August 24, 2020

August 24

Running with Jesus  

Acts 4:36-37 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation , son of comfort)  Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

     Barnabas was from the tribe of Levi, the priestly tribe of Israel. He had moved away to the Island of Cyprus. Later he would become a traveling companion of Paul on his missionary journey. This verse tells us a lot about Him. Barnabas had a heart for God. His name means comforter, which is a name I would love to be known as. 

     Next we are told he sold his land and laid the money at the disciple’s feet. It is strange that he owned land because he was a Levite and we know they were not given land in Israel because they were the priestly tribe who served and took care of the temple. I read he had moved away from Jerusalem. So after Pentecost the Holy Spirit came to live in man and man was born again. This made me wonder if after his salvation he was convicted and sold the land. If this is true we see true conversion at work in this Levite’s heart. He made a change!

    Has Jesus made a change in your life? Do you comfort others? Are possessions a god in your life? Jesus will change your priorities and make you have a desire to line up with God's guidelines and principles. You truly know you are sealed when the Spirit of Promise enters your life and He guides and leads you to minister and help others come to know the new life God gave you!

Father, help us console others and give to Your kingdom work. If there is anything we have been holding back we need to give to You, reveal it to us. We desire to walk and run with You. 

Lying to the Holy Spirit is not good, see you I the morning!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

August 23, 2020

August 23

Running with Jesus

Acts 4:32  And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

     Our society is a stingy and self centered one. It is all about what we want and can get. There is a remedy when we run with Christ. Did you notice what kept these first century Christians from being stingy and selfish? They felt what they had was not their own. If we are going to become a giver we have to transfer ownership of everything we have.  God has given us the physical ability to work and function as we run through life. You will have a desire to hold on and hoard when you do not transfer ownership. He owns it all we only have to teach ourselves what is the right thing to do. We become givers and not takers. Our world is filled with takers and we must pray to be givers. So what can we work on to help us?

    First make sure you give yourself to God and realize you are only a manager of all He has given you. Next ask Him how He wants you to use your resources. If He is our lender should He not control our spender! Oops! I stepped on a toe! Ouch! That was mine! Thank the Lord He always keeps me in line! He wants to help you too!  Before making a purchase do we pray one of those popcorn prayers or do we dialogue all day long living in His presence being guided each step of the way! 

     So are you a giver or a taker? Let's have a think! All those extra clothes can be taken to Jesus Cares! Oh do you  tithe?  (Shh! Not suppose to mention that one! But you are missing the blessing and we can't get in His presence without OBEDIENCE! Where do we get our refreshing? Just saying!) I better run ahead of some of you or you may push me out of the way! 

     These believers were so close to God that is how they had one heart and one mind and it lead them to sharing! If you are not sharing you don't know the heart and mind of God!  God has always been a giver. He is the giver of life, sustainer, strength, mercy, forgiveness, pardons sins, and gives us eternal life. He supplies our every need! We are to be imitators of God! Be a giver!

Father, we give ourselves to You and ask You to help us manage our world as a giver and not a taker. Remove any stingy greedy spirit we might have. Fill us with Your giving Spirit. Show us where to begin imitating and running with You. We want to align with Your heart and mind. 

Let's meet Barnabas in the morning.

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

August 22, 2020

August 22
Running with Jesus  

Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

     Boldness is the ability to take risk and have confidence. In my early days as a Pastor's wife it took boldness for us to go full time in the ministry. We were married nine years and had two beautiful boys, a house note, doctor’s bills from a sick child, a car note and a furniture bill! We had no idea how we would ever go full time. The last hold was Mike's secure job with South Central Bell, this was a great job to have in the eighties. As we were running with Jesus I was very weak and taking this leap of faith took courage and boldness. So we prayed and ran with Jesus and stepped out of "the boat", God was faithful to supply our every need. The bills got paid off from severance pay and we walked over on dry ground. We were boldly walking in His Spirit following His leadership and His hand was upon us.
     Over the thirty-four years of ministry I have found the boldness to step out of my comfort zone in order to reach and minister to souls. God has stretched our faith and given us an immeasurable amount of blessings. We have been tried and tested over and over. We could never have made it without praying for boldness and courage to press on.

Father, I pray for more boldness to share the gospel and I pray for my fearful friends who need boldness to stand firm as they face obstacles in life.  We pray for the days ahead that You might continue to empower us to do Your kingdom work!
 

Tomorrow: Learning to share!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

August 21, 2020

August 21

Running with Jesus  

Acts 4:29 "And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,"

      After Peter and John were arrested and spent the night in jail, the religious leaders wanted to have them punished but could not come up with a way to not cause a riot, so they let them go and told them

not to preach. They told the men "Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than Him?" They were released and went back and told the others what happened. Then they gathered together and prayed for boldness!

     Friends this is not far from happening in America! We need to start praying now for boldness because even as I type, courts are being pursued to challenge the Word of God and limit our preaching against sin. We are living in a pagan society and they will come after true born again Christians who cramp their life style. So we must ban together and pray for boldness for the days ahead. 

Father, we cry out together this morning for boldness to speak Your Word  in and out of season! We ask You to raise up men and women to uphold the law of Your Word and open the blinded eyes of those around us and help them hear and understand Your message of salvation. Help us share in the power of Your Holy Spirit! Fill us, enable us and equip us to fulfill Your plan and purpose for our lives. We pray You come quickly Lord Jesus. Until then keep us strong, steady running Your course.

What happened after heartfelt praying? See you tomorrow! Don't miss it!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

August 20, 2020

August 20

Running with Jesus  

Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

      This is one of my favorite verses in the Bible. Peter and John get arrested for healing the lame man and preaching about resurrection life because the Sadducees, religious leaders who ruled the courts and got kick backs from the Romans and didn't believe in resurrection life.  They didn't like what Peter and John preached so they sent them for an overnight stay in jail. The next morning took them to court and questioned them. Peter spoke with boldness about Christ and what they had done to Jesus and Who He was. When the Sadducees questioned their boldness, look what was said of them, they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled and took knowledge of them "they had been with Jesus"! 

     Could a court convict us if we were on trial for boldness of being with Jesus?  Spending time with Jesus will change your life! It changed mine! I was fearful, worried, had low self esteem and I ran through life on an emotional roller coaster, but when I started running with Jesus my life began to be transformed! This is why I love this verse! 

      Jesus wants to change your life friend and when you decide to spend daily time with Him, you find the thing you have been longing and looking for! You may be unlearned and educated but running with Jesus will give us wisdom, knowledge, and understanding above this world’s giving. You may know religious theology but never know Christ. Knowing Christ will transform your mind, will, and emotions! Knowing Christ opens your eyes to the spiritual realm and you will know truth and be set free from the bondage of sin! Knowing Christ will empower us to live as free people. I don't know about you but I choose to run with Christ! 

Praying for boldness in the morning!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015