November 20, 2019

November 20
Running with Jesus  

Acts 21:30-31 "And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut. And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar."

     Paul reached Jerusalem and met with the disciples and shared all the events from his missionary journey and it was so exciting as he traveled from city to city seeing churches birthed, souls saved and finding the churches were still functioning on his first two missions. He was at one of the high points of his ministry. However, the Jews were angry with Paul! We must remember his role as Saul was against Christianity! Now he was a father of "The Way" and helping it to grow leaps and bounds. The religious leaders hated him enough to want to kill him! What does that say about religion!
      Religion never transforms a soul even as I type religion has our world turned upside down with religious people killing people! What a sad day because they believe it gets them a special place after life in heaven.
     Jesus came to save the lost, heal the sick, and bind up the broken hearted. That is our mission too! That is transformation into the image of Christ our Savior. You can be religious all day and die and split hell wide open.  Good people die and go to hell. The Word say’s “There is not any good no not one.” It also says “Our righteousness is as filthy rags.” We take on the righteousness of Christ when we accept His shedding of the blood for our sin. We are made right with God and we gain eternal life. We do not have to blow ourselves up or kill someone to gain favor with God! But what is so sad is just like Jesus who healed the sick, did miracle after miracle was hated, despised, and killed by religious people, so was Paul. Christ and Christians are still being hated today. If the Lord tarries many of us will be martyred for faith.  Will we stand up for Jesus? is the question. Let us pray for boldness and for revival in our land.
               

Oh Father, we are troubled over our land. We come seeking revival, first in our own hearts and then for our churches across this land. We pray for boldness and strength in the days ahead. We love You and worship You in truth and spirit.

Tomorrow: Paul, a man of Zeal!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

November 19, 2019

November 19

Running with Jesus  

Acts 21:8,10-11 "And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles."

     In this town were some prophets who had a great concern for Paul not to return to Jerusalem. One even did a demonstration tied with Paul's belt. They knew he would be in danger of being killed.

     We all want to run with Jesus as long as we can live on the mountain tops, have a feel good sermon that soothes our conscience, but let God ask us to make a sacrifice or suffer for Him, we check out! We think going to church on Sunday for one hour is serving God! 

     Paul puts us all to shame. His zeal and compassion for Christ will lead him to death. It is believed by historians he was beheaded. Many of the disciples were hung on crosses and burned at the stake.  Paul knew what God was asking him to do. When we really want to do God's will, we must accept all that comes with it, even pain. Then we can say, “the Lord's will be done.” 

     In the days ahead I truly do not know what we will face before the Lord returns. If we can't make little sacrifices to give God our life and accept His will for our lives, how will we be able to face harder days? It is in the little giving up of ourselves daily that builds up to help us when it comes to the big things He wants to entrust us with. 

      What sacrifice is He asking you to make. Maybe just to start reading your Bible daily, start to Sunday School, volunteer for the nursery or fix a meal for a sick person. This is the beginning of living for Jesus daily. Is it too much of God to ask? He gave his only Son to die for us! How selfish we have become! "It is my money I want it now society!" 

      When we learn to die to self and live for God and run with Jesus you will find the key to living life. Fulfillment does not come from pleasure and self indulgence. You may enjoy these for a season but it will not last. Fulfillment comes from walking in obedience to God. 

Father, help us seek to obey You. Give us strength for this day as we seek to know Your will and ways. Help us not run off the path You have set and probated for us. Lead us not into temptation and deliver us from the evil one. 

“A Dying Seed”

John 12:24    Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

I have hopes and dreams, I live for each day,

Something to gain, a more peaceful way.

Yet I look around and see so many needs,

LORD, break me and plant me,

An unworthy seed.

To die unto self is a much greater gain.

To strive alone is only in vain.

For all must be given to bring forth new life,

As did our Savior, our Redeemer,

Our Lord Jesus Christ.

LORD, help me to grow each and every day.

I’ll feed on Your Word and continually pray.

For whatever I am, LORD, I want to be,

A servant of yours,

A dying seed.

Debra Barnett Rodgers

April 12, 1999

Paul will make it back to Jerusalem, tomorrow let’s join him!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

November 18, 2019

November 18

Running with Jesus  

Acts 21:3-4a Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden.  And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days..."

