ACE #359: God Has Mercy On Me

My daughter and I went through the drive-thru of McDonald's. We ordered our items and exited the parking lot. As I began to start on the ice cream I purchased, I noticed a woman holding a sign. I could not make out what the sign said, but the top of it said homeless. The light changed and we passed the lady. Then, the light changed back to red. We were now in the very front of the light and the lady was now several cars back. I debated over and over in my head as to what I should do. 

"Should I hold up traffic and offer her something?" 

"Maybe she's doesn't really need anything."

"Lord..."

"Is this woman really homeless?"

Then the light changed and as I was licking my ice cream, it hit me. Compassion. 

God sent His Son, Jesus, to save me. Yes, me. I may not have been holding a sign on the corner, but I needed Jesus to change my situation many times before. God sent me someone and some situations that would introduce me to His Son, Jesus. 

So, I just about confused the other drivers as I swiftly made a move to turn around and go back. To my daughter's surprise, she asked, 

"Daddy, why did you do that?"

I told her I just wanted to help the lady on the corner. 

You see, I am not really sure of the woman's situation, but I am sure of this - God's mercy is given to us daily through the death, burial and resurrection of His Son, Jesus, when we accept it and believe it. When we have an opportunity to show comfort and compassion, we should think about how we got/get through our sufferings. 

God has mercy on me. 

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+1%3A3-4&version=ESV

 

ACE #358: Do You Know What Today Is?

A little after midnight, my husband walks into the bedroom singing, "Do you know what today is? It's our anniversary."  Most of us remember that song, "Anniversary" by Tony! Toni! Tone! It's a timeless classic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhJsx7wv08I

It's been 11 years since we stood in front of about 300 of our friends, family and church families.  The two became one...but not without the challenges.  For some strange reason, many people thought our day was about them. In many ways, it was astonishing.  In other ways, it was just plain hurtful.  We had to make up our minds and say, "This is our day.  Period.  Whoever wants to join us, feel free. But the show will go on...with or without you."  That would be the first of many times we would have to choose our union over the disapproval of others.  But it wasn't a tough choice, really.  God put two very stubborn and determined people together - it's always been us against the world.

Now, 11 years later I can admit my error.  I had taken out the word "obey" in our vows.  I'm a modern kind of gal or so I thought.  I didn't like the word simply because I could only imagine that particular word being used from a master to a dog.  I couldn't take it.  All these years later, I finally get it.  My blessings have come in my obedience to my husband's decisions and his covering concerning me and our daughter as the head of our household.  God has instructed him to lead, protect, nurture, and love us.  God holds him accountable for those things...not me.  It's not my role...and what a relief!  I've learned to trust his decisions for our household and his instructions for handling some of our most difficult challenges because I know he has consulted God before he even opens his mouth.  Yes, we talk things out, but I usually let the final decision rest in his lap while I move on to something else that requires much less pressure. It's not always about trusting him as much as it is about trusting the God in him.  He doesn't always say the things I desire for him to say, but I also know he says what God says.  That's my guy.  (Shame on me for being a submissive wife).

I tell my husband all the time, that if we got married on an island with just the two of us and God, it would have been just fine.  But we chose to share this day, just as we've chosen to share our story with many new couples.  

A word of advice for married couples or those on their way to marriage - always keep God first in your marriage, there's no failure in Him.  You will look up and 11 years will pass you by very quickly, then you will realize that it really was worth it! 

Cheers to 11 years and counting...

I'm grateful this man chose me! 

#TeamLewis4Christ

Take a listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sE40VAIpfI

Ephesians 5:22-33
²² Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. ²³ For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. ²⁴ Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her ²⁶ to make her holy, cleansing^[a] her by the washing with water through the word, ²⁷ and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. ²⁸ In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— ³⁰ for we are members of his body. ³¹ “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”^{[b] 32} This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. ³³ However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

ACE #357: Scandal Time - The Breakdown Begins

Scandal was in rare form last night.  Just as I thought it was getting a wee bit boring, it certainly turned.  This "50ish Shades of Grey" thing was intriguing.

As the episode opened, we saw Abby, aka Red, and Leo in a heated debate...okay, it was a yelling match.  His secrets had been exposed in a tell all book about the many men of power in Washington, DC who had all slept with the same woman - 17 men to be exact.  It is quite interesting to me that she was the one who was the harlot, the whore-monger, the greedy one - when it was all of these married men with children who had betrayed their wives and families.  What a double standard.  Nevertheless, life isn't fair - as Abby stated in her long monologue.  The fact that Abby had two men, both Leo and David, who were in the book who she had relationships with made her also a target for name calling and professional ruin. 

Lena Dunham's portrayal of Sue as the modern day, high profile, Caucasian version of Karrin Steffans was really good...but her wig was awful. It was her delivery of a read on Liv that got my attention, "What happened to you?" I do think it was pretty ironic that Liv threatened to destroy Sue, but Sue turned the tables asking for $3 million instead.  She figured that since her reputation was already going to suffer, she just might as well get paid for it.  The fact that one woman was being used to destroy another is not ironic rather more of the classic approach.  Did she call Liv a dried up prude though?!  Does anyone else have $175,000 in his/her bank account?  Well, that's what it would cost each senator to destroy the book.

Even after all of the foolishness, Cyrus is still a mean, old, miserable, foolish shell of a man.  He's just dirty.  He pretended to care about Abby's reputation just long enough for Liv to see through him and his $3 million in a briefcase.  He was really buying the secrets rather than saving Abby's job.  And he's so miserable that he is going to marry someone who he despises..tremendously.  For some reason, I thought they were already married...

And what's up with Fitz and Jake?  They are NOT friends.  If they were, then wouldn't Jake work for free?  Because he isn't...and the last time they worked together to protect Liv, uh...that didn't go so well. And Mellie is always up to something, trying to run for senator or president or whatever.

But Brian J. White, aka Russell, as Olivia's newest love interest...okay, Alex's new boy toy, was interesting.  Nice choice, Shonda, by the way.  Yes, Liv is having a mental and emotional breakdown to the point of having an alter ego.  Nice twist.  Somehow I have to wonder if Jake and Fitz are plotting on this one.  Russell doesn't know Olivia Pope? Hmmmm...Sue knew exactly who she was.  The contrast of Liv's dark color scheme and her dark personality seeping through is nice.  But her dark shaded makeup was the bomb dot com.  Kudos to the makeup artist.  There's no white in sight, honey. #whitehatgone

But nothing could prepare me for Huck killing Sue in such a swift manner. That $3 million was certainly not worth it...too late now.  I would love to say Huck also had a breakdown, but he's always been over the top crazy.  Just when you think he is acting, sort of normal, he does something just a little more crazy. But he is very clear that he wants to go home to his family.  And poor David Rosen, he knows Huck is dangerous and ruthless and he is shaking in his boots.  #immunity

And don't think I missed the small reference to my home state of Kentucky and one of it's "made up" senators.  The Bluegrass State was on a national platform last night for Scandal and the NCAA Tournament!

I do miss James...sigh!  But seriously, who is Alex? We are in for a ride, folks...

Brian J. White, aka Russell, aka new guy from the bar

Proverbs 15:27

Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live. 

ACE #356: What Do You Say?

Remember this? I certainly do. As a kid, this was a reminder from parents, elders and others for me to say "thank you" for what was given to me or done for me. Those folks would always make sure that I was grateful for the offerings and sacrifices made for me. They would not let me forget to give thanks; thus this where the phrase, "what do you say?" comes from. 

Well, when I think about the phrase today, it is still applicable. As I have gotten older and decided to make Jesus my choice, the question or phrase is still relevant.  What do you say? 

He came down in the flesh to give His life for my sin. He made himself a living sacrifice and suffered a crucifixion on the cross. His blood was shed to purify my soul. He completed the plan of Our Father in Heaven for me. He gave me His Holy Ghost. He rose from His grave in three days with all power in heaven and earth for me. He has a prepared place for me in His glory. He loves me so much that He has given me life and life more abundantly. He has, is and continually does things that I can't even think or imagine. He orders my steps. He loves me more than I love myself. For this and all that He is still doing, what do I say? I say, "Thank You!" 

What do you say? 

1 Thessalonians 5:18

...give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

ACE #355: Inside Out Ugly Heart Check

As I was driving down the street, our daughter begins to engage in one of her regular inquisitive-minded conversations with me.  I thought, here we go.

Her:  Mom, why do women wear makeup?
Me:  Well, sometimes they just want to enhance their natural beauty.  Also, some women think they need makeup to cover up blemishes.
Her:  What are blemishes?
Me:  You know, kind of like the marks that you get on your face when you get bitten by a bug or when you pick at the skin on your face and I tell you not to.
Her:  Well, mom, what I have learned is that is not about what you look like on the outside, but how you are on the inside that matters.
Me: You're absolutely right, honey.

This reminds me of when David said, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a right spirit within me." David wanted his inner person to change, where his thoughts, actions, and words could be reflective of a right spirit, but also to be pleasing to God. He was doing a "heart check."

