Walking with God

One Hope

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

Ephesians 4:1-6 NIV

Even when you feel surrounded by darkness and evil…we can find hope when we turn towards God and His Son and His Word.  We can find hope when we remember that after the brutal and tragic death of Jesus…God raised Him to life.  We can have hope because of what God has done and is doing in our lives.  It is up to us to seek Him.

DSC_0228 publish

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 15:13 NIV

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

Contentment

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

1 Timothy 6:6-10 NIV

DSC_0836 publish

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;
    never will I forsake you.”[a]

Hebrews 13:5 NIV

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

His Sacrifice, Our Salvation

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Romans 8:31 NIV

Nobody loves us as much as God loves us…Jesus gave up heaven with the Father to come down to earth as one of us…from the glory of the angels singing to a manger as a baby on earth, to save us, yet there was no room for Him.  Make room for Him in your heart, seek Him and trust in God.  He loves you and wants good things for you.  Amen.

DSC_0062 publish

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John 1:14 NIV

(This photo was taken in April of 2020 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Attitude Of Gratitude

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.”

Psalm 46:1 NIV

He will never leave you.  He is with you, He is for you.  No matter what happens, give thanks to God and strive to focus on choosing an attitude of gratitude.

DSC_1292 publish

“Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV

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

Learn And Share God’s Word

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“The law of the Lord is perfect,

    refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
    making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the Lord are right,
    giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
    giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is pure,
    enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
    and all of them are righteous.

10 They are more precious than gold,
    than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
    than honey from the honeycomb.
11 By them your servant is warned;
    in keeping them there is great reward.”

Psalm 19:7-11 NIV

Consistent, daily study of God’s Word is essential for spiritual growth.  Any relationship needs time spent together to grow…spend time with God and with God’s Word.  Amen.

DSC09023 publish

“Blessed is the one
    who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
    or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.“

Psalm 1:1-3 NIV

(This photo was taken in May of 2014 at a lake in central Minnesota)

Listen

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”

James 1:19-20 NIV

Seeking help…it is hard to do for many of us.  First step, admit we need help.  Second step, seek assistance…first from God and then from others that God puts in our lives.  Last step, listen…the first two are hard enough for many of us, if we get to the last step we often lose focus…we need to listen.  We often spend our listening time preparing our response instead of truly listening.  We can miss God’s will for us if we fail to listen.  May we all be better listeners in our daily walk.  Amen.

DSC_1556 publish

“Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.  Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

Proverbs 19:20-21 NIV

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 at Sapphire Point near Dillon, Colorado)

Ask, Seek, Knock…

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Matthew 7:7-8 NIV

Prayer and communication with God on a daily basis are key elements on your faith journey.  Prayer includes confessing our sins, expressing gratitude, listening and asking.  Keeping in mind that God is not a wishing well…rather He is your friend, your guide, your confidant.  He knows about every aspect of your life and He still loves you…so much that He sacrificed His one and only Son in order to reconcile you with Him.  God loves you…He is with you…He is wating to hear from you.

DSC_0012 publish

“Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”

John 16:24 NIV

(This photo was taken in July of 2019 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Make A Commitment

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

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

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

How do we get better at staying the course?  This New Year’s resolution business is almost always a path to failure.  Some of the most common mistakes is over-committing to too many things or setting unrealistic goals and achievements.  Not to mention our lack of patience for change in this fast paced, immediately gratification world.  The biggest mistake we make is either not asking God to guide us or not listening and looking for His will for our lives.  We are easily distracted and believe we have to maintain everything on our own.  The best change we can make is turning towards God first and a make a commitment to follow Him in all aspects of our lives.  Amen.

DSC_0933 publish

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
    and he will establish your plans.”

Proverbs 16:3 NIV

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

Teach Me Your Ways

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“Show me your ways, Lord,
    teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth and teach me,
    for you are God my Savior,
    and my hope is in you all day long.”

Psalm 25:4-5 NIV

God invites us into a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ.  It is up to us to respond to that invitation.  If we ignore God’s call and go our own way we will bring about more pain and suffering without God’s presence and guidance.  We need to be willing to open ourselves up to God’s way and His plan that happens on His timing.  It is a willingness and an ability to surrender our self-centered ways to Him…God is faithful and will guide you and lead you if you are willing to put your faith and trust in Him.

DSC_0178 publish

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
    I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.“

Psalm 32:8 NIV

(This photo was taken in May of 2020 along the North Shore of Lake Superior in northern Minnesota)

Patience And Persistence

/ mcalcagno / Leave a comment

“I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.”

Psalm 27:13-14 NIV

“Let your eyes look straight ahead;
    fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the[c] paths for your feet
    and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
    keep your foot from evil.”

Proverbs 4:25-27 NIV

Keep going…learn from what has happened…know that God is working for good things in all situations…He is with you…it is His plan that is best…there will be plenty of opportunities to go your own way…stay on the path…walk with God.  Amen.

DSC_0546 publish

“The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.  The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.”

Psalm 145:8-9 NIV

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota)