May 25, 2018

May 25, 2018

Judy Hollaway

February 12

Running with Jesus 2015

Luke 8:30-33 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him. And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep. And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them. Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.

                 Jesus has done it now! Delivered someone and gave them a beautiful picture of what Christ could do, but they couldn't get past their dead pigs.   Here is Satan working behind the scenes to keep people from knowing Jesus. There sat a life changed forever. But they didn't want to have to change their ways. They liked their life style, glory and wealth. Reminds me of people in the body today! They want their fire insurance so they run forward in a church service! Don't ask them to change their schedules and give up their time and plans. That is when they run Jesus out of town. I am here to say you better read your insurance policies? The fine print!  God's Word says we are to die daily to self and to take up our cross and follow Jesus.  What was a cross used for to crucify a person. So many of us don't want to hear this part!  We let an innocent man take our death sentence but have no remorse or gratitude!  There were 10 lepers healed one day only one returned to say thank you!

                Let's have a think today on this one! Did you really get the real policy? Or just got a fake! Works are evidence that real faith took place! 

 Lord, help us discern religion and regeneration! The demonic man got regenerated yesterday!    

His life changed today they were afraid at what they saw but couldn’t get past the dead swine!  Lord help

us get real about being a true runner not a fake! Help us know the difference!

Tomorrow: Waiting on Jesus!

May 24, 2018

May 24, 2018

Judy Hollaway

February 11

Running with Jesus

Luke 8: 27 And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.

                Jesus and His disciples reached the other side after that stormy night just like we do also!

 First thing out of the boat, they met up with this man who had been demons possessed for a long time, wearing no clothes and did not live in a house but in a cemetery.

                I am here to tell you spiritually that was the way I lived my Christian life defeated and driven by the voices of demons and lived in the grave for so many years.   God calls us out of darkness into light. This town was a wealthy, prosperous town many were educated and lived in fine homes. I read this could have at one time been an upstanding man in the community but lost everything.  Sometimes we have to lose to gain. Sometimes we have to get down to look up.

                  I find it interesting how this man gets delivered and wants to run with Jesus but in the next trek we will find some rich people wanting to run Jesus out of town. Do you think this man knew Jesus would run His way that day? No an unexpected thing happened. H e got delivered!   Maybe some of you are having one of those demon driven days and feel like you are in a tomb!  Jesus is running your way this morning! He wants you to be still and know He is God. Stop yelling and get up put your clothes on and get busy doing kingdom work. God loves you! We can't change our past but Jesus can change our future. You have listened to the voice of the devil too long! 

                Listen to God's voice; before you were born I made you. I know the plans I have for you to give you a future and hope, you are created in my image, and you were knitted in your mother’s womb and I knew you! 

               If you are going to run with Jesus, you must learn to discern His voice. Jesus wants to call you out of that tomb into a life He has for you!   We can overcome by the blood of the Lamb!

Father, I thank You for running our way. We want to run with You and not run You out of town. Help my friends to feel Your love, joy, peace and deliverance today! Help them not listen to the lies of the demons.

Sorry if you don't believe they are real! The Bible doesn't lie. WAKE UP CHURCH!  They whisper in your ears! 

Tomorrow: Jesus leaves after not being received!

May 23, 2018

May 23, 2018

Judy Hollaway

February 10

Running with Jesus 2015

Luke 8:24-25 "And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, what manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him."

                Jesus and His disciples came to a boat and He told them let's get in and and let's go to the other side. Jesus went to sleep and a great wind storm came up and they were filled with water and in jeopardy!  Friends this was no little storm that filled this boat with water. 

                Wondering how Jesus was sleeping? Of course we know He is God in the flesh but they were still learning to trust God! They had so much to learn about their new found faith. They were experiencing so much running with Jesus seeing the blind see, the cripple walk and healing all sorts of diseases but now they would see Him in a greater light! 

                Are you in one of those overwhelming storms today? I have them at times and I feel Jesus is asleep. Then fear and worry begin to dominate my thoughts and bring me down. Fear begins to shout in my ear He's going to let me down in this one! Did you know 75% of the things we fear and dread never take place! It really helped me conquer and overcome some of my fears when I was taught this.

                I also know that every storm I have gone through has given me greater revelation of my Savior and made me stronger and taught me new insights that increase my faith.  I know the struggle you are in may be overwhelming but even if you feel Jesus is asleep cry out to Him. If He can control the elements of the earth He can control our lives.  He may not calm your storm instead He may calm you in the storm. Let Him say peace to your storm.  He rebuked their faith that day. They failed to trust. I have said it once and will say it again "life is about trust not about the why's!" "It is not about understanding everything either!" It is having a Savior we can trust! So whatever you are facing today let Him calm your storm. 

