We're taking a trip chronologically through the Bible this year.
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!
Everything in me praises you, LORD! I will praise you as long as I am alive. I will be singing your praises, Father, when I breathe my last breath.
I don’t put my trust in people who have money – they will not help me when I really need it. When they return to the earth as dust, all of their plans will die with them.
Those of us who trust in you to help us, God, find hope and joy. You are the Master Creator of heaven and earth and everything in them.
You always keep your promises. You give food to the hungry and justice to the oppressed.
You have freed me from the guilt of my sins and you are opening my eyes to your truth. You, oh God, lift me up when the cares of this world weigh me down. You are a Good Father to all of us who love you. You protect the strangers among us and care for orphans and widows.
You mess up the plans of unbelievers.
You, my King, will reign forever, throughout all generations.
I know you will never let me down. Everyone who trusts knows how faithful you are. Those who don’t trust in you get their just rewards.
Help me know you better, dear God. Direct my steps and guide me into a deeper understanding of your truth. Teach me, Father. All of my hope is in you, God, my Savior.
You have been merciful and loving since the beginning of time. I have confessed my sins and I know you have forgiven me because my guilt has disappeared.
You love overwhelms me. You are so good, LORD.
I feel you walking beside me as I go through my day, God. When I listen, you teach me what is right. You are loving and faithful to those of us who have put our trust in you.
Your grace covers all of my sin and rebellion.
In response to my respect and honor for you, you help me make the right choices in my life. You give me good things and bless my children.
I need to hear your voice, Father. Speak to me – I need you each day.
When my eyes are fixed on you, God, you help me avoid the danger and pitfalls that come my way. I turn to you when I am alone and sad – you take away my worries and stress. When the trials and problems of this world press in all around me, you are always beside me – loving me and giving me strength.
You are my Rock and Refuge, Father. Guard my life and rescue me. I trust in you alone.
I pray that all people everywhere will experience your mercy and strength, God.
You know where I am and what I’m thinking about. You know where I go and when I stay – you know all of my habits. Before any words come out of my mouth, you know what I’m going to say. You walk close beside me, with your hand guiding me.
I will never totally understand you – you are too awesome!
I know I am never alone – you are always with me. Where ever I go – you are already there. My life is in your hands. You are constantly guiding me, protecting me and loving me.
Sometimes, in the middle of the night, I feel alone and everything seems very dark. But you are there –
you are always there.
Darkness is not dark to you. Your light shines through.
I know you created me, dear Father. You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you for how unbelievably wonderful you are!
You create masterpieces! I know – because I am one of them. You knew me before anyone else. You saw me. You formed me. And you made plans for my life before I was even born.
Your plans are precious to me, God. Please show me the path you have designed just for me.
I want to spend all my days with you, Abba Father.
The baby picture is my grandson- Jackson. Here he is almost 3 years later.
Having integrity means doing what we say we’ll do and doing the right thing even when it costs us something and no one would ever know if we didn’t do it. It means being honest and not just talking a good line but living that out every day.
God tells us in Proverbs 10:9 “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.”
I’ve got to admit – there are times I really hate owning a mistake I made. It would be so much simpler to tell a little lie about it and cover it up.
It seems easier to take a crooked path.
There are other situations where I don’t feel like taking care of a responsibility or doing ‘the right thing’. Maybe if I ignore it, it will go away.
It seems easier to take the crooked path.
Every once in a while taking a short-cut looks very enticing instead of struggling with all the work that is going to be involved to do something the right way.
It seems easier to take a crooked path.
Satan likes to tempt me by giving me free stuff at stores – things that were somehow never rung up so I didn’t pay for them. I hate the hassle of bringing these things back into the store and asking to pay for them. Satan knows I really don’t want to get back in line and then explain that I didn’t pay for this the first time. I hate the strange looks I get from employees who are wondering why I am doing this weird thing – I had it all the way out to my car without paying for it, I should be happy, right?
It’s definitely easier to take the crooked path – just put the item in my car and drive away.
But God tells me that the crooked path is dark with holes and cracks that will make me stumble and fall. I’m kidding myself if I think people around me won’t realize that I lack integrity by sometimes choosing a crooked path. And I’m really kidding myself if I think God doesn’t know I took a crooked path.
God tells me the blessing of walking with integrity is that I will walk securely. The path of integrity is straight and solidly built on the truth. God’s light shines on this path and it is filled with his love, grace and security.
