I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night. Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely. Psalm 63:6-8 NLT

Am I the only one who does this? The laying awake at night part? What do you do with your awake moments?

You may ask why I get so into this worship thing I do. Let me just say this, the more I think on the Lord and all He’s done for me, I just get slap happy. Yeah, I want to slap Walt, but he’s not a morning person and would slap me back! I just get so happy, so excited.

I remember the night before I got married, I lay in bed thinking about it, wondering,(well, wondering if Walt was actually going to show up!) I was excited and couldn’t wait for my long awaited day to arrive.

When I wake in the morning and God is on my mind and I begin to think of my life with Him, how exciting it’s been, wondering what His plans hold for me today, sometimes I can’t go back to sleep. I just want to jump up and tell someone, “Look, it’s gonna be an awesome day because GOD is in it!”

It doesn’t matter what I face, I’m under the shadow of His Wing. That ugly devil can’t touch this! If he tries, my Father will slap him silly!

We have to trust God! He has a plan, and we’re in it! Don’t worry about your life, your health, your finances, your children, your job. Put your trust in God, He’s got this!

Hold your hands in front of you, palms up. Now offer it to the Lord. Say, “Here’s what’s bothering me, and it’s so silly for both of us to carry it. I trust you!” Then begin to remind Him of all He’s done in the past for you, get happy and worship Him.

He’s my life, my light, my joy, my help, my healer, my deliverer, my strong tower, my keeper, the lifter of my head, and my glory. Do you sense His presence? The more you talk of His greatness, it’s like cranking up the power to a light bulb. It just gets brighter and brighter and brighter.

I’m bursting, God. Your goodness is overwhelming!

Sandy G

Time to take the limits off!

You’ve allowed your limited thinking to determine your destiny for far too long! You plan trips based on your bank account. You’ve allowed your mind to disallow Gods purpose for your life because you qualified yourself based on your lack of education or experience.

Let me ask you this; is the God in you limited? You say no, and yet you have limited Him. How have you limited Him? Are you laying hands on the sick? Raising the dead? Giving everything you have to the poor? When you only do what you feel you’re capable of doing, you’re limiting God.

The God of limitlessness lives in you and you don’t trust in His ability to do anything other then what you are comfortable with. Oh, you pay your 10%, but when He says, “Risk it all!” You conveniently block that voice out of your head. “I need it for bills,” when He said He’d supply ALL your needs according to HIS riches.

You see where I’m going here? We’ve limited God based on what we see instead of what we should know about the God who’s in us. We have become passive and safe instead of aggressive and risk-takers.

According to Matthew 25 18-29, Jesus will return for what is His and what we do with what He’s given us, we will give account of. He will ask you, “What did you do with the talents and abilities I gave you?” Hear me today! It’s time we stopped making excuses and stepped up and walked in the power of the Holy Spirit in us.

Trust me when I say this; “I knew you were a mean God and would come back some day and want your powerful Holy Spirit back so here it is. I never used it because! Here it is just the way you gave it to me.” That’s not the answer He’s after.

He will be pleased to hear; “Father, I invested what I had in me into others, trusting you to multiply it. I was faithful with the little, here is yours with interest.” He will say to you, “Thank you faithful one, enter into the joy of the Lord.”

I would rather live on the edge of danger than in a safe and small place. I’d rather look and sound a fool, then never open my mouth and speak His truth in love. I’d rather sit under an open sky than in a box of my own making. There is so much power in me that to harness it would deprive the world around me of light yet undiscovered. What about you?

Sandy G

Peter had the right focus when he stepped out of the boat and began walking toward Jesus on the water. But then, his focus changed to the high seas and he began to sink.

This morning, I’m thinking of the many times I’ve jumped out of the boat and began to run with the vision only to be distracted by situations that overwhelmed me.

There’s an old song that came to me this morning, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace.”

All I need is the grace of God to do what He’s called me to do. II Corinth 12:9 Phillips version says it so well, ““My grace is enough for you: for where there is weakness, my power is shown the more completely.”

And isn’t that what it’s all about? Hidden in Him, we decrease, so He is more visible? Our obedience, His power.

Father, in the middle of my storm, when the waves are breaking over me, I will close my eyes so I can see you in all your glory. May that vision be enough to carry me through. I love you. I trust you. You are all I need.

