March 11, 2020

March 11

Running with Jesus

Luke 10:33-37  But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

      Jesus is talking to a Jew to whom asked Jesus how to enter Heaven. The Jew responded to love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength and to love your neighbor as yourself.  Jesus tells him a story about how a half breed Samaritan, who showed more compassion than a Jewish Priest and a Levite, temple servant who avoided the man. Through this story Jesus revealed the condition of this man’s heart! 

      How we live daily reveals our love and the condition of our hearts. Is there someone we hate or despise and avoid because of their skin color or their dress or living conditions don't fit our mode of thinking. We are to love everyone. Everyone, now that is tough for some of us. This reveals to me who I am letting rule my heart! 

      I remember getting upset one time and someone told me you will get hard to it and when I got home I cried and prayed Lord I don't want to be hard I want to love! He has had to teach me how to keep  loving when I'm not loved! I am to forgive and to let His love flow through me. God's love is unconditional. What if today he said I am not going to love Judy she isn't acting right?  Can I imagine for one moment what it would be like if God withheld His love for me! Oh I would fall apart! That's what we do when someone hurts us we withhold our love. 

Lord, we are needy people, help us have compassion upon all people. Help us to allow Your love to flow through us. Help us to love when we are not loved in return. Help us not grow hard but keep our hearts soft and fill us with unconditional love where we choose to keep on loving and going those extra miles. 

Tomorrow:  We stop running and visit with Jesus at Martha's house! Lots to learn there!!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

March 10, 2020

March 10

Running with Jesus

Luke 10: 27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

     This section comes from a conversation with a man trying to trick Jesus and justify not loving some people but I want to pause here because I learned something about loving God from some of the phrases that helped me when I was in depression. I will go back to the context tomorrow. The man answered a question what the Bible said about how to enter heaven.

     Firsts he said you must love God with all your heart. The heart is the seat of our emotions. Emotions are response to life situations. Each thing we experience will bring up a feeling then we take action. The mind goes into processing how to respond to that emotion and our will takes action outwardly then we end up being controlled by that emotion.  I lived for years emotionally controlled by what I heard and then what I felt began to run my life. Then I began to grow in wisdom and knowledge of God I learned emotions could not be trusted! They will lie to you and you build preconceived ideas that build in your mind and will send you into depression, what ifs, doubts, despair and all sorts of emotions that Satan can use to destroy your Life. Here Luke says to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, strength and mind. We have to let Him transform our thinking!  Our total person has to be transformed! 

     I have shared before, we have been brought up playing pre-recorded tapes that others have taped for us and some we allowed to define who we are! We need to read the Word and erase the old tapes and play what God has to say about us and how we are to respond.  So stop running on old emotions and thinking patterns. Let's get a new energy to run your life on Spiritual Red Bull! 

Father help these runners know, feel and understand they have a new life and the old things are passed away and run on truths from Your Word. Help us all understand and learn we are defined by what You say not from where I come from or what's been said or done to us. We are a child of the King. Help us love You with all our heart, soul, strength, mind and let us learn to rest in You and Your love!

Tomorrow: Jesus helps the man see into His heart!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

March 9, 2020

March 9

Running with

Luke 10:21-22 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.  All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.

     Jesus human side of emotion is shown here when He said he was filled with joy. These unlearned fisherman, hated tax collector, disciples were growing in wisdom and knowledge of Christ our Lord. They left their jobs to follow Christ and were getting to enter into their new work running with Jesus. Jesus gave them power and authority and they came back filled with joy and amazement.

     I tell my people all the time your joy comes when you let God power you and begin the ministry He has for you. There is nothing more precious than being the midwife for Jesus holding your hands out when that spiritual baby is born. And there is that joy when you look and see that one who was chained by sin set free from bondage. Also, to hear my little Puggle’s class of two and three year olds say, “I want my Bible.”  Where they find a picture I placed inside, as I was guided by God to make it alive for them.  Also the smile on that face when I see them point a finger at the picture on the wall and say that is Jesus. As I type my eyes fill with tears of joy when I see that one person who hears us say read your Bible today because there is hope for that hurting heart. 

      I say your joy after salvation is found in ministry. Then greater revelation of Christ grows in your heart. People want to know Christ better but they don't let Him run their lives. When you begin serving you will learn He is your teacher, you will learn Him as provider, you will learn Him as strength, you will learn Him as victory and grace and mercy! Step by step as you run together you get to know Him. Remember birds of a feather flock together and you become like who you run with!

Father, thank You for revealing Christ to us, the uneducated and undesirables. You are such an amazing gracious loving Father!

     Runners keep on running you are going in the right direction. 

Tomorrow: Loving God with Heart, soul, and mind!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

March 8, 2020

March 8

Running with Jesus  

Luke 10:17-20 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

     Oh if only the body of Christ would step out of self and into Jesus today! We have not begun to tap into the power He has given to us. God wants to use us but we are too full of self.  Read this again "All the same, the great triumph is not in your authority over evil, but in God’s authority over you and presence with you. Not what you do for God but what God does for you—that’s the agenda for rejoicing."

     Our challenge daily is to die to self. We write our schedules without consulting God! We do well to fit in church on Sunday and maybe Wednesday if we feel like it! 

Oh Father, help us empty our souls today and listen to Your instructions and what we are missing by not running close enough to hear. We run right pass the places You stop and sometimes lag behind. Let our place be with You step by step! Forgive us for planning and leaving You out. Show us and help us discipline ourselves and lay our schedules down before You and place every moment into Your hands. Empower us to witness as we function in this world! Empower us to do the work in this world You have chosen for us to do.

     Let's join together today and say “Into Your hands we commit our spirit and ask You, Father to anoint us with Your power and authority”. Let's let Him be the Boss! 

The Joy for running with Jesus will come when we let Him use us, tomorrow!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

March 7, 2020

March 7

Running with Jesus

Luke 10:5-6  And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.  And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.

     Sometime people don't want to share Christ because they don't know how they will respond. Then they feel they fail when that person doesn't accept Christ. Jesus was teaching His disciples to go and carry the gospel into homes and cities if it was received it was good and if rejected to move on. 

     There are two things to be learned from His instructions. First we are obligated to go and tell, it is His job to save. Once we have done so another scripture tells us their blood is not on our hands. We are to obey.

     Second lesson to be learned is for those who do not receive Christ when He comes knocking on their doors. He has chosen man to share and preach the gospel and then tells them to move on! Better be careful about delay because today is the day of salvation.  The rest says in verses 10-12 But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. These are strong words but not as hot as hell will be!   Don't stop runners you could be the reason some soul accepts Christ. Don't get discouraged!

 Father, help us be obedient to share and please help those we share with have open hearts before it is too late!

     Remember this Luke 10:16 He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.

Tomorrow: Runners discipline yourselves!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015