Be Thankful…Be Content

November 20, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Colossians 3:15-17

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“But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ⁸But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”

1 Timothy 6:6-8

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

Peace In Our Hearts

November 8, 2020 / mcalcagno / 3 Comments

Colossians 3:15-16

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“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Colossians 3:17

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

Gratitude

September 19, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

²    Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come before him with joyful songs.
³Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he who made us, and we are his^[a];
    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.”

Psalm 100:1-3

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“Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise;
    give thanks to him and praise his name.
⁵For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
    his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

Psalm 100:4-5

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

Be Thankful

May 15, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

What are you thankful for today? How often are we able to look for something to be thankful for during difficult times? It is not easy…yet it is a choice. An attitude of gratitude may not come naturally to us but we should strive for it as it can make such a big difference in our lives. We don’t have to do it alone…start by thanking God for Jesus Christ and what He did for you at the Cross and see where you can go from there. Amen.

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Colossians 3:15-17

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

Start With Gratitude

February 15, 2020 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

It’s an incredible thing…choosing to start with gratitude is a clear path to changing your perspective. Ask yourself, ‘what am I thankful for?’ and it leads your thoughts and your mind to search for what is good, positive and optimistic. If at first it is difficult and you find yourself quickly slipping into ‘what I don’t have’ or ‘the way things used to be’ consciously stop yourself and make a list of 2-3 things that you are grateful for. The more we put this into practice the more our perspective will change. If you struggle with this turn to Jesus Christ in prayer and ask Him to help you see the good that is all around you. Trust in the Lord and give Him thanks for all that He has done for you. Amen.

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“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
²    Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come before him with joyful songs.
³Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he who made us, and we are his^[a];
    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

⁴Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise;
    give thanks to him and praise his name.
⁵For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
    his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

Psalm 100

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)

Thanks Be To God

December 22, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

There is hope…even at times when it feels like there is no hope…God is still on the throne in heaven and even though things don’t go the way we want them to, or how we want them to, or things don’t happen when we want…we still have hope for the future because of Jesus Christ. No matter where you are or what is happening or not happening in your life, look around your life for what is good, look for what you can be grateful for and give thanks to God. Amen.

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“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Corinthians 15:57

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

Contentment

November 27, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

As the retail world bombards us with messages of the ‘greatest sale ever’…’lowest prices now’ and this year…’black Friday prices early’…it is a good time to seek contentment. This could be done by spending more time reflecting on all that we already have been given…realizing how much our needs are met each day and being…thankful. I find it interesting that the holiday intended to focus on gratitude is constantly getting pounded by the ‘get more’ self-focused attitude. Let’s work on becoming a new creation this holiday season and spend more time on being grateful for what we have, considering what abundance we can share with others and spend less time fulfilling our self-satisfying wants and desires. May the peace of the Lord be with you this holiday season. Amen.

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“But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ⁸But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. ⁹Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.”

1 Timothy 6:6-9

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

Gratitude

November 15, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Where do you see God today? If you think for a moment where did you see Him at work yesterday? When was the last time you recognized what God has done for you and you took time to give Him thanks? An attitude of gratitude starts by taking time to acknowledge what needs have been met by God in your life and offering thanks to God for those blessings. It is easy to slip into a mode where we take things or people for granted. A decision to be grateful is a change in perspective that can put to rest the worries and anxiety about what we don’t have and redirect us back to giving thanks to the Lord. Thanks be to God for His love, mercy and grace. Amen.

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“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Psalms 118:24

(This photo was taken in July of 2019 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Thanks Be To God

September 21, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

What are you thankful for in your life today? Giving thanks is not reserved for once a year in November. Being thankful and having gratitude is about changing your perspective to a positive point of view. It is easy to focus on what is wrong, what I don’t have and what I can’t do or even what other people are doing wrong…be different…take inventory of your life today…look around, what are you thankful for? Pray about it and ask God to help you to continue to see the good. All that is good is from God and for that we give Him thanks. Amen.

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“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 at Sapphire Point near Dillon, Colorado)

Give Thanks

June 2, 2019 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Focus on what is good…focus on the blessings you have been given…what are the gifts and talents God has given you that you can share with others? There is nothing that can separate us from God’s love. He created us and this world, He has given us free will, He has kept His promises to us…it is up to us to seek Him and His will…it is up to us to pick up God’s word and read, it is up to us to pray and deepen our relationship with His Son Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God for all He has given us. May the peace and joy of the Lord be with you. Amen.

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