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!

He Uses It For Good

On By Judy GlasserIn DecemberLeave a comment

When I make a bad decision, I often experience negative consequences.

When I make a bad decision, you might experience negative consequences, too, because we live together in this broken world.  A couple of examples of this are deadly car accidents and forest fires started by a person throwing a cigarette out of their car window.  There can be huge consequences to many people when one person in these situations makes a bad choice.

People often ask, “Why do bad things happen to good people?”  This is why.  We all experience the pain and results of other people’s bad decisions.  My world blew up when a young man decided to kill my son who was a Phoenix Police Officer.  The hurtful consequences of that choice have been huge, wide-spread and never-ending.

I have learned that my best response to this tragedy has been to turn to God.  I’ve been getting as close to God has I possibly can.  He is my comforter and my anchor in the midst of this dark storm of loss.  And I have watched him pick up the pieces of my broken heart and use them for good.  God has given me the opportunity to share my journey on this extremely tough road of grief in a different blog – Myfamilybleedsblue.com – and many people have told me it has helped them put words to their own experience and not feel so alone.

Paul knew that this was one of the positive ways God uses bad things that happen to us.  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves received from God”. (2 Cor. 1:3)

It was a huge blessing to me when God have my pain a purpose.  I can’t change what happened, but I can share the comfort I have received from God in the middle of my heartbreak with others.  I can let God use my ‘bad thing’ and bring something good from it.

Only God can do that.

Thank you, Abba Father.

 

The Mysteries Make Sense

On By Judy GlasserIn December4 Comments

I don’t understand everything I read in the Bible.  I will never understand everything God has already revealed to us.  So it’s very interesting to watch God point out different truths to me each time I read his Word.

Paul says, “we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.”  (1 Cor. 2:7) He goes on to say that it’s obvious the leaders of his time didn’t get it, otherwise they would not have crucified Jesus.

So Paul didn’t understand everything, either, but he is declaring that what God says is true.  So I am.  And it makes sense to me that there will be mysteries surrounding the Creator of the Universe, the Great I AM.  I’ve only got a 3.5 pound brain.  No matter how intellectual I am or how long and hard I study, I’m just not going to comprehend it all – and he wouldn’t be God if I could. 

Even more intriguing is the thought that what we have today is Bible 101.  The Beginner’s Bible.  I believe we will continue our studies in Bible classes 201, 301, 401 and 501 and so on in heaven.  God is much greater and complex than we can possibly imagine.  He has only revealed the tip of the iceberg – there is so much more.

These are the mysteries of God.

I don’t have to understand it all to know that God is good, all the time.  I know nothing is impossible for him.  I know that he wants the best for me and is working all things out for my good.  

I trust that God has all of these answers and will reveal what I need to know when I need to know it.  I know that I’m on the right path when I heading towards God.  

As my trust in God grows, I have watched the number of mysteries in my life shrink. He is always speaking to me – loving me, guiding me and pointing out my next step just at the right time – not a day early.

The God of Mysteries proves over and over to me that he has it all under control – especially when I don’t understand it.

Thank you, Abba Father.

They Weren’t the Superstars

On By Judy GlasserIn DecemberLeave a comment

They aren’t the people in the Bible who get quoted all the time.

There are no statues of them and very few babies have been named after them.

There are a couple of people in the Bible who weren’t the superstars but they stick out of the crowd to me and their lives encourage me.  Their faithfulness inspires me to continue to grow in my relationship with God.

In the Old Testament, my favorite second lead actor is Caleb.  He was Joshua’s sidekick.  I’m sure you remember Joshua – he was the one who led the Israelites into the Promised Land and brought down the walls of Jericho.  You may not remember Caleb.  He was the other faithful spy who went into the Promised Land with Joshua.  They were the only two who came back saying that they knew God would keep his promise and give them the land no matter how big and intimidating the people currently living there were.

Caleb wondered the desert with the rest of the Israelites and was the only Israelite other than Joshua who was over 40 years-old when they entered the Promised Land.  He shows up later when the land is being divided and given to the different tribes of Israel.  Joshua gave Caleb a territory belonging to the Anakites who were giants.  Caleb didn’t care how big and intimidating they were.  He had no problem clearing the land for his people because he trusted that God would keep his promises.  Caleb was not the prominent character in the Bible that Joshua was but he was just as faithful and obedient.  I’m inspired by his life.

Now I’m reading about Barnabus in the New Testament.  You probably haven’t heard very much about Barnabus.  There aren’t any sermons written about him.  The first mention of him in the Bible is when he sold a field and gave all the money to the Way – the first name of the early, struggling Christian church.

The next time I read about him, he is standing up in the middle of the controversy about the recently redeemed Saul.  Saul was a Christ-follower killer who was now filled with God’s Holy Spirit and his name was changed to Paul.  Barnabus was in tune with God and knew God was moving, doing something big with Paul.  So Barnabas brought Paul into the group of disciples – a brave thing to do –  and vouched for him, helping the others to accept Paul and his ministry.

