Good Things

by   Everett Christian,    McAlester, OK  

 
GOOD THINGS
Friday, February 25, 2011
 
 
GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
 
22 Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!”
   Wait for the LORD, and he will avenge you.
- Proverbs 20:22(New International Version).
 
 
 
GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
 
(Jesus said) 9 “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened."  - Luke 11:9-10(New Living Translation).
 
 
 
A QUOTE
 
Think of others before yourself.
- Charles R. Swindoll -
 
 
 
THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
 
Before you know what direction to take, you have to know where you are.
- From Reminisce Magazine -
 
There are no degrees of honesty.
- From Reminisce Magazine -
 
 
 
NOTES
 
Today has been mostly sunny with a high temperature of 45 degrees.  Low temperature this morning was 35 degrees. I had lunch with Charley, Bill, Mr. LeFlore and J. T. Carnell.  Mr. LeFlore came to lunch with Bill.  I went to the post office to pick up my mail.  I have been home the rest of the day taking a nap this afternoon with Rascal and Smokey.  The rest of the day I have been doing different things around the house.  I would like to welcome Kathy Schoggins to the Good Things.  She is the wife of Darren Schoggins, who already receives the Good Things.  The Good Things are going out to 53 people tonight.  That kind of scares me.  I never want to write the wrong thing or offend anyone.  If I ever do I would appreciate an e-mail from you so I can apologize and make things right.  If anyone has anything against me I certainly want to know it.
 
The cats are fine.  Little Girl and Rascal in their favorite places.  I was beginning to concerned about Emmy this evening as I hadn't seen her all day.  Then I saw that she had come in and was in a rocking chair in the living room.
 
At 9:45 skies are fair with a temperature of 36 degrees.  I will see you next time.

Gospel Tidbits

by Gary James Smith,  Champion, Alberta, Canada

HE WHO WINNETH SOUL'S IS WISE
 
While working in a steel mill in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario one of the jobs I had was to help clean out the furnaces when the mill was down. As soon as the red hot bricks would cool down, with our watering them using 4 inch hoses, a group of five men would enter the furnace and begin jackhammering the brick loose and we would shovel it towards a hole in the furnace floor. Usually we would work one hour on and then have an half hour break.I had already shared the gospel with all of the fellows that I was working with over a period of time and so during my half hour break I felt led of the Lord to walk down the mill and pray that God would lead me to share the gospel with a needy soul.
 
As I was walking and praying, I noticed a fellow having a lunch break off by himself. I approached him and said "what are you doing at 7 o'clock this evening?" "The
reason that I am asking you," I said, "is that our church is having evangelistic meetings this week and I was wondering if you would like to come." "Normally, it is hard enough to get people to come a block or two but this is only twenty miles away, and I can give you a ride." He laughed and explained that he might have come but that he had to go to Sudbury, Ontario as he and his cousin had entered a contest sponserd by Coke and they had chosen his name and he had won his money back for the motorcycle that he had recently purchased.
 
I said, "the reason I am asking you this is because recently I became a born again christian believer". "Has anyone ever explained to you how you can be born again
and how you can come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour?" "No", he answered "they haven't". "Do you mind if I share with you how you can come to know the Lord?" "No," he said,"not at all". So for the next twenty five minutes or so I explained to him as best I could. Finally, he said, sorry to interrupt you but I have to get back to work", "no problem" I said, I have to get back to work as well. Nice chatting with you I said.  He then asked me "What church do you go to anyways". "Goulais River Baptist"  I said. "I think a cousin of mine goes there" he said. "What's his name?" I replied, "Larry" he said. "Yes, I know of him" I said but I don't know him really well. "Catcha later" I said and off I went.
 
A couple of years went by and five couples from Goulais River Baptist Church went out to a bible school in northern Saskatchewan, Canada. While attending bible school there I met a guy by the name of Ross who I heard was a Christian but when I spoke with him he said he wasn't attending church anywhere.  We got to know him and he came to visit us in our home often.  God began working in his heart and life. He got on fire for the Lord and was a vibrant testimony to the saving grace of the gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
 
Some of the fellows from the college decided to move down to Calgary, Alberta and start a work there. Rossjoined them when they  moved down to Calgary and was staying at Larry's home. A short time later, Lynn, the fellow whom I had felt led of the Lord to share with, went out west to visit his cousin Larry who formerly attended Goulais River Baptist Church.
 
During one evening, Ross shared with Lynn how he had come to know the Lord and when Lynn went downstairs later that evening to retire, he bowed his head and asked Christ to come into his heart. Praise the Lord. Meantime, I was still back in Saskatchewan when I received a letter from Larry, asking if I had ever witnessed to a tall blonde haired fellow in the steelplant a couple of years back. I wrote back and said that I had. He said, well I think that this is the same fellow who just came to know the Lord.
 
My wife and I were planning on moving back to Ontario in the next little while , so I said to my wife, "let's go down to Calgary and say goodbye to everyone as we probably will never come back out west again." (Boy did God ever suprise us on that one).
 
When we arrived in Calgary a few days later. Guess who greeted me with a smile and a warm, firm handshake! You guessed it! Lynn. The same fellow whom God had led me to
share the gospel with at the steel mill. 
 
A number of years later, my wife and I with our family were back in Alberta and Lynn along with a few other fellows were sitting at our kitchen table across from me. Lynn, I said, "I never have really had an opportunity to ask someone who has come to know the Lord, how they felt when I was sharing with them". "Would you mind sharing your thoughts with me and the others present here just what you were feeling". "Sure", he said. "I was angry with you that you took up all my lunch time talking with me and I never got to finish my lunch." "I'm sorry" I replied, then he stood up with an extended hand for a handshake "but,"Praise God you did, because now I am a rejoicing born again believer!" I gave him a hearty handshake and we praised God together for what great things the Lord had done.
 
