I know me! I know how I am, how I think, what I say, what I do! I don't always please the Lord. I want to! I want my life to be fully pleasing to Him. But the truth is that my life does not always please the Lord.
But then I am reminded that He loves me unconditionally! I am reminded that all of my sins are covered by the blood that He shed on Calvary. I am reminded that He chose me, He saved me, He gave His Son, Jesus for me and my sins. Now don't get the wrong idea, it's not all about me, it's all about Him. That's why I am posting this blog. His love, His grace, His mercy, and His forgiveness overwhelms me. To stop and think that the Creator and Sustainer of the universe loves and cares for me, even with my sin nature, that just absolutely amazes me! It makes me love HIM more, because of how He loves me!
I am so thankful that He loves me. I am so thankful that He chose me, forgave me, and that I belong to Him. Thank You, Lord.
He loves me, He loves me, Jesus loves me
He loves me, He loves me, Jesus loves me.
Why did He go to Calvary? Why was His life's blood shed so free?
Why did He suffer as no man has ever done? There's just one reason, I am the one
When I am sad, He loves me. Even when I'm bad, Jesus loves me.
When it seems that no one cares for me, I talk to Jesus 'cause Jesus loves me!
Daily Scripture
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Happy New Year!
It is so hard to believe that 2011 is gone, but it is. The older I get, the faster time goes. I hear people say that all of the time, but it is so true. However, the truth is that I am getting older, and the time sure does go by faster, and faster, and faster...
I want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year. We spent New Year's Eve together as a family. We began work on Lauren's room. I designed and am building a closet organizer system in her closet. It is coming along rather nicely, but it is alot of work. I will post pictures when it is finished. Then, will hang new closet doors, remove old wallpaper from the walls, paint the room, and rearrange the furniture. I also want to build a shelving unit on her wall to give her more storage room.
We had a snacky supper - pigs in a blanket, pizza rolls, cheese ball, shrimp ball, and chips and dip. WOW! Lots of junk!
On New Year's Day, we worshipped at church, then came home and had lunch. We made a "lazy" lasagna, green bean casserole, the cheese ball, shrimp ball, and some beef stick.
The best part was spending time with Sharon, Josiah, and Lauren. We played games, watched movies, worked on Lauren's room, and had Bible study together.
I do love my family. Next to the Lord, they are the most important part of my life. He has blessed me tremendously with my beautiful and supportive wife, and with my awesome children. I cannot thank the Lord enough for them. I miss Mom and Dad, but am so very thankful for the family that I have.
We spent Christmas week with Sharon's Mom and Dad. We had an awesome week with them. We rested and enjoyed our time with them. They have become my Mom and Dad, and I love them so much. Oh, do I pick on my mother-in-law roothlessly! But she enjoys it, and dishes it right back to me. Although, I am goint to try not to pick on her quite as much this year.
Well, just some random thoughts today, but from the heart. I have started to read through the Bible this year. In addition to my personal morning quiet time, I am reading through the Bible in the evenings before bed.
On the weight loss front, I am down a total of 53 pounds!!! I lost 2 pounds over Christmas. Please keep praying for me regarding my weight loss. I want to honor the Lord in my body, HIS temple!
Love you all and blessings! Happy Newy Year, and I pray the Lord Jesus will be on the throne of your heart in 2012!!!
I want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year. We spent New Year's Eve together as a family. We began work on Lauren's room. I designed and am building a closet organizer system in her closet. It is coming along rather nicely, but it is alot of work. I will post pictures when it is finished. Then, will hang new closet doors, remove old wallpaper from the walls, paint the room, and rearrange the furniture. I also want to build a shelving unit on her wall to give her more storage room.
We had a snacky supper - pigs in a blanket, pizza rolls, cheese ball, shrimp ball, and chips and dip. WOW! Lots of junk!
On New Year's Day, we worshipped at church, then came home and had lunch. We made a "lazy" lasagna, green bean casserole, the cheese ball, shrimp ball, and some beef stick.
The best part was spending time with Sharon, Josiah, and Lauren. We played games, watched movies, worked on Lauren's room, and had Bible study together.
I do love my family. Next to the Lord, they are the most important part of my life. He has blessed me tremendously with my beautiful and supportive wife, and with my awesome children. I cannot thank the Lord enough for them. I miss Mom and Dad, but am so very thankful for the family that I have.
