So now wrap your heart tightly around the hope that lives within us, knowing that God always keeps his promises! Hebrews 10:23 TPT

That verse in that translation just spoke volumes to me today. It’s such a visual! Wrapping my heart tightly around the hope that lives in me, knowing that Daddy God ALWAYS keeps His promises!!!!!

I’ve listened to so many who have had their hope shaken so hard that it’s left them wondering if what they’ve believed all their lives is simply a pipe-dream. Shaken to their very core so that what’s been exposed is a tiny, shriveled seed with no life left inside. Or though they thought.

It’s the dead seeds that hold so much. Only God knows where those seeds will grow best and yield the most fruit. I’ve seen people uprooted and driven from their homes only to be plopped down in the middle of nowhere, knowing no one, starting over again in a strange place and not at a young age at all. I’ve heart them cry out for understanding, wondering if they took a wrong turn somewhere or missed God along the way.

I just had an old friend reach out and want to reconnect with me. I haven’t heard from her in years and wasn’t sure if I wanted to go down that path. I’m not the same person I was when she knew me. I think a part of me was a little fearful that she would have unrealistic expectations of me.

I made the comment to her that I have been stripped and redressed, and I think that’s exactly what God is doing to each and everyone of His children. Stripped of this worlds influence. Stripped of the stench of religion that has clung to our garments for years. Mans thoughts, mans ideas, founded on God knows what, but simply followed along because we were expected to.

Just because God has promised us something, doesn’t mean it’s going to unfold as we think it will. I can pretty much guarantee that when God told Abram to pack up and go to a land He would show him at the age of 75, he didn’t drive in a car or was it an easy journey. But it was His trust in God that caused him to see the promise fulfilled. It ended up being so much more than he bargained for.

Be open on your journey. Be attentive along the way. Don’t be so focused on the promises you’re longing for, that you forget to be a friend along the way.

Always His,

Sandy G

I’m hurting, Lord—will you forget me forever? How much longer, Lord? Will you look the other way when I’m in need? How much longer must I cling to this constant grief? I’ve endured this shaking of my soul. So how much longer will my enemy have the upper hand? Psalm 13:1-2 TPT

These words are so genuine and real, reflecting the feelings of my own heart at times. Perhaps that is why I love reading the Psalms. David knew how to be real with God. He never withheld his anger, his tears, his respect or his love. He knew a side of God that we all need to know, the real side.

God created us in His image and likeness. He also gave us our unique personalities and placed us in some wild situations to prepare us for the things He’s created for us to fulfill. It may have been a dysfunctional family, a horrible marriage, an unwanted pregnancy or devastating loss. But if you look under all the bad, He will show you the good and purpose for it all.

Verses 3-4 go onto say: Take a good look at me, Yahweh, my God, and answer me!  Breathe your life into my spirit. Bring light to my eyes in this pitch-black darkness or I will sleep the sleep of death. Don’t let my enemy proclaim, “I’ve prevailed over him.” For all my adversaries will celebrate when I fall.

When my days are filled with darkness and I’m not sure if the light will ever shine again, I can reveal my heart to Him because I trust Him to bring the answers I’m crying out for. Regardless of the situation you’re facing, reach up to Him. Make this your prayer today.

I will end with the rest of this beautiful Psalm: I have always trusted in your kindness, so answer me. I will spin in a circle of joy when your salvation lifts me up. I will sing my song of joy to you, Yahweh, for in all of this you have strengthened my soul. My enemies say that I have no Savior, but I know that I have one in you!

Let your day bring a spin of joy in your remembrance of His Love and affection toward you. You’re not alone!

Sandy G

And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:9-10

So many people are out shopping for the ‘perfect’ gift for their friend or loved one. But do you know that the only perfect gift is the Son of God who was given to restore our broken relationship with God? That is a gift that keeps on giving, and giving, and giving over and over again.

