Category: July

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!

 

Be Appalled

On By Judy GlasserIn July2 Comments

Jeremiah tells the people of Judah to compare their faithfulness to that of the pagans.July 25 2014 more faithful first one

The pagans had false, worthless gods who had never done anything for them.  Yet, the pagans were extremely faithful to their gods – to the point of sacrificing their sons and daughters.

Meanwhile, Judah had exchanged their glorious, loving God for worthless idols.

” Be appalled at this’, Jeremiah says.  “Shudder with great horror!”

Do we ever do this?  Do we ever show more faithfulness to one our idols that we do to our Father God?

It’s easy to get caught up in spending our time and energy serving the god of money.  How many hours a week do we work?  How does that compare to the time we spend reading God’s word, praying, worshipping and serving?  Yes, most of us have to work to support ourselves.  Balancing that in order to make sure our top priority also gets an appropriate amount of time and energy is difficult….not impossible.

Our Glorious God who provides everything for us – including our next breath – is calling us today to be faithful.

Yes, dear Father.

The Journey

On By Judy GlasserIn JulyLeave a comment

“My thoughts and my ways are different from yours.”July 18 2014 The Journey

God points this out to us in Isaiah 55.

What does this mean?

That my first reaction to a situation may not be how God wants me to react?

That my first solution to a problem may not be the wise one God would like me to choose?

That the lens which I view the world needs to be adjusted according to God’s word?

Isaiah says ‘yes’ to all of those questions.

God sees the world and our lives so much differently than we do.  As we read and meditate on God’s word, he gradually changes our thinking, one scripture at a time.

As we hear and obey his directions, he changes our behavior, one day at a time.

That’s what this journey towards the Truth is all about.

Dear Father, we thank you for your awesome word to us.  We ask that you continue to transform our thoughts and our behaviors as we experience your truth on our journey towards you.  We love you!  You are our final destination.  Thank you for the certainty we have about how this journey ends because of what your son, Jesus, did for us on the cross.  In his redeeming name we pray, Amen.

In His Peace

On By Judy GlasserIn July1 Comment

Several members of my immediate family are already in heaven – my father, my mother, my oldest brother and my step-father.  With tears streaming down my face, I read Isaiah 57 as he tells us why the righteous die:

When those devoted to God die, it’s not the end.July 19 2014 In his Peace

Those left behind don’t understand that the righteous are taken out of this world so they don’t have to experience the ‘evils’ here any longer.

They go to a place of rest.  We call it ‘death’, but God calls it peace.

Thank you, dear Father.

By His Wounds, We Are Healed

On By Judy GlasserIn JulyLeave a comment

Over 700 years before Jesus’ birth, Isaiah prophesized that:

* He would not come like a majestic king.ftdDSC_0523

* He would be rejected by people.

*  He would be a man who knew suffering.

*  Others would look down on him, they would despise him.

*  Yet, he would bear our sins.

*  He would be crushed because of our lies and rebellion.

*  He would be wounded for us so that we could find peace and healing.ftdDSC_0505

* He would not open his mouth as he was led to his own slaughter.

*  No one would protest.

* After the Messiah suffered, he would come back to life bringing salvation to many.

Isaiah was so right.

And we are so blessed!

Thank you, dear Jesus!ftdDSC_0549

Isaiah 51, 2014

On By Judy GlasserIn JulyLeave a comment

Listen everyone!July 17b 2014 Isaiah 2014

God has given us directions.

His justice is a light to the world!

His salvation has come!

Everyone who looks to God can find hope through his son.

Lift up your eyes to heaven.

The earth is going to wear out.  All of its inhabitants will die.

But God’s salvation will last forever.  He will never fail!

Those who are wise, know this is right.  They have learned what God has taught them.

Don’t worry about what others say or do to you.  They will also pass away.

But God’s salvation will last forever, through all generations to come.

Thank you, dear God!

 

Lay it Down

On By Judy GlasserIn JulyLeave a comment

When our burden is heavy, we need to lay it down in front of God – just like Hezekiah did with his letter in 2 Kings.July 10 2014 Lay it down

This letter was filled with very real threats of impending destruction for Hezekiah and his people.

So Hezekiah spread it out before God and talked to God about it.

How wise!  The battle that was coming was way too large for Hezekiah to fight on his own.

He didn’t panic.

He didn’t get all wrapped up in his own worries and anxiety.

He didn’t do any of those things.

He prayed.

And God answered.

That night the angel of the Lord went to the camp of Hezekiah’s enemies and annihilated all of the Assyrian fighting men and officers.

When the Assyrian king realized what had happened, he withdrew in disgrace.  He never touched Jerusalem.

God can and will do the same thing for us.

We just need to lay our burdens down at the feet of our Omnipotent and Loving Father.

Thank you, dear God.

Worthless

On By Judy GlasserIn JulyLeave a comment

Do I have a meaningful purpose for living?July 8 2014 worthless

Am I worth something?

When  I get up in the morning, am I going to accomplish anything of value?

2 Kings tells us that the Israelites chose to follow worthless idols and so….

they became worthless.

Following worthless idols caused their lives to be worthless.

Hmmmm….

What are the idols that surround us today?  Which ones lure us away from the one true God?

Success?

Money?

Fun?

Sports?

Relationships?

What we look like?

What our kids look like?

What our house looks like?

Fill the blank in this sentence and you might find your idol.

“I haven’t been to church lately because __________.”

It’s time to take a critical look at our calendar and bank account.

What do we spend most of our time doing?  Do we have time for Bible study?  Do we have time for serving God?

What are we spending our money on?  Does God get his portion?  Or have we already spent it on our various idols and there are too many bills to be paid?

Hard questions.  And possibly some even harder answers.

Dear Father, please help us find our worth in you.

The Highway of Holiness

On By Judy GlasserIn JulyLeave a comment

Isaiah 35, 2014:

The blind will see and the deaf will hear.

The broken will become whole and shout for joy.

The earth will rejoice –July 5 Highway of Holiness

*water will gush in the wilderness.

* streams will appear in the desert.

* hot sand will become cool pools of water.

* bubbling springs will feed the thirsty ground.

* grass and plants will grow on the once barren ground.

And the Highway to Holiness will be there for all who are saved.

The unsaved won’t walk on it – the fools won’t go.

There will be no danger there.

Only the redeemed- those who have been rescued by God – will walk there.

They will enter their destination with singing.

Joy will never leave them.

All sorrow and sighing will disappear as gladness overwhelms them.

Thank you, dear Father, for the Highway of Holiness.