from then.....to now

It's been 1 year since I shared my story, since I moved from downtown, since I had no idea how this was going to work.

here is the post from August 27, 2014.  What a great reminder to me of how far the Lord has moved the mark.

http://jrasberry.blogspot.com/2014/08/movin-to-midtown.html

so many promises fulfilled.
so many dreams dreamed.
so many tears, laughs, screams, "help me Jesus" moments.
so many new people the Lord has brought in my life.
so many opportunities to share His story, His love, His plan.
so many miracles.

so much still left to do.
so many miracles waiting to be released from heaven.

In September last year, a few weeks after I set out on this journey, I got the amazing opportunity to go to Portugal. It was so beautiful, and really good for my heart and soul.

On our last day there, I stopped at a little store and saw some porcelin tiles that I was instantly drawn to. I thought, "how pretty these would be on the front of my house!", and as quickly as I got excited, just as quick the enemy came at me. Saying nasty things like, "what if this doesn't work, then what? what if you don't get the house, then you just have tiles that are useless." It was such an attack.

I was standing in Portugal, at a little store, staring at these tiles, having this battle with the enemy. REALLY?

I got it together, told the enemy to shut up, turned my ears/eyes/heart/mind back to my Father and he said "Buy the tiles."

so I bought the tiles.

They have been wrapped up in the same paper they were packed in to bring home, for all of this whole year. I finally took them out a few weeks ago and was ready to get them suited up to put on the front of the house. I asked my sweet dear little brother Levi to help me make something to set them in, from the old slats of wood that came out of the house. These little pieces of wood are a whole story - I would guess there were over 10,000 of them underneath the sheet rock and plaster. They were my worst enemy during the demo. Some of you reading this helped take them down, so you know what I'm talking about.

so, here we are, 1 year later. It may not seem like a big deal to you that there is 3 small tiles stuck in some wood hanging on the front of my house, but ya'll, this is HUGE for me. The struggle on the inside of me that day in Lisbon, to the struggle on the inside of me every day on McTyere, the struggle is real.

But the faithfulness of Jesus is more real.

Very soon I will have a light hanging above this. Shedding light on the promises of the Lord. Literally.

and my long time friend Nate helped make it beautiful.  If I would have given the enemy what he wanted that day in Portugal, Nate would have missed this miracle.  That will make you think......

"For the LORD is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation."  Psalm 100:5

true repentance = true forgiveness = true restoration

Judges 10:6-18

"Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord. They served the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites and the gods of the Philistines. And because the Israelites forsook the Lord and no longer served him, he became angry with them. He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites, who that year shattered and crushed them. For eighteen years they oppressed all the Israelites on the east side of the Jordan in Gilead, the land of the Amorites. The Ammonites also crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin and Ephraim; Israel was in great distress. Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord, “We have sinned against you, forsaking our God and serving the Baals.”

The Lord replied, “When the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, the Sidonians, the Amalekites and the Maonites oppressed you and you cried to me for help, did I not save you from their hands? But you have forsaken me and served other gods, so I will no longer save you. Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble!”

But the Israelites said to the Lord, “We have sinned. Do with us whatever you think best, but please rescue us now.” Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the Lord. And he could bear Israel’s misery no longer.

When the Ammonites were called to arms and camped in Gilead, the Israelites assembled and camped at Mizpah. The leaders of the people of Gilead said to each other, “Whoever will take the lead in attacking the Ammonites will be head over all who live in Gilead.”

gods. all these nasty gods. something worshiped because it has power over you, or you believe it has power that can help you.

The gods that the Israelites turned to were pure demonic. Actually if you look up the god, Baal, it says "demon" and the pictures that depict what he looked like, look like demons. Why would you want to worship something so ugly?

God's chosen people, rescued from slavery, given a land of abundance and beauty....walked right back into darkness. Why would they do this? Why would they forsake what the Lord had done for them and given them? And this wasn't the first time, this was the FIFTH time they turned away from God and turned towards disobedience. FIVE times! Get it together oh people of Israel.

