Author: Judy Glasser

Life is a journey. Sometimes I'm coasting downhill and, other times, its a tough road uphill. My journey has been straight uphill since May 19, 2016 when my son, David Glasser, who was a Phoenix Police Officer was killed in the line of duty. When my life and dreams blew apart, I only had one option - to hold on tightly to my Rock, my Father God. I have a new understanding of just how short life is and how important it is to take loving each other seriously. God is love and all love comes from him. I have seen love do supernatural things since my son was killed. I have published a book, "Then I Looked Up: Losing a Child, Finding His Legacy of Love." about my tough and painful journey since my son was killed. You can order it from Amazon or you can get an autographed copy by contacting me on messenger. I am sharing some of my experiences as a survivor of a line of duty death in MYFAMILYBLEEDSBLUE.COM. Please feel free to share these blogs with anyone you know who might find them helpful. My other blog - JOURNEYTOWARDSTHETRUTH.COM - has been a work of love for many years as I read through the Chronological Daily Bible each year and share what I hear from God when he stops me. I am inviting you to come along on one or both of my journeys. Please share as often as you'd like. Thanks so much for reading!

When the Wicked are Winning

On By Judy GlasserIn AugustLeave a comment

I don’t understand it.August 10 2014 Wicked are Winning

When bad things happen to good people.

When it looks like the wicked are winning.

We read about the Great Deportation in 2 Kings.  Nebuchadnezzar took all of the people of Jerusalem to Babylon.

Into captivity.

God’s chosen people.

Satan had to think he was winning at this point.

Nebuchadnezzar stripped the Temple of the Lord of all of its treasures and put all of it in the temple of Babylon.   The treasures Solomon had dedicated to God were now being used to honor and worship a wicked, pagan god.

Now Satan really had to think he was winning.

We know there were faithful believers in this crowd of Jews that went to Babylon – we just read about Daniel and his friends.  We can safely assume these believers were praying and repenting all of the way.

But God’s plan had been put in motion a long time before this actually happened.  We just read through many of the prophecies that predicted that this was going to happen.  It was the consequence for Israel’s habit of repenting and then rebelling again.  Over and over, generation after generation.

When it looks like the wicked are winning, the only thing I understand for sure is that God’s ways are not our ways.  His thoughts are not our thoughts.

And my faith stands firm  on God’s promises to us –

he loves us,

he wants the best for us,

and he is working it all out for our good.

God’s got this!

Hallelujah!  Amen!

 

Learn the Lesson

On By Judy GlasserIn AugustLeave a comment

“Will you not learn a lesson and obey my words?” declares the Lord in Jeremiah 25.

Learn a lesson.August 7 2014 Learn the Lesson

How good are we at learning lessons?

Learning involves changing.  Changing our thought process which changes our attitudes which changes our behavior.

Changing.

Some of us are scared of changing – not sure the change is going to be a good one.

Some of us are too stubborn to change – we think we’re just fine the way we are.

Some of us are too lazy to change – it takes an effort.

And there are plenty of other reasons and excuses we use to justify not changing.

God tells us over and over and OVER in his word that he wants to change us, renew our minds, transform us, cleanse our hearts.  He wants us to learn the lessons he is giving us…..and that requires changing.

In order to do that, we have to obey him.  Today, tomorrow, every day until we die.

We have to submit our will to his.

God is asking us today, “Will you not learn a lesson?”

Yes, dear Father.

Follow with Care

On By Judy GlasserIn AugustLeave a comment

King Josiah brought about wide-spread religious reforms in Judah which included cleaning out the temples of anything related to idols or pagan worship.  While doing this, they found the Book of the Law of the Lord which had been given to Moses.  The king ordered that it be read to all of the people and then they all renewed their covenant with the one True God.August 2 2014 Follow with care

King Josiah brought all of the priests together and slaughtered them.  The priests had been given a holy position of authority and responsibility and they had led the people astray with it.  They not only told the people that idol worship was good, they led the worship and participated in all of the pagan rituals.

They led.

And the people followed.

The lesson for us is that we need to be very careful about who we are following.  And where they are taking us.Aug 2 2014 2 same one

I regularly hear of church families which have wandered down paths that have taken them far away from God’s truth.  With their pastor and church leaders leading the way.

We each need to know God’s Word well enough to be able to discern if our leaders start to veer off.  When we know the truth well, it’s much easier to tell what is false.

