Happy Birthday, Levi!

Today is my youngest son’s 14^th birthday. I’ve been thinking about the events that led up to this day, and I realized that I’ve never really written about it, like I have Zane’s birthday. Levi was my second 3lb preemie. 

A little backstory…

After I had so many critical complications with Zane, I was told that the likelihood of repeating such circumstances was very small. I was very nervous about becoming pregnant again. I waited a while, but then I felt that I was finally open to the idea. After a few months, I became pregnant with Carson, and had a generally uneventful pregnancy. I still had to have a planned c-section 2 weeks before my due date, but she was considered full-term and there were no complications with her at birth. She was born 3 years and 11 days after Zane.

Well, now, I should be fine, right? 

I found out I was pregnant with baby #3 when Carson was 18 months old. I thought for sure that everything would be fine this time, too. The first few months were fine, but around 25-26 weeks, I began to notice extra swelling and some of the same hard-to-explain symptoms that I remembered experiencing during my pregnancy with Zane. I had a different doctor this time, and I immediately told him of my concerns. My blood pressure was monitored very closely, and I was given a different dosage of blood pressure medicine. (After delivering Zane, my blood pressure never normalized, so I was already on medication.)  My blood pressure continued to climb. I was then put on bed rest at home. It’s hard to be on bed rest with 2 small children. We continued to check my blood pressure constantly, and it was not improving. I knew in my heart what was coming…this was still earlier than when Zane was born. I had an appointment to see my doctor, and I just knew what was going to happen. Zane was at kindergarten, and we dropped Carson off at a friend’s house. After visiting the doctor, it was determined that I would be admitted to the hospital for bed rest there. The goal was to get me as close to our due date as possible. I was now at about 28 weeks, and my due date was November 28. 

It’s pretty much a whirlwind in my mind. I spent several days in semi-darkness with no TV, on several meds…nothing was stopping that blood pressure from increasing. Friends and family pitched in to take care of Zane and Carson. I felt so helpless. I was given shots to help the baby’s lungs mature. It was becoming obvious that I would be delivering a baby sooner rather than later. After days of constant monitoring and no improvement, we were told, “tomorrow’s the day”. We couldn’t believe we were about to go through all of “that” all over again. This time was different, though. This time was more like slow-motion. (We had no time to prepare for Zane’s birth.)  I was put on magnesium sulfate again, so I was confined to the bed. As Matt sat next to me, we discussed the fact that our baby had no name. We chose to not know the gender ahead of time with all three of our babies, but we had had not settled on names at all. Before we went to sleep that night, we knew that if we had a boy, he would be Levi Tanner. If it was a girl...well, we would just have to figure something out.  Thankfully, that wasn’t necessary. 

The next morning, I was taken to the OR for my 3^rd c-section. I was very nervous because of all that had happened when I had Zane. Although I was nervous, I was also at peace, because I knew God was with me. There was nothing that I could do to change my circumstances. Levi was born weighing 3 lbs.—just like Zane! This was amazing because Levi was born at 29 weeks and Zane at 31 weeks. Of course, it was a couple of days before I was allowed to see him and hold him. I was on magnesium sulfate for another 2 days. Again, my blood pressure never normalized on its own. I’ve been on blood pressure medicine since. 

Levi would be in the NICU for 6 weeks. It was interesting having to go visit him with Zane and Carson in tow. They were not allowed to see him, so Matt and I would have to take turns going back while the other stayed in the waiting room with the older two. Occasionally, someone would come with us, so that we could go back together. The nurses were so kind. They gave Carson a preemie diaper and baby hat for her baby doll to wear. 

After about 4 weeks, the nurses said that we could take Zane and Carson back to a room with a window looking in to the NICU, and they brought Levi’s bed to the window on the other side, so that they could actually see him. It had been hard to explain that they really did have a baby brother, they just couldn’t see him yet. Finally, on October 30 (a Sunday morning), we got a phone call from the NICU that said we could plan on bringing him home that afternoon. We made arrangements for someone to stay with the kids, so that we could go get him. He came home that day weighing 5lb 12oz. We were so happy to finally have everyone under one roof!

Thankfully, there have never been any long-term complications. Our experiences, while not what we would have planned, have given us many opportunities to encourage other parents of preemies over the past few years…including my own sweet sister, who has two amazing preemie baby stories of her own. We are now praying fervently for her baby #3 due on November 28, just like Levi!

Honoring a Friend: Jason Echols

Sometimes life hums along in a steady rhythm. The days come and go, and we hardly notice.

Then.

Then there are those days when life’s steady rhythm is interrupted in the worst way.

