Daily Jewel

by       Pastor J.T. Carnell,   McAlester, OK  

“Check the Batteries in Your Smoke Alarm” 

“He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon.” – Proverbs 7:20

The serpent was clever, more clever than any wild animal God had made. He spoke to the Woman: "Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?" The Woman said to the serpent, "Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. It's only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, 'Don't eat from it; don't even touch it or you'll die.'" The serpent told the Woman, "You won't die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you'll see what's really going on. You'll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil." – Genesis 3:1-5 (MSG)

One of the things that everyone is encouraged to do at least twice a year is that when it is time to move our clocks forward or back is to check the batteries in your smoke alarms.  Although smoke alarms when properly functioning do not prevent fires they can certainly reduce serious injury and even death in the event a fire occurs.  How many times do we hear in the news reports that when a fire has claimed a life or lives the last words are, “no smoke detectors were found in the home.”  The National Association of Insurance Commissioners reports that the vast majority of deaths and injuries that result from house fires each year could be been prevented with an adequate or working detector in the home.

There is also another factor as far as I am concerned having an adequate smoke detector in the house and it is the peace of mind knowing that I can go to bed at night without fear, wondering whether or not the alarm is working properly.  I would rather receive a rude awakening and have my life spared rather than lose my life to a horrible death, and one that could have easily been prevented.

I am going to do my best to resist the “temptation” (maybe a poor choice of words) to use the following words, but it is easy to point to something and say, “that is Satan’s greatest weapon,” only later to say again, “and here is the devil’s greatest tools.”  The truth is he has a number of methods at his disposal to get us off our guard, and the one in this verse is as effective as any there is and it is this:  the alarm has been disabled!  

In the verse from Proverbs, the woman tells her young naïve prey that there is no risk in being caught because her husband is gone for a long time.  There is plenty of time for their tryst and they can “sin in peace.” 

The serpent effectively did the same.  He simply deactivated the “alarm” that God had created when he told the woman that she could eat the fruit with no consequences, even though her initial response said otherwise.  Once he was able to get her to remove the batteries from her “fire” alarm, the deed was done.  And the result is we have been getting “burned” ever since!

The Holy Spirit was given to provide us with the ultimate alarm to detect when we are about to get “burned.”  If you find yourself constantly in the midst of the fire, namely, you find yourself in situations where you know you do not belong, or you are experiencing negative attitudes then I would ask, have you checked your spiritual batteries lately? 

Are you spending time with God in the Word?  I don’t mean a casual glance on Sundays but a concerted effort to be in it!  Are you spending time in prayer?  Not just bowing your head and listening to others pray but being intentional in spending time with God—just you and Him!  Are you firmly attached with the Body of Christ?  There is a direct association with Church attendance and one’s personal growth!  They work together!  Are you holding back giving to God?   Be it monetarily or in time or service, when you give to God He gives back in abundant measure!  These are ways that you keep your batteries fresh.

There are a number of factors that contribute to house fires, a few as a result of natural disaster:  Wildfires (as we have seen recently in the Oklahoma City area), lightning strikes, broken gas lines as the result of earthquakes—but most are caused by human error—and yet in each case there is a way to escape safely.  Stay up-to-date with the Lord and Savior!

Nan's Calendar

by        Nan Forehand, Statesville, NC  

God is preparing His heroes and the time will come when they will appear and the world will wonder where they came from.
A. W. Tozer

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things.
1 Timothy 4:8

If Christianity is true -- then it cannot be simply a file drawer in our crowded lives.  It must be the central truth from which all our behavior, relationships, and philosophy flow.
Charles Colson

