Without prophetic vision people run wild, but blessed are those who follow ⌞God’s⌟ teachings. Proverbs 29:18 GW

I would just like to make an observation this morning, perhaps get you to think on it, share your thoughts if you wish.

Dictionary.com speaks of vision as; a vivid, imaginative conception or anticipation: the act or power of anticipating that which will or may come to be. Vision can also be something we actually see, but this particular vision is seen with the heart or imagination.

Did you know that prophesy is God’s way of getting us to fixate our gaze on the future? God created us with a strong sense of vision so that we would use it to pull what is not yet seen into our now. The things He spoke is merely what has not happened yet in the physical realm. Make sense? Visions can be something we actually see, but it can also be something we see ourselves as, or perhaps see ourselves doing.

If we settle for the way we currently are for the way we will always be, we will also settle for unproductive, hum-drum lives. But if we are always anticipating the promises of God, speaking about them, pulling those future things into the present, our physical bodies will respond.

Healing is a prime example; you may be sick in your body, but when you see yourself healed and whole, and you continue to speak the unchanging word of God, what currently is must respond. I know, I’ve experienced it myself as have many others. Don’t allow your current situation to determine your fate or keep you from where God wants to take you. He wants you to be in a state of wholeness-nothing missing or broken.

Vision is a powerful thing, without it we’re blind both physically and spiritually. Where there is no revelation of God and His word, there is no restraint. If you see yourself differently than you actually are right now, you have vision. If you can’t see it inside, it will never manifest outside.

Father, increase my vision, my ability to see as You do. To believe that what I say WILL come to pass just as You do. I want to be like You in every way. I want to love like You, give like You, rule and reign like You want me to. Thank you for giving me Your Holy Spirit which leads me into all truth. Who shows me what my future holds and who holds my future. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Seeing Differently,

Sandy G

“But there is another urgency before me now. I feel compelled to go to Jerusalem. I’m completely in the dark about what will happen when I get there. I do know that it won’t be any picnic, for the Holy Spirit has let me know repeatedly and clearly that there are hard times and imprisonment ahead. But that matters little. What matters most to me is to finish what God started: the job the Master Jesus gave me of letting everyone I meet know all about this incredibly extravagant generosity of God.” Acts 20:22-24 Message

Your assignment that Jesus gave you when you first accepted Him as Lord of your life, was never meant to be easy, comfortable or all roses and sunshine. It was never meant to do alone or without direction and instruction. It was meant to be done with constant conversation with the Holy Spirit as He has promised to give strategy and counsel.

Paul understood that the success and completion of his ministry would only be done well by knowing those things. He mentioned an urgency and feeling compelled to go, those are all signs the Holy Spirit is directing. Faith is having the confidence in that voice, to respond and go even before you know what the outcome will be. Paul said, “I do know that it won’t be any picnic, for the Holy Spirit has let me know repeatedly and clearly that there are hard times and imprisonment ahead. But that matters little.”

Why did that matter so little to him? Because the reward was letting everyone know all about the incredible, extravagant generosity of God. I believe that that knowledge of Gods character was the driving force behind Pauls ability to complete his mission.

You see, when you discover something that will benefit others, you just want to share. It could be a deal at the grocery store, a gas station that’s selling gas for less, a bank that’s offering lower interest on a loan or a doctor that has discovered a formula for weight loss, you know full well that you wouldn’t keep that to yourself. Neither would you keep back from others the joy of discovering peace in a storm or health to all their flesh.

Whoever tried to gain converts by telling them their life would be perfect if only they would give it to Jesus, told a baldfaced lie. Running a race is hard. Climbing a mountain is hard. If you’re not up for a challenge, don’t commit to Jesus! It’s about relationship with the One who holds all the answers. It’s about knowing and having access to everything you need for life and godliness. It’s about holding in your hands the key that opens opportunities and even though risk is involved.

That’s the life I live. Paul said it perfectly to the Galatians (2:19-21):

What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn’t work. So I quit being a “law man” so that I could be God’s man. Christ’s life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.

²¹ Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God’s grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily.

Today I will place my hand in His and climb the mountain once again. Each time I do, I condition my body until soon, I will climb without hesitancy at all. My spiritual muscles will come alive to take this journey again and again. I will not grow weary in telling others of the incredibly extravagant generosity of God.

