There are times in life where circumstances seem to dictate the outcomes. But God wants you to know that what He did before, He will do it again.  It may not be identical, but He’ll still get it done.       

Jesus taught us that whoever will say to that mountain be removed and cast into the sea, and will not doubt in his heart, but will believe that what he says will come to pass, he will have whatsoever he says. Matthew 21:21         

How could Jesus say that? Because He had already seen His Father do it time and time again. The Bible shows us that Jesus was there when the Earth was created. He saw what His Father did and how He did it.    

Some of us need to get our eyes off of our own resources and get them on to God’s resources. If God is asking you to do something that is well beyond your own ability, that means He wants you to trust Him for it.         

You see, knowing God in your mind puts limits on Him. But knowing God in your heart, that’s a whole other story. That takes faith and trust to a different level.        

For 7-days, Joshua and the children of Israel marched around Jericho. They didn’t see anything happen on the first day. They didn’t see anything happen on the 2nd 3rd or 4th day. But they continued to circle every day through the 7th Day simply because God told them to do it.         

It was on the 7th day that those walls came crashing down. Not only did the children of Israel take the city, but God established a hedge of protection around them for future battles.       

You see, when God asks you to do something unusual, He’s not just thinking about your now, He’s thinking about your future. Today’s seed comes your future Harvest.     

My dear friend, if God is asking you to plant an astronomical seed today, please know that He has your future blessing in mind. Don’t hesitate to do what God is asking you to do even when you don’t understand where it’s going to come from. Commit to do what He tells you to do and He will provide seed to the sower and bread to the eater.    

He’ll do it again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again. Get it? Never doubt it! His storehouses are bigger than you can even imagine!

Live expecting,

Sandy G

“And he has appointed some with grace to be apostles, and some with grace to be prophets, and some with grace to be evangelists, and some with grace to be pastors, and some with grace to be teachers. And their calling is to nurture and prepare all the holy believers to do their own works of ministry, and as they do this they will enlarge and build up the body of Christ. ”
Ephesians 4:11-12 TPT

Sometimes we tend to focus on a great message or an informative teaching rather than the purpose of nurturing and preparing believers to do their own works of ministry.

It’s not about being a mirror image of someone else’s ministry. It’s about applying teaching to the gifts you possess to encourage, evangelize or whatever you’re called to do so that the body may grow and be strong.

Each one of us were created and uniquely gifted for Gods work. He surrounds us with people who needs what we carry. Don’t ever doubt where God has placed you. It holds purpose.

If you’re a bartender and have been shamed into stopping after you became a Christian, consider just doing you. God gifted you with the ability to listen without judgment. The person you’re listening to may never step foot in church so God positioned you to reach them there.

Learn how to just do you. Wherever you are, you’re light. Light shows brightest in darkness. If you are always surrounded by light, you’ll never reach those in the dark.

Jesus came to seek out the lost to show them love and teach them how to have relationship with the Father. He’s your example. Let’s do this.

Sandy G

“And if anyone longs to be wise, ask God for wisdom and he will give it! He won’t see your lack of wisdom as an opportunity to scold you over your failures but he will overwhelm your failures with his generous grace. Just make sure you ask empowered by confident faith without doubting that you will receive. For the ambivalent person believes one minute and doubts the next. Being undecided makes you become like the rough seas driven and tossed by the wind. You’re up one minute and tossed down the next. When you are half-hearted and wavering it leaves you unstable. Can you really expect to receive anything from the Lord when you’re in that condition?” James 1:5-8 TPT

Everyone needs wisdom but so few people ask for it. God wants you to ask confidently. Not confident in your abilities, but confident in Him.

Jesus said it’s the Fathers pleasure to provide us with everything we need to succeed. Wisdom, health, provision, whatever you have need of. But when you ask, don’t waver.

You can’t operate in faith when you 2nd guess everything. Jesus said to believe you receive when you ask for it and you’ll have it. Peter could have stayed on top of the water if he hadn’t wavered.

Ask with confidence in the God who can do anything but fail.

