Let Go

December 17, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

The more we fill our lives with fear, shame, guilt, anger, bitterness and all our sins, the less room we have for the Fruits of the Spirit from God. We must learn to let go of the worldly ways and worldly values that are holding us back and telling us lies. In order to receive the goodness of the Lord we must open our hearts and minds to Him…it is a journey we all must take and Jesus Christ is waiting for each one of us to turn towards Him, because He is the only One who knows The Way. Amen.

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“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³²Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Ephesians 4:31-32

(This photo was taken in August of 2012 while hiking along the North Shore of Lake Superior)

It Will Come…

December 16, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

What have you been praying for but have not yet seen? Is it for you or someone else? Peace? Patience? Joy? A changed heart? For me, the hardest part of faith is surrender, trying to do my part for God’s plan and not trying to do too much to attempt to control the timing or the outcome of circumstances. Today’s verse below speaks directly to these times when we may feel frustrated and impatient. Trust the Lord and do good things…He has only good things planned for you. Amen.

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“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Romans 12:12

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on the shore of Lake Superior near Ashland, Wisconsin)

A Giving Mindset

November 29, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

The holiday season is a time to remind us to be grateful and to share with others where and when we are able. The challenge is to maintain a level of a giving mindset throughout the whole year. It is easy to slip into a self-oriented mindset for numerous reasons…the ability to stand firm and to change your perspective is possible by building and growing your relationship with Jesus Christ, every day. He knows what it means to sacrifice for others, He knows how to have compassion and to be humble even when, especially when we don’t deserve it. Ask God to help you find and maintain a giving mindset throughout the holiday season and beyond. May we all find moments of peace and joy and opportunities to help those in need. Amen.

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“Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”

Romans 12:13

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 while driving through Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)

Give Thanks To God

November 28, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Happy Thanksgiving! Take time today to give your thanks to God. Amen.

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“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

²    Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come before him with joyful songs.
³Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he who made us, and we are his;
    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

⁴Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise;
    give thanks to him and praise his name.
⁵For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
    his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

Psalm 100

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

Spiritual Renewal

November 23, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Our spiritual life, our souls rely on being fed and nourished just like our physical bodies. If we take time to feed our faith, ask questions, seek to learn and grow through many activities, we are encouraged and our faith can grow stronger. If we set aside our faith and seek only self-satisfying activity our faith will be weak, withered and unable to stand up against sin and destructive behaviors. This is not about fitting time with God into our lives, rather it is surrendering and having God lead us and guide us to the people and activities that need us. Spend time with the Lord each day and be renewed by His presence. Amen.

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“One thing I ask from the Lord,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek him in his temple.”

Psalm 27:4

(This photo was taken in April of 2016 at a lake in central Minnesota)

A Prayer

November 22, 2019 / mcalcagno / 1 Comment

There are many people written about in God’s word. They were people with lives on earth and time after time we read about the things they did in their life…they did some really bad things…lived sinful lives and hurt themselves and each other…scroll through your social media feed…turn on the a news channel…how are we any different today? We all have the same human sickness…sin and sinful behaviors. One person in the Old Testament, David, is described in Acts 13:22 as ‘a man after God’s heart’ this same man committed terrible sins when it came to a woman named Bathsheba. When confronted about his sin David wrote the words of Psalm 51 as a prayer for forgiveness of his sins. I find verses 10-12 of this Psalm powerful verses to memorize as a prayer when you are tempted by sin. May God’s grace and peace be with you. Amen.

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“Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
¹¹Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.
¹²Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”

Psalm 51:10-12

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)

Prioritize

November 21, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Put first things first…when you don’t know what to do…when a decision is lingering and you are procrastinating…turn towards God’s word and pray. The more we put our relationship with Jesus first, the better we will be able to function in our daily lives. Too often, we want to keep God in a box off to the side with a sign that states ‘In Case of Emergency Break Glass.’ God wants more of a relationship with you every day, for every part of your life. Assess your relationship with the Lord and make spending time with Him top priority. May the peace and joy of the Lord be with you. Amen.

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“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Matthew 6:31-34

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 on a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

Keep Doing Good Things

November 20, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Not for your benefit, rather for the benefit of helping others. We reap what we sow in this life. This does not mean we can earn our way into heaven by doing the right things…it means whatever we give out into the world will come back around to us at some point and none of us knows or can control how or when that will happen. This is further proof that God is in control and it is our responsibility to choose our behaviors and our actions in our daily life. We cannot control what others will think, say or do, yet we can control how we respond. Let’s choose to keep doing good things. May the Fruit of the Spirit flow through us each day. Amen.

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“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Galatians 6:7-9

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado)

Love And Serving Others

November 4, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Love is so much more than a feeling…it is actions and behaviors. It is about looking at the needs of those you love and being willing to serve them…not so you can keep score…rather, you serve them out of love and care for them. To live and serve in love is not about expecting something in return, that is something the world is teaching. The world will always push the selfish mentality in relationships which fails. Be willing to serve in love because you know and trust that God will provide for your needs. Amen.

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“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

(This photo was taken in October of 2014 at the Nakalele Blow Hole on the island of Maui, Hawaii)

Pray

November 3, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When you don’t know what else to do…when you are grateful for what you have been given…when things are going well…when things are not going well…pray. God wants a relationship with us, through every part of life…the good, the difficult, the peaceful times as much as the stressful times. The best relationships are built on communication with one another. Turn towards God in prayer…open up your heart and trust in Him…He loves you; He cares for you and He is waiting to hear from you. Amen.

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