Until Next Time,

Sandy G

The Spirit God gave us does not make us afraid. His Spirit is a source of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7 ERV

As I face yet another trial, I’m reminded that it’s not God who makes me afraid. The truth is, fear is simply birthed in my imagination where my mind has determined that what I see in the natural realm is larger than it truly is. This is a very hard concept for those of us who live in this world, but the truth lies in the fact that He who lives in us is greater than anything we can or can’t see.

1 John 4:18 in the Message bible says; God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love.

I am unable to change situations and circumstances, but the One who lives in me has been known to do that. He spoke and created. He breathed upon man and he became a living soul. He split the Red Sea and His people walked across on dry ground. He planted His Holy Seed in Mary and she gave birth to His Son. He walked on water. He healed the sick and raised the dead. He fed 5000 with a 2 piece fish dinner. He had a plan to buy us back and it came to pass when Jesus gave His life as a final sacrifice for us. He conquered death, hell and the grave, and sits at the right hand of the Father, making intersession for us.

So I will not fear! I won’t fear what man can do or say, I will fear God for I know that nothing is impossible when I trust in Him. I understand His sovereignty. There is absolutely no one that can stand against Him and win. He alone is worthy to receive all glory, honor and praise.

So today, I choose to place my trust in Love, because the perfection of that Love casts out all fear. I don’t like the feelings fear brings, but basking in the light of that perfect Love, warms and refreshes me just as David said in Psalm 23; He leads me by still waters and restores my soul. Even on my walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I won’t fear, for You are with me.

Walking in Peace,

Sandy G

My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties, see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up in you the power of endurance. And then as your endurance grows even stronger, it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking. James 1:2-4 TPT

When it seems as though…..Those words reverberate as if shouted into a deep well, only to echo back to me again. Facing difficulties at every turn is both daunting and discouraging. I don’t think they’re often seen as the pathway to joy and ultimately perfection, especially when those difficulties never seem to end. I’m hoping this stirs up some familiar feelings in my readers today.

But James speaks truth in this letter he writes to fellow believers. Testing does stir up the power of endurance. When I look back over my life and the things I’ve faced, I realize that when life is hard, my resolve to get through it also hardens. The bond I’ve formed with the Great Encourager who lives in me, has made me stronger, releasing perfection into every part of me until there is nothing I am missing or lacking to complete this race that lays before me.

If you’ve ever climbed a mountain, you will know that it is not for the faint of heart. Each step is hard. The higher you go, the harder it is to breathe. It takes courage to climb higher, but once you’ve reached the top, you’re rewarded with a view that is breath taking. You’ve discovered muscles you never new existed in your body. Your legs shake and you feel weary to the bone, but all is forgotten with the joy of accomplishment. You made it!

So today, I encourage you to allow yourself to remember the bond you share with the Holy Spirit. His strength bonded with your weakness works better than any Gorilla Glue. You’re going to get through this perpetual trial. No mountain is too high for you to climb with Him, no river too wide that you can’t cross with Him. Allow Him to release into you the fortitude and stamina to get to where He needs you to be.

Remember that when Satan sees you, he recognizes the God that is in you. You’re unstoppable and he knows it very well. The only way he can win is if you forget who you are. Never forget! He’s not at war with you, he’s at war with God. He will throw every obstacle in your way to keep you from getting through this. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and climb. You’re going to make it!

Extending My Hand,

Sandy G

How do you see life? I’ve realized that everyone sees things through different lenses. Some need very strong lenses, some have 20/20 vision. My mom has always been far-sighted, but as she’s aged, her vision has gone to 20/20. I think that’s amazing.

Aging does something more than mess with the lenses of our eyes, it causes our perspective to be different. We appreciate things like, staying upright, sunrises, sunsets, relationships. We seem to understand the meaning of, “Life is but a vapor,” and continually try to find ways to slow down the speed and momentum of it.

There’s only one thing that never changes and that is God (Malachi 3:8). He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). So, to slow down the ‘clock’, I spend time meditating on His Word and His promises. I remember that ‘With long life He satisfies me and shows me His salvation’. That because of what Jesus did for me, I’m redeemed from the curse of the law and made perfect by His grace.