Our daughter reminded me of a significant lesson - to shift the focus about being so concerned about our outer appearances as we are about what shows on the outside from the inside.  The children's song, "Inside Out" speaks to this - that serving God in spirit and truth is from the inside out.

When I was younger, my grandmother would always say, "Ugly is as ugly does."  I would look at her with my brow furrowed and my eyes slightly squinted.  I just didn't get it. Then I thought about the classic line delivered by the late Whitney Houston in Waiting to Exhale, "If you're ugly inside, then you're ugly outside."  It reminds me that the "ugly" is really about our behaviors and how we treat and regard other people and not about our looks in the body of Christ.  

Maybe instead of checking our reflections in the mirror constantly, we should make it common practice to check the reflections of our hearts. After all, that's where God looks. 

1 Samuel 16:7

⁷ But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

ACE #354: Lift Him Up...Regardless

For the last two weeks, I have been hearing in my spirit, "Lift Him Up."  The first thing in my mind was that my next message would be about lifting Jesus up as written in John 12:32, "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself."

Then on Sunday, we sang the hymn "Lift Him Up" and our pastor preached the same message.  He referenced the familiar Scripture mentioned above and aligned the Old Testament with the New Testament stating that God allowed the Israelites to be bitten by serpents with death as the result, particularly because of their complaining and ungrateful attitudes (Numbers 21:6) . However, God still showed them grace by offering specific instructions to Moses.  The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live."  This was a foreshadowing of the death of Jesus Christ, who would be lifted up on a cross through the act of Crucifixion.  As God offered the Israelites "life" through looking up at the snake on the pole, so Jesus offered us eternal life through His death on the cross.

I realized after the preached message that I was focusing on the part that said, "draw all people" rather than the "lifted up" part of the Scripture.  The "lift" is the action, the "draw" is the result.  It was the Holy Spirit urging me to "lift up" the name of Jesus instead of being ungrateful and complaining.  Those instructions were specifically for me.

So, today, as we are almost halfway through the Lenten Season, I encourage someone to choose to lift up the name of Jesus regardless of the circumstance, to rebuke complaining and ungrateful attitudes, and to be the one to draw someone closer to Christ. 

Jesus Predicts His Death

²⁰ Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. ²¹ They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” ²² Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
²³ Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. ²⁴ Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. ²⁵ Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶ Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
²⁷ “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. ²⁸ Father, glorify your name!”
Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” ²⁹ The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
³⁰ Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. ³¹ Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. ³² And I, when I am lifted up^[g] from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” ³³ He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
³⁴ The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”

³⁵ Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. ³⁶ Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.

ACE #353: May Your Cup Overflow

The other day I was struggling to prepare a meditation about prayer for a church event.  I sat down in a chair, a little frustrated and somewhat perplexed on how to finesse a message centered on the theme, "What Are You Praying For?"

I had to dig really deep about the honesty of the things I have been praying for, one for many years, and if those requests have been met by God.  The answer was, "No...not yet."  In that response, I recognized within myself that I had felt many times that God either didn't hear me, my requests were not in His will, or that I simply just did not deserve the things I have been asking for.

As I mulled over this task, my boss said something so profound:

People often sit around and think that when they pray and don't get what they prayed for that God has slighted them in some way.  Either they make themselves see things as the glass, or the cup, being half empty or being half full - instead of just being the cup...and saying "Lord fill me up until I overflow."

His statement made me reflect on Luke 22:42, as Jesus was preparing for His own death, He said, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."

We often ask God to take our cup from us - the cup that requires our patience, our endurance, and perhaps our suffering.  But have we ever considered just being the cup?  The cup where there is plenty, where there is provision, where there is comfort, where there is an overflow of blessings that we don't have room enough to receive, but mostly - where God's will is done in our lives.

I encourage someone today to just be the cup! May YOU overflow.


Luke 22:42
⁴² “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

Psalm 23:5

⁵ You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.

ACE #352: You Are More Than What Your License Plate Says

When I was in college, I had a license plate that had my sorority's letters and symbols on it.  One morning when I went out to my car, I noticed that my license plate was not there.  I had my car washed the previous day, so I went back to the place and asked if anyone had seen my license plate.  To my dismay, the answer was "no".  After giving it much thought, I realized that someone had probably stolen it.  And 20 years later, I have never cared to replace it because I am more than what my license plate says I am.  I didn't need the license plate to prove that I was a member of my sorority.  After all, I'd paid my dues...in more ways than one.

