September 17, 2018

September 17, 2018

Judy Hollaway

June 11

Running with Jesus

 Luke 19: 3-4 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.

 (“He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.”)

            Here is our wee little man, Zacchaeus, the most famous and hated Jewish tax collector. Being too short he had to climb a tree to see Jesus because of the crowd.  Now, we may not be too short physically but we may be too short spiritually to see Jesus. Our usual crowd that blocks our view is our life circumstances that are caused by people, places, and things that block and crowd out Jesus.  We become desperate during our circumstances and forget in order to see we have to run ahead of them and climb up high so we can see Jesus.  We will never overcome running around in the crowd of life’s circumstances.  

            Isn’t it amazing that in this huge crowd out of all Jesus could have picked to go home with, he chose Zacchaeus.  Zacchaeus made a great effort to see Jesus.  We have to do the same when we live in daily circumstances.  Jesus asks to let us come to be a guest at our home every day.  Do you run to see him running down your dusty road? If only I could get a glimpse we cry out.  Friend climb your tree today, don’t live life short and allow those crowded circumstances to block your view. It is the one who climbs above the circumstance that He is looking for.  Jesus dumb founded this crowd when He chose Zacchaeus to come down and take Him home to be his guest.  When he took him home his whole life circumstance changed.  Until we bring Jesus home to stay with us, our circumstance will never change. We will always live as a short person whose vision is blocked and cannot see. 

  Zacchaeus was a changed man because Jesus came to his house.  Jesus also used his life to try to get those around Him to see He was the long awaited Messiah.  If Zacchaeus was here today he would share how his heart changed and what joy he had that caused him to turn his life around.  Jesus wants to turn our lives around but we have to stop living under our circumstances, we must climb up high over them in order to see Jesus. So stop a moment today because Jesus is passing by don’t think you are blocked by the crowd, climb up out of your situation.  Hear Jesus say, "Come I must be a guest at your home today".  Let’s invite Him to come every day because every day has a view blocking circumstance.  Begin right now to praise Jesus Holy name it will lift you up high.

Lord, we thank You for wanting to come home with us and help us.  We praise You for coming down our road and help us today not focus on our crowd blockers but on You the glory and lifter of our heads.

Tomorrow: Sinners run with Jesus!

September 16, 2018

September 16, 2018

Judy Hollaway

June 10

Running with Jesus  

Luke 18:39-41  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.

     Son of David is what the beggar kept crying out. The beggar had no eyes to see and he had more understanding than the Pharisee’s who had eyes to see Jesus.  They knew exactly what the blind man was calling Jesus, the long awaited Messiah.  This beggar could only hear a commotion and ask what was going on and they told him that Jesus the Nazarene was going by and he began to shout and the people in front told him to be quiet. He only got louder.  His cry was, Son of David, have mercy on me.

     In that big crowd of people they had little to do with a beggar, Jesus heard him!  So many times we feel like that beggar shouting and crying out for help but no one hears.  He was the only one shouting Son of David, long awaited Messiah.  The religious people never called Jesus by that name. They watched day after day and saw miracle after miracle but never came to know He was indeed the Messiah they were looking for.

     The blind man told Jesus He wanted to see.  Many of our days we live as blind men.  We have so much we cannot see or understand with our natural eyes.  We cannot survive life by using only physical eyes. Paul taught us that we wrestle not with flesh and blood but with evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. We try over and over to win our battles by warring in the flesh.

     What did Jesus say in response to him wanting to see? “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.”  Faith healed him.  He believed in Jesus.   We win our battles by trusting Christ.  Christ will fight for us.  It takes more faith to be still and trust Him than to physically do something that usually messes things up. It takes blind faith and crying out to Jesus who has the answer that we so long for.

     What darkness are you walking in today that you don’t need physical eyes but spiritual eyes to have victory?  Cry out to Son of David for mercy and wait upon Him to open your blind eyes.

Father,  we love You and today even though our eyes are blinded by our circumstances we choose to trust You, Son of David.  We know that in Your way and time our blinded eyes will see when You are ready. We choose to live by faith in the dark times because You are the King and Lord of our lives. We know the righteous man lives by faith in You and not by sight. The beggar knew before he got his healing.  Faith believes when it is not seen but hoped for.

Tomorrow: Running up a tree with Zaccheaus!

September 15, 2018

September 15, 2018

Judy Hollaway

June 9

Running with Jesus

Luke 18:33 “…but on the third day he will rise again.”

     “But” such a little word with a big meaning.  But is used to indicate the impossibility of anything other than what is being stated.  Yesterday we saw where He told His disciples what would be happening soon when He would be turned over to the Gentiles.  They would kill Him then He said “But”.  Are we not glad He said but.  But gives us the insight that the impossibility of what He told them would happen, He would rise the third day.  There you have it HOPE.

