God’s Workmanship

August 27, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We are His creation…we are created out of love…we are created to do good things. When we are willing to come to The Cross and surrender, our plans, our ways, our timing for events in life and trust in Him to provide all we need, when we need it, then we will experience true joy. It sounds so simple and yet it is extremely difficult to execute in everyday life. We are made with free will, meaning we have a choice to pursue the sinful nature or to pursue a life following Jesus Christ. God’s plan is so much greater than our own because He is the original Creator of all things. Turn towards God and ask Him for wisdom about how He wants you to follow His plan for your life. May the grace and peace of the Lord be with you.

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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 June of 2016 by a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Aspects Of Love

August 26, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

I think anyone who has attended more than one wedding has heard some or all of 1 Corinthians 13 from the bible. The one that talks all about what Love is and the behaviors it emulates…yet most people can only remember the first few words of verse 4 (Love is patient, love is kind…) and the words of verse 13 (And now these three remain: faith, hope and love…) There is so much more to 1 Corinthians 13, unfortunately like so many things in life, society has made these words trivial instead of heart felt. If more people took the time to read and understand all the aspects of love and made it important to try to show these behaviors to others, the world would be a much different place than it is today. The only thing we can do is to show up and be the change we want to see in the world…and yes, unfortunately those words have become trivial to some as well. From my perspective we need all of us to show more of verse 5 (It is not rude, it is not self-seeking…) as much as every other part of these words. I will share all of the verses below. May you see and show the love of God every day.

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“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophecy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

1 Corinthians 13

(This photo was taken in October of 2014 at the Nakalele Blowhole on the island of Maui)

Choices

August 25, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We all have them…we have them for little things…we have them for big things…we have choices to make everyday…even not deciding is a choice. We are bombarded with messages about what we “should” want, what everyone “needs” and the quick and simple things you can do to have it all. Um No. This is evil and the sinful nature constantly at work telling us me, myself and I are the only important things to focus on. Every step we take towards the sinful nature is a step we choose to take away from God. We need to focus on the fruit of the Spirit “…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23) These are free, they are choices we can make in our everyday interactions. Choose a life based on the foundation of Faith and trust in Jesus Christ with every aspect of your life. May you be blessed with wisdom in the choices you make.

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“Do not conform any longer tot he pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Romans 12:2

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

Joyful, Patient, Faithful

August 24, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Happy Friday…you know when you are having one of those times when it feels like something is going wrong with everything? When you are able to take a step back and review you often find the one common thing is your perspective…I know, I know not what you wanted to read. When things seem to pile up like this I have learned to immediately turn to prayer…stop what ever you are doing and ask God to intervene, to guide you and to cleanse your perspective. Maybe it’s time for a new approach to something, to look at it differently or just to open your mind to new possibilities to old issues. Whatever it is we don’t have to do it alone. May God be with you and provide you comfort.

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“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Romans 12:12

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

Give Thanks

August 23, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Grateful…to show appreciation…gratitude…content with what you have…to recognize others. It is important to pause and to give thanks for what is good, for what we have been given or for what someone else has done for our benefit. It is a choice of attitude to be thankful instead of feeling you deserve somethings or demand and expect things. Choosing an attitude of gratitude focuses our thoughts the positive, the good and helps to drive a feeling of greater appreciation for something or someone. Take a moment to look around you and around your life…who needs to know you appreciate them, who are you thankful for in your life. Tell them, and remember Jesus Christ and what He did for you so that you could be reconciled with God…and tell Him how thankful you are for what He did and is doing. May the Word of the Lord be planted in you.

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“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 100:4-5

(This photo was taken in March of 2018 in southern New Mexico)

The Road That Leads To Life

August 22, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We all have different lives and different choices to make in our lives. Depending on where we live, what the weather is like, the environment of our home and where we spend our days. This can be all different…what is common among all people? The place in our hearts that is made to be filled by God. He is the Creator and He made us with this special space that can only be filled properly by companionship with Him. Now that certainly hasn’t stopped the human race from trying to fill it with just about anything other than God. If anything other than God is in that space you will not feel complete, content or know true peace. Make time to be alone with God and invite Jesus into the place reserved for Him every day. May you know God’s comfort and God’s faithfulness.

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“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Matthew 7:13-14

(This photo was taken in March of 2018 in Madison County, Iowa)

Cast All Your Cares On Him

August 21, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We are all searching for something or someone in life. A way to know the answers to some of the most difficult questions. We look to archaeologists and historians to tell us about the past, we look to leaders in business, technology and politics to inform us about the present and we look to scientists and other predictors to provide information about the possibilities in the future. Through it all we take on worries, anxiety and frustration about all of these things…the past, the present and the future. Yet here sits God the Father, Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord with the Holy Spirit and they have a handle on all of it. God has forgiven us our sins of the past, Jesus Christ has reconciled us with God for our present day and the Holy Spirit will guide us to live with eternal values for life in the future. Take your worries, your fears, your burdens and all your frustrations to Christ, He will gladly carry the load if you are willing to trust in Him. May you sense comfort and peace trusting in our Lord.

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“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

1 Peter 5:7

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

Take Some Rest

August 20, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We can’t keep running at top speed in our minds or in our daily lives. We must plan down time. To fill every moment with activity and planning and scheduling will lead to exhaustion. Mental exhaustion, physical exhaustion and spiritual exhaustion. We all need time to recharge, to be restored and renewed. When Jesus was here on earth He often would go off alone to pray. Before feeding the five thousand He told the disciples…“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (Mark 6:31) In order to be at our best we need to plan time to rest and that means resting our minds as well as our bodies. If you are someone who always has to be busy, plan some quiet time in small increments to get started. We all should pray about it as that time in prayer can be restful too. May the love, joy and peace of the Lord be with you.

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“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 near Arches National Park in Utah)

God’s Presence

August 19, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

It is true…He is with you…He gives to you…He holds you…He comforts you…He blesses you…He guides you…God is always with you. There will often be times in this world when you will feel like you are alone, that God has somehow left you. It is not true, when that happens take a moment to reflect on what you have been focusing on. I have found in my own life that usually means I have turned away from God for some reason, not the other way around. We can’t always expect the miracle event to prove that God is with us, let’s face it even people who lived to witness the miracles in person struggled to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. It is a matter of faith to know and believe that God is with us. He did not bring sin into the world and the bad things that happen are from evil and darkness in the world and they want you to blame God for everything. God made sure you know that He created you, He loves you and He is with you…it is all written down for you to read for yourself. Trust in God and you will see the good things too. May the presence of God surround you and what you see today.

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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 August of 2016 at Sapphire Point near Dillon, Colorado)

Give And You Will Receive

August 18, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

The messages we keep getting from all around us are “get more”, “take what is yours”, “protect it”, “mine”, “not yours” or “me first”…the world emphasizes selfish behaviors and attitudes and people wonder why there is so much conflict and suffering. This is not how we were made to be. When God created us out of His love He gave us free will because when we choose to give, it has such a deep impact compared to being forced to give and serve. Let’s talk about our pets as a simple example…if you have ever owned a dog or a cat you may have experience in the joy one feels when our pets give love and affection freely versus when they choose to do other things…and often times the pets receive better attention and affection when they are givers rather then when they are demanding to get! If you have never owned a pet I recommend watching the movie ‘Marley and Me’ to see this illustration. The point is when we make a choice to help, to serve and to give we are showing the love of God through our actions and we will have no need to worry about what we receive. May the peace and joy of the Lord be with you.

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