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HOPE FOR TODAY
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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
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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
PSALM 32:8
“I WILL INSTRUCT YOU AND TEACH YOU IN THE WAY YOU SHOULD GO: I WILL GUIDE YOU WITH MY EYE” I travel a lot and often find I need to use GPS to find the place I’m going. When I get my rental car, I plug in the address on my phone, and away I go. One morning I was on my way to a church in Northern Colorado. I was directed into the countryside by the navigational system. It seemed to me I was out in the middle of nowhere. I thought well, certainly there will be a major road ahead. Suddenly, the monotone voice on the map said “turn in 1.2 miles” then as I got closer it said in 900 feet turn left. The road was a “cow path” into nowhere! Something got messed up and then I called the pastor for directions. After laughing at me- because I was so far off the beaten path, I finally did get to the church. As a believer, I know God will not steer me in the wrong direction. Even though I don’t know the way ahead, I trust that He knows. When He says go here, I go. He’s promises you and me to bring us to the place He wants us. There is no uncertainty with Him. When He says “I will” I know with confidence that He will guide with 100% accuracy. His promises are tried and true. These days we are living in are filled with potholes, wrong directions, and complete lies. Jesus says: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life”. What a joy to follow the One who has proven Himself to us many times. When we can’t see what’s ahead, continue to trust in Him who said: “I will guide you with My eye”. David Koblish “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)
All through history it is proven that people cannot rule themselves. Every government is flawed severely and ultimately has fallen or will fall. Leaders for the most part lead with good intentions but these intentions are selfishly driven. Solomon wrote in Proverbs 14:12 “there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death”. Then Jeremiah added: “O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps (Jeremiah 10:23). How are my daily needs as clothing, food, shelter, peace, and joy to be met? They will be added unto you as you “SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD…” God supplies ALL our needs! “His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence” ( ll Peter 1:3). Every day we seek our Lord, our relationship grows more intimate. We cannot govern ourselves for we will surely fall. But as believers we yield to His power and follow Him- and all His blessings will be added unto you. Seek Christ! David Koblish "A Friend of Christ" This past year of 2018 has been the best year spiritually that I've seen in all the years of singing and speaking ministry. God gave me the privilege of talking with thousands of people of their need for Jesus Christ in their lives. God also gave me the privilege of seeing many of these people give their dead self in trespasses and sins to the living resurrected Son of God. This was a very busy year of traveling. He again has shown His faithfulness.
Simply put, I desire to love Him more intimately than ever before. Any mistakes we have made in our lives this past year, our Lord is gentle to resotre and bring us back to utmost service to Him. After Peter denied His Lord, Jesus asked him, "Do you love Me?" Peter said, "Yes, Lord". Jesus does not belittle us, put us down, or humiliate us when we fail Him. Perhaps this past year you have denied Him by the way you live, or you disobeyed Him and were not faithful. Jesus asks: do you love Me? If your answer is yes, then He restores your fellowship with Him and forgives you. He will again bring you to the highest quality of service to Him than you've ever known! He is faithful Because He lives, I live David Koblish (Some thoughts taken from "Daily Devotional" Dr. Henry Blackaby)  Our faithful Lord called Billy Graham home to heaven! He has had an influence on all of our lives. For over 11 years it was my privilege to sing and lead the music internationally for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Of all the men I have met, I believe Mr. Graham had the greatest influence on my life. One of the interesting things that I'll never forget happened during the South American crusade held in Argentina. It was never covered by the media, yet it speaks to the testimony of Mr. Graham. The actual crusade was held at the River Plate Stadium in Bueno Aires, where crowds of over 62,000 people attended each night. In addition, the crusade was aired simultaneously all across South America, by satellite hookup, where more than 5 million people watched. The Graham Association pre-produced videos of my singing in Spanish and English, and these videos were inserted into the actual crusade feed that was sent via satellite to the various countries. However, that year the Argentinian, beloved football team unexpectedly went to the finals. They needed the stadium for the final football game. The stadium had been reserved by the Billy Graham team for months and everything was already all set up. The platform was in place, the cameras, sound, everything was set for the first day of the crusade. It was the talk all over the country about how they needed that stadium for their game. Through prayer and consideration, Billy Graham gave up the stadium for the first night of the crusade to the soccer team. Hundreds of people worked all night and into the next day to transform the stadium back so the Argentinian team could play football. This response to their need made the Argentinian people so appreciate Billy Graham! As we traveled through-out Buenos Aires, the cab drivers, hotel clerks, and people talking on the street all spoke of how wonderful Billy Graham was to give up the stadium for that special night for their team. This opened hearts to be receptive to the gospel during the subsequent nights in that same stadium. The Buenos Aires crusade turned out to be the largest event Mr. Graham had held in his 50 years of public ministry.  Right before the San Juan, Puerto Rico crusade, we had a staff rally for about 550-600 of the workers. I lead the music and sang right before Mr. Graham spoke. After the meeting, Mr. Graham sought me out. He told me how the Holy Spirit welled up inside him as he listened to the music. Billy Graham was humble and had a way of making you feel like a king in his presence. He was an inspiration and affirmation of the ministry to which God called me over 45 years ago.