There are numerous issues in the Bible which are not totally clear so these are not the issues that should cause us alarm.  There are various  ‘theories’ and ‘positions’ regarding these unclear items.  Many of us choose a certain type of church because their view on an issue matches our view.

The denomination of churches which I was brought up in and joined when I moved to Phoenix doesn’t believe in the Rapture.  So I never heard of it before I became an adult and the Left Behind series came out.  The Bible isn’t clear so, selfishly, I’d like the Rapture to happen before the Tribulation so that I’m out of here. (If I went to seminary, I would say that I’m ”Pre-Trib”)   If none of that happens, I’m still on the original plan of dying before I get to heaven.

We can choose to believe what we want to believe about many of these issues – they don’t change our salvation.  If it was super-important, God would have made it super-clear.  Like John 3:16.  Salvation.  Clear.  John 14:6. One Way.  Clear.

Our pastors and church leaders have been given holy positions of authority and responsibility to lead and care for Jesus’ flock.

We have also been given a holy position with responsibility – to follow with care.

Help us know the truth, dear Father.

Our Confidence

On By Judy GlasserIn AugustLeave a comment

We are blessed when we put our trust in the Lord.July 31 2014 Our Confidence

When we are confident in our relationship with him, we are like a tree he has planted right by the water.  Our faith grows like strong roots- stretching far out into the stream.

Then we don’t have to worry when the ‘heat’ comes – problems, discouragement, heartbreak.  We are always fed by God’s stream of water so our faith remains alive and strong.

We don’t have to worry about the drought – illnesses, loss of employment, broken relationships – because we are permanently attached to a constant source of Living Water.  As a result of this connection, we consistently bear fruit in our lives.

Jeremiah draws this picture for us in his 17th chapter and it’s just like the picture given us in Psalm 1.  Why does God keep giving us this image on how to be blessed?  Why is he etching these words so deeply onto our hearts?

HHmmmm.

Are we getting the message yet?

Thank you, dear Father!

The Challenge

On By Judy GlasserIn AugustLeave a comment

“You are always on their lips but far from their hearts.” says Jeremiah as he talks to God.

He was talking about the people of Judah……July 29 2014 The Challenge

but could he be talking about us, too?

Do we talk about God while keeping our hearts safely out of his reach?

Do we read God’s Word without letting any of it soak in and change us?

Have we experienced God touching our spirit and renewing our mind recently?  Today?  This week? This month?  This year?

Are we stuck on giving God lip service when he desires to transform our lives?

What will it take for us to

open up our hearts…

take that next step…

stop talking about God and let him into our lives do something miraculous?

Today is the day, dear Father.

Who Is My Instructor?

On By Judy GlasserIn JulyLeave a comment

“Who has been instructed by the Lord?’ asked Jeremiah in his 9th chapter.

How many of us seriously consider where our instruction is coming from?July 28 2014 Who is My Instructor

Is it coming from TV?  Do we believe everything we hear on the news or on the internet?  Do we quote these things to others like it’s verified fact?

Is our instruction coming from family or friends?  Our boss? If so, where are they receiving their instruction?

Or is it all about what I ‘think’?  Where did that instruction come from and what is it based on?

We also need to consider how Satan is constantly trying to give us directions.  He and his pack prowl around us waiting for a weak moment where they can ‘instruct’ us in how to rationalize our bad behavior.  Satan gets a big smile on his face whenever we seek instruction from any source other than God.

God tells us to use his infallible word for our instruction and to compare everything else to it in order to discern if the other thing is true or false.  As we read and study God’s word, he instructs us.

And there is always more to know – that’s the lifelong journey towards the truth that we’re on.  I think it’s great that you are all on this journey with me and that you read the thoughts and meditations God gives me.  It is my prayer that you are also reading God’s word yourself so that God can speak directly to you and instruct you.

Thank you for your amazing and living word to us, dear Father.

I’m Not Stubborn!

On By Judy GlasserIn JulyLeave a comment

I’m not stubborn!July 28 2014 stubborn

I’m not stubborn!

These words make me smile because it brings back a memory that is now precious of my daughter when she was a  small, very determined, 5 year old.  Her older brother would tease her about being stubborn and she would yell these words loudly and repeatedly – proving his point.

But she couldn’t see that.  Her mind was closed to the idea that her behavior was anything other than acceptable.

She was just a little girl with a lot to learn.  She has since grown into a beautiful, extremely intelligent, still very determined young woman who hasn’t said these words in a long time.

