Tag: Bible

Never Forgotten

On By Judy GlasserIn MarchLeave a comment

It makes sense.  I see the connections and consistent messages.

One of the main reasons I love reading the entire Bible every year is the fact that I can clearly see the topics that regularly show up and this tells me what is important to God.

One of the topics that is a main theme throughout God’s word is how much God loves and cares for poor people.  From the beginning of time to the end, the poor in our midst are close to God’s heart.

In Leviticus 19 we read how God directs the Israelites not to clear their fields again after their first harvest.  They needed to leave the remaining grain, olives and grapes for the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows.

At this time in history, showing any care for the poor was not normal behavior.  Usually the fields were picked a second time to make sure the landowner got every single grape or olive or stalk of grain.  They wanted it all for themselves – there was no thought of people less fortunate.

Sound familiar?  Our culture is not very different, is it?  We have houses and sheds and garages and storage units full of stuff we’re not using.  Many of these are things that other people could use and would really benefit from.  But we would have to be willing to give it away.

I recently saw a post on Facebook suggesting that, instead of giving up chocolate or TV or anything else that doesn’t benefit others for lent, maybe each day we could take one thing we own but don’t use and put it into a bag.  Then at Easter we could give this bag away to a charity or thrift store.

What do you think?

This is the idea God was introducing to the Israelites in Leviticus – don’t keep it all for yourself.  Give some away.

God speaks often and loudly in the Bible about how much he cares for the less fortunate people around us.  Do you think he is happy about how you and I care for them?

Please our eyes and our hearts, Abba Father.

He Breaks Through the Lies

On By Judy GlasserIn MarchLeave a comment

Always fair.

Always right.

These are some of the characteristics of God that I use to filter everything through as I read his Word.  I may not understand everything God does but I know he is always fair and right.

As I read Numbers 27,  I can see how God breaks through the false thinking of that time when women were considered part of a man’s belongings and wealth.  Women didn’t own anything – they were ‘sold’ to men in marriage.

But God is always right and fair so he let  Zelophehad’s daughters inherit their father’s land.  By doing this, God revealed what he really thought about the current cultural norms of treating women less than men.  That isn’t how he sees things.

Sure, the head of the family clan (male) didn’t like it.  But he obeyed God and let the daughters inherit their father’s land.  The women were instructed to marry within their clan so that the land would stay within their group.

Just imagine this – 5 young unmarried women who would normally lack any kind of position in the community are now land-owners!  God’s love and care for his daughters is  shining through – challenging this male-dominated culture.

And, I’m sure, as landowners, these young women had no trouble finding husbands.  I wonder if these marriages were a little different because they began in a more equal position?

This culture did not treat women equally, but God did.  He always does.

Thank you, Abba Father.

It’s Supernatural

On By Judy GlasserIn FebruaryLeave a comment

Have you experienced the supernatural movement of God in your life?

If you have put your faith in Jesus, you have.  You may not have recognized it.  Have you ever watched while something just ‘works out’?  That’s God.  You may have called it a coincidence but it’s really a ‘God-incidence’. 

We read in Deuteronomy that the clothes of Israelites did not wear out in the 40 years they wandered in the desert.  What?

And their feet did not swell for 40 years.  No way!

40 years and their clothes were still good.  40 years of walking thousands of miles in the hot, dirty desert and no swelling!

Only God could do something like this!

The Israelites were slaves before going into the desert so I’m sure they didn’t have a lot of clothes to start with.  They regularly had to pack up everything they owned and move it across the desert so I’m sure they didn’t own much at all.  And our very practical God realized that their clothes not wearing out would help simplify their journey.  Keeping their feet healthy also kept them moving.

So God took care of it – just like he takes care of you and me.  God is always right beside us taking care of the details.  Here are a few recent examples of how he has taken care of me in very practical ways –

  • Not too long ago we sold a car for 2 1/2 times what we planned on selling it for.  God took us to the right people at the right time.
  • Almost every day God brings people into my life to encourage me and urge me on – one step at a time.
  • God has been leading the foundation we started to continue the legacy of my son who was a police officer killed in the line of duty.  He brings just the right people at just the right time.
  • I am in the middle of a big change in direction and I’m watching God orchestrate it – piece by piece.

Supernatural.

It’s really amazing to watch my all-powerful Father move and work out the details on my behalf.

Thank you, Abba.

What Came First?

On By Judy GlasserIn FebruaryLeave a comment

Did I love God first?

Or did he love me first?

God’s Word is very clear that he loved me first.  When I was a tiny newly-fertilized egg inside of mother, God knew me and loved me. 

