January 24, 2019

January 24, 2019

Judy Hollaway

October 19

Running with Jesus  

Acts 14:27 “And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.”

     I believe one of the downfalls in our churches today is found penned in this verse. "The church came together and rehearsed all God had done."  As a Pastor's wife I observe a lot and we seldom hear the body sitting around telling what they experienced as they went out this week. I live to hear someone say do you know what God did this week! 

      Let me share a little thing! I was so frustrated because my phone was messing up and I couldn't see my likes after I updated. This went on a week and finely I said, " Lord, I really need to have my phone fixed, help me!" I Goggled and tried everything still frustrated, but decided to just wait on the Lord.  The next thing I knew a young man sat in front of me and said," How is your day going Mrs. Judy?" Then Holy Spirit nudged me, "He knows a lot about cell phones, ask him!" I did and he said, "Just delete your app and reload." Guess what! Fixed it and I was able to tell him he was an answer to my prayer that morning. My frustration became a God moment or like a book I read one time a "God Wink"! 

      How many God winks do we have but never talk about them together! Church we have got to start telling each other when God winks at us! I remember as a young girl people were always giving a witness of those special moments. These winks are God saying I am with you and want to walk right beside you! This was just a little story but big to me! 

      Is God that alive in your life or are you so earthly minded you are no heavenly good! 

Oh Father, help us open up and share with each other what an awesome God we have. I know it will increase our faith and build boldness. Father, You are a God we can brag about! You are alive and walking with us! 

      I know I just have to tell somebody God does so many little things for me!   Do you?!  Let's start rehearsing what He does for us. If He winks at you today tell someone!  Deal?  Get going watch for a wink to share! 

Grace, tomorrow, show up!

January 23, 2019

January 23, 2019

Judy Hollaway

October 18

Running with Jesus

Acts 14: 24-26 "And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia: And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.

     These were some busy men running town to town carrying the gospel, organizing churches, winning lost souls, and encouraging the new converts. They were running fast, long, and hard! This reminded me of our great commission Matt. 28:19 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."  I think our American runners have slowed way down on our running!  

      I wonder if we knew today was our last day on this earth how we would run our lives. If Jesus said the trumpet will blow at 10:00am tomorrow! Would cell Towers be blocked? Just saying! This is something to ponder because we may be the last person who speaks to a lost person. We have got to get focused and make witnessing a top priority. What is sad most don't even want you to tell them about Christ and his return.

Father, grant us boldness and help us take advantage of every moment of everyday! It may be our last day or their last opportunity. We are the only one between them and hell. 

Rehearsing about God tomorrow!

January 22, 2019

January 22, 2019

Judy Hollaway

October 17

Running with Jesus

Acts 14:21-22"And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

      Paul is up and running again after he was stoned and left for dead.  Now if this were us we would be out of here. We can't survive getting our feelings hurt. One little bobble in the road of our run and we quit and run off and pout and then develop a critical spirit. However, let us notice one word in the verses, "tribulation".  This means a cause of great trouble or suffering. Wait, suffering a word we do not like! Sorry, it is in the Bible! He says we must through tribulation enter the kingdom of God. We can deal with a lot of things if we expect it is coming. We must not forget Jesus said in John 16:33 "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." 

     Jesus was called the suffering servant and we too must endure times of tribulation and expect it. If the world hated and despised the Son of God, where do we get off thinking it will love us. If we are being loved by the world then something is wrong with us! If you have no tribulation then you are not working in God's kingdom work! God's work is not easy and we must like Paul after his stoning get right back up and head off again! So get going don't stop now! With God you have all you need to keep going, Jesus said it "He has overcome the world"! We can overcome the obstacles Satan throws at us.

Father, we choose  to keep running the race before us and we refuse to allow suffering to get us down and we press on with You looking to You, our example and strength to endure the days ahead. Thank You for being the glory and lifter of our heads.

Town to town, in the morning, we need our spiritual running shoes on!

January 21, 2019

January 21, 2019

Judy Hollaway

October 16

Running with Jesus  

Acts 14:19-20 "And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.""Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe."

      I told you there would be a stoning. It was Brother Paul because he was the main speaker. Old Lucifer always aims high, the head! He seeks daily to bring down ministers to the gospel and leaders in the body. We must pray for our pastors and leaders. October is Pastor Appreciation month so remember him in your prayers. Satan’s great target with us is the head, the mind! He throws stones at our minds that build up walls. Walls of unforgiveness,  bitterness, anger and resentment! Why? To kill our run with Jesus. He leaves us for dead and wants us to stop. But look what happened to Paul, the disciple stood round about him and the next day he departed with them and we find him preaching again.   As brothers and sisters, we must hurdle around those who have had stones thrown at them and help them get going again. That is what this devotion is for today. Search your mind and look at that stone wall that has you blocked from running with Christ. Cast off your bitterness, anger, resentment and unforgiveness. Get revived and go tell somebody you were stoned but God has raised you back up.

Father, we pray for that hurting soul this morning. Let them know healing and revival. Help them know their real enemy is Satan and let them feel your Spirit raising them up and helping them get back into the race. Help them know and understand it is time to let it all go and they are not left for dead but to become a living in a world that desperately needs to have their walls torn down. Help them know that this can give them a new ministry in their life and for all the wasted years stoned left for dead you can use it to get back at the real stoner, old Lucifer! And Father we lift up our Pastors today and help us encourage them and show them our appreciation in some special way.  

Get up and get running again. Christians are survivors see one in action in the morning!

January 20, 2019

January 20, 2019

Judy Hollaway

October 15

Running with Jesus  

Acts 14:5  "And when there was an assault made both of Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them."

      Paul and Barnabas are on their run from town to town preaching the message of Jesus resurrection and they are becoming more hated by the unbelievers. Note in this verse who came against their preaching, their rulers! Most commentaries believe this was the Sanhedrin courts coming together. They were made up of the Sadducees and Pharisees and had the power to pronounce a death sentence and take people to the Romans for the penalty to be implemented like Christ. The days were getting harder on these two Missionaries. We see they despised them and wanted to stone them to death. 

     Anytime you start to move forward in your serving Christ, expect opposition. You can sit in the pew every week and do nothing and you will not face much opposition but get up start serving and waiting on tables watch the darts start flying. You have moved into our enemy, Satan’s territory. He will start throwing stones because he runs a dark world and when you walk in obedience you start shining a light around and others see a change in us and our enemy does not like us shining a light onto his evil business. So why bother with serving, because we love God and love others. We know the truth and we want them to know truth so they will not die and go to hell. Also we know the greatest "Joy" this life gives us, walking and working in God's kingdom work. When you watch the birth of a new baby Christian or hear that baby say their first word, Abba, daddy, father, joy burst forth in your heart! When you have the comfort and strength He supplies in the tough times in our lives "Joy" fills our hearts.

      We are facing tough days ahead serving God but the alternative of not serving is a great loss. Don’t waste times get up and serve, one day you will see the benefits and as Christ.  Hebrews 4:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

      Christ look to the joy and endured. We too must look to where and what is at the end of life’s journey and take up our cross daily and obey God. Go and tell. Never before in the history of America do people need to hear and see our message. We must press on. Get up serve, days are short!

Father, give us grace to endure and give us boldness to get up and serve. Help us to remain faithful when they counsel against us knowing they have blinded eyes caused by the god of this world. 

A stoning in the morning!