Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

“Finding God When You Need Him”
"...when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and troubles overwhelm you…then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me." – Proverbs 1:27, 28

Don’t you hate calling someone and getting an answering machine? Or worse yet, those annoying voice messages that give you every option except the one you really need? By the time they go through all the options you have forgotten why you called! By the way, do you have an answering machine attached to your phone? (I thought I would get that in!)
From casual observation I do not think that God is saying that He will be unavailable...but when those (the “they” in this verse) who choose to forsake and overlook the right and wise things; when their world crashes in around them they will not find the answers they need!
I, as do many others, suffer from a very common disorder: “I-can-do-it-on-my-own-itis.” The symptoms are stubbornness followed by a persistent arrogance, which can lead to making one (or everyone) either very lost and then very late.
For most of the first chapter of Proverbs, Solomon has been urging us to seek God’s wisdom and to stay far away from those who have forsaken His Holy ways. They not only destroy themselves but in the process seek to destroy those around them. There is also something more that I see at work here.
I have been given talents and abilities. The one I appreciate the most is the ability to think and have rational thought (most of the time), to assess the situations around me. And yet there comes a time when all of my abilities do not serve me and only the strength of the Heavenly Father will see me through. That is when He will make Himself available to me to serve my needs. There is a word that we use to describe this action…it is called “Faith!”
John G. Paton (1824-1907) was a Christian missionary to the natives of the New Hebrides . He was born on a small farm near Dumbries , Scotland . The eldest of eleven children, he was led to Christ as a child by his godly father, James Paton. Among John’s early memories was the mental picture of his father going three times a day into the “prayer closet” at home and later coming out with a shining face “as of one who had been on the Mount of Transfiguration.” As a youth he remembered the voice of the Lord saying, “Go across the seas as the messenger of My love; and lo, I am with you.” He obeyed.
Years later—as a pioneer missionary to the New Hebrides —part of his work was translating the Scriptures into the language of the people of that distant place. He struggled with finding a word for “faith” in their language; there seemed to be no equivalent. One day a native worker came in from a hard day’s work and said, “Oh, I’m so tired. I feel I must lean my whole weight on this chair.” Paton said at that moment, “Praise God, I’ve got my word.” He thus translated John 3:16 to read, “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever leaneth his whole weight on him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”
We live our lives daily, trusting on man-made things—roads, bridges, overpasses, sidewalks, ladders—to do what they were built to do, and to keep us safe. We seldom ask, “Is this sidewalk safe?” We just step on it, trusting that whoever poured the concrete did it right. Jesus wants us to do that with Him. He wants us to lean our whole weight on him in everything we do, important and unimportant. He wants to engage with us in everything that goes on.
Do you have the symptoms of “icandoitonmyownitis?” Do you find yourself believing that you have all of the answers to your situations? What happens when you run out of answers? What do you do or where do you go when there is no one left to ask or no place left to go? God is available…especially to those who are not on “self-destruct” mode.
Pastor J. T. Carnell.

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 1 Corinthians 5:7(New International Version)

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: 6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. - Psalm 37:4-6(New International Version).

A QUOTE
Reputation is what folks think you are. Personality is what you seem to be. Character is what you really are. - Alfred Armand Montapert -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
If your absence doesn't make any difference, your presence won't either. - From Alive -
Initiative is doing the right thing without being told. - From Reminisce Magazine -