The other day I was driving down the street and I saw a car pass me with a license plate that read "Holy".  I immediately thought, Wow, that is truly something to live up to, but what happens that person doesn't act so "holy"?

We go around quoting popular sayings, memorable Bible verses, and the latest mantras.  But, really...do we live up to it?  Or is there more to it than that?  I have to say that I have memorized many Bible verses in my life because they were ingrained in me.  But as an adult, I had to go back and actually study where those Scriptures came from and why they matter.  Sometimes it takes a bit of reflection to realize that either you are or you are not who or what the latest thing exemplifies.  And let's be honest, what is popular is not always what it right...and certainly not righteous.

Today, I challenge each of us to be more than a popular saying on a license plate, a t-shirt, or a bumper sticker.  Be bigger than that.  Be better than that.  But be the truth.  Live like Christians are supposed to live.  (And let me add - it's okay to have fun, but fun can actually be sinless).  It's possible.  

1 John 3:6-10

6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.

7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. 9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. 10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.

ACE #351: Speak More

Yesterday, I went to Captain D’s to get one of the $4.99 specials.  I am working to eat out less or at least with minimal cost.  As I placed my order through the intercom, the young lady on the other end was very pleasant and articulate.  But I heard something else in her voice.  I guess what I heard was “more”. 

When I got to the window, the conversation went something like this:

Me:  How are you today?

Her:  I’m fine. And yourself?

Me:  I’m doing just fine as well. I have a quick question.  What do you want to be when you grow up?

Her:  I really want to be a bank teller.

Me:  That makes a lot of sense.  You have awesome customer service.  I believe you will do well.

Her:  Thank you so much.

After she gave me my order, I gave her our ministry card.  I told her that if she had internet access or could access it through her cell phone, she could look up our information. 

What I learned from this encounter is the importance of speaking life into someone else’s dreams - even if it is a stranger.  I did not, and still do not, know the young lady’s situation.  However, I found it important to be obedient to the Spirit, which clearly said, “There’s more.” 

Sometimes, all it takes is a word of encouragement.

Proverbs 18:21

²¹ The tongue has the power of life and death,
    and those who love it will eat its fruit.

ACE #350: So You Say Your Job Sucks, Huh?

Over the past few weeks, I have listened to many people complain about their job situations.  The reality is that many jobs are few and far between, so switching jobs is not always an option.  People are staying on jobs that they completely and utterly hate.  They are miserable getting up in the morning, but must still go to work to maintain their households.  Many people lose sleep over being in a miserable job.  Either it is the people at the job, including the boss, or it is the job itself.  What is it about being in spiritual warfare in the workplace?

Let’s examine why we work and why our workplaces can be so troubling.

Why do we work?

• It’s part of our career
• It’s a job
• To pass time
• To pay the bills
• It’s my vocation, or my calling
• It’s what I have to do
• It’s what I have been taught 

What and who do you find in the workplace?

• Different attitudes, personalities, habits, desires, experiences, expectations
• Different ethnic backgrounds, gender, sexual orientations, upbringings, social graces, traditions, work ethic
• Religious beliefs - Christians and non-Christians

 What is toxic in the work environment?

• Gossip
• Complaining and grumbling
• Theft
• Pride
• Envy/jealousy
• Anger
• Offense/defense
• Greed
• Lust
• Wrath/malice
• Insecurities
• Competition 
• Haters

We can find a little bit of everything on the job, and not all, if any, good it seems.

If you are struggling on the job for whatever reason – if your job sucks - I would encourage you to adopt the Joseph Business Model.

Joseph’s story is found in Genesis, beginning in the 30^th chapter.  He was the first son born to Jacob and Rachel.  Rachel had been barren for many years, while her sister, Leah had been abundantly fertile.  Since they were married to the same man, it appeared that Rachel’s womb was cursed, while Leah’s was blessed.  Rachel felt despised just as Joseph was despised by his brothers because he was his father’s favorite, which eventually led them to sell him into slavery.  Joseph was sold twice and ended up in the home of Potiphar, an officer of Pharoah and captain of the palace guard.

Joseph was promoted to Potiphar’s personal attendant because he was trusted, faithful, obedient, intelligent, possessed integrity, and had a strong work ethic. Potiphar put Joseph in charge of his household and everything he owned.  Under Joseph’s care, the household was blessed, for God was always with Joseph.  The Bible says that Joseph was well built and handsome and after some time, Potiphar’s wife took notice of him.  But Joseph remained loyal to Potiphar.

