May 30, 2018

May 30, 2018

Judy Hollaway

February 17
Running with Jesus 2015

Luke9:12 And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place.

     Seems funny that this crowd had been running with Jesus and had ran right into a desert place and were so caught up they didn't bother to bring anything to eat! We know there would be no McDonald's to drive through either in those days. 
     As a wife, mother, coach, nurse and all the other roles we play, we find ourselves at the end of our ropes and little time to eat at Gods table. We end out in a desert place wondering where to get a bite to nourish our hungry worn out souls. Then Jesus tells us to sit down, be still, and grab the Bible. We begin to read and we suddenly find right there in the middle of everything in a desert place is one of the most amazing stories in the Bible! Jesus takes a little boys lunch of five loaves of bread and two fish and feeds 5,000 men and that didn’t include the women and children.
    God led them to that desert to teach them He was all they needed to get them through life. He taught them He was their provider. I will never forget when Mike stopped working for ATT to run with Jesus. It was one of the scary places I found myself. I had to realize we now worked for a company greater than MAW BELL! I have seen God provide over and over in our lives. In the desert places is where I have seen some of the greatest blessing of my life! 
     Are you in a desert place this morning sit down and read this whole story. Ask God what He wants to reveal about Himself to you! Ask Him to refuel His Spirit in you so you can continue to be all He needs you to be today! 

Father, fill my soul and leave me 12 baskets to take with me to feed others along the way as we keep on running. Thank You for the desert place and for always showing up just when I need it!

I am going to stay here in the desert for a little while. Join me tomorrow!

May 29, 2018

May 29, 2018

Judy Hollaway

February 16
Running with Jesus 2015

Luke 9:1-2 "Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.  And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick."

      Jesus had demonstrated His power and authority before His disciples and now they will be given power and authority to go forth and demonstrate His power in them. The beginning of Christ kingdom work, as I read this my mind was drawn to another passage of scripture. Paul in writing to the Corinthians said to the Christians.

2 Corinthians 5:17-19 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!  All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 
     Running with Christ, reconciled with God is the greatest blessing of life. So many times as Christians we function powerless rather than with power. I am convinced we barely tap into the resources we have available to us. I have a multi-plug I use in my bathroom you can probably plug 6 plugs at one time. One of the outlets has something wrong with it and I try to put my blow dryer in it every time but it falls out. That is like our lives. We plug in about half way and out we fall. We get tired of putting it back in and finally give up! If we give up and don't endure by staying plugged in we will never find the power to get the job done. I don't care if you only keep one baby in the nursery, have 3 preschoolers or have 25 in your class. You have the power to change and reconcile that one life to God through Christ! That is one soul not going to hell. 
     Look what happened when one person used the power God gave them to share Christ with Billy Graham, Adriene Rogers and Billy Sunday!
     We have a job and have been given the power to do it. So use it on what is in your hand! Stop trying to do something big! Just plug into Jesus, focus on what and where He has placed you and work to help one soul be healed from the deadliest disease for mankind-SIN. We have the cure let's share the remedy and cast out demons in the name of Jesus. 

Father, thank You for the ministry of reconciliation and help us stay plugged in and focus as we run with You. Remind me that the power we need is in You! Show us how to use all our resources You have given us to help some soul today! Thank You for being powerful when we are powerless .

Tomorrow: A big feeding!

May 28, 2018

May 28, 2018

Judy Hollaway

February 15
Running with Jesus 2015

Luke 8:49 While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.

     While Jesus stopped to heal the woman with the issue of blood in yesterday's devotion, Jarius, a ruler in the synagogue, daughter dies. He had met Jesus before the woman touched Him and stopped to address her. It was too late so he sent word for Jesus not to bother in coming. "But Jesus!" Two wonderful small words. Jesus was delayed in coming but was about to do a greater revelation of whom He was and that He has power over life and death.
Our deepest need is usually the places we find our greatest revelations of God our Father. It is when His supernatural strength inters into the depth of our souls and allows us to stand tall when we should be laying prostrate with no strength to stand that we find the intimacy we so long to have with Him.
     Jarius’  daughter would rise again that day and be restored. For many of us it is the reassurance of resurrection life and the joy of knowing we will see our loved ones again! 
     When we fail to run through the pages of God's Word and learn from Him we miss out on the help we need to face each trial life brings. Whether it is the hope for healing here or there, God is always there to show us Himself in some way in the midst. We must continue faithfully to run our race day by day with Him.

Father, thank You for the resurrection life You revealed through this delay! You are showing us your power over life and death . I thank You we can have assurance.

I pray if you don't have that assurance you will trust Christ today! 

Jesus gives His disciples power tomorrow!

May 27, 2018

May 27, 2018

Judy Hollaway

February 14

Running with Jesus 2015

Luke 8: 43-44;48  And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.

                 I cannot imagine the life of this woman. With an issue of blood that would have made her ceremonially unclean. No Rabbi or Priest would have come near her or God forbid even touch her. Her life had to have been miserable. She took great risk to get to Jesus to touch Him!

               Friend is that not just like so many of us apart from Jesus? Lowly, downcast, fit for nothing! We have so many issues we feel helpless and hopeless!   All this woman knew is all  she had to do was touch the hem of His garment. Being weak and frail from her infirmity she had to go the extra mile to push through the crowd. Her faith made her whole. In the midst of hundreds, Jesus knew one was healed that touched His garment! He said He felt virtue go out of Him. He asked who touches Him! Impossible to know was Peter's reaction because so many were following.   The woman finally came forward and admitted she was the one who stole a miracle from Him! Jesus had to stop and bring her out so she could be totally made whole and not stay hidden!  She would be a light and a candle for others to see the truth of Jesus and how placing our faith in Him makes us whole! 

             We are all sin damaged and unacceptable to God but the touch of Jesus makes us whole again!

             Can we have an “AMEN” amen this morning?

             We all have issues and we all need to faith in Jesus to help us with each one! Whether healing here or healing there. We win no matter what when we have Jesus.

Father, we are reaching out to touch Your garment today. Let us feel that virtue and power come forth to help us overcome our issues. Thank You for being trustworthy always. Help us continue the race we are in with you! Renew our strength this morning. We give You praise!

May 26, 2018

May 26, 2018

Judy Hollaway

February 13

Running with Jesus

Luke 8: 40 And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him.

                Waiting for Jesus!  Wondered how long it had been since Jesus left the crowd, crossed over the sea to heal that demonic man? This passage said the people gladly received and waited for Him!  We spend a lot of time waiting on Jesus! Waiting isn't a bad thing!  Waiting gives God time to move things around. We have to remember man operates on the time elements of earth. God doesn't operate as man does and that is the hard part we put God into our zone! 

                They knew Jesus would return because this area was where His home base was. They expected Him to return and we will see what happens when they expected something to take place. Most of the time we don't really expect anything to happen when we pray and wait.  

                While waiting we are developing Godly character.  Romans 5:3-5 says And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

                 It is not easy to wait but waiting is good for us. Sometimes it is good we don't get what we are waiting for because we get down the road and say thank You Jesus You knew what was best. 

Father, I thank You for the ability to wait upon You! I thank You for Your time is always best even when I can't see it! Thank You for allowing us to simply trust our all knowing Father!

Tomorrow: Faith!