     Paul landed in the port and where did he go? He went to find disciples on the land and stayed with them seven days.   No one had to beg Paul to get together with other believers! He was eager to meet and talk with them!    I get amazed at new converts and how they are so eager to grow in Christ and know more. They get right on board and are ready to go. Then you have some who never want to assemble and talk about the Lord and what He is doing! It always puzzles me! Running with Jesus you can see something every day He is doing! I want to talk about it! It is sometimes just little things I see! But I see Him working all around us! If it is just nature that teaches me of His faithfulness as the sunrises day after day just as He set it into motion at creation. This shows me He is consistent and faithful and can be trusted. Finding someone to share that with is so exciting! We have got to get better at getting together and sharing! 

      Let's find someone today and tell them something you learned or heard about Jesus! Look for something to share! Can't find anything? What about the oxygen He provides. Were you able to get out of bed this morning? Don't take that gift for granted! Look around and up stop looking at your circumstance that has got you off focus, look up see Jesus! 

Father, help us see You working around us and help us find some disciples today we can share with! Father, help those in need to see and hear You above the banging of Satan hitting their motions!   Help us to know and be strengthened by other’s testimonies too!

     Go find someone!

Tomorrow :It is prophesied about Paul's arrest that is coming! Hard days ahead!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

November 17, 2019

November 17

Running with Jesus

Acts 20: 37-38 "And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.

      Paul had a shepherd’s love for each church he had worked to get started. They helped each other and supported each other. We see this love as he prepared to leave them as they embraced each other. 

     There is nothing like the love of a body of believers and their pastors. I have always described it like a marriage. Christians love deep and we work with the same goals and share so much. We share at births, weddings, funerals and all sorts of catastrophic life events. Pastors sit by the side of loved ones losing their loved ones. He is there day and night if the phone rings. He shares God's Word to help direct their lives. 

      A church has a hard time during transitions of Pastor's. I can tell you from their side it is difficult for them too. When you take care of the body for so long it is like a parent letting their kids go. 

      I have loved each place God has placed us and cannot imagine life without each person who has helped shape and mold me as a Pastor's wife.

     Today let us just thank God for establishing the church. He did a great job because He knew what we all needed.

     If you are not connected to a body of believers you need to.  God told us not to forsake the assembly of ourselves together. That is a command! 

Thank you Father for the church and our church family. Help us not take them for granted. It is so great to know You know our needs before we do. Help us love the body like You did. You gave Your life and for that we are ever grateful. 

     Tell some of your church family you love them today! Make a call or send a text!!!

Paul sails on to Syria, tomorrow lets sail with him!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

November 16, 2019

November 16

Running with Jesus  

Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

      I had to focus on the ending of this verse today. Did you see what Paul said he testified of? The gospel of GRACE!  Who would know more about grace than converted Saul to Paul!

     Grace is the free and unmerited favor of God. The usual acrostic is God's riches at Christ expense. Paul was a devout Jew educated by the best in Judaism, dragged Christians out and  arrested them, and had them killed for sharing Christ. God chose to use this converted man to train and disciple Christians for hundreds of years by writing our power books in the Bible! God gave him grace and he birthed more churches in the known world and did more for the Christian faith. Paul was so humbled by the grace of God, who looked beyond his faults and saw his potential. All the energy Paul used against Christ was now used to form, encourage, and build up the body of Christ.

     Paul through his power book Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians made a huge impact on the growth in my walk. In Galatians I learned I am free from the law and learned to walk by faith. In Ephesians six I learned about the battle we are in the spirit realm not flesh and blood. In Philippians I learned to have joy in the Lord not my circumstances and lastly in Colossians I learned Christians have all we need in Christ and to let the Word of God dwell in me richly teaching and admonishing others. I learned from Paul how to walk and run by the Grace of God that is a Faith walk, you can have the same grace to change your life.

Pray this prayer:  Father, I know I am a sinner and deserve to die. For the first time I understand You love me and have never given up on me. I ask for Your forgiveness and I want to receive You as my Lord and Savior today, come into my heart and save me. Give me the grace You told about in Your Word, do Your work in me. 

     My prayer is if you found Christ today let someone know it! He tells us if we don't confess Him before man He will not confess us before the Father. Then you should be baptized as Jesus tells us to be united with a local Bible teaching church so you can grow in your faith by running with Jesus. 

Tomorrow: Paul is leaving one of his churches, let's go see him off!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015