Nan's Calendar

by   Nan Forehand,  Statesville, NC

My time this morning was spent sending an email to a very dear person who read the Nan's Calendar message yesterday.  Something very personal was shared with me and I value that person so much I wanted to devote my time this morning specifically to that person's needs.  God knows who this person is and I ask for your united prayers for healing in mind, body, and spirit.
This has been the Nan's Calendar message for today.  Thank you all so much for taking your time to come and be a part of my life.  I am honored to be a part of your life in this small way.  May God richly bless you.  Love, Nan

God's Tug - Communication

April 4, 2011

I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name.

3 John 1:14 NIV

I often wonder what happened to conversations and letters between friends. For the most part now - I’ve fallen into this trap, too - much communication is done by email and texting, not speaking face-to-face or by phone. This morning I called my aunt and uncle in NJ. I had the most wonderful chat with my Uncle Angelo. We talked about what it was like back in the 40s (he knew more than I did about the early 40s) and how things were different when he served in the war. It was the longest conversation I had with him for a long time. Usually, I just ask to talk to my Aunt Nettie. I have friends where I live and although we’ve been friends for a long time, I usually hear from them only by a mass text message or email. I miss speaking to them. Ok, maybe they are having problems and don’t want to talk. But are we still friends? I was also thinking about when it was nice to get a card or letter in the mail; then came the technological revolution and now everything is done by email or texting (I’m not a big fan of the last, except for occasional ones). My two favorite ways of talking with someone I know are by phone or in person. I even bought some nice cards at Trader Joe’s to send out and they are still sitting here. This week, I’ll write these cards and mail them.

I think communication with Jesus is amazing. He’s never busy; never sends me text messages or email, and never turns away from me. The lines of communication and talking to God and my Saviour, Jesus are always open. I know it can’t always be like that in life, but it’s amazing to know that my God always has time to listen to me. He’s never going to be out of touch because of the technological revolution.

Nan's Calendar

by   Nan Forehand,  Statesville, NC

Mr. Webster's definition of the word wound is as follows:
1) an injury in which tissue is cut, torn, etc
2) any hurt to the feelings, honor, etc

the definition of the word scar is as follows:
1) a mark left after a wound, burn, etc. has healed
2) the lasting mental or emotional effects of suffering....to form a scar in healing

I think you know where this message is going.  It is a message God has put on my heart for the past several days as snippets of thoughts here and there as I progressed through my days.  It is as if He is gently tugging these thoughts out of my mind this morning.  When I came to the computer, I didn't know this would be the subject of today's Nan's Calendar.  It is a message from God through me to you.  He knows someone, somewhere needs to hear this message today, not tomorrow or last week or last month, but today.
There is a vast difference between a wound and a scar.  A scar can only be complete in its form when there is absolutely no existence of or potential for infection.  I am here to encourage the walking wounded hearts in the world.  I fully understand about emotional and spiritual wounds.  I can talk about sexual abuse without panic or fear or shame or guilt.  That is because I have been totally healed by God Almighty Himself.  I have no panic attacks, no flashbacks, no nightmares and no insecurities.   My scars are so faint now that they are barely noticeable.  I hope you can feel the compassion and the love in my heart as I type this message to you.
There are all kinds of emotional and spiritual wounds.  God created that person who wounded you and God still loves that person, too.  God created you and loves you.  God didn't abandon you.  God created the person who abused me; one I admired and trusted with the faith of a child.  My trust was shattered.  I was 16 when it began.  The words were locked in my heart.  I suffered in silence to protect particular loved ones from the shame and disgrace of it all.  I endured what I had to rather than spill the awful truth and ruin other lives in the process. 
It was 17 years before I could even say out loud I had been abused.  By that time, those I protected had passed away.  I was probably about 33 years of age when the truth came out of my mouth.  I forgave the one who abused me (in my heart, because I was several states away and with two precious children and a husband I treasure).   And believe it or not, it was a saint of a man who God placed in my life to help me say it out loud.  Mr. Bob was an angel in disguise.  We only knew each other 13 months and God called him home.  His impact in my life will never be forgotten.  I am also very grateful for my precious husband in my life.  Allen is a gift from God and I will praise God all the days of my life for bringing him to me as a blind date in the summer of 1983.  I forgave in my heart and God was my witness.  I forgave because I didn't want to miss one bit of life with Allen and our children.  They are more important to me than there words to express.  The healing truly begins when we forgive the one who wronged us..... no if's, and's, or but's. 
We need all the encouragement we can get.  If you are one of the walking wounded, my heart goes out to you.  I've been one of the walking wounded, too.  People can only have power over us if we give it to them.  Granted, they may be physically stronger, but God gives us a strength beyond our comprehension.   We can't change what happened.  That's history.  Dwelling on it and reliving the scenes won't help; that just keeps them in real time.  Let go of any and all thoughts that cause infection.  They are the negative thoughts you've been holding on to.  They are the fears, the guilt, the shame.  The memories fade when we place our focus on something positive and continue to think positively.  I live in the present.  The events of the past have no power over me.  If I lived in the past, I would miss the beauty and love all around me today.
Think about a microscope and the subject matter on the glass plate.  We examine the subject (the person who abused) because we think we need to know more in order to understand the why of it all.  When we adjust the focus to the point of the subject being out of focus, we only see a blur.  We have to back off and adjust the focus.  As we adjust our focus, the subject diminishes in size and importance.
Imagine the subject of your hurt and pain as a droplet on the glass.  Right now, it may be magnified to the point that it seems huge and it's right in your face as you look through the lens of the microscope.  Its appearance under the scope is distorted and scary, to say the least.  Let God take control.  Lift your head.  Step back and readjust your focus on something else.  You don't have to keep the history of your life under the microscope. 
Your wounds will heal.  I hope and pray your healing is complete before years go by.  However, if that's the case, remember it's never too late to heal.  No matter the depth of your wounds, God can cleanse them and heal them.  There may be a little more pain involved as He cleans them, but trust Him.  Let Him.  Put your very life in His hands and trust Him.  I'm living proof.  I have beautiful scars on my heart to prove it.  If I didn't share my story with you, you may have never known I had been sexually abused.  I am here to be a witness for you, because I know my God healed my wounds.   He will heal your wounds and you will, at some point in time, be able and ready to be a witness to someone else that God healed your wounds, too.  You will be able to talk about the beautiful scars on your heart.  Beloved, you are in my thoughts and prayers.  Nan

