July 19, 2018

July 19, 2018

Judy Hollaway

April 12

Running with Jesus

Yesterday:  Luke 14:25-26 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,

If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

Today:  Luke 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

(Yesterday: Many people were traveling with Jesus. He said to them, “If you come to me but will not leave your family, you cannot be my follower. You must love me more than your father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters—even more than your own life!

Today: Whoever will not carry the cross that is given to them when they follow me cannot be my follower.)

                Here we are again Jesus telling these people who were following Him what they needed to consider! "Carry your cross". I do not know what cross you are having to carry! This one is dying to self and living God's divine plan! Jesus was headed toward Jerusalem to die. He had a big cross to carry. And we should be willing to bear our life-crosses no matter how heavy.

                This always reminds me of when Mike surrendered to preach. It meant giving up job security to do the faith walk!  A couple of years ago Mike passed the age he could have retired from Bell South Telephone Company. In my tiredness for a moment I wished we were back! However, in a flash I jumped back into our life in the ministry. How could retirement replace what my Savior did on the cross for me? How could it replace helping birth Christian babies into His kingdom? How could it replace being there to laugh, cry, and comfort my church families? Besides, all that I just heard "retirement" is not in the Bible. We might change positions but we will work till Jesus comes. 

                  The job was only a tiny cross. There have been bigger ones. But do I regret giving my whole life to Jesus? NEVER!!! The joy of my life journey has been a totally amazing run with Jesus. He is so sweet and good to me! When I have a bad day He always finds a way to help me! 

Jesus, help us carry our cross till You come for us. Some days we can't bear it alone. Remind us You will always be there to help us bear whatever shape our cross comes in life!  You are an Amazing God! Remind my friends You are there every day to help them!

Tomorrow: Don't lose your influence!

July 18, 2018

July 18, 2018

Judy Hollaway

April 11

Running with Jesus

Luke 14:25-26  And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,  If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

(Many people were traveling with Jesus. He said to them, “If you come to me but will not leave your family, you cannot be my follower. You must love me more than your father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters—even more than your own life.)

                Following Jesus comes with a high price, commitment.  We hear all sorts of excuses for not serving God. God was not telling these friends to not care for loved ones. However, it was priority that He wanted. I always share the umbrella effect of God's plan of authority for man. (Use your mind to see this!)

                God is great big umbrella over a little smaller one, the husbands, next a little smaller than his, the wife, next a little smaller, the children. When one gets out from under God's big umbrella he gets hit!  We have to put God first and be submissive to His will and authority! Then He will help us with living out His divine plan and purpose. Running with Christ will cost us though. Some lose their families because they are not believers. The benefits of following Christ are immeasurable. We must keep a steady focus on God and make Him number One! The rest will fall into place. He will guide us to do the right things. He will help us with the sacrifices. Sadly to say many will not commit to follow. They are not willing to give up self. It is dying to self and living unto God we find the key to live life. 

Lord, we love You and we desire to follow You. Give us strength and power as we do life! Help us keep our priorities in order and just like Jesus, be ready to obey at any cost!

                Did you make your agenda today? If you have, where was God on your list? Did you consider there will be some door open to share or help another?!  Don't get caught up in self! 

Bearing your cross tomorrow!

July 17, 2018

July 17, 2018

Judy Hollaway

April 10

Running with Jesus

Luke 14:11  For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

(Everyone who makes themselves important will be made humble. But everyone who makes themselves humble will be made important.)

                 The Pharisees had so much religious pride. They were the cleanest, they obeyed all the rules, they would be asked to sit in the best seats at the feast.   Jesus delivered a message about pride in this text. Jesus was always in His servant mode! He was always helping others. He went out of His way to go to a thirsty woman in Samaria who was a half breed the religious Jews hated. How about you are you in servant mode today?

                The Bible says pride goeth before destruction. We say we are not prideful but would we serve an "untouchable" person?  Would we let them come as guest to our home? Would we be caught walking down a street with them?  Dictionary definition:  Pride is an excessively high opinion of oneself.  Conceit is too high an opinion of one’s abilities, worth, or personality; vanity.  An arrogant person is overly convinced of one’s own importance; overbearingly proud; haughty (The American Heritage Dictionary).      

                 The Bible uses the word pride in that we are substituting our own authority, our plan, our greatness, our human goodness in place of God's.  The proud person looks at himself differently than God looks at him. The Bible says God will make the prideful humble. But the person who humbles himself will be important! 

