Blessings

Blessings

by Willie Goble on Saturday, August 27, 2011 at 2:22pm

My most favorite song right now is called Blessings and the artist is Laura Story. I live by praising God and the blessings that he gives! So this song speaks to my heart. Some phrases include:
We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near?
What if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?
And all the while You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe
And what if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?

Whoa – this speaks to me and I thank her and our Lord for sharing it in music. Think about the phrases I have shared with you. What if trials of this life are your mercies in disguise?
I believe that. I believe that through trials, we become closer to Christ. He takes the moments in our lives and uses them so that others can believe that He is near. How you ask; by how we act in pain, sorrow, loss, triumph, prosperity and poverty.
I love the “T” and “J” Books of the Bible. In 2 Timothy 4:5 Timothy tells us, “But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. “ This verse tells me that I must be a soldier, a saint, a victor for Christ and His Word. In everything I do, I should ask myself, “What would Jesus do?”
Many, who know me, know that I was in a terrible car accident in my twenties and have brain damage. This brain damage has left me unable to memorize. So I am not going to be the Christian that can recite a scripture for everything. I wish I could. But I can be a Christian that tries to live as Jesus did and a Christian who praises God for knowing what faith is and the peace of my Lord and Holy Spirit.
2 Thessalonians 3:1 Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. This can be done through sharing His Word, believing in His Word, reading His Word and living His Word. Some people say, “walk the talk” and I say, “let your light shine so others can see God’s glory.”
2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
Please enjoy reading Psalm 19:7-14.
Psalm 19:7-14
7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the LORD are firm,
and all of them are righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb.
11 By them your servant is warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can discern their own errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.
14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Goodbye Kel

Good bye

by Willie Goble on Sunday, October 16, 2011 at 2:07pm

I love the stories in the Bible.  Many who do not believe in the Word of God have no idea that many of the people in the Bible were just like us.  Moses was a murderer, Abraham was an adulterer, Rahab was a the harlot, Samson a womanizer, Thomas was unsure of his faith and David was lusting after another man’s wife.  So often as I read these accounts of others lives, I realize that they are just like me – a big sinner.  But I also realize that the Lord loved them immensely.

These people all had their flaws but they also had inner faith. Through faith, their weakness was turned into strength, Heb 11:34. I believe that through the lives of these people, God is giving us encouragement and hope to persevere in our faith.
In this day, Christians live by faith in a God who is unseen, but it is not blind faith, it is a faith that comes with an inner peace and love that God has given to those who believe in His Son and have asked for forgiveness of sins and help along our way.  We are all looking for something to ease our frustrations, take away our resentment and anger and give us strength in these troubled times we live in.
I don’t know if Kel asked for this but I do know that she would call me and tell me that she wanted my strength, she wanted to understand.  She would ask for me to pray for her and quickly tell me not to tell her sibling about her comments and requests. I will remember our talk - you at Lloyd's Center and me here at home.
 I will also remember you as the little girl who washed dishes at the Wheel like an adult, who laughed and became serious at the same time, I will remember the horse stables we made together and the people I have met in my professional walk who have asked.” are you related to Kelli Goble?”  When I have said yes, they would tell me how amazingyou were with delinquent teens and unsure parents and I would smile with pride.

I will miss you Kelski but my memory of you is forever.

I will continue to live my life as Proverbs 3:5-6.
My you rest in peace.

Whose Vision?

Whose Vision?

by Willie Goble on Sunday, October 23, 2011 at 9:25pm

Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to the disciples, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me.” Have you known someone or have you seen this in yourself; an inclination to follow your dreams and not God's?Often at work, Church, school, an organization or at home, we or someone else in leadership, says we need to have vision....

But I ask you as Christians, whose vision, man's or God's? Provers 28:18 begins by saying, “Where there is no vision, the people perish”. With that statement it could make one think – 'let's get a vision together”. But if you read scripture further it says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish but he that keepeth the law, happy is he”.

Are we living our life with God's vision?
 Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Again I ask you, are you living your vision or God's? Put aside your selfish desires, personal wants and reflect, read, ponder for answers to God's Word. Give everything to God in prayer. Luke 18:1 He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray, and not give up,
Lord, I pray for those following their own visions, their own agendas. Please humble their hearts and refocus their faith in you. That goes for me too, Lord. Amen

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

I am an Indian and I am Swedish but foremost I am a Christian. When I think of Thanksgiving historically through the life of our country and my personal life I don't see thankfulness. I see glutenous and the desire for more. Not a thankfulness for what one has.

