One true principle in life for a believer is obedience to God.  This ALWAYS takes precedence over obedience to man.  If I was told by a person or authority on earth to not  sing and preach, well I’d go on singing and preaching.  Daniel was told “Daniel, you cannot pray!”  However, Daniel prayed.    
 Acts 5:29 says: “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, we ought to obey God rather than men”.  Ungodly leadership is trying to silence the truth.  Dear fellow believer, you be bold in telling the good news of our Redeemer.  He is the Truth.  
2023 marks the beginning of my 51st year of ministry.   As Chuck Swindoll has said, I won’t quit preaching (singing too) until my forehead hits the pulpit- or microhone stand!!!

​I just finished leading and singing at a Hymn Sing for many people.  One of the hymns we sang is among my absolute favorites.  Here is the story that inspired these words to this hymn-  “God Leads His Dear Children Along”
George A. Young was an itinerant preacher and carpenter.  He lived with a meager salary.   After years of saving for a home, he with the help of his wife, constructed a home for their family.  
They decided to go with the entire family on a week of meetings where George Young spoke.  They were triumphant meetings, but when they returned home after the meetings, they found their dream home had been burned to ashes by some young men who were angry with the Truth George Young was preaching.  The Young family were devastated.  After days of dealing with this blow, Mr. And Mrs. Young, with their young boys, found peace.  They knew that no matter what happens in life a true believer in Jesus Christ can find victory.  George Young then penned these words:
”In shady green pastures, so rich and so sweet
God leads His dear children along
Where the water’s cool flow
Bathes the weary one’s feet
God leads His dear children along
Chorus:  Some thro’ the waters
Some thro’ the flood
Some through the fire
But all thro’ the blood
Some thro’ great sorrow
But God gives a song
In the night season and all the day long

O, how kind and gentle our precious Savior is-  to know that He will direct our paths. 
Dear people, remember “The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way;”
(Psalm 37:23). Also, Psalm 31:3 “For you are my rock and fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me”.

David Koblish- a friend of Jesus Christ

The importance of the church in a believers life is indispensable to a solid life in Him. Here are some things The Word says about the church:
1. The church is described as an army with Christ as King and we are the members marching under the blood stained emblem of His sacrifice on the cross
2. Church is described as a building- not the physical walls, etc, but spiritually with Christ as the Foundation and we as believers are the living stones. He has made us alive through His resurrection. 
3. The church is The Bride of Christ. He is the bridegroom and we are the bride.
4. We are a flock of sheep and we are the people- sheep of His pasture.  Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd who leads His dear children along.  One of my favorite hymns is ‘God  Leads His Dear Children Along”- written by George A. Young in 1903. He preached from church to church  about trusting in Christ.  After being away for days on end he returned home to find that some despondent  people who did not like the Truth Mr. Young was preaching, had burned his house down to ashes.  Through that tragedy George Young and his family found victory in trusting in Christ. They knew that the Good Shepherd would faithfully lead them along this life in victory. He wrote this hymn in response to what God was doing in their lives!
5. The church is  The Body of Jesus Christ. He is the head and we are the members.
     We know that you as a believer in Jesus Christ are important to the church—- Is the church important to you? If you aren’t already, begin going to a good Bible believing church.  “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; But encouraging one another; especially as we see the day fast approaching (Hebrews 10:25)
Serve Him with gladness— Remember that God loves you so much He would rather die than live without you.
David Koblish

The more we learn of our Lord the stronger our faith and the more bold we become.    Our Lord "emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even the death on a cross." (Philippians 2:7-8) 
Jesus Christ is our perfect example of what following is.  He emptied Himself so we too will empty ALL of our sin on Him.  THINK of what we as His children have: We have all of Him.  AND "all things I have heard from My Father I have made known to you" (John 15:15b). As Jesus Christ grew so we too can grow in Him; Luke 2:52- "And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men".
NOW is the time to get totally right with God and allow Him to be your everything!

What a joy and honor to be a believer in Jesus Christ!  Isaiah 43:7 "...everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made". We are made for His glory (period!). In everything we do should be to His glory. When we yield and surrender to Him (take up the cross) we can then live of HIS glory. Here is our living eternal God who always uses His children to do His will and fulfill His promises.  All this is done through prayer.  You see, even though we know "...the kingdoms of the world have become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever!" (Revelation 11:15)  Yet Jesus taught us to pray "Thy kingdom come and Thy will be done..."

​The bible tells us there's going to be peace in Jerusalem, yet Psalm 122:6 tells us to "pray of the peace of Jerusalem."

Our prayer over who He is and what He has already said is what brings Him glory!  It's an unusual thing: Even though God has promised so many things for us as believers in Him, He wants us to have a part in bringing about His will here on earth through the power of prayer.
 You are so important to God He would rather die than live without you.  Keep serving Him through prayer.
In His Care,  David Koblish   
www.underhiswings.org

• ​Some thoughts taken from Adrian Rogers- Love Worth Finding