Madison is even doing her piano classes online, though it's not as big an online gathering as the taekwondo classes or KidPak meetings. As such, we're just using Skype to talk to Madison's piano teacher, who lives up in Lumpkin County. It works out that this is now the same time as her taekwondo classes, so we're doing something online with someone else each day around this time.
This morning we were off to the oncologist as a part of Mommy's yearly update. The bloodworm showed that everything was fine, as did all other testing, which isn't as much lately. The atmosphere here is severe, of course. We were at this building just about every day for chemotherapy and various appointments, and it was a life changing experience for us. Madison and Daddy were in the parking lot, waiting for Mommy outside because we just didn't want to go in and risk exposure of this virus to anyone. It will be easy to look back on this and explain what it was like, but up until now, it's as if we're in an outbreak movie. People everywhere are wearing gloves and masks, something like we usually see in Asian countries. But we may see more of that here from this point on. Japan and Korea have already "flattened the curve," because their people have been more adapted to this sort of behavior. Here, things are still on the increase, the number of cases statewide rising all the time. Forsyth County has over thirty cases currently, as does Hall County. You can never be too careful.
Madison was doing her classwork today, which again is much more work than what she normally does. We know several people in college who are having the same experience, working harder now than they did before. It is taking a whole lot of adapting to this odd situation.
Daddy and Mommy kept busy today, painting half the garage floor, shortly after sweeping it out and using the blower. We used the pressure washer to clean off the front porch, and the sidewalk too. There's a LOT of pollen out there though, and I'm sure we'll be washing off that front porch again soon. It's just a season of yellow out there, and that's reason enough to want to stay indoors.
Daddy dropped by the martial arts studio to pick up some practice cushions, and it happened to be in the middle of an online class. He snapped this picture and a few others just to show what it's like on this one side of the camera. It was great hanging out during class, although I never really interrupted Mr. Edge as he led about twelve or so students in one particular older class.
We said our prayers tonight, and we joined our pastor online for a prayer meeting. We were connecting with all our friends there online, and it was a nice moment to pray together. We were praying for guidance through this storm, and for our leaders. All the complaining does not help them. We were praying for good health, and of course for this virus to go away. Our reading tonight was shorter - we were up late. I think that was because we were playing some games, and yes, there was the movie we saw this evening too.
Tonight we watched "Chicken Run," and it was a first viewing for Madison. I remember this movie coming out the year Mom and I got married. For some reason, I have a memory of this movie poster at a theater in Lahaina, Hawaii, where we went on our honeymoon.
Anyway, it was and still is a great movie. The artistry in it is just fantastic, and the theme is a fun one as well. Daddy was watching this for a tiny bit of research, as he's making up a new series this week, even if it is one we don't actually do at KidPak. There's just a feeling that we're all "in prison," and that got me thinking of all the Bible stories from prison. There are quite a few. It's interesting how many Bible heroes found themselves in prison. So let's close out this entry here with the latest thing I've written, a message based on our friend Peter, and his time as a jail bird! It's still a bit raw, but it's just something still in the "idea phase." Anyway, here it is - and goodnight!
YOU ARE FREE INDEED!
So, you’re in prison? What’d you do to get stuck in the joint? Did you do something awful, like take one of those tags on your mattress that says, “Do not remove under penalty of law,” and cut it off? Oh, that’s cold-blooded behavior right there!
As wrong as it would be to go to prison for something as silly as that, believe it or not, we find that time and time again there are people from the Bible who found themselves in prison. These are our heroes, people we look up to, and people who tried to do the right thing. Yet can you believe it? They were actually stuck in prison!
As wrong as it would be to go to prison for something as silly as that, believe it or not, we find that time and time again there are people from the Bible who found themselves in prison. These are our heroes, people we look up to, and people who tried to do the right thing. Yet can you believe it? They were actually stuck in prison!
Take Peter, for example. He was doing time in prison, but what was his crime? The answer is surprising: he was doing some hard labor for Jesus. He spoke out to thousands, sharing the gospel, praying for those who were sick and watching them miraculously healed. Not long after that, he was charged with spreading the gospel, and then thrown in prison. You’d think he was some super dangerous criminal the way they were treating him, because there were four squads of soldiers watching over Peter. But you know something? Angels were watching over him too.
They are watching over each of us too. Sure, you’re not really in prison or anything. But what’s your rap sheet like? Do you have a record of helping the church or telling others about Jesus? God is watching over us, and the best thing to be caught guilty of is sharing His love.
As we read about Peter’s jail time, we see he was supposed to be stuck there in prison until after Passover. But God had other plans! In one of the greatest jailbreaks ever, Peter escaped, passing right over the guards, right through the iron gate, and right down the street! There was no trial for Peter, because God is the ultimate judge, and decided Peter could take a walk! Judgment passed over Peter, because anything he ever did wrong in the past was covered. And yes, because of what Jesus did for us, judgment will pass over us too if we ask for His forgiveness. It’s all covered. He who the Son sets free, is free indeed!
They are watching over each of us too. Sure, you’re not really in prison or anything. But what’s your rap sheet like? Do you have a record of helping the church or telling others about Jesus? God is watching over us, and the best thing to be caught guilty of is sharing His love.