Sandy G

Have you ever faced something that seemed way over your ability to deal with? Overwhelmed, broken, defeated, sometimes things just look impossible! It seems like that, because it’s all we can see. It consumes our vision each time we open our eyes, it takes up all our thoughts when we close our eyes, there’s just no escaping the problem.

King Jehoshaphat faced a similar situation in II Chronicles 20. Verses 6-12 we hear him crying out and reminding God of all He’s done for them and he ends with, “but our eyes are upon You.” Hear what the Lord answered in verse 15b, “Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.’ Then he gives them instruction on what to do in verse 17, “You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.”

But the coolest part of this story is found in verse 18, “And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the Lord, worshiping the Lord.” Do you see that? When you trust in the Lord with ALL your heart, you will remind God of His promises, wait for His instruction and then worship Him.

There’s a tendency to run and do without being thankful. Jesus healed the 10 lepers, only one came back to worship and thank him. The 9 were healed, but only one was made whole. Restoration comes when we worship.

I’m not going to be satisfied with a part of my salvation, I want it all. I worship you, my King. Thankful for your Word over my dilemma that moments before obstructed my view of You. May my worship usher in my victory over my enemies today.

Sandy G

For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield. Ps 5:12 NKJ

We ask for your favor, Lord. Not that it rain down on us, but that it would wrap around us as a shield, protecting us, keeping us, directing us. Favor that touches every aspect of our lives, health, relationships, connections, business, finances, family. Favor on our jobs, in our homes, on our pastors, our churches.

Open doors that previously remained stubbornly closed, allowing us to move forward in your plans and purposes. Victory for battles! Promotion! Transfer! Lord, let Your ear be attentive to this Your servant.

I prophesy favor, as You have told me to do. Now great Provider, do as only You can do. Blow from the north, the south, the east and the west. We will stand this day and see the salvation of our God for You are faithful to Your Word and You are moved by our faith and trust in You. You will not allow our enemies to triumph over us.

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 NASB

And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26 NASB

As I was having devotions this morning, these two verses came to mind. I’ve learned not to question, but to post them and trust God has something for someone this morning.

I grew up hearing these verses because I had a mom who didn’t just believe the Word, but lived by it. She knew that if God asked her to do something, He would give her the strength to carry it out, and the wisdom in how to do it. When she would get discouraged, she would go back to the Word and read it over and over again, then she would cry out to God for help and He would come to her assistance in some way.

When God called her to start an orphanage in Haiti, her own church denied her support because she was too old and had no formal education. I remember her saying, if God used Moses at 80, He can surely use me at 40. Because she trusted in the Lord and His calling, nothing was impossible to her. She served the God of the impossible. Where He led, she followed, knowing that she would never be alone in the venture.

She and my step-dad built a large compound in a remote part of Haiti, took in hundreds of children, educated them, fed and loved them but most importantly, taught them about Jesus. Taught them that faith in God can move mountains and calm seas. That nothing is impossible when you place your trust in Him.

Last year, Jesus welcomed her home at the age of 90. I’m sure that she heard the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of the Lord.” How do I know this? Because without faith, it’s impossible to please God. She walked closely behind her Lord so she wouldn’t mis-step.

I hope this story encourages you today in your own walk with the Lord. When you’re weak, He is strong, trust His strength and remember, nothing is impossible to those who believe.

Sandy G

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he will not utterly be cast down; for the Lord covers him with His hand. Psalm 37:23-24

Regardless of your circumstance, God has made a way for you. I love that the Lord orders our steps and actually delights in them. Every day, I think about that, the great God of the universe orders my steps.

There’s nothing that escapes Him. Nothing is impossible to Him. Wherever I go, whatever I do, He sees and orders my steps.

The steps of Esther were ordered by God as well. I’m sure when she was herded up with the other young ladies and taken from family and friends, she probably wondered why. But look how God not only favored her and positioned her as queen, but saved a nation, a people using a mere child bride to do it.

I get so excited when I look at that story of Gods deliverance. Listen to this verse from Esther 8:17 NLT “In every province and city, wherever the king’s decree arrived, the Jews rejoiced and had a great celebration and declared a public festival and holiday. And many of the people of the land became Jews themselves, for they feared what the Jews might do to them.”

