January 14, 2019

January 14, 2019

Judy Hollaway

October 9

Running With Jesus  

Acts 13 :1-4 ”Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent themaway. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.”

     God was beginning to send out his first missionaries and Saul and Barnabas were the two the Holy Spirit anointed for the mission.  They will first take the Gospel to the Jews and after they reject the message the Gentile age would begin.

      It bothers me that not very many young people are surrendering to the ministry.  Preaching the gospel is not the most popular job in America.  Some will say that ministers are a waste.  This fits right into the world mode today.  We use funeral homes for funerals, venues for weddings and judges and justice of the peace for the weddings.   Most funerals do not want a message anymore but a eulogy spoken by a friend.  No one wants to hear about the end of life and where we spend eternity.  No one wants to make vows before God much anymore.   As long as we don’t mention Jesus everything is okay.  Walking around shopping in America you can no longer buy a manger scene for your yard at Christmas.  Face it being a Christ follower is no longer popular.  Surrendering to preach is not popular, it is the way God has chosen to share the Gospel, the foolishness of preaching.

     We were not the first to deny Christ.  The Jews did first and ungodly worshippers of pagan gods won’t even mention Christ work on the cross.  That is okay because there will be one day when He will get the last say.  It will be too late for many who would rather be popular with the crowd.  Keep on doing your own things and ignoring the message of God.  Ignore the only door to heaven.   Ignore the call to go and at the end of your days you will not hear, “Well done thy faithful servant enter into the joy of the Lord,”

Father, call out young men and commission them into Your work and bless them with a special anointing. I am thankful today for my three nephews who are stepping up and answering the call.  Lord, keep Your hand upon them and bless them as they are walking in Your will and ways and give them favor with men.  Father, we pray for a special anointing upon the lives of our young men and women who are facing challenges in the days ahead.  Thank You for the victory they can have with You by their side.

January 13, 2019

January 13, 2019

Judy Hollaway

October 8

Running with Jesus  

Acts 12:24 “But the word of God grew and multiplied.”

     I wish Brother Luke, who wrote this verse could read what I just googled on line.  I ask how many Bibles have been printed and this is what I found 6,001,500,000 and spoken in 6,900 languages.  How is this for growth? Also 32% of the population is professing Christians.  The Bible is the most read book in the world.  The Bible is God’s love Letter to the world and does more to change lives.

     Luke would be amazed what this line of the Bible he penned would come to mean.  Even as persecution tried to kill It’s authors and stamp out It’s message it could not.  God was on the move to redeem his beloved mankind.  God loves man and has gone to the extreme to have a relationship with him.

     Just like the Word of God grew in the world, It must also grow in our hearts and be lived out in our lives.  I want to ask are you growing in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of God’s Word?  If not you are a stagnant Christian.  No one likes stagnant water.  Have you ever seen a pool of stagnant water?   It is a slimy, murky, smelly mess.  That is exactly what our lives are like without the Word of God engraved into our lives.  The Word is more powerful than a two edged sword.  The Word is our Sword for living.  We gain eternal life through the Word and are built up, encouraged, grow and mature by It.  So are you growing and learning from the Word, if not commit today to read a chapter a day for 30 days and see if it does not change your life.

Father, thank You for the Word and we pray You will keep our freedom to have a Copy in our possession for all of our lives.  Help us not take It for granted. 

       Spend time thanking God for His Word today.  Stop and hold It near your chest and feel the love of God flow through your spirit.

Jesus is still running strong working through people, now He is commissioning missionaries, in the morning.

January 12, 2019

January 12, 2019

Judy Hollaway

October 7

Running with Jesus

Acts 12:21-23  “And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.”

     This was a day in the life of Herod the grandson who ruled after the death of his dad who ordered Christ to be crucified.  He was upset because the men of Tyre and Sidon let Peter escape.  He was killing Christians to gain favor with the Jews in the land.  These rulers went to make up with him and had a coronation day.  He was so proud he paraded like a peacock with his tail feathers extended and loved his position.  “But God” was still in control of rulers and authorities in the land.

     Some days we get discouraged over kings and powers in authority.  Ultimately God is not asleep and He knows exactly what is going on.  He allows certain things to take place.  In the Old Testament the Jews wanted a king like the nations around them so He allowed them to have a king.  He told them he would take their money and goods.  God wants us to want Him and let Him provide for us.  He does allow man to have a say and when we get what we think we want it usually is not what we need. God knows best!!!

