Daily Jewel

by        Pastor  J.T.  Carnell,   McAlester,   OK    

Good Morning Everyone!  Batten down the hatches...hold on to your hats...the wind continues to blow!

Received word last night that George's condition remains primarily the same.  From what Nelda was saying is that he has been removed from a second medication that has been keeping his heart going.  He is still sedated and the doctors are hoping to slowly remove other means that he is relying to see if his body is able to function on it's own.  George's recovery will be long...keep them in prayer.

Received word that Eva's granddaughter, Elizabeth, was involved in a serious accident Sunday and has been in the Muskogee hospital with a broken leg and other injuries. 

Received word this morning that Dawn's mom had a tia stroke and they found blockage in her heart.  She is having a heart cath later today.

On the lighter side, Brenda LoPresto sent me this note yesterday and she gave me permission to share it.  In their morning devotions she has been teaching her kids the Lord's Prayer.  Yesterday she was having Paul quote it back to her.  She began with a prompt; 

Brenda:  "Our Father, which art in Heaven...
Paul:  "Give us this day...our daily INFORMATION!
Way to go Paul!!  You got it right!

For those on the Ashes to Fire Journey...some great stuff this week.  I hope you are on track.

Here is today's message:

“Do Not become a Willing Accomplice to Your own Demise”

“All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose…”- Proverbs 7:22

”Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?  He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground.   He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.”

Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.  But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” – Isaiah 53:1-7 (NIV)

            I am going to take an entirely different route than the one we have been on for the past couple of weeks.  It has been made relatively clear that any of us can fall easy prey to a number of temptations.  The reason for these possibilities is also clear—the evil one is not only the master of disguises, he is also the king of “appeal.”  He knows how to dress things up just right and with just the right words, knows how to “seal the deal.”  Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we cannot escape the fact that on our own we are easy prey.  And far too often we are as Solomon says, like an ox to the slaughter.

Isaiah provides a different picture altogether, that there is a huge difference between sacrificing oneself for the sake of that which is eternal as opposed to walking into your own execution to satisfy some gratuitous desires.  

In Isaiah’s classic passage—we are confronted with what is perhaps the greatest visual of what the love of God is all about, and it is found in the Lamb of God.  Because Jesus willingly sacrificed Himself for our sake, no longer do we have to face the tempter alone or blindly.  He will be our strength in time of trouble—unless we choose to go it without Him.  And if you believe you can go it alone against the master of deceit, then I would implore you to think again.  I came across this a few years ago and it is a great creed to recite from time to time.  It is titled, “Who Jesus is to Me.”

He is the First and Last, the Beginning and the End!

He is the keeper of Creation and the Creator of all!

He is the Architect of the universe and The Manager of all times.

He always was, He always is, and He always will be...

Unmoved, Unchanged, Undefeated, and never Undone!

He was bruised and brought healing!  He was pierced and eased pain!

He was persecuted and brought freedom!  He was dead and brought life!

He is risen and brings power!  He reigns and brings Peace!

The world can't understand him, armies can't defeat Him,

The schools can't explain Him, and leaders can't ignore Him.

Herod couldn't kill Him, The Pharisees couldn't confuse Him, and The people couldn't hold Him!

Nero couldn't crush Him, Hitler couldn't silence Him, The New Age can't replace Him,

and Donahue, Larry King or Geraldo can't explain Him away!

He is light, love, longevity, and Lord.  He is goodness, Kindness, Gentleness, and God.

He is Holy, Righteous, mighty, powerful, and pure.  His ways are right,

His word is eternal, His will is unchanging, and His mind is on me. 

He is my Redeemer, He is my Savior,  He is my guide, and He is my peace!

He is my Joy, He is my comfort, He is my Lord, and He rules my life!

I serve Him because His bond is love, His burden is light, and His goal for me is abundant life.

I follow Him because He is the wisdom of the wise, The power of the powerful,

The ancient of days, the ruler of rulers, The leader of leaders, the overseer of the overcomers,

and The sovereign Lord of all that was and is and is to come.

And if that seems impressive to you, try this for size.  His goal is a relationship with ME!

He will never leave me, never forsake me, never mislead me, never forget me,

Never overlook me, and never cancel my appointment in His appointment book!

 

When I fall, He lifts me up!    When I fail, He forgives!

When I am weak, He is strong!    When I am lost, He is the way!

When I am afraid, He is my courage!  When I stumble, He steadies me!

When I am hurt, He heals me!  When I am broken, He mends me!

When I am blind, He leads me!  When I am hungry, He feeds me!

When I face trials, He is with me!  When I face persecution, He shields me!

When I face problems, He comforts me!  When I face loss, He provides for me!

And when the time to face death comes, He will carry me Home!

He is everything for everybody, everywhere, Every time, and every way. 

He is God, He is faithful.  I am His, and He is mine! 

My Father in heaven can whip the father of this world.

So, if you're wondering why I feel so secure, understand this...

He said it and that settles it.  God is in control, I am on His side, and

That means all is well with my soul.  Everyday is a blessing for GOD Is!

            Simply stated, do not become a willing accomplice to your own demise.  Give Jesus a chance to be your strength!