Prayer Does Matter…

February 22, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When we don’t know what to do…we should pray. When someone acknowledges us with a positive comment…we should say a prayer of thanks. When something happens that makes us angry…we should stop and pray for God to guide our response. When we are blessed with an increase in pay…we should pray to ask God how can we share some of it. When we we are feeling alone in the world…we should pray to God to show us His presence. When a friend or family member is suffering from illness…we should pray to God to be with them with healing comfort. And one of the most important parts of prayer is not only speaking to God…we also need to be ready to Listen…there many ways God can speak to us…pay attention to your surroundings and what you hear and see in your everyday life. Prayer matters to God, how do I know? I know because Jesus told us it does…it is not about the right words or the right prayer or the right time…it is just about doing it, always and let God be your guide. May God’s love and peace be with you.

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“pray continually”

1 Thessalonians 5:17

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

He Knows

February 21, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

No matter what you are going through in your life, whether you are filled with joy and gratitude about how well things are going or if you are struggling with sadness, pain and sorrow…God knows right where you are. In your every day He is with you, His Son came to earth and lived as a man and in His life here He experienced a wedding, friendship with individuals and a group, sadness, struggle with temptations. He traveled and experienced many of the same things we do today, just at a different time in the history of the world. The point is He knows what it feels like to feel all alone and to be tempted by evil and Satan himself. Trust in God and especially Jesus Christ His Son…He knows exactly what you are going through and is waiting to connect with you. May God’s love and peace be with you.

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“Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

Hebrews 2:18

(This photo was taken in September of 2016 on a lake in central Minnesota)

Parenthood

February 20, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

A parent, when you “sign-up” for this role like many things it is not a destination or finish line process or position…no matter how you become a parent you are being entrusted with growth and development of a young person in the world. This will require sacrifice, if you are unwilling or unable to sacrifice either time or other endeavors you planned at one time in life…you are setting yourself and the child up for a significant amount of suffering on top of what struggles come with the job and being a parent will be so much harder than it already is in life. The best step to take as a parent at any point in the parenting process is a very important step, that is to examine yourself and your relationship with God…because the role of a parent requires sacrifice of self, your relationship with God will be a good indicator of your ability to set yourself aside when necessary to help and support others. Parenthood…this is not about you…seek God and use God’s Word to learn how to be a parent just as God the Father is a parent to you. May God’s love and peace 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 2013 at Falls Park in Sioux Falls, South Dakota)

We Are Saved By Grace

February 19, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We don’t deserve it, we didn’t earn it and we are definitely not entitled to it. It isn’t our right to be saved from our sins. Our hope of salvation is strictly based on the mercy and grace of God. No person on earth will ever be able to do for you what Jesus Christ has done for you and no person on earth is going to be able to love you to the level of God’s love for who you are…the only way to find peace, love, joy, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, patience, gentleness and self-control is to commit your life to accepting and knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and spend time making Him known to others. May God’s love and peace be with you.

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“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.”

Ephesians 2:4-5

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

The Peace Of Christ

February 18, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Music is a great expression for the senses, no matter what style of music a person enjoys most, when their favorite song is played you truly see them come alive. It opens a window into the deepest part of a person. For me it has become Christian music, contemporary worship music. It started around Christmas of 1998, I started to really hear the words of Amy Grant, Michael W Smith and others…it impacted me. After that Christmas I stayed on the local Christian radio station and have listened ever since. It is one way to find peace in this broken and fallen world. If you are searching for peace and the messages of the bible in a way different from reading then I encourage you to seek out the Christian music world…many songs are based on bible verses and the messages that Jesus taught while He was here. May God’s peace be with you.

