“Don’t let this throw you. You trust God, don’t you? Trust me. There is plenty of room for you in my Father’s home. If that weren’t so, would I have told you that I’m on my way to get a room ready for you? And if I’m on my way to get your room ready, I’ll come back and get you so you can live where I live. And you already know the road I’m taking.” John 14:1-4 MSG-1-4

Whatever you’re facing, God has it. He’s way ahead of you! He not only knows the problem, He has also provided the answer. It’s like an open book exam, they don’t put a question on the test if the answer isn’t in the book, you just have to take hold of the book, open it and read.

The Lord answered, “I myself will go with you. I will lead you.” This is what God said to the Israelites as they traveled to the promised land. If He led them, don’t you think He will also lead you?

You may not see Him, but He’s there and you will find Him when you seek Him with all your heart. David said, “He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul!” You, my friend are every bit as special to God as David. Find a quiet place and allow God to restore your soul.

Father, we your children expect that today will be the day You lead us to our promise. A day of wonder and miracles where You show Yourself strong on behalf of Your children. I expect a miracle everyday, You will make a way out of no way! I believe it and receive it today, and I will constantly bless Your name as I look to You the author and finisher of my faith. Until Your return for me, I will set myself to do what You’ve commanded me to do, and I will do it well. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Hang In There,

Sandy G

Without faith no one can please God. Whoever comes to God must believe he is real and that he rewards those who sincerely try to find him. Hebrews 11:6

Why is it that when you choose to walk by faith and take God at his Word, there are those who say you need a reality check?! Here’s a reality check for you; I live in the reality of Gods Word.

I believe it above doctors reports, economic downturns, unemployment status and bank account balances. When He said He’d meet all my needs-yeah, I believe that. When He said I can say to that mountain, be removed and don’t doubt, the mountain has to move!

Call me crazy if I choose to see the unseen clearer than my reality, but I’m just like that! You go on and say what you see, I choose to say what I don’t yet see. Lets see who wins, shall we?

Hey, wanna hear something else radical? I believe that God formed the world with His Words and gave me the power over the same world with my words. You say to me, you’ll eat those words? I say to you, may God have mercy on you so that you do not! It is written that by your words you are justified and by your words you are condemned.

Father, I will radically believe and trust in You. While others are looking for peace, I’ve found it in You. While others look for riches, I’ve sought after treasure the world knows nothing of. I will listen to Your good news over the news of this world. Everything You do is forever. My confidence will contently remain rooted and grounded in Your love. It’s in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen

Keep Believing!

Sandy G

During the night the Lord spoke to Gideon and said, “Get up. I will let you defeat the Midianite army. Go down to their camp. If you are afraid to go alone, take your servant Purah with you. Go into the camp of the Midianites. Listen to what they are saying. After that you will not be afraid to attack them.” Judges 7:9-11

If you’ve never read the entire story of Gideon, I encourage you to take the time. It tells a story of a man who measured his worth by mans standards until God told him who he truly was; a mighty man of valor! It took some convincing, even after God stirred his spirit.

I’m pretty sure that all of us can be intimidated by our enemies. Their size doesn’t matter because their voice is loud. They steal from us financially, and even when they’re not speaking, we’re convinced they see all and know all. We’re frozen in fear, refusing to do what God has asked us, because we’ve believed that what they say is truth.

So Gideon and his servant Purah went down to the edge of the enemy camp. The Midianites, the Amalekites, and all the other people from the east were camped in that valley. There were so many people that they seemed like a swarm of locusts. It seemed like they had as many camels as there are grains of sand on the seashore.

Gideon came to the enemy camp, and he heard a man talking. That man was telling his friend about a dream that he had. He was saying, “I dreamed that a round loaf of bread came rolling into the camp of the Midianites. That loaf of bread hit the tent so hard that the tent turned over and fell flat.”

The man’s friend knew the meaning of the dream. He said, “Your dream can only have one meaning. Your dream is about that man from Israel. It is about Gideon son of Joash. It means that God will let Gideon defeat the whole army of Midian.”

