Seek to do your best according to God’s will and you will find peace. Amen.

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“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ²fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Hebrews 12:1-3

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 at Sapphire Point near Dillon, Colorado)

Our Call

January 13, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

How do we know what God is calling us to do? For life decisions and direction? If we use the world’s measuring stick of ‘what we should do’ we risk missing God’s will entirely. To follow our call is to surrender self-serving desires, to be humble and patient and to have a foundation of a faith that is built on our personal relationship with Jesus Christ. That is what I have learned so far…nobody ever said it was going to be easy. We will face trouble and struggles of every kind in life and if we are willing to stand firm on the foundation of faith, we will persevere. Amen.

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“For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.”

1 Thessalonians 4:7

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

Commitments

January 9, 2020 / mcalcagno / 2 Comments

How do we get better at staying the course? This New Year’s resolution business is almost always a path to failure. Some of the most common mistakes is over-committing to too many things or setting unrealistic goals and achievements as well as a lack of patience for change in this fast paced, immediately gratification world. The biggest mistake we make is either not asking God to guide us or not listening and looking for His will for our lives. We are easily distracted and believe we have to maintain everything on our own. The best change we can make is turning towards God first in all aspects of our lives. Amen.

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“Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans.”

Proverbs 16:3

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

Hope

January 8, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

There is always hope…if you can’t see it or don’t believe it…look again. Life is not about whether or not hope exists, rather it is about what you see and what you believe…there is always hope. If you don’t believe it maybe you are looking for it in the wrong place…have you ever lost something where you live, like keys or something similar and you are certain of the last place you saw them and you scour the area all around with no luck? Then eventually you find them in a completely different place that has nothing to do with your original thought? If you don’t see hope or don’t believe it exists you may be looking for it in the wrong place…pick up a bible and read, turn towards Jesus Christ and pray and you will find hope. Amen.

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“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

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 while traveling through North Dakota)

His Word

January 7, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When we read His Word, we learn…when we read His Word, we are renewed…when we read His Word, we are encouraged…when we read His Word, we feel His love. I recently came upon another way to enjoy God’s Word. It is an app called the “Bible Lens”…when you download this app onto your phone it will look through your pictures and try to align a bible verse to your photos and create a new image with God’s Word on it. As you can expect some have been “just ok” and others have been amazing. Here is a photo from my phone regarding God’s Word…

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Make time and find ways to enjoy the Word of God in your daily life. Peace be with you. Amen.

“Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path.”

Psalm 119:105

(This photo was taken in August of 2018 on a golf course in northwestern Wisconsin. The bible verse creation is courtesy of the Bible Lens App)

Perspective

January 2, 2020 / mcalcagno / 2 Comments

Outlook…viewpoint…position…approach…frame of mind…attitude. What feeds your perspective? What are you consuming with your eyes, your ears and your mind? What experience or experiences are framing your view? All of these are inputs into your perspective and they shape your attitude. If we choose to allow our point of view to be shaped by what goes on around us in a world filled with me first, self-centered, get more attitudes we will become like the world. The best defense is to build a foundation within your heart and mind that is based on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We can’t stop the world from trying to influence us, yet we can choose to turn away from the sin and run towards our Savior and Lord. Jesus said;

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

Begin or continue to build a strong foundation for your everyday life…trust in the Lord and you will find peace. Amen.

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

Romans 8:28

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

Questions

December 30, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

If you want to know the answers, you must be willing to ask the questions. If you have questions for God, Jesus encourages us to ask…seek Him and then pay attention for the response. Keep in mind He doesn’t answer questions the way we want, much like a parent doesn’t answer every child’s question the way the child wants. God loves you; He is with you and He wants good things for you…He has proven that by sending His only Son into the world to die on a cross for you. As we reflect and look ahead at this time of the year…look for where you have seen God in your life, give thanks and ask Him the questions you truly want to know the answers too. Amen.

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“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ⁸For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Matthew 7:7-8

(This photo was taken in March of 2018 in White Sands National Park in New Mexico)

Choices

December 26, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Which race are you running? The one the world lays out that is chasing after money, possessions and status among this world or the race that has been marked out for you by God? God’s gift of free will does give us a choice…it is important to keep in mind that all choices come with a cost. The world’s race has been called the ‘rat race’ and in order to run that race we have to make choices that leaves a trail of broken relationships…if we choose to pursue the race that God has marked out for us we will be persecuted by others for not conforming to the way of the world. Neither race is easier than the other, the biggest difference is that in choosing the race that God has marked out for us we will never be running alone and most importantly when it comes to the end of our race where we end up is significantly different. Seek God’s wisdom for the path that you are on and the race that you are running. Amen.

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Hebrews 12:1-2

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota)

Thanks Be To God

December 22, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

There is hope…even at times when it feels like there is no hope…God is still on the throne in heaven and even though things don’t go the way we want them to, or how we want them to, or things don’t happen when we want…we still have hope for the future because of Jesus Christ. No matter where you are or what is happening or not happening in your life, look around your life for what is good, look for what you can be grateful for and give thanks to God. Amen.

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“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Corinthians 15:57

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on Lake Superior near the Apostle Islands)

The Name Of The Lord

December 20, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

This time of year can be joyful and it can be painful…depending on your journey and the road you have traveled to get here. The message of Christmas is the same today as it was thousands of years ago back in that manger. Jesus Christ was born; the Savior has come to save us all from all of our sins. He came to save all of us no matter who we are or where we came from, He came to save us no matter what we have done or what we have left undone…it is never too late to turn towards Jesus Christ, accept Him as your Savior and Lord and confess your sins. He knows you; He loves you and He is waiting to hear from you. May the peace of the Lord be with you. Amen.

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