There are times in life when true faith and suffering go hand in hand.  What better to have so close to us as we endure suffering than true faith that knows no limits.  Stand strong through your trials.  The Lord is watching over you and even when your situation is so dark you can't see your hand in front of your face, God will flood the darkness with His Holy Light.
There will be times in life our physical bodies become weak, no doubt.  At times, our spirit becomes weak from struggling through spiritual warfare.  We only have to do the best we can today with the strength we  possess.  God doesn't give us strength before we need it or after we needed it.  He gives us exactly as much strength as we need ---  exactly when we need it.  Read that again.  When you humble yourself before God, first thanking Him for loving you and for forgiving you when you fail Him, asking for strength in time of trouble, believe He has heard your prayer and at that moment, He will fill you with with more strength than you can imagine is inside of you.  Believe me, I certainly do include myself in these places when I say "you", "your", etc.
 Timothy said  "godliness has value for all things."  There are some things in life that are not negotiable.
Better to suffer for Christ than to be conformed to the ways of this world.  Remember, this world is not our home.  Though we may be strangers in a strange land, we need not be afraid of what tomorrow will bring.  Remember, God has already been there and He will take care of us.  Turn fear into faith!
Stand firm; stand your ground; stand on the promises of Christ our Savior!
 Love and prayers to you.  Nan

Turn Fear into Faith  (Acrostic Poem)

F aith
E ncourages
A nd
R edeems

God's Tug - "F" Words - Don't Worry, It's Clean

"F" Words -  It's clean don't worry...

April 2, 2011

 ⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 1 Peter 5:6 (New International Version, ©2011)

How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:9-11 (NIV)

Tonight when I fed my cat, I said to her, “Sasha, you want some food?” She immediately responded by bounding into the kitchen. Then I thought for her food is her “f” word. So many times, when society thinks in terms of the “f word,” it is only in the use of profanity. Here are some other “f words,” and their associations in God’s world.

Freedom – for someone living in a war-torn country, or under the rule of a dictatorship, it’s the ability to live without fear, or to worship how they choose.

Forgiveness – it’s the knowledge that when a wrong is done, there is grace beyond the mistake.

Faith – knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Lord exists and He watches over His creations no matter what happens.

Family – those around you who may be relations, friends, or companions in a common belief. For those who do not have blood relations, their friends are often their family.

Friends - non-relations sticking with others through good and bad times, and loving them unconditionally. It hurts when they pass out of your life for whatever reason.

Fun – that which is done to relieve seriousness and work.

Fingers – the appendages on hands for many uses in life, such as praying, typing, eating, or holding the hands of others.

Ok, these are just a few words with positive connotations beginning with the letter “f.” It’s not always linked with profanity. They are words that I associate with positive attitudes, what God would have me do in my life, and those that uplift me in the presence of negativity. And just so those reading this blog think I’m saying these things because I’m perfect, I want to tell you I’m definitely not. I’ve let a few of those other “f” words slip from my tongue and I have to ask Jesus for forgiveness.  

If you prefer to read this blog elsewhere, either by email or at http://mylessonseachday.blogspot.com, please send me an email telling me so. Also, if you would prefer to be dropped from God’s Tug. No hard feelings.

Blessings upon you, your families, and your furkids (if you have any).

Michelle Rose

Good Things

by      Everett Christian,  McAlester, OK    

 
 
GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
 
8 The Lord is good and does what is right;
      he shows the proper path to those who go astray.
- Psalm 25:8(New Living Translation).
 
 
 
GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
 
9 Reverence for the Lord is pure,
      lasting forever.
   The laws of the Lord are true;
      each one is fair.
 10 They are more desirable than gold,
      even the finest gold.
   They are sweeter than honey,
      even honey dripping from the comb.
 11 They are a warning to your servant,
      a great reward for those who obey them.
- Psalm 19:9-11(New Living Translation).
 