After a false accusation of rape by Potiphar’s wife, Joseph ended up in prison.  He then became the warden’s right hand while still a prisoner.  He interpreted dreams for the cupbearer and the baker.  This is when Joseph’s spiritual gift of interpreting dreams really becomes useful.  He interprets a dream for Pharaoh, just as he had done with the two prisoners – with two very different outcomes.  Keep in mind that Joseph’s brothers also despised him because he had a spiritual gift that they could not understand.

After two years of sitting in a prison, Joseph becomes Pharoah’s chief administrator, or the 2^nd highest official in their government.  By then Joseph is 30-years-old.  About thirteen years had passed since he had been sold into slavery.

When a seven-year famine hits Egypt, Joseph ultimately saves his family, including his deceitful brothers, from starving to death.  Joseph eventually recognizes that God sent him to Egypt - and not his brothers who had sold him.  He states:

Genesis 45:5-9

⁵ And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. ⁶ For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. ⁷ But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.^[a]

⁸ “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. ⁹ Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay.

We could learn a lot from Joseph.  Regardless of our work situations, we are called to diligence, to be trustworthy, to be loyalty, to function in a spirit of integrity, and to respect and honor God and others while on the job.  God stayed with Joseph no matter what his work status was – from lowly slave to ruler of all Egypt.

Josephs’ formula was:

Faithfulness + integrity + work ethic = increase

Be mindful that when we do good work, someone will remember us.  Our work ethic will be the measure of how people see our character.  Joseph could have given up at any time, but he remained steadfast in his character and did so while laboring.  He also realized that his entire struggle really wasn’t about him at all...it was about what he was supposed to do for others.   

Trust and believe that most often your worst place of employment is your conduit to GREATER! Endure the struggle, it's taking you somewhere.

ACE #349: Do You Still Believe in Miracles, Signs and Wonders?

The other day as I was scrolling through my Facebook news feed, I came across a video of a young lady who had just received a doctor's report concerning her son.  She said that the doctors had removed a tumor from her son's brain and discovered that he had brain cancer.  She stated that she did not want money from anyone, but ONLY desired prayer from everyone who felt moved to do so.  Her story was shared by many people.  To me, she was a perfect stranger, but through her tears I realized we shared commonalities.  She is a mother - just like me.  She is a Christian - just like I claim to be.  She believes in the power of prayer - just like me.  

As I have thought about this young lady and her son's health, I pondered the question, "Do Christians still believe in miracles, signs and wonders?" as discussed in the story "Jesus Heals an Official's Son."

In this story, I find it interesting that the spiritual power of the words Jesus spoke were not enough, but there had to be physical, or sensory, evidence for His words to be believed.  There was no physical touch for the healing to take place over the official's son.  Jesus simply spoke it...at a distance.  Yet the miracle still manifested...instantly...in the same place as his very first miracle in John 2:

¹¹ What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

It is clear to me that regardless of status, for the Bible says the man was a royal official, healing is for those who simply have sincerity of faith.  It says that the man took Jesus at His word and basically went on business as usual.

So, today, if you struggle to believe in miracles, signs and wonders in these last days, then hold on to your faith and the lesson of this story that the power of the confirmed word of God makes the difference - if you believe it!

I remain in prayer and in faith that the young lady's son mentioned earlier shall live.  I invite you to pray with me.

John 4:43-54
Jesus Heals an Official’s Son

⁴³ After the two days he left for Galilee. ⁴⁴ (Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.) ⁴⁵ When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, for they also had been there.
⁴⁶ Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. ⁴⁷ When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.
⁴⁸ “Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”
⁴⁹ The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”
⁵⁰ “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.”
The man took Jesus at his word and departed. ⁵¹ While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. ⁵² When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.”
⁵³ Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed.
⁵⁴ This was the second sign Jesus performed after coming from Judea to Galilee.

ACE #348: What a Sacrifice

When I think about a sacrifice, I am always thankful for the sacrifice that was made for me on Calvary's cross by my Savior, Jesus. He became flesh only to die for the sin that I would commit. Through His death by crucifixion, His burial and His resurrection I have the right to live eternally in Heaven with my God. I acknowledge it. I confess it. And I believe it. He died for me and all who believe it was for them.

His example of sacrifice was realized by so many throughout our history. Christ inspired many to be a sacrifice, a living sacrifice. Saturday marked the end of Black History Month - a month where people have celebrated, acknowledged and remembered the lives and the legacies of so many African Americans who have given their lives in hopes that others after them could be and become whatever their hearts desire. We thank all of those who struggled and toiled for all people, especially blacks, so we can live out our dreams of being... 

Thank you Lord for the struggle. Thank you for the example of sacrifice.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.