Billy Graham was called to serve his resurrected Lord when he was just a teenager. God called him and he never looked back. Mr. Graham willingly had the desire to listen to the Holy Spirit and be faithful to what God called him to do. What an inspiration to continue the work He began in us and finish it until we are with our Lord Jesus Christ forever and ever! Praise our faithful God.  As a child of God we will face and encounter adversity. We live our entire lives in spiritual warfare. John 16:33 says: "In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world". And right before this part of the verse the Bible says: "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace". We may not gain the victory over problems or difficulty, but He has won the victory. It's all about God!
The strain and difficulty in the midst of adversity is what gives us strength if we trust in Him." We must strive to remain true to Him. When you face the strain you WILL gain the strength to carry on. Adversity was never designed to "please you" but was designed to "develop you". Warfare doesn't end when your enemy runs out of energy. As Derek, my brother in Christ quotes: It ends when God births enough change in you so what entered through a weakness can exit through a strength. Remember, warfare only takes place in the areas next in line for change. In His peace, David I almost picked up the phone today to call my mother. It's hard to remember that she's now in heaven. I always used to call her and say..."yeah Mom." And she would answer, "Oh, David it's you." She knew me just by the sound of my voice. I will always remember that. When I was a child I would often cry because I felt sorry for all the things my mother had to endure. Mom was a gentle and quiet woman and never complained about her lot in life...yet I knew that she faced lots of adversities. My mom married against the wishes of her parents when she was very young. She married my father who looked good outwardly, yet inside was a very different person and my mother soon realized that she had made a serious mistake. Bill (my dad) became involved in astrology and then turned to give his life and all our money to a dangerous cult. He moved our family several times and eventually we ended up living in a valley, outside of a little town, north of Colorado Springs that was run by this cult. There my mother was left alone to raise 4 little boys. She had no running water, so she had to hike up the hill by our little dwelling, to an artesian well that ran down the mountain, just to fetch water for all our needs. She was stuck in a small, cement block, makeshift house while my dad was off worshiping in a strange, temple/church. It was while in Colorado that Mom's two sisters, who had become believers, sent her a little record player and some Christian, children's records. Mom played those little Christian songs over and over for us. That was the first time we started to sing with our Mom and it wasn't long till we were singing in 4 part harmony. It was also the time when, through those Christian songs, our mother began to recognize her need for the Savior. Through the workings of many prayers, we were able to leave Colorado and Mom was able to break away from the cult. She realized that there was no condemnation in Christ...just forgiveness and a chance to start anew. She became a believer herself and raised by that time 5 little boys all on her own. Mom and our two aunts raised us up in the best Christian environment they could provide. They prayed for godly men to come along side and teach us what a man's role in God's world should be. We were blessed with the newly formed "Camp Forest Springs" This camp helped guide us in our Christian walk and provided us with many hours of hard work and many great days as campers. And...Mom and my aunts never, ever let us miss church at Spirit Baptist Church in Spirit, Wisconsin! For many years, every Sunday, WE were the special music! It was at this little church that I first felt God calling me to sing and preach the gospel! Now when I think of Mom, I find that I'm still sad and often feel like crying. I still feel sorry...but this time it isn't for my mother, because she's now where she longed to be, with Christ in heaven. No, this time I feel sorry for myself, because I miss her and I always will. The following video was filmed in conjunction with Camp Forest Springs for the David Kobish music ministry of "UnderHisWings", as well as the ministry of the camp. It's my Mother's story. |
AuthorDAVID KOBLISH Archives
March 2022
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