May 11, 2020

May 11

Running with Jesus  

Luke 11:51-53 From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation. Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered. And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things:

     Jesus is still running toward death and He continues to give His disciples warnings. 

     Ever tried to mix oil and vinegar? Right, won’t happen. Oil is made of hydrophobic (water-hating) carbon chains. Vinegar is acetic acid which is made of hydrophilic (water-loving) groups. Now oil is less dense than vinegar, so it floats on the top, just like a piece of foam would float on water.  The oil likes to stay with its kind. The oil has no charge that will allow it bond with anything else where vinegar does! (I don't like science or Chemistry that came from Yahoo Answers Lol)

     We have so many expectations as Christians who have that charge that wants to love and mix with everyone but the truth is the world does not have that charge needed to bond with God and other Christians!  It will not happen, there will always be differences and divisions! 

     The bond Christians have is the charge that enters our hearts when we receive Christ! The Holy Spirit energizes our lives. He crosses even language barriers. His charge is love! Love fills us and helps enable us to love to the depth the world never knows or understands. So don't expect the world to go along with your Biblical standards. Expect conflict and divisions even in families.

Father, help us remember we live in this world but we are not of this world after we are born again. Help us to watch out for expectations that cause us disappointments. The world rejected You and will reject us. Help us to abide in love. Help us love unconditionally. If we don't have high expectations then we won’t be disappointed.  Thank You for saving our souls and help those walking in darkness come to know the light and truth. Help us to love when we are not loved!

Tomorrow: Taking up space!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

May 10, 2020

May 10

Running with Jesus

Luke 12:35-38 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

     Be prepared for the Lord's return. "Oh, I have heard that all my life!"  Many ignore the warning to be prepared. The Lord will return one day because God does not lie. He is being patient for souls to be saved.  Being prepared also works in another way, you may meet Him before the return! You may die at the blink of an eye or in a heartbeat! We must live and be prepared.

     Mom used to say, “If Jesus came back would you want Him to find you doing that?”,big question! Mom wouldn't go anywhere her kids could not go! She preached Jesus return and believed it was so close! I thank God for a mom who taught and helped me be prepared for His return or my home going! It is our job as mom's to help prepare our kids for His return! 

     Jesus’ life was about doing His Father's business. Remember at age 12 Mary and Joseph thought they had lost Jesus and found Him at the temple. What did He respond to them, you should have known I would be about my Father's business. Helping people prepare is the Father's business! 

     If Jesus were to return would you be ashamed of where He found you? We must not put ourselves in a position we would be ashamed for Him to find us!   We should be living a sincere life, ready to witness, not worrying but trusting, giving generously, not lazy, and becoming more like Christ! When we greet Him we will be joyful, grateful, and thankful! 

Father, help us pick the best road to run down as we race through life! We want to live as children who honor You and make You proud! We are looking for You any minute! What a day it will be when we see You face to face! All the things and cares of this world are so small when compared to Your kingdom living! This might be the day, look up toward the Eastern sky!   I thank You for a mom who helped me prepare!

Oil and vinegar, tomorrow!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

May 9, 2020

May 9
Running with Jesus  

Luke 16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

      There is a song I hear on the radio that talks about "I Am Desperate for You"! I wonder how many of us are desperate for the Lord this morning. In these few text of warnings we find mashed into the midst "Seek the Kingdom of God First"! We never seem to get it!
     This means making Jesus the Lord and King of our lives! He must control every area of our lives. Our work, our play, relationships and our plans! Oops, didn't mean to mention plans. We set our schedules and never consult God with what His desires are and then ask Him to bless them!
     I remember there was a big move in the seventies or early eighties to read a book about characters that only did what Jesus would do. I barely remember something about a news paper writer got fired from his job by doing this challenge from a minister’s sermon! God worked a miracle out for him in the end, but it was costly and painful in the process.  However, he was blessed at the end of the ordeal! So let's start today by seeking God's Kingdom and let Him be Boss!
             

 Father, as we run today You are our Leader! Let us know moment by moment and step by step what You want us to do! Here we are Your servant! I know the enemy isn't going to like this, give us grace and strength to run like never before! We love You and are seeking Your Kingdom living! God ruling!

 Tomorrow: Be prepared!

 Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

May 8, 2020

May 8

Running with Jesus  

Luke 12:22-24 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?

     Don't "WORRY"! Worry is like a rocking chair, you’re moving but it gets you absolutely nowhere! I heard this way back in the 80's and I have never forgotten the phrase, so I am passing it on to you! I didn't realize this is a command from our Lord! Because we are called to live by FAITH! Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

     Faith is living by trusting God to do what He says He will do when we can't see anything happening! 

    Worry is pointless because it can't fill our need. We have to be reminded the creator of the universe loves us and knows what we need.   We can overcome worry by trusting God, keep a proper perspective on your problem, watch magnifying and over reacting rather than responding in the Spirit. Keep a support team that will pray with you. That will pray for wisdom and strength! Die to self because a dead man can't worry! Last but not least wait upon the Lord! Then keep your eyes focused on your ministry, if you don't have one then find a place to serve even if it is nursery duty! Do it with joy to the honor of God and His glory! People without a vision perish! Ministry will keep your focus off your circumstances! 

Father, we trust in You today to take the things we can't change and help us to do the things that we can change.  Show us ways to minister. Give us grace for this day! 

Seek God's kingdom, tomorrow!

 Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

May 7, 2020

May 7

Running with Jesus

Luke 12:16-20 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?  And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.  And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.  But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

      Live today like there is no tomorrow! We have all heard this phrase! After telling His disciples life is not measured in what we have, He tells them this parable about a farmer! The man spent all his time, energy, and effort into his crops and kept getting bigger and bigger and planned for retirement. This is wise because we do have to exist in this world. However, neglecting life after death leads to disaster! The man died that night! What did it profit the man to use all his time and energy storing stuff? If we do not think and prepare for life after death and think about helping others we enter eternity empty handed! We also miss out on some of the greatest joys of life of using our resources to help others. We need to live beyond earthbound goals. Jesus tells us to store up riches in heaven! 

      Let's set some goals to help others. Let us not just live to self! Let us use our resources, faith, and obedience to help others! This will help us overcome yesterday's temptation with covetousness.

 Father, help us continue to renew our minds so we can run with you on our journey through life! Show us ways to help others today! Help us have eyes to see and hear doors that open and let us listen and feel the nudges of the Holy Spirit when He says you need to _______! Some examples are; take food to a sick person, visit a shut in, clean out your closet and share what over abundance you may have! Jesus Cares! Let's get in the race with Jesus and stay there! This will help us live a balanced life! And we will learn to live the abundant life Jesus tells us about! 

Tomorrow: "Don't Worry!"

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015