July 24, 2018

July 24, 2018

Judy Hollaway

April 17

Running with Jesus

Luke 15:17-18 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

 (The son realized that he had been very foolish. (NIV says came to His senses) He thought, ‘All my father’s hired workers have plenty of food. But here I am, almost dead because I have nothing to eat.  I will leave and go to my father. I will say to him: Father, I have sinned against God and have done wrong to you.)

                  In this parable we could focus from several angles. I chose to look at the younger brother who lives his life wastefully. He was very self-focused and thought little about his future. He lived it up and wound up broke, slopping pigs, the animals a Jew would have nothing to do with. You couldn't get much lower. Eating hog rations! 

                  I love the way it says He came to His senses; my father's servants eat better than this! 

  This man left filled with pride and a blown up ego. He was a hot head and wouldn't listen to His Father. Notice how he returned humbled and had a servant role mentality. This is where our spirit should be, in servant mode! When we realize what Christ has done for us, we should be willing to sweep floors, take out trash and wash feet for Him.

                Notice the Father never moved and was looking daily down that road for that son to return. Don't ever feel you have gone too far to come back to God. He is waiting for you to return. He watches and searches for us.

                God never moves He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Sometimes my feelings and emotions try to deceive me and I feel far away but God is as near as our breath. 

                My question today is: what mode is your mentality in? Are you in servant mode or looking for others to cater to you? 

Father we are sinners and help us to not listen to our self-righteousness but be a willing servant ready to live in and do kingdom work seeking You and helping others. Help us understand Father always knows best! Let us not live life recklessly and ignore our heavenly inheritance! Help us come to our senses and stay in them! 

Tomorrow: Grab your checkbook!

July 23, 2018

July 23, 2018

Judy Hollaway

April 16

Running with Jesus

Luke 15:8-10 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?  And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

 (Suppose a woman has ten silver coins, but she loses one of them. She will take a light and clean the house. She will look carefully for the coin until she finds it.  And when she finds it, she will call her friends and neighbors and say to them, ‘Be happy with me because I have found the coin that I lost!’  In the same way, it’s a happy time for the angels of God when one sinner decides to change.)

                Here is another parable, which is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. This coin was very valuable to the lady. The coin was attached to a bracelet given in marriage equivalent to a wedding ring. Jesus was teaching the Pharisees how a sinner was very valuable to God. Jesus said, "It is not His will any should perish!"

                 The Jews lived in a shame and honor society. They were looking at outer appearance of Christ with sinners. They would be ashamed to be caught with one. He was teaching them how close sinners were to God, dear to His heart, but how far away they, the religious were. They thought themselves as "godly". 

                You may not realize it but Jesus is searching constantly for sinners, lost souls. Not only is He searching for the lost, but comes daily just to meet with us to help and encourage us too! Then He wants to guide our every step. He will lead us to where He is working and then we are invited to work with Him in bringing the lost to Him! 

                Then it says it is a happy time among the Angels when one sinner is found!

  Wouldn't you love to pull back the curtain and peep in and watch the Angels when one soul gets born again!

1 Peter 1:12 tells us Angels want to look into this thing called salvation and humans. 

  If you want heaven to be rejoicing then get involved with helping others find Christ.

 Lord, help us be as excited as heaven is when reaching a lost soul. Help us search for them as this woman did for her lost coin!

                Stay focused on your mission not in your circumstance Satan's goal is to stop you from sharing Christ. See He can't get our souls so he seeks to rob our joy and ministry. Don't get too prideful, too busy or so dragged down with your circumstance and miss your purpose in life. That is reconciling souls to God, our mission! 

The lost son tomorrow!

July 22, 2018

July 22, 2018

Judy Hollaway

April 15

Running with Jesus

Luke 15 :3-4,7 And he spake this parable unto them, saying,  What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?  I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

(Then Jesus told them this story:“Suppose one of you has 100 sheep, but one of them gets lost. What will you do? You will leave the other 99 sheep there in the field and go out and look for the lost sheep. In the same way, I tell you, heaven is a happy place when one sinner decides to change. There is more joy for that one sinner than for 99 good people who don’t need to change.)

                Jesus is responding to the thoughts and conversations of the Pharisee's. (They didn't know He knew all thoughts! Don't judge, we act the same way!)  He tells them a parable about a man who had 100 sheep and one got lost and when He found him, came home, and all rejoiced with him over finding the sheep! He then says heaven is a happy place for one sinner who is changed than 99 who don't need to change. 

