Tag: God

When Bad Things Happen….

On By Judy GlasserIn January4 Comments

to good people.

It’s hard to understand.

I sometimes ask ‘why’?  Do you ask ‘why’?

Then I read about Joseph’s trials in Genesis and the answer is pretty clear.  A long list of bad things happened to Joseph and God brought something good from them all.  Joseph’s faith and wisdom grew as he trusted God with through each trial.

I don’t believe that God caused all of these negative things to happen to Joseph.  I don’t believe God causes all the struggles that happen to you and me.  Some of them happen because we live in a broken world where we all sin, we all make bad choices.  We pay the consequences for our sins as well as other people’s sins.  And Satan is working relentlessly to entice people to sin.  He is creating a lot of our trials.  I don’t understand why some people get mad at God when bad things happen – they should get mad at Satan who is doing the dirty work.

Yes, God is in total control so he could stop all sinning and consequences from happening.  But he has gifted us with free will so we can choose to love and obey him.  Unfortunately, sometimes, our choice is to sin.  Other people choose to sin.  There are consequences for those bad choices. When we, as believers, get to where we’re going (heaven) we will no longer sin and there will be no more negative consequences.

you-intended-to-harm-me

Here on earth – where God is with all believers like he was with Joseph – he can use these consequences so that something good comes from them.

This truth makes the account of Joseph’s life very important to me.

His brothers sold him into slavery but – wait.

Then he’s put in charge of the top Egyptian official’s house.

The official’s wife lied to get Joseph in trouble and Joseph is thrown in jail.

But – wait.  God was with him and he was put in charge of the prison.  Joseph helped the Butler and Baker get out of prison – good news for the Butler because he got his old job back, bad news for the Baker who was killed.  The Butler promised to help Joseph get out of jail but he forgot. Two years (2 years!) later, Pharaoh had a dream and the Butler remembered Joseph who was called out of prison to interpret it.

Pharaoh was so impressed that he made Joseph 2d in command, right under himself.  From that position, Joseph was responsible for saving the lives of a whole nation.  A serious famine was coming and God spoke a warning through Joseph’s interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream.

God was with Joseph through all of the bad things that happened to him, making sure that he ended up exactly where he needed to be in order to fulfill his destiny.

Joseph also saved the lives of his brothers who had sold him into slavery.  This indicates the level of maturity and faith Joseph had acquired through his trials.  Joseph told his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. ” Genesis 50:20.  Joseph could never have predicted the part he was going to play in the huge famine that was coming.  God knew. And he was with Joseph every step of the way.

Joseph’s story encourages me as I watch God bring good out of the tragic death of my son, David Glasser, who was a Phoenix Police Officer killed in the line of duty.  And God has been with me every day as I learn to live with the grief and pain of losing a child.

And he wants to walk through your trials with you, too, – if you will let him.  He wants to bring good out of the trials you go through – if you let him.

Thank you, Abba Father.

A Long Family Legacy of Faith

On By Judy GlasserIn JanuaryLeave a comment

Since I was born –

from then to now –

God has been my Shepherd.

Israel’s (formerly known as Isaac) words echo through my mind as I read in Genesis how he describes God as he blesses his grandsons during his last days on this Earth.  “May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked faithfully, the God who has been my Shepherd all my life to this day, the Angel who has delivered me from harm- may he bless these boys.”  Genesis 48:15-16.

Israel and I share the experience of having a long family legacy of faith.

In Genesis 48, Israel is talking to Joseph about his plan to bless Joseph’s sons.  This was very serious business and Joseph isn’t happy when Israel switches hands and gives the younger son the greater blessing.

But I know that one of the biggest blessings these grandsons and all of Israel’s grandsons are receiving is the long family history of belief and faith they have been nurtured in since their birth.  It started with their Great, Great Grandfather Abraham and it is being passed down to them.

They have had years and years of role models in their lives of people who followed God and obeyed.  This is a precious blessing that will change their lives forever if they choose to follow in the steps of those who have gone before them.

I have received this blessing as I pursue a life of following God and being faithful to him….

as my mother did….

and my grandmothers…..

and my great grandmothers – on back through history.

