This Is Love

November 14, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Sacrifice…Savior…Salvation. The actions of God through Jesus Christ were done to save us. We don’t deserve it, we can’t earn it by doing good things, it is given to us. We can accept it; we can stay close to Him by meeting with Him daily and we can do good things to help others to learn and know about Him. May the love of God comfort us today. Amen.

DSC06483 publish

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

1 John 4:10

(This photo was taken in March of 2013 at the Botanical Gardens in the Bellagio in Las Vegas, Nevada)

Peace

November 10, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

In the Gospel of John chapter 14, Jesus speaks of peace. If you have ever wondered ‘where is God in all of this?’ or ‘Where can I find peace?’ True peace requires a new perspective…the words of Jesus in John 14:27 “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.” He comes right out and tells us ‘not as the world gives’…if we are looking for peace according to the world’s values, we will not find peace only heartache and suffering. The one way the only way to find peace is through a committed relationship with Jesus Christ. Turn towards Jesus and away from sin and you will find peace. Amen.

DSC_0993 publish

“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

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

Simple Yet Not Easy

November 6, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

The facts of faith are straightforward, written down in God’s word for all of us. In the Gospels there is a story of the calling of Levi…in Mark 2 starting at verse 13 and in Luke 5 starting at verse 27. It is short and straight to the point, Jesus says two words, “Follow me” and Levi gets up and follows Him, leaving everything behind. It immediately has us asking for more information about the situation, ‘how is this possible?’, ‘they must have known each other before that moment.’ Yet no additional information is provided. Jesus extends the invitation as He does to all of us…“Follow me”…the response to His words is up to each one of us, every day. Do your best and let God take care of the rest. Amen.

DSC_0933 publish

“Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?”

Luke 9:23-25

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

Believe In Your Heart

October 29, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Are we fully committed to putting Christ first in life? Our actions will always speak louder than our words. We know we can never be good enough on our own, yet we seem to keep trying to go our own way. Thank you, God, for your mercy and your grace…because of His great love for us we can return to Him and confess our sins because we believe in our hearts that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who was crucified, died and has risen. I know I struggle often when I reflect on my own actions…the things I have done and the things I have left undone. It is at these moments that I imagine with my mind’s eye, kneeling at the foot of the Cross, laying down my sins and thanking Jesus Christ for His sacrifice. God is with you and me, He loves us and only He can see us through the event in our lives. Amen.

DSC07416 publish

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For 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 10:9-10

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

Humility

October 28, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

One popular quote of the well-known professor and author C.S. Lewis states, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.” It is not about changing your perception of you, rather it is the intentional act of thinking about and considering the interests and needs of others. The life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ was completed in order to reconcile us to God…Jesus Christ had to humble Himself to become like one of us and lay down His life to save us. You may be thinking, ‘that’s pretty extreme humility’ and it is, yet that is how much God loves you and wants to have a relationship with you. Turn towards the Lord and seek humility in your daily life. Amen.

DSC_0080 publish

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

Philippians 2:3-4

(This photo was taken in October of 2018 at a park near Winterset, Iowa)

Our Source For Light

October 23, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When we admit we are broken and sinful and turn to Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord we will begin to learn about the Light of the world. The world is filled with darkness and sin. The thoughts, words and actions of worldly values is centered on the self and a selfish attitude. A life centered on Christ can be a Light in the world when we are willing to surrender our plans for God’s plan. The one true source of Light is God through His Son, Jesus Christ. Trust in Him and you will have joy and peace. Amen.

DSC_0376 publish (2)

“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”

2 Corinthians 4:6

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

He Is Worthy

October 20, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Hello and welcome to another day to worship and sing praise to God. 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…Amen.

Is He Worthy? by Chris Tomlin

DSC_0012 publish

“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

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

Give Thanks

October 14, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

What is on your mind? What thoughts are you stewing on? We easily slip into worries and fears even when things around us are calm and ok. Choose to change your focus…what are you thankful for? Think about yesterday and find what you are thankful for from yesterday. Look at your current surroundings…what type of device are you reading this post on? There are many things to be thankful for each and every day of your life…stop focusing so much time on what you can’t control; like what other people think, say and do. Finally, give thanks to God for His Son, Jesus Christ and the sacrifice that He made to save us. Amen.

DSC_0029-1 publish

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Colossians 3:17

(This photo was taken in July of 2019 at a lake place in northwestern Wisconsin)

Seek Him

October 10, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

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 pick you up, 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. Amen.

The Way by Housefires

DSC_0841 publish

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

John 14:6

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

Compassion

September 20, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Understanding…care…concern…warmth…kindness…gentleness…mercy…love. God’s loves you…He knows everything about you and your life, everything. Even still He loves you and wants to have a relationship with you, so much that He sent His Son as a sacrifice to pay for your sins. Think of it this way…you have committed a crime and you are in a courtroom before the judge, you know what you have done, you know it was wrong…everyone else knows it was you…yet out nowhere a completely innocent man steps forward and says ‘I will take the punishment this person deserves’ and you are set free…that is exactly what God in the form of Jesus Christ has done for you…why? Because that is how much He loves you. Amen.

DSC_1283 publish