Each day, each choice, you and I have a decision to make about which path we’re going to take.
Please help us stay in the path of integrity, Abba Father
When I need help, the only place I can always find it is when I look to my God, the Creator of Everything. He does not let me stumble. God watches over me all day and all night – he never sleeps.
What does it mean to be ‘like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season and who leaf does not wither, whatever they do prospers.”? Psalm 1: 3.
This sounds really good.
I want to be like a tree planted by a stream – constantly being fed, never feeling empty. I had a time in my life when I was consumed by emptiness. Have you been there?
Would you like to see the fruit of a close relationship with Christ grow in your life every season? More peace, more joy, more patience, more self-control. In our lives, whatever we feed, grows. It’s our choice.
I want to avoid having my leaves wither – how can I live this marathon of faith well all the way to the end? No burnout, no wandering for me? If you’ve ever wandered you know why I’m trying to avoid it.
I don’t have to ask, I know you want to prosper. Are you looking to God for your prosperity? Or are you looking to money, fame or people’s acceptance? My definition of prosperity changed when I put God first in my life. Now I have an audience of One and my prosperity comes from things that money can’t buy.
God is very clear about how to become this tree planted planted by streams of water. Blessed are those “whose delight is in the law of the Lord and who meditates on his law day and night.” Psalm 1: 2.
When God translates this in my brain I hear his encouragement, telling me to continue to read, study and memorize his Word. I’m in my 13th consecutive year of reading the entire Chronological Daily Bible and he’s telling me to keep it up, I’m on the right track. I just don’t read the Bible, I blog about it so I have to think about what I read and apply it to my life. I find his truth as it applies to my life truly ‘delightful’. It’s just what my soul is looking for. You are welcome to join me in reading the Bible every year and applying it to your life.
I also participate in a couple of different Bible studies every week so I’m meditating on his word on my own in the morning and several times ‘day and night’ with other people during the week.
God has given me a life-long goal of memorizing scripture. It’s took me over 6 years because I have a really terrible memory, but God and I partnered up and he has written 2 entire chapters of the book of James on my heart. He uses these words constantly to guide me and let me know he is right beside me. If you think you can’t memorize scripture, ask God to help you and he will prove you wrong.
No wonder I have lost that ’empty’ feeling I used to have! I’m blessed as I watch God grow his fruit in my life. I plan to be reading the entire Bible each year for the rest of my time here on earth so I can end this journey well.
And today, I can feel my Father God cheering me on. Can you hear his cheers, too?
When I became faithful in seeking you, God, you lifted me out of the slimy pit of my rebellion and sin. You rescued me from the deep mud of my bad choices. You pulled me out of the mire I created by trying to do things ‘my way’.
I am now solidly planted on you, my Rock. I have a new song of love and praise to sing to you.
I pray that many others will also decided to put their trust in you, God.
Father, you bless those who trust in you. We are wise when we put you first in our lives and don’t follow the example of others who are only focused on themselves.
You have great things planned for us, the faithful. You have done many awesome things – there is nothing and no one to compare you to.
You don’t want me to just read the Bible and go to church. You want my eyes to be open to your truth. You want my obedience.
You don’t want me to just give my money to the church – you want me to passionately care about the things you care about.
You don’t want me to just close my eyes to pray and start down my list of requests. You want a relationship with me. You want a conversation. Most of all, you desire listening ears and a softened heart.
Hear me, LORD, and answer me, I need you. I am a faithful servant who trusts you – save me.
You are my God, have mercy on me as I call out to you all day long. I trust you, God. Please give me joy.
You are so good. When I walk close with you, your love and forgiveness overwhelm me. There is no other god like you. Everything you have created joins together to worship you. You are great and marvelous. You alone are God.
I want to learn all about you, LORD, so I can build my life on your truth. Give me an undivided heart which is focused on loving and honoring you.
I will praise you, God, with all my heart forever.
Each day I feel your great love for me. Keep me safe.
I am surrounded by arrogant and confused people who don’t believe in you, God. But I know you are a compassionate and gracious God, overflowing with love and faithfulness.
Open my eyes to what you doing, God. Have mercy on me and save me.just like you have done for those who have gone before me. Show me your goodness, LORD, so that others around me will see what a great God you are.
Come with me on a Journey through the Bible 