 
 
A QUOTE
 
Happiness is not a when or where, but a here and now!
- Zig Ziglar -
 
 
 
THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
 
A pinch of probability is worth a pound of perhaps.
- From Reminisce Magazine -
 
I've learned that if someone says something unkind about me, I must live so that no one will believe it.
- Age 39, Wisdom Through The Ages -
 
 
 
NOTES
 
Today has been mostly sunny with a high temperature of 78 degrees. Low temperature this morning was 43 degrees. I had lunch with Charley. I went to the post office. At 1:45 p.m. I had an appointment with Dr. Jackson, my family doctor. He wanted to check to see how my blood pressure was doing after adding another little pill. He said my blood pressure is great now and was really pleased. He also had a lab test done. He called me at 5:07 p.m. and said the lab test was also fine. After I returned from the doctor's office I took a nap. Around 4:00 p.m. I went to the McAlester News Capital to pay for my subscription for another three months. While there I visited with Pat Hessdorfer and another lady that I see occasionally at Taco Bob's. The weather was real nice this evening so I sat out for a while with the cats. There were many birds out this evening but they managed to stay out of the way of the cats. If the cats ever catch a bird I try to get it away from them and turn it loose. There was one Turkey Vulture that flew over this evening going in a north direction. I never cease to be amazed how those huge birds can glide along only occasionally flapping their wings. I also saw Black Birds, Eurasian Collered Doves, Mocking Birds and Robins. I enjoy sitting out in God's wonderful world. I rested from Good Things again last night and watched a baseball game since it was the first day of the Baseball Season. I may rest again tomorrow night so don't be concerned. It seems this young man is needing more and more rest as time goes by.
 
The cats are fine. Friendly just came by for a bite of dry food. They also get canned food.
 
At 10:15 p.m. skies are fair with a temperature of 65 degrees. I will see you next time.
 
In Christian Love, Everett.

God's Tug - God's Furred and Feathered Ambassadors

Friends, I had no idea what I was going to write tonight. This came from God. What I write here is about my life and my relationship with the Lord.

God's blessings upon you.

Michelle Rose

God’s Furred and Feathered Ambassadors (and those with scales, too) ;~D

April 1, 2011

An animal's eyes have the power to speak a great language.  ~Martin Buber

If all the beasts were gone, men would die from a great loneliness of spirit, for whatever happens to the beasts also happens to the man.  All things are connected.  Whatever befalls the Earth befalls the sons of the Earth.  ~Chief Seattle of the Suquamish Tribe, letter to President Franklin Pierce

Isaiah 11: 6-9
“The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” (NIV)

So much of my life I’ve spent alone, with the exception of having a four-legged companions – I’ve never been married or had a long-term relationship. God has gifted me with numerous cats, guinea pigs, and a few rats. When I feel lonely, they have cuddled me; sat on my lap; listened when I spoke of joy and sadness; needed me; and accepted me just as I am. It has also caused me great sadness when God took them from me, just as He put them in my life. It’s not that I dislike people, it’s just that for so long I could not relate to my own kind because of my emotional disability. That happened when I was first diagnosed with it, but it still happens sometimes now. I can only be with others for so long then I have to escape to be by myself and with either Sasha or other animals. The words Isaiah uses in this verse are pretty much close to my picture of an idyllic heaven. It’s where I want to be when I leave this earth. I want to run with the wolves, tigers, cheetahs, leopards, and other creatures that humans destroy for their own selfish and greedy motives. Creatures, in this life, that mostly are too wild for human companionship. Ok, I’ve gotten off on a bit of a rant here. But, maybe what I see in them, not that I don’t see it in people, are God’s blessings of understanding.

Last night I was watching The Mentalist, with Simon Baker. If any of you watch this show, you’ll understand what I’m talking about here. Patrick Jane, the character played by Baker, is multi-faceted – funny, outrageous and courageous. But something I realized last night was that he is also perceptive to the needs of people and compassionate towards them. Last night’s episode had me in tears, since Jane understands that a medical examiner, who he’s always ridiculed, is dying. It is that compassion, making me love his character. This is how God blesses me with animals – this is how animals are to me (ok, not that people aren’t). This is how God wants me to be toward other people and my lessons come from some humans and many animals. This is the longest God’s Tug I’ve written so far – although I want to keep them brief. Yet, I needed to get it out, since I’m having a bit of a challenging time right now.