How Deep Is Our Faith?

January 19, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

I have heard the faith journey described as a process of working from the inside, out. The first part of the journey is transforming and changing the inside of ourselves…our thoughts, our beliefs, our attitude and our behaviors…removing the focus on sinful desires and self-centeredness as we learn and grow in our personal relationship with Christ. As the inside changes we become better equipped to share what we have learned and to provide encouragement to others on the journey, just as we have been and will be given assistance on our own journey. The question today is regarding that inside part of the process…the learning and growing and the depth of our inside transformation is not to reach a destination. The more we learn and grow and spend time in our reltionship with the Lord the deeper and stronger that relationship becomes. As discussed yesterday the battles will come at us in this life and a deep, strong relationship with Christ is the most powerful weapon we have when it comes to fighting evil in this world. Continue to strengthen and grow your relationship with Jesus Christ. Amen.

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“But blessed in the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green, It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

Jeremiah 17:7-8

(This photo was taken in July of 2012 while walking on a trail in the North Shore of Lake Superior)

The Gift

January 7, 2019 / mcalcagno / 1 Comment

We have been given the greatest gift ever…the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Nothing compares to it. He sacrificed His life in heaven to come down to earth and to be like one of us, He was beaten, tortured, spit on and crucified…then God did what only God can do…out of the worst of tragedies He brought about the most incredible joy. Jesus Christ is alive and He lives today. Don’t put off your relationship with Jesus, spend time with Him everyday, the Gift of Him is one that keeps on giving to you forever. Amen.

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“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John 1:14

(This photo was taken in May of 2014 at a lake place in central Minnesota)

His Sacrifice = Grace

January 4, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We can have a personal relationship with our Creator. We are redeemed. We have been saved from wrath. The punishment we all deserve has been delivered onto Jesus Christ. We are forgiven. All of this has been completed because of the grace of God and His love for us. Jesus gave up everything and suffered the worst things this world can deliver…to save us. Let us give thanks to Jesus for His incredible sacrifice and let us live our lives in pursuit of the Fruits of the Spirit in our thoughts, our words and our actions. Amen.

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“For is is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Ephesians 2:8-9

(This photo was taken in October of 2018 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

God Is Love

December 30, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

I am reminded this morning of this statement. When we fix our eyes on Jesus and not on the pain, struggle and our self-serving desires, we are able to rise above those things carried by the love of God. If we allow the hurt and pain of the past to rule our present day then we are missing out on so many opportunities to know joy and peace, to be thankful for what is good. If we desire forgiveness for our sins, we need to be just as willing to forgive others. The sacrifice has already been made for us, the race is already been won, death is defeated and Christ lives. Let us turn towards God in prayer and thanksgiving for His everlasting love. Amen.

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“If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.”

1 John 4:15-16

(This photo was taken in April of 2016 on a lake in central Minnesota)

Forgiveness

December 28, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

To begin to seek a new nature, to desire to be different than we have been, to seek kindness and compassion and a servant attitude…first we must turn toward Jesus Christ on the Cross and confess our sins. Be humbled and speak the wrongs we have committed against others, in our thoughts, our actions and our words. We all have to go through this step on our faith journey and more than one time…we live in a fallen and broken world filled with sin and evil and none of us can stand up to it alone. God knows this and He sent His Son to take the judgement we all deserve so that we can be reconciled to Him when we are willing to admit our faults. Confess and be forgiven, this is part of God’s plan for you. Amen.

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“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

1 John 1:9

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

Why Did Jesus Come?

December 11, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

He came down from heaven and into this world. God had a plan and Jesus knew exactly what He was getting into…so why do it? He did because He loves you, He cares for you and He wants only the best for you. The answer to this question and so many others have been given to us in God’s Word. It’s not complicated, it is simple and yet the human race seems bent on making things much more difficult and complicated then they need to be. Jesus came to save us because He loves us and even though we don’t deserve it, He loves us anyways. Let us be thankful for Jesus Christ and His saving grace. Amen.

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

John 10:10

(This photo was taken in April of 2016 on a lake in central Minnesota)

Our Living Hope

December 10, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

One of the greatest strengths of our faith is the hope we have because of Jesus Christ. When we read from God’s Word about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, the way He lived when He was here on earth, we find there were many times when circumstances looked really bad and the people seemed to have very few choices of how to respond. Yet Jesus would help and find new ways to work things out…not necessarily the way the people wanted but in a way that was better for everyone involved. Just because we cannot see the way forward during trails and suffering does not mean the situation is hopeless, it just means we are not putting our trust in the Lord. Look to Jesus in all situations good and bad and there we will find our Hope. Amen.

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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…”

1 Peter 1:3

(This photo was taken in October of 2014 on the north shore of the island of Maui, Hawaii)

The Savior Of The World

December 6, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Take time during this Advent season to reflect on what Jesus Christ has done for you and for me. He came into this world as a baby, born in a stable…He came in peace, to teach us, to help those who are suffering and to reconcile the lost souls of the world to God. He was rejected by many…He was beaten, crucified and just before He died He asked Father God to forgive us. He has done and is continuing to do everything He can for you and for me, for our good…because He loves us. This Christmas give thanks to Jesus Christ…Our Savior of the World. Amen.

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“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”

Luke 2:10-11

(This photo was taken in December of 2017 in a neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Our Beautiful Savior

November 24, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When you think about it…when you look around your life and the world and see the things that the most attention is focused on…you may begin to see something of a trend or common theme. We are all living in a lost and broken world, where anger, hate, suffering, hunger and homelessness are everywhere, the primary focus and attention of many people is on me, myself and I. On the journey of faith I realize the only times I get worried or upset or feel like chaos is everywhere is when I have put my expectations or my plans or my wants and desires ahead of everything else. The self is very powerful and very stubborn and will lead us to destructive thoughts and behaviors. This is when we need to be renewed, to put our focus back on Jesus Christ and the Word of God. Our beautiful Savior who came down from heaven to save us from self-destruction. Come to the Cross and be renewed by Jesus Christ our one and only beautiful Savior. Amen.

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“The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?”

Psalm 27:1

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

Peace In Our Hearts

November 11, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Where can we find peace? We look around at the world and the actions and behaviors of so many people and wonder, where can peace be found? So much anger, hatred, rage and darkness…people choosing to follow the evil desires of greed, lust and the sinful nature. It is written that the peace of God is found only one way…that is to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. It has been the way of peace ever since that baby was born in a manger over 2,000 years ago. We can have peace through Christ because of the grace of God and only by the grace of God is peace possible. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14) If we believe and accept that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Lord we will find peace and we will be prepared to share the peace of Christ with others. I pray we all turn toward Jesus to seek peace that is provided to us by the grace of God. Amen.

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