Be Present

March 31, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Stay alert of your thoughts, words and actions. It is so easy to slide down a dark path and to be led astray by temptations. Keep the Word of God in your heart and verses will come to mind when you need them most. When an opportunity presents itself, share your faith and what you believe respectfully. Trust in the Lord, He is with you. Amen.

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“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”

1 Peter 5:8-9

(This photo was taken in July of 2012 while on a walk in northwestern Wisconsin)

Listen

June 20, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

I sense a need for less talking and more listening. Choose whatever way you can best connect with God by listening. For me, of course, I listen to music that has been created by Christian artists that God has blessed with talent to share the Good News. For a period of time, not sure how long, I will be talking less and sharing messages through God’s Word and song and gathering new photos. May the peace and comfort of the Lord be with you. Amen.

He gives us strength…He gives us courage…His is the voice of truth.

Voice Of Truth by Casting Crowns

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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; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10

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

Share With Those In Need

May 20, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We are blessed to be a blessing. Sharing with those in need is about more than a financial giving. It is sharing whatever God has provided in abudance. Some have an abundance of wisdom, some the ability to be a good listener, some have a solution oriented mindset and some an abundance of posititvity. These things and many others like them are blessings from God that can be shared with others. When reflecting on what you have the ability to share look at your life from a Godly perspective not from the world’s point of view. Be thankful for what God has given you and share as He has shared with you. Amen.

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“Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”

Romans 12:13

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

Stewardship

August 9, 2018 / 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.

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“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)

The Message of The Apostles

May 15, 2017 / mcalcagno / 1 Comment

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The words of Peter speaking about Jesus as recorded in the Book of Acts…

“He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Acts 10:42-43

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

Light Of The World

July 22, 2016 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

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“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to the everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:14-16

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 near Badlands National Park in South Dakota)

Look At the People God Uses

August 17, 2013 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

While I was thinking about starting to write this blog, I often thought, “What could I have to offer?” or “Why would God want me to speak about him to others?” This kind of thinking is exactly what the Evil in the world wants us to believe. Then I read about people in the Bible or I read what authors like Max Lucado, Charles Swindoll or Rick Warren and Billy Graham have to say about the people God uses and I begin to realize this is exactly what God wants me to do.

As we learn about faith and God’s love for each and every person in the world through life experiences and through the experiences others have written about, it turns out we all have something to offer the world. We all have our own life. We all have had an experience or heard about someone’s experience that was horrific and then it became extraordinary. It all depends on your perspective.

From the Bible we have the stories of…

Noah

Abraham

Moses

David

Joseph

Plus many more….

All of these people had suffered through some tragedy of sin and had extraordinary things occur afterward because of God’s love and God’s grace. Through some of my own life experiences that I have mentioned in earlier posts I have learned to ask, “What does God want me to learn?” or “How does God want me to use this experience to help others?” Rather than asking “Why is God doing this to me?”

God doesn’t “do” sinful things to us…the human race has created and brought about sin all by ourselves. It was our choice. God knew we aren’t strong enough to overcome sin so he did the one thing he could…he sent us his Son. The human race killed him…so God resurrected him to save us all.

So if you are wondering “What do I have to offer anyone?” try asking God and be patient for his answer….he created you, he knows the gifts he gave you. You could start by reflecting on events in your life and this time when you think about them ask yourself, “What did God want me to learn from that experience?” Remember he is about love, grace, mercy and forgiveness.

Peace.