Category: November

The Wind Was Against Them

On By Judy GlasserIn NovemberLeave a comment

Sometimes it feels like everything is going against us, doesn’t it?

Our kids get sick.

Then the car breaks down.

Our boss starts driving us crazy.

And our bank balance gets down to a single digit.

We worry.

We struggle.

We stress.

We forget.

We forget that we have the Spirit of the Lord of the Universe living inside of us.  He has the power to handle all of our problems.  When we turn to him, he can help us stop worrying, stop struggling and stop stressing.gdtDSC_0639

This truth became more real to me last year when I had the chance to visit the Sea of Galilee.  As we sailed through the water, I thought about the stormy night when the disciples were straining at the oars of their boat while the winds of a storm battled against them.  I could visualize Jesus walking out to the boat.

The reality of the power of Jesus became even more evident to me that day.  Jesus really is in control of everything.  He really does command the sea and the winds and everything around me.gdtDSC_0632

I have nothing to fear.

I have nothing to worry about.

There is no wind blowing against me that he does not control.

And he loves me enough to sacrifice himself for me.

That says it all.

I just need to believe and obey.

Thank you, dear Jesus.

So Much More

On By Judy GlasserIn NovemberLeave a comment

They were looking for an earthly king.

With armies and chariots.Oct 30 2015 king of kings

With palaces and thrones.

With lots of banquets and women.

Instead of an earthly king, God sent the King of all Kings.

This King of Kings had no use for earthly palaces or thrones.  His place was at the right hand of his father in heaven so he didn’t even need a foxhole on earth.

He had no use for banquets or women.  All of his needs were met by his father.  The responsibility of the eternal future of all people was laid upon him.  He had much more important things to do with his time….

like touching a young boy bringing him back to life.

like speaking a word so a blind man could see, a deaf man could hear, and a sick woman would be healed.

He had armies of angels at his command.

He controlled the sun and the wind and the sea.  The storms calmed with one word from this King.

The people were expecting an earthly king,

but God send so much more.

His own son….

to save us,

to redeem us,

to love us.

Thank you, Abba Father.

 

 

Where is my Healing Place?

On By Judy GlasserIn NovemberLeave a comment

Physically.

Emotionally.

Spiritually.

We all need healing of some type.

And where do we go for that healing?

A large number of people during Jesus’ lifetime went to a pool called Bethesda in Jerusalem.

I had the chance to spend some time at this pool last year when I visited Jerusalem. It’s no longer a pool but the exterior is still there along with some remains of the colonnades around it which are mentioned in the Bible.fDSC_0489

It is beautiful.  A feeling of peace and healing are still there.  It was a quiet and calm oasis in the middle of tension-filled Jerusalem.

Where is our pool at Bethesda today?

Where we do find peace and healing?

The answer is always Jesus.  He tells us to come to him when we are weak and broken and lost.  He will give us rest and wholeness and a place to belong.

I have discovered that my healing place is right where I am now – in a quiet spot with my Bible open on my lap.  As I listen and read and think and discuss things with God, he once again sets my feet on solid ground.  He opens my eyes to the truth while he covers me with his love and grace.fDSC_0490

Two weeks ago I spent a cloudy day on the beach in San Diego with my Bible open on my lap – that was a healing place.

A couple of months ago I spent a day alone up in the mountains with my Bible on my lap.  That was a healing place.

Where is your healing place?

If you haven’t found it, why are you still looking?

You are our healing place, Abba Father.

No Doubts

On By Judy GlasserIn NovemberLeave a comment

Satan and his team had no doubts about who Jesus was when he walked on the earth.

They knew exactly who he was.Oct 24b 2015 No doubts

In Mark 1, the evil spirit said to Jesus, “I know who you are  – the Holy One of God.” ( vs 24).

Why were so many other people blind to the true identity of Jesus?  Satan’s army proclaimed it but people still didn’t get it.

Unfortunately,  we can still be extremely blind to the presence of Jesus and his Holy Spirit in our lives today.

Jesus is alive.

His Spirit lives within all believers.

This is the same power that brought Lazarus back to life!

In us.

Today.

Dear Jesus, we know you are the Holy One of God.  Thank you for filling our lives with your power and love and peace.  Amen. Hallelujah!

 

Don’t Forget

On By Judy GlasserIn NovemberLeave a comment

As part of a church family, we can sometimes forget how we should act.  Paul exhorts the people in the Thessalonian churches to encourage one another – build each other up:Nov 29 2014 don't forget

* Always acknowledge those who work hard for the Lord, who care for us and correct us.  Hold them in highest regard with love.

* Live in peace with each other, warning those who are disruptive and idle.

* Encourage those who are down and depressed.

* Help the weak.

* Be patient with everyone.

* Always strive to do what is good for others.

