ACT Ministries Blog

Absorbing God’s Word

“I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you.” 1 Chronicles 17:8

Applying God’s Word

I’ve moved a number of times throughout my life. Before going into the Navy, our family moved eight times. My late wife, Joanne, and I moved six times. Louise and I are on the move for the third time. I realize in reviewing those different moves that God always had my back.

Louise and I thought that God had moved us for the last time six years ago. Not! He just moved us again. Clarity about where He wanted us to live didn’t come immediately. The home He finally found for us is in Palm Desert, California. When we walked through the front door we knew this was where we were supposed to be.

Yes, Palm Desert is a golfer’s paradise, entertainment center for adults, a popular retirement city and a vacation spot for all ages. For us? Ministry! Just a few weeks after moving here God had me presenting a Christian men’s retreat. God has also planted us in a wonderful church community.

None of us knows our next move, but we can trust God to lead the way.

Accounting of God’s Word

Is God asking me to move for Him?

Absorbing God’s Word

“The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.” Proverbs 20:5

Applying God’s Word

Louis Grams, one of the founding fathers of Christians in Commerce and a mentor to me, died last week. Louie was a holy man. He not only understood Proverbs 20:5, he lived it.

Louie had been at death’s door more than once. All those blessed to know and/or be mentored by him were selfishly relieved every time he survived. He never said that he was mentoring us. He did it gently and humbly. Louie had a way of making you feel like you were the most important person on the planet.

In order to be a mentor we have to have a mentor. Thank you Louie, for mentoring me and thank You Lord, for Louie. Empower me to be a mentor to others.

I’ve included Louie’s OBIT just in case you’re interested in knowing a little more about this Godly man. I love you, Louie.

Accounting of God’s Word

https://www.klecatskys.com/obituaries/Louis-William-Louie-Grams?obId=31121762#/obituaryInfo

Absorbing God’s Word

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8

Applying God’s Word

Send me, Lord. I’m ready to go.” Why wasn’t I saying those words in my 20’s or 30”s? I allowed myself to be imprisoned by my own insecurities and fears. I was in my 40’s before I gave God permission to free me from that bondage and follow Him.

I’ve never been more excited about spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. He’s asked me to keep my spiritual antenna extended so I can hear His instructions. He wants me to open my heart more than my eyes, ears and mouth. In other words He wants me to use every minute wisely.

At the end of Billy Graham’s life someone asked him what he would do differently if he had his life to live over. He said, “I would be in God’s Word more.”

Accounting of God’s Word

What are God’s instructions to me? Am I doing what He’s sent me here to do?

Absorbing God’s Word

“What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” Mark 8:36-38

Applying God’s Word

Good Friday was dark for me as I reflected on Judas betrayal of Jesus. Betrayal not only played a key role in Jesus’ death, it also plays a key role throughout the bible and in our own lives.  

I know first-hand how cunning and powerful betrayal can be. I learned how to betray by being betrayed. I’d love to apologize to folks who were hurt by my betrayal, but locating them is a problem. Therefore, I’ve asked God to forgive me.

Betrayal is still at work trying to destroy us, our relationship with God, our marriages, families, friendships, work, ministry and anything else in it’s path. It’s doing a pretty good job of destroying our world as well. Come Holy Spirit!

Accounting of God’s Word

Have I forgiven those who have betrayed me? Have I betrayed anyone? Have I asked them and/or God to forgive me ?

Absorbing God’s Word

“They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” Luke 24:32

Applying God’s Word

Palm Sunday and the week leading up to Easter is usually bitter sweet for me; great sorrow mixed with great joy. It saddens me to think that my creator sent His only Son into the world to die for me while I gave little notice. My obstacles to acknowledging God were pride, indifference and selfishness.

I spent forty of my Easters focused more on decorating eggs and Easter brunches around town than I did on the death and resurrection of my Savior.

Like the two men on the road to Emmaus, by inviting Jesus in, my heart now burns within me and is filled with incredible joy.

Accounting of God’s Word

Is my heart burning within me for Jesus? Am I inviting others to join me?