Sandy G

“Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me. For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear.” Matthew 11:28-30 TPT

Are you tired? Feel like you’re carrying a load you weren’t meant to carry? You’re not alone my friend. Seems there are more traveling the same road than you’re aware of.

Jesus observed the same thing happening while He was on the earth. He wants us to come to Him, lay those things at His feet so He can be the oasis we’re in need of.

Sometimes we make things difficult but Jesus made it simple. Just join your life with Him, learn His ways and discover that He’s gentle, humble and easy to please.

He said that all He requires of you will be pleasant and easy to bear. So if it’s not, perhaps you’re carrying things He never asked you to carry. Just sayin!

So today, let’s lay down the heavy stuff and allow His refreshing to permeate your soul. Find rest in Him and let Him carry the load that’s been weighing you down. It’s that easy.

Sandy G

Lord, I will exalt you and lift you high, for you have lifted me up on high! Over all my boasting, gloating enemies, you made me to triumph. O Lord, my healing God, I cried out for a miracle and you healed me! You brought me back from the brink of death, from the depths below. Now here I am, alive and well, fully restored! O sing and make melody, you steadfast lovers of God. Give thanks to him every time you reflect on his holiness! I’ve learned that his anger lasts for a moment, but his loving favor lasts a lifetime! We may weep through the night, but at daybreak it will turn into shouts of ecstatic joy. Psalm 30:1-5 TPT

If you’re facing a battle and the outcome doesn’t look good, remember the Word of the Lord. He won’t leave you to face it alone. He’ll send His angels to fight for you. He’ll send ministering angels to strengthen you.

Keep giving Him thanks regardless of how you feel. Feelings are subject to change but Gods Word never changes nor will it fail.

All my tests have come back negative. Last October there was little hope but God sent His Word and healed me and delivered me from all disease. I’m thankful.

There was weeping. But He’s brought shouts of ecstatic joy. May you rejoice with me as I also rejoice with you. What God has said, He will do. His Word never leaves His mouth without accomplishing what it was sent to do.

Sandy G

When I was a child, I spoke about childish matters, for I saw things like a child and reasoned like a child. But the day came when I matured, and I set aside my childish ways.   1 Corinthians 13:11 TPT

The oldest song I remember singing as a child was, “Yes, Jesus Loves Me.” It’s programmed into the fabric of my DNA. That and the fact my mom played piano and directed the childrens choir.

Although those songs were simple and nice, I’ve learned songs that far surpass the simplicity of that particular number. Songs that speak to me as an adult. But greater yet, they’re part of my worship. They remind me of who God is, that He’s the same yesterday,  today and forever.

Let me add a bit to this that might better help you understand where I’m going. As a child, I needed simple, but as an adult I have a different need. I hunger for deeper things.

I don’t process things the same any longer. The way I think and see things have changed how I see things. My perspective is based on everything I’ve experienced, what I’ve been taught, how I’ve been influenced.

Everyone of us can read a verse in the Bible and come up with a different definition. It’s like having a Bible study and everyone is holding a different version. It can be confusing as heck for those attending.

There are a lot of people out there who seem to offer their version of truth. It doesn’t make them right or wrong, but it can be confusing and overwhelming when you’re hungry to know more about God.

Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, “When you continue to embrace all that I teach, you prove that you are my true followers. For if you embrace the truth, it will release true freedom into your lives.”
John 8:31-32 TPT

These words right here are what you need to remember. Start with what Jesus said and what He did. You read the words. If that’s an issue for you, most versions offer an audio so you can listen.

If you have questions, ask God to show you. He will show you in different ways, but He’ll show you. The Holy Spirit leads you into truth. Trust Him to do that.

It’s time to learn and grow in the Lord so you become what God created you to carry.

Happy Growing,

Sandy G

“Your lives are like salt among the people. But if you, like salt, become bland, how can your ‘saltiness’ be restored? Flavorless salt is good for nothing and will be thrown out and trampled on by others. Matthew 5:13 TPT

I was reminded recently that there are lots of kinds of salts. Each kind adds their own unique colors and flavors. Some even add different nutritional values.

As I read this verse, I began thinking how God created each one of us so differently and placed us in communities where the people around us need what’s in us. We aren’t to hold back. We’re not to hoard what we have.  We’re to season others.

I just want to remind you today that you are valuable. You are where you are for a purpose. Don’t wait for the right doors to open before you share what’s in you. Use your salt.

Knock on your neighbors door and introduce yourself. Ask if they need prayer for anything than grab their hand and pray right there. Let them know God loves them and you’re one of His representatives.

Keep your prayers simple and understandable. It shouldn’t contain words people won’t understand. Just talk to God like you talk to your friend. End with a hug. A lot of people out there haven’t received one in awhile.

Remember that God placed you where you are. Don’t let your salt lose its flavor because you haven’t used it.

Have a salty week.

Sandy G

Then he withdrew from them a short distance to be alone. Kneeling down, he prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup of agony away from me. But no matter what, your will must be mine.” Jesus called for an angel of glory to strengthen him, and the angel appeared. He prayed even more passionately, like one being sacrificed, until he was in such intense agony of spirit that his sweat became drops of blood, dripping onto the ground. Luke 22:41-44 TPT

I’ve been reflecting on my life and the various things I’ve experienced, the good, the bad and the ugly. It would be so easy to say, this was in no way Gods plan for me. It just doesn’t go along with what my preconceived ideas are of a loving father.

But wait, there’s no one who knew God better than Jesus, His son. He was there in the beginning of creation. We see His reflection throughout the old testament. So why this prayer? Why the struggle? If He knew it from the beginning, why the intense agony in prayer?

I think it’s because His flesh knew the intensity of what He’d have to endure and that’s where the struggle was. That’s why God sent the angel to strengthen Him. Just because it was a part of the redemptive plan, doesn’t mean it was easy.

Joseph didn’t know that those dreams signified God rescuing Israel from famine, but God did. That whole journey was simply placing Joseph in Egypt to learn to interpret dreams so at the right place, in prison no less, he’d have influence with the cup bearer to interpret Pharoahs dream. Positioned for redemption.

So here’s Sandys take on her lifetime of craziness. Since the young age of 12 when my dad died in a freak accident through everything since, God had a plan to use me for His glory because I asked for it.

At the age of 15 when He filled me with His Spirit, I was changed. I began talking to God and actually heard His response. My love for Him grew and became intimate causing me to fully surrender to Him.

When I thought I couldn’t endure another thing, wham! Another plot twist presented itself. I wasn’t patient like Joseph, I didn’t sweat great drops of blood like Jesus. No, I became quiet. I felt discouraged, disappointed, depressed and shaken but not destroyed.

I found myself saying, “I know you’re not done with me yet. You said that those who endure to the end will be saved. So change my focus. Make me sensitive to my surroundings. I can still be light in a dark place. I can still make people laugh and change their focus. Use me for Your purpose not mine.”

Isn’t that what God intended? We lay it all down for the sake of the cross. Parents, spouses, children and friends were never meant to take the place of God in our lives. They’re merely a part of our journey. We’re passing through this life, not to get stuck there, but to be a part of Gods beautiful tapestry.

Moving right along,

Sandy G

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Phillipians 4:6

I love going to the beach early in the morning when nobody’s around. It’s always where I find peace and hear Gods voice clearly. No distractions. Just the relentless waves washing onto the shore.

It’s also in that quiet that I realize how much I’ve been carrying in my bag of anxiety. Before I lost my husband, we carried everything together and the load seemed so much lighter.

I’m reminded of Jesus’ words, “Casting all your cares on me for I care for you.” He never intended for me to carry any of it. He has always asked to carry everything for me.

So today I encourage you to hand over your bag of cares. Give it to Him and trust Him with them. Stop taking it back. Trust Him to deal with each challenge you face and each obstacle you face this week.

Father, I give it all over and believe You can handle everything I’m facing. There’s nothing too difficult for You. I’m forever grateful for Your provision. I love my journey with You. Each day’s an adventure and a treasure hunt with You. It’s in Jesus name and for Your glory. Amen

Sandy G