It has taken me from a pit and transferred me to His palace. It’s kept life interesting for sure. I don’t believe I’ve ever been bored or lonely as long as I’ve kept myself in His presence. As David said in Psalm 23; Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Now please don’t get me wrong. God is absolutely not a genie. You can’t make a wish and get it. He won’t wave a wand and make your problems go away. He said He’d never leave you, ever. He also said to seek Him with all your heart, soul and mind and you will find Him, that’s all the treasure you need. With Him we are rich in ways the world will never understand.

What a perfect Christmas gift.

From our home to yours,

Merry Christmas!

Sandy and Wally G

Psalm 62:5-7 NLT “Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.”

Have you ever tried to touch something that was just out of reach? When I read this, I pictured the enemy trying to get to me but I was just out of reach. I turn and look at Father, he smiles and I hear him say, “Told you I wouldn’t let him touch you! The only way that he can get to you is if you move away from my side.”

Another Psalm comes to mind, the 91st; If I live in the secret place, I’ll remain stable and secure under the shadow of the Almighty, where no enemy can stand. Right in the middle of uncertainty-He’s my stability. In the middle of turmoil-my peace. In sickness-healer. In weakness-strength. In trouble-help. Darkness-light! Can I get a witness?

So many of you are facing things you just don’t know how to handle but God would say to you, “Look up! Your deliverer has come. He was not just a baby in a manger, He’s alive today and lives to make intercession for you. He petitions me daily on your behalf, what is there to fear? Have I not said to come to me when you’re weary and heavy and I will give you rest? Not the kind you know, but MY rest!

“When your eyes are on me, the things of this earth grow dim because the light of my presence is enough to show you the way through. I am your Deliverer. Your strong tower. Your help. Come. I will show you the way.”

For now we see but a faint reflection of riddles and mysteries as though reflected in a mirror, but one day we will see face-to-face. My understanding is incomplete now, but one day I will understand everything, just as everything about me has been fully understood. Until then, there are three things that remain: faith, hope, and love—yet love surpasses them all. So above all else, let love be the beautiful prize for which you run. I Corinthians 13:12-13

Wow! Above all else, let love be the beautiful prize for which you run. My friend, I John 4:8 tells us; The one who doesn’t love has yet to know God, for God is love. Any other love is just an imitation. True love is God.

If you desire love, look no further. When you begin the treasure hunt for God, you will find the greatest, most amazing love you’ve ever known. It’s the kind of love you can only know by knowing Him.

Anyone who’s been married for more then a minute will understand that love is not a feeling. It’s so much more then that. Love commits to doing right even when feelings don’t line up. God is our example, for no one has ever loved us enough to give their life for us.

The best gift we can give can’t be bought in a store. It can’t be earned by doing good, it’s the gift of God’s grace filled love. Unconditional, unending, hope filled, deep and abiding love. The gift that keeps giving long after the paper is discarded.

Father, thank You again for the gift of Your son. It was Your gift to us that gave all so that we could know You. May we never be satisfied with anything else. It’s in Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Sandy G

I can guarantee this truth: This is what will be done for someone who doesn’t doubt but believes what he says will happen: He can say to this mountain, ‘Be uprooted and thrown into the sea,’ and it will be done for him. Mark 11:23 GW

Love that verse! This morning I saw a distinct correlation between this verse and Ezekiel 37, another of my favorites, The Valley of Dry Bones. You simply can’t speak what you see and expect things to change. That’s not how God does things so why should we?

When we see lack, God sees prosperity, so why do we keep saying what we have and not what God sees? I believe we lack vision! Oh, we hope in the cross, it’s a symbol of salvation, but when we look at the lost of this world, do we only see lost or do we see a crowd of worshippers and ministers. If we see them lost, they will never be found. Jesus came to bring hope to the lost, he did it not by beating them over the head and telling them to change, he simply brought them light and that light changed them.

Everyday, I must ask for fresh vision. I can no longer be blinded by the things I see, I must expand my vision to see as He does.

