I love the story of Daniel. What an example he set to constantly place God as highest priority. Daily he rose early to pray, even after a law was passed to stop. What he received for his seeking the face of God is found in Daniel 9:20-23

I went on praying and confessing my sin and the sin of my people, pleading with the Lord my God for Jerusalem, his holy mountain. As I was praying, Gabriel, whom I had seen in the earlier vision, came swiftly to me at the time of the evening sacrifice. He explained to me, “Daniel, I have come here to give you insight and understanding. The moment you began praying, a command was given. And now I am here to tell you what it was, for you are very precious to God. Listen carefully so that you can understand the meaning of your vision.”

There are lots of things here, but two that personally spoke to me. When you prioritize the Lord and the things that are dear to His heart: 1. You gain insight and understanding. 2. You become very precious to God.

There is a high price tag that comes with seeking the face of God; you’re not really popular with man. They don’t understand why you’re not more like them, why you don’t value what they value, why you don’t fit in. You become a social outcast, a misfit. People plot against you, set you up for a fall, and sometimes it’s your own family, even members of your church.

They tell you not to be so extreme, they don’t understand why you weep for the lost, why you carry such a heavy load, why you’re loud or so passionate. Can I just encourage you for a moment, my remnant friend?

Set your face toward God and carry what He’s called you to carry. I would rather leave this world light than try to carry it with me. Knowing I’m walking in obedience to the voice of the Lord is probably the most rewarding choice I’ve ever made.

Am I perfect? Not by a long shot. God’s probably the only thing I’ve been able to focus on in my life. Sometimes, I think even our pastor shakes his head and wonders what to do with me. I still blurt out inappropriate comments, still get upset and still vent about ‘stupid people’, but my heart is set on God and little by little He’s changing me to care more about what He wants and less about what’s mine.

This isn’t a fad or a style change that if you decide you don’t like it, you can take it back and exchange it. This is for keeps! Don’t try this at home and live something else on your job. It’s not like make-up that you take off at night. It’s permanent! You won’t find it in any church; you find it on your knees.

Sandy G

How much does God think about us? How aware is He about us?

Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done; and Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. Psalms 40:5 NKJV

O Lord, our God, no one can compare with you. Such wonderful works and miracles are all found with you! And you think of us all the time with your countless expressions of love— far exceeding our expectations! Psalms 40:5 TPT

He thinks of us all the time with countless expressions of love, exceeding our expectations. Wow. That simply blows me away.

There is not one moment that goes by that we are not thought about. He’s aware of what you’re facing and won’t leave you. You are always on His mind.

Does that speak volumes to you? It should. If that doesn’t get you through your Monday, I don’t know what will. Every time something happens, He’s thinking of you.

He thinks of you much more often than you think of Him. Let’s change that and begin thinking of His goodness and love towards us. It might just turn your day around.

Sandy G

“What delight comes to you when you wait upon the Lord! For you will find what you long for.” Matthew 5:4 TPT

As I read this verse, I found myself thinking about what an awesome time it would be if I could wait on God as a servant. Then I realized that I’m more than a servant, I’m a daughter.

Being a daughter holds more benefits than a servant. It gives me direct access to His inner courts. I’m privy to His secret plans. I sit at His table and feast from His provision. He clothes me in the finest garments. Anything I need is graciously given.

I will always find what I long for in His presence. I delight myself in Him, for He gives me the desires of my heart.

Sandy G

II Corinthians 3:17-18 NLT “The Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.”

Make me more like you, Lord. More of your glory. Fill me up to overflow so that what comes out of me is unrecognizable to the world. No fitting into this worlds design for me, I will break the mold!

May I be a stranger to this world and a friend of Gods. Until I possess more hunger for the things of God, I will never see His glory and that, my friends is all I want.

If I miss your birthday or don’t respond to your posts or perhaps don’t live up to your expectations of me in part or in whole, I just don’t care anymore (not that I cared that much to begin with). I purpose to offend you! Yes, you read that right. I hope I downright offend you! I hope my postings become so offensive that your religious spirit drops off and you see the truth lies not in you, but the Spirit that lives in you.

