Later his disciples came to him privately to ask him what deeper meaning they could find in this parable. He said, “You have been given a teachable heart to perceive the secret, hidden mysteries of God’s kingdom realm. But to those without a listening heart, my words are merely stories. Even though they have eyes, they are blind to the true meaning of what I say, and even though they listen, they won’t receive full revelation. Luke 8:9-10 TPT
I’ve always wondered how someone could sit in church their entire lives and not really learn anything at all. It has to do with having a teachable spirit, one that possesses a listening heart. That’s what David had. He sat in the presence of the Lord and talked with Him, but also listened.
Psalm 51:10 records David’s desire, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” That should be our prayer as well. To cultivate our hearts so that we may receive the seed of Your Word and obtain Your hidden mysteries of the kingdom realm. That Your words be more than stories.
Deep within my heart is a longing for more. More of His presence. More time at His feet. Learning, growing, maturing and gaining revelation. It’s only when it becomes so real that nothing can shake you from your firm foundation, that’s when it becomes more than stories.
Samuel took the horn with the oil in it, and poured the special oil on Jesse’s youngest son in front of his brothers. The Spirit of the LORD came on David with great power from that day on. Then Samuel went back home to Ramah. 1 Samuel 16:13 Easy to Read Version
What happened next? Nothing. He went back to doing what he’d been doing and watching sheep and caring for them and I’m sure he asked God, what now?
What was Samuel thinking? He wasn’t, he was doing. He was merely a messenger doing a duty for God. He released a word, anointed David with oil as the next king of Israel and moved on.
Davids family kept on ignoring him. They kept on harassing him and misreading his motives. But here’s what was happening that nobody saw.
The Word was released and activated. God Himself said His Word is active and powerful, and always accomplishing what it was sent to do. What God declared through Samuel was done the moment it went out of his mouth whether people saw it done or not.
Perhaps you’ve received a prophetic assignment years ago and nothing. Hold on. It’s still working. It may not happen how and when you think it will, but friend, prepare yourself for the assignment in the meantime.
You can’t go wrong sitting in your sheep fold talking to God, getting better acquainted with who He is and what He’s able to do in and through you.
It may not happen how you want but it will happen the way He wants. It’s about being a vessel filled up and poured out however He wants it spilled.
John’s disciples reported to him in prison about all the wonderful miracles and the works Jesus was doing. So John dispatched two of his disciples to go and inquire of Jesus. When they came before the Master, they asked him, “Are you the coming Messiah we’ve been expecting, or are we to continue to look for someone else? John the prophet has sent us to you to seek your answer.”
Without answering, Jesus turned to the crowd and healed many of their incurable diseases. His miracle power freed many from their suffering. He restored the gift of sight to the blind, and he drove out demonic spirits from those who were tormented.
Only then did Jesus answer the question posed by John’s disciples. “Now go back and tell John what you have just seen and heard here today. The blind are now seeing. The crippled are now walking. Those who were lepers are now cured. Those who were deaf are now hearing. Those who were dead are now brought back to life. The poor and broken are given the hope of salvation. And tell John these words: ‘The blessing of heaven comes upon those who never lose their faith in me, no matter what happens.’ ”
As I read these verses, I thought of something about our dear John, the cousin of Jesus. He had a call on his life to prepare the way of our Lord Jesus. He was the one who baptized Him, who saw the Spirit descend on Him and heard the voice of the Father say, “This is my beloved son in whom I’m well pleased.”
Yet while imprisoned, he clearly had a moment of doubt because Jesus didn’t seem to cooperate with the way John thought He should be ‘Savior’ of the world. The fact is, many thought Jesus had been dispensed to be ‘King’, to sit on a throne here on the earth and reign.
John, like so many of us, seemed to lose a little faith in Jesus. He thought by posing the question, “Are you the one or should we look for another?”, he might possible push Jesus into moving to rescue him. Why, because truth be told, none of us ever thinks for a moment that there’s a time limit on our assignment.
But there is, isn’t there? Who are we to tell God we need more time? Or to think we’re so valuable that God can’t do anything without us?