And then, when they were at the end of their rope, when those ugly, nasty, demon gods they thought could save them, failed to even answer when they tried to talk to them - they got it together. They went back to their first love. They called on the Lord.

What must that have looked like? An entire nation repenting, saying no to all the darkness over them, calling on the name of the Lord, saying "We have sinned against you because we have abandoned you as our God and have served the images of Baal." Did they all get together in one place and yell this out at the same time? Did they each fall on their faces and say this in their own homes? Did they all post it on facebook, twitter, instagram with #wearesorryGod #pleaseforgiveus?

An entire nation. Repenting. Turning from evil. Turning back to God.

It happened. And it can happen again. For real.

My heart grieves as I read the response from the Lord back to them. As they walked away from the Lord 5 times before, they called on God as a last resort for rescuing, and God says to them....

I rescued you before. You turned away from me. You chose other gods over me. Let those gods rescue you now.

But, they pleaded with God again (again, I wonder what that looked like for the entire nation to do), and this time, it was a genuine, life changing, giving up all that is evil, true repentance, cry to the Lord.

God's great, sweet, beautiful, mercy. God was grieved by their misery. Their broken and contrite heart.

"Going through the motions doesn't please you, a flawless performance is nothing to you. I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. Heart-shattered lives ready for love don't for a moment escape God's notice."
Psalm 51:16-17

Don't be a habitual emotional repenter.

True repentance = True forgiveness = True restoration

When I finally "got it" in my life, the Lord rescued me just like he did the Israelites. I walked away from the Lord way more than 5 times, but that last time I went to him and cried out, and REALLY meant it, He changed my life forever. And I'm never going back. How could I when I get to do life with these little brown people.

tola, jair, and all us

Judges 10:1-5

"After the time of Abimelek, a man of Issachar named Tola son of Puah, the son of Dodo, rose to save Israel. He lived in Shamir, in the hill country of Ephraim. He led Israel twenty-three years; then he died, and was buried in Shamir. He was followed by Jair of Gilead, who led Israel twenty-two years. He had thirty sons, who rode thirty donkeys. They controlled thirty towns in Gilead, which to this day are called Havvoth Jair. When Jair died, he was buried in Kamon."

This is all we know about Tola and Jair. They both served as judges, faithfully until they died, and they both died with honor and dignity for their service to God.

That's what I want. To serve the Lord faithfully until the end, and that is all I want people to know about me when I am gone.

Oh, but one more thing.....I want people to know that I loved a whole bunch of kids into the kingdom of heaven with me.

This summer has been long, stressful, challenging, and exhausting. The last two years I lived on Cohea Street and was there in the community and fully present for the kids (and all other ages of beautiful people) at all times. Not having a home there this summer has been extremely difficult. It has for sure made me value the necessity of living right in the middle of where you minister, a whole lot more. Even the simple things like....having to find a place to use the bathroom in the middle of the day, to the bigger things like.....needing a place to really spend quality time with people that is safe and comfortable.

I am so ready to be done with this house. I am so ready to live there and just, just be there. I feel like the Lord has pushed the pause button on this movie over the last month or so. Things just kind of slowed down and almost stopped, yet there is so much that is still left to be done. But in this moment of pause, I have not stopped with investing in people. Actually, the people Jesus has given me to love has expanded. Maybe that is why the work on the house has slowed down, so that I don't forsake the reason He gave me the house - for His beautiful children.

More people = more time = more issues = more miracles.

While the house is there, just waiting to be finished, my capacity to love and give continues to grow. The house is least important when you measure those two against each other. Still, I find myself thinking so many times through the day, "If I was just in the house I could do (fill in the blank)."

I am $10-$15,000 away from being able to fully complete everything. That is really not a lot when you have the richest daddy in the world.

"For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills." Psalm 50:10

And how the Lord continues to provide, is just plain crazy. And how the Lord continues to remind me that He planned all this out in His time, constantly amazes me. And how the Lord uses even the hardest and longest days ever, to give me more of what I need to keep going, never gets old.

