serving others

Servant Leadership

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

This is a way of being a leader that has care and empathy for others as much as anything.  A servant leader understands that we is far greater than me.  They include others in decision making, they pay attention to the growth and potential of those around them, they are not only good for a group or organization, their presence is necessary for sustainable growth and success.  You know a servant leader when you see one as they tend to be different from the majority of leaders…they listen, they have high self-awareness and they are often shining a spot light on others.  The greatest example of a servant leader we have is Jesus Christ…He gave of Himself to everyone and anyone, no matter what the “rules” of society were at the time.  He taught others and set them up for growth and success, and with Him as their leader, the disciples spread the message that has changed the world like nothing ever has or ever will.  They shared the Good News and it is still impacting the world today.  They were leaders working to serve as they were taught, knowing the greatest success will come when you empower others to be future leaders.  Seek the Lord Jesus Christ and His leadership as He is always working for your good.  Amen.

DSC_0362 publish

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Mark 10:45

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

Everyone Has A Role

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

The body of Christ is discussed in several areas of the Bible.  It is compared to the makeup of the human body.  Stating that every part of the body has certain contribution to the whole body and everything is functioning at its greatest ability when all the members play their role.  A sports team could be described in a simialr way.  If every member of the team does what they are responsible to do the team can be and will be very successful.  The same is true for Christians.  We all have a role in the body of Christ and even though some roles get taken for granted they have the same value as every other role.  We never notice how much we use our pinky on either hand or our little toe on either foot until it gets broke or dislocated and suddenly we really notice how often we need it.  We are created out of love, we are created for a purpose, every single person has value in God’s plan.  Seek wisdom from God to understand your role is His plan.  Amen.

DSC06178 publish

“Just as each one of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.  We have different gifts according to the grace given us…”

Romans 12:4-6

(This photo was taken in February of 2013 in a neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Give To Those In Need

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

The temperature has plummeted here in the upper Midwest…as I write this morning the temperature is -29 and the “feels like” temp is -50.  Every day in every part of the world there are people in need…people who lack in some or all of the basics in life like food, shelter and water.  No one person can help everyone, however, one person can help one other person.  Don’t quit trying because the problem is too big…God loves every person in Creation…and every single person has something that can help at least one person, it is not all about possesions and things or stuff.  Take inventory of your life and surroundings, give thanks for the blessings you have and seek wisdom to understand what God is asking you to share with those in need right where you are…you don’t want to miss being a person who can provide for the need of another.  We are blessed to be a blessing.  Amen.

dsc07826 publish

“Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.”

Proverbs 14:31

(This photo was taken in December of 2013 in northwestern Wisconsin…that is a picnic table on a deck)

Serving Others

/ mcalcagno / 1 Comment

We have been saved by the grace of God our Father and the sacrifice of His One and Only Son…Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.  We have been blessed so that we can be a blessing to others.  As you reflect on your life or this past year…how has God blessed you?  What are you thankful for?  What gift, talent or skill has God given to you and how can you use that gift to help and serve others?  Seek the blessings you have been given, give thanks and pursue the ways you can be a blessing to others.  Amen.

IMG_20141015_061309527_HDR publish

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”

1 Peter 4:10

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

Goodness

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

This is one of the Fruits of the Spirit.  In our dictionaries it is defined as ‘the quality and state of being good.’  I see it as a summary word…things that go into goodness can include…being helpful, selfless, supportive, kind, generous, a good listener or serving the needs of others.  There are several ways to express goodness in our every day life.  It is up to us to choose an attitude that will reflect goodness in our actions and our behaviors.  I pray we all tune into the Holy Spirit living within us and seek goodness and righteousness wherever we are in life and the world.  Here is a quote associated to John Wesley that speaks about doing good:

“Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.”

John Wesley

DSC_0933 publish

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

Matthew 5:6

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

Give Generously

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When we talk about giving and generosity, society and the world focuses on money and wealth alone.  There is so much more to giving than money.  To give of your time, your talents or your gifts.  To give is about perspective, attitude and encouragement of the spirit.  So give whatever it is you have to offer and give to those who are in need in your daily life and surroundings.  Start by thanking God for whatever it is you have been blessed with and ask Him to guide you to how you can share it.  I pray each one of us seeks a generous attitude with the gifts and blessings God has given us.  Amen.

DSC09022 publish

“Remember this:  Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a Cheerful giver.”

2 Corinthians 9:6-7

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

Gifts For Your Faith Journey

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Each one of us has been blessed with gifts, abilities, strengths.  God created us out of His love and our love for God can be expressed best by using the gifts He has given us for good things.  The hesitation or fear we sense when we are unsure about things can be very uncomfortable…we must be willing to take time and reflect on times when God has showed up and we were made aware of our gifts.  We also need to be sure to be in prayer and not take all our cues about who we are or what we can do from the world as evil and darkness wants us to do very little in relation to what God intended for us.  Our Faith is a journey and the best part is God packed our bag full of the right things for us to take on this journey…it is up to us to be sure we talk with Him about it often and use the things God has given us.  I pray we all have courage, confidence and trust in the Lord until the day we go home to be with Him.  Amen.

IMG_20181007_080404 publish

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!  You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.  Come and share in your master’s happiness!”

Matthew 25:21

(This photo was taken in October of 2018 while on a walk in northwestern Wisconsin)

Sow The Seeds Of Faith

/ mcalcagno / 5 Comments

Whatever we choose to be, how we choose to behave, the attitude that we choose as our approach to things…this is what will come back to us in our lives.  If we choose to be angry, full of fear, jealousy, envy and go around constantly judging others…that is exactly what we will get back.  Yet if we choose to live differently, if we choose to follow the Fruits of the Spirit as written in Galatians 5:22-23…we will receive those fruits back to us.  So the question is what do you want to sow today?  I pray we seek goodness and to live by the Fruits of the Spirit in our daily walk.  Amen.

DSC_0452 publish

“The one who sows to please the sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”

Galatians 6:8

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 while traveling through North Dakota)

Truth

/ 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.

DSC_0597 publish

“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)

Stewardship

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Guardianship…upkeep…safekeeping…managing…cherishing…protecting…preserving.  We are asked to be good stewards in our lives.  We come into the world with nothing and when we leave we can take nothing with us.  All that we receive is from God.  God owns everything and we receive so that we can be cared for and share with others.  The sinful nature would have us go after gaining more to keep and store up this turns us away from faith.  The world has been filled with more than enough resources to feed and clothe everyone, yet the human race has not distributed things properly so there is poverty everywhere.  Do what you can wherever you are to help those who need it most.  May God’s joy and peace be with you.

DSC_0373 publish

“Remember this:  Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  Each one should give what they have decided in their heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

2 Corinthians 9:6-7

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