We spent Christmas week with Sharon's Mom and Dad. We had an awesome week with them. We rested and enjoyed our time with them. They have become my Mom and Dad, and I love them so much. Oh, do I pick on my mother-in-law roothlessly! But she enjoys it, and dishes it right back to me. Although, I am goint to try not to pick on her quite as much this year.
Well, just some random thoughts today, but from the heart. I have started to read through the Bible this year. In addition to my personal morning quiet time, I am reading through the Bible in the evenings before bed.
On the weight loss front, I am down a total of 53 pounds!!! I lost 2 pounds over Christmas. Please keep praying for me regarding my weight loss. I want to honor the Lord in my body, HIS temple!
Love you all and blessings! Happy Newy Year, and I pray the Lord Jesus will be on the throne of your heart in 2012!!!
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Merry Christmas!
Today is Christmas Eve! At the Gouge home, all is peaceful and quiet. All the shopping is done. The wrapping is complete. The holiday baking is done and all the goodies are in their containers. Santa Clause 2 is playing in the background. Some laundry and packing for our Christmas travel has to be finished up. Later today, we will have Baked Ham, Twice Baked Potatoes, and Cheesy Veggie Casserole for Christmas Eve Dinner.
Later tonight, we will have a fire and Christmas Eve Family Worship, followed by a a couple of Christmas Eve movie favorites.
I cannot imagine not being with my family on Christmas Eve. They are the most important things in my life besides the Lord. I have an incredible wife that I love dearly. She is my helpmate and my support. My children are so amazing. They bring joy and laughter into my life.
I am so thankful for wonderful friends all over the world. God has truly blessed me.
Above and beyond all of these things, Jesus is the greatest! God the Father sent Him into this world to save me from my sins. I praise, honor, and glorify Him for the TRUE meaning of Christmas, and the reason why we worship.
Merry Christmas to all of you! I pray that your Christmas will be Christ-centered and Spirit-filled. May the love of God that came to us through the little baby Jesus bring joy, peace, hope, grace, and mercy to you and your family in 2012 and through all eternity!
Later tonight, we will have a fire and Christmas Eve Family Worship, followed by a a couple of Christmas Eve movie favorites.
I cannot imagine not being with my family on Christmas Eve. They are the most important things in my life besides the Lord. I have an incredible wife that I love dearly. She is my helpmate and my support. My children are so amazing. They bring joy and laughter into my life.
I am so thankful for wonderful friends all over the world. God has truly blessed me.
Above and beyond all of these things, Jesus is the greatest! God the Father sent Him into this world to save me from my sins. I praise, honor, and glorify Him for the TRUE meaning of Christmas, and the reason why we worship.
Merry Christmas to all of you! I pray that your Christmas will be Christ-centered and Spirit-filled. May the love of God that came to us through the little baby Jesus bring joy, peace, hope, grace, and mercy to you and your family in 2012 and through all eternity!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Jesus Is My Best Friend!
This August will mark 13 years for me in full-time ministry. Through it all, the Lord has bestowed more Grace than I could ever have imagined or asked for. He has provided for me and my family in ways that have just blown me away, and He has grown me in my walk and relationship with Him.
One surprising thing along the way is the fact that you really find out who your true friends are. What I have found is that when you do strive to be what the Lord wants you to be, you really don't have a lot of friends, but the friends that you do have are true-blue, sincere friends! I have had to make some very difficult decisions in these last 13 years regarding those who I thought were my friends. The pain runs very deep sometimes. What I have learned is that sometimes, you just simply have to turn people and situations over to the Lord and move forward.
The society that we live in today simply overtakes some people. They give in to the worldly side of living and abandon their relationship and walk with the Lord. For many professing Christians, telling people about Jesus, which should be our first and greatest priority according to Paul in Philippians 1:18, and ministering to the needs of people, unfortunately takes the far back seat to the things of the world and the things with which Satan uses to blind eyes and fill hearts with all sorts of unGodly stuff.
