Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

“Finding the Answer to Life’s Puzzles”
"...let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance – for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise." – Proverbs 1:5, 6 (New International Version)

I have always been one to love puzzles. As a child and teen I loved the challenge of putting together the largest most complicated puzzles I could find. One year as a Christmas present I was given a 3D puzzle of the Notre Dame Cathedral. It took me almost two months to put together but I stuck with it until it was complete.
Some of you might remember that in the 1960's and 70's there was a television game show called Concentration. The game consisted of a board with approximately twenty-four numbered squares. Behind each square were pictures of an item, and each item on the board had a match. If the participant found the matches they would win that particular prize. After the items were matched, the backs of the squares were turned to reveal a message to a puzzle. To win the game, the participant had to solve that puzzle. It was an incredibly challenging game but I enjoyed it thoroughly.
Jesus often spoke to people using parables. “Spiritual puzzles” you might say. He took the ordinary everyday things of life and placed them in situations in order that the people might see the real truths of God’s love and purpose behind them!
Just like in Concentration, there is always more to our lives than what meets the eye. Situations that often seem so difficult to comprehend and handle, yet when we come to understand what God has to say to us through these life puzzles, we begin to see the "Big Picture" of how He truly has all the answers to what troubles us!
How adequate are you at solving the difficulties you are faced with? Do you wait for others to give you the answers or solutions? How do you know whom to trust with your problems? And even then can you say without hesitation that they have your best interests in mind?
I guess the question to ask here is this: “what do you do when you don’t know what to do?” In the midst of trouble, where do we turn? To whom or to what do we place our utmost trust upon? In his great devotional, “My Utmost for His Highest”, Oswald Chambers writes, “There are times in our spiritual life when there is confusion, and the way out of it is not to say that we should not be confused. It is not a matter of right or wrong, but a matter of God taking you through a way that you temporarily do not understand. And it is only by going through this spiritual confusion that you will come to the understanding of what God truly wants for you.”
Sound confusing? Imagine Abram’s confusion when God tells him to go to a place that He (God) would tell him. He had no idea really where he was going but in the end God provided the land. Noah’s journey was the same, asked to build something he had never seen and take on a task that was beyond him, yet God led him through step by step. Our Country, State and Church are a vital part of our lives, and the process by which God leads is not always a simple one to understand. But we must let Him lead us through the confusion before we can see His hand “in the fog.” Is He truly in charge of your fear and anxiety?
Jesus said in Matthew 11:28: "Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and over burdened, and I will cause you to rest – I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls." (The New Amplified Version)
It is important not to take friends and family out of the equation when you need guidance, and yet, God's Word and wisdom should always be our first source. Let him assist you in completing life’s puzzles.
Pastor J. T. Carnell.

Good Things

by Everett Christian, MdAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided. - Proverbs 16:6(New International Version)

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
3 The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. Jeremiah 31:3(New International Version).

A QUOTE
Stand for something or you'll fall for anything. Today's mighty oak is yesterday's nut that held it's ground. - Rosa Parks -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
God supplies us with all the power needed to accomplish His will. - From Reflecting God -
Ignorance with love is better than wisdom without it. - From Leaves of Gold -

NOTES
Today has been mostly cloudy in McAlester, Oklahoma, with a high temperature of 64 degrees and a low temperature of 39 degrees. Today at 11:45 a.m. I took my tax information to Sandy Isenhower CPA to have my taxes prepared. I went to the post office and then to MacDonald's for lunch. Charley had a meal at his church so Bill and I decided to go out on our own today for lunch. I took my nap at the usual time. I put treats and food outside for the cats at 4:30 p.m. They are always ready and waiting for me. They are really not hungry because they have food out all the time. At 6:00 p.m. I watched a Billy Graham Crusade from Reno, Nevada in the year of 1980. Since last time I have heard from Alice, Quentin, Debra, Pastor J.T. and Geneva. I am always happy to get e-mails.
The cats are fine. None are with me at present but they have been coming and going all evening. The latest one that was here was Leo. I have seen all of them this evening.

Have a Nice Thursday.
I will see you next time, In Christian Love, Everett.

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester,OK

“Human Mega-Bytes”
"There's something here also for seasoned men and women, still a thing or two for the experienced to learn." – Proverbs 1:5 (The Message).