I just wonder what all Tola and Jair did in those 23 years of service each one of them had. What all did they have to wait on and trust God for? How many hard days did they have giving to those in need? What creative ways did they have to come up with to do their job? All aside from this, I know they did it well. And as Jesus said, “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!" Matthew 25:23

People ask me a lot, "how many kids do you have?" And I have been saying, "About 30 or 40" but today we actually counted and called them by name, and here is the number we ended with. I hope it grows even more, and we are ALL ready to have a house to fit us in.

relentless pursuit to the end

Judges 9:22-57

"Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years. Then God brought bad blood between Abimelech and Shechem’s leaders, who now worked treacherously behind his back. Violence boomeranged: The murderous violence that killed the seventy brothers, the sons of Jerub-Baal, was now loose among Abimelech and Shechem’s leaders, who had supported the violence. To undermine Abimelech, Shechem’s leaders put men in ambush on the mountain passes who robbed travelers on those roads. And Abimelech was told.

At that time Gaal son of Ebed arrived with his relatives and moved into Shechem. The leaders of Shechem trusted him. One day they went out into the fields, gathered grapes in the vineyards, and trod them in the winepress. Then they held a celebration in their god’s temple, a feast, eating and drinking. And then they started putting down Abimelech.

Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is this Abimelech? And who are we Shechemites to take orders from him? Isn’t he the son of Jerub-Baal, and isn’t this his henchman Zebul? We belong to the race of Hamor and bear the noble name of Shechem. Why should we be toadies of Abimelech? If I were in charge of this people, the first thing I’d do is get rid of Abimelech! I’d say, ‘Show me your stuff, Abimelech—let’s see who’s boss here!’”

Zebul, governor of the city, heard what Gaal son of Ebed was saying and got angry. Secretly he sent messengers to Abimelech with the message, “Gaal son of Ebed and his relatives have come to Shechem and are stirring up trouble against you. Here’s what you do: Tonight bring your troops and wait in ambush in the field. In the morning, as soon as the sun breaks, get moving and charge the city. Gaal and his troops will come out to you, and you’ll know what to do next.”

Abimelech and his troops, four companies of them, went up that night and waited in ambush approaching Shechem. Gaal son of Ebed had gotten up and was standing in the city gate. Abimelech and his troops left their cover. When Gaal saw them he said to Zebul, “Look at that, people coming down from the tops of the mountains!” Zebul said, “That’s nothing but mountain shadows; they just look like men.” Gaal kept chattering away. Then he said again, “Look at the troops coming down off Tabbur-erez (the Navel of the World)—and one company coming straight from the Oracle Oak.” Zebul said, “Where is that big mouth of yours now? You who said, ‘And who is Abimelech that we should take orders from him?’ Well, there he is with the troops you ridiculed. Here’s your chance. Fight away!” Gaal went out, backed by the leaders of Shechem, and did battle with Abimelech. Abimelech chased him, and Gaal turned tail and ran. Many fell wounded, right up to the city gate. Abimelech set up his field headquarters at Arumah while Zebul kept Gaal and his relatives out of Shechem.

The next day the people went out to the fields. This was reported to Abimelech. He took his troops, divided them into three companies, and placed them in ambush in the fields. When he saw that the people were well out in the open, he sprang up and attacked them. Abimelech and the company with him charged ahead and took control of the entrance to the city gate; the other two companies chased down those who were in the open fields and killed them. Abimelech fought at the city all that day. He captured the city and massacred everyone in it. He leveled the city to the ground, then sowed it with salt.

When the leaders connected with Shechem’s Tower heard this, they went into the fortified God-of-the-Covenant temple. This was reported to Abimelech that the Shechem’s Tower bunch were gathered together. He and his troops climbed Mount Zalmon (Dark Mountain). Abimelech took his ax and chopped a bundle of firewood, picked it up, and put it on his shoulder. He said to his troops, “Do what you’ve seen me do, and quickly.” So each of his men cut his own bundle. They followed Abimelech, piled their bundles against the Tower fortifications, and set the whole structure on fire. Everyone in Shechem’s Tower died, about a thousand men and women.

