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!

I Recognize My Rebellion

On By Judy GlasserIn MarchLeave a comment

David is such an interesting person to study in the Bible!  He loves God and he truly wants to be a man of God.  But he strays and he sins and he does some pretty horrible things.

He always returns to God after he strays.  Psalm 51 is a great example of a repentant heart.  I love that David starts out asking God to have mercy on him ‘because of your unfailing love, because of your great compassion.”

David gets it – God’s mercy comes from love and it can’t be earned.  None of us can ever do anything to earn it.  David did a lot of good things in his life but he knows God’s mercy is his because of God’s love.  It’s a free gift.

We can often have a very hard time really accepting God’s grace.  We think we have to earn it.  So we get lost in busyness of serving God or even in the obligations of serving God.  We forget to just recognize our rebellion and call out to God asking for his mercy and compassion.  Just like David did.

Dear Father, we thank you for your free gift of grace.  We ask you to help us live in that grace every day,

Wherever

On By Judy GlasserIn MarchLeave a comment

In Numbers 9 wer’e told that the cloud covered the Tabernacle and, when the cloud lifted from over the sacred tent, the people would break camp and follow it.  When the cloud settled, the Israelites would set up camp and they stayed there until the cloud moved.

What an awesome level of obedience!  Sometimes we get hung up on stories of the Isrealites whining and we don’t think about the huge job it was to break camp for this very large group of people with their goats and cows and babies and all of their stuff.  They would move and keep on moving until the cloud settled.

I always read the Old Testament taking into consideration that these people didn’t have the Holy Spirit living inside of them like we do.  In those days the Spirit came upon people like Moses and David and the prophets but did not dwell inside of each believer like it does now.  So they had a lot more ‘excuse’ to whine than we do.

Dear Father, we thank you for the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of us, guiding us to your truth.  We ask you to grow our obedience to the level where we watch you and follow you like the Israelites did so many times.

We Know It

On By Judy GlasserIn MarchLeave a comment

‘I wish I knew God’s will for my life’ – I used to say that pretty regularly.

Until I realized that I know about 98% of what God wants me to do with my life.  I don’t always know my next step and I definitely don’t know what’s going to happen next week.  But I know what Jesus has told all of us in Mark 12 – that we are to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength.  We also need to love our neighbor like we love ourselves.

There is it – God’s will for my life.  As I’ve gradually grown in my ability to put God first in my life, I have begun to understand that through this relationship he makes everything else work.  If something is not going right in my life, it’s a symptom of my need to draw closer to God.  Because when I’m hanging close with God, I feel grounded and strong and the waves of ‘real life’ crash all around me but I’m steady.

And it’s this close relationship with God that enables me to love others like I should.  When I’m well-connected to him, he can love others through me.  When I’m having ‘people around me’ problems, it’s also a a symptom of my need to draw closer to God.

Through a close relationship God can guide me in my next step.  He also takes away the fear or worry about the unknown of what’s going to happen next week. 

So today, God asks me to do the part of his will that he has already told me to do – to love him with all I have and to love others.  I will trust him with the rest.

Let it Rain!

On By Judy GlasserIn MarchLeave a comment

Today we read in Leviticus that God promises to send the rains if his people will obey him.
It’s hard to understand what a huge thing that is until you are in a position where you need rain and only God is going to be able to give it to you. I grew up in a rural part of Iowa where the economy of our small town depended on the farming. If the farmers did well, the town was doing well. When the farmer’s crops didn’t do well, nobody did well.
The part of Iowa that I’m from usually received just the right amount of rain for the corn and soybeans that were growing. There was no irrigation available. So, when the rain didn’t come, the only one we had to rely on was God.
I have lots of memories of praying for rain. When the issue was critical, the churches in my small town would have prayer services at night praying for rain. This was serious business. The churches would be packed – standing room only sometimes. And we would spend hours praying for rain. Our dependence on God was crystal clear.   We called out to him in our time of need and I don’t remember an instance where he didn’t respond with rain.
Living in the city, it’s a lot harder to feel that dependence on God. We know everything we have comes from God but it FEELS like everything comes from our paychecks and the grocery store. I think it takes more discipline for us to keep aware of how dependent we are on God.
Another very good reason for us to be committed to reading his Word this year!

Just Newly Arrived

On By Judy GlasserIn MarchLeave a comment

Mark tells us about a day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch them and bless them.  We get this awesome visual picture of Jesus with his hands on the heads of the small children saying blessings over their lives.   Blessings like love, hope, peace, faith and joy.

