May 15, 2018

May 15, 2018

Judy Hollaway

February 2

Running with Jesus 2015

Luke 6:47-49  Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

                  One of the most burdensome things I see in this generation is the deterioration of the home and family. My heart hurts to talk to children who are from broken homes. I want to be sensitive here because I know many are in this place by no choosing of their own. But once again we find help and hope in God's Word. The problem is also prevalent in the church today. Homes are not being built on a Godly foundation. 

                The foundation of a home should be built upon Biblical principles. The problem most Christians go to church but never apply the Word, God's principles in their personal lives. I know this first hand. My life was crumbling until I latched onto God's Word and began to live by them. 

                Jesus taught His disciples those who hear my word's and obey them will have a house that will withstand the storms of life. A home built upon the earth, other translations say sand, will wash away and the house will fall. 

                  Oh Church wake up! Satan has diluted and polluted your thinking. You are believing and falling for the same lie Eve did in the garden many years ago, Genesis 6:36 "And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat."

                The world paints us a much smoother path to run on but it is filled with hidden pitfalls that will slow you down and cause you injury. 

                 God's way is the best way, don't leave His side for a moment press on as hard as you can. If you have gotten off the path for a little while get back on and catch up because the race isn't over till the finish line. Get in the Word of God and start digging in as deep as you can.

Father, help us build our foundation so we can stand the storms of life. Thank You for always being there waiting for us to return when we stray and thank You for being our Sustainer of life. Open the eyes of the body and give them a hunger for Your Word. Lord, You don't promise storms want come in our lives but You promise to help us run through the storms.   We love You, Father!

Change your shoes, going to run on new ground tomorrow!

Headed to Capernaum! Don't quit much to see in this place!

May 14, 2018

May 14, 2018

Judy Hollaway

February 1

Running with Jesus 2015

Luke 6:43-45 “You don’t get wormy apples off a healthy tree, nor good apples off a diseased tree. The health of the apple tells the health of the tree. You must begin with your own life-giving lives. It’s who you are, not what you say and do, that counts. Your true being brims over into true words and deeds.

     Well here you have it "you don't get wormy apples off a healthy tree.” Here Jesus was teaching us runners how to live a true life of a runner. Mans original heart is desperately wicked, the Bible teaches us a life that is not pleasing to God and you might say is a wormy apple tree,  However,  A regenerated heart is filled with the Spirit of God and will be lived and from a healthy tree. The actions that are born in our hearts come forth in our actions and words reveal the type of tree that they come from.

     As born again Christian runners, Christ taught us that our actions and words reveal who we are.  Gill's exposition of The Bible says " good trees, are called trees of righteousness, which being planted by the river of the love of God, and rooted in Christ, and filled with the fruits of righteousness by him, do not bring forth the evil fruit of sin, as the common and constant course of their lives and conversations; for that they never commit sin, or are entirely without it, cannot be said; but sin is not their usual and common practice, or they do not live in sin: and the latter, hypocrites, who pretend to a great deal of religion, and have none that is true and real, these are comparable to corrupt trees; which, though they may make a fair show, yet do not bring forth good fruit, or perform works of righteousness which are truly such; what they do have only the appearance of good works, and are not properly so;"

     In dealing with judging Jesus continues to make us focus more on our own actions and how we are to live. So let's run as close to Jesus as we can so we will learn as much as we can to live a pure life. Bet you don't hear Him cursing, running people down. Jesus has a pure loving heart and I have always heard you become who you run with! Let's choose Jesus and don't become a wormy apple! No one will touch a wormy apple they throw them away!

Let's pray this scripture today ( My verses I pray before I teach.)

Psalm 51:10-13 NIV " Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you.

Let's check our foundations in the morning!

May 13, 2016

May 13, 2018

Judy Hollaway

January 31
Running with Jesus 2015

Luke 6:37-38 “Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, or criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting is the way. Generosity begets generosity.”

