ACT Ministries Blog

Absorbing God’s Word

“Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table.” Psalm 128:3

Applying God’s Word

In February of 2012, my friend Mark Valencia, made a CIC/WorkLight weekend with me. Mark, a faithful Christian man is married to a faithful Christian woman named, Eva. They are parents of four wonderful children, Luke, Grace, Faith and Michael. Eva is pregnant again with a little girl and they have named her, Mary. Unfortunately, Eva has been diagnosed with life threatening complications for both herself and baby Mary.

This is a couple who loves one another and their children, deeply. Recently, Mark wrote a song for Eva titled “Don’t Be Afraid”. I personally think it should be number one on the charts. Every time I listen to it, I break down. The link is below. Use full-screen so you can follow the lyrics.

https://youtu.be/WPAKYzYkyVk?feature=shared

Accounting of God’s Word

Please pray for the Valencia family. If you feel moved to help them, here is their Go Fund Me page. https://gofund.me/36c6a345

Absorbing God’s Word

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-17

Applying God’s Word

The words, “Inwardly we are being renewed day by day” are powerful. To me, they mean the depths of my spiritual being are strengthened every day by meditating on God’s word and applying it to my life.

Someone asked recently, “How do you deal with troubled times, Jack.” I said, “Preventative maintenance”. I spend time with Jesus EVERY day, knowing that at some point, I will have to rely on my faith in Him to carry me.

Prior to knowing Jesus, I would slam down a couple shots of Scotch in times of trouble. That resolved nothing. Fortunately, I established a very solid friendship with Jesus by the time my grandson Niccolo died and an even stronger relationship with Jesus when my late wife Joanne, my mother Doris and brother Jim died within a period of seven months.

Accounting of God’s Word

Do I turn to Jesus every day or do I wait until I’m in trouble?

Absorbing God’s Word

^“Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.” Proverbs 3:16-17

Applying God’s Word

Proverbs 3 really talks about the gift of wisdom and more often than not it’s found in true followers of Jesus. One such person, is Louise’s mother, Josephine.

Josephine turns 100 on July 9, 2025. She was married to her husband, Angelo, for 77 years before his death in 2021 at age 99. Josephine’s son, five daughters, their families, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will all be in Chicago to help celebrate what an amazing women she is.

I’ve had the extreme pleasure of getting to know her via FaceTime over the last eleven years. Proverbs 3:16-17 describes Josephine perfectly. Her long life of hard work and service to God, family and friends has blessed her with riches and honor that only God can provide. Her pleasant ways, paths of peace and incredible wisdom are evident whenever and wherever she is present.

Accounting of God’s Word

Happy Birthday, Josephine. Well done good and faithful servant! We love you.

Absorbing God’s Word

“He said, “Listen to my words: “When there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams.” Numbers 12:6

Applying God’s Word

I’ve been blessed to experience a few prophetic dreams and visions. I love hearing other people share theirs.

Recently, one of my granddaughters shared a dream that may end up being prophetic. She said that our family was standing in front of an elevator. When the door opened, we got in and pushed the up button. When the elevator door opened, Jesus pleasantly greeted us and handed us each an eel.

After sharing her dream, my granddaughter asked, “Why an eel, grandpa?” Our research concluded that there isn’t any real mention of eels in scripture. We did discover that eels are resilient, adaptable, have a transformative life cycle and can generate a power of electricity. Could this dream be encouraging our family to be resilient, adaptable, transformed and empowered by God? Time will tell.

Accounting of God’s Word

Do I have prophetic dreams/visions? Do I share them with others?

Absorbing God’s Word

“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.” Proverbs 3:27

Applying God’s Word

On what was already a very busy day, I squeezed in a call to my financial institution. A young man named Tom, answered. As Tom searched his computer for my information, I asked, “How’s Tom today?” He replied, “I need a career change. All I do every day is respond to complaints.” I asked, “What are you passionate about?” Tom said, “I’d love to work for the Lord.” I replied, “Maybe you’re already doing that.”

I talked with Tom briefly and gave him the web page for “WorkLight” explaining how our ministry mentors people in living out their faith at work. God was empowering me to share the gifts of my time and clarity with Tom. I asked, “Can I pray with you , Tom?” He answered, “Sure.” When I finished praying, I knew God had blessed both Tom and I with the gift of His presence.

Accounting of God’s Word

Am I withholding good from those to whom God wants to bless? Do I know when God empowers me to act?