VETERINARY TRIVIA
Can you figure out under what circumstances could you get a calico male? Answer: As we learned previously, alleles for “ginger” and “black/white” colored coat are carried on sex chromosome X. It is easy to see why females, who have two X chromosomes would express
all three colors and be “Calico”. Following the same logic: if you want Calico you need XX, but if you also want a male, you need a Y. Therefore, the rare instances of Calico males are individuals with three sex chromosomes, XXY, also known as Klinefelter syndrome. The cats may or may not present clinically normal, but are almost invariable sterile. - Thanks to Michelle for this information -
,br /> NOTES
Today has been a cloudy with a little light rain this morning. The high temperatures reached the low fifties. I had lunch with Charley and Bill. I went to the post office and later to Walmart. I took a nap this afternoon with Tony. I put treats out for the cats at 5:30 p.m. Since last time I have heard from Alice, Michelle, Geneva, Pastor JT, Margaret and Janice. I appreciate those e-mails.
I am updating my e-mail list so if you still want to receive the Good Things PLEASE RESPOND (if you haven't already) by March 25 (Monday).
Sometimes when I send pictures it messes up the Good Things. So until I get this straightened out, you that want pictures send me a note and say Pictures Please and I will send them separate.
The cats are fine. Rascal is in his usual place and Emmy and Tony just came in. Tony ate a little dry food and went back outside. I have seen all of my cats this evening.

Have a Nice Friday!
Everett.
Keep Thinking The Good Thoughts.

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

“Did You Hear What I Said?”
"If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you...since you ignored all my advice, and would not accept my rebuke..." – Proverbs 1:23, 25

There is a word in this verse that stands out to me. It is the word, “ignored.” If you look closely at this word you might discover that there is another word that comes to mind that just might be of more significance to what God is trying to say to us...IGNORANCE.
I’ve lost count as to how many times my wife has tried to hold a conversation with me and talked to me about something only to later have me ask her about something that she had already told me. She calls this “selective listening” which is probably true. I think we tend to tune out what we do not want to hear and pay attention to what holds our interest. What it truly comes down to is that I failed to pay attention to her in the first place! I unintentionally “ignored” her but by doing so I became ignorant of what I needed to know.
I came across the following story some years ago which is about “listening.” Not necessarily listening with one’s ears as with ones heart and spirit. Nick Thomas found himself at the age of 47 unemployed and under tremendous financial pressure. Though he had a successful career in the Air Force and the insurance business, some reversals had set him back and left him with no place to go. His wife, Liz, made their situation a matter of deep prayer. She was in church one morning, praying about their dilemma when she thought she could almost hear the words, "Make the mustard." Her family had a mustard recipe going back several generations when from when they lived in Russia and every Christmas she had made mustard as presents for her friends. She decided to give it a try. She prepared a substantial amount and called on a local cheese shop. The manager tasted it and immediately bought out their inventory. Within three months they had cracked the highly competitive major New York Deli market. Because the Thomas’s committed their troubles to prayer, looked to God for guidance, and committed themselves to listening......He gave them the direction they were needing.
That has me pondering as to how many times that I and many others have sat in Church or at a camp meeting or a seminar where the speaker provided the audience with incredible and useful material only to leave that place unchanged. God spoke and I did not listen like I should have. And because I did not listen I was ignorant of much that I probably… no, wait a minute…what I certainly needed to know.
How many times have we heard people say, “I believe in God, but I just don’t know if I can accept or believe the Bible.” Much of that has to do with following the “guidelines” and principles that are found in it. You cannot believe in God and not accept the fact that there are standards attached that have been given—and by both listening to and following those standards, life is more rewarding and abundant. Lord, forgive me for the times that you have tried to get my attention only to have me shove you aside and ignore Your advice. Help me to be a better listener, especially when You have my best interest in mind.
Pastor J. T. Carnell.

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 1 Peter 4:8-9(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - John 14:6(New International Version).

