ACT Ministries Blog

Absorbing God’s Word

“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.” John 13-14

Applying God’s Word

God has blessed me with incredible friends. These friendships are rich and long lasting. God put it on my heart that I haven’t been doing a very good job of “Reaching Out” to them. It’s not easy to call someone you haven’t talked to in a while, but when you do it’s almost like washing their feet.

This week, I grabbed my phone and starting calling folks. I hadn’t talked to some in months and others in years. It was so amazing and anointed. I’m not sure who was blessed more, them or me. Both! A few I talked to were doing well while others were struggling. We laughed, cried and of course we prayed together.

God reminded me that when I “REACH OUT to another person I fulfill God’s greatest “OUT REACH” of all.

Accounting of God’s Word

Who haven’t I talked to lately? Who is God asking me to call?

Absorbing God’s Word

“If anyone borrows an animal from their neighbor and it is injured or dies while the owner is not present, they must make restitution.” Exodus 22:14

Applying God’s Word

I’ve never borrowed an animal from a neighbor, but I’ve borrowed plenty
of other things.

Our family lived in a neighborhood where borrowing was pretty much
expected and accepted. We didn’t lock the doors to our house. Neighbors would
come in, take a cup of sugar or some eggs and leave a note. We had access to
their homes as well. My dad used to say, “If you borrow a tool or anything else
make sure you return it in better condition than when you borrowed it.” I’ve
made that a practice all of my life.

How about the things on loan to me from the Lord? I’m talking about my
time, money, talents and possessions. At some point He expects me to return
them in better condition than when He loaned them to me. It’s been the most
challenging part of my life.

Accounting of God’s Word

Is my life my own or is it on loan from God?

Absorbing God’s Word

“Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.” Lamentations 3:32

Applying God’s Word

My cousin Danny passed away two months ago. He and I were childhood playmates. Our families got together for the holidays, special events and we even spent summer vacations together. Although we are grieving Dan’s death, God has manifested Himself through great compassion and unfailing love.

A week before Dan died we had the opportunity to laugh and reminisce about old times. In the 1950’s when we were quite young we pretty much had the run of San Francisco. We’d buy a fifty cent bus pass that allowed us to ride every bus and Trolly car all day long. What a blast. The only instruction from our parents was to be home for dinner.

Those were the days when our imaginations kept us entertained. We pretended our neighborhoods were old western towns and open prairies. Our heroes were Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, The Lone Ranger and Hopalong Cassidy. We were the “good guys”.

Thank you, Dan,  for your love and friendship and for making my childhood fun and exciting.  I love you. This song’s for you.

Accounting of God’s Word

When I grieve the loss of a loved one, do I experience God’s compassion and love?

Applying God’s Word

“So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.” Acts 12:5

Applying God’s Word

In Acts 12:1-11 we read about Peter’s great escape from jail. I’m sure many folks read scriptural accounts and sense that they are fictional. I don’t. It’s much easier to believe scripture when we acknowledge the “Holy Moments” and miracles we’ve experienced on our own.

Verse 5, about the church earnestly praying to God for Peter, jumped off the page at me. Praying for one another is what we are called to do. Louise and I spend time in prayer with God and each other every day. We pray for all of you, the church around the world and we pray by name for 80 to 100 people on our prayer list. Are there days when we find it difficult to do? Yes. We have, however, committed ourselves to doing it because it’s so important.

Accounting of God’s Word

Do I have a set time every day to pray? Do my prayers extend to those I know and to those I don’t know?

Absorbing God’s Word

“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” Hebrews 13:16

Applying God’s Word

Many of you know that Louise and I met dancing nine and a half years ago. I was invited to speak to a workplace ministry group called Christians in Commerce in Palm Desert, California. I had lost my late wife, Joanne, and decided to accept that invitation to speak.

While in Palm Desert, three different people told me to get out and do some dancing. I took their advice and met Louise dancing. We’ve been married eight years and we still go out dancing once or twice a week. We do East Coast and West Coast Swing, Cha Cha, Waltz, Two Step, Line Dances and our version of Salsa.

We are often videoed and get compliments all the time. We’re good dancers, but what people are experiencing is our joy while dancing. That joy stems from our love for God and one another. God even likes our dancing, because He knows we do it for Him.

I’m not sure we would call our dancing a sacrifice, but there is a price to pay the next day. :>)

Accounting of God’s Word

What do others see me doing that pleases both them and God?

Absorbing God’s Word

“There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land. There is only cursing, lying, murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.” Hosea 4:1-2

Applying God’s Word

Does the scripture above sound familiar? It’s the world we now live in and one that reminds me of a board game our family played when I was growing up called “Risk”. “Risk” is a strategy game of diplomacy, conflict and conquest. It’s played on a board depicting a political map of the world divided into 42 territories within six continents. The goal of the game is to occupy every territory and eliminate all the other players.

It’s never too late for God to turn things around in our world, but His plan has always been to do so by using each of us. He’s just waiting for us, His disciples, to do what He’s been asking of us all along.

Accounting of God’s Word

Am I praying and asking God for His instruction? Will I obey those instructions?

Absorbing God’s Word

“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” Acts 20:24

Applying God’s Word

I love the above verse by the apostle, Luke. I use to think that my life was my own, but that notion ended when I told Jesus I would follow Him. Following Him includes doing things I find uncomfortable like moving three times in the last ten years.

I’ve suffered a certain amount of grief after each of those moves, but each transition has drawn me closer to God. The last move will take place at the moment of my death. Until then, my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task Jesus has given me.

Accounting of God’s Word

Am I on the move for Jesus? Have I said yes to testifying to the good news of God’s grace?

Absorbing God’s Word

“Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.” Matthew 12:25

Applying God’s Word

In the above verse Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees and all of us with a prophetic warning. He’s letting everyone know that Satan’s playground is a divided world. The word “devil,” comes from the Greek word diabolos, which means “to divide and/or to separate.

Satan would have us believe that everything is just “Fine”. However, these times are anything but fine. In fact, turmoil surrounds us on all sides.

I don’t know about you, but the state of the world makes me nauseous. I have never been more serious about praying and snuggling up to Jesus than I am today. I highly recommend that we all be united in doing just that. I truly think that Jesus is our only hope.

Accounting of God’s Word

Have I noticed that relationships with family, friends, co-workers and the rest of the world are strained?

Absorbing God’s Word

“Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.” 1 Corinthians 14:1

Applying God’s Word

Last week God had me write about Pentecost and His Holy Spirit. God asked me to follow that up by saying that His love for us is not based on who accepts or rejects His Holy Spirit. He loves each of us equally, but wants much more for us. By accepting His Holy Spirit a whole new world is opened up to us along with powerful new gifts.  

The first half of my Christian journey had me busy with many wonderful good works for God. The second half of my Christian journey has had me busy with many wonderful good works also. The difference is, that in the second half I have been doing those good works with God and not just for God.

The change came through a deep session of repentance and surrender, the rejection of Satan and all his works, the acceptance of Jesus as my Lord and savior, and my permission for God to release His Holy Spirit in me. If you haven’t experienced this, I highly recommend it.

Accounting of God’s Word

Do I eagerly desire the gifts of God’s Holy spirit?