If this isn’t true of your family, you have the awesome opportunity to get the legacy started.

Thank you for giving me the blessing of having a long family history of faith, Abba Father.

He is With Me

On By Judy GlasserIn January2 Comments

All the time.

Blessing me.

Guiding me.

Loving me.

As I read the story of Joseph in Genesis, I notice that one phrase keeps repeating itself – over and over.

“The Lord was with Joseph.”

Joseph lived in Old Testament times so the Holy Spirit had not yet come to live inside of every believer.  God’s relationship with his people in the Old Testament was very different from our current relationship because sin was in the way.  It explains why the Old Testament is full of violence, bloody animal sacrifices and killing.  Our Righteous Father had to keep his distance.   Jesus had not yet given up his life on the cross to pay for all of the sins of the world.

Even so, as we read through the Old Testament, God’s Spirit did come to earth at special times to be  ‘with’ chosen people.

Joseph was one of them.  And Joseph prospered even when his circumstances were not good.

I am so thankful to be living on earth after Jesus came because now the Holy Spirit is ‘with’ everyone who has accepts the free gift of salvation offered by Jesus and puts their faith in him.  Everything good on earth comes from God – even when he doesn’t get the credit.

I am so grateful that the Holy Spirit is ‘with’ me every day – caring for me, counseling me and walking beside me.

And I prosper despite my circumstances….

because God is good, all the time.

Thank you, Abba Father.

Wrestling with God

On By Judy GlasserIn JanuaryLeave a comment

Why is life so hard?  Why do bad things happen to me?  Why have I been bombarded by tough stuff?

I have wrestled with God often about the death of my son, David Glasser, a Phoenix Police officer, who was killed in the line of duty on May 18, 2016.  That’s the day my world exploded…….and then crumbled.  I had so many questions.  So much grief.  So many tears.

I did a lot of talking and questioning and struggling with God as my mind and heart gradually came to terms with the huge, painful hole in my life.

I don’t think this wrestling is unusual.  In fact, as I read in Genesis 32 of God’s Word about Jacob wrestling with God thousands of years ago, I can relate.  They physically wrestled all night.  God and I went through many mental wrestling rounds over the first couple of years after Davey’s death.

Have you ever wrestled with God in your mind all night?   Thoughts swirling.  Stuck in frustration.  Questions flying around.  Emotions rolling.  Tears flowing.

When the sun rose for Jacob in the morning, God changed Jacob’s name to Israel “because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”  Genesis 32:28b.

Then God blessed Israel (Jacob).  God also wrenched Israel’s hip out of its socket while they were wrestling and Israel limped the rest of his life – evidence of his successful wrestling with God.

Like Israel, God has blessed me and given me answers and peace as a result of our wrestling matches.  I have learned more about how much he loves me since my son was killed than I knew all of my earlier years on this planet.  God is putting the pieces of my life back together on the foundation of these facts –  He is good, He is always right, nothing is impossible for Him, He wants the best for me and He is working everything out for my good.  I have learned to filter everything that happens to me in this world through these promises.  This has changed my perspective and significantly increased my level of trust in Him.

God has also changed one of the names I go by – now I am a ‘Survivor’.  I  have a ‘limp’ – evidence in my life that I have successfully wrestled with God.  With God walking beside me, I have overcome my questions and frustrations.

God has helped me experience His love and faithfulness in the deepest part of my soul.  I may not understand it all but I trust Him with it all.

Thank you, Abba Father.

Lies and Trickery

On By Judy GlasserIn January2 Comments

Saying things that aren’t true in order to get what we want.

Changing the facts a little to avoid dealing with the consequences for choices we have made.

Making a situation look and sound like something it’s not in order to get our way.

Lies and trickery.  This all sounds pretty bad when it’s listed out like this.  None of us really do any of this – do we?  Are we tempted?

When I read Abraham and Sarah’s story in Genesis, I definitely don’t want to leave a legacy of deception and trickery to my family and friends like they did.  Abraham lied about Sarah being his wife.  Sarah manipulated Abraham into having a son with her servant and then she decided the servant and the son needed to leave.  Abraham and Sarah’s children and grandchildren continued this tradition of trickery as they lied to and tricked each other over hundreds of years for personal gain.

