April 24, 2019

April 24

Running with Jesus

Luke 19:1-3 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.  And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.

      Here is that wee little man! Ask almost anyone that goes to church who that wee little man in the Bible is and they can tell you quickly, Zaccheaus!  That is the about the depth of Biblical knowledge most Christians have in the church today! 

      I have to plug this in sorry "the Church focus should not be on music but the Word of God!"

      We need to start teaching meditation upon the Word of God. Meditating is a lost art in our churches. I have heard it is expressed like a cow chewing her cud, it goes down and back up into their mouth. When a cow first takes a bite, it chews just enough to moisten the food. It is swallowed, then food goes into the first section of its digestion system where it mixes with other acids and liquids that softened the food. This softened food is called cud, small balls of food.  Cud chewing is indicator of a healthy, happy cow and they will produce more milk or have a higher production of muscle. Animals who do not chew their cud properly may be scared or have digestive issues in the fourth section of their stomach. Supplying high quality feed will help to ensure the cows are digesting and chewing their cud properly.

      For us Christians to be healthy, happy, and content we must learn to meditate!  Meditation brings new insights to text. It has been proven we are healthier with prayer and meditation.

      This story is about a sinner coming to know Jesus.  An amazing man up in a tree looking for Jesus  was the one who Jesus walked up to! Come down, I am going home with you! Zaccheaus and his wife and family were never the same! Someone else despised got saved! Does it not make you want to shout! Wasn't it good he was a wee little man!

       Until we become wee little men we will not be able to see Jesus! What is crowding out your view of Jesus? You say nothing, I say there is something! Why, because you are not climbing up trees and going the extra mile to bring Jesus home with you. I played that game for years! Jesus was left at the church building. I didn't meditate at home so He could not change my soul’s thinking process, which is needed every day!! Moment by moment at times! 

       When a cow loses its cud the digestive system gets all messed up. It is very dangerous to her health! So it is with us when we don't take time to meditate on scripture. Meditating brings it home and you will learn how to live the abundant life that will change you forever. So don't lose your spiritual cud! It is dangerous to your spiritual life. 

 If the cow loses her cud one is made and she is forced to swallow it, so I am forcing one on you today. Read the whole Zaccheaus story and meditate and see if you can look at different things going on in the story. Write it down: who are the people in the story; where are each standing (get up in the tree and look at the story from Zaccheaus view!); turn off your radio or TV and think on the text and see what God will reveal to you. You will be amazed! Meditate!

Use it or lose it. tomorrow!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

April 23, 2019

April 23

Running with Jesus

Luke 18:42-43 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.

 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

     Like Paul Harvey use to say,” Here is the rest of the story." (You young ones will not appreciate that statement.) lol…..   I couldn't leave the blind man; I had to come back for the results of all that happened to him after his days of being blind. Let's peep in! 

     Immediately he received his sight, followed Jesus, glorified God and when they saw it they gave God the glory. It was no accident this man was on the side of the road blind! His blindness had purpose! Jesus was using this man’s blindness to do a miracle that others might believe and receive spiritual eyesight! 

     I heard a phrase this weekend, “as Christians we are Jesus with skin on, moving around on earth and we are the visible way for others to find Jesus.” Our blindness can be a way for others to see God.  Our days of being blind in circumstances, usually come to do a work in us that God turns into a miracle and gives us more witnessing material! 

     Think about it, what if there was no book of Job, where we find out about Satan asking God to test him! How many would not be able to have knowledge or comfort! What about Joseph's life to teach us how to handle all his ups and downs and for sure, how about Daniel in the lion’s den and his 3 young friends who were in the fire walking around with Jesus! 

     We are people just like each of these in the Bible! We walk with the same God and He is still using our circumstances to help us be a light to others.  When those days of blindness and all are dark, Satan will be sitting on your shoulder shouting in your ear. "Where is your God now, singing "Why Me Lord!".  He will do a number on us if we let Him! Turn to God's Word and praise Him and tell the devil to get behind you in the name of Jesus and watch and wait for Jesus! There is a purpose and even if your blind eyes never open, internally your spiritual eyes are and somehow remember God is giving you an opportunity to witness one of  the greatest miracles of all, letting Him use us with skin on to open blind eyes of others and that brings Him more glory and honor! 

     To be a runner with Jesus we must be serious and allow Him to lead us down the path we run on! It is not about comfort and ease it is about winning souls and helping others! 

Jesus, we don't know where our path leads us but we will run with You. We know that we will be tough at times but because You redeemed us and bought us with a price we give You our all! Use our lives to glorify Yourself and lead others to salvation! Save some soul today!