Later, Barnabus shows up at Antioch where he encourages the Gentiles and ‘a great number of people are brought to the Lord.’ (Acts 11:24)  Barnabus became Paul’s wingman during Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles.  You’ve heard a lot about Paul, haven’t you?

But we don’t hear a lot about Barnabus.  He was faithfully following God and significantly helping to grow the church, most of the time in Paul’s shadow.

Since God has not given me a ministry up on a stage or in front of a camera, I am drawn to these people in the Bible who followed God faithfully and sacrificially, supporting the superstars and ministering in their shadows.

Are you like me?  There a lot of us.  Regular people, loving God with all our hearts and obediently serving God with whatever he has called us to do.  We are not the Christ-followers in the spotlight that everyone hears about.

But we are faithful – like Caleb and Barnabus were faithful.  Their examples encourage me and I know they have already heard “Well done, good and faithful servant” from our Father God.

Amen!  Hallelujah!

The Best-Selling Book of all Time, By Far

On By Judy GlasserIn DecemberLeave a comment

“If it’s from God, you will not be able to stop these men.”

Gamaliel was a smart man.  As a religious leader, he took part in the debate about how to get rid of Peter and the other apostles after Jesus left earth and returned to heaven.  The apostles were creating a growing threat to the established religious authority.  They had be ‘dealt with’.

I can see Gamaliel now.  Frustrated by the lack of insight into what has really been going on with Jesus, he stops the debate, “Leave these men alone!  Let them go!  For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.  If it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” (Acts 5:39)

It is now over 2000 years later.

And we know the answer to Gamaliel’s question, don’t we?  Christians make up almost thirty percent of the global population.  It is estimated that more than 5 billion copies of the Bible have been sold.  It’s the best-selling book of all time in the entire world.  No other book is even close.

No one has been able to stop the spread of the Gospel because it comes from God.  It is not ‘from human origin’  like all the other religions.

The Truth has come from God and his name is Jesus.

Thank you, Abba Father.

They Had Been With Jesus

On By Judy GlasserIn NovemberLeave a comment

They were unschooled, ordinary men.

But the religious leaders were astonished as Peter and John stood in front of them,  telling them what they knew about Jesus.  They were eloquent and compelling.  They were passionate and knowledgeable.

It was clear to those listening to Peter and John that these men had been with Jesus  –

and he had changed them.  Something was very different about them.

* Jesus had redeemed their lives from sin and death and given them the power of the Holy Spirit who was now living inside of them.

* They spoke with authority about their personal experiences with Jesus.

* They had courage beyond that of a normal person.

The religious leaders didn’t know what to say or do so they let Peter and John go with a warning not to speak of Jesus again.

Peter and John replied that they could not stop talking about what they had seen and heard.

Brave.

Committed.

Not intimidated by the those in positions of power.

Nothing was going to stop Peter and John from sharing what they knew about Jesus.  We know about Jesus today because they did not stop talking about what they had seen and heard.

Dear Father, Please help us be as brave and committed as Peter and John was about sharing what we know about Jesus.

It Feels Like It’s Burning

On By Judy GlasserIn November4 Comments

It burns.  Do you feel it?

As I read God’s Word, the truth burns through the mountains of lies and confusion that our culture is busy building up all around me.

I’m a thinker, not a feeler so reading and studying God’s Word rocks my world.   It feels true.  It feels powerful.  It’s feels right and good.

The ‘feeler’ in me wakes up as God speaks to me through his Word.  My ‘feeler’ confirms for me that this is my Father God teaching me what he wants me to know.  As I listen, God’s words burn into my brain.  I feel the truth burning it’s way into my soul, creating a desire inside of me to know God better and love him more.

I know what the two men were talking about when they walked with Jesus after his resurrection on the road to Emmaus .  They didn’t know who he was at first, but when their eyes were opened, Jesus disappeared.  And they asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us when he talked with us on the road and opened the Scripture to us?” (Luke 24:32)

I can relate.  God’s truth has burned down to the center of my being and I feel like I’ve hit the jackpot!  This Truth gives purpose to all the craziness in this world.  This is Truth that I can hold onto as the storms of life rage around me.   This Truth is filled with light and love and grace and peace.

Yes, it burns.  And it is good.

I love you, Abba Father.

Today

On By Judy GlasserIn November3 Comments

Do believers go right to heaven or do we ‘sleep’ until Judgement day?

Jesus clears up this debate in one simple sentence to the thief on the cross.  “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

Today.

There is no waiting.  No purgatory.  We step out of this world right into the next.  We go to our ‘forever home’ with our Father in Heaven.

God’s perspective of death on earth for a believer is so different from ours.  When we lose someone, we are the ones left behind so it hurts.  The way God looks at it, when our purpose on earth is fulfilled, he gets to bring us out of this painful, sad, broken world into a place filled with peace and love and joy.

He gets to bring his child home.

Forever.

Amen!  Hallelujah!

