January 25, 2020

January 25
Running with Jesus

Luke 6:1,8 "And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands." But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.

     Well Jesus is in heap of trouble again with those religious leaders. He broke one of their laws. They had added so many laws to God's laws the people could not enjoy their day of rest and focus on God. They could not pull corn to eat, and Jesus couldn't heal a man!  When we have so many "church" rules we can't enjoy it we better sit back and do a “think”. When these men saw a man get healed they were not excited about the man's miracle! They had little regard for this man! 
     A new truth to think about: God didn't cease working on the Sabbath if He had ceased working would there not be total chaos down here?! The sun wouldn't shine, we would have no air to breathe and everything would explode! We would fly off the earth. But the truth is the Sabbath Day is a day for us to cease from labor so we won’t forget God and rest. They were so steeped in going to church they missed God! They missed a miracle. They missed Jesus. We are so busy doing life we don't cease and leave God out. 
     Now for us the Pharisee's will always be running by our sides but we are not to focus on them. You and I just have to keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our race. 
     So don't be bothered or side tracked, stay right with Jesus today! Stay in the race!

Thank you, Father for the little taste of the water and nuggets of truth we find in Your Word for the run! They help us stay in the race. 

Keep going runners Jesus has more miracles to show us!!!

Tomorrow:  We will be taught the attitudes of a runner!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

January 24, 2020

January 24
Running with Jesus 2015

Luke 6:12 "And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God."
   

          All night in prayer, hum! Now let's hang out with this thought!  We have Lay Renewal at our church sometimes and I usually am over the prayer coordinator. We have a 24 hour prayer service I have stayed up all night praying alongside others who volunteer to come pray for one hour. I have enjoyed being a part of this just to see people's faces when they come out. I have so much joy I didn't miss the sleep I lost. Most of the time you can call for a Prayer meeting and only a few show up. We are lacking in prayer in the body. Some other religions, that have no alive God, have a deep committed prayer life while we ignore our true, living, Holy God who has forgiven us. We are such halfhearted Christians. We are watered down. 
         Jesus ran up into a mountain to spend time with God all night. When He comes down He will find His disciples and a multitude of needy people surrounding Him needing a touch. Being moved with compassion He will begin to teach the people the great "Be Attitudes".
          Running with Jesus will call for us to give much time in prayer also. We need to find guidance, strength and help to stay in this race. Prayer is the key to learning to live life in the presence of God. We can go through anything as long as we know God is with us. It is those times when we feel abandoned we get fearful and begin to doubt. 
Time well spent in God's presence will develop endurance for your race.

Father, help us develop knowing Your presence and show us how to be in constant communication with You. Give us wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Help us stay committed to praying because Jesus is our Teacher if He needed a strong prayer life how much more do we need one?

Runners run to pray today. Set aside one hour, turn everything off and get into God's presence. 

Tomorrow:  Thinking about how long we pray!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

January 23, 2020

January 23
Running with Jesus 2015

Luke 6:7 "And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him."

Today let's examine our lives. The question is, “Are you really born again or just religious?”  Philippians 2:12b says ...."continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling". We are to take this salvation business serious. Another text tells us that we are saved by grace through faith not works however works are the evidence that we have faith. We see those scribes and Pharisee's running right along with Jesus watching to find some reason to stop Him!  The scribes were writers and interpreters of Jewish law. The Pharisee's were one of the ruling parties in the Sanhedrin court, who later helped crucify Christ. I heard one say the lesson we learn from Jesus about them was never be like them. They were self-righteous and even added their laws to the Laws of God placing themselves above the laws of God. Now they were very religious, attended every service, prayed and fasted, and they didn't go or run with people they believed were "sinners". The problem was they never came to the knowledge they were sinners. We cannot be born again until we understand we are in need of a Savior, to deliver us from the penalty of sin. They were very judgmental of others because they used themselves to measure righteousness. We should use Jesus to measure ourselves. We can be religious and split hell wide open! We need to see if we are true runners of Christ. You can say all day you are a runner of Christ but never get on the track that will make you one. The religious will run right along beside Jesus in this life and will appear to be a disciple. The test will be where will you be after this life. So work out your salvation with fear and trembling! Show me your faith by your works! If you don't work for His kingdom, you better do a self check! You were saved to do good works. God looks at man’s heart not his outward appearance. The Pharisees and Scribes had position and power inside the government and were used to help keep Jewish law among the people. The power and position helped them miss out on knowing Christ. Are you in a position of power and enjoy making the rules over the Word of God. Being in position at church does not make you a Christian. You can be in church twenty-four/seven, hold office, teach Sunday School and tithe and not know Christ! So examine your heart, do you really know Christ or have you just been churched? The Scribes and Pharisees are examples of "being churched"! 

