February 23, 2019

February 23, 2019

Judy Hollaway

November 18

Running with Jesus  

Acts 21:3-4a Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden.  And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days..."

     Paul landed in the port and where did he go? He went to find disciples on the land and stayed with them seven days.   No one had to beg Paul to get together with other believers! He was eager to meet and talk with them!    I get amazed at new converts and how they are so eager to grow in Christ and know more. They get right on board and are ready to go. Then you have some who never want to assemble and talk about the Lord and what He is doing! It always puzzles me! Running with Jesus you can see something every day He is doing! I want to talk about it! It is sometimes just little things I see! But I see Him working all around us! If it is just nature that teaches me of His faithfulness as the sunrises day after day just as He set it into motion at creation. Shows me He is consistent and faithful and can be trusted. Finding someone to share that with is so exciting! We have got to get better at getting together and sharing! 

      Let's find someone today and tell them something you learned or heard about Jesus! Look for something to share! Can't find anything? What about the oxygen He provides. Were you able to get out of bed this morning? Don't take that gift for granted! Look around and up stop looking at your circumstance that has got you off focus, look up see Jesus! 

Father, help us see You working around us and help us find some disciples today we can share with! Father, help those in need to see and hear You above the banging of Satan hitting their motions!   Help us to know and be strengthened by other’s testimonies too!

     Go find someone!

Tomorrow :It is prophesied about Paul's arrest that is coming! Hard days ahead!

February 22, 2019

February 22, 2019

Judy Hollaway

November 17

Running with Jesus

Acts 20: 37-38 "And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.

      Paul had a shepherd’s love for each church he had worked to get started. They helped each other and supported each other. We see this love as he prepared to leave them as they embraced each other. 

     There is nothing like the love of a body of believers and their pastors. I have always described it like a marriage. Christians love deep and we work with the same goals and share so much. We share at births, weddings, funerals and all sorts of catastrophic life events. Pastors sit by the side of loved ones losing their loved ones. He is there day and night if the phone rings. He shares God's Word to help direct their lives. 

      A church has a hard time during transitions of Pastor's. I can tell you from their side it is difficult for them too. When you take care of the body for so long it is like a parent letting their kids go. 

      I have loved each place God has placed us and cannot imagine life without each person who has helped shape and mold me as a Pastor's wife.

     Today let us just thank God for establishing the church. He did a great job because He knew what we all needed.

     If you are not connected to a body of believers you need to.  God told us not to forsake the assembly of ourselves together. That is a command! 

Thank you Father for the church and our church family. Help us not take them for granted. It is so great to know You know our needs before we do. Help us love the body like You did. You gave Your life and for that we are ever grateful. 

     Tell some of your church family you love them today! Make a call or send a text!!!

Paul sails on to Syria, tomorrow lets sail with him!

February 21, 2019

February 21, 2019

Judy Hollaway

November 16

Running with Jesus  

Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

      I had to focus on the ending of this verse today. Did you see what Paul said he testified of? The gospel of GRACE!  Who would know more about grace than converted Saul to Paul!

     Grace is the free and unmerited favor of God. The usual acrostic is God's riches at Christ expense. Paul was a devout Jew educated by the best in Judaism, dragged Christians out arrested them, and had them killed for sharing Christ. God chose to use this converted man to train and disciple Christians for hundreds of years by writing our power books in the Bible! God gave him grace and he birthed more churches in the known world and did more for the Christian faith. Paul was so humbled by the grace of God, who looked beyond his faults and saw his potential. All the energy Paul used against Christ was now used to form, encourage, and build up the body of Christ.

     Paul through his power book Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians made a huge impact on the growth in my walk. In Galatians I learned I am free from the law and learned to walk by faith. In Ephesians six I learned about the battle we are in the spirit realm not flesh and blood. In Philippians I learned to have joy in the Lord not my circumstances and lastly in Colossians I learned Christians have all we need in Christ and to let the Word of God dwell in me richly teaching and admonishing others. I learned from Paul how to walk and run by the Grace Of God that is a Faith walk, you can have the same grace to change your life.

Pray this prayer:  Father, I know I am a sinner and deserve to die. For the first time I understand You love me and have never given up on me. I ask for Your forgiveness and I want to receive You as my Lord and Savior today, come into my heart and save me. Give me the grace You told about in Your Word, do Your work in me. 

     My prayer is if you found Christ today let someone know it! He tells us if we don't confess Him before man He will not confess us before the Father. Then you should be baptized as Jesus tells us to be united with a local Bible teaching church so you can grow in your faith by running with Jesus. 

Tomorrow: Paul is leaving one of his churches, let's go see him off!

February 20, 2019

February 20, 2019

Judy Hollaway

November 15

Running with Jesus  

Acts 20:24 "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God."

      None of these things move me. These words spoken by Paul should ring in our hearts and our ears! Paul understood the calling God had placed upon his life. He was fully committed to sharing the gospel. More than anyone he understood how being good was not getting things right with God. He understood how being educated in the written law would get us no relationship with God. He knew what it was like to have power and not know Jesus. His desire was for all to know the Christ whom he met on the road to Damascus. Paul's life was transformed and his soul set free from the penalty of sin. He got it right! He wanted his own people to know the truth. His life was set on the course and he would never veer off the path. Even beating after beating he stayed consistent at full steam ahead. He even knew his days were numbered. He never gave up!

     Let's be a Paul who finished his race. Paul started with focusing on his mission! Do you have a mission? Have you let some circumstance distract you?   Satan loves to distract us! Discourage usand attack us! So let's stay the course and finish our race!

 Father, make us aware of the enemy who wants us to get our focus off the mission we are on. Give us the strength to endure. Help my friends who need to get back in the race! Let today be that day they say, "Here I am Father, returning to You and Your work!"  Help them discern that this life is temporary but Your way is eternal! 

Finding grace, tomorrow, I will meet you here!

February 19, 2019

February 19, 2019

Judy Hollaway

November 14
Running with Jesus  

Acts 20:1 After the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia

       Paul was about to get back on the road running from church to church encouraging them to continue in the work and knowledge of the Lord. Just before he left the uproar in this town he called his disciple together and embraced them. The New Living Bible translated this word to “encouraged.”
       After an uproar in our lives we get discouraged and want to throw in the towel. Right up our enemy, Satan’s alley. He will cause uproars and distractions in our lives to cause us to live a defeated life. We have to remember he is the mastermind behind most of our uproars! Discouragement is one of his most used fiery darts he shoots at us! He will use anyone, anything, and when you least expect it! So we have to learn to encourage ourselves in the Lord!  So how do we do this?    I can tell you some ways I manage to encourage myself.  I start by putting in praise music and tell the enemy, “Get out of my face!!!” or will worship The Lord out loud! He doesn't like that then I tell him, "I will
pray for the worst evil sinner I can think of!" and I start praying for lost souls. Next I get a verse from God's Word and I cling to a promise. Something like, “No weapon formed against me will prosper or God will make my enemy lay at peace at my feet." Before long my emotions get back in tack and I press on. Also, it never hurts to have 3 great prayer partners lifting me up in prayer and they listen to my hurts.
     God has been my anchor and faithful encourager. On one side life may be in an uproar on the other side is my sweet Jesus running beside me holding my hand and telling me He will strengthen me. So if you are in an uproar remember you are not alone and stand your ground. Be encouraged because Jesus says He overcame the world and with Him you will too.

Father, encourage that one out there today in an uproar. Bring them through it and let them know You are right beside them and they can know Your present help in trouble.
   

Get up and get back in the race, glory land is just in sight!