Father, open the eyes of my understanding. Give me your eyes to see but more importantly, your words to speak. I surrender my tongue to you that I may cast your vision. I will not speak what I see in our pantry or bank account. Change only happens when I see abundance.

I’m excited for this new vision. I patiently wait for your revelation. I hope in your abilities. Can this nation be saved? Then I will speak to this nation, LIVE! and watch the Spirit of God bring life.

Nothing is impossible with God. Can my children come back to God? Then I will speak to my children, LIVE! and watch the Spirit of God bring life. Nothing is impossible with God. Can the diagnosis you got from your doctor be your end? I will speak to diseased bodies, LIVE! and watch the Spirit of God bring life. Nothing is impossible with God.

Do you see the vision? Gods intentions are clear; Psalm 118:17, ” You shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.” “Oh be careful little mouth what you say. Oh be careful little mouth what you say. For the Father up above is looking down in love, oh be careful little mouth what you say.”

Sandy G

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

As I sit at my desk thinking about the times and seasons of my life, I was reminded of Mary, the mother of Jesus and what her life was like. What a whirlwind of a year for her! First she gets pregnant by the Holy Spirit. I’m pretty sure the news of that was not welcomed or thought highly of by either her parents or her soon to be husband.

She’s delicately sent to her cousin Elizabeths house, more than likely to try to still some of the town gossip. After she returns home and finds Joseph has been visited by an angel who confirms her story, is quickly married off and is told she must prepare to go on a long journey because the governor has declared each man must return to the town of their birth which just happens to be Bethlehem.

All of these details seem to us a bit unnecessary, but was all part of fulfilling prophesy spoken long before. I’m pretty sure that Mary didn’t piece that together until later. I’m also quite sure she was a very reflective young lady, for scripture says she stored things away in her heart. Those are secret reflections that I’m pretty sure she spoke with the Holy Spirit about.

So often the seasons we go through are filled with storms, tornados, hurricanes, destruction and devastations that we can’t see the purpose for nor does it make a lick of sense while we’re going through it or even soon after. But let me share this with you if I may; there is purpose for everything!

Everything! Nothing is ever wasted with God. It’s like the pieces of a newly opened puzzle that we try to connect the pieces of it together. Eventually, it will reflect the picture on the box (unless you get frustrated and burn it first).

I recently saw that an old pastor of mine passed away. I began to read the comments of so many who knew him and were touched by his life. Suddenly, I remembered an encounter I had with him that I had totally forgotten about. It was a Sunday night service where we worshipped in such a profound and tender way. I ended up seated on the choir risers at the end of service just soaking in His presence. When I opened my eyes, he was sitting beside me watching me. I was so lost in that moment that I wasn’t aware he had joined me there.

He said, “Sandy, I don’t think you realize how much your worship touches the heart of God. He has endued you with a gift that you’re not even aware of. Everyone can worship, but you do it with such focus and attention on Him. You’re so lost in it that your face shines as if the glory of the Lord rests on you, as if He’s opened the throne room to admit you in. I’ve watched you for years and have wanted to tell you for so long. Don’t ever stop worshipping. You don’t have a clue how many people have been changed by the intensity of your worship.”

My worship is how I’ve endured my seasons. I believe Mary was a worshipper as well. Those who are have the ability to open up themselves in complete abandon to the presence of the Holy Spirit within them. The Holy Spirit is who was sent to comfort us and be our helper. To help us through the seasons of loss, anger, helplessness and our own inabilities. He is enough to put all the pieces together so that the picture He’s purposed for me to be, will be what the world sees in the end.

You are perfect!

Sandy G

“I can guarantee this truth: This is what will be done for someone who doesn’t doubt but believes what he says will happen: He can say to this mountain, ‘Be uprooted and thrown into the sea,’ and it will be done for him.” Mark 11:23 GW

Love that verse! This morning I saw a distinct correlation between this verse and Ezekiel 37, another of my favorites, The Valley of Dry Bones. We so often simply speak what we see and expect things to change. But that’s not how God does things so why should we?

