NOTES: (v.1-11) Ananias, whose wife was Sapphira, had sold a piece of property and kept part of the money while donating the rest (with his wife's full knowledge). Then Peter asked him how he would do such a thing. "You have not lied to men but to God." At this, Ananias fell down and died.
Later, his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her if the money was the full price that they got for the land. When she agreed, Peter rebuked her and said "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also." She then fell down and died, just as her husband had.
-(v.12-41) The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders, and more and more people believed in the Lord. However, the high priests became jealous of the apostles and arrested them and put them in jail. But an angel of the Lord opened the jail gates and brought them out, commanding them to go and preach in the temple courts. At this, they brought the apostles back and questioned him. But Peter and the other apostles stated that they will obey God rather than men--the God who raised Jesus from the dead. The priests wanted to put them to death, but an honored Pharisee told them to leave the apostles alone, for they will only find themselves fighting against God. This persuaded the priests, and the apostles were flogged and ordered not to speak in the name of Jesus.
The apostles left, "rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the name. Day after day, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ."
ACT OF LOVE: Today, my act of love was being loving to my parents. Specifically, I spent my afternoon after the SAT II's shopping, eating dinner, and taking a walk with my mom. I could tell that she really wanted to take a walk with me, so we walked to the park and circled around for a bit. She started talking about my future husband (haha) and some qualities that I should value.
Then, I started thinking of my dad (he's been in China for the past few months). Admittedly, we do not have the best father-daughter relationship because of something that happened a few years ago that really broke the relationship I had with him. To be perfectly honest, I didn't have much respect or trust for him for a long time, and it's something that I still struggle with sometimes today. It's easy to criticize him for some of the things that he did, but I've been trying to truly and completely forgive him and see him as a man of respect and honor.
So, I asked my mom something I've never asked before: What qualities in dad would you want my future husband to have? She immediately began to tell me of some of his truly respectable characteristics, things about him that I wouldn't have known. I'm really thankful that me and my mom talked, because I realized different sides of my dad that I don't normally see. I definitely felt that God was working in my heart to forgive as He forgives me each day, and I'm looking forward to the next time my dad comes home from China so that I can love him!
Even though my dad can't directly feel this act of love today, the change in heart and effort I put forth to loving him in my heart will help me be a better daughter when I do see him!
ah, I love your acts of love. you're a really mature little woman, eleanor, even if i don't know you that well. someone will be lucky to have you if/when the day comes. haha
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