August 23, 2018

August 23, 2018

Judy Hollaway

May 17
Running With Jesus

 Luke 14:12-14 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

  (Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed.)

     Remember the host in this house was a Pharisee and this is an important fact in the teaching of this text! Let's investigate!  First off, he knows who they would invite to a luncheon should they have one. That would be friends, neighbors or sisters, relatives and rich friends! They did this thinking they will invite them back! Here it is in the Bible exclusion of others and only running with the in crowd and those who return favors to yourself. Now He brings it home! We have to remember they think they have arrived and are the quote "next best to God". But next is the kicker; invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind and you will be blessed! No way Hose', these were the "untouchables" this would make the religious dirty! Wham! bam! They couldn't return the favor back because they were starving, lonely and outcast they should not be seen with them. 
     I know many out there feel like the lower class! I am so glad God does not look at people through the eyes of pride and power! God looks deep into the soul of man and no matter what status, denomination, or race He loves us all! He has issued a ticket for the greatest feast to ever be held. He has sent the ticket to everyone and that is Jesus Christ! He is inviting anyone to come! You must receive the ticket in order to get accesses to the banquet table! 
     Jesus does not care what physical infirmity you may have, how much money is in your bank account, or if you live in the White House or a grass hut! All are invited to join Him! Have you received your ticket? If not, do it NOW!, ask Jesus into your heart! If you have that ticket, rejoice with me today! Look for ways to tell others about the ticket to heaven! Don't just stay in your little group, step outside your box and do something for someone you consider dirty or not in your "group"! Watch being a "groupie" thinking you will get a free ticket to heaven!  It doesn't work that way, stop being self-righteous thinking you have arrived because of the world’s thinking system!

Father, lead us to some soul today needing an invitation, help us recognize them and give us boldness to speak to them about their salvation.  The days are short the wedding feast is being prepared.

Counting the cost tomorrow!

August 22, 2018

August 22, 2018

Judy Hollaway

May 16

Running with Jesus  

Luke 14:11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

(For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”)

     "Oh it is hard to be humble when you are perfect in every way. I can’t wait to look in the mirror cause I am getting better every day!" The words of this old song darted through my mind when I read this parable!  We are not running around with humble people! It is me, myself, and I. If we don't get our way and don't get the best seats in the house, it is whine, whine, whine!

     Jesus was invited to go to the house of a Pharisee and the next two days we will hang out with them.  We will see them squirm at the parables Jesus tells them. We better watch judging them because we will find ourselves squirming! 

      “Humble” is an admirable quality not many people possess. It means that a person may have accomplished a lot, or be important but doesn't feel it is necessary to advertise or brag about it! Jesus teaches a big lesson on being humble and thinking of others rather than self.  Self likes to run the show in our lives. The truth is you really will never know true joy until you step out of self and into others. Jesus is the perfect role model of servant-hood and should be ours personally.  He was always healing, helping and serving others. In the parable today he tells us not to lift ourselves up but he will lift us up at the right time and place.

      I think of Joseph in the Old Testament who learned to be humble no matter where he was a servant in the palace or in a prison cell. He helped others, then gained favor with those in authority of those over him. Later, he was lifted to second position under the Pharaoh! It was at just the right time and as a result saved his own family.  Another scripture tells us to not let our right hand know what the left hand is doing to help with humility. Someone said, “Do a deed, then forget it”! Both are great advice that will help us keep the right attitude toward ministry. 

Father,  thank You for daily helping us as we keep running through life and making a path for our feet and a lamp to light the way.  We want to be effective as we do kingdom work.  Help the mind that is in You be in us. 

         Let's see how many kind acts of service we can do today silently. Remember forget them when you do one! Hey, start in your house shock your family! 

Tomorrow: Who gets invited to your banquets!

August 21, 2018

August 21, 2018

Judy Hollaway

May 15

Running with Jesus

Luke 13:22-24 And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.

Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,  Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

(Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he went, always pressing on toward Jerusalem.  Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” He replied,  “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail.)

     Religion or Relationship; which are you, when Jesus was asked, "Lord, will only a few be saved?"  He responded by telling the man the way to heaven was a narrow door.  He also told him it would only be open for a period of time and the master of the house would lock the door. Then people would be banging on the door, pleading let me in and the master said I don't know you! They said we ate and drank with you and you taught in our streets. His response was I don't know you and get away!

     The latter were religious, held to rituals and memorized scriptures, but never embodied their talk. I read this yesterday in searching some information. This means we need to be living out our salvation. Walk or talk! True believers walking on the narrow path and through the narrow door have a personal relationship with Christ! Jesus was dealing with those Sadducees and Pharisee's, the religious council that was to keep and teach the law! So sad because they had the Son of God talking to them and walking with them yet didn't recognize Him! The very scriptures they would write and memorize told about Him but they were so full of pride, prestige, position and power they could not fit through the narrow door! 