Just like us – we don’t say the words.  But do we have this attitude?  Can we take down the self-protective walls that we’ve built in our minds and take an honest look at our behavior?  Is there a stubborn streak there?  I know I can be stubborn.  In the past I would have said it was because I was always right but God has already shown me the error of that thinking 🙂

Jeremiah tells us in his 7th chapter that God accuses Israel of being stubborn.  He has commanded them to obey him but they do not listen.  They ‘follow the stubborn inclination of their evil hearts.’

Ouch!

Our stubbornness leads to behavior that does not please God.

Please open our eyes to our stubbornness, dear Father, so we can let you transform it into obedience.

Our Hearts

On By Judy GlasserIn JulyLeave a comment

Our desire is for you to circumcise our hearts, dear Father.July 26 2014 our hearts

Please help us cut away the parts that only focus on ourselves – the selfishness and immaturity.

Take away the sections that care so much about the ‘things’ of this world.  They distract us from you.

Please help us get rid of the areas that are filled with worthless guilt and regrets which weigh us down.  You forgave and forgot about those many years ago when we confessed them the first time.

Please tear away the dark parts so our light for you can shine brighter.

Cut out the judgemental part of our heart and replace it with love for others.

We pray for a new heart that is soft and wide-open to you, dear Father.  We thank you because we know this is also what you want for us, so it will happen when we faithfully stay in this journey.

One day at a time.

On our way to you, dear Father.

 

Closer to God

On By Judy GlasserIn JulyLeave a comment

Most of us have a place where we feel closer to God.

Mine is the beach.  Followed closely by the mountains.rainbow in hawaii 2014

My husband and I are on a 12- day vacation in Hawaii and, each day, I am reminded specifically how awesome our Father God is!

A beautiful rainbow out over the ocean on our first morning here reminded me of God’s faithfulness to us – generation after generation.

The gorgeous sunsets over the ocean every evening paint a glorious picture of all of the colors and shapes of God’s love.

Peaking under the surface of the ocean while snorkeling, I was amazed once again at the vast power of our Creator God who holds it all together by the power of his will.  Yet, as a small fish swims by with it’s beautiful combination of red and yellows outlined perfectly by a sweeping line of black across it’s side, I am so thankful for how God cares for the smallest details.lights of waikiki 2014

Hundreds of lights dotting the skyline of Waikiki from our balcony representing thousands of people from all over the world reminds me that Jesus came to earth to redeem ALL of those who would believe in him and accept his salvation.

We know that all of these things are true because of God’s Word to us.

What new things will God reveal to us as we continue on our journey?

Santa Claus is Not Coming to Town

On By Judy GlasserIn JulyLeave a comment

Many years ago, God opened my eyes to the fact that my relationship with him needed to improve – I was treating him a lot like Santa Claus.  I would create a long prayer list of things for myself and others.  Then I would metaphorically climb into his lap, fold my hands, shut my eyes and start down my list of ‘wants’.July 25 2014 Santa Claus

After I was done, I would jump down from his lap and go on my way – expecting that he’d give me what I asked for.  If he didn’t, I’d add it to my list again and repeat myself – telling God what I wanted to happen.  If it still didn’t happen, I would feel some frustration starting – why weren’t these things happening?

Jeremiah talks to us about Judah mistreating their relationship with God in his second chapter.  He tells Judah that they have turned their backs on God.  But, when they are in trouble, they call on him to save them.  Jeremiah asks them why they don’t call out for help to the gods they serve every day – the gods they obviously worship?

For us, these false gods could be a variety of things – money, success, relationships – whatever we spend most of our time and money on.  Jeremiah tells us that – if these are our gods, why don’t we go to them when we have a need?  And stop blaming the True God when we don’t get what we want.

I am so grateful that God opened my eyes to how I was treating him like Santa Claus.  I said I loved him – is this how I showed him that?  Is this how I wanted my relationship with him to be?

I decided to always start my prayers with thanking God and that has helped me grow a more loving relationship with him.  It reminds me of his years and years of faithfulness to me and I am reassured that everything in the future is also in his hands.  I can trust him.  Most of my requests now center around asking for God’s will in situations.  He wants the best for us and that’s what I want as well.  So that’s what I ask for.

Yes, God also tells us to pray specifically.  I love, love the example of the persistent widow and that’s my ‘go to’ process when something big is going down.  Even when I pray for specific things, I will add ‘your will be done’.  Because that’s what I really want.

And, when we pray for what is in God’s will, it always happens.

We can avoid all the worry and stress – God’s got this!

Thank you, dear Father!