Choose To Live A Holy Life

February 16, 2026 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Matthew 7:24-27 NIV

God created us and gives us free will to choose how to live

Our lives and how we live will either show that we love God and trust in Him or that we reject God and His will for us

Each of us gets to decide how we will live and how we will treat others

We cannot control what others will think, say or do…we can control how we choose to respond

Father God, guide us and help us make decisions that honor you and show love for each other. Amen.

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“For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. ⁸Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.”

1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 NIV

(This photo was taken along Beartooth Pass near the border between Montana and Wyoming)

He Restores You

February 11, 2026 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”

1 Peter 5:10 NIV

We need time with God every day

When He is our source of life

We will know peace

We will be able to rest

He will renew us and restore us

If we try to go our own way…we will be consumed by sin

Trust in the Lord

He will restore your soul and give you all that you need

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“He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.^[a]
³ He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness^[b]
for his name’s sake.“

Psalm 23:2-3 NIV

(This photo was taken while driving through North Dakota)

He Knows You

February 10, 2026 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Psalm 139:23-24 NIV

“That’s not what I meant”…”I wish they knew me better”…”I don’t feel like I fit in”…”Nobody understands me.”

Have you had moments like this?

I have been there before…

You can be surrounded by people but feel like you are isolated

God knows who you are, He knows what you can do, He knows how you think and He cares for you

If you feel like you are off the rails in your life, it is time to get back to God

He is waiting to hear from you

He is the Creator, the one who formed you and has been right there with you every step of the way in life

Turn towards God

Trust in Him

He knows all about you and loves you unconditionally

May you see the blessings from God in your life each day

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“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹²Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV

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

Keep Doing Good Things

February 4, 2026 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

^“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Ephesians 2:10 NIV

We reap what we sow in this life

This does not mean we can earn our way into heaven by doing the right things

It means whatever we go out and do in the world will come back around to us at some point and none of us knows or can control how or when that will happen

This is further proof that God is in control and it is our responsibility to choose our behaviors and our actions in our daily life

We cannot control what others will think, say or do, yet we can control how we respond

Let’s keep doing good things

May the Fruit of the Spirit flow through us each day

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“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Galatians 6:7-9 NIV

(This photo was taken in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado)

A Prayer Of Declaration

January 27, 2026 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“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 NIV

Lord Jesus, we believe You are alive

We believe You are ever-present and working in the world

We believe no matter what circumstances we face, You are good

We believe You weep, mourn, and rejoice with us

We believe You are our God and our Redeemer

We believe You are making all things new

We believe You are making each one of us a new creation

So come what may, Jesus, we place our faith, our hope and our trust in You

In your Name we pray, Amen

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“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.”^[a]

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

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

Our Faith And Actions

January 26, 2026 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

John 15:5-7 NIV

Faith and Actions are linked and interwoven together

A faith journey begins on the inside, molding and shaping our thoughts and our attitude

As we grow, we begin to show what we have learned in our actions and our behaviors towards others

We have the best example possible demonstrated for us in the life of Christ

He not only spoke the Words of faith and taught others, he went out and lived it

We all need to stop condemning, blaming and complaining…let us strive to bring healing to this broken world

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“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”

John 15:11-12 NIV

(This photo was taken near Glacier National Park in Montana)

Hope…Nothing Is Impossible For God

January 24, 2026 / mcalcagno / 2 Comments

“I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”

Jeremiah 32:27 NIV

Hope…What drives it? Why do we have it?

It comes from belief…it comes from trusting God

Even when no one believes there is any hope…hope persists

Think about the day Jesus was crucified…nobody, not even the disciples had hope

Jesus, their teacher, the one who performed miracles had died…yet with God anything is possible

Jesus is risen! He is risen indeed, Alleluia!

The stories of hope with God in the Bible go on and on…

Sarah who was barren has a son…

Moses and the Red Sea…

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego survive the fiery furnace…

Daniel in the lion’s den…

Mary the virgin gives birth to Jesus and on and on it goes

Don’t give up hope…trust in God!

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“For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Luke 1:37 NIV

(This photo was taken at a lake in central Minnesota)

Overcoming Fear

January 21, 2026 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”

2 Timothy 1:7 NLT

“Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

Deuteronomy 31:8 NLT

Stop believing the lies of the evil one

Trust in God

Stay in the fight and He will guide you to be an Overcomer

God promised He will and God keeps His promises

Overcomer by Mandisa

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“All this I have spoken while still with you. ²⁶But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. ²⁷Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 14:25-27 NIV

(This photo was taken in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)

Trust…Commit…Be Still

January 17, 2026 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
⁴Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

Psalm 37:3-4 NIV

“Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this:
⁶He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.”

Psalm 37:5-6 NIV

No matter what the situation or circumstances you are facing

Good, bad, unknown

Put your trust in the One who knows you, loves you and is walking with you through every moment

Commit it all to Him and He will guide you on your path

Be still and wait for Him

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