                Since my strong willed granddaughter got saved I have been trying to help her understand she has that old nature who wants to be in control of her and how she needs to let Jesus’ Spirit help her to over ride that old. So I'll say, "Babe how many points does old Zoey have?" She bows her head slightly. She says, "10 Granny!" Then I say "How many does Jesus’ Zoey have?"' She smiled and said, "325!"   I think she is getting it! If only we all could get it! Jesus tells us the humbled will be made important!

Father, help us let our new life as Your runners win out over the old self who puts itself above You and Your plans, desires,  and respond to every soul in a Godly way,  knowing You love and came to serve "all" people not just those who fit our mold! 

                  Lots to ponder this morning grab your coffee or coke and sit a little while and let this digest! (Note to self, help me to digest the Word of God, sometimes I swallow it whole and don't savor it. Relax and let it digest so my spirit body can get the benefits!")

Commitments and excuses tomorrow!

July 16, 2018

July 16, 2018

Judy Hollaway

April 9

Running with Jesus

Luke 14:1-2 And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him. And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.

( On a Sabbath day, Jesus went to the home of a leading Pharisee to eat with him. The people there were all watching him very closely. A man with a bad disease was there in front of him.)

                 A Sabbath day, a Pharisee, Jesus, and a man with a bad disease!, talking about oil and vinegar, you have seen them sitting on the table and you shake it up to try to get it to mix, won’t happen! 

                It was the Sabbath day, I am sure the Pharisee had taken his “spiritual bath" in preparation for their worship. Interesting Jesus was at his house to eat because at this time, runners, He was being watched because they wanted to kill Him. They were looking for some way to get Him to the courtroom. Having bathed the religious wanted no part of a diseased man because they were considered sinners!  Jesus on the other hand had mercy on the man and healed him. The sick man was in front of them.  There are two ways to look at this, first we can get so "religious" and do "church" that we forget we are to be ministering to people.  We also can look at the Sabbath day that the religious leaders made as a ritual over a relationship with God and man. 

                Our church going must never take the place of our relationship with God the Father. Church is to be a privilege and a blessing that comes from your personal walk and never let our going soothe our conscience and neglect helping our sick. Jesus says our work is evidence of real faith! Test time! If all you do is ritual worship! Better do a check up! He is about relationship with Him and relationship with our fellow man. Think about the cross! The vertical wood beam runs up and down, us to God. The horizontal beam runs side to side, us to our neighbors! Are you sure you have been to the cross for salvation or just "churched"? Churched people even know all the language but do not have the love of God in the heart and you will find them sitting and a lot of the time grumbling! Where do you fit in? Are you churched or do you have an intimate relationship with God?                

Father, help us to keep running with You and help our relationship to grow. Make us sensitive to other’s needs and ministry. Father, help us today to find a person we might not normally speak to or show kindness to. We don't want to be "churched" we want to be real!

Tomorrow: A lesson on being humble.

July 15, 2018

July 15, 2018

Judy Hollaway

April 8

Running with Jesus

Luke 13:31-33   The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee. And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.

(Just then some Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Go away from here and hide. Herod wants to kill you!” Jesus said to them, “Go tell that fox, Today and tomorrow I am forcing demons out of people and finishing my work of healing. Then, the next day, the work will be finished.’ After that I must go, because all prophets should die in Jerusalem.)

                Jesus knew before He left heaven what His mission was to be, to pay the penalty of our sin. He came to deliver us from our last enemy, death. He stayed His course through life and He totally completed His mission. 

                  Jesus is still working in this world today and this world is still seeking to kill Jesus. Christians, Christ runners, are being sought to be killed in this world. We are hated by many false religions that are cutting off heads and calling us infidels. But even sadder is those right near us, friends and coworkers don't want to see or hear about Jesus anymore. America,  why are you killing the One Who brought life and freedom to this country. So sad because everyone wants the American Dream life but no one wants the Giver of that life, Jesus! 

                Oh, the Bible tells us the prophets wept for Jerusalem. Let us weep for America! I have ask several times for us to join in prayer for our nation. We must be serious and commit to pray for our country!

Father, we cry out for You to deliver this country from unbelief and raise up Godly men and women to lead us back to Jesus. Just like Jesus You have given us a work to do. Help us stay on the course and finish our race. Give us strength and empower us to give us a bold witness. Bind the powers of darkness in our nation, states, counties and towns that our Christian beliefs should be preserved!!!

Tomorrow: Jesus, the Sabbath day, a Pharisee, and a diseased man!