ACTS International Inc, PO BOX 73545, San Clemente, CA (2026)

10/16/2026

Taking the First Step

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who rage war against you will be as nothing at all. For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, ‘Do not fear; I will help you.’”1

Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”

Taking that first step in any situation, especially difficult ones, requires a great deal of courage, something I would lack greatly if it weren’t for the Lord being with me. I am an introvert and prefer to avoid any kind of confrontation. However, over the years I have realized that our society is going deeper and deeper into sin, and there are things that I cannot stay silent about or “just go with the flow”. As Christians we are called to stand out and apart from the darkness, therefore it is a guarantee that we will suffer some type of persecution from those around us. The Bible tells us in 2 Timothy 3:12, “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

Whether it be defending the lives of unborn children, standing up for those who are not able to, loving others, not because it is easy, but because God first loved us, or obeying God’s Word even when it goes against peer pressure, it is possible. Not because of who we are, but because of who God is!

If we look through God’s Word and see all the people God used to do His work, we find that none of them felt capable. We think of Moses who made all kinds of excuses when asked to go free God’s people from Egypt, we see Joseph who was bullied by his brothers because of jealousy, we see David who appeared weak in comparison to his brothers. However, we see all of them take that first step in obedience and God’s plan unfold in great ways. They made mistakes along the way, just as we will, but I encourage you to take heart and be courageous. We may not be able to see the big picture of what God has in store, but I can assure you that anything done for God is not in vain. God will be our strength and help us. We can have an impact in this world, but God is asking us to take that first step and trust that He will be what we are not.

Suggested prayer: Dear God, there are so many times I feel in inadequate when it comes to serving you, but this is only because I focus on who I am instead of who YOU are. I have weaknesses, but you say you will be my strength. I pray that you help me have faith and the courage to take the first step in obedience, trusting that your plan is greater than what I can see. In Jesus’ name, amen.

1. Isaiah 41:10-13 (NIV).

Today's Encounter was written by: Crystal B.

10/15/2026

Our God Never Sleeps

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.1

A little 9-year-old girl came home from VBS one day. She proudly told her parents and little brother that, "Jesus is living in my heart now!" Mom and Dad were so proud, and made a big deal out of it.

Later that day, her little brother said something she didn’t like, and she hauled off and knocked the soup out of him! He didn’t know much about church, but he knew a Christian shouldn’t act like that! He said, "I thought you said Jesus was living in your heart?"

She replied, "He is, but He’s asleep right now!"2

If you’re anything like me, this little illustration hit a little too close to home! How many times have our actions reflected a “sleeping” Jesus? How many times have we professed Jesus with our mouth and then allowed our attitudes to contradict our faith? The Bible instructs us to be transformed by renewing our mind; leaving behind worldly things behind—including its attitudes and actions (Rom.12:2). It would do us good to remember that our God never sleeps! (Ps. 121:3-4) So using that as an excuse is not a valid action! We are blessed to serve a God that is ever-present and even at our worst and in our ugliest moments, He doesn’t stop loving us! (Lam. 3:22-23) His mercy toward us is new every morning!

Suggested prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I am so grateful for your mercy and your unending love for me. Give me a renewed joy for the things that please you. Restore in me the joy of my salvation. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

1. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV).
2. www.sermoncentral.com

The Encounter for today was written by: Veronica B.

10/14/2026

It’s Not Fair!

“When those hired at five o’clock were paid, each received a full day’s wage. When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day’s wage. When they received their pay, they protested to the owner, ‘Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’ “He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’ “So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.”1

The human mind has, at times, struggled with the scripture for today. It doesn’t seem to resonate with our understanding of fairness in society today. How could the owner pay all the workers the same wage, when one man came to work just the last portion of the day? Was it fair? I love the owner’s response to one of the people who protested against this “unfair” act, “Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?”1

Have you ever questioned God’s “fairness?” I recently had a conversation with someone about how they thought it was unfair that some people dedicate their lives to God’s ministry and others accept Christ as their Savior on their death bed, but yet both go to Heaven. I have also heard others question how people who have practiced violence and hatred all their lives can receive the same forgiveness and grace as a person who has served God and tried to live godly lives. However, Jesus was the one who sacrificed HIS life on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. He can choose who he wants to extend his gift of eternal life and forgiveness to. Fortunately for us, it is free to anyone who chooses to believe regardless of when they choose to accept it.

Let us be careful not to take the role of judge when it is not ours to take. The Bible says, “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.”2 Our job is to be faithful and serve God wholeheartedly. We need not question God, because “He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!”3

Suggested prayer: Dear God, thank you for your goodness and grace that extends beyond our human understanding. Please help me remember that you are always fair and just and keep me from trying to put myself in a place of judge when that place belongs only to you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

1. Matthew 20:9-16 (NLT).
2. Matthew 7:1-2 (NLT).
3. Deuteronomy 32:4 (NLT).

Today's Encounter was written by: Crystal B.