After he heard the men talking about the dream and what it meant, Gideon bowed down to God. Then Gideon went back to the camp of the Israelites and called out to the people, “Get up! The Lord will help us defeat the Midianites.” Judges 7:12-15

This day I say to you, your enemy may have been loud and proud, but your God will convince you that the thing you fear the most is not as real as He is. His word is solid and you can trust that it will happen just as He said it would. Allow God to take you to their camp and listen to how afraid they are of the blood that covers you and the God who empowers you.

Father, I believe what You say about me. I’m an overcomer. I overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony. Each time the enemy makes me afraid, I will simply run to you, my strong tower. I will not fear, for you empower me, and greater is He who is in me then he who is in the world. No weapon formed against me will prosper and every tongue that rises up in judgement, You will condemn.

There’s nothing greater or more powerful then knowing the truth, because the Truth sets me free. I will trust You with my future. You always stand with me and if You stand with me, who can be against me? This day, I will follow Your instructions because I cannot lose with You on my side. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen

Be Mighty and Immovable,

Sandy G

While I was praying, the word ‘First Responders’ came out of my spirit and I’ve been thinking about that ever since. I found that a first responder is someone trained to respond to an emergency. Then I remembered reading an article years ago that there are two types of people; those who respond quickly, jumping in to do what needs to be done and those who freeze in fear.

So when the Lord spoke these words to me as I and several others had gathered to pray, I felt He was showing me something significant. The intercessors were those who could see and respond to what was happening in the realm of the supernatural. They’ve been trained by the Holy Spirit how to respond, what to do, what to say, how to make every minute count not for their purpose, but for His.

Sometimes we see things happen in the natural we have no power over, still we respond or freeze. But what if what we don’t see can stop what we do see? What if we changed our strategy and focused our efforts on obedience in prayer instead of what’s in front of our face. Would we change from fear to faith? Would we become ‘First Responders’?

II Corinthians 10:4-6 ERV says; The weapons we use are not human ones. Our weapons have power from God and can destroy the enemy’s strong places. We destroy people’s arguments, and we tear down every proud idea that raises itself against the knowledge of God. We also capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ. We are ready to punish anyone there who does not obey, but first we want you to be fully obedient.

Do you see this? This isn’t talking about arguing with someone over something we don’t agree with. This isn’t talking about lashing out at political parties or petitioning at city hall, this is about destroying the enemy’s strongholds through prayer. Being fully obedient to do what the Lord has commanded us all to do, pray. We can cover more territory, overcome more demonic forces who are corrupting our children, our bodies and our nations by prayer.

Today, I leave you with these very blunt instructions from Paul found in I Thessalonians 5:16-23;

Always be full of joy. Never stop praying. Whatever happens, always be thankful. This is how God wants you to live in Christ Jesus. Don’t stop the work of the Holy Spirit. Don’t treat prophecy like something that is not important. But test everything. Keep what is good, and stay away from everything that is evil. We pray that God himself, the God of peace, will make you pure—belonging only to him. We pray that your whole self—spirit, soul, and body—will be kept safe and be blameless when our Lord Jesus Christ comes. Amen

Respond Today,

Sandy G

So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Hebrews 10:35 NLT

Have you ever tried to untangle Christmas lights? You can sit for hours trying to untangle the mess and someone else comes in, picks up one piece and pulls and the whole thing straightens out. It’s almost maddening, isn’t it? You just want to say, “Where were you 2 hours ago?”

Stress and strain can do us in, but another’s perspective can change everything. You may be staring at a pile of bills that you don’t know how you’re going to pay. Perhaps a doctors report that looks hopeless or a pink slip that says your job ends on Friday. Whatever you’re facing, God wants you to step away into His arms and see it through His eyes.

How much time do we waste trying to figure out things we weren’t meant to? God wants to do life with us. He wants us to rest in HIS ability, not our own. I wonder how much further we’d be if we’d learn that simple act of rest and communion?

Our old pastor used to say that a sign of a good leader is those who delegate. We don’t even know how to delegate our concerns to God. It reminds me of carrying groceries in from the car. No two trips for me! I try to carry WAY too much at once and in my effort to succeed, I usually end up hurting myself. How silly is that?

