Trust In The Lord

November 30, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We struggle…we despair…we want things this way or that way…it is not up to us. We must learn to trust in God the Father our Creator, Jesus Christ, His one and only Son who saved us and the Holy Spirit, who guides us. God is love and He is working out all things for our good. Trust in the Lord. I pray for the courage and confidence to bring my worries and anxieties to the Lord. Amen.

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

Romans 12:12

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Accept One Another

November 29, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

In our broken and fallen world, it seems everybody is a judge of someone. One of the principles of being kind and having compassion is rooted in the fact that we as humans don’t know everything we think we know about other people. We are not created to judge one another…we are created to bear the Fruits of the Spirit to one another. There are several examples in the New Testament of how Jesus treated those that the rest of society had cast aside. We would do well to follow His example. I pray for the wisdom and courage to accept others for who they are and who God created them to be. Amen.

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“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Accept on another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”

Romans 15:5-7

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

Prayer

November 28, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Honest…thoughtful…sincere…heartfelt…engaging…communication in relationship that involves talking and listening. Prayer like this is the kind that nurtures and supports spiritual growth and actual change because its foundation is belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. It is important to make time each day and offer up heartfelt, sincere prayers and spend part of that time listening…to clear your mind of the day to day items and see where your thoughts go. A relationship can only grow and get stronger if we are willing to commit and invest time in it. May we all be moved to prayer by our faith in Jesus Christ who gave all He had to reconcile us with God. Amen.

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“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

(This photo was taken in October of 2014 on the north shore of the island of Maui, Hawaii)

He Gives Us Strength

November 27, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When we feel weak and tired…when frustrations seem overwhelming…when the way forward is difficult or unknown. God the Father, Jesus Christ His one and only Son and the Holy Spirit lift us up and renew us. Everything and anything in life is going to better when God is at the center of our lives. Spending time in devotions and prayer, reading God’s Word these are ways to build your relationship with Jesus. The more our relationship grows the more we begin to sense His presence in our lives which can lead us to courage and strength at times when we need it most. We were never promised a life of faith would be easy…the promise is “…he will never leave you nor forsake you.” –Deuteronomy 31:6 The Lord is good and He is the provider of all we need. I pray we seek the will of the Lord and trust in Him. Amen.

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“I can do all things through him who gives me strength.”

Philippians 4:13

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

A Christmas List

November 26, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Often this time of year people of all ages are asked by someone “what do you want for Christmas this year?” For younger children in large families ‘a list’ of Christmas wishes may be created. Think for a moment if you were to make a list of Christmas wishes or desires this year. What would go on the list? Would your list have needs or wants on it? How much time would be spent of thinking about your list for this Christmas? As we grow older how does your perspective change? Think about your list and think about what would be on it if you share it with Jesus? As many of you know I am a big fan of music and it’s impact when you really listen to the story of the song…and yes I do really enjoy Christmas music. I am mot referring to the songs of the children’s tales like Rudolph and Frosty but the spiritual Christmas music. Amy Grant recorded a song in 1992 entitled “The Grown-Up Christmas List” I am sharing the lyrics and a link to the song. May we all spend time reflecting on our own list and sharing it with Christ. Amen.

My Grown Up Christmas List

Do you remember me
I sat upon your knee
I wrote to you with childhood fantasies
Well I’m all grown up now
And still need help somehow
I’m not a child but my heart still can dream

So here’s my lifelong wish
My grown up Christmas list
Not for myself but for a world in need
No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end, no
This is my grown up Christmas list

As children we believe
The grandest sight to see
Was something lovely wrapped beneath the tree
But Heaven only knows
That packages and bows
Can never heal a heart-ached human soul

No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end, no
This is my grown up Christmas list

What is this illusion called the innocence of youth
Maybe only in our blind belief can we ever find the truth

Songwriters: Linda Thompson / David Foster

My Grown Up Christmas List lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Luke 12:34

(This photo was taken in December of 2013 while on a walk in northwestern Wisconsin)

Grace

November 23, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

This has been defined as the unmerited favor and love of God. It is because of the grace of God we can be saved. Along our faith journey we will trip, we will stumble and we will get knocked down by sin and the sinful nature. It is not a matter of if this will happen, rather it is about when it happens how do we choose to respond? God’ grace provides us a way to get back up, to keep trying to do better. The bible is filled with examples of people who stumbled significantly in their lives, we are not alone in our mistakes. Jesus Christ came to save them and to save you and me. No matter what the struggle is, no matter what level of darkness you feel like you are surrounded by…God’s grace is for you too. He loves you and He sent His Son to give you the way back to Him and His love for you. I pray we trust in God’s grace and love to guide us in overcoming all obstacles and for His way to lead us in our lives. Amen.

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“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Ephesians 2:10

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

Doing Good

November 21, 2018 / mcalcagno / 2 Comments

Patience…Persistence…Perseverance…Consistent…Helpful…Supportive…Kind. It can be difficult to sustain an attitude that focuses on good things. There is darkness and evil lurking everywhere in the world. When we state our belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and profess our faith that He is our Lord and Savior we will receive the Holy Spirit within us. The Holy Spirit along with the Word of God can be our foundation to stand on for doing good things and serving the needs of others. God is love and He has poured out His love to us through His One and Only Son. Let’s be grateful for His love, His mercy, His grace and His forgiveness and keep our courage up to do good things. Amen.

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“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 6:9

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 while traveling through Utah)

Questions

November 20, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

So many questions in our hearts and minds every day. We must be careful not to let them overcome us. We should bring our questions to the Lord in prayer and listen for Him to guide us. He is the light for our path. Whatever is troubling you this day, take it to the Cross and live. May we seek the will of the Lord everywhere we go. Amen.

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“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 along Beartooth Pass in Montana)

There Is Hope…

November 13, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Where can you apply this phrase in your life? We get tired, we get frustrated and we get discouraged…and when this occurs it is important to remember with God all things are possible, even if and especially if we can’t see the way ahead or we can’t figure out how this is going to change or get better. Because there is hope we can keep going, keep trying, keep giving our best to that situation in our life…we persevere because there is hope. With God the most desperate time in human history when Jesus Christ was crucified, died and was buried became the greatest event of Good News. He was this baby born on Christmas morning who brought peace, healing and joy…He became a man performing miracles everywhere He went and then…He was gone…I can’t imagine what it must have been like for those days between His death and His resurrection. But because Jesus Christ has risen and He lives there is always Hope! May we all be strengthened and encouraged by the hope God has poured out for us through Jesus Christ. Amen.

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“And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love in to our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”

Romans 5:5

(This photo was taken in December of 2013 on a walk in northwestern Wisconsin)

We Are Not Alone

November 12, 2018 / mcalcagno / 2 Comments

Not only is God with us each day and everywhere we go, He has also put other people in our lives. Think about the people in your life. I read this morning about three types of relationships…people we minister to and we receive very little from…people who minister to us and we give them very little back…and the people closest to us, the ones who nourish us and our spirit and we nourish them and their spirit equally. Who are the people in these groups for you? One is your ministry to others, the second is someone else’s ministry to you and the third group…these are the people that are with you during your highest highs and your lowest lows, the ones you want to notify first when something happens. We need to be sure we are investing the majority of our time and energy in the third group, after all it is God who put them there to assist us and for us to assist them no matter what may come our way. I pray we all reflect and recognize who “our people” are and we strive to give them our best. Amen.

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