As I read the words Moses said to the Israelites in one of his last addresses to them before his death, I am challenged to evaluate how well I love God.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and will all your soul and with all your strength.”

What would it feel like if I loved God with all my heart?  What do I need to change so I can love God with all my soul?  What would my life be like if I loved God with all my strength?

How can I ignore the distractions of this world and the strong desire to do what I want to do so I can love God first?

I am God’s child and he is my Perfect Father.  I know he wants me to love him more and love him better than I do now.  As long as I seek him first, he will show me the way.

I’m following you, Abba Father.  Thank you.

Bigger…

On By Judy GlasserIn FebruaryLeave a comment

and stronger.

As the Israelites prepare to enter the Promised Land, Moses tells them that God is going to “drive out before you nations greater and stronger than you.”

The Israelites were going to be fighting against enemies with huge armies of men who had built tall walls around their cities.  And God was going to give them victory.  He was headed into battle with them – there was nothing to fear.

God is saying this same thing to me today –

and to you.

You and I have some big battles coming our way.  If we aren’t in the middle of them now, we probably don’t have long to wait.  That’s just how it is on this broken planet.

God promises us that he will go with us and guide us through.  In some situations we will see a clear victory and other times it’s what we learn and how we grow through the battle that makes us a winner.

Because God, our Father, has already won the war.  Jesus defeated sin and death for us.

As a believer, I know how this story ends for me.

Happily Ever After.

Thank you, Abba Father.

I Have to Believe

On By Judy GlasserIn FebruaryLeave a comment

I have to trust.

Otherwise I’ll act like the Israelites as they wandered around in the desert.  Whining. Stubborn.  Forgetting all the things God had already done for them.  Showing no gratitude for how God was currently leading them and providing for them.

I don’t want to be like them.

It’s a fact that I have even less excuse for this kind of bad behavior than they did because, as a believer living under the New Covenant, I have the Spirit of God living in me.  They didn’t have the Holy Spirit.

Yes, I have the Holy Spirit, but if I don’t trust in the love and grace of God, I will be just like them.  If I don’t let God lead me and fight my battles for me, I will cut myself off from his blessings just like they did.

If I forget how faithful God has been to me all of my life, I will become a bitter grumbler just like them.

I’m not going to do that.  I choose to believe, trust and put my faith in the One True God, Creator of the Universe.

What do you choose?

I love you, Abba Father.

 

A Cloud of Guidance

On By Judy GlasserIn FebruaryLeave a comment

A Cloud of Guidance.

I would like one.  Wouldn’t you?

As the Israelites start moving across the desert, we read more in the book of Numbers about the Cloud of God which initially covered the tabernacle.  Now the cloud begins to guide the Israelites – step by step – on their journey.

When the cloud lifted from the tabernacle, approximately 2.5 million Israelites would break camp and follow.  When the cloud settled back down on a spot, they would all stop, put up the tabernacle and then set up camp in their assigned places around it.  We read that sometimes the cloud was over the tabernacle only a few days before moving on and other days the cloud stayed only from evening to the next morning.  Whether the cloud remained over the tabernacle for 2 days or a year, the Israelites stayed until it lifted.  Then they packed up and moved on.

At night the cloud became a pillar of fire.  Of course it did!  That way the Israelites could see it in the dark and know they were exactly where they were supposed to be.

Wow!  There are alot of situations in my life where I would love to have such clear guidance!

On second thought, as a believer, I know I have the Spirit of God living in me – my own cloud!

I just need to tune in and be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s moving and prompting.  The easiest way for me to do this is to spend time reading and thinking about what God is telling me every day through his Word.   Sometimes I’m supposed to move and other times I’m supposed to be still, focused on my relationship with him.

It’s amazing how clearly he speaks when I’m listening carefully and consistently.

Thank you for giving me my own Cloud of Guidance, Abba Father.

It’s Done

On By Judy GlasserIn FebruaryLeave a comment

Complete.

All the weaving, measuring and hammering was done.  Moses set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and put up the curtain to the entrance.

Finished.

“Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.”

Awesome!

There are times during the praise part of worshipping God with my spiritual family when I visualize a cloud billowing into the room.  As I watch, the glory of the LORD fills the space around me.  God’s word tells us that he ‘inhabits’ the praise of his people.

God is always near but there are two places in my life where he feels most near to me –

  • the first place is right now with my Bible open in my lap and my ears and heart open to what he wants to say to me.
  • the second is when I’m joining with God’s people in praising him.  This is especially true for me when a praise song includes pivotal truths that have been game-changers in my life.  This last Sunday we lifted our praise up to our ‘Good, Good Father’ while tears streamed down my face.  A cloud of God’s grace and love filled the room and my heart.  God is good, he loves me and always wants the best for me even when I can’t see it.  These are all facts that have gotten me through the last 3 1/2 painful years since my son was killed.

