A Very Bad Trade

On By Judy GlasserIn DecemberLeave a comment

If I watch enough of today’s news….

and read enough Facebook posts….

and hear enough ‘discussion’ on talk radio or podcasts……

I will be very confused on what is true.  I won’t know what’s really going on.  I will hear some opinions that I agree with – so they are right 🙂  – and others I don’t agree with – so they are obviously wrong.

If I listen to all of these voices, my own perspective will lean one way…..

and then the other.   Oh, that sounds good – I’ll climb on that bandwagon!

I see this happening every day.  If I had to pick one word that I think describes our current culture the best, I would have to pick ‘confused’.

Unfortunately, this is nothing new.  Thousands of years ago, Paul nailed it when he said, “They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator – who is forever praised.  Amen.” (Romans 1:8)

Amen is right!

There are way too many loud voices in our world spouting all kinds of lies.  Since we are so digitally ‘connected’ these lies continue to spread and start to look like something people generally believe.  Maybe it’s true?

It’s not true – its scary.  Because it’s still lies, no matter how many people believe it.

I am reminded of what is true whenever I sit down with my Bible in my lap.  It gives me the chance turn off all of the voices around me and listen to God speak truth into my mind and heart, feeding my soul.  God’s words cut through the cacophony and confusion, providing a solid foundation that does not change as the winds of the world shift and swirl around me.

God is my compass and he is the solid ground I stand on.  His Word is my map which he is using to point out to me – one step at a time – the path that is taking me home…

where I will praise my Creator forever.

Amen.  Let it be so, Abba Father.

Knocked Down

On By Judy GlasserIn DecemberLeave a comment

This COVID virus pandemic is unbelievable. I’ve been on this planet for awhile and I’ve never experienced anything like this before.  It’s creating all kinds of unique struggles for us that don’t appear to have good answers.  It’s attacking all different parts of our lives, changing things for the worse, bringing mountains of hurt with it.  There are so many issues, so many concerns.

When is it going away?

Paul talks to us about how to respond when we have multiple trials in our lives –

“We are pressed on every side by troubles but we are not crushed.  We are perplexed but not driven to despair.  We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God.  We get knocked down but we are not destroyed.” (2 Cor. 4: 8 & 9)

I need to know – how can I not be crushed and destroyed by the trials and tragedies in my life?

God is telling me – and you – today that I can persevere because the Spirit of God lives in me, giving me strength, peace and hope.  The Spirit reminds me that this earth is not my home – my forever home is with my loving Father.

This is how the Spirit translates Paul’s words in my head as I read them –
I  may have troubles coming at me from all directions but, when I stay close to God, he will not let me be crushed by them.  I don’t always understand why struggles and issues come my way but I know God is in control and he is a Good Father and I can stand firm on these truths.  Even when Satan hunts me down, God never leaves my side.  I’ve been knocked down by the horrible tragedy of my son being murdered but God has given me the strength to get back up.  He will always be by my side.

I say this knowing there are more storms are coming my way. There are more storms coming your way.  COVID is not the last issue I will struggle with.  It is not the last problem you will have to deal with.  It’s not a question of ‘if’ there are more trials coming, the question is ‘when’.

Thank you, Father, for teaching me how to respond.

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.