Luke 19 tells a story about a king who went away to another country, entrusting his money with 10 of his servants. We’re all familiar, I’m sure, but in case you need a refresher, you can read it in verses 11-27.

I found this in verse 26 after he had judged the one who hid his talent, ‘‘People who use what they have will get more. But those who do not use what they have will have everything taken away from them.”

I’ve thought of the many people who ask for more but refuse to use what they have.  They sit in their homes wishing they could do this or that, never using what God has given them to help others or investing in the Kingdom of God. 

They watch from a distance as a family of homeless passes by.  Their heart tugs within them to give them a meal or a room to sleep in, but they allow their mind to rationalize away the very idea. ‘What if’s’ will always turn compassion into complacency. 

If you’re looking for ways to invest in others, take what you have and do something with it. Don’t keep asking for more if you refuse to cultivate what you have. You have the opportunity to multiply the gifts and abilities you have and at the same time, fulfill the longing of your heart to feel needed again.

Father, thank you for the reminder to listen to Your Spirit in me in the little instructions You give. May I not be so engrossed in my problems and issues that I lose sight of the ones around me. It’s all for the harvest! May souls be my primary goal. In Jesus’ name and always for Your glory, Amen.

Until Tomorrow,

Sandy G

For every word God speaks is sure and every promise pure. His truth is tested, found to be flawless, and ever faithful. It’s as pure as silver refined seven times in a crucible of clay. Psalm 12:6 Passion Translation

I  ran across this statement made by Bill Winston a few years ago, “When you’re really in faith, you don’t posess it, it posesses you.”

You see my friends, I believe that every Word that God spoke is more sure and true than anything I see in this natural realm. For what we see is subject to change, but every Word that comes out of the mouth of God cannot and will not change.

That is why you won’t see me wringing my hands in worry or fretting about what things look like. I have a covenant promise with the One who cannot break His covenant promises. He constantly watches over His Word to perform it, so why should I worry. He said He would supply all my needs according to HIS riches. Not through a stimulus check or food stamps or even unemployment.

Having faith in God means trusting in what your eyes can’t see yet. It becomes the very foundation you think on and becomes all you talk about. People begin to worry that you’ve lost touch with reality and they’re right, because you’ve touched a truth that’s set you free and its consumed you. You’re no longer moved by what you feel, your faith has made your situation move.

Let me say that again so that it gets down deep inside of you: Your faith has made your situation move. That’s what Jesus referred to in Mark 11:22-24

Jesus replied, “Let the faith of God be in you! Listen to the truth I speak to you: If someone says to this mountain with great faith and having no doubt,‘Mountain, be lifted up and thrown into the midst of the sea,’ and believes that what he says will happen, it will be done.  This is the reason I urge you to boldly believe for whatever you ask for in prayer—believe that you have received it and it will be yours.”

This is how I want to live my life. It’s not faith when I can get it myself. It’s faith when there’s not a snowballs chance in hell it will happen unless God intervenes. It’s faith when every fiber of my being remembers what the Word says and chooses His way over the natural way. It’s facing a formidable foe with only one stone, knowing God will cause it to bring it down to a level where I can chop it’s head off.

Do you want that kind of faith? It requires complete trust in God. You can’t do that if you don’t have relationship with Him. You can’t do that if you don’t know your covenant. There will always be an enemy throwing ‘what if’s’ in your mind and you must be able to recognize him and give him corrected information.

Feast on that this Friday and I’ll see you next week!

Sandy G

Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day. Psalm 139:14-16 Message I felt I needed to look up the word unique in dictionary.com this morning and this is what I found: existing as the only one or as the sole example; single; solitary in type or characteristics: having no like or equal; unparalleled; incomparable: limited in occurrence to a given class, situation, or area: limited to a single outcome or result; without alternative possibilities: not typical; unusual. Wow! Just Wow! As I read this, I began to think about how God has made us so unique for His purposes in the earth. There is nobody that is exactly like you. Even identical twins have unique differences, sometimes only those who know them best can identify what they are. If you’re reading this I want to give you permission to be you. Not the made up you that’s been trying to fit in or be accepted. The you God made you to be. The you that has yet to stand up and take their rightful place as mature sons and daughters of God. The you that He created and designed for specific things that no one else has in them to do. To find that you, you must first find Him. Hidden in His Word is His divine plan for your purpose. Ask Him where to start. He has given you passions and desires that He will confirm to you as you talk with Him. He said if you seek Him you will find Him when you seek Him with all your heart. He’s given you the time, so don’t leave until you get what you’ve come for. Stop trying to fit into someone else’s space and be who God created you to be. If He’d wanted you to be them, He would have put that in you. His entire plan was for you to be you, but the new you, not the old you. You’ll be astounded when the things He speaks in and through you, begins to show up and show off in the world. He will speak through you and you’ll think, “What was that all about?” Sometimes you won’t know, but if or when He does show you, it will blow your mind. Thank You Father that all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day.  I thought I knew so much until I stood in Your presence and emptied myself before you. What remained was me–the me You made. The real me was actually the real You in me. A living sanctuary for Your Spirit. Until Tomorrow, Sandy G

I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for. Then you will call to me. You will come and pray to me, and I will answer you. You will seek me, and you will find me because you will seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13 GNT

This morning as I lay in bed thinking about some of the swirling reports of yesterday, it occurred to me that God has a plan in all of this. I may not be happy about it, or even claim to understand, but I know that somehow, someway, God will use it for my good.

I could have lay there for hours thinking about how I can take care of this situation, but if I’ve learned anything in this journey toward God, it’s if I seek the Planner, I will find Him because I seek Him with all my heart. If I want to be a part of the solution, I must spend time in His presence and allow Him to show me things I don’t yet know.

We quote Jeremiah 29:11 all the time. We have it on key chains, tattoos, pictures, but the best part of knowing God has a plan is that He’s assessable to us. We can call and He answers us. That my friend is called conversation.

Some of those plans don’t make us jump up and down shouting for joy. Sometimes plans take our breath away. It’s all a part of the process, the journey we’re on. To climb a mountain, we risk falling rocks, slippery slopes and danger. But we also find breath-taking views, cool breezes and peace.

I’m trusting in the Planner today. God not only made the plan, but He knows the way around every obstacle, every bad report, every dangerous slope. Plans that were established from the foundation of the world. Plans for success, plans of victory, plans to show His Glory, plans we know not of.

Trust doesn’t come in knowing the plan, trust comes in knowing the Planner. Do you know my God?!?!

Father, I declare this day that I trust in YOU. You don’t have to explain Yourself to me. You are God and I am Your child. Just to know You is enough. Just to know You know, makes this journey a lot easier. You take care of me even when I’m not aware. The times I was close to the edge of a slippery slope, I was unaware of the angels You released to watch over me. I’m not alone, You’re always with me. Your plan, not mine. Let’s do this! In Jesus’ name and always for Your glory, Amen.

Until Tomorrow,

Sandy G

I feel in my spirit that there are so many people out there that are discouraged, ready to give up the good fight because the good fight just got nasty. Please know, you’re not alone in your battle.

2 Chronicles 20 talks about an ensuing battle for Jehoshaphat. He heard many reports of a large army coming against Israel and he was afraid. You see, even kings get fearful! But the first thing he did was to call a fast and pray. He sought the Lord! Listen to his prayer this morning;

“O Lord, the God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens? And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against You. Did You not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever?They have lived in it, and have built You a sanctuary there for Your name, saying, ‘Should evil come upon us, the sword, or judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before You (for Your name is in this house) and cry to You in our distress, and You will hear and deliver us.’

He brought to remembrance who God is and what He will do. My friends, this is what you too must do, remember who God is. Deliverer, Provider, Healer, Help, Strong Tower, Fortress, Mighty God, Shepherd, He is all this and more. Whatever you need Him to be for you, that’s who He is.

And as they stood before the Lord, He spoke these famous words; ‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s.’ Then He gives them instructions and they worshipped and praised His great name.

Perhaps your battle has been fierce and you want to quit. I say to you, don’t allow the pain you’re feeling today to keep you from your victory tomorrow. He’s already sending reinforcements, already answering your prayers.

Take all that hurt, bitterness and resentment and give it to the Lord. I know, makes no sense in the natural, but it sure brings victory in the supernatural. Only God can see the outcome of your battle. When you look to Him, get HIS instruction, you’ll win everytime. You are an overcomer!

We hear You Father, ‘Stand still and see My Salvation. It’s in the place of rest where confidence in Me and My Word is established. Don’t be afraid. I’m with You. I said I’d never leave you nor forsake you and I won’t. Tuck yourself up under the shadow of My Wing and find rest and comfort in My victory.’ We give You praise this morning, Lord. We will trust in You.

Until Tomorrow, 

Sandy G

Every word of the Holy Man to the king—“A handful of meal for a shekel, two handfuls of grain for a shekel this time tomorrow in the gate of Samaria,” with the attendant’s sarcastic reply to theHoly Man, “You expect us to believe that? Trapdoors opening in the sky and food tumbling out?” followed by the response, “You’ll watch it with your own eyes, but you won’t eat so much as a mouthful”—proved true. The final stroke came when the people trampled the man to death at the city gate. 2 Kings 7:18-20 Message

Nothing has changed, has it? For thousands of years, God has sent His prophets to proclaim things to the people, but they refuse to believe. Either they reject the word sent or they try to discredit the prophet. If you want to see cynicism reach an all time high, read the comments as men and women all around the globe, boldly declare the Word of the Lord. They are criticized, laughed at and even scorned.

Seems like people just won’t believe it till they see it. Well hold on tight people, you’re about to believe.

Remember Noah? Nobody listened! I love what Hebrews 11:7 says: By faith, Noah built a ship in the middle of dry land. He was warned about something he couldn’t see, and acted on what he was told. The result? His family was saved. His act of faith drew a sharp line between the evil of the unbelieving world and the rightness of the believing world. As a result, Noah became intimate with God.

Kim Clement prophesied that Donald Trump would be our president, but so many believers and unbelievers alike didn’t listen. It wasn’t how they thought it would happen, so they rejected his word. But you see, what God says will come to pass even if you don’t like it or believe it. Get used to it, you just don’t know more than God.

God means what He says and says what He means and He uses men and women around the globe to be His voice in the earth. So many of us have been convinced that God just doesn’t speak like that today. WRONG! God does speak through His prophets today and we would do well to listen, measure it against the Word of God, then watch and pray.

There are what I call ‘hidden’ lovers of God around the world who are never in the lime light or known by anyone but God. But because they have known His Name, every aspect of His name is personal to them, God trusts them with secrets no one else has heard. When He speaks, they listen. Where He says to go, they go. What He says to do, they do without hesitation or question. They know His voice and another they do not follow.

Their resolve is firm. They don’t care if anyone else believes, they do. It doesn’t matter if they are the only one going in that direction, they don’t hesitate to go against the grain. They do it at the cost of relationships. They have been fired, ridiculed and shoved aside without reason, but God is intimate with them.

If you want real intimacy with God and His Word to come alive in you, humble yourself before Him and what you ask for will begin to manifest in your life. If you know that God has said something to you, don’t change your confession when you don’t see it happen the first time, or the second time, or the 7th time. It’s about your unchanging faith in an unchanging God that causes natural things to change.

Stand and keep standing!!!

Sandy G

In the light of the king’s face is life, and his favor is like a cloud of the latter rain. Proverbs 16:15

How refreshing is the presence of God. You can have the most miserable week but turn your face to the King and be refreshed. Like tipping your head back in a gentle rain, feeling all clean and fresh.

It’s even better when it’s Friday, the end of the work week! I’m reminded of His goodness in so many ways. Hopefully this week, you’ve been reminded to be thankful, to worship and pray.

May it challenge you to step up to the table and eat of the good things God has provided for you. His Word. It contains everything we need for life and godliness (II Peter 1:3), leads us into all truth (John 16:13), arms us for battle (Ephesians 6:10-18) and assures of victory (Romans 8:37).

What great and precious promises we’ve been given to hold onto. Don’t let go! Not when opposition comes (and it will), when temptations come to conform (and they will), tests and trials (promised!). Stand firm on the Word and keep it before your face, going in your ears and coming out your mouth.

Don’t let anything or anyone separate you from the love of God and His promises. They’re more real than anything you can see with your physical eyes or hear with your physical ears. Let His report be louder than the report of your boss, your doctor, your friends and enemies. You are a child of a Mighty, Living God who will never leave you. His promises are Yes and Amen now and forever.

Until Next Time,

Sandy G

Have you ever began reading and couldn’t stop? I have! It didn’t matter that you had to get up in the morning for work, there is something about getting into a good book that you just can’t lay it down until you’re finished. Then long after you’ve read the last page and closed the book and lay it aside, your mind turns over a thousand different endings or a million ways the story could go on. One good book can fill your mind with a myriad of thoughts and feelings long after ‘the end’ graces the final page.

So it is with God’s Word. I find that the closer I get to the end of the story, the more I want to lay my hopes and dreams at His feet, move out into my world and allow the light of His glory to shine through me. My mind can’t process the many ways He intends to make that happen. There aren’t enough scenarios to demonstrate how He will use you and me in these last days, but be assured–He will.

We have become his poetry, a re-created people that will fulfill the destiny he has given each of us, for we are joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. Even before we were born, God planned in advance our destiny and the good works we would do to fulfill it! Ephesians 2:10 Passion Translation

What a grand story He has written for each of us. You can’t copy what He has for me, and I can’t copy what He has for you. We each are a very small part of His bride, each designed to function in harmony and unity, bringing life and health to the whole. One day, Jesus will return for us. What that looks like to you may be different than how it looks to me, but it will happen, just as He planned from the beginning.

And when you see your story unfold, you won’t be able to stop it. The purposes God has for you may not make sense right now, but at the end, others will find hope and encouragement in the reading of it. Hold on, you can’t imagine what Father has in store for you.

Until Tomorrow,

Sandy G

 

Everything you have made will praise you, fulfilling its purpose. And all your godly lovers will be found bowing before you. Psalm 145:10

When I read this passage, it just made me smile, a big huge toothy smile. I’m going to take some liberty and add to what David penned–Everything and everyone You have made will praise you, fulfilling their purpose. It actually goes along with Isaiah 45:23–I make this solemn oath to you in my own name; this word sent from my mouth in righteousness will not return unfulfilled: ‘Truly every knee will bow before me and every tongue will solemnly swear allegiance to me!’

Please don’t be misinformed. He didn’t say only Christians, He said every. Regardless of your point of view, opinions or allegiance, male, female, confused gender, old, young–everyone will bow and call Him King.

And what about His lovers? The ones who have lay down their dreams, ideas and plans to build His Kingdom and reflect His love in the earth? They will be found bowing before Him. What does that look like?

Dictionary.com defines the word bow: to bend the knee or body or incline the head, as in reverence, submission, salutation, recognition, or acknowledgment. To yield; submit.

Why will we be found bowing before Him? Because we’ve already learned to yield and submit to Him as Lord and Master of our lives. We are a living sacrifice, totally surrendered, not so everyone can see, but for His eyes only.

Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? I encourage you to surrender yourselves to God to be his sacred, living sacrifices. And live in holiness, experiencing all that delights his heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship. Romans 12:1 Passion Translation

Until Tomorrow,

Sandy G

 

And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. Revelation 12:11 NASB

What Jesus did for us by shedding His blood, gave us complete victory over every enemy we face. Not some, but EVERY. This scripture shows us that in three parts;

1. They understood the value of the shed blood and the power in it.
2. They understood the power of their words.
3. They understood that they belonged to God completely, servants of another Kingdom, ambassadors of heaven and that to leave this world would only take them home.

It’s one thing to accept the part that Jesus gave His life for you, but it’s yet another to take up your own cross and follow Him.

What about you, my friend? Are you truly serious about your walk with God? Is it a convenience factor, or are you completely His? Did you sign the contract with God just to get the ‘good stuff’, or did you understand that meant you were to lay your life down for the sake of His Kingdom?

May you become the overcomer in your family, your job, your neighborhood and your world. May the words you speak testify of God’s goodness, grace and mercy. May signs and wonders follow in the form of astounding miracles as you touch unbelievers everywhere. And most of all, may those miracles be saturated in the love of God He freely gives.

Until Tomorrow,

Sandy G