Light of Life

March 18, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Everyone goes through storms in life. Some storms are dark clouds with some hail, rain and thunder and lighting while others storms can be tornadoes or hurricanes. When we watch the news coverage of weather events like these if it is often the next day and people are out helping each other clean up and the left over debris and trash is put into a pile to be removed, it is usually a bright and sunny day as the storm has passed by and new day has dawned. This is exactly how we should try to process the storms of our lives…even the most horrific storms have a next day when the sun will shine and we can pick up the pieces and begin again. The best way to seek this light of life is with Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior and the Holy Spirit and know you are not alone. Besides when major weather event moves through an area we are not the only ones whose house gets hit…we are all much more alike in the events of life then many of us are willing to believe. May God’s peace be with you.

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“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12

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

Prayer

March 17, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

This is the beginning of a personal relationship with God. It is not a place to worry about saying the right words in the correct order rather it is about being honest with yourself and talking in truth to God about everything and anything. A strong personal relationship always begins with communication, honest, heart-felt and a willingness to be vulnerable shows true commitment and trust. Then when we are looking for the answers we must be open to a possibility of something we did not think was going to happen because with God anything is possible, even the unthinkable. Open up your heart and mind in conversation with God and then watch for the amazing things that will happen. May God’s peace be with you.

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“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Philippians 4:6

(This photo was taken in June of 2015 while driving through South Dakota)

Strength

March 15, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Our strength to stand and face the difficult or troubling circumstances of life and the world we live in comes from God. Personal will power or raw emotion will only carry us for so long…the key element that can impact and affect human behavior is a relationship with Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. There will be times when you will feel blindsided by what someone has said to you or about you to others, unfortunately this is common human behavior. Bring these moments to the cross, renew your resolve and strength through faith…it is the only place to find the one who gave everything He had for you. May God’s peace be with you.

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“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 3:5-6

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

Friends

March 14, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Throughout our journey in life out of all the places and people we will encounter there are only a few who will last as our true friends through it all. These are the few who know us better than any others, they know more about us and we have built up a significant amount of trust in our relationship with them. They are the ones we want to call when we are struggling and they are one of the first people we want to celebrate with when things are going well. We are willing to do more to help them and they are more willing to help us. A true friend listens without giving you instructions on what you should do, a true friend sacrifices and makes time for us, a true friend accepts us unconditionally just as we are and a true friend is willing to stand by us no matter what happens. As you can see this is a very high standard of friendship and we strive to meet it with a few people but the only one who can attain this level of friendship without fail is Jesus. He set the bar on friendship and the human race should be eternally grateful. May God’s peace be with you.

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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

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Faith Begins With Belief

March 13, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

In order to grow in faith and to experience spiritual growth in life it is important to renew our belief in Jesus. To believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who came down from heaven, to know that he came specifically to save human beings from their sins, to reconcile all of us with God…to believe He died on the cross and to have confidence that He has risen from the dead and He is going to come back again. Our faith in God starts with the belief that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior and He is with you each and every day of your life. There is nothing in life that can compare to that fact. May God’s peace be with you.

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“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Hebrews 4:16

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

Be Different

March 11, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

So much of our time is spent in comparing ourselves with other people and the world with social media feeds the anxiety and stress of these comparisons. We are all made by God, with each having gifts and talents…we are made to work together for the good of ourselves and others. Don’t get caught up in the differences as a bad thing or a reason to try and be something other than just yourself. We are all God’s children. Trust in God and the difference you can make when you have a close relationship with Him. On this day of worship I share a song entitled Different – by Micah Tyler. Be different in having a strong connection with God our Father, Jesus Christ his one and only Son and the Holy Spirit. May God’s peace be with you.

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“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”

Romans 8:16

(This photo was taken in October of 2014 on the north shore of the island of Maui, Hawaii)

Living Hope

March 9, 2018March 9, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

No matter what you are facing, no matter what struggle is pressing you down…when you devote your life to faith in Jesus Christ you will have access to a deep well of Hope. Imagine what it may have been like for one of the disciples, living during Jesus time on earth…the Savior, the one who was coming to save the people, had been born and living on earth…healing the sick and living a life according to God, which was very different from many others on earth. He had come and they were following Him…and then He allowed himself to be captured beaten and flogged and then crucified…because of who He was, imagine those three days after Jesus died…

Then the most amazing thing occurred and from the most tragic of circumstances, Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to many of them…He conquered death. This same Jesus is with you no matter what…put your Hope in Him. May God’s peace be with you.

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“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…”

1 Peter 1:3

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

The Final Word

March 7, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Once again I find myself in worship through music. This time it is a song by The Newsboys. Our journey of life will have ups and downs, highs and lows, struggles and joy. We can find our way through anything if we stay close to God and His Son Jesus. He gave up everything for us and He did it because of love. No matter the situation of the events in your life…remember God has the final word. Give this a listen…The Cross Has The Final Word by The Newsboys. May God’s peace be with you.

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“Nothing is all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

Hebrews 4:13

(This photo was taken in October of 2014 at Kaanapali Beach on the island of Maui)

Renew

March 6, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

I am working on trying to be better about not making snap judgments and flippant comments regarding situations when I know very few details. We don’t take time to learn the details of a situation and try to understand before we start down the path of judgment and criticism. Social media, of course, it right there to encourage the wrong behavior. If we strive to learn more before we speak out, society as a whole would be much better off. I am able to renew my mind and my behavior when I spend time reading the Word of God. I want to stop jumping in to be the critic and the doubter so quickly and remember that we all were created by God and that each and every person is fighting a battle. May God’s peace be with you.

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“Do not conform any longer to the 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 April of 2016 at a lake in central Minnesota)

Life By Faith

March 5, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Give it your best, know that your efforts are important to what is happening in your life. Trust that there is goodness even if it is hard to see. We must not give up hope…no matter what is present in your daily life, seek the Lord, consult with God in prayer and live with the hope of the resurrection in your heart. From even the most tragic of circumstances God created a new hope for us all. Live with the hope that God provides through His Son Jesus in every situation. May God’s peace be with you.

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