Isaiah prophesied it, “Behold I do a new thing..” (43:19) When we reflect the glory of God, trust me, everyone around you will see it just as they did with Moses. Until we seek him with all our hearts, read His Word as the only food we need, we will only stay on the pretend train going to our pretend destination. Well, this chick is on the glory train going after the glory of a living God who loves me enough to leave me the instruction manual on how to find Him.

Thank God for His Word!!!!! He said few would find the narrow road. May we be part of the few.

Sandy G

Have you ever read something and found yourself taken in by a word, a phrase, or had a ‘wow’ moment? That happened to me this morning when I was reading an article on Ambassadors. Here’s a tidbit of trivia for you this morning.

Did you know that way back when someone was sent to represent their king to a nation, they wore a mask in the likeness of that king? Yeah, I did not know that! But as soon as I read it, my mind began to go in so many directions on how this applies to us as representatives of Christ our King.

Can you even imagine the intense training involved? I mean, if you’re going to represent someone, you have to know them, share their vision, be loyal, and be passionate about their vision. Some have seen the movie, watched the crucifixion, and received Jesus as Lord of their lives. Don’t get me wrong, that’s a beautiful thing, but you can’t represent what you don’t know.

Have you got the vision and passion to become representatives of God, not only in church on Sunday morning, but daily in your jobs, neighborhoods, and communities? Some of us have known God for years, but we don’t wear His mask. We aren’t committed to His vision of rescuing the world with Love. It’s not a mask you remove when it’s inconvenient, when you’re weary or you just want to do your own thing. No, once you put it on, you must have the passion to lay down your own life and live for Him.

That’s what the body of Christ is missing today. That’s why there is talk of a remnant who walks the earth wearing the mask of the King of Kings. They look alike because they wear the glory of the Lord. We are blinded by their countenance. It convicts us to lay down our own lives and pick the mask of love.

“I have been crucified with Christ. I don’t live any longer. Christ lives in me. My faith in the Son of God helps me to live my life in my body. He loved me. He gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 NIRV

Sandy G

And in a similar way, the Holy Spirit takes hold of us in our human frailty to empower us in our weakness. For example, at times we don’t even know how to pray, or know the best things to ask for. But the Holy Spirit rises up within us to super-intercede on our behalf, pleading to God with emotional sighs too deep for words. Romans 8:26 TPT

When you come to a place where nothing makes sense and nothing looks familiar, and you feel lost and alone, God has given you His Spirit to help you. It’s moments like these that you need to be reminded of the gift He gave you.

He can translate the deepest sighs of your heart, every tear that you shed into flowing words to the Father’s heart. He takes our weakness and makes them into strengths. That’s a gift.

I don’t believe even my husband can do that. In all the 47 years of our marriage, he still just shakes his head at times when I try to explain how I feel. But to know there’s someone who does understand–that’s truly a gift.

Today, I will release all the stuck words, the feelings of depression and hurt, the hidden things that no one sees or cares about to you, Holy Spirit. Take them all up to the Father, where they’ll be seen and understood. I release them to You, for I can trust them to no one else.

Thank you,

Sandy G

There I stood, in waist deep water, hands lifted, heart stilled in the ebb and flow of the water. Beside me stood Jesus, arm around my waist, speaking so quietly I had to strain to hear over the music.

“What, Lord?” I asked. “The music is loud, and I can’t hear you!” He replied, “Focus on my voice. My still small voice.”

Suddenly, His voice was so clear even though I could hear the music the same, as though He was speaking directly in my ear. Relief came over me. I love to hear His voice, my best friend, my confidant, and love.

Then He lowered me into the water as if baptizing me again. When I came out of the water, He began pulling off what remained on me. I felt so free, so focused, so complete.

Psalm 51:10-13 “Create a clean heart in me, O God, and renew a faithful spirit within me. Do not force me away from your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and provide me with a spirit of willing obedience. Then, I will teach your ways to those who are rebellious, and sinners will return to you.”

I wanted to share this simply so that you can understand something. No matter who you are or what you do, when you live in the world, the world gets on you. You don’t even realize it. You’re not doing it intentionally. But everything you watch on t.v., everything you surround yourself with, people who throw their cares on you instead of the Lord, it all leaves a residue on you.

That’s why it’s so important to stand close to Jesus, allowing Him to wash you daily of the stuff that’s come on you. To constantly be ‘baptized’ by the Word (Eph. 5:26), and by the Spirit (Acts 11:16) so that you can present yourself holy to the Lord (Romans 12:1).

