Tag: Bible

Doing My Own Thing

On By Judy GlasserIn JuneLeave a comment

Deciding for myself what is best for me.

Reacting – and sometimes over-reacting – to the situations around me.

Spending my money on me and what I want.

Determining my next step without consulting anyone.  And then quickly going down that path without stopping to evaluate whether it’s the right one for me.

Spending all my time on what I want to do or what I think is best for me.

Any of these describe your life?

I definitely find myself in these situations sometimes.

Do you know how God responds to us when we act like this?

“You have abandoned me; therefore I now abandon you.” 2 Chronicles 12:6.

I want to go my own way?  He let’s me.

Don’t get me wrong – he still loves me.

He hears.

He cares.

It breaks his heart when I wander away and abandon him in any part of my life.

God lets me have this freedom of choice because he wants my whole heart.  He wants me to choose him over myself.

If I don’t choose to line my life up with his truth, he lets me.  And then I pay the consequences for those bad choices.  Sometimes very long-term consequences.

We share this broken world together so I know you’ve been there.  You might be there right now.

Saying whatever you want to say when you’re angry – how well did that work?

Spending all of your time working.  Too busy to spend any time with God.  Where did that get you?

Spending all your money on ‘stuff’ and  finding yourself deeply in debt.  Yeah – the consequences of not being obedient with our money are nasty.  Stressful.  Depressing.   And can last a very long time.

And God lets us.

Because he wants us to learn to choose him over everything else.

Everything else.

How are we doing?  Where do we need to improve?  Or maybe we need to start.

There is no better time than now.

Thank you for never really abandoning us, Abba Father.

Chasing the Wind

On By Judy GlasserIn JuneLeave a comment

Is that what I’m doing?

Is that what you’re doing?

What is the meaning of life?

The Teacher in the book of Ecclesiastes tells us that everything is meaningless.  He tells us that we cannot comprehend the meaning of life using human wisdom.

He tried.

And he found –

the emptiness of pleasure,

the emptiness of achievement,

the emptiness of labor – unless the person enjoys what they do,

the emptiness of worship that is not true and obedient,

the emptiness of being too busy to value relationships in our lives. “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.  A cord of three strands is not quickly broken”,

the emptiness of wealth – accumulating stuff,

the emptiness of disobedience – doing whatever we want,

and the emptiness of strength not guided by wisdom.

The Teacher tells us that we will discover our life’s meaning by knowing God and obeying him while we find the correct balance of all of these things.

There is a time for everything.

So we aren’t chasing the wind.

Please let us know you and obey you, Abba Father.

A Sad Story

On By Judy GlasserIn May2 Comments

Do you hear about people who are very successful in doing all of the right things and then they blow it?

Such sad stories!

They had it all together at one point…but then they lost it.

I think one of the saddest stories in the Old Testament is how King Solomon let himself be negatively influenced by the foreign wives he let into his life and they led his away from his One True God.  The wisest man who ever lived started worshipping made-up, detestable, wooden gods.

A pitiful ending to a life that started out so well.

Do any of us want our lives to end up that way?  I don’t think so.  I know I don’t – I want to end well.

So I’m making a plan to ensure that my life stays on track with God.  I’m going to make sure I don’t get lazy about my spiritual habits of reading and memorizing Gods Word, talking with him, and building relationships with my spiritual family.  I’m going to be careful about the people I let into my life who influence me.  And I’m going to quickly turn back to God if I see myself wandering  down a path that doesn’t bring me closer to him.

What’s your plan?

Please keep us close to you, Abba Father.

Not A Spectator Sport

On By Judy GlasserIn MayLeave a comment

It takes an effort.

It takes action.

It takes committment and perseverance.

Living a life of faith is not a spectator sport.  God tells me in Proverbs 2 to turn my ear to wisdom, apply my heart to understanding, call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding.

I must look for wisdom and insight like it is silver and search for it as I would search for hidden treasure.

How would I look for hidden treasure?  I would research information about the person who hid it which would help me figure out where they would hide it.  I would look for a map or any guidance that might be available.  And I would search for the tiniest spark, the smallest glimmer which could lead me to the treasure itself.

This is how God wants me – and you – to pursue him.

Seriously.

On purpose.

Taking advantage of every opportunity.

When I do that, I will find him and will be filled with his wisdom and knowledge of him.

Then, I will understand the right and just and fair thing to do and I will find the right path he has prepared for me.

This filling will not happen one hour on Sunday morning.  It will not happen in a 5 minute morning devotion.

Living a committed life of faith is not a spectator sport.

Thank you for how clear your word is to us in this area, Abba Father.

 

Wisdom

On By Judy GlasserIn May4 Comments

Insight.

Understanding.

I’m looking for more of these in my life.

How do I get them?

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding.” Psalm 111:10.

Wisdom comes from God.  Insight comes from studying his word and obeying.  Understanding comes from honoring God and being devoted to loving him first.

When I trust him and obey him, I begin to understand him.  Then I gain insight into his plans and purposes so I can join him.

It’s pretty clear how I can get more wisdom, insight and understanding.  Now I just need to choose to put myself on that path.