And the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

Thank you, Abba Father.

 

The Light Wins

On By Judy GlasserIn February2 Comments

Secret Arts.

Those are the words my Bible uses when explaining how the Pharoah’s magicians did the same ‘tricks’ as God did through Moses.

It’s interesting to replace ‘secret arts’ with the name of who was really behind the magician’s powers – Satan.  It’s always a battle of good versus evil and most of those battles are fought in the spiritual realm.  This one was very visible on earth.

It started when Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharoah and it became a snake.  Pharoah’s magicians did the same thing with their staffs with Satan’s help.

But here’s a twist – Aaron’s snake swallowed up the other snakes.  In the writing world, we would call this foreshadowing – this is how the whole battle is going to go.  God is all-powerful, Satan is not.

Even after his snakes are eaten right in front of him, Pharoah remained stubborn and unmoved.  That’s just who he was.

Next, God changed the Nile into blood. (Yuck!)  But then Pharoah’s magicians did the same thing – again with Satan’s help.

Of course, Pharoah’s heart remained hard and stubborn.

So God sent a plague of frogs which covered the ground as well as the insides of their houses.  Once again, Satan helped Pharoah’s magicians do the same thing.

Pharoah’s stubborn refusal to let the Israelites go continued, so God sent a plague of gnats.  But – get this.  The magicians were unable to produce gnats.

What happened, Satan?  Run out of steam?

Or did the Creator of the Universe get tired of playing your games and shut you down?

Suddenly, Satan no longer replies but we read the deadly result of his continued whispers into Pharoah’s ear.  Pharoah’s heart becomes more and more stubborn so God ups his response with the next plague of flies.

Do you notice?  Now the plagues start to only affect the Egyptians, not God’s people.  The 9th plague of darkness is truly amazing to me.  The land was in total darkness – they couldn’t see their hands in front of their faces – except God’s people.  The light still shone down on the people of Israel.

I feel that is true today.  Our world can be such a dark and confusing place – full of disappointment and heartbreak.  Only God brings true light into the darkness.

We can fool ourselves into thinking that money or recognition or a relationship with the right person brings light.  But all of those will eventually feel empty – ‘is this all there is’ – without God.

Have we figured this out yet?  Our lives will be ‘plagued’ by darkness until we put God in the center.

Thank you for being ‘The Light of the World”, Jesus.

 

Please Send Someone Else

On By Judy GlasserIn JanuaryLeave a comment

It’s true.

I’m reading Exodus and Moses – one of the major ancient Patriarchs of Faith – asks God to “Please send someone else.”

What?

God has heard the cries of his people and he chose Moses to lead the nation of Israel out of slavery in Egypt and Moses replies, “Send someone else?”  Moses went through the whole burning bush experience and he still says “Send someone else?”

Do I ever do this?

Do you?

I think one of the areas that many of us will ask God “Please send someone else” is when God gives us an opportunity to share our faith and share our story.  “Oh, I’m not sure what to say.”  “We might get into a complicated conversation and I won’t have the answers.”

“There is someone else who would be better at this than me.”

Any of those excuses come into your head when people around you start asking questions about God or church or religion or spirituality?

By the way, I love it when someone tells me they are into ‘organized religion’ because I tell them I’m not, either.  But I’m totally into having a personal relationship with God.  And God is very clear in his Word that part of having a relationship with him is also having relationships with other Christians – a spiritual family.  Many of those of those families meet in church buildings.

I love it when people around me start asking spiritual questions because that means God is moving in their lives.  He is opening their eyes and softening their heart – making them think about him.  Even if the person expresses their searching aggressively like, “How could you possibly believe this stuff?”, God is moving in their brain, stirring things up.

So when people around you or I show any type of interest in God or ask any kind of question, that is God inviting us to show his love to this person, be a witness to what God has done in our life and plant a seed.  We can be authentic when we don’t know all the answers and admit we’re on the journey of faith ourselves – seeking God and growing in our knowledge and love for him.  That’s where faith comes in – believing and trusting even when we don’t understand it all.

So the next time someone around one of us starts talking about ‘spirituality’ or God, let’s share a short, recent story about an experience we have had with God, trusting that the Holy Spirit will give us the right words and help us to be quiet and listen at the right times.

Let’s not say, “Please send someone else.”

Please help us be faithful witnesses to your power and grace and love, Abba Father.