Jesus heard the question, but chose to answer with action. Nothing like examples to prove the answer. Signs and wonders went where He went not because He was the Son of God, but because of the power of the Spirit of God that worked in and through Him. And that same power lives in you. What are you doing with that power?
‘The blessing of heaven comes upon those who never lose their faith in me, no matter what happens.’
This morning and every morning I’m thankful for the sacrifice of my mom. She tilled the soil of our heart and planted good seed in it daily. I know from talking with other friends that the home I was raised in, though not perfect, was indeed rare.
She read bible stories to us, missionary stories, never tired of our questions. She had us in church 3 times a week and in between if there was anything else going on.
When my dad died and we began to wander away from God, I would hear her from behind her closed bedroom door, praying and crying out to God. She never stopped!
She never doubted that if God began a good work, and she was faithful to water and tend it, He would be faithful to complete it. Even if it took a lifetime, she knew His Word would never return to Him empty but would finish what He started in us.
Moms mind is a little bit befuddled right now. It makes my heart sad to see her so. But I still see her sowing those seeds into the hearts of so many. Teaching Sunday school, playing the piano because there was no one else to do it. Singing with my dad and later with my step-dad. Ministering hugs and a listening ear.
Here’s what I’ve learned from her; Just keep sowing regardless if you ever see the outcome. It will not only change the life of the one you sow into, but the fruit of it will tasted for generations to come.
Happy Mothers Day Mom, I’m a life that was changed.
You will be guarded by God himself. You will be safe when you leave your home, and safely you will return. He will protect you now, and he’ll protect you forevermore! Psalm 121:8 TPT
What a beautiful promise that you can take with you as you travel to and from work, the store, the bank or whatever appointments you have today. You are promised God will keep you safe when you leave and when you return.
Sometimes not knowing the promises of God can cause us to speak contrary to His Word. It’s important to read verses like this, to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that we serve a God who protects us. Always and forevermore.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Stay safe. I know I will.
Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams] Eph 3:20 AMP
Not according to our abilities but His! WOW. Just thinking about this causes me to wonder just how much I limit God. Love the last part of that verse; “beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams.”
We can only ask based on our knowledge of what’s available. I can’t go to my bank and ask for a million dollars (yet!) cause it’s not in my account. But I sure can go to my Fathers account and ask ANYTHING because He has a vast and limitless supply.
According to the power that works in me, not my own power, His power. It’s all about Spirit living instead of flesh living. The moment you give up your wants and make His a priority, powerful changes occur.
I surrender all. Every part of the flesh me that stands in the way and I ask bigger than I’ve ever asked. The biggest and bestest thing I could ever want is to be totally filled with You, Lord. Consume me! Transform me! Nothing I will ever do on my own has lasting value but I want my life to count for You. I want to be a conduit of LOVE. On my own I fall short but in You……It’s in Jesus’ name, Amen.
We can come to God with no doubts. This means that when we ask God for things (and those things agree with what God wants for us), God cares about what we say. He listens to us every time we ask him. So we know that he gives us whatever we ask from him. I John 5:14-15 ERV
No doubts allowed. That means no oscillating back and forth between two opinions. God is a good Father and wants His children well and prospering. If you know the word of God, you’ll have no problem believing what that word says.
So many Christians today opt for giving excuses as to why their prayers aren’t answered. “It was because I sinned!”, but the word says He will forgive their unrighteousness and their lawless deeds He will remember no more. Jesus forgave your past, present and future sins and God doesn’t even remember them. He looks at you through the blood of Jesus.
Doubt and fear the weapons of choice the devil uses, not God. Satan will try to remind you of your failures, God reminds you of your future. Don’t doubt Gods deep love for you and His plans for you are for good, not evil. Believe you receive what you ask for and go on your way rejoicing as if it’s already done, cause it is. It will happen first in the spirit realm before it manifests in the natural realm.
