Olive Branch Discipleship Ministries

10.9.13 Psalm 5:12 "For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O Lord, You surround him with favor as with a shield." The favor of God is amazing. Every day I marvel at His favor over my life and in my every day circumstances. A 'chance' meeting with someone that can offer an opportunity, a favored parking space, a challenge of the day that encourages my growth in Him. So many things are affected by the Lord's unmerited and undeserved favor in my life. Unexpected blessings! As you are planning out your day, do you pause and give consideration for God's Favor to flood through your day, through 'your' plans? Some times this will totally change what you had planned but in the end, if we choose to look at it through His eyes, it turns out to be an amazing day that was filled up with opportunities. Opportunities to advance in our character, to advance in our work, to advance as a parent or a friend or a family member,  and to advance in our spiritual connection with Jesus. So look for Favor! Our walk with Christ is always an adventure! - Pastor Sandi www.olivebranchdiscipleshipministries.com

9.20.13 Seasons and times. We are entering a season of Fall. I look around and I see my fruit tree has dropped all her fruit, my transformation from life unto death, winter is hibernation and holding. I love Spring and Summer. Spring is the springing However, when I think about it beyond myself, I realize Fall is a season in our life of dying to self and casting out a seed. This seed is future and sometimes we even wonder if anything went forth. Winter is a season of life when the seed is hidden from view and we feel that there is no seed and no life. The 'ground' seems hard and unyielding. Spring is the bursting forth And yet, even in fall there really is a harvest as well. Old self becomes new self.  And winter yields a harvest of Faith. What are you seeding for? Like seed grants like harvest. Corn begets corn. To harvest spiritually be must plant the 'seed' of what we have need of - faith, health, finances, joy, patience, love, friendship, respect, etc. Why do we think we can harvest without casting our proper seed? And remember, there is a time, right after we cast our seed, that it seems to go in hiding and the ground of life can seem hard and unyielding. Our seed is being protected and begins to die to become changed into what we need when we need it. You must give God good and proper seed to work with! Then watch over your seed. Water it with Faith and Prayer- waiting, looking, Be active, be bold. Begin to cast out your seeds in Christ of what you have need of and then expect your harvest! - Pastor Sandi www.olivebranchdiscipleshipministries.com ***Be careful you do not seed Thorns!  (Proverb 18:20-21) Jeremiah 12:13   International Version They will sow wheat but reap thorns; they will wear themselves out but gain nothing. They will bear the shame of their harvest because of the Lord’s fierce anger.” Galatians 6:7-8  New International Version Do not be deceived; God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life (with Him). ............Amen

9.15.13 I am "pondering" on the power of prayer. Not only as I pray for others and Prayer creates an intimacy with Christ - a very personal one on one. How grateful I am that the Holy Spirit searches the heart and mind of man and brings it truthfully to the Throne of God the Father. He does it so much better than mankind can - without all the justifications, reasons, emotions. No begging, no bargaining, no deals!  This is true vision - spiritual eyes. Stop. Allow and accept change. This change takes us out of our own perception to 'see' it all through God's perception, through His plan. I just wonder how much time, energy, and emotions we have to muddle through before we stop, pray, and listen.  We have all His Promises and He never breaks one of them..... After all, prayer should be a two-way conversation with God - knowing when to speak and when to listen.................  Our God desires to walk with us and to talk with us. How is your prayer life? Are you doing all the talking? Are you begging or bargaining or dealing? Do you listen? - Pastor Sandi www.olivebranchdiscipleshipministries.com 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18  "Pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit.'

