Today as I was led to read the first few chapters of Matthew, I came upon this passage from chapter 4:1-4 ERV; Then the Spirit led Jesus into the desert. He was taken there to be tempted by the devil.  Jesus ate nothing for 40 days and nights. After this, he was very hungry.  The devil came to tempt him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these rocks to become bread.” Jesus answered him, “The Scriptures say,‘It is not just bread that keeps people alive. Their lives depend on what God says.’”

I had a little trouble with the first part which says that the Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the devil. Who does that? And what purpose does it have? I’m no biblical scholar, but I believe this thought came from the Lord. The battles we encounter are not with swords and spears, but with words. Jesus had to show us how to overcome our adversary, with Gods Word. He was not afraid! He was confident that Gods Word overcomes every lie the enemy would try to get us to believe. In other words, we can’t use the weapon of Gods word unless we know it.

Do you see the last part of that passage? ‘It is not just bread that keeps people alive. Their lives depend on what God says.’ The GW translations says, ‘A person cannot live on bread alone but on every word that God speaks.’  What do we know about what God speaks. It’s not what he spoke (past tense), but speaks (present tense). Hebrews 4:12 GW says, “God’s word is living and active. It is sharper than any two-edged sword and cuts as deep as the place where soul and spirit meet, the place where joints and marrow meet. God’s word judges a person’s thoughts and intentions.” 

His Word is alive, it’s current, it’s what we need to face any lie of the enemy who comes only to steal, kill and destroy. It’s the only weapon needed to win in this ‘good fight of faith’. How wonderful that Jesus was led into the wilderness that day so long ago. He didn’t question the Spirit as we so often do, he willingly went, willingly fasted, overcame temptation to show us how.

Revelation 12:11 GW says this about us, the remnant followers of Jesus Christ; “They won the victory over him because of the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony. They didn’t love their life so much that they refused to give it up.”

Oh Father. I am so humbled by what Jesus did for me. So much. Such an amazing life. Thank you for this reminder that I am to overcome by the Word and the blood of your Lamb. Help me, Holy Spirit to remember what to say when temptation comes my way. Help me to rely on you and not question why this is happening to me. I want to be a winner, an overcomer in life, and the coolest thing is knowing that I don’t have to fight this battle because Jesus did it for me. He won so I could walk in His victory. Victory belongs to the King and you are King of kings. Put a watch guard on my lips. Keep me from speaking evil and help me to only agree with what your Word says. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen

Hebrews 12:22-24 ERV; But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to a place where thousands of angels have gathered to celebrate. You have come to the meeting of God’s firstborn children. Their names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all people. And you have come to the spirits of good people who have been made perfect. You have come to Jesus—the one who brought the new agreement from God to his people. You have come to the sprinkled blood that tells us about better things than the blood of Abel.

The blood of Abel cried out for vengeance, but the blood of Jesus cries out forgiveness, healing, provision, favor, salvation. The blood of Jesus made everything that was wrong in our lives, right. He did it once. He did it for all. It’s not something that needs a ‘do over’, it’s a forever perfect and complete sacrifice. Once is enough to remove all your sin, past, present and future and cancel it out. It’s like it never happened. What a wonderful Savior, Redeemer, Transformer and Keeper.

For so many years I’ve been taught that if I mess up, I have to do the process all over again. Repent, ask forgiveness for my sin, accept the blood of Jesus and try, try again to live a holy life. For so many years I’ve lived in condemnation because I was taught that the only way to get blessings was to do right. That’s not what the Word says. The blood of Jesus did a complete work. It didn’t come up short or run low on forgiveness for me. It’s alive, it keeps working so I don’t have to.

It doesn’t mean God won’t discipline me to keep me on the right path. It doesn’t mean that He won’t apply the pressure of trials to cause me to grow in faith and trust in Him. He loves me, and any good parent disciplines the children they love. But I don’t have to earn the free gift of salvation, and that salvation isn’t just for sin.  I don’t have to earn the free gift of healing, deliverance, provision or peace. I don’t have to work for righteousness, He gave me His robe of righteousness so I could grow into it.

