February 3, 2019

February 3, 2019

Judy Hollaway

October 29

Running with Jesus  

Acts 16:28-31 " But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."

      Paul and Silas walked so close to God and they made the most of every opportunity to share the gospel. They seemed to look at everything through the eyes of God. Here is what some say was the first jail ministry! All things happen for a reason. God was about to save a prison guard and his family. The door was opened, their chains were loose and had an opportunity to run, but if they had this jailer would have been killed. In the dark they cried out to the jailer to let him know they were still there. Look what happened he fell at their feet and asked how to be saved.  He had been listening to their voices sing praises to God in chains and he noticed these men were different.

     How we respond to the catastrophes of life become a living witness of our faith. People notice more than we think how we react and respond. On the other hand our enemy wants to drive us to the point of turning on God and causing our faith to be null and void. It was Paul and Silas strong conversions and eye witness faith in Christ that enabled them to endure. They had a God’s eye view. Everything in their life served as a purpose to bring honor and glory to God and salvation for a lost soul. I don't know what place you are in but I do know God will use it for His glory and to help others. 

     Do you feel jailed today? Ask God to turn it into a jail ministry. Keep singing and praising God until the chains fall off and doors open. Next, watch for a lost soul to appear that you need to witness to.

 Father, we praise You and worship You, Lord of heaven and earth. Our soul pants for You as a deer pants for water and our souls long to worship You. We trust You with these chains and prison walls knowing You are working in our darkest hours. We rest in You and trust You to bring good from the bad. Lift us up in this darkness, we wait upon You. And give us the ability to see life through Your eyes. 

Back to Lydia's house in the morning! Join me!

February 2, 2019

February 2, 2019

Judy Hollaway

October 28

Running with Jesus  

Acts 16:25-26 “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.  And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.”

​     After the beating yesterday we find Paul and Silas cast into prison and chained, but they had a prayer meeting and sang praises to the Lord! What a prayer service!  Look what happened when they sang and praised in the midst of their suffering; an earthquake began, the doors flew open and their bands or chains fell off! What a sight to behold! Wouldn’t you like to have seen the face of those prison guards! They even drew swords to kill themselves because if the prisoners were to escape a death order was placed upon their lives. 

     ​This is a place to start learning how to handle your adversity.  In the early days of depression I had in the eighties God taught me from this passage I was to praise Him and to sing to Him in the darkness. The prisons were usually dark and cold sometimes we get so low in spirit we feel chained, beaten, and imprisoned. Praising was one way God used to bring me up out of my emotional prison. It helped loose me from those chains by taking my mind off my circumstance and placing my thoughts back upon the Lord. My emotions would come under control, joy and peace returned. What we dwell upon determines where our emotions go. 

      ​After my spiritual beatings I began to learn to be Spirit controlled not emotionally controlled.  God would many years later use my emotional beatings to begin a ministry to help others. 

Father,  I pray for that soul emotionally bound today to turn it into an opportunity to praise and sing unto You. Help them feel their chains fall and walk in freedom of Your spirit in the midst of their suffering.

In the morning, first Prison Ministry begins!

February 1,2019

February 1, 2019

Judy Hollaway

October 27

Running with Jesus  

Acts 16: 22-23 "and the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

     Paul and Silas took a beating after casting that demon out of that woman. They were hauled off to jail! Jesus told His disciples you are sent out among scorpions! That is exactly where Paul and Silas were! They were carrying the gospel throughout the continent and this would be one of the many beatings they would endure.

      If you do anything for Jesus you can expect a beating!  Our beatings come sometimes from circumstance the Devil throws on our path!  He will attack when you least expect it and he will aim for your head or your heart.  They are both your control centers.  He will wear you out trying to fix things mentally, placing fear and producing anxiety in your mind beating you up!  Can you relate?  He will also hit you and try to rip your heart out.  The things most dear to you he will strive to take it away from you!  He will seek to make it tough on you. However, we must endure! God's grace and mercy are new every morning! Weeping may go on all night but joy comes in the morning. 

       I don't know what has beat you up, but I do know that God is faithful and will use this some way to bring about good in your life.

Father, we pray for strength and healing today for those who have been beaten up by our enemy. Help us be filled with Your Spirit of endurance today and feel a big measure of grace! 

     Rest and know God is not asleep and will bring you through.

Tomorrow: Learning from a beating and chains in prison so don't miss it!

January 31, 2019

January 31, 2019

Judy Hollaway

October 26

Running with Jesus  

Acts 16:16 "And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:"

     Paul was followed by this woman yelling at them and he got tired of it and cast a demon out of her. She was a fortune teller and they put her out of business and her bosses had them arrested! 

     Hummmm! Just thinking people in Bible days would rather have money than see a soul get redeemed! Sounds familiar doesn't it. People today run abortion clinics, sell alcohol, and sell drugs for money. When we take a stand against them they want to take us to court and throw us in jail. The love of money is the root of evil. 

     The days ahead we may be forced to take a stand, a bolder stand in order to save lives!  We may be arrested!  It is a lot to think about. The world didn't like Jesus followers anymore than they did Him. They don't like Jesus followers today.   Let us pray we will have boldness in the days ahead.

 Father, we are Your servants and we pray for boldness as the days are approaching us. We pray for Your power and Spirit to rest upon us and fill us. Give us a Paul and Silas’ Spirit.

Tomorrow: There will be a beating

January 30, 2019

January 30, 2019

Judy Hollaway

October 25

Running with Jesus

Acts 16:14-15 "And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us."

     Lydia was baptized and her household then she took the missionaries home with her! This was not a simple task because she was a seller of purple which meant she probably had a lucrative business among the wealthy. It could have cost her her business.  

     Taking missionaries and pastors into your home has proven to have great impacts upon families. I just heard the other day kids who are in a good relationship with their pastor's are more likely to stay in church after school. 

     My parent’s home was always open to our pastors and I can tell you they each had an impact upon my life. Such an impact I even married one of the sons! I was more open to hearing their messages because I knew them! 

Father, help our pastors and missionaries because they have power to influence lives. Help us to realize they desire to help our families. Help us make sure our kids get to know them too! 

Tomorrow:  Paul and Silas get arrested for healing a demon possessed woman!