Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

“Craving Steak on a Mac & Cheese Budget”

“The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.” – Proverbs 10:3 (NIV)

Jimmy Robertson was a man on a mission. After a long day following his job as an auto mechanic all he wanted to do was have a bite to eat then sit down and watch some television before going to bed. He was a single guy living by himself and after two years of being on his own he was feeling somewhat unsatisfied with his life and his position.
After heating up some leftovers for dinner Jimmy sat down to watch some television before going to bed and get ready to start a new day. Already feeling discouraged with his life and current situation the more he watched the more depressed he became. Practically every commercial reminded him of what he “was missing.” After two hours of craving his hunger got the best of him—and we are not talking about food. He wanted more than what his life could afford. All he could think, “I need some cash and I need some now!”
By now it is 9 o’clock at night. He was not a violent man so robbing a fast-food restaurant or convenience store was out of the question. He did not consider himself to be “clever” enough to scam someone—so what should he do? All of sudden his mind came up with three letters…ATM.
In Jimmy’s mind there had to be at least three thousand dollars in one of those machines so if he could crack one open he would be on his way. But how? Breaking open one of those machines would not be an easy or quick thing to do and he did not have the tools necessary for such a job. The only way to break one of those machines open would be by ramming it with a car…no…a truck. A really big truck! “That’s what I’ll do,” he thought. “I’ll steal a truck and then use it to ram an ATM, then grab the cash and run.”
With his plan in place Jimmy left his apartment with the intent of stealing a truck—ramming it into an ATM, steal the money and begin to do something with his life. Choosing to leave his car at home, for the next two hours Jimmy walked all over his neighborhood searching for just the right truck but nothing seemed to fit. Then he spotted it—a black Ford F-250. That was plenty big he thought. ,br /> Now Jimmy may have been a fair mechanic—but that does not mean he knew how to steal a car (or truck in this case). After twenty minutes of trying to break the lock he got frustrated and broke a window. In so doing he cut his hand and then set off the alarm. So much for that truck. He quickly ran from there and then spotted another larger truck about two blocks away. Different truck, different make and model, same results. By now he was exhausted, and to make matters worse he was bleeding badly. At this point he had two options: One, forget his plans, go home and wrap up his wounded hand, or, two, make one more attempt to steal a truck. He chose option two. He chose badly.
He finally got the door open but in so doing he got two of his fingers smashed in the door breaking them. With his right hand bleeding and two broken fingers on the other Jimmy finally abandoned his scheme and made his way home. When he got to his apartment he painfully and gingerly reached into his pocket to retrieve his key only to discover they were not there. He had left his key and his phone locked inside of his apartment. Tired, in pain, all he could do was to sit down in front of his door and contemplate the nights events and how things did not go as he planned. To add insult to injury he would be unable to work for the next three weeks, losing both his job and his apartment. After reading this story I was drawn to this passage from the book of Psalms:

“This is what the wicked are like—always free of care, they go on amassing wealth. Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence. All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments. If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children. When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.” – Psalm 73:12-17

I think what both the Psalmist and Solomon are saying is that no matter how hard the “evil” plot, and even at times succeed, (unlike Jimmy) God will have the final say.
We all have “cravings.” Desires and wants prompted by the constant barrage of tempting advertisements and commercials. We see those who have succeeded and envy their status and good fortune. But God knows what real hunger is and His promise to us is that He will make sure as believers we are fed physically…and keep us satisfied spiritually!
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

“Let’s Eat!”

“The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry…” – Proverbs 10:3 (NIV)

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” – Matthew 6:25-26

“I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.” – Psalm 37:25

“Give us today, our daily bread…” – Matthew 6:11

Okay, it’s confession time. And be totally honest with yourself. Has there ever been a time in your life when you went hungry? I don’t mean having a growling stomach because you are slightly behind a few minutes or an hour or two from a meal. Nor am I referring to a time that you may have been on a self-imposed fast or (heaven-forbid) a diet. No, those do not qualify here. In fact, being on a diet probably means you have had more than you need in the first place. I know…I am probably in the same situation.
What I am referring to is the kind of hunger where you have absolutely nothing to eat. Nothing! No peanut butter. No Mac & cheese. No bread. Nothing. And the prospects of you having food in a couple of hours, or even the next day do not appear to be in your favor. That is hunger. And so I ask again—have you been there? If you have never known this kind of hunger there is probably a very good explanation behind that—as our Creator, God knows what our greatest basic “human” need is—food!
When He placed Adam and Eve in the Garden what did He surround them with? Trees filled with fruit. When the Hebrews wandered for 40 years, what did God provide for them six days of week? Bread! When Elijah, in obedience to God was forced to flee into the wilderness what did God provide for him twice a day? (1st Kings 12:16) When people from all over Galilee and Judea came to hear Jesus preach and teach, what was given to them to complete the day and give them strength for their journey home. Do I really need to give the answer here?
Take a quick look at the verses listed above and what do they all have in common? Actually, what two things do they have in common? First, they are all a promise! Each of them describe what God is willing to do. Give us what we need! What is the second thing they have in common? Each of them describe who He is willing to help. The faithful. The righteous. Those who are weak in resources but strong in faith!
Which leads me to another thought that has nothing to do with food—and everything to do with what makes life worth the living. Look closely at Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:25-26, and then his words from “The Lord’s Prayer.” This tells me that these passages has nothing to do with our physical needs (food/clothing) but more regarding a hunger that can only be filled in one way—the filling of God through His Holy Spirit.
There is a hunger that exists in every one of us—a hunger that is as vital to our souls as food is to our body. And since God created that too—He alone knows how to fill it. I am brought to these words of Jesus: "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35) That, along with everything else these verses tell us, we never, never, never have to be hungry in Spirit! And if you are it is entirely self-imposed. When it comes to your spirit there is absolutely no need to go on a diet and you can never get enough of God.
You’ve been called to the table. Let’s eat!
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
“How ‘Good’ Do You Have to Be?”
“What you gain by doing evil won’t help you at all, but being good can save you from death.” – Proverbs 10:2 (Contemporary English Version)