     We just heard a song the other night at the NQC about the shootings in schools.  It said, “Where were you God when the shootings took place?” Then He replied, “You did not ask me to come you did not want me there”. 

      In this Kings life God got the ultimate say.  He died that day.  God is patient with man and sometimes He is using the most difficult situations to speak loud to us.  America needs to remember God.  She needs to ask Him to come back.  When we leave Him out and forget this life is just a short span to man and eternity is forever.  One day all knees will bow and confess He is the ultimate King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  So don’t be surprised by many of the things taking place in our land.  The kings rule only for a season and those who are unjust will reap in due time.  God is in ultimate control and will get the last word.  Read the back of the Bible we know the end of the story.

Father, today we pray for You to return to our country and tear down ungodly men and women who think they are in control and raise up Godly men and women to lead us. Help us not be afraid and trust not in chariots and horses but the Holy God of the Universe.  We cry out for You to come quickly Lord Jesus.

The Word is unstoppable, tomorrow.

January 11, 2019

January 11, 2019

Judy Hollaway

October 6

Running with Jesus  

Acts 12:16-17 “But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.  But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.”

     Can you imagine what it was like to be in this room with Peter telling the people how an angel came, hit him on the hip, his chains fell off,  led him out through different levels of a prison cell and there were prison guards there yet he escaped.  Astonished would not have been my response but I would have fainted. God was on the move growing His church to evangelize the world and what greater revelation for them. Peter would go on to be a great missionary alongside Brother Saul (Paul).

     I wonder why we do not see more happening around us?  We have the same God, the same Spirit!  I believe the church will begin to see greater things among us as the day of His appearing is approaching us. The first church was under persecution and we will in the near future experience persecution the days are moving fast and I personally look for Christ in the next 25 years.  Bible prophesies is like reading the newspaper.

     Let’s not wait till persecution starts to start believing in the power of prayer.  We should not wait for the giant to come and start praying.  David prepared by killing the lion and the bear before the giant came.  If you do not get up and start praying you will not be able to fight when the enemy challenges your God.  God is looking for trained soldiers to fight in His army. So get in boot camp.  Maybe you will find yourself astonished at what He can do!

Father, we pray for wisdom to pray and for strength to stand when the giants come.  We pray for deliverance from each one.  We want to be overwhelmed by You.  Send angels to camp around our families.  Astonish us Lord.

Tomorrow: No one is out of reach of God

January 10, 2019

January 10, 2018

Judy Hollaway

October 5

Running with Jesus  

Acts 12:12-15 “And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying. And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.  And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.”

     I know there is sleep still in your eyes but wake up and get that coffee or coke and go to your war room (for those who have seen “War Room” you will get that, If you haven’t seen it you must!”)  That is exactly where the church was on this night and had been warring all night.  Their leader, Brother Peter, was about to be killed.  I pray that is where my people would be.

     A knock at the door and I am sure that this damsel, Rhoda, couldn’t believe what she was hearing, Peter’s voice.  Prayer was answered quickly!

     Are we not the same way, our emotions are running wild and we are so desperate.  I know some times I am in some kind of shape, you know what I mean. However, we get that knock on our spiritual door to find God had the answer even before we ask, the Bible tells us. Then we get so blown away we walk away and don’t even open the door. 

     She ran away and Peter is going to have to knock again.  He is outside fresh out of prison standing and you know they will be looking for him to recapture him. She left him outside and went to tell the others. When she told the others Peter was at the door, they told her she was mad.

     I remember when I began to see God work in prayer, He had to tap me on the shoulder and say that was me. Did they really expect Peter to be released?  I don’t think they thought there was much hope.  Remember God was teaching them the power of prayer.  He wants to teach us about the power of prayer.  We should pray together and expect God to answer our prayers.  Do you really expect Him to answer?               

Father, as we study, teach us to pray and teach us to expect You to answer our prayers and when they come help us receive them eagerly.  We pray and trust You to answer and help us not to get discouraged and remember heaven has to have a war to answer our prayers.  SO DON’T STOP PRAYING!!!

Tomorrow: They are astonished seeing Peter.