Olive Branch Discipleship Ministries

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

"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

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

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

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

2.20.13     4:19 pm PST Rain: Rain. Someone made a comment to me once about all the greenery we have here in Washington and wondered why. Rain. Rain and Sunshine are so vital to growth. The Lord tells us in Matt. 5:44 that the Father causes rain to come on the righteous (in Christ) and on the unrighteous (those who are not in Christ). We serve a fair God, do we not? He never invades our will and never twists our arm. Equal opportunity. Rain comes to water the dry earth and to grow beautiful things and to provide food. Rain also comes to water weeds and waste and creates mud and devastations. Sunshine comes on both to increase the growth spurts and to increase the crops. Too much sunshine and it can create burning heat and drought and death.  Interesting. We can't live without either one and we need both - but we need them in balance don't we? It really is all in the perspective we have, isn't it? It's all determined by who's eyes you see it all  through- yours or God's. Natural or Supernatural. Who's eyes are you looking through?  What do you see? - Pastor Sandi www.olivebranchdiscipleshipministries.com

Romans 13 :1 "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God." In the climate of today, there is much passion about government and those who 'rule'. I suppose the key word is 'rule'. When the people feel powerless and feel as though they are not being heard, it can appear that government 'rules' even though it is suppose to 'serve' the people. As our government seems to repeal or re-evaluate what the people have spoken through the power of our vote, it appears that it doesn't matter what the people want. I observed some pole results this morning on some pertinent issues facing the American people at the moment, and was struck by how the pole results were opposed to what the government 'says' the people want. If these poles are correct, why then is not the voice of the people being heard? How is this scripture relevant, and what does it mean? Does it mean the authority process or concept itself is what is  from God, that the office itself is what is appointed by God? Or, is it the person holding the office, the person himself/herself, that is appointed by God? Is it both? And, what is the Believer's responsibility in all this? It is past time that the Believer wake up and address these questions before it is too late.

4.9.14 Have you  noticed how busy our world is? How busy your life is? We live in a state of 'doing' and not 'being'. Communication is everywhere, good or bad. I do have to wonder if our lives might be more peaceful without all the business and easy communication and demands upon our time an emotions. I am mindful, as I sit here quietly in the sun, of a quieter and simpler time. I let my eyes move over the yard and the plants, noticing the details and wonder of creation. I take time to look at everything and it is peaceful. God has created marvelous and wondrous things that we move right on pass and never give time to. I notice the details of each flower and leaf, of each fruit tree and bush. I notice the difference in my tiny little dog and the big dog of my daughter. They have worked out their differences in personality and size and are peaceful with eavh other now. Wonderful and amazing! Take time to reflect on our God's greatness and creative abilities. Take time to rest and be at peace. Let go of your busy-ness of life. Remember, you are a human 'being' not a human 'doer'! Psalm 104:24  Amplified Bible  "O Lord, how many and varied are your works (creations)! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your riches and your creatures." Psalm 29: 11  Amplified Bible - Pastor Sandi

3.15.14 In thinking over my life this morning I thought of all the different paths I have dared to take to arrive at where I am now. Sometimes they made perfect sense to me ,other times not. Sometimes I felt they were successful and other times definitely not. And, sometimes I took these different paths with a measure of confidence and other times out of sheer fear because I had to. Many times I  had to take a risk and do something new, something different that I had never done before: new training, new studies, new job, new neighborhood, new church, etc.  Fearful and exciting at the same time. Growth. Faith. Stretch. Trust. This is 'Risk'.  It means to take an unguaranteed chance or opportunity. Are you a risk-taker? Do you want something more, something different, something better? It takes courage to take a risk, it takes some measure of confidence, and it takes a level of trust. Risk is important to move forward and to gain something as yet unattainable. Life is full of risks isn't it? I can't think of one area in life that is not. However, when I took a risk in my own understanding it was indeed 'risky'. Why? Because I only saw a small portion of what it was, the opportunity or change. When I took a risk in Christ and through prayer and asking Him what to do, my risk was easier and turned out for my good. God sees the whole and complete picture of things from a 'bird's eye view'. he sees it from beginning to end.  And, He will say no to us - if we listen - when it isn't what we are to do. Safety net. I think of David and his risk in standing up to Goliath because God motivated him to; or Moses going back to stand up to Pharaoh for the Hebrews because God said to; or Ruth deciding to go with her mother-in-law to a strange land because God encouraged her to; or Gideon risking all for the sake of winning a war because God called him to.  And what about Noah and building that ark?  Because God told him to. And yet, as all these people dared to take a risk, dared to trust, dared to move into an unknown area of life, God came through and history was changed because of them. And then on the other hand, what about those who took a risk by refusing to listen to Noah? Refusing to trust him in what he tried to tell them? Fear and complacency are enemies of risk. Laziness and wishful thinking. God demands we be risk-takers IN Him, trusting Him, and having confidence IN Him. Please be brave enough to take your heart in hand and dare to step out into the unknown that life may bring you, or that God may call you out into. If you don't, you will never know the reward and blessing that awaits you on the other side, and you may remain in a dangerous situation. You may be called to change family history! Joshua 1:9 NIV  "Have I (God) not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 3:4   NIV  "Then you will know which way to go, since you have never gone this way before................." Psalm 56:3-4 ESV  "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?" Luke 6:46 ESV   “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? - Pastor Sandi www.olivebranchdiscipleshipministires.com

