​Mk 5:21-24 - When Jesus had crossed over again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him; and so He stayed by the seashore. 22 One of the synagogue officials named Jairus came up, and on seeing Him, fell at His feet 23 and implored Him earnestly, saying, "My little daughter is at the point of death; please come and lay Your hands on her, so that she will get well and live." 24 And He went off with him; and a large crowd was following Him and pressing in on Him. NASU 

• Interruptions Defined 

An Interruption is that which "breaks in or upon". If you are at the dinner table and the phone rings this is an interruption. Thirty years ago at our dinner table I was able to take the phone off the hook, but those days are long gone. Now everyone has their own phone that can be used as an interruption.
 
I can remember going into meetings and saying, "Hold all my calls I don't want any interruptions." 

• Even Jesus Faced Interruptions 

In our text above Jesus is greeted by this large crowd as He disembarks from the boat. Jesus would have been there to teach them the Word of God and to heal those with diseases. He is interrupted when Jairus comes to Him and pleads with Him to come and heal his daughter who is really sick.
 
Jairus is not the only interruption that Jesus will encounter this day.
 
While on the way to Jairus' house Jesus is faced with another interruption. This time it is a woman who is in need of Jesus' healing powers for herself. She thought, "If I just touch His garments, I will get well."
 
She moves in and secretly touches Jesus' clothes and when she does she is immediately healed of her 12 year long illness. This is where the story gets interesting. Jesus stops, turns around and says, "Who touched My garments?"
 
This is not going according to her plan. She wanted to touch Him be healed and slip off into the crowd. Jesus wasn't supposed to stop and turn around and question the crowd of people. 

• Mean While Jairus' Daughter Is Dying 

What would you be thinking if you were Jairus?  Would you be thinking "I don't need this interruption right now."?
 
Would you get involved and speak out like this?

"Alright, if you touched Him I want you to tell Him, NOW, the longer we stand here the sicker my daughter becomes."
 
Jairus waits patiently while Jesus engages with this lady and commends her for her faith.

• Are We Able To Wait Patiently And Remain Faithful?

When we experience interruptions in our lives are we able to wait patiently for Jesus to come and answer our prayers?
 
The lady was sick for 12 years with her illness yet she never gave up on her faith.
 
Would we continue to pray about something if our prayer had not been answered in 12 years? Would we remain faithful to God if we hadn't received the answer to our prayer sooner than that? 

• Goals And Interruptions 

What are your goals in life?
 
Do you know that anything that doesn't help you accomplish your goals is an interruption in your life?
 
When interruptions entered into Jesus' life He used them to Glorify God.
 
We need to realize interruptions may come into our life and stay for years so that we can glorify God with them.
 
Jairus is going to receive more than he asked for that day. He asked for a healing and what he is about to receive is his 12 year old daughter resurrected from the dead.
 
Many times with God you will receive more than you ask, but you must persevere through to the end.
 
If your life is being altered because of interruptions, be like Jairus and the woman who suffered for 12 years, put your faith in Jesus and wait for Him to answer your prayers.
 
Think About This:
 
Life is 10% what you make it and 90% how you take it.
 
Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word

​Proverbs 15:23 - A man has joy in an apt answer, And how delightful is a timely word!    NASB

     Some Days Are Harder Than Others

Just when you thought you couldn't go another step, when the weight of the world was crushing you, it happened. You received a call or maybe even a visit and as that person spoke to you your strength rejuvenated within you.

What a blessing some people are able to bring into your life immediately.

The Message says it this way: Congenial conversation—what a pleasure! The right word at the right time—beautiful! (Proverbs 15:23 MSG)

     My Early Christian Life

When I first became a Christian there was a man named, Jay Pancake, who attended the same congregation that I did. He was about 20 or so years older than me. We became great friends. If I had a stressed out look on my face he could always tell it. He would always say to me, "You need to come out to the house and drink some of Patsy's ice tea with me." I'd say, "When?" And he say, "Today, of course."

We both knew what that meant. Whatever was causing me to struggle was going to disappear. Jay had that wisdom that only comes through life experiences and aging. Has life taught you some valuable lessons? Then share them with others. Helping others over the obstacle they are facing is just one way we can be like Jesus.

     Are You Having One Of Those Days?

Solomon says, "How delightful is a timely word!" Hopefully, this Pump Up will give you a lift today or maybe you have a Jay Pancake in your life. Give him or her a call or better yet, if they live close to you stop in and visit with them. They will know by the look on your face why you are there and they won't mind at all.

     Be On The Lookout

One of the worse traps we can fall into in this life is thinking only about ourselves. As you travel around today be on the lookout for someone who could use a timely word. Be a Jay Pancake to someone today.

Follow the advice of Solomon either from the Message: Congenial conversation—what a pleasure! The right word at the right time—beautiful!
 
Or from the NASB - A man has joy in an apt answer, And how delightful is a timely word!

I guarantee you that there is someone in the world today who you will come in contact with that could use a timely word from you.

Think About These:

A friend is someone who believes in you. Even when you have ceased to believe in yourself.