* Rejoice always.

* Pray continually.

*Give thanks in all circumstances.

Thank you, dear Father, for this reminder of how we should treat our brothers and sisters in Christ.

You Foolish Galatians!

On By Judy GlasserIn November2 Comments

Paul calls it like he sees it.Nov 26 2014 you foolish Galatians

The Galatians were wandering from the truth of the gospel of grace back to acting like their righteousness came from trying to follow all of the laws.  They were acting like they could earn salvation by doing good things – the right things.

Do we ever get caught up in that lie?

Do we ever check off our list of Christian responsibilities and think we’re doing a great job?

Church – check!

Pray – well, we say grace at every meal – check!

Read my Bible – I really need to find it. I know it’s around somewhere. Here, I’ll sign up for a Daily Devotional email – check!

Give money to God – I put $20 in the offering every week – check!

Serve – we always bring food in whenever the church asks for it – check!

Paul is reminding us today that Christ lives within us.  We live by faith in Jesus who gave his life for us.

We are all lucky that salvation is not about being good enough – because we will never be good enough.

Christ redeemed us from having to complete any checklist.

We are all children of God through faith.  God has sent his spirit into our hearts, redeeming us, adopting us and setting us free!

Nothing we can do will ever make our Father God love us more.

Nothing we can do will every make our Father God love us less.

Accepting Jesus as our Savior enables us to call God our ‘Abba’ Father.

Thank you, dear Abba.

We Know the Answer

On By Judy GlasserIn NovemberLeave a comment

Gamaliel was a smart man.  As a member of the Sanhedrin, he took part in their debate about how to get rid of Peter and the other Apostles.  They were creating a growing threat to the Sanhedrin the established religious authority.Nov 21 2014 We know the answer

In Acts 5, Gamaliel advised the Sanhedrin, “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.”

It is now over 2000 years later.

And we know the answer to his question, don’t we.

Thank you, dear Father.

They Had Been With Jesus

On By Judy GlasserIn NovemberLeave a comment

When the Sanhedrin saw the courage of Peter and John and realized they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.Nov 21 2014 a they had been with Jesus

The Sanhedrin was astonished.

Because Peter and John had been with Jesus and Jesus had changed them.

* He had redeemed them.

* He had given them the power of the Holy Spirit who was now living inside of them.

* They now spoke with knowledge and authority.

* They had courage beyond that of a normal person.

The Sanhedrin 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 were not going to stop talking about what they had seen and heard.

Brave.

Convicted.

Not intimidated by the top dudes.

Committed.

Nothing was going to stop them from sharing what they knew about Jesus.

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

The Way of Suffering

On By Judy GlasserIn NovemberLeave a comment

The Via Dolorosa.ftdDSC_0523

Our perfect Messiah carried his cross through Jerusalem down the Via Dolorosa.

Beaten and bleeding.

Wrongly accused by crowds of liars.

Despised by the world around him.

Denied by some of the people closest to him.ftdDSC_0512

I had the opportunity to walk down the Via Dolarosa this year.  I saw a piece of the road (pictures) that is old enough and in the right place to be where a bleeding Jesus actually dragged his cross.

On his way to a gruesome death.

For me.

For you.

I have no words that can express what if felt like that day to walk down the Via Doloroasa.

Where the worst of humanity had showed  itself.ftdDSC_0511

Where Satan laughed and applauded his team for work well done.

We all own a part of it.

Because our sins were piled on top of Jesus along with everyone else’s.

When Jesus cried, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me.” he was expressing the despair that our sin gave him as it separated him from his Father God.  He was in agony for hours on the cross as the sins of all the world were heaped upon him.

Then he gave up his spirit and he found peace.

Just like we find peace today because of his sacrifice for us.

Amen!  Hallelujah!

 

 

Watch and Pray

On By Judy GlasserIn NovemberLeave a comment

Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane (pictures) praying in anguish over what was going to happen to him and, not far away, his disciples were sleeping.eeeeeddgarden of gethsemane

When Jesus found them sleeping, he told them to, ‘Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.  The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.’

Well, that explains a lot.

That explains why we are sometimes so wimpy – so weak.

Why we want to love God with all of our hearts but suddenly find ourselves – once again – totally concentrated on our will, not God’s will.

It’s a constant struggle.  Our conversations are filled with ‘ I think’, ‘I want’, ‘I feel’.eeeeeddgardem of g

We’re weak.

And Jesus gives us a solution to this problem – watch and pray.

Watch our behavior and compare it to the role model Jesus set for us.

And pray.

When we seek God, we will always find him.  He has promised us that.

And he has all the answers.

Not us.

We’re weak.  We know it.  Jesus knows it.eeeeeDSC_0422

We need to watch and pray.

Thank you, dear Jesus.