God is standing next to us with outstretched arms waiting to carry our load. Let’s not insist on carrying it anymore. Turn to Him, place it all in His hands and say this, “I will rest in You until you tell me what to do with it. I will not come out of this place of rest.” Just let the weight shift from you to Him.

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” Ephesians 3:20 NLT

Let Him Care For You,

Sandy G

If there’s one gift I can give everyone this year, it’s love. Sounds sweet, doesn’t it. Just makes you want to go, awww!

I was reading I John this morning and everyone knows that John was the disciple Jesus loved, but something struck me; when we understand the depths of Gods love, when it’s affected us so much that it oozes out of us, than we will also be recognized as the disciples Jesus loves.

I John 4: 17 says it this way; “And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.”

How will the world know Him if we don’t love like Jesus when He was here on the earth? Moved by compassion, He didn’t ask if they knew Him before He healed their bodies and raised their dead. He healed them all! He didn’t ask the multitude He was teaching if they qualified for food, He fed them all! He didn’t ask the people if they were worthy of His love, He loved them all, even the ones who didn’t love Him back.

Oh come on Sandy, how can we do that! Surely He doesn’t expect us to feed everyone, to love everyone, to heal everyone. Yes, why yes He does. He expects us to infect everyone in our sphere of influence with just that same unconditional love.

Trust me when I say this, if you’re looking for or expecting something bigger, you won’t see it until you’ve been faithful over the ‘little’ in your life. If it feels you’re stepping backwards, perhaps you’ve missed that the very foundation of our faith is love. Ask God to open your eyes to see what’s been in front of you all this time. It’s only when you’re faithful in little that he makes you ruler over much.

If the capacity to love like that isn’t in you, I’m afraid that Jesus isn’t in you either. Read it for yourself, verse 20, “If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?”

God, give me that kind of love. Turn on your love hose and flood me with so much love that I drench those around me. Out of that love, may healing and deliverance flow, may peace flow, may needs be met on any and every level. Help me to be you to those around me, great lover of my soul. May there be no doubt that You, Holy Spirit of God, are in me. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Happy Giving,

Sandy G

Then Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, gazed into heaven, and gave thanks to God. He broke the bread and the two fish and distributed them to his disciples to serve the people—and the food was multiplied in front of their eyes! Mark 6:41

There in that verse is the secret to multiplication or answered prayer–thanks. Whatever lack you see in your life right now, give thanks to God and give it away as a seed because when it leaves your hands, God will multiply it.

This is a principle I learned years ago that every farmer knows. The thing that leaves your hand and is planted into the ground will come back bearing more seed and a harvest of multiplication. Your job is to plant it, God sends the rain and the sun so that you may reap a beautiful harvest.

Today is Thanksgiving. This was the day the pilgrims along with the current residents of the land, shared what they had and gave thanks. It’s a tradition we’ve followed for centuries. It’s not about eating a big dinner, it’s about giving of what you have been given.

That is something we as Christians also do. We give out of the love and forgiveness we’ve experienced so that others may be blessed as well. It’s why Jesus said, “Give and it will be given to you,” without giving, we can’t receive.

So today, may you remember the goodness of the Lord and give thanks for what He’s done for you. Don’t focus on the storm you’ve been through this year, focus on the fact that you’re still here to enjoy Thanksgiving.

Keep giving thanks,

Sandy G

You go near and hear all that the Lord our God may say, and tell us all that the Lord our God says to you, and we will hear and do it. Deuteronomy 5:27

I can’t even begin to tell you how often I’ve heard these words from Christians all around the globe. It’s the reason so many go to church on Sunday, it’s the only time they hear from God and it’s always through someone else’s voice.

Years ago, it was me as well. I was too busy to have personal time with God. As a wife and a mother, my time was not my own! But aside from that, I worked full time at a job and put in a lot of time at church in ministry. For a season, I was on the worship team, sang in choir which also involved practices. I was a marriage counselor and led worship twice a year for our marriage retreats. I was in leadership so I had to attend all the leadership meetings.

Do I regret any of those things? No. But what I discovered is without God first, all the rest would be empty and meaningless. Seven years into our marriage, I walked away. I decided I didn’t want to live in a loveless marriage anymore. But here’s what happened; I walked into a conversation with God and He showed me why my life was such a mess. He reminded me of the sweet fellowship we had once enjoyed and brought me back to His loving arms.