Welcome to the computer age! If you are reading this message then you no doubt are a part of the world of modern technology! I will be the first to admit that there is a great deal about computers that I do not know. I can turn it on, check my email, use a variety of programs—but beyond that my knowledge and expertise must take a back seat to others who are far more capable than I.
Even though I am no computer whiz or expert I have discovered first hand what happens when you try to store more information than what the computer's hard drive can handle. It won't take it! Should you ever arrive at that point you do have a few options available to you. First, delete unnecessary programs or files. Pictures are a good place to start because they tend to take up a lot of disk space. (For some of us, deleting files is easier said than done.) Second, you can upgrade the computer's memory. That can often be not only time consuming but also very expensive and in the end it might not be enough to provide you with the additional space you need. Third, store some of your information on a disk. “Flash Drives” are a very useful tool and can store a hefty amount of information. On the negative side, what do you do should the disk mess up or happens to go through the wash? I would not recommend that you not wash a flash drive. It will literally “clean out” your information! (And yes, I did learn this first hand!) Finally, you can, buy a new computer with more memory! No matter how you look at it...there is a limit as to how much can be stored in a computer's mind!
I said all that to say this…that even though a computer is a great tool, it is obvious that they do have their limits. That is not the case with the human memory chip! In fact, this verse tells us that there is no end or limit to what we can know or learn. Even the wisest of humans will never reach their full potential! All have much to learn and gain from God’s wisdom!
What I have learned is to be careful never to assume that I have the answer to every situation. I might have an opinion, and there will be times when previous experiences will give me a better understanding, but in truth, I need to allow the Holy Spirit to guide me to do (and or say) what is right. My wisdom is limited, but God's is not!
How "wise" do you believe yourself to be? There are two extremes to consider here: First, you can underestimate your capabilities! Don't! Wisdom and genius are two completely different things. You have the ability to learn and grow. If wisdom were beyond our reach or only for an elite set of people then the book of Proverbs would not exist. Second, You have the ability to still learn. Never be arrogant enough to believe that you have reached your "intellectual" peak. Which is why we must trust ourselves to grow “spiritually.” That is the true strength of wisdom.
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
14 For the Lord will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance. - Psalm 94:14(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
(From Peter's Sermon) 17 “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’" - Acts 2:17-21(New International Version).

A QUOTE
Anyone who wants to live forever with God needs to say "I do" to Jesus. - Ed Forster -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
A true friend is somebody who can make us do what we can do. - Emerson -
Make yourself an honest person, and then you may be sure that there is one rascal less in the world. - Carlyle -

NOTES
The day started with fog in McAlester, Oklahoma. The skies cleared this afternoon. High temperature today was 61 degrees and the low temperature was 39 degrees. I saw Charley and Bill at noon. I went to the post office. I took a nap this afternoon without a cat. I gave the cats their treats outside at 4:30 p.m. There was not much going on in my life today. Since last time I have heard from Alice, Pastor J.T. and Quentin. I am always happy to receive e-mails. If anyone would ever like to comment on anything in the Good Things, your comments are welcome, pro or con.
The cats are fine. None are with me at present but they have been coming and going all evening. I have seen all of them this evening.

Have a nice Wednesday!
I will see you next time, In Christian Love, Everett.

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, ok

“Did I Hear that Right?”
"...for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young..." – Proverbs 1:4 (NIV)

Key Word—Discreet: "Being tactful...careful not to say or do the wrong thing..."

I remember an incident when I was about 14. I had been hired by my to mow his lawn and when I was out mowing our yard he asked me if I could do his lawn on that Saturday. I had to tell him, “no” because I had planned to go out of town with my church youth group that day. I should have left it at that but as I was getting ready to go back into my house I yelled over to him, "Sorry, I can't be obligated." I thought I was being really “grown up” by using such a big word, but in my youthful, limited vocabulary the wrong word came out of my mouth. I meant to say oblige, but that is not what came out. My mother who was listening to the conversation gently corrected me but that did not ease my embarrassment.
Many will remember the great, Yogi Berra, who during his playing days for the New York Yankees was actually a very good baseball player. But he will probably be remembered more for some of his, “mis-statements,” rather than his baseball ability. He has become so “famous” for this that a word was created just for him: “Yogisms!” Here are just a few yogisms that you may recognize:
“Baseball is 90% physical and the other half is mental.” (If you do not know math you might miss that one!)
“If you see a fork in the road take it.” “The future ain’t what it used to be.” “You can observe a lot by watching.” “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.” Asked why the New York Yankees lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1960 World Series: “We made too many wrong mistakes.” My personal favorite: “It’s déjŕ vu all over again!” You got to love it!!
Similarly, there was a comic by the name of Gary Crosby who made a living doing the same thing. He would purposely use the wrong word for humorous effects. ,br /> Unfortunately, life and relationships are not always humorous and knowing what to say or what to do at the right time can make a big difference in people’s lives! Sometimes, it also could mean not saying something that you might regret later, and/or not doing something that could lead to serious repercussions.
I truly desire at all times to say and do the right things, although I know I will make mistakes and my words and actions will betray my intentions. However, if I follow the guidelines that are provided by God through his Word the probability of making reckless missteps is greatly minimized and I can avoid making many of those youthful mistakes and help keep my relationships strong and healthy!,br /> Have you ever said the wrong word at the wrong time? How did that make you feel? Did it cause a break or a hindrance in a special relationship? The truth is, having a great and extensive vocabulary is not the issue—it’s about being a better, stronger and caring human being.
Similarly, have there been instances when it would have far better to have said NOTHING? Take a moment to think about what this verse is saying and how making the right moves; saying the right word or not saying anything at all could make a world of difference to someone. Choosing the right words just might prevent someone else from making the wrong decision and save their life. (See Hebrews 10:24 for more instruction!)