The angel told me to give Zerubbabel this message from the Lord: “You will succeed, not by military might or by your own strength, but by my spirit. Obstacles as great as mountains will disappear before you. You will rebuild the Temple, and as you put the last stone in place, the people will shout, ‘Beautiful, beautiful!’” Zechariah 4:6-7 GNT
I have this personalized and placed on my mirror. I read it like this; “Sandy, you will succeed, not by military might or by your own strength, but by My Spirit. Obstacles as great as mountains will disappear before you. Sandy, you will rebuild the Temple, and as you put the last stone in place, the people will shout, ‘Beautiful, beautiful!'”
Whatever you’re facing may look too big for you, but remember this, this is not your battle, it’s Gods. If He said you will win, then there’s nothing that can stop you! If He said you’re healed, there’s nothing to keep it from you. If He said He’s your provider, go about your business because He’s got this!
God loves being your hero! People might think you’re crazy, that’s ok. They didn’t think Zerubbabel would finish rebuilding the temple, but he did. Against all odds and so much opposition! You will go from ‘nobody’ to ‘somebody’ when you believe and trust in God.
And the crowds marveled with amazement, astounded over the things they were witnessing with their own eyes! The lame were walking, the mute were speaking, the crippled were made well, and the blind could see. For three days everyone celebrated the miracles as they exalted and praised the God of Israel! Matthew 15:31 TPT
Can you imagine following Jesus from place to place, watching as those blind eyes were open, the deaf hearing and lame walking? But He did, didn’t He?!
And that same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in me. It lives in you as well. The same power that Jesus tapped into is available to us as well.
Here is what I have discovered; God is no respecter of persons. What He did for others, He will do for you and me. If He open the blind eyes then, He will open blind eyes now. There is no doubt in my mind or in my heart about that.
I do not pretend to know the mind of God or His plans or purposes. Those are all His! He has things in store for us that we cannot even imagine. We foolishly waste our time trying to figure all that out. His view encompasses a much greater span than I have.
But this I do know, He is a Covenant keeping God. I say it to myself everyday. The blood of Jesus didn’t just save, heal and deliver that day, but everyday since. It doesn’t go out of style. It keeps on working!
Tomorrow I take my youngest daughter for an injection in her eye. On Wednesday, she goes for emergency surgery just to save the vision in her one remaining seeing eye. I’m not angry that God didn’t do it the way I expected. I’m focused on His voice and casting the care of it on Him.
I am watching as her confidence in God boosts my own. She is believing for a financial miracle as well as a healing miracle. So many have lavished love on her, and I’ve watched her be affected by that love in such a positive way.
You see, I’ve come to realize that God has a plan for all these things I’ve been through over the past two and a half years. It is to grow my trust in Him to such a level that it cannot be shaken. I’ve never thought myself to be like Job, but I know that if he gave Job back more than he lost, he will do the same for us. He’s just that kind of God!
I entitled this, The Blind See, but it’s not just physical blindness that needs to be fixed. It’s spiritual blindness in the hearts of His people. He’s crying out to us, “Open your eyes! See me for who I am. I love you with an everlasting love and that will never change. Stop trying to figure everything out and trust me!”
For those who are interested in donating, here are some ways that you can do that. Cashap $SassyMcfrass or Venmo @Shannon_Gregory (last 4 digits of ph# 7609) or through my paypal memagregory@yahoo.com
So don’t be impatient for Yahweh to act; keep moving forward steadily in his ways, and he will exalt you to possess the land. You’ll watch with your own eyes and see the wicked lose everything. Psalm 37:34
Now that’s a tough one to swallow. I’m not sure how you are in the patience category, but way down there on the tatum pole. The reward sounds great though, if we can just stay focused.
I was laying in bed trying to problem solve an unexpected need when I thought, well Sandy, if you can’t figure it out, perhaps you should put it in Gods hands. He seems to know a whole lot more than you do. He can figure it out.
So when I saw this verse, I realized that my job is to keep moving forward. Steadily in His ways, not my own. He sees things differently. His perspective has amazing clarity. That’s all I need to know. Keep moving. Focus on Him. Walk on, Gregory!
I have a bank account—He owns all the banks. I eat beef—He owns all the cattle. Perspective.
Who knew that a simple change of position, stepping behind and following instead of leading, would bring me to a place of receiving instead of striving.
remnantposts by sandy gregory 