Nothing in my life changed right away, but my focus changed back to God and I made HIM a priority. He has remained my first. My first love and the one I run to in times of trouble. When I find myself frustrated or upset because of the way things are going, I run back to Him and look through His eyes. He always has a purpose for everything, I just have to trust Him.

Perhaps there’s a part of this that resonates with you. If so, I hope you make your way back to His presence and fine tune His voice once again. That you stop listening to the naysayers and the religious tones and put Him first in everything you do or say. He’s waiting.

Don’t be like those in Moses’ day who just wanted to do their own thing and come to hear from God through their ‘man or woman of God’. God made us for relationship with Him. If you’re too busy, get un-busy. He’s waiting.

It can be in your car as you drive or in the shower getting ready for work. God’s not picky with the place, He just wants it to happen. He knows that without Him, you can do nothing meaningful or lasting. He wants to lavish His favor on you, show you things you don’t know, but you have to make that happen. He’s waiting.

He said those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled. Come hungry, He’s waiting. He said if you seek Him with all your heart you’ll find Him. Come find Him, He’s waiting.

Happy Finding,

Sandy g

At God’s command amazing things happen, wonderful things that we can’t understand. He commands snow to fall on the earth, and sends torrents of drenching rain. Job 37:5-6

The first part of that verse stirred me this morning. It was like He was saying it to me personally. “Sandy, pay attention! I’ve commanded the blessing on you and this is one of the way’s I’m going to do it.”

I would have missed it if I wasn’t at the right place, at the right time. I thought I was going the wrong way because it was strange to me. I looked around and nothing was familiar. But had I not gone in that direction, I would have missed the set up for blessing.

For those of us who are directionally challenged, we need to know the voice of God more than ever. Turn on the God GPS inside of you and LISTEN! Some of us don’t want to hear because it’s distracting, but if you don’t listen, you’ll run into traffic or a detour that doesn’t show up on the map you have looked at before you left Him this morning.

The cool thing about God is this; He is with you always! He never leaves you, ever! You can’t leave your prayer room and He not accompany you during your day because He is IN you. He’s not an ‘app’ you add to your phone, He’s in you to give direction always, in every situation you face, every obstacle that stands in your way, He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Yes, God raised Jesus to life! And since God’s Spirit of Resurrection lives in you, he will also raise your dying body to life by the same Spirit that breathes life into you! Romans 8:11 TPT

Father, guide me as You promised and don’t let sin rule over me. I will acknowledge you in all my ways for You always direct my paths. My steps have been ordered by You because You know the desire of my heart is to serve You. I trust in You when things don’t make sense. I trust in You when the shaking starts and when it stops. You are my hope and the strength of my life. Keep talking, Lord. I’m listening. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Tune in and keep listening,

Sandy G

My name is Paul and I have been chosen by Jesus Christ to be his apostle, by the calling and destined purpose of God. Colossians 1:1

Hi, my name is Sandy and I’ve been chosen by Jesus Christ to be His disciple, by the calling and designed purpose of God. He has instructed me to sit in His presence and listen to His voice and not everyone else’s. He always sends me confirmation to what He asks of me, but I willingly obey regardless of what it makes me look like or sound like to anyone else.

You see, each and everyone of us have been called to discipleship. Our added gifting of prophet, apostle, pastor, evangelist or teacher (Ephesians 4:11) is just that, added. But we’re all disciples or followers of Jesus. That means we follow His commands final command to us–Go and I’ll be with you always.

Never allow what others think, keep you from being who God called you to be. Stop trying to be like other people, to imitate the gift that’s in them. You have been chosen for a specific task. The success of your assignment hinges on your ability to obey the direct instructions of God.

Are you listening? If you don’t take time to listen, you will never hear. If you never hear, you will continue on the same path you’re on, possibly going in the wrong direction. Find a quiet place, turn off the noise and distractions, worship the Lord and give Him thanks, and with no agenda, no prayer requests, just wait for Him to draw near and speak to your spirit. It will be the most productive time of your entire day.

Have fun being you!

Sandy G