Tag: Bible

Who Is My Instructor?

On By Judy GlasserIn JulyLeave a comment

“Who has been instructed by the Lord?’ asked Jeremiah in his 9th chapter.

How many of us seriously consider where our instruction is coming from?July 28 2014 Who is My Instructor

Is it coming from TV?  Do we believe everything we hear on the news or on the internet?  Do we quote these things to others like it’s verified fact?

Is our instruction coming from family or friends?  Our boss? If so, where are they receiving their instruction?

Or is it all about what I ‘think’?  Where did that instruction come from and what is it based on?

We also need to consider how Satan is constantly trying to give us directions.  He and his pack prowl around us waiting for a weak moment where they can ‘instruct’ us in how to rationalize our bad behavior.  Satan gets a big smile on his face whenever we seek instruction from any source other than God.

God tells us to use his infallible word for our instruction and to compare everything else to it in order to discern if the other thing is true or false.  As we read and study God’s word, he instructs us.

And there is always more to know – that’s the lifelong journey towards the truth that we’re on.  I think it’s great that you are all on this journey with me and that you read the thoughts and meditations God gives me.  It is my prayer that you are also reading God’s word yourself so that God can speak directly to you and instruct you.

Thank you for your amazing and living word to us, dear Father.

I’m Not Stubborn!

On By Judy GlasserIn JulyLeave a comment

I’m not stubborn!July 28 2014 stubborn

I’m not stubborn!

These words make me smile because it brings back a memory that is now precious of my daughter when she was a  small, very determined, 5 year old.  Her older brother would tease her about being stubborn and she would yell these words loudly and repeatedly – proving his point.

But she couldn’t see that.  Her mind was closed to the idea that her behavior was anything other than acceptable.

She was just a little girl with a lot to learn.  She has since grown into a beautiful, extremely intelligent, still very determined young woman who hasn’t said these words in a long time.

Just like us – we don’t say the words.  But do we have this attitude?  Can we take down the self-protective walls that we’ve built in our minds and take an honest look at our behavior?  Is there a stubborn streak there?  I know I can be stubborn.  In the past I would have said it was because I was always right but God has already shown me the error of that thinking 🙂

Jeremiah tells us in his 7th chapter that God accuses Israel of being stubborn.  He has commanded them to obey him but they do not listen.  They ‘follow the stubborn inclination of their evil hearts.’

Ouch!

Our stubbornness leads to behavior that does not please God.

Please open our eyes to our stubbornness, dear Father, so we can let you transform it into obedience.

Our Hearts

On By Judy GlasserIn JulyLeave a comment

Our desire is for you to circumcise our hearts, dear Father.July 26 2014 our hearts

Please help us cut away the parts that only focus on ourselves – the selfishness and immaturity.

Take away the sections that care so much about the ‘things’ of this world.  They distract us from you.

Please help us get rid of the areas that are filled with worthless guilt and regrets which weigh us down.  You forgave and forgot about those many years ago when we confessed them the first time.

Please tear away the dark parts so our light for you can shine brighter.

Cut out the judgemental part of our heart and replace it with love for others.

We pray for a new heart that is soft and wide-open to you, dear Father.  We thank you because we know this is also what you want for us, so it will happen when we faithfully stay in this journey.

One day at a time.

On our way to you, dear Father.

 

Closer to God

On By Judy GlasserIn JulyLeave a comment

Most of us have a place where we feel closer to God.

Mine is the beach.  Followed closely by the mountains.rainbow in hawaii 2014

My husband and I are on a 12- day vacation in Hawaii and, each day, I am reminded specifically how awesome our Father God is!

A beautiful rainbow out over the ocean on our first morning here reminded me of God’s faithfulness to us – generation after generation.

The gorgeous sunsets over the ocean every evening paint a glorious picture of all of the colors and shapes of God’s love.

Peaking under the surface of the ocean while snorkeling, I was amazed once again at the vast power of our Creator God who holds it all together by the power of his will.  Yet, as a small fish swims by with it’s beautiful combination of red and yellows outlined perfectly by a sweeping line of black across it’s side, I am so thankful for how God cares for the smallest details.lights of waikiki 2014

Hundreds of lights dotting the skyline of Waikiki from our balcony representing thousands of people from all over the world reminds me that Jesus came to earth to redeem ALL of those who would believe in him and accept his salvation.

We know that all of these things are true because of God’s Word to us.

What new things will God reveal to us as we continue on our journey?

Santa Claus is Not Coming to Town

On By Judy GlasserIn JulyLeave a comment

Many years ago, God opened my eyes to the fact that my relationship with him needed to improve – I was treating him a lot like Santa Claus.  I would create a long prayer list of things for myself and others.  Then I would metaphorically climb into his lap, fold my hands, shut my eyes and start down my list of ‘wants’.July 25 2014 Santa Claus

After I was done, I would jump down from his lap and go on my way – expecting that he’d give me what I asked for.  If he didn’t, I’d add it to my list again and repeat myself – telling God what I wanted to happen.  If it still didn’t happen, I would feel some frustration starting – why weren’t these things happening?

