Nan's Calendar

by Nan Forehand, Statesville, NC

Early this morning, after I rinsed my cucumbers and continued the process of making sweet pickles, I went to the garden to pick green beans. I had just begun placing the beautiful green beans in my repurposed ice cream bucket when the most amazing thing happened. I've picked a many of a green bean in my life and this experience I'm about to share with you has never happened to me before. I was bent over from the waist, rustling through the leaves, picking beans, when along came a tiny baby rabbit taking his/her time as he/she moved through the foliage right in front of me! He/she had been further up the row where I had not picked beans and walked right in front of me! Mind you, he/she was so low to the ground and the bean bushes were so dense there was no room to hop! This little baby rabbit showed no fear of me at all and sat within arms reach of me as I picked my beans. Then it moved along through the beans and crossed over to the row beside me. I leaned over it and just watched it breathe. It was a beautiful moment. Something so simple brought me pleasure in a treasured moment meant only for me to enjoy. I didn't mind the sweat dripping down my back or the dirt on my hands or the little pain in my back from bending over the green bean bushes. In that moment, it was just me, God, and the little baby rabbit. Amazingly, our black Lab, Bob and our cats were still at my house. When we least expect something wonderful to happen, it will. I never would have imagined I would have this close encounter with a little baby rabbit. God prepared for my little visitor to be in just the right place at just the right time to greet me this morning. That's how it is with God's blessings for us. He has already been where we are going and has already prepared one blessing after another for our pleasure. What a shame and a pity to miss out on this treasured moment had I not decided to go to the garden this morning! I would love to hear from you and how God blessed you with an unexpected treasured moment. Now I have to jump up and finish getting ready to leave for work!
Take care and stay in touch! Love, Nan

Daily Jewel

by Pastor J.T. Carnell, McAlester, OK


“Raging-River Peace”
“Wisdom’s ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace." – Proverbs 3:17 (NIV)
Growing up in Colorado I spent a good deal of my life driving in and spending time in the mountains. One of my most favorite activities was to go fishing in the mountains or often simply walking along the side of a mountain creek or stream. One of the first things you realize regarding a mountain stream or river is there is nothing calm about them. What I mean by that is that the water is always moving – and usually moving quickly! And the larger the creek or stream becomes the louder it gets! You can often hear the river without actually seeing it. Maybe that is the attraction – Despite the quick and relentless pace of the water – there is also something quite peaceful about it. There is a mystic attraction that draws a person in – mesmerizing them into a state of absolute calm. I compare life as that which is much like walking along a mountain stream. It starts innocent enough but the further downstream you go the more that stream becomes a raging river. Now that river may not seem like much at the time but the further and longer it goes the wider and more dangerous it becomes. It is said that the Mighty Mississippi River, which begins in Minnesota is nothing more than a stream that a person can easily jump across at its beginning – but by the time it reaches Missouri and Illinois and points further south it is four to five hundred yards wide. In Memphis, the Mississippi river is nearly half-a-mile wide. And though it appears to be moving slowly, the undercurrent is strong and powerful. The reason why I can be at peace with the raging waters around me is this – I don’t have to get into the water to enjoy it! A creek is nothing more than just a trickle, maybe a foot deep but the further downstream, much like the Mississippi, it becomes faster and deeper and if I get caught in the water at that point I can easily get swept in the current and thrown against the rocks. But as long as I stay on the paths or roads next to the rivers I remain safe. Wisdom tells me that I don’t have to be in the river to enjoy the river. I don’t have to experience everything that life has to offer just to enjoy the life I’ve been given. In fact, I can honestly say that I truly enjoy life as it is! As it was meant to be for me. Walking with Christ along the paths He has provided. Walking in peace and safety. I hope that is the peace that you are experiencing right now. I hope that as you walk next to the streams of this life – just enjoy the walk. Just be careful getting into the water.
Pastor J. T. Carnell

WE’LL MEET AGAIN

     

No sinful flesh to God will rise

Before life’s Judge they’ll stand

Only loved one’s then one can see

Must be in Jesus’ hand

 

Yet oft will speak a broken heart

In times of grief and pain

“From me my loved one had to part

But soon we’ll meet again

 

My spouse has gone, yet true I’ll stay

We’ll meet again up there

We’ll build a home again some day

Wherein our love we’ll share”

 

Tis but in Christ; when born anew      Jn.3:3

When to the flesh one’s dead

We’ll live just like the angels do

As Jesus Christ has said                      Lk.20:36

 

At home with God, we’ll have no mate

No marriage bonds to tie

There’ll be no need to procreate

For none in Heaven die!

 

Don’t think a spouse who’s gone before

Is waiting for your hand

There‘ll be no wedlock anymore

This truth’s to understand

 

Our home won’t be the same as earth

There’ll be no graves to see

No weddings, pain, no death or birth

For those the Lord set free

 

But take The Father at His word

No reason for despair

No eye has seen, nor ear has heard   1Cor.2:9

What waits for us up there?.....

THERE’S WORK FOR YOU!

“Come dry your eyes and look at me

I wish to speak with you

Some things I have for you to see

And work! For you to do

 

I heard your cry I’ve seen your need

Your heart is true I know

Hear my child what I’ve decreed

Then in my name you’ll go

 

Throughout the world, my children die

Just as the devil’s planned

They need no more to live a lie

For all is in my hand

 

I see their sorrows, and their pain

Their sin their foolish doubt

But through my Son no life’s in vain

If they’d but turn about

 

For I can’t move, till their return

Until I hear them pray

I’m sending you that they may learn

To walk my righteous way

 

Now go, my child through every land

Go speak the words I’ve said

If they don’t learn to understand

They’ll fail to count their dead

 

Their stench is more than I can bear

Their shame is plain in view

The filth they do they just don’t care

All this I’m telling you

 

Step out my child go forth in haste

I want my wrath to cease

Go tell them there’s no time to waste

I long to give them peace”.....

IT’S FIVE TO TWELVE

     

“Your time of grace is passing by

Your writing’s on the wall

But lost in shame Your children die

In wayward sin they fall

 

It’s five to twelve; they’re still not in

My God what can we do?

It’s awfully late to live in sin

If only Christ they knew

 

I’ve said it many times before

Come in; the times is right

The Lord’s about to close the door

Yet still they’re not in sight!

 

Oh Lord, please tell me what to say

You know I love them so

It’s sad to see them go astray

How can I let them know?

 

Please give me favour in their eyes

My words, they’d no more doubt

Lord, set them free from Satan’s lies

Please turn their lives about

 

I’ve lost their favour, lost their trust

Your truth they’ve left behind

I could give up; but still I must

Have hope Your way they’ll find

 

So here I am once more alone

With back against the wall

Sitting in prayer beside the phone

Hoping my God they’ll call?

 

Again & again on my knees

Fervently I pray

Asking my God, if You would please

Allow them come today”.....