10/13/2026

Greatest of All

For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and he is to be feared above all gods.1

As a homeschool mom and teacher I have relearned, three times over, many of the lessons I learned myself in school. Except that during the process of teaching my children, we’ve gotten to explore the ways in which Jesus ties into every concept of learning, and it has made for some very valuable teaching moments for both me and my student children. I recently came across the poem entitled “The Greatest Man in History” and I couldn’t have said it better myself! I’ve searched through Scripture and added the Bible references so you can further enjoy the story of our Great Lord:

In chemistry, He turned water to w**e (John 2)
In biology, He was born without the normal conception (Mat.1-18-25)
In physics, He disproved the law of gravity when he ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9-11)
In economics, He disproved the law of diminishing return by feeding 5,000 men with two fish & five loaves of bread (Jn 6:1-15)
In medicine, He cured the sick and blind without administering a single dose of drugs (John 5)
In history, He is the Beginning and the End (Rev. 22:13)
In government, He said that He shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace (Is. 9:6)
In religion, He said no one comes to the Father except through Him (Jn. 14:6)
Jesus had no servants, yet they called Him Master (Lk. 17:13)
Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher (Is. 30:20)
Had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer (Jn. 5:15 and many more!)
He had no army, yet kings feared Him (Mat.2:3)
He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world (Jn. 16:33)
He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him (John 19)
He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today! (Mat. 14:12; Mat. 28)2

Suggested prayer: Dear Lord, you are indeed an awesome God, and I love to learn of your greatness over and over again! Thank you for being everything and in everything I need. I love you, Lord! In Jesus’ Great name, Amen.

1. 1 Chronicles 16:25 (ESV).
2. Based on “The Greatest Man in History” by Lyle C. Rollings lll 2007.

The Encounter for today was written by: Veronica B.

10/09/2026

Beautiful Messes: You and I

“I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.”1

No one is ever too far gone for Christ to redeem. His love is for everyone who is willing to accept it. His great sacrifice was an act of love towards us, and it will redeem and transform us if we allow it to. There is a quote by Martin Luther King Jr. that gives this explanation of love:

“Now there is a final reason I think that Jesus says, ‘Love your enemies.’ It is this: that love has within it a redemptive power. And there is a power there that eventually transforms individuals. Just keep being friendly to that person. Just keep loving them, and they can’t stand it too long. Oh, they react in many ways in the beginning. They react with guilt feelings, and sometimes they’ll hate you a little more at that transition period, but just keep loving them. And by the power of your love, they will break down under the load. That’s love, you see. It is redemptive, and this is why Jesus says love.”2

Before coming to Christ, we were enemies of God. Separated from him by sin. We most likely felt a sense of unworthiness and guilt at the fact that someone would love and accept us just as we were. But once we accepted His love, it started working in us… redeeming and restoring us. And just as we have experienced the blessing of having a personal relationship with Jesus, God longs for others to find their way to Him as well. We are the bridge that God wants to use to connect others to Him. He wants His great love to be known by those who need it most. As we read in John 13:34-35: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

We are all works in progress and we will always be learning from His Word, but the important thing is that we act on what we do know. We were not meant to be perfect… we just need to be obedient. People will know we are disciples of Christ, not by how much we know or how “perfect” our life is, but by our love for others.

Our past is behind us and there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ.2 God’s plans are great, and we may not know it all right now, but love is always a good place to start.

Suggested prayer: Dear God, thank you for loving me, forgiving me, and choosing me to be your child. Not because of what I have done, but because of who I am in Jesus. Thank you for erasing my sins and making all things new. Use me to be a testimony to others of your love, grace, and mercy. May they come to know you and experience your great faithfulness. In Jesus’ name, amen.

1. Isaiah 44:22 (NLT).
2. Martin Luther King Jr., A Knock at Midnight: Inspiration from the Great Sermons of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Encounter for today was written by: Crystal B.

10/08/2026

Beautiful Messes: Peter

“When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, ‘Oh, Lord, please leave me – I’m such a sinful man,’… Jesus replied to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!’ And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.”1

Peter is one of the great stories of a changed life in the Bible. He was originally named Simon, but Jesus changed his name to Peter which means “rock”. Peter was a fisherman by trade, which meant that he was gruff, unkept, and most likely used vulgar language. He was also known to have a boisterous temper. Even after choosing to follow Jesus, Peter was often known to act impulsively, but his strong character was beneficial when it came to following Jesus. When Jesus said, “follow me”, Peter didn’t think twice about leaving everything he had and following Jesus. His journey as Jesus’ disciple wasn’t always easy, and even though Peter said he was willing to die for Jesus, he denied Jesus three times at the arrest and trial of Jesus.