In 1621, the Indians in attendance of the first thanksgiving were the Wampanoag. They had lived in this – some say for a thousand years. What many don't know is they played the lead role in thankfulness. The Colonists were cold, hungry and did not know how to plant and grow vegetables and grains in this new land. The Wampanoag saw that they were starving and brought food for them to share with the colonists. They taught them how to grow, how to hunt, how to fish, how to make things from bark, grains and fur. When the colonists had learned what they needed they killed, cheated and tried to control the Wampanoag.

The Wampanoag had their own government, their own religious beliefs, their own knowledge system, and their own culture. They were also a people for whom giving thanks was a part of daily life. The colonists wanted them to be puritan Christians.

Like the Pharisees of the Bible, the Colonists (pilgrims) wanted ritualistic patterns for living, not what I personally see as a need for an individual relationship with my Lord. So, in my estimation, the Wampanoag did not see the light of the Lord shining through these people.

A majority of those who came to American on the Mayflower came to make a profit from the products of the land, the rest were religious non-conformists who fled their own country to escape religious intolerance. Again, none were prepared for life in a new country.

The Wampanoag new this and although they were dieing from new disease the colonist brought over, they still came to help and to share.

Indians are like that. Celebrations also include giveaways. People spend hours making, preparing and readying for a giveaway. I personally have spent hours preparing my giveaway items. Giving – doesn't make you feel good, feel thankful that you can do so?

Indians are agricultural and lovers of our earth. They have always lived connected to the environment and praising what the earth bestows to them.

So, I please let me share with you that November is American Indian Heritage Month. The Thanksgiving feast of turkey, cranberry sauce, and mashed potatoes would not exist if not for the knowledge and resourcefulness and giftedness of the Native American people. The irony is that most Indians now, can not afford a twenty pound turkey.

As a Christian and an Indian, a daughter of my father and a grandchild of my grandfather, I live praising my God and honoring 'Indian ways”.

This thanksgiving, think of what you are thankful for. Think of your blessings. Don't be glutenous for wants be thankful that you have what you have.

Psalm 118
 1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Count your blessings, whether great or small. Count your blessings and be thankful for them all!        WG

Sheeps Clothing

Matthew 7:15-20

15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Wolves in sheep's clothing is an apt description. They appear on the outside to be something they are not. When Jesus uttered this, He was probably thinking of false ministers who would insinuate themselves into the church by appearing to be sheep within the sheepfold.

Jesus uses this terminology in regard to His relationship with the church. He was the Shepherd, and we are His sheep. Here we have wolves (false ministers) who look like sheep, but it is hypocrisy. They only look that way on the outside. He tells us we will know them by their fruits. The fruit that is produced will not necessarily appear quickly. But Christ guarantees that over a period of time the church will be stripped of its true spiritual vitality in terms of the character that will be produced within the flock, making the rise of wolves in sheep's clothing more likely.

What is He saying? The implication is that Jesus is connecting belief with practice. If we believe a certain set of doctrines, we will practice something because of the teaching. Belief and practice, creed and conduct—Jesus is saying they are vitally connected. In other words, the teacher cannot hide what he is going to produce. Eventually it will come out. Their false philosophies, no matter how attractive they may appear at first sight, will in the long run be exposed for what they really are.

Jesus warned us in Matthew 24:11 that in the last days, “...many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.” Deception is the inevitable result of every false gospel message. The word translated “deceive” in Greek is “planao” which means to be led astray, to wander or roam off, to be lead away from the truth and into error and sin.
Any preacher that tries to lead you away from your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and the Word of God is a tool of the devil designed to destroy your life. If you involve yourself with their message, you will be deceived. If you open your mind to their doctrine, you will be led astray.

Remember to listen to the Word of God and live His teachings and appreciate every good minister and step way from false prophets.

In other words, Jesus instructed us to separate ourselves (our mind, our thoughts, and our attention) away from the ministry of false prophets and the erroneous message they preach.

It may be tempting to think of the words joy and happiness as interchangeable — that they mean the same thing. But in the Biblical context, the word joy refers to a deep feeling of contentment and satisfaction that has nothing to do with our present circumstances and everything to do with the fulfillment we have in our relationship with God.

God loves us above all else, sacrificing even his own son for our redemption. And what we are asked of in return is to love, to trust, and to obey. It shouldn’t be hard, but it’s one of the hardest things we’re called to do. First, in order to obey, we have to trust in God’s goodness and faithfulness. And when we see trouble ahead, that’s hard to do. It’s a leap of faith. The world screams at us n...ot to jump, tells us not to be foolish, entreats us to hold on tight to what we know, even if it’s not in our best interest. Yet in the midst of that is the calm, still voice of God, hearkening us to listen to him through the noise, assuring us that when we leap, he will give us wings to fly. Trust and obey, there's no other way!