On the Side of Truth

On By Judy GlasserIn November2 Comments

I don’t remember a time in my life when it was as hard to tell what is true as it is right now.  COVID is real but I don’t believe the numbers.  I don’t believe the election numbers- I think they have been and are being manipulated.  I don’t believe what I see on the news.  There are too many hidden agendas, too much sensationalism.

It’s just not the truth.

It’s very important to me to base my life and decisions on the truth – not on false numbers and fake news.  So I love hearing Jesus say, “Everyone on the side of the truth listens to me.” (John 18:37)

Amen.

Jesus is the Truth.  God’s Word is the Truth.  The Holy Spirit is living inside of me, explaining the truth and my soul resonates when it hears the truth.  My spirit connects with Jesus as he speaks the truth to me through his Word.

God calls this discernment.  Discernment is being able to judge well – is this true or false?  Is this right or wrong?  Discernment is much easier when I know God’s Word.   Does what I’m hearing or reading line up with God’s Word?

Discernment is a skill we all desperately need today as the amount of lies in our culture grows.  Our first question when hearing news or stories should be, “Is it true?”

Even in church, this needs to be our first question.  I have heard things in church supposedly quoted from the Bible that are not in Bible.  It’s usually just a mistake, not manipulation, but it’s still not true.  Have you ever heard the phrase – “God doesn’t give us more than we can handle”?  Not in the Bible.  The Truth is that he does give us more than we can handle by ourselves.  He uses these situations to motivate us to turn back to him so he can teach us the truth about our dependence on him.

To have discernment, I need to know God’s Word.  I need to know the truth so that I can recognize it and not believe the lies.

That’s what my Journey Towards the Truth is all about.  Thank you for joining me.

Please give me discernment, Abba Father. I really need it in the world of lies I live in.

 

 

Words that Changed My Life

On By Judy GlasserIn NovemberLeave a comment

They challenged me.

They held me accountable for what I had been saying my entire life.

About 30 years ago while reading my Bible, I heard Jesus say these words to me,

“If you love me, keep my commands”.(John14:15)

If I loved him?  I was shocked.  I had been saying I loved Jesus since I was old enough to talk.  I was brought up in a Christian family who lived out their faith in a small Christian town.  For much of my childhood, I thought everyone was a Christian because everyone in my life went to church.

I remember seriously being in love with Jesus when I was younger.  I read my Bible and talked to him all of the time.  Somewhere along the way, I slipped into being more of a ‘cultural Christian’ than actually having a relationship with God.  I went to church, I served at church, I gave money to the church, I participated in small group Bible studies and I talked about loving Jesus but God really didn’t have a big place in my daily life.   My Bible was gathering dust, but I still said I loved Jesus.

Then the Holy Spirit convicted me with these words, “If you love me, keep my commands.”  He made it clear to me that he wasn’t talking about the 10 commandments in the Old Testament.  Jesus had fulfilled all of the old law and given me two new commandments.  Only two.

The first – I need to love the Lord my God with all my heart, all my mind and all my soul.  The second – love others as myself.

These are it.  Everything else falls under these two commandments.

The Holy Spirit told me if I really loved Jesus, I would strive to keep these two commandments.  If I didn’t start sincerely trying to obey these two, I needed to stop saying I loved Jesus.

I was blown away!  I had never taken the commandment to love God first seriously.  I was a wife and a working mother of two small kids at the time.  I had so many responsibilities and things to do I just couldn’t imagine adding all the stuff it would take to love God first!

But there was no way I was going to stop saying I loved Jesus.  No way.   I knew it was a part of who I was at the center of my soul.  So I was going to have to try loving God first and figure it out as I went.

It didn’t take me long to realize when I put God first, he helped me with everything else.  He helped me be a better wife, a better mother, a better daughter and sister, a better employee, a better boss, a better friend – he made my entire life better.  Putting him first in my life made my existence so much more meaningful and ‘worth it’.  He filled the empty spots in my heart and made me whole.

When I put God first in my life, he taught me how to love others.  As my life filled with his love, it overflowed to those around me.  I didn’t have to try to obey the second command – it naturally happened as the love of my Father transformed me from the inside out.

One verse piercing my soul through the Holy Spirit changed the trajectory of my entire life.  It put me on the path I am on today – loving God with my whole heart, soul and mind and loving others.

Thank you for opening my eyes to your Truth, Abba Father.

How Can I Know the Way?

On By Judy GlasserIn NovemberLeave a comment

How do I figure out my next step?

How do I know who to believe?

How do I decide which way to go?

These are all tough questions with important answers.

Thomas asked Jesus this same question after Jesus told him he was going away to prepare a place for the disciples.  Thomas replies, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” (John 14:5)

Jesus replied, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.”

Jesus is the Way.

I’m not going to choose the right path without him.  I’m not going to know what to believe unless I know the Truth.  I’m going to wander and end up places I don’t want to be if I don’t follow the Way.

It’s just that simple –

and that complicated.

I need to commit each day to following him,

commit each hour to believing in him,

and I need to commit each minute to trusting him if I really want to know the Way.

Please guide each of us in the right Way, Abba Father.