Rest

Make Time For Rest

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

The pace of life always seems to be increasing and so we must make a conscious effort to live a balanced and healthy life. This includes more than eating right and physical exercise…we must also spend time nurturing our mind and our spirit. If we are always running at peak energy and activity we will eventually crash and the constant high high’s and low low’s is taxing on every part of who we are. Strive for balance…make time to go to a quiet place and rest. Jesus knows this is important for us and spoke about it in the Gospels. Follow His example…make time for rest. Amen.

“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.””

Mark 6:31

““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.””

Matthew 11:28-30

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

Recharge

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Spend time alone with God in prayer.  Focus on your relationship with Him and your relationships with others.  When you pray don’t worry about using the right words, be open and honest with the Lord and speak from your heart…then sit quietly alone and listen…focusing your mind on Christ alone.  Do this every day and you will feel the nourishment of your soul, the unexplainable sensation of peace will wash over you and your spirit will be renewed.  Recharge your spirit each day and God’s peace be with you.  Amen.

DSC_0041 publish

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:4-7

(This photo was taken in April of 2020 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Put Your Hope In God

/ mcalcagno / 1 Comment

Originally posted in December of 2018…

Good morning.  Welcome to a new day.  There are many things happening in your life today, yet God is still with you because He loves you.  Sharing the lyrics and music of the song on my mind this morning.  Here is “Find Rest” by Francesca Battistelli

“Find Rest”

He never sleeps, He never slumbers
He’s been awake at every hour
No tear catches Him by surprise
He’s never lost, He never runs out
He never lives in the shadows of doubt
No fear catches Him by surpriseFind rest my soul
Put your hope in God
Put your hope, put your hope in God

He always is, He always will be
He always has been everything I need
How can this be catching me by surprise
He’s ever strong, He’s ever faithful
His love is real, now nothing is impossible
‘Cause nothing catches Him by surprise

Find rest my soul
Put your hope in God
Put your hope, put your hope in GodI close my eyes, and I can see
The arms of mercy holding me
I close my eyes, and I can see
The arms of Jesus holding me

Find rest my soul
Put your hope in God
Put your hope, put your hope in GodPut your hope in God
Put your hope in God

Songwriters: Francesca Battistelli / Ian Eskelin / Jared Anderson
Find Rest lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc, Capitol Christian Music Group

 

DSC_0166 publish

“Why are you downcast, O my soul?  Why so disturbed within me?  Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”

Psalm 42:11

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

Rest…Restoration

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30

IMG_20180730_062020 publish

“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.
29 He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
31 but 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

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

My Soul Finds Rest

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Truly my soul finds rest in God;
    my salvation comes from him.
2 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”

Psalm 62:1-2

DSC_0376 publish (2)

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30

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

He Will Renew Their Strength

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When you become tired and weary…frustrated and exasperated…looking for answers and your mind is swirling with questions…turn towards the Lord.  Focus on Him, bring Him your worries and your burdens…He will help to quiet your mind and bring peace to your spirit.  The Lord is a refuge for those who seek Him and nothing in this world can take His place.  Amen.

DSC_0888 publish

“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.
29 He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
31 but 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

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

The End Of The Beginning…

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Just when we think all is lost and we are struggling to know what to do…imagine how His disciples felt the day after He was crucified and before the resurrection…we must remember that with God all things are possible and if we wait and trust in Him, He will do good things, things we never thought were possible in our lives.  Amen.

End of the Beginning by David Phelps

DSC_1416 publish

“Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54 It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.”

Luke 23:50-54

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Arches National Park in Utah)

Rest For Your Soul

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Trust…confidence…belief…assurance…faith.  God is greater than any virus or economic issue.  We can put our trust in God…this does not mean we sit on our hands and do nothing waiting for God.  We need to continue to do good things…we need to pray, to help those who are in need, we need to be kind, humble, patient and shine the Light of Christ through our thoughts, words and our actions.  Spend time living the way Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord taught us to live and you will find rest for your soul.  Amen.

2012 224 publish

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30

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

Rest With Him

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

What can we do…where can we go…to get a moment of rest?  True rest and refreshment of your mind, body and spirit is found when we take time to rest with God.  It can be in prayer, reading God’s Word or even just sitting quietly in a peaceful environment.  There are these and many more ways to spend time in your relationship with God…how you do this is between you and Him…if you do this, well that is all up to you.  Take time to rest with Him.  Amen.

DSC07416 publish

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30

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

Rest In Him

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Jesus invites us to come to Him…to bring all our worries and our burdens and lay them down at the foot of the Cross and trust in Him.  In this world that is filled with sinful thoughts, words and actions we all end up with a large load of burdens…some we are meant to carry…others are not meant for us to carry yet we take them upon ourselves anyways.  Then we think we can carry these burdens around all by ourselves and everything will be alright.  One of the most prominent messages in the bible is that of surrender…to know and to believe that God can do more good things with troubles and burdens than we ever thought possible.  It starts with our ability to surrender and trust in the Lord.  May the peace of the Lord be with you.  Amen.

DSC01031 publish

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30

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