“So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up.” – Galatians 6:9 (New Living Translation),br />
“…how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.” – Acts 10:38

Like much of our language, the word “good” has a variety of definitions. Here are a few:
Being positive or desirable in nature; not bad or poor: a good experience; good news from the doctor.
Having the qualities that are desirable or distinguishing in a particular thing: “This is a good exterior paint. “
Serving the desired purpose or end; suitable: Is this a good dress for the party?
Not spoiled or ruined: “The milk is still good.” Superior to the average; satisfactory: “She is a good student.”
Worthy of respect; honorable: “He has a good reputation.”
Attractive; handsome: good looks. Beneficial to health; “I got a good night's rest.” Competent; skilled: “He’s a good machinist.” Complete; thorough: “I had a good workout.” Able to pay or contribute: “She is good for the money that you lent her.”
Able to elicit a specified reaction: “He is always good for a laugh.”
Pleasant; enjoyable: “I had a good time at the party.”
Favorable: “We had good weather for our trip.” Of moral excellence; upright: “He is a good person.”
There are actually several more but I think I will end there…but do you see the dilemma here? The word “good” has so many connotations and definitions that it can be near impossible to know if we’ve got it right!
I thought about how as an American—our vocabulary often betrays what the writer or speaker intends—or as a listener what we hear! For example, there are those who when listening to some good music (according to their interpretation) they might chose Country and Western. (I have to admit that would be near the bottom of my list). To another, “good” music might be classical music, another it might be rock & roll while another, Southern Gospel. So what might we conclude from this? If I do not like a certain genre of music does that disqualify it from being good?
So what does it mean to “be good?” Or maybe the better question—how good do we have to be to fulfill God’s definition?
I like the verse from the book of Acts that I listed at the top. I think it captures the full scope and purpose of this verse in Proverbs attempting to convey. It says that Jesus, “went around doing good.” The best way to narrow that down is to remove one of the o’s and restate it: “…he went around being God.” By being God, doing good was a natural result! He would not know how to do anything different.
We use the phrase, “God is good.” His goodness is not what He does but it is who He is! It describes His nature.
For Jesus, being God (good) meant He loved without condition. He gave without expectations. He lived unselfishly. He worshiped wholeheartedly. He prayed unceasingly. He lived with purpose. So what may be a fitting conclusion, to “be good” is to “be His!” Follow His example and live a life of love.
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

“When a Chapel Does not Exist”
“Nothing you say or pay will make it all right; neither bribes nor reason will satisfy him.” – Proverbs 6:35 (MSG)