Absorbing God’s Word

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Mark 1:35

Applying God’s Word

They say it takes between 18 and 254 days to form a habit.                                       

I began a habit of meeting with Jesus every morning, back in April of 1987. I had been challenged to make an appointment with God and pray 10 minutes a day for sixty days. I ran out of things to pray in two to three minutes. I just sat there waiting for the room to light up. Nothing!

Eventually, the room did light up. Scripture started to jump off the page at me. Then in 1996 I began writing a daily love letter to God. That was 13,505 letters ago. The journaling inspired me to write this weekly “Challenge” to a dozen men who in turn sent it out to others. That was 1,144 “Challenges” ago.

I share these habits to inspire folks to have a daily appointment with God, read scripture, write God love letters and have an intimate relationship with Jesus. If it’s not a habit for you yet, try it for 18 or 254 days. If I can do it anyone can.

Accounting of God’s Word

Do I have a set appointment each day with Jesus? Has it become a habit?

Absorbing God’s Word

”For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20-30

Applying God’s Word

My Lenten seasons are usually, filled with multiple challenges. This Lent is no different! Jesus came under extreme attack during His forty days in the desert, right? I have a heightened awareness at this time of year, though, which allows me to capture the blessings as well.

Last week I made a simple call to obtain a missing 1099 for tax purposes. A sweet young woman named Grace answered the phone and helped me immediately. I was touched by how meek and special Grace’s voice was. I asked if she needed prayer for anything. Silence followed my request. Then she asked me to pray for her sister, Emily. I prayed for Emily and then God moved me to pray for Grace. The anointing was so powerful, we both began to cry.

It was one of those moments when two people gathered in God’s name and both experienced His powerful presence.

Accounting of God’s Word

Am I seeking to experience God by gathering others who are doing the same?     

Absorbing God’s Word

“The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:31

Applying God’s Word

A few weeks ago, I met a new neighbor. Initially, it was a smile and a wave back and forth. A couple days ago though, we walked toward each other to talk. During the conversation, he mentioned that he was out of work due to a shoulder injury. I empathized with him, we shook hands and said goodbye.

I was about ten feet away when the Lord said, “Didn’t you forget something, Jack.” I turned around and called out to Hector saying, “Can I pray over your injured shoulder?” He smiled and said, “Sure”. When we were done, he said, “Thank you. I receive it.” I commented, “Rarely do I hear folks say they receive it after a healing prayer.” He smiled.

There are many ways to love our neighbors like ourselves, praying with them and for them is one of the best.

Accounting of God’s Word

Am I praying with/for my neighbors?

Absorbing God’s Word

“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” John 6-9

Applying God’s Word

There was a time when I didn’t believe stories like the feeding of the five thousand. Back then, I rolled my eyes at a lot of things in scripture. Now I get so excited when I see a miracle or experience what I call a “God-incidence”.

I attended a wonderful men’s retreat last weekend. There were men from all over the Western States and Canada in attendance. One of the men shared he was from Menlo Park, California. I told him that I have a granddaughter at St. Francis High School. He shared that his son-in-law teaches at St. Francis. It just so happens that my granddaughter is in the religion class that his son-in-law teaches. Small world, huh? Coincidence? No, there are no coincidences. There are only “God-incidences”.

Accounting of God’s Word

How has God surprised me recently with God-incidences?

Absorbing God’s Word

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26

Applying God’s Word

Recently, Louise and I were reminiscing about our childhoods and I shared about how attached I was to my “Teddy Bear”. I took it everywhere with me. At some point, my parents started eliminating body parts from my raggedy old friend until all I had left was an ear. In time, even that disappeared.

God does the similar thing with me. He lovingly eliminates the things of this world that I shouldn’t still be clinging to. He really has given me a new heart and put a new spirit in me. He’s removed my heart of stone and replaced it with one filled with more compassion and love.

I didn’t like the way my “Teddy Bear” was eliminated, but I really appreciate the process God uses to eliminate those things in my life that separate me from Him.

Accounting of God’s Word

Am I allowing God to mold me and to eliminate the things that separate me from Him?