May 1,2020

May 1

Running with Jesus  

Luke 19:47-48  And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him,  And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.

       As little children we all have a hero! Superman, Mighty Mouse in my day and now we have Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers , Barbie dolls, Anna and Elsa for little girls. And we could list a host of athletes and car race drivers to fill several pages. 

       I have a few Christian heroes, my mom for starters who taught and raised me to love Jesus. Then there was a missionary from Japan whose name I don't remember that made a deep impression on me as a little girl, I wanted to be just like her. As I grew older Corrie Tin Boom and Katherine Marshall were writers who were my heroes. Why were these heroes, because they each had a great influence and literally saved my mind and helped change my life. Of course, Jesus is my greatest hero! He saved and redeemed my soul from hell and gave me a new life! He saved me from so many things like drug addition, alcoholism and a host of other things I could have become involved with because I was a weak willed person. 

      I am greatly disturbed for the children of the body of Christ. We spend thousands of dollars teaching them about worldly heroes and are not spending hardly any money exposing them to Christian heroes! The Bible is filled with heroes of faith. Show your child a picture of Elsa and Anna they know who they are then show them Mary and Martha’s’ photos, bet you they will not know them! We have Franklin Graham with Samaritan's purse that is a world changer! They might know him! I was shocked when in a study for health, some kids knew who Ronald McDonald was, some Abe Lincoln, some the president but not any in the interview knew who Christ was!  It is so sad. 

      Christ is the greatest Hero ever born, no greater Role Model for our kids but we spend maybe one to two hours a week taking them to church and then go home and He is not brought up again till Sunday morning. We will spend hundreds of dollars for movies and games for them to play and watch their modern day heroes. Also, we will spend at least 2 hours and three days a week training them in all sorts of sports and pay high dollars to by uniforms and travel miles and pay for gas, food and lodging! We spend very little to save their souls and give them the key and tools for survival of life! We don't encourage them to go to VBS or camps! 

      We say we love Jesus and have no idols! The body of Christ is not sharing the greatest Hero anyone could have! We don't act like Him! I watch little toddlers play and dress up like a Ninja Turtle. Now don't get me wrong I am for fun too! But we have to get things in order and priority! We have to be a hero for our children to save their lives! Just saying, do a check list on who you are building up in their lives as heroes! What about soldiers, firemen, doctors, preachers and real world changers! 

Jesus, You are my Hero and I thank You for saving my life! We pray for our children and their children to find the greatest Hero and Role Model! We pray for them to have Godly friends and spouses. Help us to teach them to love You and the things of God. Help us keep You FIRST!  

Broken, tomorrow!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

April 30, 2020

April 30

Running with Jesus

Luke 19:45-46  And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought; Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.

      Jesus went straight to the temple where God's business was! One of the first things He did before preparing to teach was address the courtyard! Due to animal sacrifices, people had to travel on foot, camels, and donkeys, the merchants had set up places for the animals to be bought for their sacrifices. They began to sell animals with spots and put extra weights on the scales for overcharging and this was done just outside the Holy place and the Holy of Holy place where the people met with God! We look and say how could  they do this! Watch out don't judge too quickly! God's house is to be a house of prayer!

     What is prayer, communication with God! How much communication was going on with these religious people! Not much because it would have been reflected in their behaviors and life styles! 

      If we call a prayer meeting only a few show up. How many of us really pray before and about worship on Sunday! Do you lift up your Pastor in prayer? If we could all hear all the conversations and praying that is going on as we arise in the morning, what would we be hearing!   What is the first thought you had when you woke up today? "Oh, do I have to get up?" or "Good Morning Father, good morning Holy Spirit?"   This changed my life and attitude when Charles Stanley shared this in a message. Before he puts a foot to the floor He puts his whole armor on and declares he is a child of God! What an attitude adjustment and a way to start your day with prayer! 

     It was when I answered the call to get up early to pray, my life began to take a major turn!! I let circumstance run and control my thoughts but when I turned my thoughts into prayer time, my life began to turn. God gave me three wonderful prayer partners on call with me 24 hours a day! We are the temple of God now. He came to dwell in our hearts unfortunately we are letting merchant, thieves and robbers control our courtyards. You say no, I say yes! Think right now where were your thoughts when you woke up this morning? 

      Prayer being conversing with God, we should be talking with Him all day! Prayer is being aware you are in the presence of Jehovah all day. You can pray for anyone anytime, ask for guidance with the work of your hands, and will keep you when you have confrontations to stay under control! 

Father, help us realize prayer is sacred and holy. Help us to keep ourselves for You! Make us a house of prayer where we can commune with our Holy God! Father, I know You will not speak to an unholy vessel! Show and teach us how important prayers are to the runner’s survival! It is our lifeline for living!

Tomorrow: Heroes!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

April 29, 2020

April 29

Running with Jesus

Luke 19:41-44 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

      Jesus enters Jerusalem crying because He knew they had their last opportunity to receive Christ their Messiah! 