That’s one of the reasons I had such a strong pull back to the church when my son was little.   Having been brought up in a Christian home and a Christian church family, I knew firsthand the huge blessings that came with being ‘brought to Jesus’ throughout my entire childhood.  When I was a young adult, I wandered away from my relationship with Jesus but I was drawn back by the desire to give my children those same blessings I had received as a child.

In Mark 1o, Jesus tells us that we need to receive the Kingdom of God like a child.  A child is a sponge- ready to learn new things, ready to try new things, ready to believe anything is possible.  I sometimes wonder if one of the reasons little children are so open to God is because they have just recently come from God.  Do they still recognize his voice?  Do they recognize the touch of the One who formed them in their mother’s womb?

Dear Father, we ask you to open up our hearts and minds again like they were when we were little children so that we may know you better.

Our Extra Day

On By Judy GlasserIn FebruaryLeave a comment

What are you doing with your extra day?

This is the question my husband asked me a couple of days ago.  It took me a couple of moments to realize that he was talking about February 29.  Our extra day.  I’m  actually be in LA for some meetings today so it doesn’t feel like an ‘extra day’ but…..

Let’s talk about it.  What are you doing with your extra day?

I’ve got a couple of suggestions (I’m sure that surprises you 🙂

If you’ve been reading this blog but you haven’t joined us in reading through the Bible in 2012, I encourage you to start today.  Actually start with March 1 so you start out ahead!  God has some new and special things to tell us this year as we commit this reading and thinking time to him.

Or, if you started reading but got behind and stopped – your extra day is a great day to get started again.  Start on March 1 and you’ll be ahead, too!  This whole journey is about getting more of God’s Word buzzing around in our heads and our hearts.  It’s not meant to frustrate us or make us feel guilty if we get behind.  Just start back up  – it’s all good.

Here are our readings for March:

1 Leviticus 24:1-25:46; Mark 10:13-31; Psalm 44:9-26; Proverbs 10:20-21
2 Leviticus 25:47-27:13; Mark 10:32-52; Psalm 45:1-17; Proverbs 10:22
3 Leviticus 27:14 – Numbers 1:54; Mark 11:1-26; Psalm 46:1-11; Proverbs 10:23
4 Numbers 2:1-3:51; Mark 11:27-12:17; Psalm 47:1-9; Proverbs 10:24-25
5 Numbers 4:1-5:31; Mark 12:18-37; Psalm 48:1-14; Proverbs 10:26
6 Numbers 6:1-7:89; Mark 12:38-13:13; Psalm 49:1-20; Proverbs 10:27-28
7 Numbers 8:1-9:23; Mark 13:14-37; Psalm 50:1-23; Proverbs 10:29-30
8 Numbers 10:1-11:23; Mark 14:1-21; Psalm 51:1-19; Proverbs 10:31-32
9 Numbers 11:24-13:33; Mark 14:22-52; Psalm 52:1-9; Proverbs 11:1-3
10 Numbers 14:1-15:16; Mark 14:53-72; Psalm 53:1-6; Proverbs 11:4
11 Numbers 15:17-16:40; Mark 15:1-47; Psalm 54:1-7; Proverbs 11:5-6
12 Numbers 16:41-18:32; Mark 16:1-20; Psalm 55:1-23; Proverbs 11:7
13 Numbers 19:1-20:29; Luke 1:1-25; Psalm 56:1-13; Proverbs 11:8
14 Numbers 21:1-22:20; Luke 1:26-56; Psalm 57:1-11; Proverbs 11:9-11
15 Numbers 22:21-23:30; Luke 1:57-80; Psalm 58:1-11; Proverbs 11:12-13
16 Numbers 24:1-25:18; Luke 2:1-35; Psalm 59:1-17; Proverbs 11:14
17 Numbers 26:1-51; Luke 2:36-52; Psalm 60:1-12; Proverbs 11:15
18 Numbers 26:52-28:15; Luke 3:1-22; Psalm 61:1-8; Proverbs 11:16-17
19 Numbers 28:16-29:40; Luke 3:23-38; Psalm 62:1-12; Proverbs 11:18-19
20 Numbers 30:1-31:54; Luke 4:1-30; Psalm 63:1-11; Proverbs 11:20-21
21 Numbers 32:1-33:39; Luke 4:31-5:11; Psalm 64:1-10; Proverbs 11:22
22 Numbers 33:40-35:34; Luke 5:12-28; Psalm 65:1-13; Proverbs 11:23
23 Numbers 36:1 – Deuteronomy 1:46; Luke 5:29-6:11; Psalm 66:1-20; Proverbs 11:24-26
24 Deuteronomy 2:1-3:29; Luke 6:12-38; Psalm 67:1-7; Proverbs 11:27
25 Deuteronomy 4:1-49; Luke 6:39-7:10; Psalm 68:1-18; Proverbs 11:28
26 Deuteronomy 5:1-6:25; Luke 7:11-35; Psalm 68:19-35; Proverbs 11:29-31
27 Deuteronomy 7:1-8:20; Luke 7:36-8:3; Psalm 69:1-18; Proverbs 12:1
28 Deuteronomy 9:1-10:22; Luke 8:4-21; Psalm 69:19-36; Proverbs 12:2-3
29 Deuteronomy 11:1-12:32; Luke 8:22-39; Psalm 70:1-5; Proverbs 12:4
30 Deuteronomy 13:1-15:23; Luke 8:40-9:6; Psalm 71:1-24; Proverbs 12:5-7
31 Deuteronomy 16:1-17:20; Luke 9:7-27; Psalm 72:1-20; Proverbs 12:8-9,