A wee little man, tomorrow!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

April 22, 2019

April 22
Running with Jesus

Luke 18:35-42 And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.  And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.  And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.  And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.  And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,  Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.

      _{Lord, "I want to see again!" This phrase caught my eye. Evidently something had happened to this man that}

_{caused him to be blind.
      As I was meditating on this verse I couldn't help but think about the times in our lives when things were so clear for us to be running through life then all of a sudden it was though everything around us was dark and we can't seem to know which way to go or where this would lead us. Notice the position of the man, sitting. He hears a commotion and asks what's happening. They tell him Jesus is coming and he starts yelling for help. "Son of David, help me!" He is told to be quiet but, He keeps crying out to Jesus. The leaders didn't think Jesus had time for this man. But with the crowd all around Jesus heard the man and stopped to help the man. Why did Jesus heal him? Jesus said, "You can see now, because you believe!"
     In the dark times in our lives, we need to use our faith to believe God has this! Believing in whom He is and that He will do what He says is the test! I don't know where you are in seeing today but I do know Jesus is light and we must focus on Him. This man got his physical sight back, but more important for us is that we get spiritual sight. Spiritual sight can see even when we are in the dark. God will make a way when there seems to be no way, God Is all we need when we need someone to talk to, God walks around in fires, God rains manna from heaven, God turns water into wine, walks on water and can put coins in the mouth of a fish. Oh yes, he can feed five thousand with a little boys lunch! If you feel blinded today by circumstance sit, call out to Jesus and wait upon Him to get there! Keep the faith and believe He is able! He may say yes, no or wait! He will answer in His way and time! We must keep on trusting! Keep looking with spiritual eye sight.}
                       

_{Father, help that one crying out this morning. Let them know You have this and help them keep their eyes focused upon You. Even though it is darkness surrounding help them rest in You! You can enable us to sit in the dark and wait!}

Tomorrow: The rest of the story!

 
Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

April 21, 2019

April 21

Running with Jesus  

Luke 18:21-25  And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

      I told you Jesus wants in our pocketbooks! It will reveal the condition of our hearts!   This rich good man comes to Jesus and ask about how to be born again.  Jesus tells him you know and keep the commandments of God. He said he had done all those things! Then Jesus, knowing where to bring light into the matter says, "Go sell all you have and give to the poor!" He left sad! 

      Just like us! We want messages that step on our toes but Jesus aim is for our hearts! He is Lord of all or not Lord at all! This man left sad. Why? He loved his lifestyle! He wanted no part of change! He thought he was keeping the Ten Commandments but was He? He wasn't willing to give His offerings, so scripture tells us he was robbing or stealing from God! No idols were to be before God but money was his idol!  This man was judging his works by his standard but we have to measure ours by God’s standard! God looks and sees every motive in our heart! 

      Going to church outwardly is not God's goal for us! God is looking for that transformed heart. This man probably went daily to the temple and was proud of his attendance records and was doing all the right motions but went away sad! 

      Jesus said it will be hard for the rich to be in heaven but it is possible with God! God could have turned his business into a miracle and gave him more! But he had his own agenda! He liked his padded check

book and lifestyle. We better do a spiritual inventory!

Lord, help us be willing to give You our all! You gave us Your all! Death on a cross to redeem our souls from hell and we won’t even give You a couple of hours of worship! Fishing and shopping and pleasures deserve more time than You! Oh God have mercy upon us as ignorant souls! America open your blinded eyes! A fool says in His heart there is no God and sin says there is no pay day! Oh Lord help us! 

PRAY CHURCH PRAY AND GET OUR PRIORITIES IN ORDER! 

A blind man is sitting near, in the morning!

 Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

April 20, 2019

April 20

Running with Jesus  

Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

     We need to put this on our church signs more than ever! The church is so wrapped up in the world today. We have so many distractions and pulling forces on the family! There is no longer a regard for the things of God! Most lives are being run by world forces! Has this force helped the families of America to grow stronger or weaker? You be the judge. We transgress God's guidelines and our children say "that's just the way it is today!" Oh my friend that mind set is from the pit of hell! The body of Christ is allowing the world to mold and shape their life style! There will be a pay day!

      You see men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil. Mammon is so much more appealing because it is in love with our lower nature that lust and desires the things of the world.

      When we love mammon more, we will hate the things of God and believe the lies of Satan. When you love God you despise the things in the world!  Let's ask ourselves a few questions! Am I at home and more comfortable in the world or am I more at home in the Lord's house and with His family! Which are you in love with! 

Father, forgive us and help us. The church is running among land mines. So many are trying to keep one foot in the world and one in heaven! Help us to stop and take a stand for our faith. Forgive us for loving the world more than You! 

A sad man, tomorrow!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015