December 5, 2019

December 5
Running with Jesus

Acts 25:2-3 "Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him, desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him."

     These religious leaders hated Paul so much they came up with a scheme trying to get the governor to send him back to Jerusalem. The plan was to ambush the caravan and kill Paul.
     You know Satan hated Paul and worked so hard to kill him. Why? When Paul was converted he lost one of his greatest commanders in his army against God! And when Saul ,Paul, was converted he transferred to be commander in the Lord's army.
     When we take a leadership role in the Lord's army we are moved to Satan's most wanted list. He will send out his hit men to do his dirty work. He operates like the mafia gang.
     As long as we sit around on padded pews and do no service he will leave us alone. But start serving, you had better watch out because he will want to discourage you and immobilize you! I know this because we face all sorts of attacks. The attacks can come in many different forms; emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually! They will come I promise and you must be prepared. So what do we do? We remain steadfast abounding in the work of the Lord. We press on! We stay the course! Paul said he was pressed on every side, but he never lost sight of his mission and maintained his position standing upon the truth God had revealed the day of his conversion.
               

 Father, Satan tries to bring us down. please remind us You are the glory and lifter of our head. Continue to remind us of the battle we are in and remind us we are winners in Your Kingdom. We choose to trust in You and not our feelings and emotions. Empower us to remain on Your path of rightness! And enable us to live in Your power and strength. You are our enabler!

Better wake up! See you tomorrow!

 Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

December 4, 2019

December 4

Running with Jesus  

Acts 24:27 " But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound."

     Paul was bound in prison now for two years. God had told him he would go to Rome but he was stuck in jail and waiting. Two years it says!

     Stuck is where we find ourselves so many times waiting. Waiting is definitely not one of my best things to do! How about you? Do you like waiting? No, I thought so! We are not use to waiting in this society, we run all the time and get ourselves in trouble because we get ahead of God.  So what can help us wait on God to act?

     David won his present battles by remembering how God had helped him in the past. He helped him kill a bear and a lion so He could help him kill this giant. So remember how God worked in the past in your life. He also knew he was coming in the name of the Lord. So cry out to Jesus in prayer. Your prayer life grows during your waiting times. Faith has an opportunity to grow and trust God with every area of our lives. Especially when we have no control over the place we are waiting. Paul was forced to remain in this jail. 

     Next spend time in worship. I learned a long time ago focusing on my situation would lead me down the path of worry, anxiety and fear that led me to depression. I learned when praising and worshipping God my spirit was lifted up and put joy and a song in my heart. My depression left because my mind is like a cup, what I fill it with is what determines the direction my mind will go! I want joy and a song in my heart, how about you?

Father, we choose to worship and praise You today! Thank You for being the glory and lifter of my head. Help me stay focused upon You and fill me with Your Spirit of peace that will help me wait upon You! 

      Ready, get set, go! Start naming all the names of God you can think of and dwell on them all day! Let's have a Jesus moment in our waiting cell! 

Are you on Satan's hit man list? Hurry back and I will see you in the morning!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

December 3, 2019

December 3

Running with Jesus

Acts 24:24-25"And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee."

     Felix liked to talk to Paul and called often to talk about the way of faith, but when Paul began to talk about righteousness, temperance and judgment it became too personal. He began to squirm. I read where he too had taken another man's wife, conviction and self conscience had set in and guilt  began to take place in his soul. He then sent Paul away.

     Shhh!  Don't talk about sin! Isn't this what happens when we are witnessing to a person? We can talk all day about our work and life but don't start talking about sin!

     Sin, what is it? Oh our world doesn't say that word anymore! Sin is transgressing the laws of God. Excuse me, that is right, there are no Ten Commandments! Then we wonder why we live in a decaying society. Murder, adultery, lying and stealing has bombarded our society on every side! Yelp, evidence of a Godless society! Evil will always prevail when God is left out of the equation. 

  I hate to say this but our government officials and our court system, who make our laws, do not want to talk about sin because so many live outside God's laws and they do not  want to change their life styles! The Bible says their eyes are blinded by the god of this world, the prince of this world old Satan himself. Oh he isn't wearing a red suit and carrying a pitch fork. He is dressed as an angel of light in black suits and ties sowing his dirty work to lead people away from God.

Father, we pray for those in authority over us. We pray the eyes of their understanding will be open to truth. Enable them to make laws that once stood upon Your principles. Father we pray for wisdom to discern who we need to vote for as we approach a new election year.  

Stuck and waiting, in the morning!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

December 2, 2019

December 2
Running with Jesus

Acts 24:16 “And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void to offence toward God, and toward men."

     Paul’s goal was to always have a good conscience toward God and man. Our conscience is that inner feeling or voice that tells us when we have done something wrong. He was being accused of stirring up riots. There were no witnesses to confirm his guilt. Paul had not sinned and knew he was not guilty.  It is very important for us to have a clear conscience so how do we do that, by confession and obedience to God.   First you can't have a clear conscience if you have never been born again. Your sin has separated you from God. And God's Word tells us all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, guilty sentence is on us. If you admit you are a sinner and confess Jesus as Lord then you will have a clear conscience toward God. Then as you run daily you will have to maintain your clear conscience by examining yourself for offenses to God and confess. Then look around to your fellow friends and acquaintances to see if you have an offense to them and seek to restore and bring healing.
     Next you need to run your lives daily by practicing the principles God has laid out in the Bible for you to live by. The principles are boundaries for you to live in. These boundaries are always for our good and will help us to discern good ways from destructive ways. The destructive ways will always lead us to a guilty conscience because when we sin, it is an offense against God. You need to watch your day and see if the moment you do something wrong that a guilty sign won’t pop up! So today let’s learn to run our lives in His Spirit so we can live our lives knowing we have a clear conscience with God and man.

Father, it is our desire to walk in Your will and ways. Teach us Lord how to walk in Your Spirit that we might overcome the world and it’s destructive paths that will lead us away from You and produce a guilty conscience.

Shhh! Don't talk about sin, tomorrow!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

December 1, 2019

December 1
Running with Jesus

Acts 24:14 "But this I confess unto you, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:"

     Paul is being cross examined regarding his accusers. He uses it as an opportunity to give a strong witness of his run with Christ. He confesses that he worshipped the God of his fathers and believes everything written in the law and in the prophets.
     I wonder what our day would be like in the courts today regarding our faith in Jesus Christ. This may not be a thought in the future. Will we stand and tell our courts we worship the God of our fathers and believe the words of the Bible.
     We are already seeing this battle today. The enemy is trying to tell our world there is no God of America and this is not true. Our laws were founded upon the Ten Commandments and all our former presidents always would call for spiritual leaders to come to the White House to consult with them before going to war. Our history is filled with revivals and people working around our churches activities. People would stop farming for revival meetings. There was a blue law that prevented work on Sunday. I remember everything was closed down for worship when I was a child.
     We must not believe the lies of the enemy who hates God and the things of God. We must prepare to give a witness and stand firm on our faith and live out our principles. We will not be popular and politically correct but we will stand as a witness.
                 

Father, help us be strong like our forefathers. Help us remember they were willing to give their lives for freedom to worship Christ and we should help make a way for our kids and grandkids. Father we are a needy people. Give us power and boldness through Your Holy Spirit that dwells in us.  Please give us favor with all men.
 

Let's work on our conscience, in the morning meet me here!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015