Birthdays (December 31, 1951)
Everybody has one, it was your first of many firsts.
The first gift from a loving God.
Each year we are reminded of that day. Some of us have parties with friends laughter and music.
While others sit in gloom and dwelling upon their fears of doom.
Now the way I see it, we have a choice how we view this day. We can either sit and stew over wrong that has come into our life, or we can celebrate the joys. Both already received and the ones to come. God has given us the power to choose how we view the years past. He has given us the power to overcome through him. This too is a gift from God.
I’ve had many birthdays, some good, some not so much. But I know that they were all gifts from him. And he was there with me in them all.
I choose to celebrate his first gift to me with joy giving him praise for that day. I wish no present except his love, which he gives freely each day of the year.
In my life I’ve seen miracles you could not believe. Not just in my own life, but in the lives of those who have come into my life as well. This also has been a gift from God.
There has not been one day that God has not blessed me in some way. He provides from me, protects me and leads me because he loves me. He even died for me. What greater gift could anyone receive? This gift from God.
So as I stand here before you there is something I want you to know. You treasured friends and family are a gift from God, a blessing to me and to each one you meet, for the love of God flows through you.
I think it only fitting that my birthday falls on the years end. The last day of the year, I can look back over the whole year and praise God for the many blessing he has given and remember the first he gave me, so long ago. It seems like the whole world is celebrating with me, on this my birthday. We give praise together for all his great gifts, for all true gifts come from God.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Happy New Year
Happy New Year
Welcome, we’ve all come together with joy and cheer,
To celebrate an anniversary and to start a new year.
We join here in the present, remembering the past,
Looking to the future with Gods love that will not pass.
I stand here looking out, I see my family, my friends.
Fellow travelers on the journey that has a glorious end.
We believers, can rejoice tonight in our love for Jesus,
For being with Him forever is His perfect plan for us.
Close your eyes, calm your minds, remember this year.
The times we laughed with joy, the times we share a tear.
We hurt, but our heavenly Father was there through it all.
He heard every plea, every cry, when in prayer we did call.
When we were too weak, He carried us along the way.
So it is just and right that we praise Him night and day.
Remembering the past we know what He has done.
In our lives this moment we see what He is doing.
And by His promise we know what His love will do.
If you become frightened, your eyes filled with tears,
Do not be discouraged, He is there through the years.
As we gather all of us are a family, more than friends,
And Christ celebrates with us as the new year begins.
So fill your hearts, your minds, and your life with him,
And celebrate a happy new year, every one of them.
Carl A. Gooch ~ 30 December 2007
Welcome, we’ve all come together with joy and cheer,
To celebrate an anniversary and to start a new year.
We join here in the present, remembering the past,
Looking to the future with Gods love that will not pass.
I stand here looking out, I see my family, my friends.
Fellow travelers on the journey that has a glorious end.
We believers, can rejoice tonight in our love for Jesus,
For being with Him forever is His perfect plan for us.
Close your eyes, calm your minds, remember this year.
The times we laughed with joy, the times we share a tear.
We hurt, but our heavenly Father was there through it all.
He heard every plea, every cry, when in prayer we did call.
When we were too weak, He carried us along the way.
So it is just and right that we praise Him night and day.
Remembering the past we know what He has done.
In our lives this moment we see what He is doing.
And by His promise we know what His love will do.
If you become frightened, your eyes filled with tears,
Do not be discouraged, He is there through the years.
As we gather all of us are a family, more than friends,
And Christ celebrates with us as the new year begins.
So fill your hearts, your minds, and your life with him,
And celebrate a happy new year, every one of them.
Carl A. Gooch ~ 30 December 2007
Monday, December 10, 2007
The Team
Carl’s thoughts on ~ The Team
The owner puts together a team, a group of individuals, to achieve a common goal. When choosing his team he doesn’t always choose those who think they are best suited. But he chooses those he knows can be trained and molded into a strong part of his team.
He knows the team is stronger that any single member. If they work as a team their task will be considerably easier to achieve. Not all the members have the same duties but each members’ job is essential in obtaining the goal.
The owner sees the bigger picture and has a plan to accomplish the job at hand. The owner provides for his team. He equips his team, choosing leaders, coaches and trainers to insure they understand how to do what is expected of them.
As long as the individual is a member of the team it is his obligation to do everything in his power to strengthen the whole of the team. He is required to not only do his job, but also support and assist other members of the team. He is to encourage other team members who may be tried or having a rough time. He is also to recruit others to join the team and in so doing grow and strengthen the whole team.
