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.

DSC00094 publish

“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.

DSC_2001 publish

“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)

Put Your Hope In God

December 1, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Good morning. Welcome to a new day. There are many things happening in your life today, yet God is still with you because He loves you. Sharing the lyrics and music of the song on my mind this morning. Here is “Find Rest” by Francesca Battistelli

“Find Rest”

He never sleeps, He never slumbers
He’s been awake at every hour
No tear catches Him by surprise
He’s never lost, He never runs out
He never lives in the shadows of doubt
No fear catches Him by surprise

Find rest my soul
Put your hope in God
Put your hope, put your hope in God

He always is, He always will be
He always has been everything I need
How can this be catching me by surprise
He’s ever strong, He’s ever faithful
His love is real, now nothing is impossible
‘Cause nothing catches Him by surprise

Find rest my soul
Put your hope in God
Put your hope, put your hope in God

I close my eyes, and I can see
The arms of mercy holding me
I close my eyes, and I can see
The arms of Jesus holding me

Find rest my soul
Put your hope in God
Put your hope, put your hope in God

Put your hope in God
Put your hope in God

Songwriters: Francesca Battistelli / Ian Eskelin / Jared Anderson

Find Rest lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc, Capitol Christian Music Group

DSC_0166 publish

“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”

Psalm 42:11

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

Prayer

November 28, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Honest…thoughtful…sincere…heartfelt…engaging…communication in relationship that involves talking and listening. Prayer like this is the kind that nurtures and supports spiritual growth and actual change because its foundation is belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. It is important to make time each day and offer up heartfelt, sincere prayers and spend part of that time listening…to clear your mind of the day to day items and see where your thoughts go. A relationship can only grow and get stronger if we are willing to commit and invest time in it. May we all be moved to prayer by our faith in Jesus Christ who gave all He had to reconcile us with God. Amen.

IMG_20141016_115809289 publish

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6-7

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

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.

DSC_1283 publish

“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)

Doing Good

November 21, 2018 / mcalcagno / 2 Comments

Patience…Persistence…Perseverance…Consistent…Helpful…Supportive…Kind. It can be difficult to sustain an attitude that focuses on good things. There is darkness and evil lurking everywhere in the world. When we state our belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and profess our faith that He is our Lord and Savior we will receive the Holy Spirit within us. The Holy Spirit along with the Word of God can be our foundation to stand on for doing good things and serving the needs of others. God is love and He has poured out His love to us through His One and Only Son. Let’s be grateful for His love, His mercy, His grace and His forgiveness and keep our courage up to do good things. Amen.

DSC_1402 publish

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Galatians 6:9

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 while traveling through Utah)

He Lives

November 18, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We are saved…we are forgiven…the Sacrifice has been made…the price has been paid…the battle has already been won…our Savior took our punishment…we are reconciled with God…we can go on in faith…because He Lives!

Sharing a song of worship and praise today…May God’s peace be with you.

“Because He Lives” by Matt Maher

DSC_1355 publish

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Galatians 2:20

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 while driving through the State of 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.

DSC06178 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 February of 2013 in a neighborhood near Plymouth , Minnesota)

Freedom Found In Forgiveness

November 3, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Learning to forgive someone for something that occurred in the past…this is a tough thing for many of us. It is not in our human nature to forgive. We usually struggle because we are waiting for the other person to earn our forgiveness, however, as we read in the Scriptures, our forgiveness for our sins was not nor will it ever be earned. If God was going to wait for us to show we deserved to be forgiven for our sinful ways…well just look around you at the world and the behavior of people…sin rules this world as much or more now than it ever has. We do not deserve to saved from our sins and yet God sent His Son to suffer and die for us, to pay the penalty for our sins so that we are forgiven and our relationship is reconciled. We can learn to forgive and break free from the anger, the hatred, the finger pointing that keeps us stuck in a cycle of violence and hurting each other. Forgiveness means we are not going to let the hurts of the past control our future behavior…that is exactly what God has done for you and for me. I pray we can each pick one relationship that we know needs our attention and seek to forgive, so that we can be free from the hurts of the past. Amen.

DSC01215 publish

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Ephesians 4:32

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

The Love Of Christ

November 1, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We can search our entire life for something to comfort us, to depend on and to know that it is always watching over us…and yet there is only one thing that can be all of this and more for everyone…that is the love of Jesus Christ. Nothing in this world is as powerful as the love of Christ. No event or circumstances can compare with the death and resurrection of Jesus and the fact that He endured it all for you and for me because of love. It is the greatest gift we will ever receive and the most important thing we can share with others. I pray we all seek ways to shine a light on the love of Christ in our lives. Amen.

DSC_0327 publish