Even with all his messiness, Peter was the first one to preach on the day of Pentecost after the coming of the Holy Spirit. He truly was one of the boldest apostles of all. He willingly suffered persecution, imprisonment, beatings, and even rejoiced at the fact that he was worthy to suffer disgrace for the Lord’s sake (Acts 5:41). It has been said that Peter was crucified upside down because he felt unworthy to be crucified in the same manner as Jesus. He went from being arrogant and impulsive to being a humble, willing, and obedient servant of the Lord even to death. He rejoiced knowing that he would be reunited with his Friend and Savior, Jesus.

The story of Peter is one of transformation and hope. Perhaps being a disciple of Jesus never crossed his mind as he was working out at sea. He probably figured that was extent of his abilities. He knew he was a sinful man and was unworthy of Jesus’ love, but the moment he chose to follow Jesus was the moment his life changed forever. Jesus saw something in him that perhaps no one else had and gave him the opportunity to do great things.

This is the same way Jesus feels about us as well. When we choose to follow Jesus, he doesn’t see all the bad we have done or how unworthy we are, instead he sees us through his blood. He sees our potential and will use us to do great things if we are willing.

Suggested prayer: Heavenly Father, I recognize that I am a sinner and unworthy to be called your child. However, you loved me just as I am and chose to send your Son, Jesus, to pay the price to wash away my sins and restore me. I choose to follow you and am available to be used by you for your glory. Thank you for seeing the best in me when I can’t see past my failures. I love you, Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.

1. Luke 5:8, 10 (NLT).

The Encounter for today was written by: Crystal B.

10/07/2026

Beautiful Messes: The Blind Man

“Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”1

John 9 tells the story of a man who had been born blind. In the eyes of many in those days, sin and suffering were connected, so when Jesus and his disciples come across him the first question the disciples ask is “Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”2 Suffering was seen as punishment. Yet Jesus’ reply to his disciples not only challenges this erroneous view but gives us a new way to look at suffering. Jesus said, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”3 Jesus challenged his disciples to look for God amid the suffering.

The reactions in this case are interesting. His neighbors ask what happened that now he can see, so he tells them all that Jesus had him do. But instead of being happy for him and celebrating the healing work of God, they bring him to the Pharisees to see if they can make some sense of all this. And what is the first thing the some of the Pharisees say? “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” I feel like Jesus intentionally healed people on the Sabbath because he knew how much it bothered the Pharisees!

The Pharisees questioned the blind man, his parents, and then called for the blind man a second time trying to get him to confess to Jesus being a sinner, which is where we see his reply in today’s main scripture verse. This man knew he was blind and now he could see! This man gets brave and in verse 30 tells the Pharisees, “This is amazing! You claim to know nothing about him, but the fact is, he opened my eyes! It’s well known that God isn’t at the beck and call of sinners but listens carefully to anyone who lives in reverence and does his will… if this man didn’t come from God, he wouldn’t be able to do anything.” Wow! I would have loved to be there to witness this. The Pharisees got so mad after that, they threw him out into the street!

The Pharisees were so knowledgeable when it came to the law of Moses, but they were completely blind to the love and grace of God. This blind man had most likely been judged all his life because of the “sin” he or his parents had done to deserve his punishment. He didn’t know all the law, but he was able to see Jesus clearly and experience the grace of God in such an amazing way.

If you are experiencing suffering, look for God in the midst of it. It is not easy, but trust that God is working. And if you are an observer of someone’s suffering, remember that God’s grace and love go beyond our understanding. Be like Jesus to those around you.

Suggested prayer: Dear God, it is easy to view things through our limited understanding and miss out on the larger plan you are working. We see other people’s messiness and immediately feel the need to make sense of it or fix it. Open my eyes to your will in every situation. When suffering comes to my life, help me look for you in the midst of it and trust that you love me and walk with me always. In Jesus’ name, amen.

1. John 9:25.
2. John 9:2.
3. John 9:3.

The Encounter for today was written by: Crystal B.