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“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

Colossians 3:15

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

The Light Of Life

February 17, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

We frantically run around looking for the answers to events we can’t possibly comprehend…we reach for futile attempts to feel in control. This has been true throughout human history…just pick up a book and read about it (I have one in particular I would recommend). We are in the dark, evil and the prince of this world is real and he is very busy and he is very happy if you choose not to acknowledge him. Another book I am currently reading is ‘The Case For Christ’ by Lee Strobel, as I read about his process of coming to Christ I reflect on things and wonder why have so many people in today’s world have given up on faith? The only answer I come to is…that is exactly what Satan is constantly working on anger, hate, selfishness, fear, worry and a whole host of sad human behaviors that keep us in darkness. If we don’t turn to Jesus, if we don’t seek Him and the Word of God we will continue to be lost souls. I pray you see God’s presence somewhere in the world today.

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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 February of 2013 in a neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)

The Power Of Prayer

February 15, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

I am learning that our perspective about prayer says quite a bit about our beliefs and lack of understanding of the true and effective power of prayer. In the last few days I have heard that the only thing the disciples truly asked Jesus to teach them is how to pray. What does that tell you about its power? When people are talking about a situation a friend or family member is experiencing and the comment ‘all I can do is pray’ is spoken it sounds so last resort and as if I can’t help them…prayer is not a last ditch effort to make change, people say I don’t know how to pray…there is no right way or right words the most important part of prayer is that it is sincere, comes from the heart and is offered with the belief in its power. If you pray and have thoughts that I really am not helping or believe nothing is going to change, you are only viewing a response from your perspective and your timing. Belief in the power of prayer is offering your prayers to God and giving the prayer to Him and believing that He loves you and the people you are praying for, no matter what the outcome may be…God is not a genie in a bottle, He is your Creator, Savior and all loving Father. May God’s peace be with you.

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“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous man is powerful and effective.”

James 5:16

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

Transformation

February 14, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

A process of change or alteration…on our faith journey this is a core element in growing your faith. We come with questions, doubts, fears and hesitation. All the answers eventually end up at Jesus. It takes a different amount of time for each person to process the questions and doubts and fears but we all end up at the cross. That is not the end…Jesus and the cross are the answers and when we continue in our life and journey we take that knowledge and face many of the same questions, doubts, fears and hesitations only now we approach the things of this world with a new perspective because we have been transformed. The faith journey continues with the Holy Spirit guiding us, we can’t stop at the cross and not go out again into this fallen world…the love of God will change our perspective and we are to share that with others. May God’s love and peace be with you.

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“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

2 Corinthians 4:6

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 in Badlands National Park in South Dakota)

First Seek God

February 13, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When we are preparing for something such as hosting a holiday with family and friends or going on a trip or taking on a new position or job, even planning a wedding. We often spend a great deal of time and effort planning and doing all the little details to get ready or some people choose to spend very little time planning and they just do…either way in both scenario’s we often don’t stop and pray about it to God. Sometimes we do but that is right before we eat or right before we walk in the door on our first day or as we step on the plane to leave. It feels kinda like, ‘Ok God I spent a great deal of effort getting ready and checking all the boxes to do this, now you make sure it all goes as I have planned, Oh and don’t forget the…’ we are human it appears to be in our nature. What if when the possibility of something to be planned is presented we go to God first and seek His plan to see if it is what He has set for us? It will be hard at first as changing behavior always is and we will still go our own way sometimes, (I recently did this and am making my way back to God’s plan) in the end it will all be worth it to follow Him. May God’s peace be with you.

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“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Matthew 6:33-34

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

Don’t Give Up

February 12, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Our lives are filled with moments and memories…some are good times and some are difficult. We all tend to embellish a bit in our memories, the memory of good times seem to be really good and the memory of bad times seem to be really bad. For many there seems to be more bad memories that start to take a person down a road where even the present moments are seen through their eyes with a negative perspective. This is a quick spiral downward and we can get stuck in the swirl of negativity. We have to have the courage to choose a new perspective, a more balanced view things and we are fed that perspective when we read the Word of God. When times are hard and it feels like you are making no progress on anything…don’t give up, keep pressing on, keep believing…that is your faith at work. Goodness will come to those who believe in the hope that God provides through Jesus Christ. May God’s peace be with you.

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