What path are you choosing?

Thank you, Abba Father

Psalm 20, 2017 – Be Blessed

On By Judy GlasserIn May2 Comments

May the Lord always answer him when you call his name.

May he send help and support to you.

May he always remember your faithfulness and service.

May he give you the desires of your heart and make all your plans succeed.

Then we will all shout for joy for you and give thanks to our Father!

For this I know – the Lord helps the faithful ones succeed.  He answers from his heavenly throne with his powerful hand.some trust in chariots

Some only trust in what they can see….and they will fail.

We trust in God so we will always stand firm.

You give us victory, Lord!

Thank you for answering our prayers, Abba Father.

Psalm 19, 2017

On By Judy GlasserIn MayLeave a comment

The heavens declare your glory, Father!

Every time I look up into the brilliant sky, I see the work of your hands.  Day after day, the skies tell us how huge and magnificent you are.  Night after night, they reveal your power and glory.

The skies don’t talk, they make no sound.  But their voices go out to the ends of the world, telling us about you.

The sun rises every morning at your command – filled with joy and anticipation as it makes its way across the sky, spreading your gift of light and warmth.

Your law is perfect and it refreshes my soul, Father.

Your word is trustworthy, it is able to make me wise.

Your directions are always right for me – they bring joy to my heart.

Your commands give light and open up my eyes.  They are more precious to me than money, fame or success.

You speak through your word to warn me and you reward me with many blessings when I walk closely with you.

Please forgive my sins – known and unknown – and keep me from willfully straying from your path.

May these words and the attitude of my heart be pleasing to you, Lord, my Rock and My Redeemer.

Psalm 90, 2017

On By Judy GlasserIn MayLeave a comment

Lord, you have been walking beside us since the beginning of time.  Before you created the heavens and the earth, you were God.

You determine life and death.  A thousand years to is like a day to you.  I am like grass – new in the morning but dried up and withered by evening.

I cannot hide my sins from you.  I struggle through my life, moaning from trouble and sorrows.  I may live seventy or eighty years – however long my strength endures.

And then I will fly away…….

Please help me understand how quickly my life passes away here on earth so I may be wise in how I spend each moment.

And, sometimes, it feels I am here for too long, Lord.  Even though I have problems and trials, help me live each day in your love so I can be filled with the joy that only comes from you.

May your goodness and love shine through me.

Bless me, God, as I love you and serve you.

Psalm 5, 2017

On By Judy GlasserIn AprilLeave a comment

I know you hear me, LORD.  You listen when I call to you.

You hear my cries for help, God.  Every morning, when I lay my concerns and requests at your feet, I know hear me.

And I watch – expecting your answer.

You hate evil.

You hate lies.

You hate deceit.

You do not welcome evil and proud people into your presence.

Because you love me, I can come near to you and bow before you.  Please guide me on the right path, LORD.

Keep me safe from those who do evil.  I can’t trust one word they say – their hearts are filled with hate.  They are liars.

You are the judge and my revenge, O God.  Declare them guilty.  Let their evil and rebellious ways become their punishment as they choose their own path – separate from you.

But draw all who love you close to you, God.  Give us joy as you spread your protection over us.

We know you show favor to those who walk closely with you, LORD.  You cover us with the umbrella of your blessing.

Thank you, Abba Father.

If – Then

On By Judy GlasserIn AprilLeave a comment

For every action there is a reaction.  What law is that?

Let’s Google it – its Newton’s Third Law of Physics.  I’m impressed!  I wasn’t sure anything I studied about physics actually stuck.

I know I’m taking this law out of context but only physicists (like my son-in-law) will know that.  I’m relating it to things we would like to happen.  And how these things won’t happen until we take action.

Like cleaning my house – this will only happen if someone (wish it wasn’t me) gets going and cleans it.

Like living a healthy life style – it won’t happen without eating right and exercising.

I have to actually do something or several somethings in order to have these things happen.

So, it makes sense that, if I want to know God’s truth, I have to read it.  I have to study it.

If I want to hear God’s voice, I need to learn more about him so I can understand him when he’s trying to talk to me.  I need to spend time with him so I’m more sensitive to his whispers and prodding.

If I want to live my life aligned with God, I need to understand why he created me – what is his plan and purpose for me?

My primary purpose is very clear.  Love God and love others.  If you are a believer, your main purpose is the same as mine.

The rest of details are revealed when I’m living out my primary purpose.   And, I have found, that his detailed plan and purpose changes and evolves as I go through the different phases of my life.  I have to constantly pay attention.

As I seek him, I grow in understanding his truth, I hear his voice more clearly and I can see his different plans and purposes unfold as I watch closely.

King David knew all about finding God.  He told his son, Solomon, in 1 Chronicles 28, “If you seek him, he will be found by you.”

David was preparing Solomon to take over his kingdom.  David knew he didn’t have much time left here on earth so he was literally giving Solomon the key to the kingdom.

And that key was to seek God.

It’s still a key for us today.

It’s the key to success.

It’s the key to happiness.

It’s the key to fulfilling our purpose here on earth before we go home to spend eternity with our Heavenly Father.

Thank you for the key, Abba.