     One way to examine yourself is to ask yourself “If I were to die right now where would I spend eternity?" If you do not have peace about this then you might want to talk to God about your salvation! When we are truly born again you know you have peace with God and the burden of the guilt of sin is lifted when we receive Christ, who takes our sin breaking down the barrier between us and God!  We are restored to a relationship with God! And you know it when it happens because you are never the same. When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden they lost fellowship with God and the personal walk they had. They passed that sin on down to every person born. God called them out, killed an animal shedding blood and covered their nakedness for their sin and sacrifices of animals were made to pardon our sins. This was temporary until Jesus died on the cross making it possible for us have a permanent relationship with God once again! He defeated Satan's work. Man now has a way to get to God but it is not by working, doing good deeds or having a 100% church attendance. It is about being born again and knowing Jesus personally! 

     So are you one who is religious, know all the Christian lingo or do you have a personal relationship with Him and know if you died right now you would go to heaven? Do you know that you know? The door will be closed and locked one day so don't be one of the door bangers! It will be too late. Has Jesus embodied you or are you just walking around Him.

 Father, help those out there who are just religious to settle this matter today while the door is open! Help them understand the difference in a personal relationship that quickens us and makes us alive unto You. We are not just religious dead men walking around You and never coming to know You! 

  Which are you dead or alive?

Tomorrow: Oh, it is hard to be humble!

August 20, 2018

August 20, 2018

Judy Hollaway

May 14
Running with Jesus

Luke 13:20-21 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.

( "And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God?  It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”)

                Jesus is still pressing toward Jerusalem and does not stop preaching, teaching, or healing. The followers think He is going to deliver them from the Roman rule but Jesus is teaching them about a spiritual Kingdom. Defeat from our enemy, Satan, would be coming!
                He shares two illustrations to explain, the first a mustard seed being small and grows big enough for birds to house in it. Next He uses the illustration of a woman putting a little yeast in her dough and mixes in flour until the leaven penetrates all through the flour.
                Reading the Bible today is so wonderful because we get to read the back of the book. At this time the Bible was just being penned and all the pieces had not been fit together! We have it all and we can see, just like in this story what Jesus was teaching. Kingdom living began small and has now penetrated into the world. Every nation and continent has a body of believers on it. With internetworking into jungles, the gospel has been throughout the world! I can sit in my living room and travel to India everyday and talk to Christian believers!  Is God not an awesome God! Man thinks they have figured this all out for themselves but God is the yeast permeating the world. We can see how far Christianity has traveled.  We will see as we keep running through the book of Luke how they will try to stop this movement of God by killing Jesus.  After His death they will arrest and persecute the believers, they will disperse them but instead of stopping the gospel they will begin the spread of the gospel. The gospel is real and personal and anyone who has entered His kingdom by placing faith in Jesus Christ is born again and never gets over it! Can I get an amen! This gospel will travel the world to every nation just like God says will happen!   So many doubt and don't think the Bible is true and still relevant for living in this century. This is so far from the truth! God's Word is the same yesterday,  today and forever. Everything will pass away but not His Word!
 

Father, thank You so much for the Word of God that shows us the only way to come to You. Thank You for Jesus was the Word made flesh and dwelt among us! Thank You for our freedom to share and teach your Word! My prayer is I will never be without a copy of Your Word. You sustain me daily through Your Word!

 I pray you thank God today for just being able to hold and possess a copy of God's Word that tells the whole story of living life that gives purpose and meaning!
 

              Let's place God's Word in our hands. Now hold it tightly to your chest and realize how valuable it is and take a few minutes and express to God how thankful you are for being able to have and to hold it. There are places it is forbidden to have it and they would love to have one leaf. Now keep running through life with Its wisdom and knowledge!
 

Tomorrow: Living or dead men walking?

August 19, 2018

August 19, 2018                                                                

Judy Hollaway

May 13

Running with Jesus

Luke 13:10-13 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. 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. And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

 (One Sabbath day as Jesus was teaching in a synagogue, he saw a woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit. She had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight.  When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Dear woman, you are healed of your sickness!” Then he touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised God!)

            Now did you hear that, she praised God! How many around us are bent over double for 18 years spiritually! We walk around never able to look up because of some spiritual infirmity caused by an evil spirit! I know you are out there filled with fears, anxiety, guilt, shame, and you can hardly function. Satan wants to keep us bent over and unable to function. Notice when Jesus saw her he called her over. Why not let Jesus call you over this morning and let him touch you? I walked bent over for years until I got that call to come over. 

             Bent over at my dining room table reading God's Word I felt my Master’s hand and reached out and He touched me. As we study God’s Word He can touch any infirmity we have and experience in this life. Daily touches He gives us and enables us to stand up straight and go on.

              We must respond to His call to come. What if she had not? It may have been a struggle to walk over to get to Him, but she did. It may be a struggle to go to Him. It may be a struggle to let things go! I can tell you as soon as you go when He calls and let all the chains go the sooner your healing will come! Don't delay run to Him and continue to run with Him! He is our Healer!

 Father, thank You for always being right there and for helping me be able to stand up straight when I want to bend from the weights of life. Thank You for letting my soul brush against the Words Your finger penned, touching me and making me whole! I am eternally grateful for You, my loving Father. Help that bent soul today hear Your call and feel Your touch. Then they too will be praising You! 

Tomorrow: God is like yeast permeating the world!