Seek Him First

March 9, 2025 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Matthew 6:33 NIV

Jesus Christ…He sacrificed Himself to save you

No matter what has happened in your life, no matter what you have done or left undone

He is waiting for you with open arms…to forgive you and restore you

He is ready to do that for you and for others in your life because He loves you and He loves them too

Jesus Christ is the way…He is the only way to fellowship with God

The Way by Housefires

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“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6 NIV

(This photo was taken near Glacier National Park in Montana)

Advent Reflections – Peace

December 8, 2024 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

Colossians 3:15 NIV

In this world peace is defined as the absence of conflict

The biblical definition of peace is more expansive and is speaking about having completeness or wholeness

It is referred to as the taking of something that is broken and making it complete once again

Jesus gives us peace by taking our broken relationship with God because of our sin and restores it to completeness by His sacrifice on the Cross

We can learn about this peace by spending time in God’s Word and doing daily devotions

Find whatever resource works best for you to spend time studying and learning about Jesus

May the peace of God be with you and flow through you each day

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“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 14:27 NIV

(This photo was taken in the Black Hills in western South Dakota)

Surrender

October 24, 2024 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. ²⁴For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”

Luke 9:23-24 NIV

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Galatians 2:20 NIV

His way is better than our ways

He is the Creator of all things and all people

He knows what you are going through and He cares for you

Turn towards God and trust in Him

I Give You My Heart – Hillsong Worship & Delirious?

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“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ²Do 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 12:1-2 NIV

(This photo was taken at the High Falls in Tettegouche State Park in northern Minnesota)

Transformation

September 13, 2024 / mcalcagno / 2 Comments

Romans 12:1-2 NIV

Change…conversion…overhaul…renew…remake

A transformation in the spiritual life means recognizing who and what we are and then humbly admitting that we need to be made new again

We must be willing to admit we are broken, helplessly chasing after the sinful nature…once we see and know the conviction of sin, we have the opportunity to be redeemed, renewed, and restored

A relationship with Jesus Christ is the Way to transformation, seek Him

May God bless you with wisdom and peace

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“I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.”

Ezekiel 11:19 NIV

(This photo was taken in a neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Rest With Him

September 11, 2024 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

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

Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

As the summer is winding down and the schedule of activities and places to be cranks up, it is important to be consistent in taking time to rest in between the coming and going

Making time and having a place to rest…truly rest…time to pray, read scripture and recharge your mind and spirit is so important

We can’t be all things for all people all the time…been there, failed at that

Even Jesus would make time to rest His mind and body…why do we think we could do more than Him?

Seek Him and ask Him to help you find rest in your daily activities

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“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 NIV

(This photo was taken while walking on the North Shore of Lake Superior)

Rest And Renew

September 2, 2024 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

We are not in control of what happens in the world

The daily news and events make that abundantly clear

The only thing we can control is how we choose to respond to things that do happen

The best thing we can do is turn towards Jesus

Give thanks to the Lord for the good things and ask for help and guidance for the difficult things

We don’t know and can’t control what will happen tomorrow yet we can trust in Him who sits on the throne of heaven

It is by drawing near to Him that we can find rest and be renewed

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“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 NIV

(This photo was taken in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming)

Rest…Hope…Joy…Peace

May 8, 2024 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

The Heart Of Worship by Michael W Smith

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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 NIV

(This photo was taken while visiting Rocky Mountain National Park)

Live Differently

May 2, 2024 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father^[a] is not in them. ¹⁶For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. ¹⁷The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”

1 John 2:15-17 NIV

“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 NIV

Father God, forgive me for the times I have not be “all in.” Forgive me for the ways I have turned away from You physically, spiritually and emotionally. It You are not the center of my life, nothing else matters. Please lead me to live differently. Show me how to live a life that draws near to You and is devoted to honoring You and loving others. In Jesus name, Amen.

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“But that is not the way of life in Christ that you learned about. ²¹You heard about Christ and were taught about life in him. What you learned was the truth about Jesus. ²²You were taught not to live the way you used to. You must get rid of your old way of life. That’s because it has been made impure by the desire for things that lead you astray. ²³You were taught to be made new in your thinking. ²⁴You were taught to start living a new life. It is created to be truly good and holy, just as God is.”

Ephesians 4:20-24 NIRV

(This photo was taken at Falls Park near Sioux Falls, South Dakota)

Saved By Grace

March 11, 2024 / mcalcagno / 1 Comment

⁴But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. ⁶And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”

Ephesians 2:4-7 NIV

Father God, I sometimes struggle to give myself grace. It can be hard to forgive myself for things I have done, yet I know that You have forgiven me. Knowing that You have forgiven me, I can forgive myself. I ask You for wisdom to learn and understand Your Word and Your truth about grace. I give You thanks for Your mercy and grace that has saved me. In Jesus name, Amen.

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⁸For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV

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

Surrender and Rest

March 9, 2024 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. ²⁴For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.”

Luke 9:23-24 NIV

Father God, please show us what in our lives we are withholding from You. We want to live fully surrendered. Teach us how to prioritize following You and loving others. No matter how hard it may be, we want to daily deny our self-focused desires and seek You first. In Jesus name. Amen.

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