As we read about Peter’s jail time, we see he was supposed to be stuck there in prison until after Passover. But God had other plans! In one of the greatest jailbreaks ever, Peter escaped, passing right over the guards, right through the iron gate, and right down the street! There was no trial for Peter, because God is the ultimate judge, and decided Peter could take a walk! Judgment passed over Peter, because anything he ever did wrong in the past was covered. And yes, because of what Jesus did for us, judgment will pass over us too if we ask for His forgiveness. It’s all covered. He who the Son sets free, is free indeed!
What are miracle! When Peter was thrown in prison, all his friends and family were praying. And sure enough, the answer to that prayer came when God helped Peter bust out of jail. It took Peter a few moments to realize what was going on, because he was having a hard time understanding what was really happening! Even when he showed up at his friends’ house, they didn’t believe it either. They actually thought it couldn’t be Peter, but instead was his angel! The point is this: keep on praying. You may feel stuck going nowhere, stressed out, or in a situation you don’t think you deserve. But God is watching, and He has an army of angels. He can bring you through any situation, and just like with Peter, it’s going to be so incredible, you might not believe it either!
Bible Passage:
Herod saw that the death of James pleased some Jews. So he arrested Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. After Herod arrested Peter, he put him in prison. Peter was placed under guard. He was watched by four groups of four soldiers each. Herod planned to put Peter on public trial. It would take place after the Passover Feast.
So Peter was kept in prison. But the church prayed hard to God for him.
It was the night before Herod was going to bring him to trial. Peter was sleeping between two soldiers. Two chains held him there. Lookouts stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared. A light shone in the prison cell. The angel struck Peter on his side. Peter woke up. “Quick!” the angel said. “Get up!” The chains fell off Peter’s wrists.
Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” Peter did so. “Put on your coat,” the angel told him. “Follow me.” Peter followed him out of the prison. But he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening. He thought he was seeing a vision. They passed the first and second guards. Then they came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself. They went through it. They walked the length of one street. Suddenly the angel left Peter.
Then Peter realized what had happened. He said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent his angel. He set me free from Herod’s power. He saved me from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”
When Peter understood what had happened, he went to Mary’s house. Mary was the mother of John Mark. Many people had gathered in her home. They were praying there. Peter knocked at the outer entrance. A servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. She recognized Peter’s voice. She was so excited that she ran back without opening the door. “Peter is at the door!” she exclaimed.
“You’re out of your mind,” they said to her. But she kept telling them it was true. So they said, “It must be his angel.”
Peter kept on knocking. When they opened the door and saw him, they were amazed. Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet. He explained how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this,” he said. Then he went to another place.
In the morning the soldiers were bewildered. They couldn’t figure out what had happened to Peter.
So Peter was kept in prison. But the church prayed hard to God for him.
It was the night before Herod was going to bring him to trial. Peter was sleeping between two soldiers. Two chains held him there. Lookouts stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared. A light shone in the prison cell. The angel struck Peter on his side. Peter woke up. “Quick!” the angel said. “Get up!” The chains fell off Peter’s wrists.
Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” Peter did so. “Put on your coat,” the angel told him. “Follow me.” Peter followed him out of the prison. But he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening. He thought he was seeing a vision. They passed the first and second guards. Then they came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself. They went through it. They walked the length of one street. Suddenly the angel left Peter.
Then Peter realized what had happened. He said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent his angel. He set me free from Herod’s power. He saved me from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”
When Peter understood what had happened, he went to Mary’s house. Mary was the mother of John Mark. Many people had gathered in her home. They were praying there. Peter knocked at the outer entrance. A servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. She recognized Peter’s voice. She was so excited that she ran back without opening the door. “Peter is at the door!” she exclaimed.
“You’re out of your mind,” they said to her. But she kept telling them it was true. So they said, “It must be his angel.”
Peter kept on knocking. When they opened the door and saw him, they were amazed. Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet. He explained how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this,” he said. Then he went to another place.
In the morning the soldiers were bewildered. They couldn’t figure out what had happened to Peter.
Acts 12:3-18 NIRV
1. What’s your record?Peter was doing time in prison, but what was his crime? The answer is surprising: he was doing some hard labor for Jesus. Not long after that, he was charged with spreading the gospel. What’s your rap sheet like? Do you have a record of helping the church, and sharing God’s love?“I am a prisoner because of the Lord. So I am asking you to live a life worthy of what God chose you for.” Ephesians 4:1 NIRV
2. God will bust you out! Peter was to stay in jail until after Passover, but God had other plans. Peter passed right over the guards, right through the iron gate, and right down the street! There was no trial for Peter, because God is the ultimate judge, and decided Peter could take a walk! Because of Jesus, judgment will pass over us if we ask for His forgiveness. It’s all covered, and any judgment will pass right over. We serve an awesome God that can deliver us from all kinds of trouble.“So if the Son of Man sets you free, you will really be free.” John 8:36 NIRV
3. Keep on praying. You’re not going to believe this! It took Peter a while to realize what was happening, because he was having a hard time understanding what was really happening! Even when he showed up at his friends’ house, they didn’t believe it either. They actually thought it couldn’t be Peter, but instead was his angel! So keep on praying. God can bring you through any situation, and it’s going to be so incredible, you might not believe it either!“So Peter was kept in prison. But the church prayed hard to God for him.”Acts 12:5 NIRV
MEMORY VERSE
“So if the Son of Man sets you free, you will really be free.” John 8:36 NIRV
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