January 29, 2019

January 29, 2019

Judy Hollaway

October 24
Running with Jesus  

Acts 16:14  "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.

      I told you those praying women's lives would be changed and Paul who answered the call shows up. Now we meet Lydia, a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira.  Lydia was praying and God had opened her heart. She was ripe for hearing the message of salvation. There are people actually crying out wanting to hear the message of salvation and this is why we must answer the call to go. We must be ready when we walk out the door in the morning to present the gospel. We must be in tune with God's Spirit. Doors open daily but we are so busy with our agendas we don't even think about it! Somebody is crying out to know God and we are the key God wants to use to unlock the door to heaven. Lydia listened to Paul’s message and gave her heart to the Lord!
               

 Lord, as we prepare to go out of our homes today make us aware of some soul that needs to know how to know You. Empower us to see and share the gospel. Every day they pass us by but today let them stop and ask us how. We are here answering Your call show us where to go and to whom we are to share Your love with today.

What is going to happen in Lydia's life now? Meet up with us in the morning!

January 28, 2019

January 28, 2019

Judy Hollaway

October 23

Running with Jesus

Acts 16:13 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither."

     Remember Paul had a vision in our text yesterday to come over to Macedonia. He finds a group of ladies having a prayer meeting! Let's camp out by this river! Something is about to happen in the midst of this group of praying women!

     I say it over and over we need to get back to praying together! Prayer changes things! This group of ladies has no idea what is about to happen in their lives that is going to impact this whole region! It all began with prayer and Paul answering the call.

     God wants to work in our lives and prayer is the power source. So many do not want to spend the time it takes to pray. We spend hours watching TV when we should be praying. Prayer takes sacrifice and commitment. Prayer is when we find guidance, protection, and strength to live our Christian life. 

 Father, we seek Your face help us to stay focused and help us pray. Never before in our history does our nation need prayer. Hurting people surround us Lord with cancer and broken homes need mending.  We cry out to You for help and ask You to send Godly men to help like Paul. We pray for healing and help us to be more committed in our praying and when someone asks us to pray help us do it!

Tomorrow: We will meet one of these ladies so hurry back!

January 27, 2019

January 27, 2019

Judy Hollaway

October 22

Running with Jesus

Acts 16:9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.

      Answering the call! I felt as a very young girl in GA's God tugging at my heart about serving Him. A lady missionary from Japan came and shared her work and I felt God tugging at my heart again. I wanted to be just like her. It wasn't until I was 16 years old until I realized God was calling me to serve Him in some way. I always thought it was as a missionary overseas. After I married Mike, 30 days before I turned 18, it would be a while before the fullness and desire of my heart became a reality. We were married nine years and two boys later when Mike answered the call to go preach. 

     Since then we came to serve as Pastor and wife here at home after God turned my heart to our own nation and its need. I began in the eighties to see the home life crumbling and saw a need to stay here and strive to help women grow in Christ and be filled with the Spirit in the homes to help them save their marriages and children. 

      It has been an incredible journey as I look back. Answering the call has been a joy beyond measure. It has tested me to my limits at times, stretched my faith and has required much sacrifice, however, God has never failed to help us and strengthen us on our journey. We have had a wonderful life. We have had the love of God surround us and taken us to places and found people we would have never known! 

     Maybe you are afraid to answer the call to go. Don't be afraid He will meet you at every bend in the road and you will get to know Him in a whole new light. So step into the water and wade out a little deeper! 

Father, thank You for calling us to serve You. It is an amazing journey we are on. Help those who hear You saying come and do this thing, have faith to run the race of life. Father, it may be just to help in a kids class, the nursery, the kitchen or ministry full time, give them a willing spirit to do it! Joy will come through answering the call!

Tomorrow: Let’s see where Paul's call took him. Hang with me!

January 26, 2019

January  26, 2019

Judy Hollaway

October 21

Running with Jesus  

Acts 15:39 “And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;

"Barnabas was son of encouragement or exhortation. In the Greek it means a calling for, summons, hence: (a) exhortation, (b) entreaty, (c) encouragement, joy, gladness, (d) consolation, comfort. We all need some of this at times!

      Mark had erred in some way on one of Paul and Barnabas missionary journeys and Paul did not want to take him along this time. They departed ways and Paul went on but Barnabas went with Mark.

     We all make mistakes and need someone to come along beside us to help us by encouraging us. Barnabas was the man for this job!  Barnabas had also been there and helped Paul after his conversion and they traveled all over forming churches.

     Mark overcame this err because later we see Paul asking them to bring Mark and under the inspiration of God wrote the book of Mark in the Bible.

     We need to be a Barnabas that comes along beside those who stumble and help them get back into the race.

     Look around and see if there is someone you need to encourage today. Send a card or call and invite them to lunch. Let them  know  God is there and we all make mistakes. We must remember to not point fingers because we all lag behind at times. 

Father, lead us to someone we can help on this trek we are on. Help us to live as an over comer and an exhorter. Show us how to help other runners on this path in such a way to finish their race. Thank You for not giving up on us and let us not give up on others. 

Answering the call, tomorrow, meet me here!

January 25, 2019

January 25, 2019

Judy Hollaway

October 20
Running with Jesus

Acts15:11 "But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they."

     Gentiles were coming to know Christ and a dispute over the need for them to have the Jewish covenant ritual of circumcision in order to be saved.
     Jesus blood is our new covenant which fulfilled the Old Testament covenant. Peter shares that we are saved by grace through faith and the old puts them in bondage but the new frees them. The Old Testament covenant was based on the commandments that taught us we were sinners and condemns us guilty. They also used a temporary animal sacrifice year after year to cover sin. The New Testament covenant frees us by the blood of Christ one time sacrifice, taking away our sins.
     I struggled a long time grasping grace through faith. I didn't feel I deserved freedom from my sin and guilt so I would try so hard to be good and do things to make up for what I had done. I walked in a lot of darkness to truth of what salvation really had given me. I was not a disciple and knew so little about God's immeasurable grace. I began a journey to know about life after salvation! One day the blinders fell off and I could relax and enjoy my salvation. Jesus did it all and I could never repay or do anything to merit favor. I found so much peace and rest. Faith in the finished work of Christ settled my account PAID IN FULL!
      How many Christians are running around still trying to gain favor! It want work friend, realize it is all about Jesus! Stop fretting and enjoy your salvation!
               

 Father, thank You for saving GRACE! Thank You for loving us before we were born. Help us comprehend how a pure, holy and a righteous God loves us in spite of what we have done. Thank You for giving us salvation!
 

      Give out a big thank you to your loving Father for GRACE!

Tomorrow: We will see everyone needs a Barnabas to run with!