I know that life and death are in the power of MY tongue and that those who love it will eat it’s fruit. I will think on His word so that I speak His word in times of trouble and lack. My situations are subject to change because of what I speak over them. It’s not ‘mind over matter’, it’s God’s unchanging word over opposing situations.

Today, may you change your perspective to that of Gods. His is the only one that really matters because if we agree with it, and don’t doubt, we will have whatever we say. So slow down and know that He is God and is the rewarder of they who diligently seek Him.

Turn all your anxiety over to God because he cares for you. Keep your mind clear, and be alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion as he looks for someone to devour. I Peter 5:7-8 GW

I believe we are all familiar with those verses, but how many know the ones that follow, verses 9-11: “Be firm in the faith and resist him, knowing that other believers throughout the world are going through the same kind of suffering. God, who shows you his kindness and who has called you through Christ Jesus to his eternal glory, will restore you, strengthen you, make you strong, and support you as you suffer for a little while. Power belongs to him forever. Amen.”

If you start going to the gym to work out, the muscles do not come in a day, nor do they come without pain. When you work them, they cry out, trying to get you to stop doing them because it hurts. The next day, you can barely move, but you get up and go at it again until the pain eases and you feel strength coming to you.

The saying, ‘No pain, no gain’ is actually true in both the physical and spiritual realms. Jesus said we would have trials and tribulations, but cheer up, He overcame the world. Sometimes our muscles of faith must be built up by pushing through things that hurt. If we give up each time there’s a battle, we will merely be observers, not participators. My desire is to win so that I can help others win as well.

Paul said to fight the good fight of faith, implying that it’s not a cake walk, its a battle. I don’t know how Christians get it into their heads that once they get saved they just float through life on a glory cloud. Reading the Word daily is training our mind for battle with the mind games the enemy puts on us. Jesus came back at him with THE WORD! Thats how we resist. That is our weapon.

Father, today as we take up our sword (your Word), help us to recognize the enemy, his schemes and plans. We will be overcomers today by the Word thats in our mouths. We will speak your truth, not confirm his lies.

For Your Glory,

Sandy G

Our God comes and does not keep silence; a fire devours before Him, and round about Him a mighty tempest rages. Psalm 50:3 AMPC

Oh my! For some reason this verse jumped out at me this morning. I don’t know what you’re expecting, but this shows me that when God comes on the scene, it is not quietly! I see someone who has cried out to God for a miracle. Perhaps it’s in your body, or in your bank account, or both. Perhaps it’s with your children, your marriage, your zip code, a friend, relationship, you’re desperate for a move of God.

A fire devours before Him, and round about Him a mighty tempest (big storm) rages. We’ve all seen what tornado’s and hurricane’s do; they get in and mess things up. Fire burns things up. I want you to picture things in your life that need to be destroyed so that new growth can spring up. Now, invite God into that area!

How do you do that? Simply invite Him on the scene. “Father, I’m a mess! I ask that you clean me up, fix my mess, organize this chaos. I’ve tried to do it on my own and it’s just not working. I don’t want to die! I know you have purpose for me, you cant’ be finished with me yet. My finances are a mess, my job is a mess, my family is a mess, my body is a mess. I NEED you. Every area of my life, I place it in your capable hands and I trust you to make me whole, body, soul, mind and spirit.”

Now, I want you to forget about your self and your issues. Can’t do that? Let me help you put it in perspective. Close your eyes and think of the largest mountain in the world. In measure, your problem is the size of one grain of dirt that makes up that huge mountain. God is bigger than your problem by far. When he comes on the scene, that mountain will be reduced to a plain.

Right now, I want you to lift your hands and praise the Lord. You take out your lab tests, your check book, pictures of your children, whatever problem you’re facing right now. Place it on the table and speak to it, “My God is bigger! He will rearrange you! He will make you right. He will come in like a flood and lift up his hand and say, ‘ENOUGH!’ There is nothing too hard for him. He’s God.”