Oh Father, forgive me for not knowing your Word for myself but accepting wrong teaching. You said that you would lead me into all truth and you are. Thank you for taking my guilt and shame and exchanging it for freedom to laugh and love. People will always try to keep me back from where your grace and mercy has transported me, but it’s impossible when I place my trust in you. I love you so much, Lord. You are so worthy of my praise. Early in the morning, you wash me anew with your sweet love. All day long I think on your promises and know that as my Father, you will take care of everything. What a wonderful gift you are to me. The Gift that keeps on giving. Your love is a sweet kiss on my face and I will wear it daily and give it to others. It’s in Jesus Name, Amen

I Samuel 26:17-25;  Saul knew David’s voice and said, “Is that your voice, David my son?”

David answered, “Yes, it is my voice, my lord the king.  Sir, why are you chasing me? What wrong have I done? What am I guilty of?  My lord the king, listen to me. If the Lord caused you to be angry with me, let him accept an offering. But if men caused you to be angry with me, I ask the Lord to curse them because they forced me to leave the land that the Lord gave me and told me to go serve other gods.²⁰ Now don’t make me die far away from the Lord’s presence. The king of Israel has come out looking for a flea. You are like a man hunting partridges in the mountains.”

Then Saul said, “David, my son! I have sinned. Come back. Today you showed me that my life is important to you, so I won’t try to hurt you. I have acted foolishly. I have made a big mistake.”

David answered, “Here is the king’s spear. Let one of your young men come here and get it. TheLord pays every man for what he does—he rewards him if he does right, and he punishes him if he does wrong. The Lord gave you to me today, but I wouldn’t harm the Lord’s chosen king.  Today I showed you that your life is important to me. In the same way the Lord will show that my life is important to him. He will save me from every trouble.”

Then Saul said to David, “God bless you, David my son. You will do great things and you will win.”

David went on his way, and Saul went back home.

“Today I showed you that your life is important to me. In the same way the Lord will show that my life is important to him. He will save me from every trouble.” Even when he was unjustly accused, exiled from his country, when his own men argued to kill the king, David showed value and honored him.

Honor isn’t just forkings, honor is for everyone, not just for those in authority over you. If you honor others  above yourself, you will also be honored. I’ve seen husbands take an upper hand with their wives, treat them as if they didn’t know anything, devalued them front of others, and I lost respect for them. I’ve seen others who have publicly built up their wives and gave them extreme favor, it caused me to respect them and see them in a different light. I’ve also seen the hand of God move to protect and provide for those who live giving honor.

He honored us by seating us in heavenly places, a place we didn’t deserve or earn. He honors us with his Holy Spirit, who leads us into all truth. What a gift of honor God has freely bestowed on us. He honors us with long life and shows us His salvation.

Father, again I am in awe at the great honor you’ve given me. I hear you say, “This is my daughter and I love her.” “This is my daughter and I’m so proud of her.” It’s what I say to others when I talk of my own children and grandchildren, why would you be any different. Thank you for allowing me to crawl up on your lap every morning just to talk. Thank you for giving me the best husband and daughters, the best family. Thank you for your provision, for giving me a future and a hope, lavishing me with your affection. I woke up this morning. I crawled out of a warm bed, took a hot shower, drank some hot coffee. I was kissed by my husband and by you. Thank you. Today, help me to show that same honor to others, even those who don’t do anything to deserve it. To treat them with respect and lavish your love on them, that they in turn would do it to others. It’s in your name I pray, Amen.

John 15:1-8 ERV;

Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch of mine that does not produce fruit. He also trims every branch that produces fruit to prepare it to produce even more.  You have already been prepared to produce more fruit by the teaching I have given you. Stay joined to me and I will stay joined to you. No branch can produce fruit alone. It must stay connected to the vine. It is the same with you. You cannot produce fruit alone. You must stay joined to me.

 “I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I to you, you will produce plenty of fruit. But separated from me you won’t be able to do anything.  If you don’t stay joined to me, you will be like a branch that has been thrown out and has dried up. All the dead branches like that are gathered up, thrown into the fire and burned.  Stay joined together with me, and follow my teachings. If you do this, you can ask for anything you want, and it will be given to you.  Show that you are my followers by producing much fruit. This will bring honor to my Father.”

How many know that if something is really important, it’s repeated. So in these scriptures above, Jesus wants us to know that he is the vine. What does the vine do? It gives life to the branches which produce fruit. We cannot produce without being attached to the vine. What keeps us attached to the vine? Producing fruit, right? If we’re not connected to the vine, we’re dead weight, unproductive and the Gardner (God the Father) will gather us up and throw it in the burn pile. Would our loving Father do that? That seems so wrong, Sandy!