We were not made to be part of the world, but to be separate. If we look like the world, talk like the world, and act like the world, we are not doing what He asked us to do. It is time to examine ourselves and ask God to wash us and make us totally His.

Sandy G

Proverbs 4:20-22 Sandy’s Version “Sandy, give attention to my words: tune your ear to my sayings. Don’t let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the center most protected part of your heart; For they are life to you as you find them, and health to all your spirit, soul and body.”

Have you ever felt yourself tossed into the heat of a battle and wondered what the heck was going on? Over the past few weeks, I got ahold of a series by Creflo Dollar entitled, Are You In The Game, and I’ve been listening to this set of cd’s ever since. It’s all about winning the battle of your mind, how to fight your thoughts with the Word, and they’ve been the most eye-opening, mind-bending, practical truth I’ve listened to in a while. But I find myself in a battle that I’m now equipped to fight, but it’s weird. Ever have weird warfare? Yeah. When the enemy tries to convince you that you can’t communicate, no one really understands you, that people are just being nice.

You stumble over your words, and what you say doesn’t translate into English right. You begin to wonder if you’re actually having a stroke or losing your ability to speak. Initially, I decided to stop talking until I could figure out what was going on, but when I thought that thought, I instantly recognized it was the devil and in my spirit I heard, “He’s trying to steal your words!” (Mark 4:15)

So I said, “You will not have my words, devil! For they are hidden and protected in the center of my heart where you can’t get to them. I know the truth, and the truth sets me free!”

My friends, his goal is to shut you up. If that’s not happening in your life, perhaps you should examine what’s coming out of your mouth. If there’s no warfare, there’s no treasure to steal. I’m thankful that I have the opportunity to stand from a place of victory and contend for what Jesus purchased for me. I hold up my shield of faith and quench every fiery dart hurled at the Word in me. No weapon formed me will prosper!

I pray for each of you who have treasure in you to protect; guard your heart and mind. Don’t cry out for yourself. Cry out for others. God did not make you to be self-centered but to focus on Him and others.

Sandy G

Who says? I remember saying that often to my sister when she tried to boss me around. Like, who gave you authority to tell me what to do? Who died and made you boss?

Have you ever questioned? Especially when someone tells you something you don’t want to hear? I have! Man, it’s something I’ve struggled with most of my life. I know this comes as a huge surprise to most of you. LOL!

God has given us authority over all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19). We think of enemies as something we can see, but did you know that the biggest enemy we have is unseen? He accuses us, puts fear on us, addicts us, makes idols for us, convinces us we’re powerless to defeat him when all the while we’ve forgotten Luke 10:19.

II Corinth 10:4 says, “We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.”

It’s time we started back talking the devil! Who says, you big fat liar! (OMG, it is like talking to my sister! LOL) Who says I’m sick?-liar! By His stripes, I’m healed! Who says I’m broke?-liar! My God will supply all my needs! Who says I’m afraid-liar! He gave His angels charge over me to keep me in all my ways. 1000 may fall here, and 10,000 may fall there, but it won’t come near me!

Know who you are! Know your authority! Use your weapons because they are mighty-Use the Word. He says.

Sandy G

What is the cost of peace? How much would we spend to get some? If your life is full of stress, worry, and turmoil, that is not the place God wants you to dwell.

John 14:27 GNT “Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid.”

I speak peace to your day, my friends. Peace that passes understanding, guarding your heart and mind. The peace that sweeps over you, bringing you everything you need for today, restoring everything missing or broken in your life.

Repairer of broken things, Redeemer of missed moments, wrong steps, and deep losses, come press over us today. Don’t pass us by! Don’t allow us to be too busy that we miss this opportunity to soak in Your presence where your peace is found.

Amazing Father, as we sit in Your presence this morning, we thank You that in Your presence is fullness of joy, peace that passes understanding and overwhelming love. We always come away with so much more than we entered with. The exchange for our burdens and cares, our pain, and sadness, and those deepest losses are met with Your grace and goodness. We walk away restored.

“No one ever cared for me like Jesus. There’s no other friend so kind as he. No one else can take the sin and darkness from me. Oh, how much he cares for me.”

Sandy G