Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
Mar. 16, 2012

“Healthy Words”
“My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words...for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body.” – Proverbs 4:20, 22

Christianity Today ran an article sometime back that featured an interview that associate editor, Philip Yancey conducted with the chief of staff at one of the largest Psychiatric hospitals in the United States. The purpose of the interview and article was to show the effects of using the Bible in working with a person’s mental health issues. At one point of the interview the psychologist said, “In my research I can trace the cause of the majority of those suffering with mental illness back to bitterness as a result of unresolved conflict with someone from their past. Most notably, a remark made by a parent or friend that was allowed to remain fixed with that individual’s mind and life. In my opinion, we could reduce the number of those currently hospitalized with mental health issues in half simply by getting them to forgive those who hurt them.” Quite a statement! Solomon calls God’s words—health for the person’s entire body!! That encompasses body, mind and soul. That is pretty good food. And just as powerful as God’s words are—consider how strong our words can be.
The "fruit" of our lips is words, and words can go to work the minute they are said. But once said you can never get them back again. They become part of the changeless past. When good words go to work, however, they bring happiness and help people, but the unkind ones bring heartache and sorrow.
Chances are you've a right to be angry over some things that have been said to you at meetings, at work or at home. Sometimes you may want to shed hot tears, shove things around, or run away from everything. But hold on hopefully for the words of your God are written in the Bible to help you grow in grace and earn the beattitude of self-control.
Word's aren't something you can fool around with. Words aren't just sounds—mad sounds, glad sounds, or blah sounds. Words are living things and they last!!
Every word that you have ever said has lasted. It has lasted as a warm and gentle comfort to a friend or relative who needed comfort badly, or it has lasted as a scar whose venom has blown out of all proportion to the original cause and made an enemy for you.
If there is still any doubt in your heart about what words can do then consider these things: Once brushed aside, can you mend the strands of the spider's web? So it is with words. After a shower can you make the sun shine through the beads of rain-drops of the trees? Perhaps not, but you can light up a life by the beauty of your chosen words.
Wherever you may go, take with you only the best words: Living words, strong-winged, beautiful words of hope and good cheer and praise to God. Words that are kind at heart and understanding. Take with you gentle words. Try gentle words in anger, for gentle words turn away wrath. Your word is the only thing you can keep and give away at the same time. They are living things and they last!
One of my favorite verses is from the book of Ephesians. In it the Apostle Paul writes: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (4:29)
We truly need more building and less tearing down in our world!
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Good Things

by E. Christian, McAlester, OK
Thursday, March 15, 2012

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! - Philippians 2:5-8(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
11 He (the Lord) tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. - Isaiah 40:11(New International Version).

A QUOTE
Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible . - Corrie ten Boom -

A THOUGHT TO REMEMBER
Our greatest glory consists not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. - From Reminisce Magazine -

NOTES
Today has been partly cloudy with a high temperature of 78 degrees and a low temperature of 66 degrees. I had lunch with Charley and Bill. I went by Country Mart store and then the post office. I took my nap. I went outside with the cats around 6:00 p.m. and read and watched the cats and birds for over an hour. Since the last Good Things I have heard from Mary Ellen, Alice, Quentin, Geneva and Tiyan. I hope the rest of you all are reading the Good Things. Let me know if you want to be dropped from the Good Things.
The cats are fine. Little Girl is here in the den with me and Rascal was here a short time ago. I have seen all of them this evening.
Have a nice Friday! I will see you next time.
In Christian Love, Everett.

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
Mar.16, 2012

“God is Always With You”
“My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart…” – Proverbs 4:20, 21

The following are the words from the hymn, “Take the Name of Jesus with You,” by Lydia O. Baxter.

Take the name of Jesus with you, Child of sorrow and of woe;

Precious name! Oh, how sweet! Hope of earth and joy of heav'n;
Precious name! Oh, how sweet! Hope of earth and joy of heav'n.

Take the name of Jesus ever, As a shield from every snare.
If temptations round you gather, Breathe that holy name in prayer.

Oh, the precious name of Jesus, How it thrills our souls with joy;
All the favor of the Father In this name we may enjoy.

At the name of Jesus bowing, Falling prostrate at His feet,
Claim His vict'ry over evil And the enemy defeat.

When I read this verse (from Proverbs) this hymn was one of the first things that came to my mind. When Solomon bids us to keep his words as close to us as possible—what better way to do that than to have THE WORD (John 1) with us at all times? When you place your faith in Christ, Christ places his Spirit before, behind, and within you. Not a strange spirit, but the same Spirit: the parakletos. Everything Jesus did for his followers, his Spirit does for you. Jesus taught; the Spirit teaches. Jesus healed; the Spirit heals. Jesus comforted; his Spirit comforts. As Jesus sends you into new seasons, he sends his counselor to go with you.
God treats you the way one mother treated her young son, Timmy. She didn’t like the thought of Timmy walking to his first-grade class unaccompanied. But he was too grown-up to be seen with his mother. “Besides,” he explained, “I can walk with a friend.” So she did her best to stay calm, quoting the Twenty-third Psalm to him every morning: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…”
One school day she came up with an idea. She asked a neighbor to follow Timmy to school in the mornings, staying at a distance, lest he notice her. The neighbor was happy to oblige. She took her toddler on morning walks anyway. After several days Timmy’s friend noticed the lady and the child.
“Do you know who that woman is who follows us to school?”
“Sure,” Timmy answered. “That’s Shirley Goodnest and her daughter Marcy.”
“Who?”
“My mom reads about them every day in the Twenty-third Psalm. She says, ‘Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow me all the days of my life.’ Guess I’ll have to get used to them.”
You will too. God never sends you out alone. Are you on the eve of change? Do you find yourself looking into a new chapter? Is the foliage of your world showing signs of a new season? Heaven’s message for you is clear: when everything else changes, God presence never does. You journey in the company of the Holy Spirit, who “will teach you and will remind you of everything I have told you” (John 14:26 NLT).
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Good Things