You deceive yourself if you think God wouldn’t do what he said he would do. If you know anything at all about growing grapes, you’ll understand why this must be done. I encourage you to google it, then read this scripture again, it will make so much sense to you. But the part I want to focus on this morning is this one part, “You have already been prepared to produce more fruit by the teaching I have given you. Stay joined to me and I will stay joined to you.” If we want to produce, we must place value on Jesus’ teaching.  It must be our nourishment each and everyday. Nothing we do alone is of any value to the Kingdom of God. it’s only when we stay connected to Jesus that we produce.

Prune me, oh God, that I may produce and keep on producing. Each time I hear your Word and it teaches me the error of my own ways, I’m reminded that you’re helping me to be more productive. I’ve watched too many people try to do it on their own. They rely on self effort instead of what you did. They still think they must do good to get good, keep the letter of the law, tow the line! But you fulfilled the old and gave us new. The fruit of the Spirit is what we must produce and if we do not, we must be taken out of the way so that only healthy, fruit bearing branches remain.

I want to remain connected, getting what I need from you. I want to love because you are Love. I want to be patient because you are patient. I want to heal the sick because you healed the sick. I want to raise the dead because you raised the dead. I want to teach the truth of your Word because you taught it. I want to be just like you when I grow up, but I can’t do it on my own. Thank you for making the way. Thank you that I can call on you and you answer. Thank you that when I have a need, I can ask you and you won’t withhold from me. Thank you for making me fruitful in all I do. It’s for your glory. It’s to honor your Father. Amen!

John 1:17 is the verse to meditate on today. It says, “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” The Amplified version reads like this; “For while the Law was given through Moses, grace (^[a]unearned, undeserved favor and spiritual blessing) and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

We will never be able to keep the laws given through Moses. We can memorize them, say them daily, try our best to keep them, but we will continually fail and the guilt and condemnation will always leave us trying harder to do good to get good. But Jesus took all of our judgement on him, the truth is, we no longer have to focus on doing right to be right. Jesus made us right.

How can this be? How can our sins, past, present and future ones, be gone. Psalm 103:12 says; We were not meant to hold onto sin, we’re meant to hold onto Jesus and the work he did for us on the cross. Stop mixing law with grace, it’s like mixing oil and water, putting old wine in new wineskins, it just can’t be done. 

Father, thank you for teaching us and showing us the error of our doctrine. You said to come and follow you. You are our example, not the law. If we follow after you we’ll never be mixed up or confused. If we know the truth of your Word, we’ll never be convinced by what men say to us. Your Word is clear. Your Word is alive. We keep our eyes on you and your truth. It’s the rock we stand on, all other ground is sinking sand. It’s in your name we pray. Amen

Philippians 4:4-9 GW; Always be joyful in the Lord! I’ll say it again: Be joyful! ⁵ Let everyone know how considerate you are. The Lord is near. ⁶ Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks. ⁷ Then God’s peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, keep your thoughts on whatever is right or deserves praise: things that are true, honorable, fair, pure, acceptable, or commendable. ⁹ Practice what you’ve learned and received from me, what you heard and saw me do. Then the God who gives this peace will be with you.

There’s a whole lot of good advice packed in these few short verses. Verses that we should memorize and keep close to us each time we hear a bad report, see a bad report or are tempted to speak a bad report. There is one thing that sets us apart from the world; Our peace and joy. Joyfulness because we have our trust placed in God, not the world and it’s ever changing drama. Peace because we have confidence in His ability to take care of us, not our own.

I was asked to pray for someone and did what came naturally to me, I prayed the Word. When I finished, the person was staring at me with a dumbfounded expression on their face. I asked them what was wrong and this was their reply; “I’ve never had anyone pray like that for me before. You actually prayed the Word of God over me with such assurance, like you really believe it.” I felt like saying, ‘No duh! I DO believe it, if I didn’t I wouldn’t bother.’ Verse 9 says, “Practice what you’ve learned and received from me, what you heard and saw me do. Then the God who gives this peace will be with you.”

