Consider Him…

January 29, 2026 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Hebrews 12:3 NIV

When you are tired and run down or discouraged and defeated, consider Him…

When you are frustrated or angry with others, consider Him…

When you feel like there is no hope, consider Him…

Consider Him who endured death on a cross between two thieves, for us…

Consider Him who was spit on and had a crown of thorns pushed onto His head, for us…

Consider Him who had His beard plucked out and gave His back to the whip, for us…

And consider Him who gave His blood and His life for us

He did it because He loves you and He wants good things for you

Turn your attention towards Him and give Him thanks, then you will find peace

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

Philippians 4:4-7 NIV

(This photo was taken near Colorado Springs, Colorado)

Transformation

January 23, 2026 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,”^[a] that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: ⁹If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

Romans 10:8-10 NIV

Transformation is real

Confess your sins…Believe in your heart…and Pray

Some examples in the Bible of transformations…the woman at the well in John 4

Saul becomes Paul in Acts 9

God wants a relationship with you

Make time to be with Him

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

Galatians 2:20 NIV

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

He Is Worthy

January 20, 2026 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

John 3:16-17 NIV

As we travel on the journey of faith, we will encounter questions and doubts along the way

That is natural and it is ok

We need to remember that the one simple truth of faith is that Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself to save us and reconcile us to God because He loves us

His love for us will conquer every battle in our lives

He is worthy of our thanks and praise

Thank you God, for your Son Jesus Christ!

Is He Worthy? by Chris Tomlin

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“In a loud voice they were saying:

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”

Revelation 5:12 NIV

(This photo was taken in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)

Troubles Can Be Overwhelming

January 19, 2026 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12 NIV

Our thoughts are often the driver of our hearts and our actions

The more we think about and focus on something, the more likely it will lead us to doing something

The problem is the amount of inputs and sensory overload we are getting from darkness and evil tend to keep us dwelling on our sins and the sinful nature within us

It truly is a struggle and can be all consuming

The only source of Light is Jesus Christ

The only way to get help in removing our blinders to goodness and good things is God’s Word

Faith will not make the evil and darkness disappear, rather it provides the tools and the resources we need to get through difficult times and promote the Fruit of the Spirit

Faith helps us shine the Light of Christ for us and others to see in this dark world

Thanks be to God for Jesus Christ our Light of the World

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“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Romans 12:21 NIV

(This photo was taken on Lake Superior near the Apostle Islands)

Greater Is He

January 18, 2026 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

1 John 4:4 NIV

Make it a priority in your life to spend time with Jesus Christ your Savior and Lord

He has conquered all things

Nothing you are facing or will face in your life is greater then Him

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“He must become greater; I must become less.”

John 3:30 NIV

(This photo was taken at sunrise by a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

Jesus

January 13, 2026 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

John 3:17 NIV

We are saved because of Him

We are forgiven

We can find joy, peace and contentment in life because of Him

Even when we have turned away from God, maybe for a long period of time because we are frustrated or mad or we have been overcome with doubt and fear

He calls to us, He cares for us and He is The Way back to a relationship with God

The things of this world will come and go…time, money, people and friendships

The one constant for us, the one thing we know we can rely upon no matter what is happening or where we are in life…we can always rely on the love of Jesus Christ

Give Me Jesus by Jeremy Camp

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“…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

John 10:10 NIV

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

Living Hope

January 12, 2026 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

John 8:36 NIV

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“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, ⁵who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁷These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. ⁸Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

1 Peter 1:3-9 NIV

(This photo was taken while traveling in southern New Mexico)

Life Through Christ

January 6, 2026 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“God made him who had no sin to be sin^[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:^[a] The old has gone, the new is here!”

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

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“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ²Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

Colossians 3:1-2 NIV

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

How We Live Each Day

January 5, 2026 / mcalcagno / 2 Comments

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 7:12 NIV

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.“

John 15:12-13 NIV

Jesus lived His life as an example we can follow for how we live

Love and honor God

Love and serve one another

Share the Good News of the Gospel

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. ³⁰And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹Get 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 4:29-32 NIV

(This photo was taken at St. Croix State Park in northern Minnesota)