10/06/2026

Beautiful Messes: Zacchaeus

“When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name! ‘Zacchaeus! he said. ‘Quick! Come down! For I am going to be a guest in your home today!’ Zacchaeus hurriedly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the crowds were displeased. ‘He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,’ they grumbled. Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, ‘Sir, from now on I will give half my wealth to the poor, and if I find I have overcharged anyone on his taxes, I will penalize myself by giving him back four times as much!’ Jesus told him, ‘This shows that salvation has come to this home today. This man was one of the lost sons of Abraham, and I, the Messiah, have come to search for and to save such souls as his.’”1

Zacchaeus was a man that traded relationships for wealth. He was despised by his neighbors because he gained his wealth by stealing from others. Because of these poor decisions, Zacchaeus was lonely, which is perhaps why he was so eager and curious to get a glimpse of Jesus firsthand. In addition to being a thief, Zacchaeus was also a short man. Being short myself, I can imagine that Zacchaeus received the same kind of criticism that I received growing up, which many times has the tendency to make you feel left out. When he heard that Jesus was coming to town, he climbed up a tree to be able to see Jesus! Even his great wealth could not fill the great void in his heart that, as he would soon find out, only Jesus could fill.

I love the story of Zacchaeus because his life may have been messy, but to Jesus, he was beautiful and important. Jesus enthusiastically called him by name, shared life with him in his home, and changed the course of his life by giving him salvation. Zacchaeus realized what he had done, planned to fix his mistakes, and most importantly opened his heart to the Savior. Regardless of what others were saying, Jesus went where he was needed the most and showed love to a lonely thief.

Have you ever felt left out? Have you ever made mistakes that have damaged relationships with others? The Bible says all of us have sinned, which is why we need Jesus. He is the only one who can change our heart, restore our brokenness, and forgive our sins. We may find ourselves trapped in a big mess, but even then, Jesus is waiting with arms wide open, ready to give us a hope and a future. We just need to invite him in.

Suggested prayer: Dear God, I have made mistakes. Perhaps I have been selfish and put my own needs before those of the people around me. Please forgive me. Please change my heart and restore me. Fill me with your love and the joy of your salvation and allow it to overflow to the people around me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

1. Luke 19:5-10 (TLB).

The Encounter for today was written by: Crystal B.

10/05/2026

Deep Roots

“He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”1

Throughout the Bible we find God comparing our walk with Him to His creation—trees, plants, flowers, seeds and soil, vines and branches, birds in the sky, the animals of the fields, and even the universe itself. God knew that because, we too, are a part of His creation we’d be able to relate to all things in nature.

In Psalm 1, the godly man is compared to a tree, planted near water, fruitful and prosperous. The verses in this Psalm go back and forth between how a godly man should live versus how the wicked, or ungodly, carries him or herself. We can see that this “blessed man” meditates on God’s laws day and night. If we want to become a strong “tree” rooted in our faith, we are guided to dwell on the Word of the Lord, to reflect on it, all day long. Beginning our day with the Lord, in intentional quiet time, is a great way to come across a verse or two that we can take with us throughout the day; verses that we can meditate or reflect upon as we go about our busyness. In verse 3 it says that this tree is planted by streams of water. A tree that has strong, deep roots has grown being watered by a constant source. God is that constant source for us. Jesus is the Living Water! All we have to do is seek to be near Him, constantly, and then enjoy the blessed life that comes when we are deeply rooted in Him!

Suggested Prayer: Dear Lord, I long to spend time in your presence. Please help me minimize any distractions that are keeping me from you. I want to delight in your Word and be constantly watered by your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen

1. Psalm 1:3 (ESV).

The Encounter for today was written by: Veronica B.

10/02/2026

The Importance of Staying Connected to God

“What have you done?” asked Samuel. Saul replied, “When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Mikmash, I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the Lord’s favor.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.” “You have done a foolish thing,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.” 1

Saul had everything going for him. In addition to being the son of a highly respected man, he was tall, handsome, and had an impressive presence (1 Samuel 9:1-2). Because God chose him for leading Israel at a time when the nation was facing formidable enemies, we can assume that he was also courageous and charismatic. Even the prophet Samuel spoke of him with admiration: "There is none like him among all the people" (1 Samuel 10:24).

But Saul spent much of his reign disconnected from God. His errors in judgment arose, in large measure, from an inflated sense of self-reliance. A single mistake brought about a chain of sins, as we see in his desperate and zealous pursuit to kill David.

When people value themselves more than they should (Romans 12:3), they cease to depend on divine guidance. Saul thought he knew more than God, ignored the law, and offered a sacrifice before battle rather than wait for Samuel, despite clear instructions. By refusing to obey, God gave the kingdom to someone who would obey (1 Samuel 16:13-14).

Pride always leads us away from God's way, but the Lord welcomes those who stray and return. Blessing and joy await those who walk with Him.

Suggested Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, forgive me for the sin of pride in my life. Forgive me for the times I have gone ahead of your will and disobeyed your instructions. Help me to always value your word and plans more than my own opinions. Thank you for your patience with me and for always welcoming me with open arms as I repent of my sins and ask for forgiveness. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

1. 1 Samuel 13:11-14 (NIV).

The Encounter for today was written by: Rosina N.

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