No team exists without there being a reason for the team, no matter if it’s sports, in the workplace, in the military, at home or in the church.
In a team there are different areas of responsibilities. In sports there is the offence, the defense maybe even a special unit, but they are all members of the same team. The same areas apply to teams within the home, workplace and church. Each member strives to improve the team as a whole by thinking beyond their position.
As members of a church we are members of Gods’ team. He chose us, he provides for us everything we need, and equips us with his Holy Spirit as members of his team. At our baptism we have vowed to follow him, and we confirm this each day. And as members, each day it is our sworn duty to perform the task set before us.
Gods’ team is a unique team in that we can not fail as long as we strive to follow his instruction.
Who do you know that needs to be on this winning team?
Carl A. Gooch ~ 10 December 2007
The owner puts together a team, a group of individuals, to achieve a common goal. When choosing his team he doesn’t always choose those who think they are best suited. But he chooses those he knows can be trained and molded into a strong part of his team.
He knows the team is stronger that any single member. If they work as a team their task will be considerably easier to achieve. Not all the members have the same duties but each members’ job is essential in obtaining the goal.
The owner sees the bigger picture and has a plan to accomplish the job at hand. The owner provides for his team. He equips his team, choosing leaders, coaches and trainers to insure they understand how to do what is expected of them.
As long as the individual is a member of the team it is his obligation to do everything in his power to strengthen the whole of the team. He is required to not only do his job, but also support and assist other members of the team. He is to encourage other team members who may be tried or having a rough time. He is also to recruit others to join the team and in so doing grow and strengthen the whole team.
No team exists without there being a reason for the team, no matter if it’s sports, in the workplace, in the military, at home or in the church.
In a team there are different areas of responsibilities. In sports there is the offence, the defense maybe even a special unit, but they are all members of the same team. The same areas apply to teams within the home, workplace and church. Each member strives to improve the team as a whole by thinking beyond their position.
As members of a church we are members of Gods’ team. He chose us, he provides for us everything we need, and equips us with his Holy Spirit as members of his team. At our baptism we have vowed to follow him, and we confirm this each day. And as members, each day it is our sworn duty to perform the task set before us.
Gods’ team is a unique team in that we can not fail as long as we strive to follow his instruction.
Who do you know that needs to be on this winning team?
Carl A. Gooch ~ 10 December 2007
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Don't Quit
Don’t Quit
Some people turn this way and that,
But they don’t know just were it at.
You’ve got to go straight to the heart of it,
Grab on tight and don’t give in, don’t quit.
Some will say I’m stubborn as a mule,
Say I’ve lost my mind or just a fool.
But they haven’t seen what I’ve seen,
They don’t know what true love means.
When you find the truth, hold on tight,
It’ll guard you through the darkest night.
Storms will come with winds that blow,
But I know, come rain or shine, on I’ll go.
Some don’t know where they are at,
Their minds all cloudy and blind as a bat.
You’ve got to go straight to the heart of it,
Grab on tight and don’t give in, don’t quit.
Now listen close so you won’t be a fool,
A child of God’s, follows the golden rule.
If you listen to wise words you will see,
Just what he intended for us to be.
Follow his word and do what’s right,
That others may know of his Holy light.
You’ve got to go straight to the heart of it,
Grab on tight and don’t give in, don’t quit.
With both hands hang on tight,
Keep on going, don’t ever quit.
Carl A. Gooch ~ 09 December 2007
Some people turn this way and that,
But they don’t know just were it at.
You’ve got to go straight to the heart of it,
Grab on tight and don’t give in, don’t quit.
Some will say I’m stubborn as a mule,
Say I’ve lost my mind or just a fool.
But they haven’t seen what I’ve seen,
They don’t know what true love means.
When you find the truth, hold on tight,
It’ll guard you through the darkest night.
Storms will come with winds that blow,
But I know, come rain or shine, on I’ll go.
Some don’t know where they are at,
Their minds all cloudy and blind as a bat.
You’ve got to go straight to the heart of it,
Grab on tight and don’t give in, don’t quit.
Now listen close so you won’t be a fool,
A child of God’s, follows the golden rule.
If you listen to wise words you will see,
Just what he intended for us to be.
Follow his word and do what’s right,
That others may know of his Holy light.
You’ve got to go straight to the heart of it,
Grab on tight and don’t give in, don’t quit.
With both hands hang on tight,
Keep on going, don’t ever quit.
Carl A. Gooch ~ 09 December 2007
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Let's celebrate together
This time of year is special. A time when we celebrate the coming of our Lord, the end of the old year and the coming of the new. And yes of course my birthday on the 31st of the month. As I view this upcoming event, this is what I'm thinking about.
