Redeemed

October 25, 2018 / mcalcagno / 1 Comment

Saved…recovered…reclaimed…restored…changed…forgiven…set free. The price has been paid for our sins. Jesus came down from heaven and suffered to save us from the defeat of death in sin. We are loved by God and that love conquers all things in this world. We are reconciled with God and can pursue His will for our lives. Sharing a song by the group Big Daddy Weave entitled “Redeemed”

I pray for God’s love to wash over the burdens in our lives and strengthen us in kindness, goodness, compassion and forgiveness. Amen.

Redeemed by Big Daddy Weave

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“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

(This photo was taken in October of 2018 at City Park in Winterset, Iowa)

Live A Life Filled With Love

October 16, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Offer hospitality…speak encouraging words…serve the needs of others…offer prayers and praise to God. A life of love is not an ‘it’s all about me life’ rather it is a life with God at the center. How can we show the love of Christ in our life today? It is easy to get caught up in the world’s definition of something worth doing, you know…’go big or go home’…we can make a difference in the world just by fulfilling the needs of just one person…to them it may be the biggest or best thing that is done for them today. Don’t judge your value or your life by the world’s standards…God created you…He knows you, He loves you and He is with you. I pray we seek and know the love of God in our hearts and minds and we have the courage to share it with others. Amen.

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“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”

1 Peter 4:8-10

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

Forgiven

September 21, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We can not change the past. We are not able to undo what has occurred. Even still God has forgiven us for our sins…we can do better today, here in the present. We can learn from the past, we can learn from the experiences of others. If you are holding on to a mistake or a wrong done by you or by others bring it to the Lord. Worry and anxiety are the biggest waste of time in life, yet so many of us have spent a significant amount of time doing it. I have wasted an enormous amount of time in my life on worry about the past and about things that may or may not occur because of the past. That is how I have not trusted God. I am learning, slowly as usual, to bring it to God…all of it and that really means all of it. Let it go, stay present in life and know that God forgives you for your sins. He gave His One and Only Son to ensure we know of His forgiveness and His love. May you sense the peace and comfort of God in your life.

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

Romans 5:8

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

A Sacrifice…Our Salvation

September 18, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When you feel you are not sure where God is in your daily life…stop and take a moment to remember what God has done for you. God is love. He is our Creator and our Redeemer. We are broken, all of us. Me, you and everyone you know is broken in some way, even if it is unclear to you how someone else is broken or fighting a battle it is still going on. God knows this, He knows our worries, our fears and He is doing good things. It is all a matter of perspective. If we reflect on what has been done already it will help restore our perspective and our knowledge that God is love and He loves us more than we can ever imagine…the proof? The Cross. May you know the love of God in your daily life.

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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 October of 2014 at sunrise on the island of Maui, Hawaii)

He Carries Us Through…

September 11, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Struggle…conflict…suffering…darkness…pain…difficulties…uncomfortable. We all encounter these moments in our life. There is no way to avoid them and if we spend our time trying to avoid them we are mostly likely hurting ourselves and others. The one true source of peace, courage, strength and perseverance is Jesus Christ. He is strength in the struggle, He is calm in the conflict, He is peace in the suffering, He is light in the darkness, He is healing for the pain, He is answers to the difficult times and He is our comfort when we are uncomfortable. Nothing is impossible for our God. Seek Him and His Word and you will find rest for your soul. May you see and sense the presence of the Lord in your life.

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“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10

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

A New Creation

August 31, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Ok, I accept that Jesus Christ died to save me from my sins. I believe that he is my Lord and Savior…now what? Faith is a journey, not a destination. Coming to the point that has you turning towards God is just the first step on a new road. If you go about your daily activities and schedule with no change of thought or actions then you aren’t really turning towards God and following…it is more like you stopped what you are doing took a longer than usual look at a new road and then kept going on the one you were on. To be engaged in your faith journey means a new way of doing things, it means looking at the same things with a new perspective, it means commenting on situations with a new attitude…to be a new creation. It will mean being different from the crowd, it most likely will mean meeting a new crowd, it will mean putting on a new self. God is with you, He will guide you and keep you safe…He loves you and He is waiting to hear from you. May the peace and joy of the Lord be with you.

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“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

2 Corinthians 5:17

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 while traveling through Nebraska)

Truth

August 13, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

On our faith journey there is so much conflict with what the world is telling us and what our readings and spiritual life teach us about how to to live. This is the result of the spiritual battle going on all around us. We are created by God and He loves us and longs to have a relationship with us. And the forces of darkness and evil are doing everything they can to keep our attention on other things, any other thing than God. There is peace, and it can be found in a daily connection with Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. The simplicity of doing good things and helping others where you can is the path towards hope. Take refuge in God and you will have your peace. May God’s joy be with you.

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“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 7:12

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 on Beartooth Pass in Montana)

Commitment

August 10, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Not giving up…to honor…responsibility…respect for…trust. The way of truth means doing what you said you would do. Our true character shows through to others when they see our commitment to something. The greatest example of commitment to completing something that was more difficult than anything we will face in our lives was the example Jesus set when He honored a commitment to saving us from our sins. He endured physical and mental suffering for something He didn’t do. He is innocent, He has no sin…and yet He took on the sin of all of us and paid the price so that we could be reconciled to God. He is our Savior and our Salvation will only come from a relationship with Him. May God’s love and faithfulness be with you.

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“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”

Proverbs 16:3

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

Gratitude

August 2, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

I am thankful for God’s amazing grace. I am grateful for His love. Each morning when I get up I look forward to time with Jesus, my morning readings and bible verses. I have a devotional bible that provides a writing from the perspective of a follower of Jesus and it provides bible verses as a reference for each day. I began this practice over 8 years ago and every year I learn new things about myself and my relationships. As long as we are here God is still working on us and when He believes we are ready He will call us home. No one knows when that will be for anyone and everyone is working through some kind of battle or struggle. Just because we don’t see it in them does not mean they aren’t struggling or fighting through something. Give thanks to God for your life and seek His will for how to best use your gifts. May God’s mercy and love be with you.

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“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”

Psalm 143:10

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on the shore of Lake Superior in Ashland, Wisconsin)

Transformation

July 26, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

A change…conversion…overhaul…renew…remake. When something or someone is transformed they appear new again. The change from what of how they used to be to a new way. A transformation in the spiritual life means recognizing who and what we are and admitting that we need to be made new again. We must be willing to admit we are broken, stubborn and chasing after the sinful nature…once we see and know the conviction of sin we have the opportunity to be renewed, restored and redeemed. A relationship with Jesus Christ is vital to finding redemption. May God’s mercy and grace be with you.

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