Abimelech went on to Thebez. He camped at Thebez and captured it. The Tower-of-Strength stood in the middle of the city; all the men and women of the city along with the city’s leaders had fled there and locked themselves in. They were up on the tower roof. Abimelech got as far as the tower and assaulted it. He came up to the tower door to set it on fire. Just then some woman dropped an upper millstone on his head and crushed his skull. He called urgently to his young armor bearer and said, “Draw your sword and kill me so they can’t say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” His armor bearer drove in his sword, and Abimelech died. When the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they went home.

God avenged the evil Abimelech had done to his father, murdering his seventy brothers. And God brought down on the heads of the men of Shechem all the evil that they had done, the curse of Jotham son of Jerub-Baal."

This is a lot to digest, so basically.....

Abimelech got to serve as judge for 3 years. The exact amount of time that Jotham had prophesized. Three long years of enduring his wrath and destruction. But then the Lord punished him for his evil ways, even though he was the son of Gideon, a mighty warrior. No matter what "good" you do in your life, or what "good" you come from, living a life of sin and disobedience still produces powerful consequences.

Why did the Lord allow him these three years?

God promises to deal with sin, but it is in His timing, not ours. It is actually good news that God doesn't punish us immediately in our sin, but in His mercy He allows us time to repent.

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9

That is good news to me - when I think about the times I was so deeply stuck in a life of sin. Thank you Jesus for being patient and gracious and full of mercy over my life. Thank Him for that over yours too.

Abimelech had so many chances to turn his life over to God. I know that in those times of darkness, destruction, and despair, the Lord was calling his name. God was pursuing his heart and reaching down from heaven to pour love on him.

God's love is relentless for us.

He loves me at my best as much as He loved Abimelech at his worst.

His love is for all, in all, and over all.

“They found grace out in the desert,
these people who survived the killing.
Israel, out looking for a place to rest,
met God out looking for them!”
God told them, “I’ve never quit loving you and never will.
Expect love, love, and more love!
And so now I’ll start over with you and build you up again,
dear virgin Israel.
You’ll resume your singing,
grabbing tambourines and joining the dance.
You’ll go back to your old work of planting vineyards
on the Samaritan hillsides,
And sit back and enjoy the fruit—
oh, how you’ll enjoy those harvests!
The time’s coming when watchmen will call out
from the hilltops of Ephraim:
‘On your feet! Let’s go to Zion,
go to meet our God!’”
Oh yes, God says so.
Jeremiah 31:1-6

jotham's parable

Judges 9:7-21

"When this was all told to Jotham, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim, raised his voice, and shouted:

Listen to me, leaders of Shechem.
And let God listen to you!
The trees set out one day
to anoint a king for themselves.
They said to Olive Tree,
“Rule over us.”
But Olive Tree told them,
“Am I no longer good for making oil
That gives glory to gods and men,
and to be demoted to waving over trees?”
The trees then said to Fig Tree,
“You come and rule over us.”
But Fig Tree said to them,
“Am I no longer good for making sweets,
My mouthwatering sweet fruits,
and to be demoted to waving over trees?”
The trees then said to Vine,
“You come and rule over us.”
But Vine said to them,
“Am I no longer good for making wine,
Wine that cheers gods and men,
and to be demoted to waving over trees?”
All the trees then said to Tumbleweed,
“You come and reign over us.”
But Tumbleweed said to the trees:
“If you’re serious about making me your king,
Come and find shelter in my shade.
But if not, let fire shoot from Tumbleweed
and burn down the cedars of Lebanon!”

“Now listen: Do you think you did a right and honorable thing when you made Abimelech king? Do you think you treated Jerub-Baal and his family well, did for him what he deserved? My father fought for you, risked his own life, and rescued you from Midian’s tyranny, and you have, just now, betrayed him. You massacred his sons—seventy men on a single stone! You made Abimelech, the son by his maidservant, king over Shechem’s leaders because he’s your relative. If you think that this is an honest day’s work, this way you have treated Jerub-Baal today, then enjoy Abimelech and let him enjoy you. But if not, let fire break from Abimelech and burn up the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo. And let fire break from the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo and burn up Abimelech.”

Jotham was the lone survivor of Abimelech's destruction. It makes me curious as to how he escaped. How was he the only one that was able to get away? One of those interesting things in God's word that we get to be intrigued by.