      My Heart is sad because so many right here in our homeland are rejecting Christ. Jesus prophesied doom would come to them and it did. America the land of the free has believed the lies of the false media prophets "there is no God"! Now just look at the shape our country is in we are in debt we cannot repay and look at the lawlessness in our cities! Where we get slack in obeying God and worshipping Him lawlessness sets in! The society is numb to the things of God.  Look what God promised Israel if they would love God in Deuteronomy:   and if you will love the Lord your God with all your hearts and souls and will worship him,  then he will continue to send both the early and late rains that will produce wonderful crops of grain, grapes for your wine, and olive oil.   He will give you lush pastureland for your cattle to graze in, and you yourselves shall have plenty to eat and be fully content.   He promised they would be fruitful! Why are we deteriorating? We are not showing that we love God! Jesus I am sure is weeping over this land that was built on religious freedom to be able to love Him and serve Him!

Father,  have mercy and awaken the body from their sleep! Help us return to our first Love and help us stand strong in a nation that is rejecting THE ONLY HOPE we have!

           Join me today in prayer for our nation: However, You say if my people will repent and return to Me, I will heal their land. Father, help Your people get rid of their idol, pleasure and anything that is taking our time and energy from our commitment to You! Help our young people that are getting caught up in things that keep them from worship from the first three commands: Have no other gods before You, worship only God and keep the Sabbath day Holy! Remind us Sunday is to be kept Holy! 

Is your house a house of prayer, tomorrow!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

April 28, 2020

April 28

Running with Jesus  

Luke 19:36-37 And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;

     Jesus life is beginning to lead Him to the cross. Over the next few days the enemy would be working hard to get rid of the trouble maker. Jesus would upset the Pharisee's apple cart!   As Jesus enters the town streets were lined with people waving palm branches and singing praises to God for all the wonderful miracles He had done. In a few days the ones who praised  will be scattered! 

     You know it is easy to praise God when we see miracles and things are going our way. What about the times we can't see the miracles and things are not going our way? We sometimes see people scatter! 

      1 Thessalonians 5:18 says "Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."   Paul tells us to be thankful in all circumstance! Now this is hard for me and God has to remind me so often to praise Him in everything!  Some days my spirit can be up and down like riding waves on an ocean. When things are looking and feeling ok I am a happy Christian, but let the least wind come up and I am reaching for my life jacket and looking for a raft to help me survive because I fear a storm is coming to take me out! There is that ugly stop sign the devil throws up, fear ahead! And then sings his favorite song "I've Got You Babe" and as Fred Sanford would say "this is the big one (Judy) Elizabeth" as he grabs his heart. Just thinking about life storms makes my heart palpitate.

     One of the things we have to learn to do during those hard places is praise God! Not just in the good times. Start by praising God for all His attributes. He is all knowing, He is all powerful, He is all present, He is my fortress, He is my rock, He is the creator, He is my sustainer, He is our protector, He is our defender, He is our advocate, He is our stronghold and this list could go on and on. Praising God and keeping a steady focus upon who He is and what He can do, becomes our life preserver. 

Father, we too enter into worship as we run with the runners of praise today. We are looking intently into the face of the King of Kings riding upon this colt and we are waving our palm branches because we have the whole story to behold and know You are indeed the Messiah, the Keeper of our souls. Thank You for reminding my emotions of Who has us. With praise in our hearts and You as our guide we will keep running right by Your side.

Tomorrow: Jesus is crying!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

April 27, 2020

April 27

Running with Jesus  

Luke 19:29-30a And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: 

      There is a lot of insight packed into these verses. Now, I have never tried to break an animal for riding!   I have been told there are five steps in the process. They are stubborn animals. You have to first groom to bond with them and rub them to have contact with them. Then you halter and walk them, next you put a blanket on them to help get them sensitive to touch next a saddle and then weight bearing! I think we are talking days or weeks! Not Jesus, they brought the animal to Him and off He rode! Gently walking down a path with palm leaves being waved and crowded street with people shouting “Hosanna” and praising God! Now that was another miracle!  God sitting on an untrained donkey! No problem, but the revelation of Who He was and that He was in control and proved it by defying the elements of earth. 

      Often when we are running through life circumstances arise that need more faith than you have ever needed before! When we read God's Word faith is increased and built up. Faith comes by hearing God's Word. We can look at this text and increase our Faith! Jesus was God in the flesh and He is Lord of the Host and Almighty God. This verse shows us Jesus defies the law of earth and that He is not controlled by life and circumstances. He has the power to defy our circumstances and enable us to have faith and strength to press on as we run our obstacle course! 

      So what wild ride are you on today! Look to Jesus, riding this untrained donkey and remember if He can ride and defy earthly circumstances He can help you on this ride of life! He is the key to life circumstance! Anytime we bring Christ into the equation we get the right answer. 

      All day think about this scene. The waving of the branches should have spooked the animal! They did not because God was present. He can keep you calm. Stare intently into His face. 

Father, someone needs to see You clearly today. They need to look at You riding that untamed animal so they can be encouraged by Your control and power! They need to know as they run through life You help them jump obstacles they meet! Thank you for letting Dr. Luke record this event in life! It teaches me You were the Messiah and that You have power to help me sit on the wild donkeys of life! 

    Robert Schuller says, “Within every adversity lays a sleeping possibility.” So today let us look at some things

God can do with our hurts if we let Him defy the earth’s elements! 

A lot of praising, tomorrow!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015