August 13, 2018

August 13, 2018

Judy Hollaway

May 7

Running with Jesus

Luke 12:16-20 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?  And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.  And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.  But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

 ("Then he gave an illustration: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. In fact, his barns were full to overflowing—he couldn’t get everything in. He thought about his problem, and finally exclaimed, ‘I know—I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones! Then I’ll have room enough. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “Friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Wine, women, and song for you!” “But God said to him, ‘Fool! Tonight you die. Then who will get it all?")

              Live today like there is no tomorrow! We have all heard this phrase! After telling His disciples life is not measured in what we have, He tells them this parable about a farmer! The man spent all his time, energy, and effort into his crops and kept getting bigger and bigger and planned for retirement. This is wise because we do have to exist in this world. However, neglecting life after death leads to disaster! The man died that night! What did it profit the man to use all his time and energy storing stuff? If we do not think and prepare for life after death and think about helping others we enter eternity empty handed! We also miss out on some of the greatest joys of life of using our resources to help others. We need to live beyond earthbound goals. Jesus tells us to store up riches in heaven! 

              Let's set some goals to help others. Let us not just live to self! Let us use our resources, faith, and obedience to help others! This will help us overcome yesterday's temptation with covetousness.

 Father, help us continue to renew our minds so we can run with you on our journey through life! Show us ways to help others today! Help us have eyes to see and hear doors that open and let us listen and feel the nudges of the Holy Spirit when He says you need to _______! Some examples are; take food to a sick person, visit a shut in, clean out your closet and share what over abundance you may have! Jesus Cares! Let's get in the race with Jesus and stay there! This will help us live a balanced life! And we will learn to live the abundant life Jesus tells us about! 

Tomorrow: "Don't Worry!"

August 12, 2018

August 12, 2018

Judy Hollaway

May 6
Running with Jesus

Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

("Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” New Living Translation says "Life is not measured by how much you own!")

              Covetousness is a strong desire after possessions of worldly things! Far more important is our relationship with Him.  It is amazing how we know we are going to die and leave this world just like we came into this world! Billions of dollars are spent every year just to advertise and lure us to buy things! You can't watch a TV program without a thousand commercials! The Internet is constantly popping up ads and Facebook has them running too!
  We get too attached to this world! I remember going to Venezuela on a mission trip and Mexico, it was like traveling back to the 70's way of living! But I watched the children playing with sticks and bottles laughing and having a great time! Our kids are constantly working on computer gadgets and are never satisfied. We want more and more and will do anything to have what others have. We need a good dose of contentment.
  Our abundance is leading a generation away from God. Look at all the looting and theft that is going own!
Here we go again with the throwing out the Ten Commandments of God! The law of the land has lost control
because until the heart is changed mans ways are wicked.  The Bible says mans hearts are desperately wicked
who can know it? We need to guard against covetousness because it will lead us into bondage. Things will not be taken to heaven. Ask God for contentment.

Lord,  help us to be more content. Help us to be satisfied with Jesus. Help us to use discernment and balance in our lives as we live in this world and help us remember we are pilgrims on a journey and our home is heaven.

  The next few weeks as we run with Jesus, we will run right into a list of warnings Dr Luke recorded that He taught His disciples. Run close!

 Watch building bigger barns tomorrow!

August 11, 2013

August 11, 2018

Judy Hollaway

May 5

Running with Jesus

Luke 21:14-15 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

 (Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer.  For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.)

      In this chapter Jesus is heading to His death, but he is also telling His disciples that they are about to be persecuted for their faith in Him. He made the statement not to settle beforehand what they were to say. 

      As time moves forward and unless a revival begins or Jesus returns, we are moving toward these same situations. The world and other religious people do not like Christianity!  They will settle for mediocrity but not black and white Christian faith and Biblical truth. They will dissect the Word and only take what justifies their life style. More than ever, for us as true believers we need to purpose in our hearts today to stand firm in our faith!  It is coming! We don't have to worry about what to say He will tell us. We should not compromise our beliefs and we should expect the world and its system to come against us. God's Word says Satan is the ruler and prince and power of this world. We forget this and the bride of Christ gets caught up in the system and that is exactly what our enemy wants. 