Yesterday, life was interrupted. God wasn’t surprised by it, but we were.

Our dear friend and loved one, Jason Echols, was suddenly taken from this life into the presence of his Savior.

I was shaken. I still am.

I have done much thinking and praying since I received the news.

Why? Why Jason? Why now?

One of the biggest things that I have wrestled with is why, after all these years, am I so affected by this?

It has been nearly 21 years since I moved away from home, and even longer since high school. Why am I so shaken?

We know that we all have different seasons of life. God gives us friends for each of those seasons. Rarely do we have the same friends throughout every season of life.

We had a unique, tightly knit group of friends during our middle and high school years. I loved those years and those people. Jason was an integral part. Time and distance does not diminish the impact our friends have on our lives. 

There are many of us who are scattered about, loosely tied together today through social media that feel like we’ve had a giant hole ripped out of our hearts. That says an awful lot about the kind of friend that Jason was to us. A friendship that could have easily picked right back up where it left off so long ago.

Let me tell you about how I remember Jason.

Jason and I attended the same Christian schools. He was one grade ahead of me. I didn’t know him as well in elementary school, but I did know something about him. I remember going to little league baseball games and watching several people we knew. One of them was Jason. What an athlete he was! I loved sports of any kind, so I loved watching my friends play baseball.

As we grew older, I got to know him better because we were both students at Grace Baptist School. A school small enough that the middle and high school grades all shared the same hallway and lunch room. He was always nice. I really can’t remember anything negative about him.

We eventually became really good friends. We even “liked each other” for a few months, but then decided to just be friends.

And we really were. I respected his opinion. I could talk to him, and he would be honest with me.

He was such a gentleman.

He was an amazing example of what a Christian young man ought to be. He was not afraid to stand up for what was right.

He could sing.

He was an amazing basketball player.

He was passionate about many things.

He was fiercely loyal.

He loved his parents. His parents loved us as if we were their own. I will never forget how he comforted us when his dad went to heaven unexpectedly.

He loved his country. We shared a love of all things historical and patriotic. I still tell my students about his Declamation speech at fine arts: Douglas MacArthur, “old soldiers never die, they just fade away.”

Even after he graduated from high school, he kept in touch. Some of us were asked to be guests on a local talk show. We were scared to death that someone was going to call in and be mean to us. When the day arrived and it was time to take calls, and who was on the line? Jason! What a relief!

My memories of Jason are so happy and good...this picture pretty much sums it up.

Melody, Reagan, and Dawson, I don’t know if you will ever see this, but I want you to know that I am praying earnestly for you. Because of what I know about Jason, I know that you were his whole life. I am praying that you can feel God’s arms wrapped tightly around you.

Jason, I am so thankful that God placed you in my life. Thank you for being such an amazing friend. I know you are enjoying heaven—seeing Jesus and reuniting with your parents—Wow!

We are hurting here.

You wrote these verses in my yearbook 28 years ago….Psalm 18:2-3 – The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from my enemies.

Later on in verse 30 of that same Psalm it says, “As for God, His way is perfect…”

And it is. Whether we understand it or not.

A Different Kind of Race - Fine Arts Competition

It’s the night before our annual fine arts competition. I won’t lie. It’s been a bit stressful these past couple of weeks. While we’ve been busy preparing, I’ve also given this entire process a lot of thought. I have been involved with these types of competitions in various roles for more than 30 years….whoa! I hadn’t thought about the actual number until just now.

I did my first speech for competition as a 6^th grader. I didn’t do it because I loved speaking in front of people. In fact, the thought of an oral book report terrified me. I’ve never really asked, but I imagine that I was asked to do this because I was capable of memorizing the speech, not because I had great stage presence. In fact, I had no stage presence. I did the speech. It was a religious reading. I stood up and said it as fast as I could and sat down. I didn’t win any awards that day, but I got something even better. Because I had a teacher who asked me to stretch myself and pushed me out of my comfort zone, I realized that I could stand up and speak and live to tell about it.

Over the next few years, I continued to participate. Each year, I would improve, but still no prizes. Why did I keep doing it? There is something very satisfying about the process. The memorizing and practicing aren’t always exciting, but on competition day…to stand up in front of a crowd and present what my family was probably sick of hearing, felt good. I felt accomplished…whether or not I won a trophy at the end of the day. 

My senior year, I finally won the actual prize…first in 2 different speech categories. The prizes were nice, but the lasting results of experiencing that process over and over again have helped me in so many ways throughout my life….perseverance, hard work, team work, dealing with disappointment, enjoying success, understanding that God’s will isn’t always my way…all of those things have helped me be a better adult.

I had many people who encouraged me along the way. Thank you!

