May 4, 2019

May 4

Running with Jesus

Luke 21:1-4 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

     The religious flaunted their offerings, they would drop their coins and let them rattle so others could hear and see what they gave! This poor widow comes in and gives all she had! She gave her all and knew He would multiply her giving. 

      I can't help but think about my mom. She lived on a humble means but fed 5,000! We talked about this at her funeral, mom's refrigerator had no back to it!  She was always inviting people to eat and could use her few dollars to feed a multitude. It was like watching Jesus and the little boy’s small lunch! She could just pull anything from it! I once told her she could make soup from dish water! Lol! She was a blessed woman! Being young I didn't understand how it all worked but as I grew older and as I ran with Christ I began to understand you can't out give God! This is true for anything we need! If you need love give love, need mercy give mercy, need compassion give compassion, need forgiveness give forgiveness.

      Some people have the gift of giving and we can learn from them how to be a better giver! God even ask us to test Him in this area! 

     This woman's tithe was given out of love the others were for show and expectations of praise from man. Her’s was the greater gift because it glorified God and revealed true FAITH! Real faith is big in the eyes of God! We look through fleshly eyes! We need to look at things from God's point of view. So when you give, give out of love and faith. God always looks into what is in our hearts and the attitude of the giving.

 Father, we give ourselves first to You and then we want to become the giver You desire! Help us give and watch You work a miracle in our lives!

Let's settle some things in our hearts, tomorrow!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

May 3, 2019

May 3

Running with Jesus

Luke 20:27 Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection…

       I don't know if you have met this group of people called the Sadducees, but I love this little thought someone shared with me a long time ago. They were "Sad u See's" because they do not believe in the resurrection life!   There are a lot of "Sad u see's" in our world today. They are like these religious guru's. They too believe there will be no resurrection and live like it too! 

      Christianity is the only religion that gives a person true security and HOPE! Life apart from God makes no sense! There is no real peace other than in Christ! 

       As a child I was so afraid of dying until the night I gave my heart to Jesus. Jesus removed that fear because I knew even as a child I had peace with God!

       I often think of believing in God and the work of Jesus death on the cross, I have nothing to lose! However, for those of you who are unbelievers, you have everything to lose if we are right and you are wrong!  I would rather take my chance as a Christ than to risk one moment of dying and going to spend eternity in hell! 

       You see I am not so "sad u see" because I have the love of God and the joy of knowing Christ that gives us peace that passes all understanding! The three things we all desire are love, joy and peace!  And also we have the joy of knowing when a loved one dies, we will see them again! 

      The only way to have resurrection life and live eternally with God is to recognize you are a sinner and confess your sins to God. Ask Him to forgive you. Then believe that Jesus is God's Son and place your faith in Christ, Who died on the cross, was buried and was raised to life! The Word says you shall have eternal resurrection life!

      So are you a "Sad u See"? If so you don't have to be! Just pray right now for Jesus to save your soul! If you are not a “Sad U See" let's give God praise this morning!

Father, we thank You for eternal, resurrection life and no matter what we go through down here we can know we have peace with You and resurrection life! We thank You! Help us share Jesus with at least one "Sad U See" today! Make us aware when that door opens and give us boldness to speak up! 

Tomorrow: We will get a real nugget from His Word of truth! Be sure and come back!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

May 2, 2019

DISCLAIMOR: I'M CATCHING UP AFTER SEVERAL GLORIOUS DAYS AT "FAITH WALK #26". IF YOU EVER HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!!!

May 2

Running with Jesus  

Luke 20:18 Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

     Some days I want to start writing and my thoughts for a verse draw BLANK!  But I pray and ask God to show me something from His Word. 

      We fast forward a few verses into chapter 20 and we find Jesus has had a long dialogue with the religious leaders. They were trying to trick Him so they could bring Him to court to get rid of Him. Of course, Jesus will give Himself to them in His time.  In verse 18 He really makes them angry because He reveals He is talking about them in the stories He is telling them. 

      I began to search for some insight to this text, so I went to my Life Application Bible foot note and its focus was on "broken". In God's dictionary brokenness is not only good but also essential. He uses only people whose hearts, will, and pride have been broken. Jesus gives a double warning for those who stumble over, that stone -himself- will be broken into pieces. While it will crush anyone it falls on. God offers us a choice of "brokenness", those who cast themselves on Jesus, submitting their wills and all that they are to Him will be broken of arrogance, hard heartedness, and self-centeredness. It is not a pleasant process but a necessary one. For those who will not submit to Him, He will fall on them "crushing" them! The choice is ours broken before Him or crushed by Him!

     Whew, big stuff! I think I shall fall before Him! One day every knee will bow before Him! But it will be too late for those who would not be broken!

Oh Father, be merciful to us as sinners! Thank You for revealing to us Who You are! Help us to remember not to think more of ourselves than we should! Help us stay at Your feet! We are a needy people! Help us run with You and keep Your attitude and Spirit alive in us. 

Tomorrow: Are you a "So Sad U See?"

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

May 1, 2019

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 and 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 world changers! 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 and 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, 2019

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