God’s Love Changes Lives

July 28, 2022 / 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. ⁸Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. ⁹This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. ¹⁰This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. ¹¹Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

1 John 4:7-11 NIV

God’s love is the most powerful thing in the world. Nothing can compare to it…no matter where you are, no matter what has happened or is happening…God’s love can change what you believe is impossible. Trust Him, seek His Word, believe, confess your sins and surrender your ways for His way. Amen.

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“We love because he first loved us.”

1 John 4:19 NIV

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

We Are Not Alone

July 27, 2022 / mcalcagno / 2 Comments

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9 NIV

God is with us always…at all times, in all places and during all circumstances. If you sense God is distant, this is about how you have moved away from God not the other way around. He is center of everything for all time…we are not to be the center of our lives. God cares about you, He loves you and He promised He will never leave you.

I Am Not Alone by Kari Jobe

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“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV

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

Persistence And Patience

July 25, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“pray without ceasing…”

1 Thessalonians 5:17 NIV

Don’t give up…don’t give in…be encouraged, trust in the Lord’s way. Continue to pray for that person or situation. God is with you and He will lead and guide you. We you grow tired rest in Him…find peace in God’s Word. The one who persists and is patient is the one who will see God’s plan and God’s timing.

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“I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.
¹⁴Wait for the Lord;
    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.”

Psalm 27:13-14 NIV

(This photo was taken in May of 2020 along the North Shore of Lake Superior)

Living Hope

July 18, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“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

Praise the Lord…He is always with you even when you don’t think about it. God has provided a well-spring of hope through the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ to save us. Even though we do not deserve it God has forgiven us by His grace and we may have peace that surpasses all understanding. Praise the Lord.

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

John 8:36 NIV

(This photo was taken in March of 2018 while traveling in southern New Mexico)

The Truth About Love Is Actions

July 17, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

⁸Love never fails.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV

The truth about what and who we love comes forth through our actions and behaviors. Love is so much more than feelings. We can say what we love, yet it is what we do that tells the story. With who and where we choose to spend our time shows what we value most. Take time to reflect on your daily life and see what your actions and behaviors tell you about what you love. No matter what you find, pray about it and ask God to lead and guide…after all His Actions and the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for us on the Cross confirms how much He loves you.

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“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV

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

He Knows My Name

July 16, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“But now, this is what the Lord says—
    he who created you, Jacob,
    he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”

Isaiah 43:1 NIV

God knows you. He created you and He wants to have a close relationship with you. Don’t let the world define your value. You are God’s child…He sent His only Son down from heaven to save you from sin and evil. He is waiting to hear from you. Turn towards Jesus Christ in prayer today…He is with you, He loves you and He knows what you are facing each day.

He Knows My Name by Francesca Battistelli

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“I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! ²But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. ³The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”

John 10:1-2 NLT

(This photo was taken this morning at sunrise Satruday, July 16th 2022 at a lake place in northwestern Wisconsin)

He Is My Strength

July 14, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“The Lord gives me strength. He is like a shield that keeps me safe.
My heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart jumps for joy.
With my song I praise him.”

Psalm 28:7 NIRV

A close relationship with the Lord is uplifting, encouraging and provides strength to us. God has told us we will get knocked down in this world and yet He is always there to help us up…to guide us and keep us going. All things are possible with Him, even when…especially when we can’t see which way to go.

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“He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.”

Psalm 40:2 NIV

(This photo was taken in July of 2021 in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado)

A Light In The Darkness

July 7, 2022 / 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

The world is filled with darkness…we all are searching for a way to see more clearly…many of us have been told about The Light of Life and some of us have even spent time looking for it…yet often we get distracted and look to other things and believe we don’t need it or doubt that The Light is really there. Believe in Jesus Christ, He is The Light of the world. Only He can shine as The Light in this dark world…seek Him and you will see. 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 NIV

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

Freedom In Christ

July 4, 2022 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“My brothers and sisters, you were chosen to be free. But don’t use your freedom as an excuse to live under the power of sin. Instead, serve one another in love. ¹⁴The whole law is fulfilled by obeying this one command. “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” (Leviticus 19:18) ¹⁵If you say or do things that harm one another, watch out! You could end up destroying one another.”

Galatians 5:13-15 NIRV

Many have been sacrificed for freedom to exist in the US…the most important sacrifice of life for the freedom of others came from Jesus Christ. He came down from heaven, set an example for us on how to live and then died on the Cross so that we can be reconciled with God. Let’s not take for granted what others have done for our freedom to exist…especially the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and His saving Grace. May we be filled with joy and peace and serve others with love because of Him who died to save us. Amen.

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Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. ³²And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:31-32 NLT

(This photo was taken in June of 2021 at The Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cementary)

Pray

July 2, 2022 / mcalcagno / 2 Comments

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵from whom every family^[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

Ephesians 3:14-19 NIV

Prayer…it is our way to interact with God. It is how we can build our relationship with Him. Communication is the foundation of any relationship. Anyone can do it…it is not about using the right words or being in a certain position…it is all about speaking sincerely and from the heart. We can pray about everything in our lives and the best part? God is waiting to hear for you…He will listen…He will respond…that doesn’t mean you should expect everything to go the way you desire…that’s not how it works. But God promises no matter what you are going through He will be with you…it is up to you to do your part. God’s peace be with you.

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