Since those high school days, I have been the encouraging sibling, the mom, the teacher, the coach, and the judge of many other speech contestants. Some things have changed over these 30 years, but that process remains the same. There’s something else that hasn’t changed – that feeling of accomplishment when it all comes together.

Over these next two days I will attend many different speech and music events—some as mom, some as teacher, some as coach. I will enjoy listening to the results of the grueling process. There will be a huge sense of accomplishment and relief, but at the end of the day, not everyone is going to get a physical prize. What they will get—whether they realize it now or not—is the benefits of being refined by the process.

And, if at the end of the day, you see me shedding tears….it won’t be because I’m sad about “losing.” I usually end up crying because I think about all of these students and all the hard work, and it’s very emotional for me. My tears are a mixture of relief and joy. Then I go home, rest, and soon I’m ready to start this whole process over again.

I am so proud of my children and all the students who have worked so hard to get to this point. It’s not easy to put yourself out there to be critiqued by others. Whether you win a prize or not…you have benefited from this process. Learn from this year, and don’t stop trying!

For Such a Time as This

We are living in a complicated time.  You can’t go anywhere….physically, on TV, or online without being bombarded with stories, interviews, and opinions.  It is easy to feel pulled in all sorts of directions in an attempt to make sense of it all. 

I am quite literally living in the midst of the recent top news stories. This has given me many opportunities to evaluate for myself and to teach my children the facts surrounding these issues and what our responses should be. As a parent and as a teacher of History and Government, the events of the past couple of weeks have weighed heavily on my mind.  I didn’t want to just have an emotional, knee-jerk reaction, but I wanted to really think through how we ought to be handling these complicated issues.  After all, it is impossible to shield them from what’s going on.  The only seemingly positive thing lately has been the gracious, forgiving reaction of the families of the Charleston shooting victims.  But of course, along with that incident, the Confederate Flag flap has reared its ugly head.  And then, we have the landmark Supreme Court ruling on the issue of same-sex marriage.

I am not here to debate any issue.  I just want to make some observations.

•       It seems the common thread in all of this controversy is that a minority is able to control the majority….which goes against the very definition of democracy. 

•       In many cases, minority factions absolutely REFUSE to acknowledge that there could be another viewpoint.  Why does your minority have more rights than another?

•       I do not equate the disagreement over the Confederate flag with disagreement over the Supreme Court decision.  The fact is that the flag really does mean different things to different people.  It just does. Having one or being in favor of it in no way means you are directly violating the laws of God.

•      We all need to be careful of jumping on and off bandwagons as new stories/issues come to light.  Take your time and evaluate what’s happening from a “zoomed out” lens, not a microscope.

•       Everything should pass through the filter of God’s Word

I wanted to share with you some things that I have found comforting from the Bible in light of what is happening in our world--especially as it relates to a governmental system that is seemingly departing from its original design or intent. 

From Esther…

In Esther 3:15 it says, The posts went out (notifying the people of the king’s decree to kill the Jews), being hastened by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city Shushan was perplexed.

Perplexed.  I would say that describes how I’ve felt lately.

In the next chapter, Mordecai tells Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

As Christians, how can we hold our peace? 

From 2 Timothy…

Our pastor mentioned this briefly in his sermon last night, and it got me thinking.  This book contains Paul’s last instructions (that we know about) to Timothy.  They were living under the rule of the Roman empire….under Nero, who was CRAZY!  It was not a pleasant time to be a Christian.  I encourage you to read the entire book in light of what is going on in our country presently.  It’s only 4 chapters, so it won’t take you long.  Here are some highlights:

Chapter 1

⁷ For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

⁸ Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

⁹ Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

¹⁰ But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

¹¹ Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Chapter 2

¹⁹ Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity

²³ But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

²⁴ And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

²⁵ In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

²⁶ And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Chapter 3

¹³ But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

¹⁴ But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

¹⁵ And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

¹⁶ All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

¹⁷ That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Chapter 4

¹ I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

² Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

³ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

⁴ And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

⁵ But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

God’s not shocked.  He is in control.

Don’t be distracted by all that you see, hear, and read. 

Stand fast in the truth of God’s Word.

We are here for such a time as this!

Roller Coaster Rides

Roller coasters have been a frequent topic of conversation in our house lately.  Last week, Matt joined Carson on her 6^th grade end-of-the- year trip to Carowinds.  Two days later, Zane was also able to visit the same amusement park.  (For those of you who haven’t heard of it, Carowinds is an amusement park in Charlotte, NC—not too far from us.)  The biggest attraction at Carowinds right now is their new roller coaster called The Fury.  It is an incredible ride—billed as the world’s tallest and fastest coaster.  (If you are really interested, you can search for videos online to see for yourself.)