      Hope, every day we need hope and we have it.  I can’t tell you how many calls I get needing prayer and hope.  I am so thankful I can give them hope.  I offer you hope today.  Life brings us so many hopeless situations and leaves us with questions no man can answer, “But” God gave us all we need for living.  The hope may only be a measure of grace for a moment at the time.

     When Adam and Eve sinned the world changed forever as we know it.  God did give them a “but”, Eve would have a child descendant that would crush Satan’s head and gain back what was lost.  That seed is in Christ Jesus who died for our sins and restored our relationship with God.  God never intended for man to walk alone.  From the beginning He walked with man till they messed it up.  He has provided a way to walk with us.  He has a “but” for everything we encounter in this life.  We don’t have to run through life without Him!  We are usually not letting Him in on our lives until we meet up with a rough terrain and then we call the master runner.  

     Hope for you today may be for you to just rest your mind and stop trying to figure it all out.  Satan loves to cause you to be entangled in your mind.  You have to stay busy and do God’s work and keep on keeping on.  Life is going to change daily “but” God never changes and is the same yesterday today and forever. One day we will be free from the presence of sin.  Until then we have to learn to live in the presence of God.  That is what will get us through. “But” God will get us through!

Father, thank You for “but”, we have hope in every situation we face.  Give us grace today and thank You we have Your presence who can give us peace when our world is in turmoil.

Let’s meet a blind beggar in the morning!

September 14, 2018

September 14, 2018

Judy Hollaway

June 8

Running with Jesus  

Luke 18:31-33 Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.

     I have so many thoughts running through my head we could spend a week on these verses. When I read this I wanted to weep for my Savior who would endure so much for me. I think of all the petty complaints we make over things that people do to us. We feel sorry for ourselves and sometimes deserve what we get. Jesus only did good and loved everyone and even the ones that would spit on Him. We have no concept of what true love is.

I Cor. 13:4-7   Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud ⁵ or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.⁶  It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. ⁷ Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

     The body of Christ needs to have a big dose of the love of Christ poured out into its hearts. We need to read what all Christ went through for us. We sacrifice very little for Christ.  We give Him leftovers, leftover time, leftover money and left over worship.  We think reading a five minute devotion is sacrifice.

Father, forgive us for taking for granted all You have done for us.  Help us learn to love the way You did. Forgive us for giving You leftovers. Show us today how we can love You and love our brother and sisters in Christ unconditionally. 

     Let’s spend time today thinking about all Christ had to endure for us and ask Him to build His love in us that is unconditional.

Tomorrow: He will rise the third day!

September 13, 2018

September 13, 2018

Judy Hollaway

June 7

Running with Jesus  

Luke 18:27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

     This has been a difficult week in the ministry.  I have never heard of so much hard things for families to deal with in life.  Daughter’s killed in accident by drunk driver, son has a wreck and car goes off a bridge and not found for 2 days.  Son kills himself, officer gunned down by robbers, who was a new mother, cancer found in someone new, a dad found dead in home and  all sorts of things that are almost more than you feel people can bear.   As a pastor’s wife it can be very stressful but I also have an opportunity to observe the responses of many of these problems thrown at us as we survive life in this fallen world.  I can see the difference in those who have a close walk with God.  They have a peace and comfort that passes all understanding.  Notice I said a close walk. These usually do not remain in an anger stage of grief and they seem to let it make them better and not bitter.

     We all have to deal with whatever life brings our way.  It is so much better when we don’t have to do it on our own. So my challenge is do you have someone to run through life with you.  When things you are dealing with look impossible to survive, remember what is impossible with man is possible with God.  He will not leave or forsake us. He understands our grief, pain and sorrow.  He can comfort us like no one else can. He can strengthen us when strength is gone.  He can give us hope when things look hopeless.  If we lean on Him and press into Him He will press into us.  Don’t lose heart today turn your eyes upon Jesus.  Don’t try to understand just simply trust the God who knows and understands.  Don’t turn away from God turn to Him.  He holds our tomorrows and He holds us.  Remembering is so important when running with God. Remembering He is our anchor when those storms roll in.

     Rest in Him when you feel you can’t make it, with God it is possible.

Father, thank You for giving us Your Words to remind us when we don’t know where to turn.  Thank You for being the all-knowing Father when we don’t know. Thank You for the help You have given us this day at this moment when we don’t know anything but trust and for making it possible for us to be able to go on running on life’s seas.

Tomorrow: Giving Jesus leftovers.