Each Day

On By Judy GlasserIn FebruaryLeave a comment

Each Day the  Lord pours his unfailing love upon me.

Each Day the sun rises to remind me of his faithfulness,

Each day he walks beside me – protecting me,

and guiding me.

Each day I feel his love and gentle spirit.

Each day he forgives me and removes my guilt.

Each day he brings new hope and purpose.

Each day and every night I sing his praises

and speak to him – the God who gives me life.

It’s a Personal Thing

On By Judy GlasserIn FebruaryLeave a comment

We just read how the woman who had bled for 12 years just touched the hem of Jesus’ robe and she was healed.
In today’s reading we see a much different healing. Jesus leads the man away from the crowd and puts his fingers into the man’s ears. Then Jesus spits on his fingers and touched the man’s tongue. As we continue to read about Jesus’ healings, we’re going to see him ask people to wash themselves to be healed and other people will be healed just by Jesus speaking the words.
Interesting – all of these people are healed but their healing comes in different ways. It’s just like Jesus could look into the soul of each person and know what it would take for this person to believe and to be healed. It’s like he knew how each person was different – some needed to be touched, others just needed to touch him and still others had to see actions or personally do actions for it to make sense to them.
It’s like he knew each of them personally. It’s JUST like that, isn’t it?
Just like he knows each of us personally today.

Dear Father, we thank you for creating us each uniquely different in your likeness.  We thank you for knowing us and loving us in a special, personal way.

What do you already have?

On By Judy GlasserIn FebruaryLeave a comment

Jesus is teaching a large crowd of people and the disciples are worried about the fact that it’s getting late and the crowd is getting hungry.    They want to send the crowd away to nearby villages to get something to eat.

Instead, Jesus tells the disciples to feed them.  He ignores their concerns about how much food it would take and asks them ‘ How much bread do you have?’

This is the same type of question God asked Moses in Exodus 4 when Moses said the elders of Israel would not listen to him.  God asked him ‘What do you have in your hand?”

What did Moses already have that he could use?  How much bread did the disciples already have?  In both instances, God wanted to use what he had already given them in order to fulfill his purposes.

I think the same is often true of us today.  We think we need more skills or gifts or talents in order to really serve God.  But God has already given us what he wants us to have and he asks us to use it in his name.

 God’s question for all of us today is “What do you already have in your hand that you can use to complete the work I have planned in advance for you to do?’

A Revelation

On By Judy GlasserIn February1 Comment

Mark tells us that Herod respected John the Baptist and liked to listen to him even though the things they talked about greatly disturbed Herod.
That’s a sure sign of the Holy Spirit working.
Have you had this happen to you? It’s happened to me many times.  Something catches my attention while I’m reading the Bible or listening to the Sunday message and then – BAM! – it hits me!  This is about me! This is God speaking about my life. A light goes on. Trumpets in my head blare out Tah-tah-da!
Sometimes its an awesome experience because it brings an understanding that I was searching for.
Other times having a light shine on something in my life is a deeply disturbing experience because it requires repentence and change. More than once I have walked out of church very angry because of the truth the Spirit had revealed to me about me and I just didn’t like it.
But not liking it doesn’t change the truth, does it?
Dear Father, we claim your promise that you will change us from the inside out if we let you. We ask you to renew our minds and transform our hearts.