I don’t know about you, but I don’t play church, i don’t pretend to be a believer and then dis-believe the Word of God. I practice my confession of faith, faith in the God my my fathers. I don’t run around speaking what I see in the world, that only validates the worlds system. No I speak what the Word says about the world, about MY world. I speak the Word daily over my finances, my body, my mind and my spirit. I speak the Word over my children. I memorized Deuteronomy 28 years ago and I still speak the covenant promises of God over us today. Am I perfect? NO! But I practice and practice makes perfect.

Father, may my life be filled with so much joy that the world notices. Where there is turmoil, may my presence (you in me) bring peace. May your Word in me bring peace to troubled storms. May your Word in me bring healing to sick bodies. May your Word in me bring life to dead things. Everything I saw that you did in your Word, you will do in and through me. You’re only looking for someone to offer themselves up, a willing vessel, a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to you. This is my desire, Lord, may the peace that passes all understanding guard my heart and mind. May I show others the way to have that wonderful, all consuming, living, fresh breath of life-giving peace. It’s in the Name of Jesus I ask it, Amen.

Have you ever wondered why this happened or that happened? Have you ever asked, “God, why did you allow that to happen?” or, “Why did you make me this way?” Romans 9:20-21 says; Who do you think you are to talk back to God like that? Can an object that was made say to its maker, “Why did you make me like this?”  A potter has the right to do whatever he wants with his clay. He can make something for a special occasion or something for everyday use from the same lump of clay.

You can’t figure God out and each time you try to, you are simply trying to humanize God. He’s God! You seem to forget how big God is, how wise he is, how in charge he is. Romans 11:33-36 GW; God’s riches, wisdom, and knowledge are so deep that it is impossible to explain his decisions or to understand his ways. “Who knows how the Lord thinks? Who can become his adviser?” Who gave the Lord something which the Lord must pay back? Everything is from him and by him and for him. Glory belongs to him forever! Amen!

Although things happen that are painful, unexpected and uncomfortable, we should rather remember that He is God. Creator. Always present. Always in charge. He never says, “Oops, I made a mistake!” Everything has been carefully planned from the beginning and he has placed us here to give praise to him. When you face your toughest problem or find fear creeping in the back door, speak these words out loud, “He will never leave me or forsake me. He is my God and this is such a small thing in his sight. I choose to trust in his divine plan. Thank you Lord. You are a big God and nothing is impossible for you.”

Don’t stress over the problem you face. God is bigger than your problem. Keep things in perspective. Regardless of what it is, NOTHING is too difficult for God!

Father, again I thank you for reminding me of your size compared to mine. You’re big, I am small. The universe was nothing for you to lay out and my problem, like a speck of sand on the ocean floor. I choose to place my trust in your ability and know that it’s all going to be alright. I love you Lord! Thank you for choosing me to be your daughter, for adopting me, for caring for me, looking out for me. I owe you my life and whatever you need me to do, I’m your girl. It’s in Jesus’ Name and for Your glory. Amen

Romans 8:22-25 ERV; We know that everything God made has been waiting until now in pain like a woman ready to give birth to a child.  Not only the world, but we also have been waiting with pain inside us. We have the Spirit as the first part of God’s promise. So we are waiting for God to finish making us his own children. I mean we are waiting for our bodies to be made free. We were saved to have this hope. If we can see what we are waiting for, that is not really hope. People don’t hope for something they already have.  But we are hoping for something we don’t have yet, and we are waiting for it patiently.

What’s getting ready to happen? What is it that cries out “more”? What is this unsatisfied longing? Could it be that we have only scratched the surface of what God created us to be? Could it be that everything we’ve seen or experienced until now is simply a prelude, a precursor to the grand finale?

My heart has always cried out for more of God. I’m always searching, reading, listening, watching for a glimpse of what’s been promised. I don’t know about you, but the life I’m living right now is a far cry from what God has promised us. To be the head and not the tail, a lender and never a borrower, above and not beneath. My father, Abraham, was a whole lot wealthier then I’ve ever seen in my family line. Not that I’ve sought after wealth, but the Word does say, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.”

Father, do you hear my groaning? Do you hear my cry for more? Do you hear me when I call out for help? YES! Yes you do! Your ears are always open to my cries and your eyes are always watching over me. There is nothing you miss or that slips by your line of sight. You are all seeing, all knowing, all loving and you’re my Father so whatever you have is mine. Thank you for the hidden treasures I must constantly search for. Thank you that you love me so totally that whatever I’m in need of, you’ve provided for me. How I love you always. You’re my constant keeper and my heart is forever yours. Amen!

