April 6, 2020

April 6

Running with Jesus

Luke13:20-21  And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?  It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

(Jesus said again, “What can I compare God’s kingdom with? It is like yeast that a woman mixes into a big bowl of flour to make bread. The yeast makes all the dough rise.”)

     Here is the second example of Jesus’ kingdom. He describes how a woman puts a small amount of yeast in a bowl of flour but it will affect the whole bowl. It can be divided into different loaves but it still will be working.

     This reminds me that one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch if left in the bowl! "Bad company corrupts good morals" 1 Cor. 15:33

     We have a lot of new converts who want to continue to run with the same old crowd and they are never able to overcome sinful behaviors. You may think you can do anything you want and it will not affect your Christian walk. Wrong! Remember for a plant to grow it must remain in the soil and then properly nourished. I want to go a step farther, your attitude can affect the whole body of Christ, your actions and what you do and where you go will be like yeast and affect the whole body!  If one person gets mad they will find another to agree with them and then that one will find another. The next thing you know Satan has worked like leaven to destroy the body. 

     Jesus died for the body of Christ, the church, we are to love, guard and to die for her. We should be using our gifts to build her up!  

Father, help us!!! Your kingdom has grown world-wide, what we do can spread and affect the people I work around and live with. Help us love each other and lift each other up!  Father, help protect Your work and work through us as we work in each corner of our world! 

One door, tomorrow.

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

April 5, 2020

April 5, 2019

Running with Jesus

Matthew 28:5-6 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

      I had to step out of Luke this morning because my heart is thumping just thinking about "He Is Risen"! 

     Oh friend if you have not been to look in the tomb of Jesus, you have missed salvation. In all the religions of the world that profess they are the savior you will find bones. Not in Jesus tomb it is empty. He resurrected just as the prophets foretold and that is what makes a prophet a real one! 

     When I look in the empty tomb I see hope, because that hope delivered me from a life if sin, shame, and pain. He gave me a new life filled with life, joy and peace. I wouldn't trade what I found in Christ for all the money in the world! Jesus brought me to my Heavenly Father who loves me unconditionally and gives me strength and hope to survive life! 

     My challenge is if your life has never changed when you joined the church then you looked in the church and not in the tomb! It was Who was in the tomb that built the church. It was death and resurrection that allowed Christ to send the Holy Spirit to dwell in us so we can talk to our Heavenly Father. If you have not received the Spirit of God into your heart you were not born again! The Spirit does the work!  He is same Spirit that raised that dead body of Christ to new life. He lives in us and gives us a regenerated life that one day will resurrect us! 

 I praise You, Jesus and celebrate the empty tomb. I celebrate Your resurrection and await Your return! Help others to look into that empty tomb and see truth! 

Tomorrow: Back to Luke. Yeast makes dough rise!

Judy Hollaway

Easter Sunday

Originally penned 2015

April 4, 2020

April 4, 2019

Running with Jesus

Luke 13:18-19 Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?

It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.

    A mustard seed! How many have owned one of those necklaces with that tiny seed in it? After being asked what Jesus kingdom of God looked like He gives two illustrations the first was a mustard seed’s that grows into a tree. Another text tells us if we have the faith of a mustard seed we could move a mountain. The seed is so small yet it makes a tree and the fowls of the air can lodge in it! Showing the seed starts small and grows into a tree. This was difficult for them to understand because they were looking for a man to come as a king and lead a revolutionary war to deliver them from Roman control. He came to lead a revolutionary war against our worst enemy Satan and death. His kingdom would begin small but grow. We can look now and see the world wide mission that Christ was talking about.  He told us our Faith is so small and if it was the size of mustard seed we could move a mountain.

    Our faith is like the kingdom of God it has to grow. A mustard seed has to be planted and cared for to become a healthy bush for others to lodge on and to become useful. It requires a healthy environment, and that is where we have to place ourselves in an environment to be able to grow to become useful.  The mustard seed bush produces mustard that is used as a condiment and a spice. They recently discovered it’s oil is similar to diesel.

    Jesus was teaching His kingdom would grow into a worldwide kingdom. This has been a difficult text to apply, however, we can see the truth in Christ teaching revealing He is truth and we can see what a little faith can do. I think we go around looking for big faith and miracles when we just need to place a small seed of faith to our daily living. We have to be the birds and come and lodge in His kingdom and enjoy the benefits. So many of us try to do it all on our own! We must place that tiny seed of faith in God because He can grow it and help us with those mountains we face on a daily basis. Just like it takes time for that tree to grow so it is with our faith.  And our faith grows in Christ as we learn to trust in Him. The more we learn to trust, then the more we can make it through life. We need to give faith time to grow. 

Father, we ask you to place that seed of faith in our hearts as we face each circumstance. Let it grow then others can come to us and find that faith. Make our fruit useful to help add spice to life as we meet people! 

Tomorrow: He is Risen!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

April 3, 2020

April 3

Running with Jesus

Luke 13:11-12  And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.  And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.

     Woman thou art loosed! I love these three words! I find at age sixty it is so much more about letting it go that I get loosed! We don't realize by holding on, fighting life, not forgiving, hating, and dreading every day has placed us in a prison. This woman had an infirmity for eighteen years but one minute with Jesus set her free! 

     I will never forget one day when I was studying God's Word and when I realized I could stop fighting life. In my mind I was a little bird in a cage. During those hard days of depression God had trained me to sit on the swing back and forth singing praise to Him. After I had learned to be submissive to Him and praise Him in the cage one day I noticed the cage door was left open and I just flew out! I haven't felt caged in anymore. I found a new life that praises Him in the storm and I don't fight I fly on His wings of love. 

Father,  help each of us to let go and know that You want to lose us from the infirmities of life. They will come but with Your help we overcome.

     Keep running with Jesus! He's the healer and keeper! 

Mustard seeds, tomorrow!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

April 2, 2020

April 2

Running with Jesus

Luke 12:51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:

     Running with Jesus you can expect division to come.   Some people in this world, the minute they announce they have received Christ, are cast out of their families and disowned. Many do not like to run with quote "Bible Thumpers". When we receive Christ our eyes are opened into the Spirit realm as a new born babe awakens in this world. We begin to grow up in that world and it is so wonderful. We have a new Father; we find love, joy, and peace unspeakable. We change and the things of the lower world are seen with different eyes and we get new desires. We no longer want to go and do the same things and that is when it cost and the division sets in and the world wants no part of Christ! The division was so great it put Jesus on a cruel cross.

     Sometimes as Christians we expect everything to be smooth sailing when we run with Christ. This is not true and many believers will compromise truth and when we stand firm to live by God's principles it will divide us as brothers and sisters because we really want fire insurance to go to heaven but don't want to sacrifice for Christ! The richest blessings come from an OBEDIENT walk with Christ that will cost us! 

      So don't expect if you are a committed runner not to have conflict and divisions in your life! Keep running right next to Jesus listening to His commands walking obediently staying your course.

Father, thank You that we are ok when others reject us and give us strength to stay the course. When we are not accepted help us remember not everyone accepted You and they won’t us! Thank You so much for our new life in You. We pray others will join in the race. Love You, Father! Guide us through this day and help us stay the course! 

Tomorrow: Get loosed!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015