O My gosh! As I sit here and listen to the news I am getting more and more appalled by what man seems to think. Honest to goodness, why would a nation fall into such a snare! Emotions, emotions, emotions. So many agendas. Do you find in your own life that betrayal comes in the form of a friend or a person who seems to pose no threat; from some one you never would have suspected, someone you have placed your trust in? Do you find that the snares that grasp your feet are invisible and can have long-term struggles? Are you aware or is your thinking dull? - Pastor Sandi www.olivebranchdiscipleshipministries.com Amplified Bible

Psalm 71:8  "My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day" Have you ever tried the power of Praise? The sacrifice of Praise to God when you have felt the least like it? That is what sacrifice is, doing what you should when you don't want to!  I have been thinking of the Power of Praising God the Father for all His goodness; for the wealth of His love, mercy, and grace when I feel the least like it. I have learned that it doesn't matter what I feel, it is what I do. And I have learned to do what the Word tells me to do - praise Him and move with a thankful heart. It isn't easy because I don't want to, my flesh doesn't want to. My flesh won't respond right away but my spirit will - and Praise, trust, and thanksgiving go hand in hand: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19  "Be joyful always (purpose to be); pray continually (be in constant communication with the Lord); give thanks in all circumstances (a command),  for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus (trust Christ knowswhat He is working IN you).  Do not put out the Spirit's fire (do not stop the Holy Spirit's perfection IN you and through you)." Listen..............You must remember, and know, that our God is working for our good in all situations and through all circumstances, constantly and continually. A thankful heart is undefeatable. A mouth filled with praise for Him is incorruptible. A mind filled with His Word is unchangeable. A spirit filled with His praise is unshakable. The Power of Praise is a tremendous weapon of warfare and the devil hates it! And, watch and see what the Lord will do for you,  and for your life....... The Power of Praise moves the hand of God! - Pastor Sandi www.olivebranchdiscipleshipministries.com

Psalm 65:11 New International Version   " I have this amazing yellow plum tree in my back yard. While observing it earlier this summer I noticed the potential for an abundance of fruit. A few weeks ago, while observing it again, I noticed the fruit was ripe and ready for harvest. As I examined the branches of my plum tree I became aware that the fruit was beyond abundance, it was overflowing! There was large, huge clusters of sweet, yellow, juicy plums on both sides of the branches. The branches were so heavily laden that they were bowed down to the ground. I quickly realized that I could never eat all this fruit. I contacted my family and friends and had them come over and harvest for themselves, their family and their friends, all that they wanted. Some were even able to come again and harvest more to share with others! How delightful! What a joy! My niece commented that this tree was a symbol of the abundance of God's Fruit (of the Spirit) in my life, both now and to come. I loved that and I received that. How good and how generous is our God! How He desires to have us, His branches, so heavily laden with Fruit (of the Spirit) in our life IN Him that it overflows onto others and into others' lives - bending low to the ground for easy harvest! And all the while this fruit  is just very quietly growing and maturing and flowing over! How is your 'Fruit' doing? Do you have Fruit in abundance? Is your Fruit hard and tiny or large and juicy, mature and ready to harvest? Is your Fruit desirable by others and will it satisfy their hunger? Galatians 5: 22-26tells us the what the fruit of the Spirit is. They are not separate fruit but all in a huge cluster as one unit, all under one Fruit. To have one is to have the others. And they are in order. Love and self control are the bookends for the others. Allow your Fruit to be developed. Allow the pruning of the Holy Spirit in your life so that you bear good sweet Fruit! Fruit must mature for harvest. Trials, tribulations, perseverance = growth and maturity. Hang in there! Trust the Lord with what is going on in your life. He has a plan and a purpose for you, for you to grow up in Him..............For good, sweet, juicy and mature Fruit! -Pastor Sandi www.olivebranchdiscipleshipministries.com

What a week for news in this nation of America! In the world! One would think that the world has gone mad and was out of control. Thank God I know the Creator, and I know the plan this Creator has for all of the inhabitants of this earth. There is not a day that goes by that I am not aware of all the changes and the attempts by the devil to stir up issues and troubles and lies and dissentions. Divisions, hatred, fears all abound. But then, I come back to Jesus and the issues are still there but I see it all with a new and fresh perception. James 1:22  "Do not merely listen to the Word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." The question is, are you a listener only - or a listener and a doer?? - Pastor Sandi www.olivebranchdiscipleshipministries.com