But what he did, was so bold.

He climbed to the top of a mountain and screamed out over the entire population (that was in support of the man that annihilated his family), "Hey, people - look what you did!" He stood up for what he believed in, for the truth. He was trying to use the parable to get the people to understand that their priorities were not aligned up with what was right in the eyes of the Lord.

This has had me thinking about all that has been going on around us in our country lately - state flag controversy, acceptance of marriage between man/man and woman/woman, transgender approval in society, and our local and state election campaigns.

Are we as brave and bold as Jotham was to stand up for what we believe and what we know is true? I don't feel like I have to post my opinions or concerns all over facebook to do that. I have had many conversations with people asking what my thoughts are, and that is where I have to choose how I am going to respond that reflects what my heart agrees with. Even when those are hard conversations, awkward encounters, and difficult times to use grace and patience. Don't compromise your values for the sake of pleasing the world.

I have heard so many times that saying, "It's not what you say, it's what you do, that reflects who you are." However, in Jotham's case, it was both.

Maybe that is why the Lord gave him a way to escape. Maybe he was the only 1 of 70, that would be bold enough to stand for the truth.

Be like Jotham. Be the 1.

abimelech - the power of power

Judges 9:1-6

"Abimelech son of Jerub-Baal went to Shechem to his uncles and all his mother’s relatives and said to them, “Ask all the leading men of Shechem, ‘What do you think is best, that seventy men rule you—all those sons of Jerub-Baal—or that one man rule? You’ll remember that I am your own flesh and blood.’” His mother’s relatives reported the proposal to the leaders of Shechem. They were inclined to take Abimelech. “Because,” they said, “he is, after all, one of us.” They gave him seventy silver pieces from the shrine of Baal-of-the-Covenant. With the money he hired some reckless riffraff soldiers and they followed along after him. He went to his father’s house in Ophrah and killed his half brothers, the sons of Jerub-Baal—seventy men! And on one stone! The youngest, Jotham son of Jerub-Baal, managed to hide, the only survivor. Then all the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo gathered at the Oak by the Standing Stone at Shechem and crowned Abimelech king."

Back when Gideon was obsessed with women, he became father to an illegitimate son - Abimelech. All of his life he was known as the "son of a concubine" amongst the rest of his family, and the 70 half-brothers he had. I am sure that caused some tension, resentment, anger, and bitterness. Since Gideon was a famous warrior and judge, this set his children up in a place of success, and Abimelech let all of the hurt in his heart conspire into something so terrible after his fathers death, to destroy that legacy.

He wanted power. He wanted authority. He wanted revenge.

The King of Israel was God, not man, but Abimelech wanted to take that throne instead. In his thirst for selfish power, he killed all of his brothers, except for one that managed to escape. His way of coping with some hard things in life was to get ruthless and destructive. Power has a way of taking over us when we let it corrupt our judgement.

What are our ambitions when he have deep rooted hurts? Are we self-centered, seeking revenge, or are we God-centered and choose forgiveness and freedom. When we let the power of pride take over, it starts a disastrous cycle. The thirst for power is not satisfied with power, it only becomes more intense for it.

Abimelech was to that point. His life was consumed with the thirst for power, and eventually he no longer had power - power had him.

I have seen this on two different spectrums of culture here in Jackson. The need for power, and destroying anything in your way to achieve it. It may look different on the outside, but the deceitful heart behind both is the same.

Sometimes I carry so many burdens, so much weight of others hurts and problems. It makes me really tired and weary. I was driving down the road, feeling the heaviness today, praying, trying to let him take these loads off my shoulders and place them on His.....because that is where they belong anyway. The Lord said to me, "I feel the same weight you do, the only difference is that I can carry them with a love greater than you can ever understand, so just give them to me so I can do that."

Just to hear his voice. The weight was gone. The problems and tangible things are still here, but I didn't have to spend the rest of my day dragging my feet under them. Thank you Jesus.