Absorbing God’s Word

“Grandchildren are the crown of old men, and the glory of sons is their fathers.” Proverbs 17:6

Applying God’s Word

Some of the greatest blessings in my life have come wrapped in being raised by wonderful parents, in raising an incredible daughter, and in being closely involved in the lives of my three granddaughters.

As I reflect on being a dad and grandfather, I admit to not doing it perfectly. I’ve made mistakes, but am getting better at it every day. I do my best to carry forward the countless important values my parents instilled in me and my siblings. The one value that I’ve come to treasure the most is having a close relationship with God. I hope and pray that my family finds that to be their most treasured value as well.

Accounting of God’s Word

What is the most important value handed down in my family from one generation to another?

Absorbing God’s Word

“But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.” Matthew 13:16

Applying God’s Word

Recently, I accidently backed my SUV out of our garage with the liftgate still in the open position. That didn’t work too well. I asked God, “Is there someone at an autobody repair shop that You want me to talk to?”

The next day, I set out to get some estimates of repair. At the first repair shop an employee greeted me in the lobby and took some pictures of my vehicle. I never received the estimate of repair that he promised me. At the second shop, the owner stopped what he was doing and escorted me to his office where we took some time to share stories about faith, family and work. He gained my trust and I chose him to do the repairs.

If we have ears to hear and eyes to see, God will show up in every situation. We refer to those times as “Holy Moments”. This was yet another “Holy Moment” of many I’ve experienced.

Accounting of God’s Word

Do I hear what He hears and see what He sees? When was my last Holy Moment

Absorbing God’s Word

“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:6

Applying God’s Word

God is repeatedly asking me to keep my eyes on Him. He wants people to experience Him through me. That doesn’t happen unless my mind is governed by the Holy Spirit.

Who do I really see when I look in the mirror each day? Hopefully, I see a person who is welcoming to others; someone who wears a warm smile of encouragement accompanied by kind words to those in need. Admittedly, I have days when I am somewhat distracted, but those are the days when God reminds me that He is not done with me yet.

A mind governed by worldly things is an obstacle to God’s work. Therefore, the shaping and molding that takes place in my daily appointment with God is critical. People don’t want to just hear me talk about God. People would rather see evidence that my mind is governed by God’s Holy Spirit via His life and peace in me.

Accounting of God’s Word

Is my mind governed by the things around me or the things within me? Do I make time each day to meet with God?

Absorbing God’s Word

“An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.” Proverbs 31:10 

Applying God’s Word

Friday, May 23, 2025 marked 55 years that Joanne and I would have been married. In 2014, she fell out of my arms and into the arms of Jesus. Back then, to help recover emotionally I distributed some of Joanne’s jewelry to our daughter and three granddaughters.

One of Joanne’s rings had three equal sized diamonds, which I had the jeweler turn into three separate rings. Each granddaughter had to wait until their sixteenth birthday to receive their ring. A few days ago, my youngest granddaughter received the final ring. Accompanying each ring was a poem I wrote over Joanne’s signature.

My First Diamond Ring

“The ring grandpa gave me, I wore on my hand, a reminder to us that our promise would stand.

Three Gorges diamonds all the same size, lined in a row and a sight for sore eyes.

I’ve taken one stone from my special band, in hopes that you’d wear it on your pretty hand.

Remember that promise I told you about? It was hard to keep but we lived it out.

You’re old enough for my diamond now, but with this ring comes a secret vow.

To only settle for the very best mate. Don’t waste time on just any old date.

Wait for the man who makes your heart sing, like the man who gave me my very first ring.”

Grandma Joanne Gorges McCall

Accounting of God’s Word

This Memorial Day, let’s pray for all the men and women who gave their lives for our country and loved-ones who are no longer with us.

Absorbing God’s Word

“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.” John 3:8

Applying God’s Word

John 3 compares the Holy Spirit with the wind. We can’t control the Holy Spirit anymore than we can control the wind.

Last week, I withdrew some cash out of the bank, which was made up mostly of 1o’s and 20’s. To be safe, I placed the envelope of money in my coat pocket and carried it into a restaurant. On exiting the restaurant, I was met with a blast of wind, which flipped the envelope full of money into the air. The money flew everywhere. What an incredible sight.

Two of the restaurant servers saw what was happening and rushed to help me. All of us were laughing hysterically. while attempting to retrieve the money. Between my generous tip to each of them and the unfound money, I lost about $200, which was a mere fraction of the envelope’s contents.

If we are open to it, the Holy Spirit will use each of us like the wind. Be ready!

Accounting of God’s Word

“Challenge” Am I ready for the Holy Spirit to use me like the wind?