Call me old-fashioned, that's okay with me. I believe that Jesus is the Son of the living God. I believe that Jesus died on the cross to save people from their sins. I believe that Jesus has saved me from my sins and has forgiven me. I believe that He lives in me and has made me a new creature. I believe that I was created to glorify the Lord in all that I do, and with His help alone, He can cause me to do just that, for I cannot do it without Him! I believe that I can do nothing without Him, as He teaches in John 15. I believe, without a shadow of doubt that I am going to Heaven with The Lord Jesus for all of eternity!
I also believe that He deserves my reverence and respect. When I speak His name, it should be with complete reverence and respect of Who He is. When I write His name, I capitalize it. When I use a pronoun relating to Him (He, Him), I capitalize it. When I write of the living Word of God, I capitalize it (Bible).
He is my Rock, my Fortress, in Whom I trust, and I am not ashamed that I trust Him, believe in Him, and have totally given my life over to His control. I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ!
The truth be told, I have come to a point in my life that I really don't care if people don't like me and abandon me because I put Christ first in my life. For far too long, I have lived in the shadow of people, wondering what they think of me, if they like me, if they care for me. All that matters is what Jesus thinks of me! He is my number one, my family comes next. My goal is to bring glory to the Lord Jesus through my life by allowing Him to be the Lord of it! I want to love others as Christ loves, and reach out to the lost and spiritually dying of this world that they might have the same hope of eternal life that I do!
Thus, as I have journeyed through this life, I have resolved that Jesus is my BEST FRIEND of all. My wife and family come next, then anyone who is interested in serving Jesus and living for Him is welcome to join me as I follow Christ. I want to reach out to the lost, just as Jesus did in order that I might lead them to Christ and His eternal Kingdom! I proclaim boldly that Jesus is my Lord, and my BEST FRIEND, and He will never let me down! Glory to His Name!
One surprising thing along the way is the fact that you really find out who your true friends are. What I have found is that when you do strive to be what the Lord wants you to be, you really don't have a lot of friends, but the friends that you do have are true-blue, sincere friends! I have had to make some very difficult decisions in these last 13 years regarding those who I thought were my friends. The pain runs very deep sometimes. What I have learned is that sometimes, you just simply have to turn people and situations over to the Lord and move forward.
The society that we live in today simply overtakes some people. They give in to the worldly side of living and abandon their relationship and walk with the Lord. For many professing Christians, telling people about Jesus, which should be our first and greatest priority according to Paul in Philippians 1:18, and ministering to the needs of people, unfortunately takes the far back seat to the things of the world and the things with which Satan uses to blind eyes and fill hearts with all sorts of unGodly stuff.
Call me old-fashioned, that's okay with me. I believe that Jesus is the Son of the living God. I believe that Jesus died on the cross to save people from their sins. I believe that Jesus has saved me from my sins and has forgiven me. I believe that He lives in me and has made me a new creature. I believe that I was created to glorify the Lord in all that I do, and with His help alone, He can cause me to do just that, for I cannot do it without Him! I believe that I can do nothing without Him, as He teaches in John 15. I believe, without a shadow of doubt that I am going to Heaven with The Lord Jesus for all of eternity!
I also believe that He deserves my reverence and respect. When I speak His name, it should be with complete reverence and respect of Who He is. When I write His name, I capitalize it. When I use a pronoun relating to Him (He, Him), I capitalize it. When I write of the living Word of God, I capitalize it (Bible).
He is my Rock, my Fortress, in Whom I trust, and I am not ashamed that I trust Him, believe in Him, and have totally given my life over to His control. I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ!
The truth be told, I have come to a point in my life that I really don't care if people don't like me and abandon me because I put Christ first in my life. For far too long, I have lived in the shadow of people, wondering what they think of me, if they like me, if they care for me. All that matters is what Jesus thinks of me! He is my number one, my family comes next. My goal is to bring glory to the Lord Jesus through my life by allowing Him to be the Lord of it! I want to love others as Christ loves, and reach out to the lost and spiritually dying of this world that they might have the same hope of eternal life that I do!
Thus, as I have journeyed through this life, I have resolved that Jesus is my BEST FRIEND of all. My wife and family come next, then anyone who is interested in serving Jesus and living for Him is welcome to join me as I follow Christ. I want to reach out to the lost, just as Jesus did in order that I might lead them to Christ and His eternal Kingdom! I proclaim boldly that Jesus is my Lord, and my BEST FRIEND, and He will never let me down! Glory to His Name!
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