June 24, 2018

June 24, 2018

Judy Hollaway

March 18
Running with Jesus 2015

 Luke 11:2b ..."Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth."

     Here it is right in the middle of the Lord's Prayer the struggle of the wills. When we accept Christ we still have that old nature that cries out for its will to be done. Jesus was fully God and fully man without sin but experienced all the temptations that we go through. We so struggle to do things our way when we pray Your will be done on earth as in heaven we are seeking guidance. So often living in flesh with its desires we miss God's will and ultimate desire for our life. God says before we were born He knew the plan He had for our lives. Seeking His will to be done will give us His best plan. Often we have problems discerning so His word tells us to ask so we can know His will! It helps us keep a proper focus on life and daily we will not miss out on witnessing opportunities that otherwise we would not be focused on!  Then when we face difficulties we can go through them knowing that no matter where our road leads us He is right there with us on life's journey. When we accept where we are and cease to fight it we have a peace that will come over us and life flows so much better.
                 

Father, today we pray Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven! We can trust You with Your plan and will for our lives. Help us to not be selfish and only live for self today! As we go our way help us stay heavenly minded and make Godly decisions as we continue our run with You. It is comforting to know when I run with You I stay on the right path. Help us not stray or get lost we want Your best and You always know what's best!

Tomorrow: Our daily Bread! It's in the oven baking!

June 23, 2018

June 23, 2018

Judy Hollaway

March 17

Running with Jesus 2015

Luke 11:2 a "And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name."

                Jesus began to teach His disciples how to pray and he started with "hallowed" be thy name. Hallowed means to separate from profane things. To the Jews when they say a name it is more to them than to us. They interpret a person’s being and character. Jesus was saying pray recognizing God is separate from the profane things on this earth! Just to humble ourselves and show humble respect to the God of the universe! Total purity! Totally supreme! Just think we can talk to Him only by the blood of His Son Jesus. To the Jew God's name was unmentionable, God is so Holy. Under the blood we can say Father Romans 8:15 says we can cry Abba Father, which means Daddy! We can be intimate with Him and cry out Daddy, hallowed is Your name. 

                When we pray we should pray humbly and show God respect due Him! Run to Him and cry out merciful, holy, sweet precious Daddy! Show Him He is supreme authority and the next step will flow naturally.

Oh Daddy, how separate You are from us. How Holy You are we come humbly seeking Your face with our whole heart today! We acknowledge we are needy and we desire to know You! Like Moses when he asked Your name He really wanted to know about You when You called his name! We too are asking who are You that You would want us to talk to You! 

                Spend time thinking about all the names you know God by today! I am already wowed! 

Tomorrow: Thy will be done! Keep going runners God is getting better and better! Love running with Jesus takes us right to the Father! 

June 22, 2018

June 22, 2018

Judy Hollaway

March 16

Running with Jesus 2015

Luke 11:11 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

                Didn't think we would ever run out of chapter 10! We did and where was the first place we ran with Jesus, "Prayer". Now let's listen closely to what was being said, Luke recorded for us!  "And it came to pass when He ceased, they must have heard or watched, or observed this prayer life. They wanted what He had!

              When we moved to Bethel and I started going to the ladies Bible Study. I didn't realize what God was teaching me about the Bible and prayer. Mrs. Dorothy Hardin would find a prayer in one of the books of the Bible. It is filled with people talking with God. She used them to teach us how to pray. In the books of Paul you find a prayer usually at the beginning. Paul would say I never cease to pray for you and then tell what he prayed for them.  I learned to pray different scriptures for different needs. In Job we find Satan told God He had a hedge around Job, so we learned to pray and ask God to put a hedge around our children.

                You need to notice prayer was an important part in everyone who did work for God. Jesus prayed why do we think we don't need to. I wish we could learn to be as committed as the religions that don't know the only living God. Shame on us! 

Father, help us to learn to pray. Show us how as the disciples ask, "Teach us to pray"!

Tomorrow: As we run with Jesus He will show us more about how to talk to our Father! Don't stop now our marathon is still on!

June 21, 2018

June 21, 2018

Judy Hollaway

March 15

Running with Jesus 2015

Luke 10:41-42 But the Lord said to her, “Martha, dear friend, you are so upset over all these details! There is really only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it—and I won’t take it away from her!”

                King James says Mary has chosen the best part!  Martha was caught up in her elaborate preparation that she misses out on Jesus teachings.

                I often think about one time we had remodeled a sanctuary and I thought one night people were too loud and God spoke to me, "Do you want an elaborate building or do you want souls here?" Yikes! That hurt because the best part is souls coming to know Christ! The best part of this life is to know Christ!  But we all live as though the best part is in things and having a party. 

                 We have to face this reality when we lose loved ones. I just lost my mom and I spent a lot of time with her when I could but I find myself wishing I had spent more. Often as young mothers we don't realize our kids will only be little for a short time. You need to stop focusing on wrong priorities. Stop and sit down and play with them. You are in a season that will not return! We all love spring but it passes so fast the daffodils die and poof it is gone.  

               Jesus ministry only lasted three and one-half years. The cross would come soon! Wonder if it would have made a difference in what Martha would have done that day if she had known how soon He would be gone!

                We all have to work but let's think about the best parts of that day. Let's cherish the moments we have to be with people that are in our presence. Help us not treat people as though they are invisible! (Think about that for a minute, who is sitting in your house but invisible to you!)

                We certainly don't want to miss out running with Jesus because He is the part that brings order to our lives, makes life have meaning, and anchors our souls when life becomes catastrophic. 

Father, Jesus is the best part because He teaches us how to survive life! We want the best part! Help us sweet Holy Spirit to remember each day to let You show us how to live in the best part!

Tomorrow:  Running into Chapter 11 and Jesus praying again! Hmmm!

June 20, 2018

June 20, 2018

Judy Hollaway

March 14

Running with Jesus 2015

Luke 10:40 But Martha was the jittery type and was worrying over the big dinner she was preparing.

She came to Jesus and said, “Sir, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

                Well we meet Martha, stop before you start criticizing her, we have all been there! Now for our few men who read this, stop it too, you are just as bad with your planning too!

                 I really don't know if Jesus called ahead or just showed up, after all it was His home away from home and everywhere He went there was a crowd! I would be jittery too!  But it tells us she was the jittery type! Her old nature was surfacing! This old nature was distracting her.

                Now let me tell you about the Martha in me! I find myself having a jitter when my spouse clicks the TV buttons while I have 3 loads of clothes to wash, dishwasher full, vacuum to run, bathrooms to clean and floors to mop! The war could be on. I find at times Martha still begs and screams to get out but sweet Jesus talks to her and says when this is all done you will be just fine. Wish I could say I always overcome this area myself! 

                  Martha had not learned to listen to Jesus. She was still operating out of flesh! She was still trying to run and control everything. Now don't get me wrong we need to plan and organize but we must include Jesus and let Him help us.

Father help us train our Martha spirit to listen and talk to Jesus. When she comes calling, ask her to sit down at Jesus feet like Mary did and I bet the rest will work its way out! 

So what's making you jittery today? Go sit still at Jesus feet let Him help you!

Tomorrow: The best part!