Personally, I love roller coasters!  I LOVED going to Six Flags as a teenager and riding anything and everything.  As an adult, we’ve just never really gone to an amusement park. I’ve never really thought about why, but now I think I know.  Matt hates them.  He went with Carson on this trip, and the most daring thing they rode was 2 kiddie roller coasters.  He also enjoyed riding the carousel. Apparently, roller coasters are just not his thing, and although Carson looks just like me, she gets this same trait from him.  Zane, on the other hand, is my coaster lovin’ child.  He got to Carowinds and the very first thing he did was ride the world’s tallest and fastest coaster—The Fury.  That’s my boy!!

Well, I didn’t get to go to Carowinds this past week, but I had a roller coaster experience of my own.  It was called “The Last Day of School”.  I’m really not sure that I can adequately express all that I felt, but I’m going to try.  It is the end of the school year.  I am exhausted.  It is so nice to spend this weekend NOT doing lesson plans.  These past couple of days have been spent working in an empty classroom.  I love the quiet, yet I miss the conversations and the laughter that comes when the students change classes.  

Yesterday morning we had our awards program.  Afterwards, my 7^th graders came to me to get their report cards and then….that’s it.  They are off for the summer.  Did I tell them everything I should have?  Not about science or math, but about God, about life.  

Then there were others that I know will not be back next year.  Did I give them anything that will last a lifetime?  

Then there are the seniors.  Graduation was last night.  You would have thought my very own children were graduating.  I was prepared with many tissues.  I can’t help it.  I love these students!  As annoying and trying as some of them can be sometimes, I love them!  

So, I’ve been on this “HAPPY, sad, ENERGETIC, tired” roller coaster over the past few days.  When all is said and done, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.  God has graciously given me the desires of my heart, and I am working my dream job.  Really.  

I’m so thankful for the lessons learned, and that I can rely on God for the strength and wisdom needed for this ministry of teaching.  I’ll enjoy my couple of months of down time, but I’m already thinking about next year and the next thrilling roller coaster ride.

Climb Every Mountain

Although I’ve been out of school for a month now, I’m just now getting to spend a few weeks at home.  We have had some amazing opportunities to travel over the past month!  Part of my travels included flying to Reno, NV for a few days while Matt was in school there.  

Our 17th anniversary fell on the weekend of his 2 week class, so we planned a trip to San Francisco for that weekend.  Neither one of us had ever been there, so we tried to fit as much as possible into this short amount of time.  One of the things we did was to visit the Muir Woods National Monument.  Muir Woods contains a Redwood Forest.  We rode a bus up a long winding road to the park.  When we arrived, we were excited to walk through the forest and see those historic trees.  We had not planned on any “real” hiking, just walking through the main part of the park….THEN, Matt saw a sign that said “Ocean View Trail - 1.7 miles”.  Ocean!  The Pacific Ocean!  Well, we hadn’t really seen it yet….  I was hesitant.  I didn’t really want to hike 1.7 miles up a mountain and back, but….if there was a view of the ocean, it might be worth it.  So, off we went.  

The first thing we encountered was a flight of stairs that rivaled any flight of stairs from The Wilds.  I thought, “I can do this….I’ve been to The Wilds lots of times…”  After the stairs, the trail narrowed.  It was basically one lane...if you met someone coming down, you had to lay against the side of the mountain so that they could pass without falling off the trail.  The path was rutted and full of tree roots.  Have I mentioned that it was steep?  At one point, Matt kicked a rock off the trail and I never heard it hit bottom.  The sound just faded away as it continued to fall down the mountain.  I had to pay close attention to each step so that I wouldn’t fall into the tops of the Redwoods as we climbed.  It was a steady incline all the way, and after a while my legs were like jelly.  I tried to take my mind off how miserable I was by praying, and by imagining what that ocean view would be like.  

Obviously, we were high up on a mountain, so I didn’t expect to be at the beach, but I did imagine that we would be seeing waves crash against a rocky shore from our high vantage point.  We continued up, one step at a time, for what seemed like forever.  There was no place to stop and rest, then finally we came to a small clearing where there was a bench.  As I sat there resting, we contemplated where to go.  Now there were 3 trails, and only one of them was marked.  It was called “Lost Trail”.  Well, that didn’t sound very promising, so that left 2 other options.  As we sat there, hikers began to arrive from each of the 3 trails.  A lady who had just come from the Lost Trail asked the others, “Did you see an ocean up there?”  The others who came down from the other trails all shook their heads--”No ocean view”.  Seriously?!?!?  I have come all this way and there is no ocean view!!  I looked at Matt, and said, “I’m done.  We can go back now.”  