by E. Christian, McAlester, OK
Wednesday, March 14, 2012

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
1 Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in obedience to him. 2 You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. - Psalm 128:1-2(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” 17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life. - Revelation 22:16-17(New International Version).

A QUOTE
The Spirit of God never leads anyone contrary to the written Word of God. The Spirit and the Word agree. - C. W. Ruth -

A THOUGHT TO REMEMBER
Today is the only day in which we can be ready for Christ's return. - From Reflecting God -

NOTES
Today has been partly cloudy with a high temperature of 77 degrees and a low temperature of 65 degrees. I had lunch with Charley and Bill. I went to the post office. Rascal and Smokey took a nap with me this afternoon. I put food and treats outside at around 5:30 p.m. I sat a litttle while and read but came back inside to watch a Billy Graham Crusade Classic. The program today was from Boston, Massachusetts in 1982. I wish all of my readers could have watched it with me. At 7:30 p.m. I went out front and sat for about 30 minutes. My Little Girl cat went out with me and seemed happy to be outside for a few minutes. She seldom goes outside. Since last night's Good Things I have heard from Burlene and Michele, who are both faithful readers of the Good Things as they have told me many times. I have a special prayer request tonight and I will leave it at the end of the Good Things.
The cats are fine. Little Girl is in the den with me. Rascal was here a few minutes ago. The others have all been seen recently.
I hope everyone has a nice Thursday! I will see you next time.
In Christian Love, Everett. ******************************************************************************************************************************************* Prayer Request: I have asked you several times to pray for Mary Ellen's husband, Kip. Michele(who is Mary Ellen's niece) informed me that Kip passed away today. Let us all pray that God will comfort Mary Ellen, her three children and the other members of the family.

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
Mar. 14, 2012

(More) Words of “Infamy”
“My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words.” – Proverbs 4:20

At 5:30 a.m. on May 10, 1940, Nazi Germany began a massive attack against Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, and France. Defending those countries were soldiers of the British Expeditionary Force along with the French, Belgian, and Dutch (Allied) armies. The Germans relied on an aggressive battle plan, utilizing modern communications such as radio to direct troops in the field. The Allies, for their part, assumed a defensive posture, just as they had done at the start of World War I, and in many cases still relied on hand-delivered messages. As a result, the German Blitzkrieg (lightning attack) caught the Allies off-guard. German Panzer tanks staged a surprise attack through the 'impassable' Ardennes Forest then turned northward and soon surrounded the bulk of the Allied armies in Belgium. The "Miracle at Dunkirk" occurred next as 338,000 British and French soldiers were hurriedly evacuated from the coastline by Royal Navy ships and a flotilla of civilian boats of every shape and size.
After just a few weeks of battle, Hitler's armies had conquered Holland, Luxembourg and Belgium. Paris fell on June 14th. Three days later, the French requested an armistice.
The following day, June 18th, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill spoke to the House of Commons about the disastrous turn of events in Europe amid the stark realization that Britain now stood alone against the seemingly unstoppable might of Hitler's military machine. The following is the conclusion to that speech:
“Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this Island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science.
Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, 'This was their finest hour.'”

On September 7th Hitler changed tactics—rather than bombing military facilities he had his bombers target London with the intent of “cutting at the heart” of the British people and its empire. For the next 76 days (both day and/or night) German bombers hit in and around the city. The bombings would last until May 10 of 1941. In all, an estimated 43,000 were killed with thousands more seeing their homes or businesses destroyed. It was Hitler’s hope that this would break their resistance and yield to his demands. When they did not he turned his attention elsewhere—eventually to lose the war. Many attribute this victory to Churchill’s uncompromising stance and his almost daily speeches where he encouraged the British people to stand firm.
Words can cause many to sink or swim! We are being attacked on a daily basis by an enemy that wants to cut at the heart of our belief system—seeking to have us surrender and yield to his will. By “paying attention” to Words of God and the wisdom attached, though assaulted we can nonetheless remain unharmed and live to battle another day.
That, more than anything else is what this book, and the power of God provides. They are words of encouragement—strength—endurance and understanding.
Are you facing some trying times? Are you going through some battles that are wearing you down—causing you to lose your resistance? Could it be said of you that in the face of such overwhelming odds that today would be…”your finest hour?”
Pastor J. T. Carnell