April 5, 2018

April 5, 2018

Judy Hollaway

December 24

Running with Jesus 2015

Acts 28:1-2 "When we had escaped, then they learned that the island was called Malta. The natives showed us uncommon kindness; for they kindled a fire, and received us all, because of the present rain, and because of the cold."

                 Well Paul and every person on the ship finely made it to shore and I am glad to get off that boat with them! Paul is about to have a great experience running with Jesus on this Island. You know he is drawing near the end of his run with Jesus in life and his ending will see some of his greatest work. Many artists never see the height of their mark on life. The writer of the poem "O Holy Night" would be totally amazed to know how vast this poem is today in song. They say he wasn't known for church going and the person who wrote the music was a Jew who didn't believe Jesus was the Son of God! 

Look how it ended up being one of the greatest loved Christmas carols sung in America!  God is not through with Paul. 

                Jesus changed Paul's life and he was never the same and did an amazing run through life! We will see a few over the next few days.

                 We are about to celebrate that "O Holy Night" long ago when Jesus came to reconcile man with God to bring peace to us. This baby Jesus that was born is still changing lives today and He wants to change yours, if you let Him. He has a plan and purpose for each of our lives and when we run with Him we will see amazing things happen in ours too, just as Paul did! 

                Let this year be the beginning of your amazing run!

Father, thank You for changing lives and for all the disciples who have joined us this year in this walk of our life.  Father change someone's life reading this today! Let this be the first Holy Night they see You!

Tomorrow: The Baby is here and He is the sustainer of our life.

April 4, 2018

Judy Hollaway

December 23 

Running with Jesus 2015

Acts 27:27-28 " But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country;

And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms."

                 I told you I learned something new from these verses and had to back track to share with you. When their boat had been tossed around all night in the storm they could see land. They would do what was called sounding with a weighted line to see how deep the water was to keep from getting the boat stuck or ruined. The lines had measure marks on them as they moved close to land they could know what to do. 

                 I was pricked in my spirit, thinking wouldn't it be nice if we could measure the depth of water during the storms of our life so we could know what to do! We are just out there sometimes depending only upon God. Only He knows the depth and to be honest I am glad I don't know! That is the beauty of our omnipotent and omniscient Father. He will throw us a life line or a lifeboat, a Bible verse, to help us. He reminded me of Isaiah 43:2 NIV "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you..."

                So in the days you can't measure your water depth just hang on to His life line or stay in that lifeboat with Jesus. He knows the measures of our waters always! He will give you the measure of grace needed to sustain you! 

 Father thanks for being our all knowing Father and You will never let us go in any storm life brings to us!  

Always be mindful of that saying "What He brings us to, He will bring us through!

Nearing the end of a run, see you tomorrow!

April 3, 2018

Judy Hollaway

December 22

Running with Jesus 2015

Acts 27:42-43 "The soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, so that none of them would swim out and escape. But the centurion, desiring to save Paul, stopped them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should throw themselves overboard first to go toward the land."

                God will make a way when there seems to be no way! Paul is still in this terrible storm, a prisoner, and in chains! You thought you had a bad day, they want to kill all the prisoners so they will not escape by swimming away. Paul had gained favor with the centurion who wanted to save Paul, so he ordered them to stop. We have been running with Jesus as He worked in and trough the whole life of Paul. He has been through so much. Many times there seemed to be no way out of each situation but God was in control of His life and because of that Paul could rest in the midst of each circumstance he found himself in. Grace he had learned to live upon. Everyday God would grant him the measure he needed to deal with life.

                 I was reminded of the manna God gave the Israelites in the dessert. They were to gather only what portion they needed for each day. If they gathered too much it turned to maggots, except they could gather enough to not work on the Sabbath day.   Manna was bread from heaven to sustain their lives. We have God's word that is our bread that will sustain our lives as we run through life. We need to go to it daily and gather what we need for each day!

                Paul had been given By God a spoken word he would not die in this shipwreck! Paul knew He could count on God's word. It was God's words that spoke the world into existence. We can always count on God's word to sustain us. God's word is the foundation of our faith we must not neglect it or we will not survive and thrive apart from it!  So cling to His word today, through the word He will make a way for you to survive!

Father, thank You for Your written Word, the Bible, truth that sets us free and sustains us, making the way for us as we run through life! Thank You for those long ago who wrote down your words, sacrificed, and gave their lives to see this generation has it to live by.

 (Hold the Bible in your hands and think about it for a few minutes, all you need to make us a way!)

Let's back track in the morning I learned something! Don't miss it!

April 2, 2018

Judy Hollaway

December 21 

Running with Jesus 2015

Acts 27:33 34 "While the day was coming on, Paul begged them all to take some food, saying, "This day is the fourteenth day that you wait and continue fasting, having taken nothing. Therefore I beg you to take some food, for this is for your safety; for not a hair will perish from any of your heads."

                Paul had been told by God they would wreck and not perish!  Funny to me how so many people will say I hope I will go to heaven. Just like in Luke's writing of this story, Paul was told he wouldn't perish and we are told the Bible was written that we might know we have eternal life. After I was born again I never had to worry again about my life after death! God's word says that God so loved the world He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believeth  in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. Period!! He says if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us of sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness! Period.

                 He also tells us no man can pluck us out of His hand. Period!  God's desire is that none should perish but all should come to repentance. Eternal security was designed for all mankind, but sadly not all will come to repentance. Don't be one who will perish because they do not receive Jesus as redeemer and savior. He is the door and only way to the Father. Period!

Father I pray for that one who does not have that security today. I pray You will reveal to them that Jesus did all to satisfy our sin debt when He died on the cross! Period! 

God will make a way see you tomorrow!

April 1, 2018

Judy Hollaway

December 20
Running with Jesus 2015

Acts 27:28  "Fearing that we would run aground on rocky ground, they let go four anchors from the stern, and wished for daylight."

 

                Oddly it seems to me most storms occur at night, making it hard to sleep. I have learned the minute I turn my light off is when the storms from Satan hit my mind. When the kids were teens he would paint pictures in my mind to cause me to worry. I would see them in a car wreck, drinking, and doing all sorts of things to bring them harm. The old serpent will show his fangs at night and shoot poison into your mind. He wants to rob us of our joy, make us weak by robbing our sleep and cause us to fear.  We have to learn to keep our mind upon Christ because He will keep it in perfect peace. We can function when we have peace. Memorizing scripture and meditation upon it will help us overcome. Singing praise to Him is another way.
                   I also learned to not talk to anyone late at night and discuss your storm. The more we talk about it the more magnified it will become.
                 

Father, I pray for the one who is dealing with their storm and ask You to bind Satan from their thought life. Give them the peace that passes understanding and help them develop new sleep patterns by meditation! Thank You for being our mind stabilizer and keeping us in perfect peace! Help them remember daylight will come  soon and that weeping may go on all night but joy comes in the morning.

Tomorrow: Security!