Thanksgiving is upon us! Pies are made and tonight, I will make the stuffing, stuff the bird and Walt will put it in the refrigerator for me. Early in the morning, he will place the bird in the oven and shortly there after, the aroma will fill the whole house. Preparing Thanksgiving dinner together is hard work, but we love to do it. Walt has long taken on the role of cutting up all the celery and onions for the stuffing and the most important job of all; the taster.  According to him, “you can never have too much sage!’ For this, I am thankful! Because of him, my stuffing is some of the best!

Even in our most difficult years, when finances were tight and cupboards were bare, God has always provided enough to share with others. Whether it’s preparing a loaf of bread, opening a can of corn, slicing up a tomato or baking an apple pie, we’ve enjoyed God’s goodness and we’re thankful. Thanksgiving isn’t just about family and eating until you burst, it’s about reflecting on the year past and what God has brought you through. It’s about being thankful.

What are you thankful for? What has God done for you this year? Do you have a job? A home? A car? A faithful husband? If you’ve lost any of those, are you still thankful? Are you still alive? Can you walk? Are you still able to speak? Do you have hands that work? Eyes that see? Ears that hear? If you’re unable to do any of these things, are you still thankful?

Being thankful changes the atmosphere. Jesus gave thanks for the little fish and loaves and because of that, it fed the multitude. He gave thanks at Lazarus’ tomb and the dead man came to life. When we are thankful, God responds favorably, but when we whine and complain, we get misery and more to complain about. I choose to be thankful. It may be bad but it could be worse and I’m thankful for that. Colossians 3:17 says, “Everything you say and everything you do should be done for Jesus your Lord. And in all you do, give thanks to God the Father through Jesus.”

Thank you Father for your provision for me, my family and my friends. Thank you for the strangers who come into my life because you even have purpose for that chance meeting. Thank you for the weird warfare I encounter, it also has purpose. For the good and the bad, I thank you. You’ve developed me into quite the character through it all and because of it, I’m totally devoted to you. When I’m down, you lift me up. When I’m up, I lift up others. I live to be an extension of your hands and your love because it has changed my life forever. It’s in Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

It amazes me to see people cry out for justice, but when it doesn’t go their way, they scream and yell, lashing out at others. Our nation has become a bunch of spoiled children who stomp their feet and throw tantrums when they don’t get their own way.  We see this played out time and time again in the history of the bible. A multitude of people willingly followed Moses out of Egypt until they disagreed with what they saw, then they lashed out at their leader, they were dissatisfied with the results of their Exodus.

Multitudes followed Jesus who healed their sick, loved on their little ones, raised their dead, but the moment accusations were raised, that same crowd turned on him, mocked him and crucified him. We’re all good when we agree with the message, but the moment things turn and we don’t get what we want, watch out! Mere suggestions of injustice has us up in arms when in reality, we don’t even have the facts, we’re merely riding on someone else’s emotional momentum. We think we have all the evidence, but it’s merely someone’s opinion, a fictitious account of made up reality. We want what we want and when we don’t get it, we are not satisfied until do.

Lamentations 3:19-23 NIV is such a ‘jerk my head back’ passage to me. It says, “I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall, I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:  Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

The long and short of it is this; nothing else matters but the great love of God and that we allow him to consume us with it. Some translations say, “loyalty”. God’s loyalty to us. We can be so unfaithful, so self-centered and wrong yet every morning when we rise out of our beds, Gods loyal love keeps us from being consumed by the thoughts and schemes of others. We simply must remember that there is a devil who hates us and wants bad for our lives, but there is a God whose compassions never fail.

Thank you Father for your unfailing love, your constant attention and compassion for us. When we become full of our own wants and desires, you never stop loving us. You’ve commanded us to love one another just like that. May our love turn around the evil in the hearts of those filled with hatred and violence. I know they will always be in the world, but we are not of this world, we are of a much greater Kingdom of love and each morning when we rise, we plug into that love and get regenerated so that we can love fresh again.  May we lay down the hatred and our desire to be in control. May we simply love others and may that love make a difference. It’s in your name we ask this. Amen