4.24.14 So many storms here lately! Lots of dark skies, wind and rain! And yet there is a break in the day where the sun breaks through and brightens up the whole day - even if it is still cold. It's like the skies part and Heaven breaks through! This made me think of the storms of our life, how they come and go, how the storm rages and the wind blows and the rain pours. Sometimes the storm seems to be endless and overwhelming.  I live in a brick house and there are times that I marvel at the strength of the storm, the wind and how it batters and whips around the corners of my house. It howls and whistles, trying to intimidate me. And still, in the midst of all of that, I am held safe inside here, secure, warm and comfortable. The spiritual and emotional storms of our life can be like that. Hard, relentless, overwhelming, powerful, and endless. These storms can stir us up inside, cause us to be anxious and fearful, batter us relentlessly, howl and scream at us.  We worry not knowing the outcome and how this storm will affect us, what it will take away from us and destroy. Some of the storms we have seen in the nations have done that; destroyed everything a person has, even lives of those we know and love. It can be devastating and painful for us. The spiritual storms that the Lord allows in our lives are met to turn us to Him, for us to see something in us, to make us aware of what is going on around us, to heighten our discernment. They are met to teach us how to take power and authority over our storm in the name of Jesus. They are designed to teach us how to appropriate what the Lord has done for us, given all to us. We are to wake up and calm the storm as we go through it, in the authority given to us as Believers in Christ. Do you do that? The spiritual storm stirred up by the enemy of our faith, Satan, is met to destroy us, to discourage us, to defeat us, to bring us into fears, hopelessness, unbelief. They are met to turn our attention and our faces from our God and onto the storm - our enemy, our lack, our circumstance.  They are met to separate us from our God. Which storm are you in? How are you doing in this storm? Who are you calling out to? Are you cursing God, or are you praising His name for taking you through the storm? It really doesn't matter where the storm comes from; when we turn our focus back on Jesus, He comes and takes control of the storm. He calms it all down and turns it all around to better us. Isn't that wonderful to know? Take a look at your storm. Give it over to Him. Trust Him to calm it down, and you. Trust Him that He has a plan for you even in the midst of it all. The Son will break through! - Pastor Sandi Luke 8:24b  "He (Jesus) got up and rebuked the storm and the raging waters; the storm subsided and all was calm. Where is your faith, He asked His disciples?" Romans 8:28  " And we know that IN ALL things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Jeremiah 29:11-13   "For I know the plans (personal blueprints) I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.  Then you will call upon Me and pray to Me and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all of your heart." Psalm 8: 6  "You made him (man) ruler over  all the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet."

1.25.14 2 Corinthians 1:20  "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are 'yes' in Christ." Psalm 145:13b "The LORD is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made." I was thinking about promises today. All the promises made to me - some have been kept and some not. All the promises I have made - some I have kept and some I have not. I don't believe anyone promises without the full intent of keeping the promise; however life happens, circumstances change, pressures come in, and the promise made is dropped or forgotten by us.  Mercy is essential. We truly need to be a bit slower in promising things, this is like a vow. I received a word of intent from someone last week and it did not come to past. We must trust Him with the timing and remain faithful to Him, believing His promises will come to past. What a comfort that is! How grateful I am! Let is lean on our God and His faithful and true Word. Let us trust in Him.  Let us not be moved, or discouraged or brought to anger over a promise broken from our fellow man. Remember, you break your promises too.  Be mindful of your 'promises'! - Pastor Sandi