A QUOTE
The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month. - Henry Van Dyke -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER

The sins of youth are paid for in old age. - Latin Proverb -
When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt. - From Reminisce Magazine -
VETERINARY TRIVIA
Did you know that Calico ( tricolor coat) cats are almost always female? The explanation is in the genes. The gene for ginger color is carried by sex chromosome X. Female cats, like all mammals, carry two X chromosomes. If one X carries ginger color and the other black and white, the result is the typical “blotchy, tricolor coat.” A male cat is determined by sex chromosomes XY, with Y chromosome NOT carrying any coat color information. Therefore, male cats are either ginger, or not (they can be all the other colors, but barely ever both). - Thanks to Michelle for This Information -

NOTES
Today has been partly cloudy with high temperatures in the fifties. I saw Charley at noon. I went to the post office for my mail. I took a nap with Smokey this afternoon. Darren and Kathy came at 5:30 p.m. and mowed and weed eat-ed my yard. The mowing and weed eating was never done right last year by another person. I put treats and food outside for the cats at around 5:45 p.m. When Kathy got to the back yard with the mowing some of the cats went over the fence until they were through. Beau and Smokey were the smart ones and came in the house. Beau was almost friendly with Darren. I am sorry about the foul up on the Good Things but you did get last nights Good Things earlier today. Since last time I have heard from Gaetano, Alice, Pastor JT, Nancy (my granddaughter), Don & Evelyn, Michelle, Burlene and Geneva. Happy to get those e-mails.

The cats are fine. Rascal is in the recliner chair. Emmy was just here. Others have been coming and going. I have see all of them this evening.
Have a nice Thursday!
Everett.
Keep Thinking The Good Thoughts!!!

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

“Seeking Shelter”
“If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you. But since you rejected me when I called and no gave heed when I stretched out my hand...when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and troubles overwhelm you." – Proverbs 1:23-24; 27

It will not be long until we will enter the time of year in which strong and powerful storms could be coming our way…which really puts this verse into perspective. It is the reminder that each day presents opportunity for “troubles” to arrive or for disaster to strike. If we do not pay heed to what is right and wise and good...these things (calamity, disaster and troubles) will fall on us like a ton of bricks!! And according to this statement, it will be fast, it will be complete and "overwhelming." This means that those things that overtake us will consume our every thought and action.
It was the summer of 1993. We lived in Northeastern Missouri, just a few miles from the mighty Mississippi River which separated us from the state of Illinois. We discovered that year first hand how mighty that river can be. We witnessed its devastating, destructive power. We saw an entire town completely consumed by the water. Houses and cars washed hundreds of miles downstream. The flood was so widespread that the only open bridges into Illinois were nearly one hundred miles north in Iowa and eighty miles south in St. Louis.
For practically my entire life I have lived in areas where tornadoes have touched down relatively close to me. The tornado that came through McAlester, Oklahoma (where I currently live) in May of 2008 was the first I have personally witnessed. However, I was in Wichita Falls, Texas a week after a third of it was hit by a massive tornado in 1978. It was not all that long ago that a massive tornado swept through the Oklahoma City area.
My sister, her two daughters and their children (and their dogs) spent three weeks with us after Hurricane Rita due to the fact their entire county was without electricity and my brother-in-law was trying to clean up fallen trees. We’ve driven in snowstorms, waited out ice storms and endured heat waves. Each of these is reminders that our physical beings are quite often subject to some powerful and deadly forces.
The difference between the forces of nature and the calamities, disasters and troubles that this verse is describing is the latter are spiritual in nature. And though we have no control over nature we can avoid the others and it is only by heeding God’s wisdom!
Spiritual disasters are those that seek to overwhelm us with winds of pain. Not just physical pain, although it does occur—but pain that reaches into the soul through disappointments. Disappointments can truly get us down and then we are “flooded” with emotions that often betray us.
You cannot stop a tornado but you can find shelter. You cannot stop a flood but you can look for higher ground. You cannot prevent the devil from casting temptation our way – but we can find shelter and strength. Martin Luther is quoted saying: “You cannot prevent birds from flying over your head but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair.” What we can do is say…”Lord, help me to not be consumed by the ‘storms’ of spiritual destruction. Help me to seek wisdom from on high when the winds blow, when the ‘heat is on,’ when I am blinded by snow or if I am being pelted with ice and hail! Please be my Shelter in the time of Storm!
Pastor J. T. Carnell.