God didn’t see the darkness that covered the earth and say, “Wow, it sure is dark out there!” No, He said, “Light be!” and it was.

I believe we lack vision! Oh, we hope in the cross, it’s a symbol of salvation, but when we look at the lost of this world, do we only see lost or do we see a crowd of worshippers and ministers. If we see them lost, they will never be found. Jesus came to bring hope to the lost, He didn’t do it by beating them over the head and telling them to change, He simply brought them light and that light changed them.

Everyday, I must ask for fresh vision. I can no longer be blinded by the things I see, I must expand my vision to see as He does.

Father, open the eyes of my understanding. Give me Your eyes to see but more importantly, Your words to speak. I surrender my tongue to You that I may cast Your vision. I will not speak what I see in our pantry or bank account. Change only happens when I see abundance. I’m excited for this new vision. I wait for Your revelation. I hope in Your abilities.

Can this nation be saved? Then I will speak to this nation, LIVE! and watch the Spirit of God bring life. Nothing is impossible with God. Can my children come back to God? Then I will speak to my children, LIVE! and watch the Spirit of God bring life. Nothing is impossible with God.

Can the diagnosis you got from your doctor be your end? I will speak to diseased bodies, LIVE! and watch the Spirit of God bring life. Nothing is impossible with God. Do you see the vision? Gods intentions are clear; Psalm 118:17, ” You shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.”

“Oh be careful little mouth what you say. Oh be careful little mouth what you say. For the Father up above is looking down in love, oh be careful little mouth what you say.”

Speaking Vision,

Sandy G

 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.  John 10:9

Revelation creates covenant addendums.

I know about salvation from sin. It’s my covenant to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. If that’s all I ever know, that’s enough to get me into heaven. But there came a time in my relationship with God that He tickled my appetite for more.

As I began to know Him, He became my Provider, Healer, Protector and Friend. But do you know there’s so much more? The revelation He gives me is an addendum to my original covenant of salvation. Experience and trust made me aware that there was more to my covenant.

If I’d never had a financial need that I couldn’t meet on my own, I wouldn’t know Him as my provider. Any area I’m weak in, He is strong in.

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

That’s why it’s important to not limit God or put Him in the small box He can’t fit in. He is limitless. You can trust Him beyond your ability and rely on the ability of the Holy Spirit that lives in you. Make a list of your weak areas and begin to praise Him for His powerful covenant promises to be your Strength.

Believing for more!

Sandy G

The covenant that I have made with you, you shall not forget; you shall not fear other gods. 2 Kings 17:38 AMP

We don’t talk a lot about covenants in our day and age, but a covenant is an agreement between two people or people groups. It was designed to eliminate weaknesses between parties who were incapable of doing certain things for themselves.

If my family were farmers and our neighbors were warriors, I would form a covenant with them so that they could provide protection for our crops and we could provide food for their protection. Our family knowing nothing of fighting and theirs knowing nothing of growing food.

That is the simple version of a covenant agreement, but it was a very serious business and anyone who broke the agreement were killed. The old testament is full of covenants, some of them between tribes, some between tribes and God, some were between God and an individual.

My covenant is personalized to me specifically. It’s based on my needs and the future God has in store for me. I think we get in trouble and lose hope because we compare ours with someone else’s. We can’t do that. If we do, it effects our hope, our destiny, and our future.

It’s like trying to make your husband be more like you. He’s not you and never will be. When you learn to appreciate the differences, your life and his will be satisfying and pleasing. Where he is weak, I offer strength. Where I am weak, he becomes my strength.

I’m confident in my covenant. I can’t walk in what I don’t have intimate relationship with. If it’s mine, no one can talk me out of it. I can’t push my knowledge and revelation on you, it has to be yours, possessed with all that’s in you.

Tune in tomorrow for more on this subject.

Sandy G