Father, today with fear and trembling we ask You to examine our hearts. Help us discern if we really know You! Help us not seek power or position. Help us find ways to take up a servant role in our lives. Today we humble ourselves under Your mighty hand. 

Uh-oh, Jesus heals a man on the sabbath in the morning! The Pharisee's are lurking in the background!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

January 22, 2020

January 22
Running with Jesus

Luke 5:27-28 And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed him.

          Levi, the tax collector, also known as Matthew, was among the publican officials who gathered taxes. They were hated by the Jews because they worked for the Romans. Tax collectors could walk up and tax them for what they were carrying. They were extortionist because they collected the government tax and added on some for themselves. They were considered chief sinners. The Jewish religious leaders would not have anything to do with them, yet we find Jesus calling Levi to follow Him and He goes to Levi’s house for a feast.  Jesus came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance, and we find a new insight into Jesus teaching. Jesus had already taught a lesson on us being sinners by healing the leper, a diseased outcast man. Now he is revealing He is out looking for the unrighteous and showing us an awesome picture of grace and mercy. Another text tells us God is full of mercy and grace. This despised tax collector can find mercy and grace. Not only could he be forgiven as a "great sinner" but was one chosen to be one of Jesus first disciples. He could run with Jesus and later wrote part of a book that is one of the best sellers today, "The Bible". Matthews’s book was written specifically to the Jews to prove Jesus was their Messiah and how Jesus fulfilled prophesy. 
          Now he is the ultimate picture of God's grace and mercy. Anyone can be forgiven and used in God's kingdom. God is still looking and calling sinners today. God was teaching these religious, self-righteous Jews about sin and now grace and mercy for chiefest of sinners. We must watch out for self-righteousness and never think you are above sinning. God's Word says we are all sinners there is none righteous no not one. You can't be saved until you know you are a sinner. Jesus called and Levi left all and followed Him, took Jesus home, and made a feast. What a difference Jesus made in this cheater’s life when he chose to run with Jesus!
          Jesus wants to transform sinners. He can transform our lives. Do you hear Jesus calling you today? Leave it all and follow Him.

Tomorrow: Look out, Pharisee's are running beside Jesus!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

January 21, 2020

January 21
Running with Jesus

Luke 5: 25 "And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God."

      Glorifying God!! Now this is something I see lacking in this generation, gratification! We live in one of the most impolite generations I have seen. They take everything for granted and use no manners. We were taught to say yes ma’am and no ma’am and thank you. You might be thinking not me, but stop and think every day God takes care of us. Do you have shelter over your head, do you have a bed to sleep in. Let's see, did you go to bed hungry, were you able to stand on two feet, did you have eyes to see with, could you hear the clock go off? I am just saying, do you realize each of these things are a blessing and a gift from God! Oh, we say we don't take God for granted! Oh how America needs to run with Jesus! When we get out of self and look down from His point of view each of us are walking, talking, blessed miracles and we should be glorifying God every day! We are looking for miracles
in big things but we have Miracles daily in the little things. Our breath that keeps us alive and sustains us comes from God! The birth of a child knitted in a mom’s womb! Look around at the miracles!! It will change your family when they see the look of gratitude on your face! When you look into the face of your spouse or child it is a miracle they returned home safely that day, some didn't!!! Don't take the little miracles for granted! Let's have a Glorifying day! Don't complain today no matter what you hear or feel! I declare this “God get's the GLORY day!” Racers on your mark get set ,go and tell as many as you can how much God has done for you. 

 

Father, I give You Glory and honor today for my salvation and life You have given me! 

Share this post with your friends! Lift Jesus up in praise and then Type "I am giving Jesus Glory today” and ask others to join and share! Let the glory begin!

Tomorrow: Join me and watch Jesus transform someone's life!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

"I am giving Jesus Glory today”!!!