Scars on My Heart

scars on my heart
after it was torn apart
wounds have healed just fine
show me yours - I’ll show you mine
my scars I’ll happily reveal
‘cause my wounds Jesus did heal
some think a scar is an ugly sight
a scar is beautiful - I said it right
a scar indicates I survived
because on Jesus I relied
every scar has a story behind it
and the truth I’ll gladly admit
upon request, my scars I’ll display
tell me about your scars today
are the wounds on your heart healed
ask Jesus and they’ll be forever sealed
written by: Nan Forehand

Daily Jewel

by  Pastor J.T. Carnell, McAlester, OK 

“Grocery Cart Treasures”

“…for she (wisdom) is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold."

– Proverbs 3:14 (New International Version, emphasis mine)

In Raleigh, North Carolina there lived a woman that the people affectionately referred to as the “Cart Woman.”  Every day she would walk up and down the streets of the city with an old grocery cart, rummaging through trash bins for “treasures.”  If a wheel on her cart would break or if it were stolen as a prank by some of the local teenagers she would go to one of the grocery stores and barter for another. 

The clothes she wore were ragged and old – often thread-barren.  The house she lived in had all the appearances of a disaster ready to happen.  She had little to no contact with anyone and no one knew if she had any living relatives. 

No one had seen her for several days and one of her neighbors called the local authorities to see if she was ill or hurt.  When the police arrived they found her on the floor of her bedroom.  The coroner believed that she had been dead for approximately two days and simply died of natural causes.  Her death was a tragedy in itself – given the fact that she died alone and that no one had bothered to check in on her.  But it is what the police discovered going through her house that is the greatest mystery of all.  As they went through her possessions they found several pillowcases filled with cash.  At least twenty!  By the time they finished counting the money it was estimated that she had over 500,000 thousand dollars! 

We hoard things thinking that someday they will yield a great reward!  We fill bank accounts, safety deposit boxes or other containers with what we consider to be “precious,” when we could be gathering and collecting the only thing that can never be lost or taken – a relationship with the King. 

There is nothing wrong with having bank accounts or things – but if that is all we have at the end of this life – what have we gained?  Solomon tells us to seek the greatest treasure and cherish it for the rewards of a relationship with God are worth more than anything we gather here on earth. 

Some years ago I came across a “testimonial” that really placed this entire thought into perspective. 