One of the instances that really shows the negative consequences of these deceptions is after Rebekah manipulated Isaac into giving Jacob the first-born blessing that was meant for Esau. Rebekah heard about Esau’s plan to kill his brother in revenge so she sent Jacob away. Her actions caused her to lose her relationship with her favorite son.

As we read through Genesis, we’re able to see all the pain and separation and distrust and suspicion that this legacy caused …….. from generation to generation.

I don’t want that in my family and relationships.  So I try to be honest and truthful – even when it’s hard.

What about you?

Please help us avoid dishonesty and deception, Abba Father.

Not Seeing What’s Really There

On By Judy GlasserIn JanuaryLeave a comment

I’ve had it.  Have you?

Tunnel vision.

I think it happens to all of us at times – especially when our emotions are running high.  Sometimes I see only what I want to see.  I notice only what I’m expecting, not what is actually happening.  When my perception clouds the facts, I can go down a path of thinking that is not right, it is not helpful, and it is not true.

If I don’t realize what I’m doing when I’m in a tunnel, I can go to a dangerous place which creates havoc in my life.

So I can relate with Hagar as I read her story in Genesis.  Abraham banished her and their son, Ismael, out into the desert with food and a container of water.  Because she was focused on this one container of water, she felt that all hope was gone when it was empty.

She prepared to die.

She forgot all about reaching out to the Creator of all Things – who created water.  His angel had spoken to her and guided her before but Hagar was in the tunnel – not seeing for any way out except for death.

God heard Ishmael’s cries.  “Then God opened Hagar’s eyes and she saw a well full of water.”  Genesis 21:19.

What?  Was the well there all along and she just wasn’t seeing it?  Was she so lost in despair and discouragement that she didn’t even look around?  Or did God create the well for her?

We don’t know – either way, God provided for her.

And he provides for me constantly.  I need to remember that because, like Hagar, there are situations where I get tunnel vision, especially when emotions are involved.  Especially when something looks big and bad. When I’m lost in my incorrect thinking, I need to remember to reach out to the One who has all the answers.

Please open my eyes, Abba Father.

Speak! I Am Listening

On By Judy GlasserIn AprilLeave a comment

Little Samuel’s story in the Bible is one my favorites.

He heard a voice calling to him in the night and he thought is was the Prophet Eli since he was living with Eli.  So Samuel got out of bed and ran to Eli saying, “Here I am”.

But Eli said, “I did not call, go back and lie down.”

This happened again and then the third time, Eli realized that it was God who was calling the boy.  This time Eli told Samuel, when he heard the voice, to say, “Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:9.

When God spoke again, Samuel told him he was listening and God went on to tell Samuel what was soon going to happen.

I’ve got a challenge for you.  The next time you think you might be hearing something from God, say those same words, “Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.”  And then listen.  Listen to what is going through your brain.  Think about what you have been reading in God’s Word and how it applies to your life.  Think about coincidences that have been happening in your life and how they relate to what you’ve been reading.  Remember things that Godly people in your life have said to you recently.

I believe God is regularly trying to break through the cacophony of our culture – especially the electronic bubble where we spend a lot of our time.  He is trying to talk to you and me – guiding us, encouraging us, and teaching us.

Have you had the experience where you are reading God’s Word and suddenly a sentence seems to stick out of the page? It almost looks like it’s in bold print? You reread a phrase a couple of times?  You start to wonder what this means in your life?  Has that phrase always been there?  I don’t remember ever reading that or even hearing anyone talk about that before?  That is God stopping us.  That is God drawing our attention to something specific in his Word so he can speak to us. Don’t move on until you’ve heard what God is trying to tell you.

That’s what God did today with me.  He stopped me as I was reading to remind me how much I like young Samuel’s story.  Because I know God, I know he is encouraging me to continue to learn how to hear him more and more clearly as I read his Truth.  My knowledge of God is growing and the more I know him, the better I hear him.

How can I be confident that it’s God that’s talking to me and not just my own thinking?  What God says to me will always be consistent with what he says in the Bible.  He will not contradict himself. This is a great reason for me to be reading the entire Bible every year. God knows he has my attention when I’m reading his Word and he speaks to me.