I started my day out with this song, and I am ending with it too. Praying for all the Abimelech's out there, that they would know love like this.

tbh......the raw, the real, the reward

My kids are all doing this thing where they say "tbh....." then say something about the person they pick.

For example: ms jamie, tbh, you are the most awesomest and funnest and bestest person in the world. (but, really....)

"tbh" translates into To Be Honest.

I read an article earlier this week about mission organizations that tend to stretch the truth, or not tell the full story of what they are really doing, and how hard it really is.

I have been thinking about that a lot over the last few days. Asking myself if I do a good job really "telling the story", or if I just tell the parts that I think people want to hear, or that make me feel good about myself.

So, "tbh", here is what being a missionary in Jackson, MS looks like.

Loving people when they are mean to you, when they steal from you, when they scream at you, when they throw things at you, when they spit at you, when they manipulate you, when they lie to you, when they disappoint you.

Constantly being asked for help. Whether it is for money, food, clothes, a ride, a bus ticket, or other random things.

Being interrupted all the time. In the middle of breakfast/lunch/dinner/middle of the night sleep, sitting down to rest, sitting on the toilet, washing dishes, spending time with Jesus or friends.

Answering phone calls or text messages when you really don't want to.

Never ending knocks on the door, or bedroom windows, all hours of the day and night.

Going places you would never have gone before. In a dark alley at night, in a store that is known for being robbed and dangerous, in a house full of drugs and demons, in a prison full of convicted felons, in a church full of religion.

Being consistent with your message. Not just talking about the fruits of the spirit, but actually using them.
love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, kindness, faithfulness, goodness, self-control.

Sharing your story again and again with those that come to serve. The church groups, the community service groups, the pastors, the countless others that just want to know what is going on. And getting blank stares or crazy questions.

Giving with no expectation of getting anything in return, other than more love from Jesus. God's love doesn't change. It is the same today, tomorrow, and forever. But when we give in his honor, we feel it more and more, the love that is already there. We get to climb deeper in his heart and experience what is there ready for us.

Dying to self, daily. Saying "yes" to Jesus, and "no" to the world. Giving up luxury for location, time for tears, fear for faith, and money for mercy.

It is hard. It is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. Every missionary that serves in downtown Jackson has their own story of how they got there, what the Lord is teaching them and doing in their life, and other things that make it hard for them, but I would think we all can relate to these things above.

Even so....

tbh, it is the most rewarding, life-changing, honoring, humbling, and beautiful thing I have ever done.

Jesus said:

"I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father." John 14:12

"Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you…For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink…when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’” Matthew 25:34-40

Saul became Paul, then he did what Jesus said.

Acts 3

"Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money. Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”

Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.

All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded! They all rushed out in amazement to Solomon’s Colonnade, where the man was holding tightly to Peter and John.

Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness? For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of all our ancestors—who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by doing this. This is the same Jesus whom you handed over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate’s decision to release him. You rejected this holy, righteous one and instead demanded the release of a murderer. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact!

“Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed—and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has healed him before your very eyes.

“Friends, I realize that what you and your leaders did to Jesus was done in ignorance. But God was fulfilling what all the prophets had foretold about the Messiah—that he must suffer these things. Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah. For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets. Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your own people. Listen carefully to everything he tells you.’Then Moses said, ‘Anyone who will not listen to that Prophet will be completely cut off from God’s people.’

“Starting with Samuel, every prophet spoke about what is happening today. You are the children of those prophets, and you are included in the covenant God promised to your ancestors. For God said to Abraham, ‘Through your descendants all the families on earth will be blessed.’ When God raised up his servant, Jesus, he sent him first to you people of Israel, to bless you by turning each of you back from your sinful ways.”

This is the greatest example of the what being the Hands and Feet of Jesus looks like. Peter and John were on their way to the Temple to pray, like they did every day. Then, someone interrupted them, asked them for something. That man was not expecting what he got in return - healing!

Peter and John were just doing what Jesus said to do.

If you are a Christian in Jackson, MS, then you should be doing the same thing Peter and John did. If you are a Christian in Anywhere, World - you should too.

I get the honor to live and love in Jackson, but I am to be a missionary wherever I am.

tbh, this is the reward.