            A small boy, walking down the street one bright summer day, spotted a copper penny glistening at his feet.  He picked it up and clutched it protectively.  He felt a glow of pride and excitement.  Here was something that was his and it cost him nothing!  From that day on, wherever he went, he walked with his head down, eyes surveying the ground for more treasure.  During the next 20 years he found 302 pennies, 24 nickels, 41 dimes, 8 quarters, 3 half dollars, and one worn out dollar bill for a total of...$12.82.  The money he had accumulated had cost him nothing---except that he missed the beauty of several thousand sunsets...the colorful splendor of hundreds of rainbows...the brilliance of hundreds of maple leaves that had turned during the coolness of autumn....and most of all, the warmth of the smiles of the faces that had passed him day after day.  "I know now," the author of this article states, "that life's real treasures can never be measured with a dollar sign.  I just wish I had not spent so many years with my head down!"

            The moral of the story…keep your head up and your heart available to all God has to offer.  It is better than pushing a shopping cart around all day.
 

Good Things

by      Everett Christian,   McAlester, OK    

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
 
28 A troublemaker plants seeds of strife;
      gossip separates the best of friends.
- Proverbs 16:28(New Living Translation)
 
 
 
GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
 
(The Apostle Paul wrote) 11 "We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, 12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. 13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins."  - Colossians 1:11-14(New Living Translation).
 
 
 
A QUOTE
 
Realize that failure does not mean you should quit.
- Charles Stanley -
 
 
 
THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
 
I've learned that singing "Amazing Grace" can lift my spirits for hours.
- Age 49, Wisdom Through The Ages -
 
Nothing reinforces our belief in heredity like an outstanding accomplishment of our grandchild.
- From Reminisce Magazine -
 
 
 
NOTES
 
Today has been mostly sunny with a high temperature of 83 degrees. Low temperature this morning was 68 degrees. I attended Sunday School and Worship Service this morning. I had lunch at home. I had a nap this afternoon. I attended church tonight. Yesterday at the post office I heard someone say "Everett". It was Geoff Crumm, whom I hadn't seen in a few years. I have been following him around with the Good Things to Las Vegas, NV, then to Little Rock, AR, then to Tulsa, OK and now he has a job here and has moved back home to McAlester. We had a nice visit.
 
 It seems that I can do better with the Good Things when I rest every other night so that is what I will probably do for now. I saw an old progam today that featured Howard and Vestal Goodman. Howard died in 2002 and Vestal died in 2003. You Southern Gospel fans may remember them. I saw the Happy Goodman Family a few times in years gone by. I am leaving a song tonight and recitation written by Howard Goodman that I heard him sing today.
 
The cats are fine. Little Girl and Rascal are here in the den with me. The others come in occasionally.
 
At 10:15 p.m. skies are partly cloudy with a temperature of 74 degrees. I will see you next time.
 
In Christian Love, Everett.
 
 
 
 
"I DON'T REGRET A MILE"
By Howard Goodman

I DON'T REGRET A MILE I TRAVEL FOR THE LORD
I DON'T REGRET THE TIMES I TRUSTED IN HIS WORD
I'VE SEEN THE YEARS GO BY, MANY DAYS WITHOUT A SONG
BUT I DON'T REGET A MILE I TRAVEL FOR THE LORD

                                                    RECITATION

I'VE DREAMED MANY A DREAM THAT'S NEVER COME TRUE,
    AND I'VE SEEN MANY OF THEM VANISH AT DAWN
BUT I'VE REALIZED ENOUGH OF MY DREAMS, THANK GOD!
     TO MAKE ME WANT TO KEEP DREAMING ON

AND I'VE GOTTEN UP OUT OF THE BED MANY TIMES IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR
     TO PRAY A PRAYER THAT IT SEEMED NO ANSWER WOULD COME,
                              THOUGH I'D WAITED, PATIENT AND LONG;
    BUT ANSWERS HAVE COME TO ENOUGH OF THOSE PRAYERS
                              TO MAKE ME KEEP PRAYING ON

                    AND I'VE TRUSTED MANY A FRIEND THAT'S FAILED ME
                                    AND LEFT ME TO WEEP ALONE
      AH, BUT I'VE FOUND ENOUGH OF THESE FRIENDS TO BE TRUE-BLUE
                                     TO MAKE ME KEEP TRUSTING ON

IT SEEMS THAT I'VE SOWED MANY A SEED THAT'S FALLEN BY THE WAY
                                              FOR THE BIRDS TO FEED UPON,
BUT I'VE HELD ENOUGH OF THE GOLDEN SHEAVES IN MY HAND
                                               TO MAKE ME KEEP SOWING ON

AND I'VE DRAINED THE CUP OF DISAPPOINTMENT AND PAIN
              AND GONE MANY A DAY WITHOUT A SONG,
BUT I'VE SIPPED ENOUGH NECTAR FROM THE ROSES OF LIFE
                THAT MAKES ME WANT TO KEEP LIVING ON.