He insisted that if we had come this far, we might as well finish, so we continued.  The next part of the trail got really steep again, and for a minute I really thought he might just have to leave me on the side of the mountain. :)  We FINALLY reached the top, and it was an amazing view, but it was NOT an ocean view.  We continued to follow the trail around, it changed from rutted and full of roots to a smoother trail through tall grass….for a little while anyway.  As we started down the mountain, the trail was still narrow, but the ruts and roots returned.  I still had to pay close attention to my steps, but downhill FELT so much better.  When all was said and done, we hiked 4.5 miles round trip.  

As miserable as I was during parts of that hike, I was so glad that I continued on and finished it.  We have had lots of fun joking about it, and I am glad that I can say that I did it.  I’ve been thinking a lot about the experience, and I’ve thought about how it parallels my Christian life.  There are many times that my way takes an unexpected turn, and sometimes the way is hard.  As I walk, I have to pay careful attention to my steps to make sure that I stay on the path and to prevent stumbling.  Even when the way gets easier, I still have to pay close attention so that I don’t get off the trail or fall.  I need to be in constant prayer for guidance - no matter how difficult the path.  And in those moments when I don’t think that I can go another step, God gives me the strength to keep going.  It is my tendency to “imagine” the view that God has for me at certain points along the way.  What happens when it is very different from my expectation?  Do I get mad? or Do I thank God for what He has chosen for me?  I take comfort in verses like:

As for God, His way is perfect:  the word of the Lord is tried: He is a buckler to all those that trust in Him.  - Psalm 18:30

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth in His way. - Psalm 37:23

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end. - Job 29:11

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. - Isaiah 55:8

I am truly thankful for the experience and for the spiritual reminder as well.  When mountain climbing opportunities come your way, whether literally or figuratively, embrace it!  Be thankful for it.  You’ll be glad you did!

Identify Yourself

Well, it's been a super-long time since I posted anything.  This school year has kept me extremely busy....  I've been teaching mostly new classes which required lots and lots of work outside the classroom.  Of course, that leaves pretty much no time for writing blog posts.  BTW.... I still absolutely LOVE teaching, and am still pinching myself that I actually get to do it!

At our school, each homeroom class in the 7-12 grades is assigned a chapel day.  It is our job as a class to conduct chapel from start to finish.  I am the 7th grade homeroom teacher, and because the 7th graders are all new to this, we are assigned a date later in the school year.  For months, I had been thinking and praying about what we ought to do.  A few weeks ago, I got my answer.  Our adult SS class was studying evidences of the Christian life at the very same time that I was teaching early church history in my World History class.  All of what I was hearing and studying during that time came together to produce my theme for my class chapel.  
Instead of stressing out a 7th grader and having one preach before the rest of the high school, I decided to write something that the class could present as a group.  Here is the message we presented in chapel this past Thursday...

As we go about our daily lives, we usually look at people and make assumptions about them based on the things we can see outwardly – dress, actions, the places they go, their friends, their priorities…

What do people see when they see you?  What message do you send?

The Bible tells us that when you accept Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to live in you.  The presence of the Holy Spirit should be seen because of outward evidences in your life.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

You are made new!

One who has accepted Christ as Savior, is generally referred to as a “Christian”.  Do you know what “Christian” means?  It means “little Christ”.  Are you a “little Christ”?

In the early days of the church, those who followed Christ were very different from the other religious people in the culture of the day – the Roman Empire.  Because of persecution in Jerusalem, the Jews were being scattered to other parts of the Empire.  These followers of Christ were so different, that the local people in Antioch gave them their own name – Christians. 

Isn’t it interesting that the non-believers of the day looked at those who claimed to follow Christ and said, “These people are ‘little Christs’. Let’s call them Christians.”

Are you a Christian?  Would the people in Antioch have called you “little Christ”?

One of the most dramatic conversions recorded in Scripture is that of the Apostle Paul, formerly called Saul.

We first see Saul standing by watching Stephen, the first martyr, being stoned.  Acts chapters 7-9 tell the story,

the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet named Saul….and Saul was consenting unto his death.

And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest.  And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him,

 Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

And he said, Who art thou, Lord?

And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.  And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias.

And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,  And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:  And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:  For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? 

But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

What a miraculous transformation!

If you’ve been saved, you’ve experienced a miraculous transformation, too!

We have all been born in sin.  Accepting God’s free gift of salvation, and being clothed in His righteousness is miraculous!

Have you been transformed?  What are people seeing when they see you?

Identify yourself!