No matter how good or bad your life is, wake up each morning and be thankful that you still have one.

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word

Ps 46:10 - "Be still, and know that I am God;…"  NIV 

            The Best Advice
 
This friends is the best advice I can give you when your life is filled with frustrations. It is at this time that you want to find a place where you can "be still". The Hebrew word used here means "to be astonished, be silent, or to quiet yourself".
 
Now that is not all you are to do. While you are being silent, "KNOW that I am God," the Lord says.
 
As you read all of Psalm 46 you will see the Psalmist is letting us know God is the one who protects us. He is our refuge, strength and ever present help in trouble.

             Your Most Frustrating Time In Life
 
As you read this Pump Up think back on a time in your life when you were totally frustrated with your life. Ask yourself this question, "What brought on your frustrations?"
 
A lot of our frustrations come as a result of "unmet expectations". We expect something (a promotion or a financial raise at work) to happen to us or for us at work and if it doesn't happen we become frustrated with the situation.
 
Similar expectations can take place at home, school, or in our personal lives, and when they don't happen the frustrations come upon us quickly.

            How To Handle Frustrating Situations
 
The Psalmist says, "Be Still, and know that I am God…"  In other words, he is saying, "Trust in God." God sees what is going on in all of our lives. Some of these very things may be happening to us as a test.
 
Heb 11:17 - "By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac,…"  NASU
 
How frustrated could that command have made us? God tells Abraham now to go and sacrifice his son, Isaac. It took 25 years for God to fulfill His promise to Abraham that he would have a son.
 
Now he has a son and he is told by God to sacrifice him. I am sure that didn't meet his expectations of things to do with Isaac.
 
But God's word informs us it was a "test". Instead of becoming frustrated control your emotions and keep telling yourself this is a test from God and He would not be giving it to me if He didn't think I could pass it.
 
            How Are God's Tests Frustrating You Today?
 
I would like for you to think on that question for a minute.
 
Are some of the frustrations you are experiencing from God? Is He trying to give you a test that will make you spiritually stronger?  
 
It really doesn't matter if God is giving you a test or not. The key here is Ps. 46:10 -"Be Still, and know that I am God…" is the answer to our frustrations.
 
The frustrations you are facing could be coming from someone else besides God but the key is Being Still, and know who your God is, and what He is capable of accomplishing with you.
 
Think on These:
 
What chance can a man have to control his destiny when he can't control himself?
 
During times of frustrations the best weapon to hold is your tongue.

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word

I Sam.17:36-37 - "Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he has taunted the armies of the living God.” And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and may the Lord be with you.”

• Importance Of Remembering Your Victories

David was remembering how God had delivered him from the paw of a lion and a bear. It is important that we remember our past victories with the Lord and David was doing exactly that.

When was the last time you remembered some of your victories that you had with the Lord? This is very important please take some time either now or when you finish this Pump Up and replay some of the victories you and the Lord have shared in your life. 

• Remembering Your Past As You Head Towards Your Future

He also believed that God would deliver him from the hand of this uncircumcised Philistine. David hadn’t fought Goliath yet physically, but he had fought him mentally and won.

He saw himself defeating this enemy like he had defeated others before. David didn’t fight alone. He knew God was with him when he entered on to the battlefield.

When you go into battle do you see the Lord going with you? If you don’t see God traveling with you don’t go. The Lord has helped you defeat other enemies in your life and He will help you as you face these new ones.

Be like David and remember how the Lord has helped you in the past and will now help you as you travel into your future.
 
·What battles are you fighting today?
 
Is it financial, health, family, work or some other type of battle? Then if you don’t mind me making a suggestion follow in the footsteps of David. He remembered how God had delivered him in the past.When we are entering into a battle we need to remember how God has delivered us in the past.
 
·My Own Personal Financial Crisis
 
I was having a financial crisis many years ago. I was asked to preach at a little country church. This was my first sermon ever. When I entered that church building that day I only had 11 cents to my name. After I finished preaching and all the people had departed one of the elders handed me a check for $35.00. 

When I saw that check I was excited for a second, BUT I couldn’t take the check. I personally thought I had preached the worse sermon ever. So I informed the elder I could not accept money for that sermon. I signed the check and gave it back to him. 

Later that afternoon I got a call from the Boilermaker’s Union Hall to report to Shippingport, PA at the power plant the next morning. When I got my first paycheck it was for $350.00. God gave me 10 times the amount I gave to Him. 

God had delivered me from that financial crisis and He has delivered me from many different types of crises since then.
 
·Remembering Your Victories Like David
 
What you want to do is remember the times God has delivered you. Too many times we forget what God has done for us. Don’t let this happen to you. Remember what God has done for you. He has told us He will never leave us nor forsake us (Heb.13:5).

Once you have mentally visualized you and God conquering your enemy then it is time to actually fight the fight.

Get Going with God!

It is the way to success.

Think About These:

When we let God guide, He will provide.

The Lord calls for us to stand, though not always to understand. 

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word