April 30, 2018

April 30, 2018

Judy Hollaway

January 18
Running with Jesus 2015

Luke 5: 12 "And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean."

          Wondering why leprosy was one of the first miracles? It gets back to object lessons Jesus used. Not only did he heal this man considered filthy and out cast, but Jesus was beginning to reveal the condition of sinful man’s heart. Leprosy was used to reveal sin in many of the early days. Lepers were considered unclean and anyone touching them was considered defiled and unclean. It is caused by bacteria. They lose the ability to feel in their hands and feet. They can't close their eyelids. The lepers would have to run a round crying out, "I am a leper" because it can be transmuted by contact. They were placed in private colonies to live. The leper lived a lonely, rejected, shameful life and suffered much. However, Jesus stopped by! 
          Many are running around with a sin sick heart, living lonely, rejected, shameful lives. They have cold hardened hearts. Jesus was willing to make this man clean! 
He has the power to heal. Many have hardened their hearts and lost sensitivity. However, just one touch is all it takes to make you whole and clean. Sin left untouched can make a heart very sick. When we call and invite Jesus to heal us we can find ourselves restored. There is a cure for sin today and it is Jesus. We need to cry out to Jesus and say "I am a sinner!" Jesus is willing to heal our sin sick hearts! “If we confess our sin He is faithful and just and will forgive our sin."1 John 1:9 Confess any known sin. Let your healing begin. 

Father, we cry out for You to take the sin, acting like leprosy hardening our hearts, from us. Help us live unto You and make us whole so we can be liberated from the chains of sin holding us captive. We want to
run with You! We know if we don't confess our sin we can’t. We love You and adore You. We thank You for our healing. Thank You for softening our cold, hard heart.

Spend time confessing any known and any unknown sin today then get up and run with Jesus! 

Feeling run down? We'll talk in the morning!

April 29, 2018

April 29, 2018

Judy Hollaway

January 17
Running with Jesus 2015

Luke 5:10 "And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men."

         Jesus was just beginning to call His first runners to run with Him. They had no idea what was about to happen in their lives and the change that was about to take place.

         Jesus taught a lesson from their boat and then He performed one of the first miracles giving them an object lesson. Using object lessons helps people get a visual image. Evidently they had fished all night and had not caught anything. They were washing their nets. Jesus sends them back out and they caught so much they had to call for help to bring the catch in and Simon falls and confesses He is a sinner. Fear, awe, and wonder comes upon him and Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
          When God calls us to join Him in His race of life we become fishers of men! So our challenge today is to get back out there and fish for men! Look for opportunities to fish! Ask Jesus where the hot spot is today! It may be at the coffee shop!  Go Fish! 11. And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed Him.
Did you notice they forsook all and followed Him? Let's examine and ask ourselves am I giving Jesus my all? That's what it means when we answer His call; He is to be number one in our lives. Where have you placed Him? First? Second? Third? Something to ponder. Runners want to be in first place! Are you running with the first place Man? 
Jesus is calling us to follow Him. If you are lagging behind catch back up!

Father, as we run today help me stop and invite others on our trek. You know where we need to let down our nets. Maybe today we need to go out a little deeper and prepare their hearts to receive Your message of hope. Father we desire to be a fisher of men. Show us how and where! I want You to be in first place in my life, help me focus and answer Your call. 

Watch out leprosy is around the corner in the morning!

April 28, 2018

April 28, 2018

Judy Hollaway

January 16
Running with Jesus 2015

Luke 5:2 "And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets."
         

          Just an ordinary day in the life of a fisherman, they had finished their fishing and were washing their nets getting ready to go home and rest. Their lives were about to change! Jesus steps onto their boat and asked to use their boat and he began to teach the crowd around. 
          Just wondering when Jesus stepped into your busy life? Maybe it is today. He wants to change your life forever and sign you up to run the race with Him. Others out there, are you too busy and do not allow Jesus to interrupt your busy schedules and miss what He wants to do in your life today! 
          Notice He ask to use Simon's boat for personal use. Are we willing to let Jesus use our personal possessions? The boat was their business and livelihood. Simon let Jesus in on His daily affairs and tomorrow we'll see how he changed. Be willing to join the race and let Jesus be involved in every aspect of your life! Watch your life Change!

Father we give You access to anything You desire to use that we posses. We ask You to step into our lives. We want to see our lives transformed in some way every day. We want to run with You! Take anything we have and use it for your glory and help others. 

Tomorrow: The call!

April 27, 2018

April 27, 2018

Judy Hollaway

January 15
Running with Jesus

Luke 4:33 "And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,"

          Jesus has moved from Nazareth to Capernaum, a city in Galilee and He is back at the synagogue teaching and astonishing them with wisdom and power. Look who shows up at church, a man with an unclean spirit of the devil. 
I don't think people realize when you run with Jesus the devil and his demons go right along with us. They run to church too! Sometimes they are in people influencing others to believe lies. Sometimes they interject lies and preconceived ideas to confuse and divide the body. The body needs to realize we are not each other's enemy. Satan is our enemy. The church is asleep when it comes to discerning evil spirits.  The demonic man was TRYING TO STIR UP THE CROWD in an effort to kill Jesus. Church wake up to demonic devises and resist the enemy who conquers and divides 

Father help us discern lies from truth. Go before us and remind us that we don't wrestle with flesh and blood but principalities and powers in heavenly places. Don't run with the devil run with Jesus and Father let Your Spirit help to seek truth and understanding of how to love each other and live in unconditional love. Help us not allow the enemy to divide us. 

Tomorrow: Letting Jesus step into our lives.

April 26, 2018

April 26, 2018

Judy Hollaway

January 14
Running with Jesus 2015

Luke 4:24  "And he said, Verily, I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country."

          The people in Jesus home town were so familiar with Jesus they missed the Messiah and rejected him. They saw Him as Joseph son. Running with Jesus will cause us to be rejected too. I know from being in the ministry oft times it is hardest to lead people you grew up with to the Lord.  Also it is hard to lead family members to Christ. 
We can deal with the rejection by keeping in mind it will happen to us and it happened to Jesus. How sad we feel when often we can help other people but cannot seem to help loved ones like close family members, especially our own children. We have to place these loved ones into the Lords hands and trust Him to work in their lives. 
Reject in the Greek means annul or make of no effect. Now that sounds like America we have rejected Him so we see Jesus has begun to be of no effect in our land. That is why we see evil so prevalent in our land. Anytime we reject God there will be severe consequences. 

Oh Father, take our love ones and draw them back to You. Father we desperately need a revival in America, please have mercy upon us and help the world receive You and not reject You. Help us when we feel rejected to remember You were and You understand. No matter what, help us not give up and stay in the race. 

The devil goes to church in the morning so grab your coffee or coke and join me!