     I love this passage in The Message because I never thought of judging as jumping on people. We all have failures and faults so running with Jesus should help us learn to treat others the way we want to be treated. 
     Now sometimes people think we are judgmental when we present them with the truth. However, Gods Word reveals truth and the way of life that will lead to life and not death. When we live according to His commands we find life and not bondage. When confronting people present the Word of Truth, be careful that you don't put on the robe and judge someone by lifting yourself as superior and make them to be inferior. We then alienate them and close our door to witness. The answer to this problem was not to forsake the convictions the Lord had given us, but to uphold the second commandment, which is to love others as we love ourselves. 
God is a God of mercy when we get judgmental toward others I think of the mercy and grace God gave me. If not for the grace of God on my life where would I be, also He tells us if we judge them we will be judged in the same way. I have seen this happen so many times, people will comment over a wayward child and down the road their child or family member will do the same thing. 
Look at the next verses in the message:
41-42 “It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this I-know-better-than-you mentality again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your own part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.
Judging is when we lift ourselves superior.  We can discern what is right or wrong never think you are better and you will never fail! 

Lord, let me love others and have a heart of mercy not to become their judge but become a witness. Help us examine our own hearts first. Help us not lose out on blessings by not living generously with your love and mercy toward others. 

Wormy apples tomorrow!

May 12, 2018

May 12, 2018

Judy Hollaway

January 30
Running with Jesus! 2015

Luke 6: 27-30 “To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, gift wrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.

     Well here is a bump on your run with Jesus! Love your enemies! At this time the Jews were under Roman rule and Jesus begins to teach them a new way of living, love! I loved the way the message put these verses they help bring the message into our up to date language. The text tells us to let them bring out the best in us not the worse. Sometimes I say we are bigger than this when I encounter a situation. Sometimes I say Father this is bigger than me. I'll then ask for strength to do opposite of what my mind tells me. 
     When we hate or despise our enemies a root of bitterness is planted deep into our hearts and affects every other area of our lives. 
     Running with Jesus will help you run upright in an upside down world. When Adam and Eve sinned, the world was turned upside down. Jesus by His sweet Spirit helps us turn it right side up. Man became self focused and has a retaliating nature. When we accept Christ we receive a new nature and it is a nature that loves those who do you wrong. I always think about Corrie Ten Boom, a Nazi prison camp survivor. A prison warden came to hear her speak and stood in line to shake her hand and she recognized him as the one who had abused her sister that led to her death. Corrie didn't want to raise her hand but as she yielded to the Holy Spirit her hand went up. The Spirit was the best in her and the best came out.
     Running with Jesus you and I will be challenged to reach a height of new responses. Satan wants you to react, Jesus wants us to respond. Our responses we find in the Word of God. We find a whole new way of living. Let's take a few minutes and right down some of the challenges you are faced with and then write down how you have been responding. No more tit-for-tat! Time to pray that “Lord Change Me” prayer.

Father, help us to change our attitude toward life. Help us learn to be filled and live out our lives in the Spirit. Let this challenge bring out the best in me and not the worst in me. We can do all things through your strength. Help us to love when unloved. 

Tomorrow:Judging

May 11, 2018

May 11, 2018

Judy Hollaway

January 29
Running with Jesus 2015

Luke 6:22-23 "Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets."

     Hated by man! Hum!!!! Thinking! Why do we want so much to please our peers?  We do not want to be rejected! If we run with Jesus we can expect it! We are always talking about how on TV they can talk about God, however if you bring up Jesus it is a different matter! You will be laughed at, scorned, others will stop hanging with you. They laugh and mock you. Some will hate and despise you. They walk in darkness. That's ok we have read the back of the book. We know that we have eternal life awaiting us! Happy or blessed are those who are hated. Jesus told His disciple when He sent them out said He was sending them out among wolves. Running with Jesus is like rowing against the current in a boat. This can be very painful. But we need to remember it is worth it. What hard thing are you facing today? Who has hurled an insult at you! It can be expected? If we expect these responses and action we are less disappointed when they take place. We are told not to love or desire the things of this world. We are told to consider it joy when we go through trials and testing. We are told to pray for our enemies! Then we are told to rejoice and leap for joy for great is your reward in Heaven.
     Sometimes we want to hang it up and quit! He says rejoice. Sometimes we just have to do what He teaches us. We have to learn to obey Gods Word even when we don't feel like it.

Father we pray today for those who hate us and pray for strength to endure. We hold to Your promises. Help us rejoice when we don't feel like praising. We know we have You and that is what counts! We look forward to Heaven! 

In the morning no more Tit-for-tats! Looking forward to meeting at the Fathers table with you every day! Hope today will be a blessed day for you!