Category: September

I Can Read the Handwriting on the Wall

On By Judy GlasserIn SeptemberLeave a comment

I had probably said this phrase over 100 times before I realized that this come from the book of Daniel in the Bible.

How appropriate!september 21 2013

I’m a strategic thinker so I have used this phrase in situations where I was connecting the dots of what was going on and I could predict what the outcome was going to be. 

I can read the handwriting on the wall…..in some situations.

Sometimes, with more complex issues, I would really love for a hand to appear on the wall next to me and write out the future.  Or even my next step.  Spooky, yes.  But directions clearly written out for me would be worth the goosebumps.

Oh, wait!

I already have God’s directions all written out for me, don’t I?  I have all of it in black and white (and red) and I hold it in my hands when I’m reading the word of God.

His guidance.  His revelation to me.

Everything he wants me to know.

So I’m on the right path when I’m reading and studying and meditating on his word.  It’s all here.

Thank you, dear Father.

Psalm 89, 2013

On By Judy GlasserIn September1 Comment

September 18 b 2013There just isn’t enough time to sing about your great love, dear God.

We want to proclaim your faithfulness through all generations – our own and all of the generations to come.  We know all about your faithfulness because we experience every day.

We declare to all of those around us that your love is a forever love – established in heaven – and it will never be shaken.

Your plan of redemption started in the Garden of Eden after Eve decided she wanted to be ‘like God’.  We wish we didn’t relate so closely to that as we try to control everything around us – also wanting to be ‘like God’.

You established King David’s line forever in your plan of love, adding your own son who is now seated on his eternal throne.

We join with the angels in heaven as we praise you, Lord. 

Holy, Holy, Holy.

No one on the earth or in the skies above compares with you.

The wise and holy ones all fear and respect you for you are Most Awesome.

You are All Mighty and your faithfulness surrounds you.

You rule over the sea.  You crush your enemies.

Everything is yours – from the north to the south.

Your throne is anchored by your righteousness and justice.  Love and faithfulness flow out from you.

You bless those of us who walk in the light of your presence, dear Lord.  We feel your blessing upon us, dear Father.

We can rejoice all day long because we know you.  We experience your righteousness.

You are our strength and our glory.  You work things out for our good. 

Our lives belong to you, our king, the Holy One of Israel.

our

I’m Boasting…

On By Judy GlasserIn September1 Comment

about God.  He is my King and my God.

He organizes victories for me today just like he did for Jacob so long ago.September 18 2013

It is through his strength that I can push back my enemies and overcome my foes.

I can’t trust my thinking.  My strategies won’t bring real victory.

Only God gives me victory.

His truth and his righteousness are so powerful that it reveals the weaknesses and deceptions of my enemies.

In God, I can boast all day long.

I will praise his name forever.

Insanity!

On By Judy GlasserIn SeptemberLeave a comment

It happens to me almost daily – I am amazed at the insanity in our world which is under the ever-so-strong influence of the Evil One.  The evidence of his trickery and deception is all around me.  Our world’s values are a testament to the Father of Lies.september 7 2013

Most recently I was surprised by the realization that I know grown, adult people who actually believe that things they do aren’t wrong unless they get caught.  It only becomes a bad decision for them when other people know.  Up to that point, it’s all okay. 

Insanity!

When I’m confronted by such obvious lies like that, I am filled with sadness for all the people who live their lives based on these deceptions.  They are confused and angry………and broken and lost.  They are consumed by their need to blame others.

So I come back to God’s word and I feel like King Nebuchadnezzar when he raised his eyes toward heaven and his sanity was restored.

I praise you, oh Most High.  I honor and glorify you who lives forever. 

You are eternal.  Your kingdom endures from generation to generation, never-changing, never wavering.

Amen.  Allelujah!

Fire!

On By Judy GlasserIn SeptemberLeave a comment

If we  saw a fire starting and knew people’s lives were at stake, we would scream “Fire!  Fire!  Fire! at the top of our lungs until help arrived and the people were saved.  We would, wouldn’t we?

September 3 2013God tells us in Ezekiel that we are the watchmen.  And when the watchmen see danger and destruction coming, they need to blow their trumpet to warn the people.  That’s their job. 

If the people heed the warning, they will be saved.  If not, they will pay the price.

If the watchmen fail to blow the trumpet and people’s lives are taken, the watchmen will also be held accountable by God for the deaths of the people.