Now get excited because God’s fixin to change some things!I

From now on you are not strangers and people who are not citizens. You are citizens together with those who belong to God. You belong in God’s family. This family is built on the teachings of the missionaries and the early preachers. Jesus Christ Himself is the cornerstone, which is the most important part of the building. Christ keeps this building together and it is growing into a holy building for the Lord. You are also being put together as a part of this building because God lives in you by His Spirit. Ephesians 2:19-22 NLV

Ever wonder why God made you the way He did and placed you with that family, in this part of the earth? Ever wonder what His plans are? How He’s going to use you for His Kingdom? Simply because God lives in you by His Spirit, He loves to direct and order your steps!

Everything, even the things that the devil meant for bad in your life, God promises to use them for good. WOW! The more you know Father, the more you trust can trust Him. The more you learn who He is, the more you trust what He’s doing. He has connected you to fulfill His plans, not yours.

Perhaps its time to reevaluate all motives and purposes today. To submit and surrender to what God is doing in us to prepare us for this grand finale, this unveiling of His master plan. We are all a work in progress, but we’re fit together with purpose. Find God, find purpose.

Sandy G

Ephesians 6:10-13; To end my letter I tell you, be strong in the Lord and in his great power. Wear the full armor of God. Wear God’s armor so that you can fight against the devil’s clever tricks. Our fight is not against people on earth. We are fighting against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world’s darkness. We are fighting against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly places. That is why you need to get God’s full armor. Then on the day of evil, you will be able to stand strong. And when you have finished the whole fight, you will still be standing.

The days and times we live in, we must not leave our homes unprotected. There’s a war going on, seen or unseen, we must be aware of it and know that God has given us the proper attire. Don’t wait for Sunday to pray. Pray every day, all day. It not only protects you, but your family as well as your community.

You wouldn’t leave for work naked! So don’t leave home without getting dressed in your spirit. God’s provided your attire, so after you’ve showered and physically dressed for work, put on your spiritual clothing as well. You’ll be able to face every spiritual and physical attack if you’ll simply take these simple steps each day.

Verses 14-18; So stand strong with the belt of truth tied around your waist, and on your chest wear the protection of right living. On your feet wear the Good News of peace to help you stand strong. And also use the shield of faith with which you can stop all the burning arrows that come from the Evil One. Accept God’s salvation as your helmet. And take the sword of the Spirit—that sword is the teaching of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times. Pray with all kinds of prayers, and ask for everything you need. To do this you must always be ready. Never give up. Always pray for all of God’s people.

Dressed For Success,

Sandy G

One of my very favorite verses is one that David penned in Psalm 37:23; The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Anyone who knows me has heard me quote this multiple times.

If you’re anything like me, I’m sure there are times when it’s hard to believe that this journey we’ve been on, has actually been ordered. Did I really sign up for this? Yes, I did. The moment I made Jesus my Savior and Lord, I allowed Him to take me on a trip that would best suit His plans for me in His Kingdom.

Joseph with his coat of many colors, that was a trip! I’m sure when he was on his journey, he probably felt the same things we do at times. Tricks and traps, slavery and prison, hurt and betrayal, none of which looked anything like the dreams he had as a youth. But let’s learn one thing from Joseph; He knew God had purpose for his life and he trusted Him in the journey.

If it was something Joseph could have done on his own, he wouldn’t have needed God. God only takes us in ways we cannot possibly do alone. His paths may be unfamiliar, crooked and rough, but it is to simply prepare us for His end game; Save His people.

I’ve been asked why I named my blog, Remnantposts. It’s because we are the remnant, Gods people, those who have lay down their own agendas for the sake of His Kingdom. I just want to encourage you to hang in there, hold on, climb higher, seek His face more, pray, listen, learn, encourage others, but whatever you do, don’t quit!

Don’t be counted among those who would be deceived. We need each other but most of all, we must trust in God. He has a plan! We don’t need to know the details, just know that whatever road you’re on, He’s with you, will never leave you, will carry you when you’re weary. Why? Because He’s God.

I end with this thought; If the road you’re on looks strange, unfamiliar and uncomfortable, you’re on the right road. If in the distance you see the image of a fellow traveler, shout out to them, “Keep going! You’re almost there!” May His Kingdom come and His will be done in us, in the earth, on our journey.

Where He leads, I’ll follow,

Sandy G