Birthdays (December 31, 1951)
Everybody has one, it was your first of many firsts.
The first gift from a loving God.
Each year we are reminded of that day. Some of us have parties with friends laughter and music.
While others sit in gloom and dwelling upon their fears of doom.
Now the way I see it, we have a choice how we view this day. We can either sit and stew over wrong that has come into our life, or we can celebrate the joys. Both already received and the ones to come. God has given us the power to choose how we view the years past. He has given us the power to overcome through him. This too is a gift from God.
I’ve had many birthdays, some good, some not so much. But I know that they were all gifts from him. And he was there with me in them all.
I choose to celebrate his first gift to me with joy giving him praise for that day. I wish no present except his love, which he gives freely each day of the year.
In my life I’ve seen miracles you could not believe. Not just in my own life, but in the lives of those who have come into my life as well. This also has been a gift from God.
There has not been one day that God has not blessed me in some way. He provides from me, protects me and leads me because he loves me. He even died for me. What greater gift could anyone receive? This gift from God.
So as I stand here before you there is something I want you to know. You treasured friends and family are a gift from God, a blessing to me and to each one you meet, for the love of God flows through you.
I think it only fitting that my birthday falls on the years end. The last day of the year, I can look back over the whole year and praise God for the many blessing he has given and remember the first he gave me, so long ago. It seems like the whole world is celebrating with me, on this my birthday. We give praise together for all his great gifts, for all true gifts come from God.
Birthdays (December 31, 1951)
Everybody has one, it was your first of many firsts.
The first gift from a loving God.
Each year we are reminded of that day. Some of us have parties with friends laughter and music.
While others sit in gloom and dwelling upon their fears of doom.
Now the way I see it, we have a choice how we view this day. We can either sit and stew over wrong that has come into our life, or we can celebrate the joys. Both already received and the ones to come. God has given us the power to choose how we view the years past. He has given us the power to overcome through him. This too is a gift from God.
I’ve had many birthdays, some good, some not so much. But I know that they were all gifts from him. And he was there with me in them all.
I choose to celebrate his first gift to me with joy giving him praise for that day. I wish no present except his love, which he gives freely each day of the year.
In my life I’ve seen miracles you could not believe. Not just in my own life, but in the lives of those who have come into my life as well. This also has been a gift from God.
There has not been one day that God has not blessed me in some way. He provides from me, protects me and leads me because he loves me. He even died for me. What greater gift could anyone receive? This gift from God.
So as I stand here before you there is something I want you to know. You treasured friends and family are a gift from God, a blessing to me and to each one you meet, for the love of God flows through you.
I think it only fitting that my birthday falls on the years end. The last day of the year, I can look back over the whole year and praise God for the many blessing he has given and remember the first he gave me, so long ago. It seems like the whole world is celebrating with me, on this my birthday. We give praise together for all his great gifts, for all true gifts come from God.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
How Long
How Long
How long? Lord, how long,
Must I keep traveling along?
How long, yes, how long,
Must I struggle to carry on?
For the blessings I thank you.
And I know your love is true.
This world is filled with wrong,
I am waiting, Lord, how long?
My foes keep attacking me,
And your face I long to see.
I’m old and no longer strong,
So I cry out, Lord, how long.
How long? Lord, how long,
Must I keep traveling along?
How long, yes, how long,
Must I struggle to carry on?
Lord, you know about my life,
All my pain, trails and strife.
Yet it keeps carrying on.
So tell me Lord, how long?
I know that you died for me,
And from my sin I am free.
But my struggles are so strong,
So tell me Lord, just how long.
How long? Lord, how long,
Must I keep traveling along?
How long, yes, how long,
Must I struggle to carry on?
How long? Lord, how long,
Must I keep traveling along?
How long, yes, how long,
Must I struggle to carry on?
For the blessings I thank you.
And I know your love is true.
This world is filled with wrong,
I am waiting, Lord, how long?
My foes keep attacking me,
And your face I long to see.
I’m old and no longer strong,
So I cry out, Lord, how long.
How long? Lord, how long,
Must I keep traveling along?
How long, yes, how long,
Must I struggle to carry on?
Lord, you know about my life,
All my pain, trails and strife.
Yet it keeps carrying on.
So tell me Lord, how long?
I know that you died for me,
And from my sin I am free.
But my struggles are so strong,
So tell me Lord, just how long.
How long? Lord, how long,
Must I keep traveling along?
How long, yes, how long,
Must I struggle to carry on?
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