December 25, 2019

December 25

Running with Jesus 2015

Acts 28:3-6 "But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said one to another, "No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped from the sea, yet Justice has not allowed to live." However he shook off the creature into the fire, and wasn't harmed. they expected that he would have swollen or fallen down dead suddenly, but when they watched for a long time and saw nothing bad happen to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god."

                 I told you Paul was about to see God working in his life to the greatest height! He was arrested and in chains headed to appear in court but he had time for a few miracles and some soul winning on the way! A true witness for this island, snake bit by a poisonous snake! (Just the sight of a snake that near me and I would be dead without the bite! I am not lying friends! I am thankful I was not called to handle one!) Paul was bitten and the town’s people had plenty to say about it and had him in the grave, but God! God was not ready for Paul to die! God turned it into an opportunity for Paul to be used as a great witness!

                This is Christmas Day, the day of our opportunity to tell the world about the birth of Jesus, the Messiah, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! If there had been no Jesus born then there would never have been a Christmas to celebrate! No one can take Christ out! You can put an "X" in front but it is still the day to celebrate His birth and as long as I have breath I will proclaim Jesus was born and He is the greatest Miracle on earth! God came down to dwell with sinful Man!!

                 Paul is still proclaiming his reconciliation with God. Paul will die telling the world about His transformation and how the Messiah was born to save us and give us eternal resurrection life. The greatest miracle we can have in our life is being born again! Let this year be your miracle, please accept the Messiah and be born again.  Then run with Jesus and find an amazing life! 

 Father, thank You for miracles! Thank You for Jesus, the Messiah Who gives us eternal life! We celebrate Your birth Jesus and we celebrate Your life and the lives of Peter, James, and Luke whom we have been running with this year and has taught us so much about staying in the race and how to live the Christian life!

Get the greatest gift ever given, Jesus, the giver of eternal life!

The plan maker tomorrow!

Judy Hollaway

Originally Penned 2015

December 24, 2019

December 24

Running with Jesus  

Acts 28:1-2 And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.  And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, 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.

Judy Hollaway

Originally Penned 2015

December 23, 2019

December 23

Running with Jesus

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!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

December 22, 2019

December 22

Running with Jesus

Acts 27:42-43  And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.  But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to 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 through 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 a way!)

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

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

December 21, 2019

December 21

Running with Jesus

Acts 27:33-34  And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.  Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.

      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!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015