Tag: God’s Word

Rain Has a Purpose

On By Judy GlasserIn JulyLeave a comment

Rain comes down from the heavens and waters the earth.July 18 2016 the rain has a purpose

The rain makes the earth bud and flourish – feeding the hungry and providing seed for continued growth.

The rain storm itself can be a dangerous place to get stuck.

It’s dark.

It’s cold.

The waters rise as the storm continues.

But eventually the storm ends, the waters recede and the storm has fulfilled it’s purpose –

just like the storms in our lives will fulfill their purpose when we let God guide us through the dark, cold rain.

God tells us in Isaiah 55 that his ways are not like our ways.July 18 2016 b rain has a purpose

His thoughts are not like our thoughts.

He will accomplish his will and achieve his purposes.

He is God.

And we are not.

When we understand this and live it out, we find the joy and peace that only God can give.

Thank you, Abba Father.

 

We Are Healed

On By Judy GlasserIn JulyLeave a comment

700 years before Jesus was born here in earth, Isaiah described Jesus’ life, death and purpose for coming.

This is one of my favorite scriptures in God’s word because it so clearly explains the eternal healing and peace we receive through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.July 17 2016 We are Healed

He took our pain and sorrows upon himself.  God transferred all of our sins onto Jesus – past, present and future.

Jesus was pierced.

He was crushed.

By his wounds we are healed…..

so now our sins no longer separate us from the love and grace of our Father God.

Now we can walk each day in a personal relationship with the Creator of the Universe.

All of us have sinned and rebelled against God.

God laid all of that – for all time – on Jesus.

When we accept the gift of his grace, we are adopted by God as his child for all of eternity.

Thank you, Abba Father.

I am Passing Through

On By Judy GlasserIn JulyLeave a comment

I am passing through the waters of grief…

*of disappointment…July 14 a I'm passing through

*of disillusionment…

*of pain….

and God is with me.

I am passing through a river of tears…

*pierced by the shattered pieces of my broken heart.

*trying to figure out how to live with a huge hole in my life…

but they do not sweep over me.  God is with me.

I am walking through the fire of anger… July 14 b I'm passing through

* filled with ‘whys’…..

* trying to understand….

but I am not burned.  God is with me.

I am passing through.

I’m not staying here.

The Lord my God has a purpose for this.

He has a plan.

So I will trust him as I pass through the waters, the river and the fire.

I love you, Abba Father.

 

So Fragile

On By Judy GlasserIn July2 Comments

Our existence here on earth is short.

Our bodies are very fragile.

I just had a front row seat in seeing just how temporary our time on earth is – no matter how strong, how big or young we may think we are.

In his 40th chapter, Isaiah compares us to grass that withers and flowers that fall.

Very temporary.July 12 2016 so fragile

Very fragile.

So where is our hope?

“But the word of our God endures forever” (vs 8)

God is the opposite of us – he is not fragile and he is not temporary.  He is strong, he is enduring and he never changes.

He is our hope.

And he has given each of us a purpose here on earth.

What is my purpose?  Why am I here?  How can I make my fragile life count for something?

God knows the answer to all of these questions.  We are still here on this earth because our assignments are not completed yet.

When our purpose is fulfilled, our light on this planet will go out.  Our fragile existence will end and, when we are believers, our eternal existence in heaven begins.

Have you figured out God’s purpose for your life here?  Are you busy fulfilling your assignment?

Open our eyes, Abba Father.

 

What Do We Do?

On By Judy GlasserIn JulyLeave a comment

What do we do when we receive really bad news?

Do we worry?

We can’t sleep?

Our thoughts become consumed by our concerns?

We are filled with dread?

We often react to bad news with some combination of these actions.

In 2 Kings 19, King Hezekiah received a letter from the mighty King of Assyria filled with the really bad news that he was going to attack Jerusalem.July 10 2016 Where do we go

How did Hezekiah react?

He took the letter to the temple, spread it out before the Lord and prayed.

What a great example for us!  Instead of worrying, fretting and then worrying some more,  we need to lay it all at God’s feet.  We need to let the Creator of the Universe take care of it.