Beginning with verse 20, the “teacher” has given his best advice in regards to using good judgment when it comes to our lives—relationships, etc. The jest of the messages is this: Not taking advantage of people for one’s selfish purposes because if you do you might find yourself in quite a mess. As I was pondering how to conclude this chapter it dawned on me how easy it is to do what is wrong! To make wrong choices, to follow the wrong path takes little effort. The phrase, “everyone’s doing it” is the epitome of the human condition, and one that seems to have been a part of our thought process from the beginning. The harder path is the one that goes against the grain—swimming upstream as it were! The one that chooses to listen to the voice of truth! And if you have not noticed lately, the world has little interest in noticing the Truth! In fact it seems that it goes out of its way to make finding God—following God even more difficult it that were possible. Let me provide the following example: The United Nations complex sits on sixteen acres of New York City’s choicest real estate, bordering the East River and Manhattan. The lean, immense building rises into the sky, the sun reflecting off its window wall. Bright flags of the nations of the world fly in the breezes off the river; the most prominent is the blue and white UN flag, it s two white reeds of olive branches surrounding the world.
A visitor is immediately struck by the grandeur of the building, stirred by the sight of dignitaries stepping out of black limousines to cross the massive plaza. The visitor realizes that if this place represents the powers of the world, one might well want to see the place of worship, where the nations bow before the One under whose rule they govern.
The information personnel are confounded. “The chapel? We don’t have a chapel. If there is one, I believe it’s across the street.”
The visitor darts across the thoroughfare, dodging New York’s taxis, and successfully arrives at the opposite building’s security-clearance desk. “Well, there’s a chapel here,” responds the officer, “but it’s not associated with the UN.” He thumbs through a directory. “Oh, I see, all right, here it is. It’s across the street—and tell them you’re looking for the meditation room.” So the visitor again dashes back across the street. An attendant tells him that the room is not open to the public; it’s a ‘nonessential area.’”
But the visitor is fortunate for a security guard is willing to escort them to the room. They go down a long hallway and pass through some swinging glass doors. The guard pauses at an unmarked door. He unlocks it and pushes open the door. The small room is devoid of people or decoration. The walls are stark white. There are no windows. A few wicker stools surround a large square rock at the center of the room. It is very quiet. There is no altar, rug, vase, candle, or symbol of any type of religious worship. It is in this void that one realizes that God has been pushed aside and does not exist in this place. (Charles Colson, “Kingdoms in Conflict.”)
What that illustration tells me is when God is pushed out it provides those left in control the freedom to operate according to their own standards and beliefs and as history has so painfully pointed out—the results have not been pretty!
In a way this passage, Proverbs 6:20-35 is more than just being careful to not commit adultery, it is what can happen when we push God out of our lives and seek our own selfish desires. We’ve removed the chapel (or make it a nonessential area) and created in its absence our own set of rules and regulations.
And should we hurt someone along the way—unlike God who is full of forgiveness, mercy and grace, there are those who are not as kind and forgiving and are not afraid to see their own form of retribution used on us.
Conclusion: keeps your eyes, mind, and heart where they should be. That way, you will not have to find a chapel to worship in—it will be within you.
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

“Sleeping with One Eye Open”
“…jealousy arouses a husband’s fury, and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.” – Proverbs 6:34 (NIV)

Hollywood has its way of creating a lot of story lines all with the intent of getting both our attention and our money. Writers and producers seek to appeal to our senses, be it through laughter, anger, romance, adventure, and yes, what may be the strongest of them all…revenge. The “Jilted Lover” is a theme that seems to run prominently whether it is on the big screen or made-for-television movies or weekly shows. If you are like me and watch any of the following shows: CSI (pick any city you want); NCIS (my favorite!); Law & Order (SVU or Criminal Intent); Criminal Minds…and the list goes on, what you will find is that a number of crimes they investigate have to do with someone extracting revenge upon another for stealing that person’s spouse, girlfriend/boyfriend, or something that means a great deal to that person. These story lines may seem a bit over the top but in truth this has been going on long before the studios in Los Angeles were even built. It was happening long before we were even a nation—it has been a part of humanity for a long, long time!
I am going to resist the temptation to use an illustration here—rather I am going straight for the jugular and give what I believe is the main message that this entire passage is aiming at and it is this: If you do what is right—purpose to live under God’s Law—keep your eyes focused on what is pure, true, good, righteous, praiseworthy (see Philippians 4:8), then accidents aside, you reduce the risk of physical harm to your person from and by others to the lowest degree. On the other hand—there is a reason why there are so many stories portrayed, whether they be in print or on the screen, and it has to do with the number of situations throughout history that prove what the Scriptures declare; “We all like sheep have gone astray.” (Isaiah 53:6) or, “There is none righteous, not even one.” (Romans 3:10) I am also going to resist the temptation to limit this solely on adulterous relationships because sin and evil cannot be contained to one specific arena or concept, but it comes down to this one all-consuming truth: When we pursue to fulfill our needs, goals, hungers and desires outside of the boundaries designed and set by the One who created this life—then be prepared to sleep with one eye open because peace and joy and hope will be hard to come by.
I am not saying that God will be out to seek revenge—I firmly believe that I serve a God of love, grace, mercy and hope. But from the beginning mankind has realized that there is a mechanism inside each of us and it is called—conviction!
Just like the word sin (from my message a couple of days ago) we don’t hear this word (conviction) very often any more. Since conviction comes as a result of sin—and since so many do not like to admit that sin exists—then how would people know how to react to conviction? But there is a reason why conviction exists and are you ready for this? It is all about love!
God loves us and is jealous for us! He wants us all to Himself and does not want to share us with another—and I don’t think it takes too much imagination to know who He does not want to share us with. Conviction is God’s method to keep us safely in His care—and any pain or guilt we experience is meant to bring us back to Him. Hollywood likes to portray God as an angry, vengeful, uncaring entity—who wants nothing more than to find ways to make us miserable. They see God as the “Jilted Lover.” I prefer to see Him as the complete opposite who wants to keep us safe—allowing us to sleep with both eyes closed—peacefully.
If you love Jesus—serve Him! Don’t seek pleasure outside of what He wants for you and your heart will remain safe.
Pastor J. T. Carnell