Do we see danger and destruction coming for those who have not chosen Jesus as their Savior?  Do we see a truckload of physical, emotional and spiritual anguish rushing towards those who haven’t already started their eternal life with Christ?  Is eternal separation from all good things and God a big enough devastation for us to stand up and scream “Fire”? 

Now  is the time for us to get out our trumpet to warn the people.

We may not have tomorrow.

 

Lamentations 3, 2013

On By Judy GlasserIn SeptemberLeave a comment

Thank you, dear Father.august 30 2013

Because of your great love for us, we are not consumed by the culture that swirls around us, trying to draw us into it’s very popular web full of lies and deceptions.

Everyday we experience your compassion as you love us in spite of what we do, not because of anything good that we’ve done.  

As the sun rises every morning, we see your light and feel the warmth of your faithfulness, dear Father.  We take our next breath because you make it happen.

You are all.

You are everything.

You are our portion for today.  For this hour.  For this minute.

You lavish your goodness on us when we place our hope in you.  When we seek you, we find you,,,,,,,,, and we find joy and we find strength and we find peace.

It is good right now to sit quietly……

and to meditate on your word as you speak to us……….

the glory of your salvation is growing within us,

Great is your faithfulness, oh God my Father.

Dear Shepherd

On By Judy GlasserIn SeptemberLeave a comment

You have searched for me and you have found me.September 1 2013

I was lost in darkness behind a barrier of trees made from bad decisions.  I was stuck in smelly mud made by doing whatever I wanted to do.  I had boulders of guilt and unforgiveness weighing me down so I couldn’t move.

You found me and you rescued me.

You have guided me to a good pasture where I can feed on your Word and be content.   You have guided me to a land high in the mountains – closer to you.  Every direction you give me guides me farther up the mountain where the pasture grows greener and thicker and deeper and wider.  Peace is here.  Joy is here.  You are here.

And you ask aa of us to join you in your search for other lost sheep.  We have found the good pasture and now we can show others the way.  You ask us to join you in binding the injured and strengthening the weak.

And we obey – in your name and for your glory.

Thank you, dear Shepherd.

People of Light

On By Judy GlasserIn October, SeptemberLeave a comment

Paul tells us in Ephesians that we were once full of darkness but now we have the light of the Lord.

And he gives us the challenge of living as People of Light!

So how do People of Light act:

on the freeway?

at the grocery store?

at our kid’s baseball game?

at a restaurant?

when our plane is delayed?

when someone is slowly crossing the street or parking lot in front of us?

when the Walmart clerk is slow?

Wow, if appears that my light needs to shine a little brighter.  How about yours?

Growing Roots

On By Judy GlasserIn SeptemberLeave a comment

Awesome section of scripture in Ephesians 3!  Let’s pray this together…

Dear Father, we desire that Christ would make his home in our hearts as we learn to trust him more.

Please help our roots grown deep, down into your love so that we will be strong.

We want to know, dear God, how wide, how high, how long and how deep your love is.  

We would like to experience the love of Christ and be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that only comes from you.

We give you all the glory, God.  We know that you are able, through your mighty power, to work within us and accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

Yours is the glory, dear Father, in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever!  Amen.

Do I deserve this?

On By Judy GlasserIn SeptemberLeave a comment

We reap what we sow.  Sometimes its very good because we have sown the things that please our Father God and he lavishes a harvest of blessing on us.  Other times we have sown things that displease our Father God and we harvest the problems and consequences of those choices.

Paul is telling the Galatians and us today that we cannot mock the justice of God.  We get the harvest we deserve.

It’s our choice.  That’s always a hard one for me – I actually chose this.  I brought these consequences upon myself.

What is my problem!!!!!!?

Sin.  It always comes back to our mutual problem of sin.  We follow our own desires, we selfishly focus on ourselves first and sometimes we just give into the pressure from the culture around us.  Call it what you want, it’s all sin.

Rationalizing it away doesn’t work, acting like everything is ok doesn’t work, trying to be good and follow all the rules doesn’t work.

Nothing works except admitting we’re a sinner, then asking Jesus to save us and finally turning over our lives to his leadership.  The first part can happen in a few minutes.  The last step is a life-long process.

Dear Father, we praise you for the opportunity you have given us for salvation through your son.  Please help us each day to grow closer to you and to become more like Jesus.