                We get all excited when people join our church who are already saved and a lot of the time we get skeptical about those we consider "bad "sinners who get born again and start coming. We should be reaching out to sinners and bringing them in. And rejoice with them. 

                We must watch developing the attitudes of a Pharisee. In God's eyes sin is sin. The problem with the Pharisees was not Jesus teaching the sinners but Jesus was eating with sinners. Jesus was looking for the lost to bring salvation to them.  

                God tells us to go out into the highway and hedges and compel them to come in. 

Father, as we go out today help us find that lost one who needs to know You. Make us aware of that person and give us boldness to share.

Tomorrow: The lost coin!

July 21, 2018

July 21, 2018

Judy Hollaway

April 14

Running with Jesus

Luke 15:1-2 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

(Many tax collectors and sinners came to listen to Jesus. Then the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to complain, “Look, this man welcomes sinners and even eats with them!”)

                I want us to look at two types of people in these two verses and let’s analyze the people. The first set Luke said were tax collectors and sinners. Now what did they come to do? Listen to Jesus! It is very interesting that sinners were there to listen. Listen in Greek can mean to hear Gods word to prompt faith! 

                  The second set were those Pharisees who are keeping up the pace running with Jesus. What were they doing? Complaining and judging just waiting to find a way to put Jesus to death. 

                 Today we have the same two kinds of people in the world and in the church, sadly to say. Those who come to hear a word from God to birth faith and those who are religious just come and are always looking to find fault.

                So where do you fall judging or listening! 

                  I remember when I got serious with learning and I sat down at my table with pen and paper. God gave me Psalm 32:8  "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you."

                   I had a reading comprehension problem growing up.  Through studying scripture I overcame my handicap. I remember it was as though the blinders were removed. I was able to read and comprehend. My ears were tuned in to listen to Jesus. The first things I remember hearing God say as I read was "I love you"                  I can't help thinking about like the sinners and the hated tax collectors! They were getting relief and hope! The religious could not see sin because of their ego and pride. They were learned in the law and tradition and they missed salvation! 

Father, help us to be good runners. In order to run we have to be a good listener! As Your Word is preached help us hear! Let us approach Your Word every day with a heart and mind to hear so our faith can be prompted! 

Lost sheep, in the morning!

July 20, 2018

 July 20, 2018

Judy Hollaway

April 13

Running with Jesus

Luke 14:34-35a Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out.  

(“Salt is a good thing. But if the salt loses its salty taste, you can’t make it salty again. It is worthnothing. You can’t even use it as dirt or dung. People just throw it away.)

                  "Don't Lose Your Influence!"

                 Most people probably think of salt as simply a white granular food seasoning. In fact, did you know only 6% of all salt manufactured goes into food? Apparently we use salt in more than 14,000 different ways from the making of products as varied as plastic, paper, glass, polyester, rubber and fertilizers to household bleach, soaps, detergents and dyes. Salt acts as a preservative in foods. Too much salt can ruin the taste of food but just the right amount can make you want a little or a lot more of the food it is in. 

               For the Christian God wants us to be salty. He wants our lives to be able to have a powerful influence on those around us.

                It is so easy to lose that influence. One word spoken in haste, one bad choice can destroy our witness.  Not only choices affect us and others, but not walking daily with God weakens our faith. When our faith is weak and those crosses of life come we are called to bear, others will watch us to see how we handle them. To lose our flavor as this verse says we are good for nothing in the kingdom. For salt to lose its savor it has to be diluted! 

                Hum!!! Let's think about this one!  Am I a diluted Christian? Satan will little by little pull us into activities and life and before long we drop out of church. Then we go back to old life styles, the Bible is placed where you can't remember. It may just be collecting dust on your table. You glance and say I should read it later. Before long we become diluted and non effective. You seldom talk to God! Yes,old Satan has you right where he wants you! On his team! Started small, you didn't mean too, and you didn't plan it! 

                  So what do you do, go home where you belong. The father is waiting. It may take a little while to get the savor back but you can.

Father, keep us salty and make us aware what we do and say dilutes our witness. Help us be aware of the small things he is trying to lure us into to take us away from You and Your kingdom work. Open our eyes to see where we are on our walk.

                 Walking toward Calvary or away from Calvary! Walking toward enhances our savor and walking away dilutes us! Which way are you walking? "Let's have a Think!"

Tomorrow:  Listening! I love eaves dropping on Jesus conversations! Don't you?! When you read and study walk down into the Bible, don't stay on the surface, become a character in each setting! Travel town to town!