God took care of Hezekiah’s bad news.  The angel of the Lord killed a large number of the Assyrian solders and the rest of them retreated.

God always answers our prayers.  Sometimes its a ‘yes’ like with Hezekiah.  Sometimes he says ‘no’ because it’s not his will for us.  Other times he says ‘wait’ and he grows our patience when we wait faithfully for his answer.

Because he always answers.

Thank you, Abba Father.

Meaningless

On By Judy GlasserIn JulyLeave a comment

How often are we on ‘auto-pilot’ when it comes to our relationship with God?

Going through the motions?

In Isaiah 29, God tells his people that their worship is meaningless because it is based on human rules while their hearts stay far away from him.  They are saying the right words but they don’t mean it.July 6 2016 meaningless

God can tell the difference.  He knows when our hearts are engaged.  He knows our thoughts and our intentions.

Our love for God shines bright when its authentic.

Real.

And when its based on a personal relationship, not just traditions that we have been taught by others.

God sees right into our hearts and knows if we are sincere.  He knows if we’re serious about our faith.

There is no ‘faking it’ with God.

Please help us worship you and love you like you want us to, Abba Father.

The Light Has Dawned

On By Judy GlasserIn JulyLeave a comment

No one has to walk in darkness any longer.

No one has to live in the land of deep darkness.June 29 a light has dawned

Because a light has dawned.

And his name is Jesus.

Wonderful counselor.

Mighty God.

Everlasting Father.

Prince of Peace.

Savior.

A child was born.  God gave us his son.June 29 2016 b a light has dawned

And there is no end to the greatness of his kingdom.

He reigns with justice and righteousness  – now and forever.

God said it.

So it’s the truth.

Thank you, Abba Father.

We are Walking

On By Judy GlasserIn JulyLeave a comment

Each day we are walking with God.

And he is taking us somewhere.  We don’t know where….we’re following.

He has a plan for every believer.

A purpose.

There’s a reason – many reasons – why we are still here on this earth.

We have an assignment to fulfill.

And, so…..we walk each day with God.June 26 2016 we are walking

Listening.

Learning.

Obeying.

We’re following him until our mission on earth is fulfilled.

Then we will walk into eternity next to our loving Father…..

forever.

We love you, Abba Father.

Call It What It Is

On By Judy GlasserIn JuneLeave a comment

We get in trouble every time we make excuses for our behavior.

Everytime we try to rationalize away our sin.

Sometimes we do or say something wrong and then we try to make it ok by blaming someone else or telling ourselves everyone does the same thing so it’s not so bad.

“They started it.”

“I’m not as bad as ……………” (fill in the blank).

Isaiah speaks to this sin of rationalization in his 5th chapter:June 23 2016 call it what it is

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil,

who put darkness for light and light for darkness.”

Rationalizing does not help us be better people.  The first step of turning away from sin is to see it for what it is.

Recognize the truth.

Be able to identify the truth and admit when we have not done the right thing.

No excuses.

No blame pointed at others.

When we are able to consistently call light ‘light’ and darkness ‘darkness’, we are letting the truth of God transform us.

This is the road of faith that God has called each of us to walk here on earth.  And God never leaves us on this road alone.  He walks beside us – guiding us and loving us.

Thank you, Abba Father.

It’s Time to Flourish

On By Judy GlasserIn JuneLeave a comment

Such a great word – flourish!

It means to develop in a healthy way as a result of a particularly favorable environment.

This is a great goal for us – to flourish.

So what’s our next step?

How about finding a particularly favorable environment to put ourselves in?  A healthy environment where we are supported and surrounded by people who also want to flourish.

I don’t know of any place better to find an environment like this than participating in a Bible-based, healthy church family.

“Who is wise?” God asks us in Hosea 14.  “Let them realize these things.  Who is discerning?  Let them understand.  The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.”June 19 2016 its time to flourish

Are we walking or stumbling?

In the same passage, God promises to help us flourish.  He promises to help us blossom.

The Creator of the Universe always keeps his promises.

It’s clear which particularly favorable environment we need to be participating in so we can flourish.

That’s our next step.

Thank you, Abba Father.