Father, help us today to settle it and empower us to remain firm in our faith and live by Biblical principles!  We don't have to worry about what to say You will tell us! We pray for revival and look forward to Your glorious appearing! Even so come quickly Lord Jesus! Please be in prayer for our Supreme Court justice as they make decisions to not listen to the majority and pressures from ungodly influences but to vote on our true constitutional beliefs and values! 

Tomorrow: Covetousness!

August 10, 2018

August 10, 2018

Judy Hollaway

May 4

Running with Jesus

Luke 21:1-4 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

 (Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box,  and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them.  For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”)

     The religious flaunted their offerings, they would drop their coins and let them rattle so others could hear and see what they gave! This poor widow comes in and gives all she had! She gave her all and knew He would multiply her giving. 

      I can't help but think about my mom. She lived on a humble means but fed 5,000! We talked about this at her funeral mom's refrigerator had no back to it!  She was always inviting people to eat and could use her few dollars to feed a multitude. It was like watching Jesus and the little boy’s small lunch! She could just pull anything from it! I once told her she could make soup from dish water! Lol! She was a blessed woman! Being young I didn't understand how it all worked but as I grew older and as I ran with Christ I began to understand you can't out give God! This is true for anything we need! If you need love give love, need mercy give mercy, need compassion give compassion, need forgiveness give forgiveness.

      Some people have the gift of giving and we can learn from them how to be a better giver! God even ask us to test Him in this area! 

     This woman's tithe was given out of love the others were for show and expectations of praise from man. Her’s was the greater gift because it glorified God and revealed true FAITH! Real faith is big in the eyes of God! We look through fleshly eyes! We need to look at things from God's point of view. So when you give, give out of love and faith. God always looks into what is in our hearts and the attitude of the giving.

 Father, we give ourselves first to You and then we want to become the giver You desire! Help us give and watch You work a miracle in our lives!

Let's settle some things in our hearts tomorrow!

August 9, 2018

August 9, 2018

Judy Hollaway

May 3

Running with Jesus

Luke 20:27 Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection…

(Then some Sadducees—men who believed that death is the end of existence, that there is no resurrection..)

       I don't know if you have met this group of people called the Sadducees, but I love this little thought someone shared with me long time ago. They were "Sad u See's" because they do not believe in the resurrection life!   There are a lot of "Sad u see's" in our world today. They are like these religious guru's. They too believe there will be no resurrection and live like it too! 

      Christianity is the only religion that gives a person true security and HOPE! Life apart from God makes no sense! There is no real peace other than in Christ! 

       As a child I was so afraid of dying until the night I gave my heart to Jesus. Jesus removed that fear because I knew even as a child I had peace with God!

       I often think of believing in God and the work of Jesus death on the cross, I have nothing to lose! However, for those of you who are unbelievers you have everything to lose if we are right and you are wrong!  I would rather take my chance as a Christ than to risk one moment of dying and going to spend eternity in hell! 

       You see I am not so "sad u see" because I have the love of God and the joy of knowing Christ that gives us peace that passes all understanding! The three things we all desire are love, joy and peace!  And also we have the joy of knowing when a loved one dies, we will see them again! 

      The only way to have resurrection life and live eternally with God is to recognize you are a sinner and confess your sins to God. Ask Him to forgive you. Then believe that Jesus is God's Son and place your faith in Christ Who died on the cross, was buried and was raised to life! The word says you shall have eternal resurrection life!

      So are you a "Sad u See"? If so you don't have to be! Just pray right now for Jesus to save your soul! If you are not a “Sad U See" let's give God praise this morning!

Father, we thank You for eternal, resurrection life and no matter what we go through down here we can know we have peace with You and resurrection life! We thank You! Help us share Jesus with at least one "Sad U See" Today! Make us aware when that door opens and give us boldness to speak up! 

Tomorrow: We will get a real nugget from His Word of truth! Be sure and come back!