Free Will

February 1, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We have been given a gift, a gift we take for granted far too often…free will. We are not designed to be robots that only perform a certain way when given appropriate commands…think ‘voice remote’ or talking to your phone. God has designed us with free will, the ability to choose how we will respond, act and interact with the world. Of course, this means we are responsible for the choices we make and we are accountable to our actions and decisions. I am sure I have heard a quote about ‘with great power comes great responsibility’ true words. Free will should not be taken for granted or used to do harm to others. It is a gift that has come at a price that Jesus Christ paid for on our behalf. Seek Him and ask Him how to best use your gift. May God’s peace be with you.

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“You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature, rather, serve one another in love.”

Galatians 5:13

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

January 31, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

One of the simplest ways to show love to others is to share. Share your time, share your ability to listen, share your ability to serve, share anything that you have been blessed with in abundance. The world is filled with people who have an abundance that they can share, something that is provided to them well beyond their own needs…this is not about only money, it is about gifts and talents and abilities. Reflect on your life and how your needs have been met. If you have been blessed with wealth, share that with those in need. What is an area of life where God has provided an abundance? Find out what it is and seek ways to share that abundance with others. May God’s peace be with you.

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“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.”

1 Timothy 6:17-18

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 while driving through Colorado)

Gratitude

January 27, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

The messages that come to us through television, the internet, social media, and many other ways usually have a sense of negativity and complaining within them. The world is full of despair and suffering. We humans are inviting sin and darkness into our lives when we sit and consume hours of screen time and look only to serve ourselves…this is not a judgement it is a fact and it happens to me far too often as well. It is so easy to get sucked in to misery and despair…while it is important to recognize a time for sadness, and mourning, depending upon the battle you are fighting, it is not a state of mind or place to stay and live constantly. There should always be a time for hope and gratitude to coincide with sadness and despair…with everything in life there should be a healthy balance. The one place I can trust in hope is in the Word of God…the bible is not a fairy tale it is history and recorded observations. Jesus Christ came into the world to save us from our sins and He sacrificed himself to death to reconcile us with God…for that I am eternally grateful. May God’s peace be with you. (If you are wondering we got the computer working again)

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“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”

Psalm 118:1

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)

Be A Giver

January 25, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When I feel things spiraling downward in my mind and I read Scripture I begin to see that my thoughts are filled with issues only surrounding myself. This is the sinful nature, to be consumed by self thinking. When I take off the blinders and begin to to see that I am not alone and there are others around me everyday who I can help and support in many different ways I begin to get a better perspective of purpose. Give of yourself to others in whatever way you can…just as God in the Christ Jesus gives to you. May God’s 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 he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

2 Corinthians 9:6-7

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 near Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado)

Trust In The Lord

January 23, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When I try to go it alone, when my actions say…”I got this God…” I usually end up at “Um, a little help here?” this is a lesson that I stumble upon often. Learn to Trust. It seems I have a stubborn will and I am discovering that it takes me off track of God’s plan far too often. We are not made to “go it alone” and throughout history it has been proven that when left to our own thinking and ways of doing the sinful nature is no match for us. We were made to be in relationship with our Creator and we were given the gift of salvation through the life and death of Jesus Christ his one and only Son. A loving relationship takes two engage beings to grow. I for one will work harder on my part with our Lord and Savior. May God’s peace be with you.

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“But blessed in the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence in in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

Jeremiah 17:7-8

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 near a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

Living For God – A Prayer by St. Francis of Assisi

January 21, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Make me a channel of Your peace.
Where there is hatred let me bring Your love,
Where there is injury Your pardon Lord,
And where there’s doubt, true faith in You.

Make me a channel of Your peace.
Where there’s despair in life let me bring hope,
Where there is darkness, only light,
And where there’s sadness, ever joy.

Oh, Master, grant that I may never seek,
So much to be consoled, as to console.
To be understood, as to understand,
To be loved, as to love with all my soul.

Make me a channel of Your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
In giving to all men that we receive,
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.

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“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

1 Peter 4:10-11

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 on a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

Give Thanks

January 19, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

It is easy to get caught up in the minutia of life everyday and forget that God is with you. In fact that is exactly what the forces of evil want you to do, evil wants you to believe you are all alone and you should only look out for yourself. God knows the struggle…Jesus faced the devil in the desert and He has overcome death and evil through His death and resurrection. Connect with the Lord today and be thankful for Jesus who has fought the battle and won. May God’s peace be with you.

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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 August of 2016 in Glacier National Park in Montana)

Use Your Spiritual Gifts

January 17, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We are all uniquely made by God. In each one of us there are gifts and talents that we have that were given to us to use to help others in some way. These may not be fully developed yet but they are still there. Seek to find what your gifts and talents may be…when you are able to do something that feels like no effort at all and yet others are so thankful for your effort that may be telling you something about your gifts. Another way to learn about your gifts is to look through a list of volunteer opportunities and whichever one speaks to you and makes you think ‘I could do that’…then go and do it. You were made for a purpose find ways to seek out what that is and when you find it do more of it. May God’s peace be with you.

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“We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”

Romans 12:6-8

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 near Colorado Springs, Colorado)

Give Your Time And Gifts For Others

January 16, 2018 / mcalcagno / 2 Comments

We all have received spiritual gifts and blessings in this life…these are not always related to worldly power and finances. The gift of time and the ability to choose your attitude are two things worth more than all the money in the world. Don’t take these gifts for granted…do something, do an act of love today…it doesn’t matter what size of an act it is. Even if your action shows kindness and love to only one other person the ripples of impact can travel far beyond you in this world. May God’s peace be with you.

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“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”

Matthew 25:35-36

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 at Garden of the Gods park in Colorado Springs, Colorado)

Commitment

January 11, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Do what you say you would do…stay true to your word…demonstrate a willingness to be responsible…show integrity. When you read these phrases and think about them none of them say this is going to be all about ‘fun’ or ‘personally convenient’ or ‘this is all about being happy all the time.’ Commitment is hard and it takes dedication, it takes time and it doesn’t always serve personal desires.

That is the point about commitment…it is not about you! That is exactly why we need to build our personal relationship with Jesus, he knows what it means to be committed to something that is hard, not fun and not about him…yet he spoke openly with his father to help him keep moving forward and complete the task given to him…and he did it for you and me. May God’s peace be with you.

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