The Peacemakers

August 14, 2019 / mcalcagno / 1 Comment

Our faith journey is a process without a ending point. As we learn about Jesus and we read God’s Word the process begins by helping us transform on the inside…we open our hearts and minds to Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit becomes our guide. This is not the end of the process…as we continue to learn and grow the intention is for us to have this Spirit of peace and goodness flow through us to our neighbors and others. We are not saved just to be saved alone…we are to become a channel of God’s peace every day. The Light of Christ should shine through us so that others can see God in who we are and what we do. Think about it…in what other person in your life have you seen God shining through? May we be comforted by God’s peace. Amen.

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“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

Matthew 5:9

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

Turbulence

August 12, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We are quick to conform to the world view of life and the world perspective. Many of us believe it is bad when something unexpected happens and the world tells us this a bad thing. This perspective has largely chosen to ignore God and His Word. The foundation of our faith is Jesus Christ and His life, death and resurrection. This is from God…the human race cannot conceive and complete what God’s plan is without God. When we encounter turbulence in life and things are getting bumpy…that is the time to focus on God and pray. Seek Him, seek wisdom and most importantly trust in Him to get you through all the moments of trouble you will encounter in your daily living. Amen.

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“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Romans 12:2

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 while traveling in southern Colorado)

Decisions…

August 11, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Don’t go it alone…don’t assume you have all the information…seek wisdom and knowledge…seek to understand. So often we fail to speak with God about decisions. We believe that God doesn’t care about this insignificant decision or event in my life…yet we know we can’t comprehend God’s infinite knowledge and the ways He is working in our life so who are we to say? I continue to be amazed at where God shows up in life and I only realize it because I am trying to make a conscious effort to pay to attention and ask myself where did I see God today? God is with you and He is working in your life…seek Him and His plan and ask God to help you see when you are making your decisions. 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 at Sapphire Point near Dillon, Colorado)

Forever

August 9, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Give thanks to God for all that is good. When we struggle or get frustrated, we can find hope in His love. We tend to think we know what God’s plan is and we are surprised when things don’t go the way we were heading. Spiritual growth comes from realizing we are not the leaders; we do not know better and if we are willing to listen and seek the will of the Lord, He will lead us to things we never thought possible. Thanks be to God for His everlasting love. Amen.

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“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.”

Psalm 136:1

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

The Same Power

August 7, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

If confess your sins and believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord then the same power that rose Jesus from the grave lives in you. Before Jesus died, He spoke about a Counselor that will come once He ascends and that this Spirit will be our guide. Take a look at the Gospel of John 14:15-21…we are not left alone to fend for ourselves. The Lord is with us and we must learn to trust Him and turn to Him regarding every aspect of our lives. Believe in the power of God, surrender your plans to God and seek His plan and trust in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord and you will find peace. Amen.

Same Power by Jeremy Camp

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“And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.”

Romans 8:11

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

Be Courageous

August 6, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Faith takes courage, to believe in what we hope for and not what we see. It takes courage to trust, even when we are unsure how things will turn out. The world may call you foolish, in fact based on the bible, you should expect it. It will take courage to stay on your faith journey when things get hard or don’t go the way you want…what you need to focus on is Jesus Christ and God’s Word. God is with you…trust in Him, seek His will and be courageous. Amen.

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“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

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

Self-less

August 4, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

One of the most tragic afflictions of our time is selfishness. The me first with a lack of consideration for others attitude, constantly assessing my place in the world compared to others and then determining my own value based on what others think about me. This perspective pushes God to the side and puts me first as the top priority. This has always been an affliction on human society and it seems to have grown exponentially since the explosion of social media. One of the world’s greatest needs right now is more humility. Imagine the impact on human relationships when people are looking to lift others up instead of tearing them down. I am not suggesting we ignore self-care rather we put God first to guide us in the way we live. I pray that we all take time to be humble and serve others more than we look to be served. May God’s peace be with you. Amen.

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“Do nothing out of selfish ambition of vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Philippians 2:3-4

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

A Servant Spirit

August 3, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Many of our frustrations, arguments and troubles in life originate in selfishness…either our own selfishness or because of somebody else’s selfish desires or wants. The only thing we have the power to change is ourselves. So how can anyone ever get along? It starts with listening, compassion, and a willingness to work for the good of many not just a few. None of us can attain this attitude of the Spirit without a strong personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Seek Him, learn about Him and follow His example. Amen.

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“Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

Mark 9:35

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

If God Is For Us…

July 31, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

What more could we possibly need? He is our Creator. The Old Testament tells us about the back and forth relationship between the people and God. Eventually God decides there is only One way to save us and because of His great love for us, it is finished. God tried many different ways to have relationships with people and Jesus Christ knows what it is like to be human in this world. God knows you; He knows more about you than you realize and He loves you. All that is good comes from God, He is with you and His plan is for good things in your life and even though things will go wrong because of sin in the world, He will still be with you to strengthen you and encourage you to keep going, keep trying and keep trusting in Him. Seek out God and His plan and you will find peace. Amen.

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“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us,who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”

Romans 8:31-32

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

Gratitude

July 26, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

There was only one way for sin to be properly punished and for the human race to have the opportunity for salvation. When Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane with His disciples, He hit a very low point as a human…He knew what was about to happen worse yet He knew it was the only way to salvation for the world. Jesus knows what it is like to struggle and suffer in this world and He prayed that God would remove Him from the situation…yet then He prayed something very few of us have ever prayed…He said, …“My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” (Matthew 26:42) He offered Himself to God and God’s plan, for that we can have nothing but gratitude for Jesus Christ and His willingness to die for us. Amen.

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