A Christmas List

November 26, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Often this time of year people of all ages are asked by someone “what do you want for Christmas this year?” For younger children in large families ‘a list’ of Christmas wishes may be created. Think for a moment if you were to make a list of Christmas wishes or desires this year. What would go on the list? Would your list have needs or wants on it? How much time would be spent of thinking about your list for this Christmas? As we grow older how does your perspective change? Think about your list and think about what would be on it if you share it with Jesus? As many of you know I am a big fan of music and it’s impact when you really listen to the story of the song…and yes I do really enjoy Christmas music. I am mot referring to the songs of the children’s tales like Rudolph and Frosty but the spiritual Christmas music. Amy Grant recorded a song in 1992 entitled “The Grown-Up Christmas List” I am sharing the lyrics and a link to the song. May we all spend time reflecting on our own list and sharing it with Christ. Amen.

My Grown Up Christmas List

Do you remember me
I sat upon your knee
I wrote to you with childhood fantasies
Well I’m all grown up now
And still need help somehow
I’m not a child but my heart still can dream

So here’s my lifelong wish
My grown up Christmas list
Not for myself but for a world in need
No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end, no
This is my grown up Christmas list

As children we believe
The grandest sight to see
Was something lovely wrapped beneath the tree
But Heaven only knows
That packages and bows
Can never heal a heart-ached human soul

No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end, no
This is my grown up Christmas list

What is this illusion called the innocence of youth
Maybe only in our blind belief can we ever find the truth

Songwriters: Linda Thompson / David Foster

My Grown Up Christmas List lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Luke 12:34

(This photo was taken in December of 2013 while on a walk in northwestern Wisconsin)

Jesus Is The Only Way

November 25, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

One of my favorite things about faith is simplicity. It seems to be human nature to try to make things more complicated and difficult then necessary. To fill life with worry, anxiety, frustration and unhealthy fear. If we want peace, if we want joy, if we want loving and caring relationships then we must come to Jesus. He already knows all about us whether or not we have acknowledged Him. He knows you, He loves you and He died to save you. Seek Him and live. I pray for the new found and growing relationships people have with Jesus Christ. Amen.

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“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota)

Our Beautiful Savior

November 24, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When you think about it…when you look around your life and the world and see the things that the most attention is focused on…you may begin to see something of a trend or common theme. We are all living in a lost and broken world, where anger, hate, suffering, hunger and homelessness are everywhere, the primary focus and attention of many people is on me, myself and I. On the journey of faith I realize the only times I get worried or upset or feel like chaos is everywhere is when I have put my expectations or my plans or my wants and desires ahead of everything else. The self is very powerful and very stubborn and will lead us to destructive thoughts and behaviors. This is when we need to be renewed, to put our focus back on Jesus Christ and the Word of God. Our beautiful Savior who came down from heaven to save us from self-destruction. Come to the Cross and be renewed by Jesus Christ our one and only beautiful Savior. Amen.

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“The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?”

Psalm 27:1

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

Grace

November 23, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

This has been defined as the unmerited favor and love of God. It is because of the grace of God we can be saved. Along our faith journey we will trip, we will stumble and we will get knocked down by sin and the sinful nature. It is not a matter of if this will happen, rather it is about when it happens how do we choose to respond? God’ grace provides us a way to get back up, to keep trying to do better. The bible is filled with examples of people who stumbled significantly in their lives, we are not alone in our mistakes. Jesus Christ came to save them and to save you and me. No matter what the struggle is, no matter what level of darkness you feel like you are surrounded by…God’s grace is for you too. He loves you and He sent His Son to give you the way back to Him and His love for you. I pray we trust in God’s grace and love to guide us in overcoming all obstacles and for His way to lead us in our lives. Amen.

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

Ephesians 2:10

(This photo was taken in March of 2018 in White Sands National Monument in New Mexico)

Thanksgiving

November 22, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

What are you thankful for? Think about the last week of your life, the last month, the last 12 months. Where were you or what was going on last Thanksgiving? Are you able to be with or spend the day with the same people you have for many years or have some gone home to the Lord? Thinking about the events and people in your life…who or what are you most thankful for? How you view this day and your life in general is driven by your attitude. If you want to be more thankful or have a more positive outlook on a daily basis, start each day with time for gratitude for what is good and what you are grateful and thankful for in your life. We can all start with prayer and thanking God for the sacrifice of His Son to save us. Happy Thanksgiving Day to you. May we all experience the peace, love and joy of being thankful. Amen.

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

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For 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 by our daughter while on a family road trip near Dillon, Colorado)

Doing Good

November 21, 2018 / mcalcagno / 2 Comments

Patience…Persistence…Perseverance…Consistent…Helpful…Supportive…Kind. It can be difficult to sustain an attitude that focuses on good things. There is darkness and evil lurking everywhere in the world. When we state our belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and profess our faith that He is our Lord and Savior we will receive the Holy Spirit within us. The Holy Spirit along with the Word of God can be our foundation to stand on for doing good things and serving the needs of others. God is love and He has poured out His love to us through His One and Only Son. Let’s be grateful for His love, His mercy, His grace and His forgiveness and keep our courage up to do good things. Amen.

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“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 6:9

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 while traveling through Utah)

Questions

November 20, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

So many questions in our hearts and minds every day. We must be careful not to let them overcome us. We should bring our questions to the Lord in prayer and listen for Him to guide us. He is the light for our path. Whatever is troubling you this day, take it to the Cross and live. May we seek the will of the Lord everywhere we go. Amen.

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

Isaiah 41:10

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 along Beartooth Pass in Montana)

Humble And Gentle

November 19, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Be respectful…good listener…have compassion…acknowledge others needs. These are ways we can be one with the Spirit that is within us. These behaviors are neither common or natural to many people. Striving for these ways is learning to live differently than the world tells you how to live. When we put Christ in the center of our lives we are a new creation and our old ways are left behind, life should be different, our attitude should be different and the joy and peace of the Lord will be much more common in our every day. May the grace and mercy of God the Father wash over us and make us new. Amen.

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“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

Ephesians 4:1-2

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 along Beartooth Pass in Montana)

He Lives

November 18, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We are saved…we are forgiven…the Sacrifice has been made…the price has been paid…the battle has already been won…our Savior took our punishment…we are reconciled with God…we can go on in faith…because He Lives!

Sharing a song of worship and praise today…May God’s peace be with you.

“Because He Lives” by Matt Maher

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“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Galatians 2:20

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 while driving through the State of Washington)

Commitment

November 17, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

This is hard when things are difficult, when it feels like at every turn we try and failure is right there to greet us. When we commit to something we naturally put some level of our own expectations of how things should go or what we believe should be the outcome. Here is the issue with this approach…we are setting “our expectations” on the result with little regard for God’s will and God’s plan. Following our faith and trust in the Lord means we can be free from the limited results our own minds can generate and be open to new possibilities. For me this is hard to grasp and at times very difficult to embrace…even Jesus struggled in the last moments of His commitment to save us right before He was arrested and He prayed to His Father…“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” – Luke 22:42 Bring your commitments to the Lord in prayer and seek His will. Listen for Him and for the Holy Spirit to guide you…find your quiet place and quiet time and rest in Him. May the peace and joy of the Lord be with you. Amen.

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