"You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised." Hebrews 10:36 In meditating this morning, my mind was taken back on the issues of my life that required perseverance and how unbearable that seemed at the time. Fussing, bargaining, railing, whatever to try to get God's attention. I am thankful that He is so patient with me! I have learned that the process required to persevere is designed to work all the 'bugs' out of me. The more I fuss about it, the longer the process. Persevering is designed to develop the 'God-character' in you and OUT of you so you can see and other's can see. Perseverance requires trust and faith. We, as Believers in Christ, have both of those and need to develop each more and more. Hang on. Don't give up. Stay the course when you think you have no strength left. God is good, He knows exactly how much you can take and how much it will take you to accomplish HIS will - and not your own. Remember the promise is just ahead. God's promises are always yea and amen! Can you, are you willing to, stay the course? Do you really want all of God's promises to fill up your life? Will you purpose to persevere in Him? To do His will above all things? - Pastor Sandi www.olivebranchdiscipleshipministries.com

In my meditation this morning, I was marveling at the goodness and the generosity of our Lord Jesus to His children - those who know Him and serve Him faithfully. I cannot fathom the depth of His caring for me and my daily needs and desires, I always stand amazed. As I give my day over to Him, amazing things happen. Even in the challenges of my day He is near me. He gives me instruction, encouragement, love, open and closed doors, provisions, and protection. I am grateful for His wisdom and His discernment. I have learned that the more I give unto Him, the more and more He gives back to me! I give out of my need and out of the fatness of my life, in good times and hard times. It took me awhile to learn and accept this, and then to be obedient to do it. I realized I had to give first and then He gives and gives and gives back. So opposite from the world's ways! I am so thankful I have learned this Spiritual discipline and persevered in it, putting down my fear of lack and choosing to stand in faith in God's Word. It never fails me. How do you give? Are you generous? Are you faithful? Where is your Spiritual bank account? Do you give consistently into the Kingdom of God? As you give, so shall you be given. Luke 6:38    Amplified Bible "Give, and [gifts, provisions] will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over,will they (man) pour into [the pouch formed by] the bosom [of your robe and used as a bag]. For with the measure you deal out [with the measure you use when you confer benefits on others), it will be measured back to you." - Pastor Sandi www.olivebranchdiscipleshipministries.com

6.5.13 After completing our Kingdom Walkers conference this last weekend, I am processing through all the goodness and faithfulness of our God. How amazing is it that the Great God of the universe takes time for each one of us individually? His Word is total and complete, full of all that we need - our manual for life  here on this earth, and a banquet of food for our spirit! This world is full of fear, confusion, compromise and conflict. If we have no compass, no moral bottom line, how are we ever to know Truth? I learned long ago that the Word of God is absolute and solid, no matter what I believed. How often do you set down at this banquet table? Who do you share your banquet with?  Whose banquet table do you sit down at? It makes a difference in the kind of food you are eating.............. What manual are you reading? - Pastor Sandi www.olivebranchdiscipleshipministries.com

5.20.13 I am reflecting today of the miracles that come with having a thankful heart. 1Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to give thanks in every thing - not just some things. Humanly speaking, it is easier to give thanks when we are comfortable, provided for, accepted. That's the human, natural element. I believe the Lord is trying to teach us something more than that - something Supernatural! - to be thankful when everything seems be hard, wrong, discouraging, and heavy. Why? What difference does it make? How can we be thankful in the hard times? A thankful heart moves the hand of God in our life. A thankful heart releases miracles and unfathomable possibilities of God's favor, no matter what the circumstance or situation. God waits for a thankful heart. Thankful that He never leaves us, thankful He never forsakes us, thankful He always has a purpose for us in everything, and thankful He always has a plan. Remember, these are but challenges to our faith, not the truth of our life. Rise up in HIM! Take time during the course of your day to just stop and thank HIM. Allow the JOY of the Lord to be your strength when all other strength fails. Do not give a place for the devil to bring fear and unbelief into your heart. Stand against that. Allow Christ to create a miracle just for you today.............!   Psalm 16:7-8 Pastor Sandi