After I pray about something, I am watching – expecting an answer. When he answers, its easy to connect it to my prayer.

I am also 100% sure it’s God talking when he says something I’ve never thought of before and it’s consistent with what I have read in the Bible. 

God confirms his guidance to me through my circumstances as well.  When it’s God talking to me, things happening around me will line up with what God is saying.  Sometimes it will be something my husband, my pastor or a friend says.  As I pray about what God is telling me, God will often open up my eyes to how he is moving around me and I’m be able to connect the dots.

When I take time to consider all of these things, God’s directions to me become really clear.

The better I get to know him, the easier it is to hear him.

Thank you for your guidance, Abba Father

The Donkey Talks!

On By Judy GlasserIn FebruaryLeave a comment

Oh, wow!  Balaam’s donkey talked!

This was one of my kid’s favorite Bible stories when they were younger.  We had a book with great pictures and simple Bible stories which my children loved to have us read to them every night.

A talking Donkey doesn’t take a lot of imagination when you’re a kid.  And kids have no problem believing that the donkey was the smart one in this story.  Balaam didn’t see or wouldn’t see…but the donkey saw the angel blocking his path right away.  Kids know how distracted adults are so they’re not surprised that Balaam was clueless.

Those of us with pets often find ourselves talking to them, right?  Most of us have probably wished at some point that our pets could talk back.

I’ve never had an animal start talking to me but I’ve had unusual things happen that have opened my eyes to what God was doing around me and what he was trying to tell me.  Many of us call these ‘coincidences’ but I don’t believe in coincidences.  I call them ‘God-incidences’.  This is when God lines up the things going on around me with what I’m thinking and what I’m reading in his Word so he can tell me or show me something he wants me to know.  Not a coincidence.  It’s God moving and speaking.

Through the years, I’ve accumulated quite a bit of experience seeing God interact with my daily life in order to guide me or wake me up to what he’s doing.   So I’m not expecting my dog, Bella, to look at me and start talking any time soon.

But it could happen.

Please keep my eyes and heart open to you, Abba Father.

This Is It!

On By Judy GlasserIn OctoberLeave a comment

It’s what I need!

As the mountain of craziness in this world around me grows, I need to find a way to stay grounded on what is good and right and helpful. Jesus shines his light on my path as I read the account of his discussion with Satan in the dessert.

Satan is confronting Jesus after he has been fasting for 40 days. My first thought was that the human part of Jesus were probably in a weakened state after all this time. After thinking about it, he has been in constant communication with his Father for 40 days straight so physically he may have been weakened, but spiritually he was strong and well fed.

Satan tried three times in three different ways to try to tempt Jesus to show off his power and rule the world like an earthly King.  Instead of giving in, Jesus quoted scripture – God’s Word – back to Satan.

God’s Word is the truth and it stood up to all of Satan’s lies over 2000 years ago. Just like it stands up against all of the lies Satan is spewing across our culture today.

Reading, studying and applying God’s Word to my life is the only way I’m going to be able to navigate through all the lies, fake news, wrong thinking, lack of integrity, manipulation and secret agendas that are swirling around me today.

This same crud is swirling around you.

Are you looking for something solid to hang on to through this storm? God and his Word to you is the answer.

Thank you for your Truth, Abba Father.

Let Me Know You

On By Judy GlasserIn FebruaryLeave a comment

Reveal yourself to me, Father.

Open my eyes,  open my ears,

soften my heart towards the things you love.

I join with Moses today and ask, “Let me know your ways so I may understand you more fully and continue to enjoy your favor.”

My soul longs for understanding, Father.  Renew my mind so it focuses on your truth only.  Transform my thinking so the lies of the Evil one have no power in my life.

Teach my feet to follow in your ways.  Train my hands to reach out to the world that you love, God.

Like Moses, I want to enjoy your favor, Father God.  Guide me so I may live under your umbrella of blessing all my days here on earth.

I trust you with my life – you created me and you know me.  I look forward to that day you have already determined when you will take my hand and guide me home to be with you.

Such a glorious day!

I love you, Abba Father.