Tag: Bible

Psalm 119 (aleph), 2015

On By Judy GlasserIn MayLeave a comment

You bless us when we make decisions and choices that are in line with your word, oh God.

You bless us when our actions are guided by your truth.May 3 Psalm 119 aleph 2015

You bless us when we seek you with all of our hearts.

When we follow your directions to us, we are right where you want us to be.

You have given us all the guidance we need.  Now its our turn to do our part – and that’s to obey.

I want to be obedient, dear Father!

Then I will have no regrets.  No shame.  No guilt when I read your word and realize the difference between my behavior and how you want me to behave.

I want to be able to praise you with a heart fully committed to living my life according to your plan.

Please help me live a life of obedience to you!

Amen, let it be so, Abba Father.

Psalm 67, 2015

On By Judy GlasserIn MayLeave a comment

May God be gracious to us and bless us.

As we look up to the sun and see the light, maybe we also look up to God and see his face full of love shining down on us.

We want to know you, dear God, here on earth.April 30 Psalm 67, 2015

May the Good News of your salvation spread through all of the nations!

We praise you, God!

May all people join us as we sing your praises, filled with joy and gladness!

You are a perfect father, guiding us and disciplining us.

We praise you, our God!

Let all people join in as we praise you!

You, our God, provide for all of our needs.  You have blessed us in the past and you continue to bless us today.

It is our prayers that everyone here on earth will come to know the blessings of putting their faith in you.

Amen, let it be so, dear Father.

Psalm 16, 2015

On By Judy GlasserIn AprilLeave a comment

When I am close to you, I feel safe, my God.

You represent everything that’s good in my life, dear Father.April 29 2015 Psam 16 2015

I love to spend time with people who love you, God.  Those who are too busy running after their own desires will never find their security in you.  They will only suffer the consequences for their choices.

As for me, I refuse to consider anything in my life to be more important than you.

You are everything I need, dear Lord.

I can rest in you.

I want to be exactly where you want me to be.  That is where I find joy.

Thank you for teaching me your truth.  I am writing your words on my heart so your truth can guide me day and night.

With you, I have nothing to fear.

So I sing praises to you, secure in your love and grace.  I know you will never abandon me.  You walk close beside me every day.

I am filled with joy knowing that you are with me today, tomorrow, forever.

Thank you, Abba Father.

Sword Fighting Class – It Takes Effort!

On By Judy GlasserIn AprilLeave a comment

‘My child, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,

turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding,”

We are memorizing Proverbs 2 together – one verse a week.  We know this is possible with God’s help.  Proverbs 2 1st page - this one

The next verse is:

“and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding…..”

This verse has very active words in it.  Calling out!  Cry aloud!

This doesn’t sound like it’s describing me sitting here quietly, reading my Bible.

This sounds like I need to be seriously and intensely asking for insight and understanding.  These words indicate a significant effort on my part.  Growing wise, increasing my insight and understanding is obviously not a passive activity.

It’s evident that God’s wisdom isn’t going to just doesn’t ‘sink in’ as I sit in a chair at church or turn the pages of my Bible.

We’re calling out and crying aloud, dear Father!

 

 

Psalm 121, 2015

On By Judy GlasserIn AprilLeave a comment

I lift my eyes up to the mountains, to the clouds, to the warm sun.April 25 pslam 121, 2015

My help comes from the Lord who created all of these things.

He does not let me stumble.  He never sleeps – he is always caring for me.

The Lord watches over me – I can feel his presence.  He is standing right behind me, not letting anything harm me.

My Lord watches over my life – protecting me.

He watches me day and night, today and tomorrow….forevermore.

Thank you, Abba Father.

Our Foolishness

On By Judy GlasserIn AprilLeave a comment

Our bad choices.

Our rationalizations.

Our blind spots.

How do we react when we realize that we’ve been foolish?April 26 2015 our foolishness.

One of King David’s redeeming qualities was his ability to admit his foolishness and genuinely repent.  He sometimes had trouble seeing his sin because he was lost in his own head – focused on his own plans.  So we read that God brought people into David’s life to help him see his bad decisions.

