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.

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“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.

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“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

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“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.

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“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

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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

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

Grace

October 8, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

It is hard to believe but truly anyone can be saved. Yes, even that person in your life. God’s grace is so much greater than our sins. The bible is filled with examples of people who had so many and such hurtful sin in their lives that God forgives. Read Jonah to see how much God will relent so that all people can be saved. Find it in your heart to forgive and pray for that person in your life…let them see the light of Christ in you. Amen.

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“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”

Ephesians 2:4-5

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 at a lake place in northwestern Wisconsin)

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.

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“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.”

Psalm 103:8

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)

This Is Love…

September 17, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Jesus came down from heaven…He came in human form as a baby…He taught the people how to live…He showed people kindness and compassion…He showed everybody love…He was treated terribly by others…He was beaten…He was tortured…He was crucified and died…and He did all of it for you and for me. God loves us so much that He sent His Son to save us. Thank you, Jesus…Amen.

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“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 May of 2014 at a lake place in central Minnesota)

Trust Him

September 13, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

God has fulfilled every promise He made to us, except one, and you can be sure that one will be fulfilled when Christ returns. We so easily give trust to some that don’t deserve it and hold back our trust when we have more than enough evidence know that we can trust. We will continue to struggle and be frustrated if we believe that other people and the things of this world are all we need. We need God and when we read God’s Word we can learn about His past relationship with humanity and that when God makes a promise, He will fulfill it on His timeline, not ours. Trust God believe in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord and connect with the Holy Spirit within your heart. Amen.

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“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11

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

Peace

September 7, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Peace comes from hope, trust and love. Peace is available to all of us. It is a quiet confidence in God and His Son. It comes to us when we are willing to bring our worries, our fears and our burdens and lay them down at the foot of the Cross. If we constantly assess our lives based on the world’s view or what others think, say and do…we will not find peace. Peace is about gratitude and sharing the gifts and blessings God has given us with one another. May the peace of the Lord be with you! Amen.

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