These were some of the first converts! Can’t beat um, join um! That’s what God will do with our lives. He brought us down this path so that people from every nation and tribe will be won to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. We are to rejoice and celebrate the goodness of our God, even when we don’t understand the why’s or the when’s, He orders our steps.

Remember that when you walk down your path today. Even when you fall, you won’t stay down because God holds you up.

Sandy G

“I am the Lord; there is no other god. I will give you the strength you need, although you do not know me. I do this so that everyone from one end of the world to the other may know that I am the Lord and that there is no other god. I create both light and darkness; I bring both blessing and disaster. I, the Lord, do all these things. I will send victory from the sky like rain; the earth will open to receive it and will blossom with freedom and justice. I, the Lord, will make this happen.” Isaiah 45:5-8

As I was reading Isaiah 45 in the Good News Translation, these verses jumped off the page as I felt the Lord addressing doubt and unbelief in my own thinking. Let me explain:

First of all, there is not one among us who doesn’t question God at some point in time. We’re always wondering what I call the 4 ‘W’s’; Where, what, when and why. I just like to know! I don’t think it’s wrong, but when it brings doubt and unbelief, that is where we muck up the water a bit.

These words were spoken to Cyrus the king because God had something intentional planned for his role as king. Verse 4 says, “I appoint you to help my servant Israel, the people that I have chosen. I have given you great honor, although you do not know me.”

We think we know the mind of God, to know His thoughts, plans and purposes. But if we did, there would be no room for trust or faith. Micah 4:12a says, But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord,
nor do they understand His counsel.

Every time you’re tempted to criticize someone for their actions or deeds, step aside and watch your own steps. We were each designed for a purpose and God alone knows what that is. If we would spend more time in communion with Him and doing what He asks us to do, we’d be much better off. Better to pray for others that they too would be faithful, than sit idly in front of your favorite media source passing judgement on those who are making an effort.

Remember that there is but one God and He has positioned each of us in His tapistry to add to His own design. Find your spot and do you. There’s only need for one Master Painter, so stop trying to be what you’re not. Trust His design, pray as He leads, do what He says and stop wasting time messing with His project.

Sandy G

“You, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know when the master of the household will return—in the evening, at midnight, before dawn, or at daybreak. Don’t let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning.” Mark 13:35-36

It’s not up to your pastor to keep watch for you while you go out and do your own thing. It’s not your parents’ responsibility to watch for you. It’s for you! You must watch. It’s up to you to be ready.

Get dressed, you know the wedding is soon, don’t be caught unaware. You’ve been warned! You can’t just say you didn’t know, because you do! Don’t live like there’s no responsibility. Jesus said to be ready. You putting it off for tomorrow doesn’t mean He’ll wait for you.

Matthew 7:21-23 says, “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ ”

Remember the song, “People get ready, Jesus is coming, soon we’ll be goin home. People get ready. Jesus is comin to take from the world His own”? It’s simple. Repent of your sin, believe in Jesus than surrender your life to Him.

Whatever He asks of you, do it. When He comes, you’re going with Him.

Sandy G

When Enoch was 65, he had a son, Methuselah.  After that, Enoch lived in fellowship with God for 300 years and had other children. He lived to be 365 years old. He spent his life in fellowship with God, and then he disappeared, because God took him away. Genesis 5:21-24 GNT

Who knew I’d find this sweet treat in the genealogy part of Genesis? It was noted fact that Enoch walked with God and was taken. We sang songs about it in Sunday School all the time. But it wasn’t all about the children he bore, it was about the fellowship he had with God.

He was 65 when he had his first son and lived in fellowship with God for 300 years. Kind of makes me wonder if he realized his need for God after children? They do tend to hollow you out at times, don’t they?

That word, fellowship, usually is something you do with others who are like-minded and have same interests. You share basic desires and enjoy talking about them to each other. You tend to grow and learn from their perspective and actually enjoy spending time with them. They somehow fulfil you.

Prayer is conversation and conversation is two sided. I come to God to speak and listen, to hear and be heard, to get instruction, revelation, direction. Than I’ve learned that if I simply do it, I walk in step with God, receiving benefits I didn’t even know I was entitled to.

If I talk and hear but don’t do, I complete the cycle of insanity, expecting things to be different but continuing to do them the same. Change begins with me doing what I’ve been instructed to do. Change happens when I fellowship with God.

Sandy G