When David finally realized his foolishness, he was always repentant.  And we see God forgiving David over and over….and over.

Just like God forgives us- over and over…..and over.

Dear Abba Father, Please help us to be quick to recognize our sin and foolishness and quickly repent from those choices.  We know that repenting means to turn away, to stop doing what we’re doing.  We need your strength for that, dear Father.  And perseverance.  We are looking for wisdom and insight like it as silver, dear God.  We are searching for understanding and knowledge like it was hidden treasure.  We know all wisdom and understanding comes from you and you generously give it to us when we ask.  We are asking now.  Thank you.  In the awesome name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Sword Fighting Class – Turn Your Ear

On By Judy GlasserIn Sword Fighting ClassLeave a comment

“My Child, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding…”

We are just starting the journey of memorizing Proverbs 2 together and I’m trying something new.  I’ve added an audio file below of me sharing what I’ve memorized so far.  It’s not perfect, but it’s close.  Hopefully we can encourage each other as develop this habit of writing God’s words upon our hearts and minds.  I also included James 1 if you’re still working on finalizing that.

Do you feel a ‘frizz’ of anticipation as we begin to store up within us these significant words from God about Proverbs 2 1st page - this onewisdom?

What is God going to reveal to us on this journey through Proverbs 2?

I am confident that we will have more wisdom when we’ve etched these words on our minds.  That’s what God is promising us – if we memorize his words, turning our ears and applying our hearts – we will find understanding and wisdom and knowledge and insight.

Amen, let it be so, dear Father.

Audio file – click the square on the left to get it started:

 

A Wise Woman

On By Judy GlasserIn April2 Comments

We’ve been hearing a lot from God about wisdom lately, haven’t we?  James 1 was full of directions to us regarding wisdom.April 15 2015 a wise woman

And now, in 1 Samuel, we read the story about a wise woman who saves a city.  How does she do that?

She was wise in her approach to Joab, she didn’t let emotions get in the way, and she had a good suggestion which she was willing to follow-through.

She speaks truth into the situation.  Joab is going to ‘take down’ the city in order to get one man.  The wise women spoke to Joab, reminding him that this was a peaceful city with a strong history of faithfulness to Israel.

And Joab agrees to just take the man and leave the city alone.

Just like that.

A wise woman speaking truth saved the lives of the people living in that city.

Please give us wisdom, Abba Father.

Psalm 3, 2015

On By Judy GlasserIn April1 Comment

There are so many thoughts and feelings fighting within me, dear God.

There are problems and situations rising up all around me!

I find myself often thinking that you aren’t in control of this.  That you aren’t going to work this one out for my good.

But I know, dear Lord, that you protect me.April 14 2015 Psalm 3

I know that your power within me can lift my head up high so I can see you.

So I can focus on you.

When I call out to you, you always answer.

I can sleep at night because you are with me.

I have no fear because I know that you love me and give me strength.

Deliver me from all the things that distract my attention away from you.

As a wave of other people’s voices washes over me, dear God, help me to hear only yours.

I know you will deliver me, God.

You have proved your faithfulness to me.

May your blessing be on us, your people.

Thank you, Abba Father.

Sword Fighting Class- We’re Not Done

On By Judy GlasserIn Sword Fighting ClassLeave a comment

We’re not done memorizing scriptures.  God has made this extremely clear to me as I have been praying about whether to continue the sword fighting classes or not.  The answer was a resounding ‘don’t stop’.  So then I started praying about what to memorize and had thought I was going to memorize a part of Isaiah that I love.  Proverbs 2 1st page - this oneBut God said, “Proverbs 2 – more about wisdom.”

So, we’re memorizing Proverbs 2 🙂  God promises he will help us.   I know of 6 people who are memorizing it with us so that will be awesome!  Proverbs 2 starts off with one God’s many commands to us to memorize scripture.  Here we go:

‘My child, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you..’

Yes, Abba Father.