Father, help our unbelief today! Let me be still and know You are God. Take out our fear and put in faith. We place this storm of life into Your hands . We thank You we don't have to look at the storm we are in and we can look at Your face and know You have this one too! Thank You for helping us through another day. We love You Lord!

Tomorrow:  Living in the tombs!

May 22, 2018

May 22, 2018

Judy Hollaway

February 9

Running with Jesus 2015

Luke 8:15 "But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the

Word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience."

                 Continuing to listen to Jesus teach his parable as we run this morning, He tells about the seeds that fall on good soil. He compares to someone who hears. In the Greek hear is defined properly, to hear (listen); (figuratively) to hear God's voice which prompts Him to birth faith within. 

                I wish I could say every time I approach God's Word to hear His voice I was listening, don't you! Sometimes I read a text and think where was my mind?! Oh I know where it was absorbed with all my activities and to do list. What helps me to get back to a listening ear is to first pray and then get a note pad and pen and start jotting down these things about the text:

  • Who is the author? 

  • Who is he writing to?

  • What is his message?

  • How does this apply to my life?

                At some point in your run with Jesus you have to stop depending on others to help you keep running.  This would be like you having to feed your adult child with a bottle. 

                We have to develop our listening abilities. Our listening should be with intent for God to birth our faith and change us. It's hard to change but when God's voice reaches our hearts we want to change! Our Sunday School lesson said faith seeks understanding through regular and reverent hearing of God's Word!

                So if your faith is low today what is it a sign of? You got it! You need to run to His Word! The Word builds our faith. Faith helps us trust God and then we can deal with the stresses life brings our way. 

                So how do we keep good soil! We have to work and till the soil and place ourselves in an environment to be able to learn. Good runners will practice on the type of terrain they plan to run on.

 Father, help us have ears to hear with and eyes to see so we can develop a deep faith that is able to run this race we are on. 

Let's take a ride in a boat with Jesus tomorrow and let our feet rest.

May 21, 2018

May 21, 2018

Judy Hollaway

February 8

Running with Jesus 2015

Luke 8: 11-15 “This story is about some of those people. The seed is the Word of God. The seeds on the road are those who hear the Word, but no sooner do they hear it than the Devil snatches it from them so they won’t believe and be saved. “The seeds in the gravel are those who hear with enthusiasm, but the enthusiasm doesn’t go very deep. It’s only another fad, and the moment there’s trouble it’s gone.  “And the seed that fell in the weeds—well, these are the ones who hear, but then the seed is crowded out and nothing comes of it as they go about their lives worrying about tomorrow, making money, and having fun.  “But the seed in the good earth—these are the good-hearts who seize the Word and hold on no matter what, sticking with it until there’s a harvest.

                Jesus is running cross country as we travel this trek and begins to use parables to get His points across. In this area he uses stories about a man who sows seeds. A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly message. 

                 I like to read a passage and then read it again until it speaks to my heart. I couldn't help but stop when I read this part:  “And the seed that fell in the weeds—well, these are the ones who hear, but then the seed is crowded out and nothing comes of it as they go about their lives worrying about tomorrow, making money, and having fun.  Yelp, the Light bulb came on! Here we are Miss America running down the isle, waving to the crowd with her crown on, and her ruby red slippers! The weeds have grown around her and choked out the words of God! 

                Jesus told His disciples that Isaiah had prophesied "Their eyes are open but don’t see a thing," Their ears are open but don’t hear a thing. The word of God is being sown but choked out! We say not us, but listen again: worrying about tomorrow, making money, and having fun! These are spiritual robbers that will hinder our run with Christ. 

                Just yesterday I was trying to keep my spiritual senses on high alert because I was working on some important things for the retreat, the TV had been left on and all of a sudden I realized it was interfering with my meditation. I ran to turn it off. I like TV as much as any but we need to practice turning it off. Most of us have 2-4 TV sets in our homes. We waste a lot of time not listening to God and it is a tool satan is using to choke out Jesus and His voice. This is just one example and this list could be a mile long.

                Let's start looking for weeds that have grown in our path that is slowing our run down and hindering our ability to run and keep up with Christ. 

Father we want to hear from You. Please help me keep the weeds that choke you out! Help me turn off the TV and get in a position to hear from you!

Tomorrow: Running on good ground!