Salvation

His Love Endures Forever

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
    slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
    nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
    or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

Psalm 103:8-12 NIV

Forever by Michael W Smith

DSC07419 publish

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.”

Psalm 136:1 NIV

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

Forgiveness

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

1 John 1:8-9 NIV

“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Matthew 6:14-15 NIV

Forgiveness is not saying the pain or the wrong done to us is ok…it is acknowledging that we have been hurt and that we are not going to allow bitterness and anger continue to impact us in the future.  To learn about forgiveness seek wisdom in God’s Word…read or listen to the story of Joseph in the Book of Genesis, chapters 37-50.  See how even when people intend to harm you, God can use it for good.

DSC_0001 publish

“Surely he took up our pain
    and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
    stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
    each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all.”

Isaiah 53:4-6 NIV

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

Savior…Sacrifice…Salvation

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
    each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 53:5-6 NIV

The world tells us to pursue money, comfort and the easy life.  To look out for ourselves and satisfy ourselves first and most often, this is the sinful nature and it has taken hold in many people.  There is a way to be different and to live with purpose and it is based on your personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  He loves you, He gave His life to save you and His way is the only way to God the Father.  Spend time reading God’s Word and learn about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.  May the peace of the Lord be with you.  Amen.

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8 NIV

DSC_0239 publish

“He committed no sin,
    and no deceit was found in his mouth.”[e]

23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,”[f] but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.“

1 Peter 2:22-25 NIV

(This photo was taken in May of 2023 along the North Shore of Lake Superior)

Anything Is Possible

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Matthew 19:26 NIV

Why do we doubt so much?  Why is it so hard for us to believe what may be possible with God?  When we are willing to surrender to His plan and His way in His time, there’s no telling what can happen.  Look at the stories in the bible…Abraham and Sarah had a child they had so longed for when Sarah was 90…the 5000 were fed when all that was available to eat was a few fish and some bread…Lazarus is raised from the dead after being gone for four days…and there are so many more examples.  When God is involved in a situation anything is possible.  We must turn to Him first with whatever we are facing and remember He is not a genie in a bottle who sometimes grants wishes…He is our creator, our savior and our guide who always has good things in store for us.  Trust in the Lord and watch to see what He has in store for you.  May the joy of the Lord be with you.  Amen

DSC_0699 publish

“For nothing is impossible with God.”

Luke 1:37 NIV

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)

A Strong Foundation

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Matthew 7:24-27 NIV

The best things are built by starting out with the development of a strong foundation.  A solid foundation helps to support missteps, mistakes and accidents along the way.  If we try to build something without developing the foundation the endeavor will eventually fail and end up as a pile of rubble.  The foundation of our faith is our relationship and daily interaction with Jesus Christ and the Word of God.  These are the elements that will help us build and grow our spiritual life and sustain us through the most difficult things the world will throw at us.  May the peace of the Lord be with you.  Amen.

Build My Life by Pat Barrett (ft. Cory Asbury)

DSC_0939 publish

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.  My command is this:  Love each other as I have loved you.”

John 15:11-12 NIV

Thank you for reading!  If you are interested in supporting this ministry with a contribution please click here

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

Transformation

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“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. 2 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 12:1-2 NIV

Change…conversion…overhaul…renew…remake.

When someone is transformed, they appear new again.  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.  Amen.

DSC_0018 publish

“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 July of 2018 in a neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Surrender

/ 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. 24 For 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

I Give You My Heart – Hillsong Worship & Delirious?

DSC_0361 publish

“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. 2 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 12:1-2 NIV

(This photo was taken in May of 2020 at the High Falls in Tettegouche State Park in northern Minnesota)

The Door To Your Heart

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

John 10:9-10 NIV

We learn to build walls around the parts of our heart where the deepest and most vulnerable topics and issues, thoughts and feelings are hidden from others.  We believe we are safe keeping these items locked away.  There is a door in these walls and Jesus is on the other side.  He is not locked out, we are locked in…think about this…we do not have to wait and hope that He will find us and help us or save us.  He already knows about these things, He has done what He needed to do to save us.  In His words, it is finished (John 19:30).  We are the ones who need to take the next step, unlock the door to your heart for Jesus and let Him in.  I like many people have been searching for the door in the wall, it takes persistence, discipline and courage to open the door and let go of those things keeping us trapped in destructive cycles…we need to let the fullness of Christ into our lives.  May God’s peace be with you.

DSC07554 publish

“Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”

Revelation 3:20 NIV

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 near Pike’s Peak in Colorado)

The Price Of Salvation

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

John 15:13 NIV

As of today it has been more than 2 weeks since Resurrection Sunday and we must caution against taking our salvation for granted.  For most people by now they are focused solely on the tasks of work or daily tasks at home and the glory of Christ sacrifice for us is in the rear-view mirror.  Our faith journey and spiritual growth is about so much more than checking in on Sunday or on certain holidays and checking out the rest of the time because we are too busy.  Seeking your relationship with Jesus Christ every day and spending time with Him and in God’s Word is the Way to peace.  God sacrificed His only Son to reconcile us to Him.  Never forget the price of our salvation.  Amen.

DSC_0126 publish

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8 NIV

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

Love One Another

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 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 4:7-10 NIV

Think about it…God sacrificed His one and only Son for other people just as much as He did it for you.  He created all of us…yes even the person on your mind right now that chooses to reject God and shows it in their daily life.  We are not here to be the judge of each other, we can’t because we are all sinful and we all need the Savior.  Trust me I struggle with this in my faith as much as anyone else does…maybe that other person has never had anyone show them kindness, compassion or taken time to listen to them because society has decided they are not worth it.  In the end it is not up to us…our purpose is to love God, love others and share the Gospel, that is how we can make a difference in our lifetime. Amen.

DSC_0071 publish

“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”

1 John 4:11-12 NIV

(This photo was taken in September of 2022 in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming)