Rip! That’s the sound that comes from placing new wine in old wineskins. We ask God for more of him, more of his spirit, more of His presence, but we fail to understand that the old mindset can’t handle what the Spirit of God is doing. We keep looking for the old, the old time revival, the old rugged cross, the way it used to be. Those things had value for what they accomplished in their day, but our focus can’t be there anymore.

Luke 5:39: Jesus said, “No one who drinks the old wine seems to want the new wine. ‘The old is just fine!’, they say.”

I can not tell you how many churches have remained in a state of limbo because they refuse to change out the old with the new. It’s sad to see people my age and older who are content with what was. They refuse to get out of the comfort of their pews in search of new music, new worship, and new wine.

A few years ago, I awoke to a snapshot of a state map with all the highways and cities, and the Lord spoke this to me: “You become so consumed with the journey that you forget your destination.”

Don’t get hung up on the journey to heaven that you forget what the journey should be about. Keep your focus on Jesus. We’ve been blood bought, yet we live our lives as if we owe no one. Busy doing our own thing, going after our own goals and dreams. We buy because we want not because we need it.

We don’t seek the Lord because we don’t really want to do what He asks of us. We are the rich young ruler who turns away sadly because the Lord has asked too much.

Are you kidding me? My life is not about me! My old life has been ripped from me. If it hadn’t been, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Was it painful? Yes. Every tear, every rip! If I’m not willing to let God rip the old from me, I will never have room to contain the new that He has to put in me.

My agenda doesn’t matter. I must surrender and not look back. I’ve surrendered my marriage for a new and better one. I’ve surrendered my children so that God could do the same in them as He has in me. I’ve surrendered my old church, my old friends, my old job, my old home because I realized that unless I leave the old, I won’t be ready for the new.

“Never going back! Never going back! Never going back to the way it was!” Let me be empty and poured out, made new, when the ripping is over, may I stand in Your presence ready to be filled with the new wine of your Spirit.

Sandy G

All your children will have God for their teacher—what a mentor for your children! Isaiah 54:13 Message

I’m thankful that God never sees our children where they were, but where they will be. He doesn’t wait till they’re perfect before using them, He takes them as they are, patiently molds them, and places them in positions that posture them on their knees.

I’m thankful that God orders their steps, and I trust Him with my children and grandchildren. They will be used mightily of the Lord. I’m thankful that we taught them to trust in the Lord with all their heart, not to try and figure it all out themselves, but to acknowledge Him and He would direct their paths.

I’m proud of my daughters, Stacy Holmes and Shannon Gregory, my grandchildren, Anastasia, Paryse, and Cipriano Holmes, and that they are both carriers of the oil of God. Oil that pours out of them onto others.

How do you see what God has blessed you with? Don’t settle for what they look like right now. Ask God for a vision of how He sees them, and then don’t change what you see in your spirit regardless of the present circumstances. Give them to God and just love them. Love covers.

Sandy G

“So don’t hide your light! Let it shine brightly before others so that your commendable works will shine as light upon them, and then they will give their praise to your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 TPT

“Salt is excellent for seasoning. But if salt becomes tasteless, how can its flavor ever be restored? Your lives, like salt, are to season and preserve. So don’t lose your flavor, and preserve the peace in your union with one another.” Mark 9:50 TPT

Sometimes lessons in life must be shared, not so that you look all wise and knowing, but to show you’ve been through some stuff and have actually learned from it.

This morning, the Lord reminded me of something I used to tell my girls when they’d come to me hating their job. I would say, “God will never move you out until you’ve finished your assignment where you are. Ask Him what He would have you do and say, who He wants you to minister to. Spend time focusing on Him instead of what you hate about your job. Be thankful! Only then will God bless you with a better job.”

Don’t go somewhere else thinking it will be better when you’re not even close to being finished where you’re at. Dissatisfaction doesn’t come to make you move out of your current realm. It comes to create an intense desire to seek more of the Lord. To do and be His Kingdom in a saltier, brighter way.

Ask God, “What is Your will for me in this, and what can I say or do to make a difference where I am.” Be a bright light where you’re at.

This morning, God brought my attention to Naomi, which surprised me when His instructions said to go to the book of Ruth. I love that story! Walt and I made Ruths vow to Naomi part of our marriage vows. But what God showed me was about Naomi.

Ruth 1:20-21 NLT “Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Instead, call me Mara, for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me home empty. Why should you call me Naomi when the Lord has caused me to suffer and the Almighty has sent such tragedy?”

Sometimes, in the middle of our struggle to understand, we blame, and very often, we blame the wrong person or thing. We fail to understand what has happened to us or why, for that matter. Who can know the mind of God or the ways of God?

Why that much loss? Now that I think of it, Naomi was very much like Job. But when she held her first grandson in her arms, she forgot about her sorrow and knew that the Lord had truly blessed her.

In reality, God blessed her the day she was born. Why the day she was born? Because God has good plans for each one of us, and those plans gave her Ruth.

Life can be hard sometimes and so totally unpredictable, but instead of viewing God as the cause of our sorrow, we must view Him as the master builder.

It all starts with a pile of wood, blocks, and various supplies on an empty lot. To most who observe, they just see a mess, but soon it will turn into a beautiful dwelling place. Only the master builder knows the end from the beginning. He’s seen the blueprint. He knows the outcome. Trust the master builder!

Whatever you’ve been through, don’t get so focused on it that you lose sight of what God is in the process of doing with you. He’s promised something beautiful, so be patient, wait, and see. Your end will be better than your beginning, better than you could ever imagine. He’s building his Kingdom, and you’re a part of it. Don’t be surprised if you look around and find chaos. You just don’t have His perspective. Trust the Master. He knows what He’s doing!

Father, I would never have planned this for myself, but I know You have. There’s nothing that happened or will happen to me that you won’t use for Your glory. Be big in me today. Bigger than all my history is the future You’ve arranged because You love me. And I love You! More than my heart can express. It’s in Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek:That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. Psalm 27:4-5

I remember when the girls were young, I would hide my face behind my hands and say, “Where’s Mommy?” Then, dropping my hands, I’d say, “Here she is!” to which they would smile and laugh.

Didn’t take much to entertain them, or hide from them for that matter. But there’s something about knowing your enemy is looking for you and finding a place to hide where he can not touch you. That, my friend, is absolutely awesome!

That is what happens when we seek the face of our Father, when we come before Him in love, not asking for anything but giving Him the attention He so deserves. I can be in the middle of the busiest, craziest day and whisper His sweet name, and He whisks me away to a peaceful place.

I don’t know about you, but that is worth millions! Lord, you can sweep me off my feet anytime you want to. I know that when I play hide and seek with you, it’s the best, and you always make me smile, especially when you try to hide behind those large and tender hands.

Today, I’m hidden in Your arms as You cover me. I’m safe here. I’m loved here. I’m at peace here.

Sandy G

God said to Moses: “Now go. Get on your way from here, you and the people you brought up from the land of Egypt. Head for the land which I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I will send an angel ahead of you and I’ll drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. It’s a land flowing with milk and honey. But I won’t be with you in person—you’re such a stubborn, hard-headed people!—lest I destroy you on the journey.” Exodus 33:1‭-‬3 MSG

I’ve been thinking lately about what it looks like to be on an adventure with God. I’ve always recalled the story of Abram when God called him on his own crazy adventure. But this one with Moses may take the cake.

Moses was called to deliver a people who had been crying out for deliverance but not convinced of the methods God chose. From day one, he was surrounded by complaints and blame. He was always trying to prove he’d heard from God and was simply following His instructions.

Can you relate to any of this? I can! I’ve been praying, claiming, and standing for my husband to experience complete healing for the past 4 years. He definitely received his healing. It just didn’t come the way I thought or expected it would.

On 12/30/23, he took his last breath here and received his new body in heaven. It was totally unexpected, no warning signs, and it left me to face a life without him. I keep shaking my head, wondering what I missed.

Each morning, when I look at where he should be and realize he’ll no longer occupy our home, I have my crazy cry and give thanks. Thanks that God’s never left me alone. Thanks for the gift of what I had and knowing my new journey is only beginning.

Instead of choosing to stay with the group of followers, I’m going to the mountain top where Moses went. I’m asking to see His glory. I won’t be satisfied with status quo. I’m determined to finish my race well regardless of how long it takes or where it takes me.

What about you, my friends? Your situation may have you in a place of loss, turmoil, or just plain blindsided by what life’s just handed you. Can I encourage you to crawl up on Fathers lap and allow His presence to be enough? It’s all going to work out for His glory. You can trust Him.

Sandy G

Philippians 4:6-7 says; Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

What a beautiful passage to speak out over yourself today. Gods promise of peace regardless of what you face. Not the worlds peace, but the peace of God.

I love verse 7 in the amplified bible; And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

It will garrison and mount guard over my heart and mind. Wow! That word ‘garrison’ means a body of troops stationed in a fortified place. Can you see that now? God sends His angels to surround you and keep you in all your ways. There are more with you than those against you.

Thank you, Father, that You’ve sent Your angels to guard and protect my peace. I will not by any means allow the enemy to steal what is mine. I rest in Your ability to fight my battles for me. You are more than enough! It’s in Jesus’ name I pray this, Amen.

Be blessed this week and stay in peace.

Sandy G

When I woke up this morning I was thinking, ‘Just another day!’ I was thinking about last year. I heard whispers of failure, disappointment, discouragement. Same ole, same ole! Nothing’s changed. Nothing good. Here we go again! Hopelessness. Perhaps that’s the same song looping through your head right now. Well I have news for you!

I heard the Lord say, ‘NEW!’ So I went to my Bible and looked it up, and this is what I saw: “Forget about what’s happened, don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?” Isaiah 43:19 MSG

Last Saturday,12/30/23, my husband, Walt, very unexpectedly took his last breath on this earth and transitioned into the arms of Jesus. It happened so fast that it left me shocked, heartbroken, and feeling like I was in a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from.

How do you forget the nightmare? You stop thinking about it. You stop dwelling on it. You begin thinking of something else to replace those thoughts. Grief is no joke. Your heart feels as if it’s melting like heated wax. But I must put the past behind and focus forward, or I’ll no longer be a help to others.

Just as so many start the new year with a fast to purify their bodies and set themselves apart to hear from God, so we must set our minds apart from rehearsing past failures and begin seeing our future through the eyes of God.

You can’t drive anywhere safely looking in the rearview mirror. Glancing is good, focusing is bad. When you’re focused behind you, you’re not looking ahead. God wants you to look ahead. He was in your past directing your steps, but He’s in your future holding your blessings.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

Oh God, You are my future-holder. My hope giver. I will praise You for You alone know what those plans are. I will take Your hand as You lead me into my next season. This year will be different. I won’t focus on last year because it’s behind me. I will keep my eyes on You as You will never leave me. It’s all for Your Kingdom, glory and honor in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Happy New Year

Sandy G

Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out. Tell others He has redeemed you from your enemies. Psalm 107:2

This morning, I heard the word redeemed, so I began to investigate. The dictionary says it means to buy back or pay off. What a beautiful thought this morning.

I reminds me of a song my mom used to sing, “He paid a debt he did not owe, I owed a debt I could not pay. I needed someone to wash my sin away.”

I guess when you owe so much and there is no possible way to pay it and someone wipes that debt clean, we call it bankruptcy, He calls it redemption.

Yet when He calls us to do something, we turn a deaf ear to Him. How selfish we can be at times. We owe Him our lives and give Him so little.

Thank you, Lord, for redeeming me. I was a sinner! My debt was more than I was worth, but you bought me with your blood. What a gift you are to me! As the year draws to an end, you, oh Lord, have new beginnings for me. Old things are past away, and all things are new in you.

I look forward to the journey you have for me in 2024. Once again, my hand rests in yours, you lead, I follow. May I be as a child in wonder and delight at all the great gifts you’ve bestowed on me. I am forever grateful for redemption.

Sandy G

“Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Then 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

Last night, as my spirit cried out to the Lord and my mind kept telling me lies it wanted me to buy, I went to the Lord, and He refreshed me. My sleep was threatened, but that’s the nice thing about joining my life with His, we’re yoked, inseparable, He carries what I carry.

We have a tendency to over-complicate things, but it’s quite simple, really. Let me put it in perspective for you; the One who filled the sky with stars and causes the sun to come up each day, wants to be in you and take care of you.

How can you say no to that? How can you think that you can do better than He? He wants to take care of this thing you’re carrying, and letting go of it is the only way to free yourself from the care of it. If you have to do it a gazillion times a day, do it.

I don’t understand what’s going on in the world, but I just keep doing what He said to do; SEEK ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND YOU WILL FIND ME.

A sweet song my mom used to sing; “It’s me again, Lord, I’ve got a prayer that needs an answer. It’s me again, Lord. I’ve got a problem that I can’t solve. I don’t mean to weary You, but here I am facing something new, and I need help that only comes from You. It’s me again, Lord.”

We never weary the Lord with our constant coming. He wants to be our oasis, our place of refreshing. Sit with Him awhile and learn of Him. He’s easy to please. He took the heavy stuff and gave us the light stuff.

Father, I will yield to Your yoke because it fits. It was made so I would never have to do life alone. I’m so thankful for our relationship together. I trust You to take all of my cares while I spend time learning about Your kindness, Your mercy, and Your grace. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Sandy G