October 26, 2019

October 26

Running with Jesus  

Acts 16:16 "And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:"

     Paul was followed by this woman yelling at them and he got tired of it and cast a demon out of her. She was a fortune teller and they put her out of business and her bosses had them arrested! 

     Hummmm! Just thinking people in Bible days would rather have money than see a soul get redeemed! Sounds familiar doesn't it. People today run abortion clinics, sell alcohol, and sell drugs for money. When we take a stand against them they want to take us to court and throw us in jail. The love of money is the root of evil. 

     The days ahead we may be forced to take a stand, a bolder stand in order to save lives!  We may be arrested!  It is a lot to think about. The world didn't like Jesus followers anymore than they did Him. They don't like Jesus followers today.   Let us pray we will have boldness in the days ahead.

 Father, we are Your servants and we pray for boldness as the days are approaching us. We pray for Your power and Spirit to rest upon us and fill us. Give us a Paul and Silas’ Spirit.

Tomorrow: There will be a beating!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

October 25, 2019

October 25

Running with Jesus

Acts 16:14-15 "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. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us."

     Lydia was baptized and her household then she took the missionaries home with her! This was not a simple task because she was a seller of purple which meant she probably had a lucrative business among the wealthy. It could have cost her her business.  

     Taking missionaries and pastors into your home has proven to have great impacts upon families. I just heard the other day kids who are in a good relationship with their pastor's are more likely to stay in church after school. 

     My parent’s home was always open to our pastors and I can tell you they each had an impact upon my life. Such an impact I even married one of the sons! I was more open to hearing their messages because I knew them! 

Father, help our pastors and missionaries because they have power to influence lives. Help us to realize they desire to help our families. Help us make sure our kids get to know them too! 

Tomorrow:  Paul and Silas get arrested for healing a demon possessed woman!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

October 24, 2019

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!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

October 23, 2019

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!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

October 22, 2019

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!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015