Jeremiah talks to us about Judah mistreating their relationship with God in his second chapter.  He tells Judah that they have turned their backs on God.  But, when they are in trouble, they call on him to save them.  Jeremiah asks them why they don’t call out for help to the gods they serve every day – the gods they obviously worship?

For us, these false gods could be a variety of things – money, success, relationships – whatever we spend most of our time and money on.  Jeremiah tells us that – if these are our gods, why don’t we go to them when we have a need?  And stop blaming the True God when we don’t get what we want.

I am so grateful that God opened my eyes to how I was treating him like Santa Claus.  I said I loved him – is this how I showed him that?  Is this how I wanted my relationship with him to be?

I decided to always start my prayers with thanking God and that has helped me grow a more loving relationship with him.  It reminds me of his years and years of faithfulness to me and I am reassured that everything in the future is also in his hands.  I can trust him.  Most of my requests now center around asking for God’s will in situations.  He wants the best for us and that’s what I want as well.  So that’s what I ask for.

Yes, God also tells us to pray specifically.  I love, love the example of the persistent widow and that’s my ‘go to’ process when something big is going down.  Even when I pray for specific things, I will add ‘your will be done’.  Because that’s what I really want.

And, when we pray for what is in God’s will, it always happens.

We can avoid all the worry and stress – God’s got this!

Thank you, dear Father!

 

Be Appalled

On By Judy GlasserIn July2 Comments

Jeremiah tells the people of Judah to compare their faithfulness to that of the pagans.July 25 2014 more faithful first one

The pagans had false, worthless gods who had never done anything for them.  Yet, the pagans were extremely faithful to their gods – to the point of sacrificing their sons and daughters.

Meanwhile, Judah had exchanged their glorious, loving God for worthless idols.

” Be appalled at this’, Jeremiah says.  “Shudder with great horror!”

Do we ever do this?  Do we ever show more faithfulness to one our idols that we do to our Father God?

It’s easy to get caught up in spending our time and energy serving the god of money.  How many hours a week do we work?  How does that compare to the time we spend reading God’s word, praying, worshipping and serving?  Yes, most of us have to work to support ourselves.  Balancing that in order to make sure our top priority also gets an appropriate amount of time and energy is difficult….not impossible.

Our Glorious God who provides everything for us – including our next breath – is calling us today to be faithful.

Yes, dear Father.

The Journey

On By Judy GlasserIn JulyLeave a comment

“My thoughts and my ways are different from yours.”July 18 2014 The Journey

God points this out to us in Isaiah 55.

What does this mean?

That my first reaction to a situation may not be how God wants me to react?

That my first solution to a problem may not be the wise one God would like me to choose?

That the lens which I view the world needs to be adjusted according to God’s word?

Isaiah says ‘yes’ to all of those questions.

God sees the world and our lives so much differently than we do.  As we read and meditate on God’s word, he gradually changes our thinking, one scripture at a time.

As we hear and obey his directions, he changes our behavior, one day at a time.

That’s what this journey towards the Truth is all about.

Dear Father, we thank you for your awesome word to us.  We ask that you continue to transform our thoughts and our behaviors as we experience your truth on our journey towards you.  We love you!  You are our final destination.  Thank you for the certainty we have about how this journey ends because of what your son, Jesus, did for us on the cross.  In his redeeming name we pray, Amen.

In His Peace

On By Judy GlasserIn July1 Comment

Several members of my immediate family are already in heaven – my father, my mother, my oldest brother and my step-father.  With tears streaming down my face, I read Isaiah 57 as he tells us why the righteous die:

When those devoted to God die, it’s not the end.July 19 2014 In his Peace

Those left behind don’t understand that the righteous are taken out of this world so they don’t have to experience the ‘evils’ here any longer.

They go to a place of rest.  We call it ‘death’, but God calls it peace.

Thank you, dear Father.

By His Wounds, We Are Healed

On By Judy GlasserIn JulyLeave a comment

Over 700 years before Jesus’ birth, Isaiah prophesized that:

* He would not come like a majestic king.ftdDSC_0523

* He would be rejected by people.

*  He would be a man who knew suffering.

*  Others would look down on him, they would despise him.

*  Yet, he would bear our sins.

*  He would be crushed because of our lies and rebellion.

*  He would be wounded for us so that we could find peace and healing.ftdDSC_0505

* He would not open his mouth as he was led to his own slaughter.

*  No one would protest.

* After the Messiah suffered, he would come back to life bringing salvation to many.

Isaiah was so right.

And we are so blessed!

Thank you, dear Jesus!ftdDSC_0549

Isaiah 51, 2014

On By Judy GlasserIn JulyLeave a comment

Listen everyone!July 17b 2014 Isaiah 2014

God has given us directions.

His justice is a light to the world!

His salvation has come!

Everyone who looks to God can find hope through his son.

Lift up your eyes to heaven.

The earth is going to wear out.  All of its inhabitants will die.

But God’s salvation will last forever.  He will never fail!

Those who are wise, know this is right.  They have learned what God has taught them.

Don’t worry about what others say or do to you.  They will also pass away.

But God’s salvation will last forever, through all generations to come.

Thank you, dear God!