Hallelujah, what a Saviour. I watched his life transform from a timid believer to a vibrant witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
 
Copyright Feb l4 2011
Gary James Smith
 
HE WHO WINNETH SOUL'S IS WISE
 
If God leads you to share the Word
Then, share led by His Spirit
His Word shall not return unto Him void
The lost they need to hear it
That's why so urgent is the prayer
Lord lead me to a needy soul today
He will give you the words to speak
Yours to trust and obey
 
When we have witness this side of Heaven
As to how the seed that was sown
Took root in a heart prepared by Him
We praise Him all day long
Commanded by Him we preach the Word
To some seems foolishness
But praise God we have true evidence of
New believer's walking in bliss
 
New creatures now in Christ Jesus
Redeemed and being forgiven
Living their life on earth as if
They had one foot in Heaven
I've watched and rejoiced in transformations
Seen with my very own eyes
Makes that scripture all the more precious
He who winneth soul's is wise.
 
Copyright Feb 14  2011
Gary James Smith
Champion, Alberta, Canada 

Nan's Calendar

By   Nan Forehand,  Statesville, NC

 God's Law of Supply
When you center your mind on God and on His truth and abundance, good things will flow toward you rather than away from you.
Dr. Norman Vincent Peale

I remember when I ceased to be a worrier.  It was when my Air Force husband, Allen, had been given an assignment to Istanbul, Turkey.  He was to be gone from us for a one year remote assignment.  I had to make a conscious decision to focus my energy and attention on God and to trust Him completely for all our needs, at home and abroad.  When I began to live in the light of His truth and let go of the negative "what if's", I realized I had stopped worrying.  It has been a most wondrous, continuous blessing to not worry.  Sure, I have concerns at times, but I have learned to face the unknown with hope.  The continuous flow of positive energy, positive thoughts, and positive actions overpower any negative that appears as a brief thought.  Yes, the negative thoughts come, but I release them immediately and replace them, instead with positive ones.  As I commit my energy and efforts to Him, I am blessed.   God's bounty of prosperity and love encircles me like a soft, warm blanket wrapped around me.  Within His loving will, I have all I need because of God's law of supply.

Face the Unknown with Hope

By: Nan Forehand

Many times over the years
life is glimpsed through bitter tears.
A wretched existence with no hope,
clinging to a single tenuous thread.
‘Tis a lonely place
a dark, worldly abyss.
O to be cherished by one
so worthy and true;
a love strong enough to unlock
the shackles of fear surrounding a heart.
A miracle to behold
to leave fear at His feet
Nevermore in a corner to cower.
Instead, kneeling humbly in the light
of a love wondrous and bright,
with trembling hands
folded close to the heart
words trickle out
as a clear mountain stream.
In return, transformed by love and peace
eager to serve and spread The Word.
Love and encouragement to all
repaid a hundred times over.
That dark, worldly abyss
no longer to exist.

The Daily Jewel

by  Pastor J.T. Carnell,  McAester, OK

“Which Way Do I Go?” 

“Follow my advice, my son; always treasure my commands...”

– Proverbs 7:1 (NLT)

Chapter seven picks up where chapter’s one through six end…with the “teacher” reminding the listener/reader to not only pay close attention to what is being said—but to follow his advice with purpose and passion!  The word “treasure” is a great passion word which denotes a strong adherence to.

One of the current popular television stations has been running a commercial highlighting some of the “characters” that appear on their various shows.  Some of you are probably familiar with some of their current shows:  “White Collar,” “Psych,” “Burn Notice,” “Covert Affairs” and “Royal Pains.”  Each of these shows reach a rather wide audience making the USA Network a major player in the television market.  In the commercial each of the characters describes something about themselves in real life:  One says, “I’m an adoptive dad,” another says “I’m Jewish.”  One of the individuals describes himself as a “Christian,” and then another says, “I believe in many paths to God.” I believe the purpose of the commercial is to show how diverse we all are, to accept that diversity and learn to live in harmony with one another!  In theory—it’s sweet.  In practice—it won’t happen!

It’s not that I have a problem accepting people because I believe there is Scriptural mandate to do that!  (See Romans 12).  Here’s the problem:  To accept me means accepting what I believe (my Christian beliefs) and if that runs in opposition to what another believes we just might have a slight problem and it has to do with (not who) but what I accept into my life.  It’s kind of hard to walk hand-in-hand when you are going in opposite directions!  (I thought of that one all by myself!)

 How often have we heard that phrase, “many paths to God?”  It is a phrase used most often in Eastern religions which has little to do with the “Creator-God,” (the One we know as Jehovah) as it does with the belief that we ourselves can become as god. 

If, as is asserted, there are many paths to God, then anything in a book we read is as good as reading the bible.  Anything we worship is as good as worshiping God.  Jesus was a good teacher/preacher/prophet and His words were as good as any that have come along, but others have some good things to say as well.   

Solomon declares:  “Follow my advice…”  When Jesus met Peter and Andrew, James and John, He did not say to them:  “If you want to know about Me, text me.  Email Me…send Me a ‘friend’ request…follow Me on Twitter…”  No!  He said, “Follow Me!”  The truth of the matter is you cannot follow sitting down…standing still…or going the opposite direction!  To follow someone you have to go in the direction they are going, right behind them. 

He then follows that up with, “…always treasure my commands.”  My interpretation: Follow as close as possible!  Be no more than one step behind.  Have you ever tried following someone in your car only to have a car (or two) get in between you and the one you are following?  Or if you get too far back the one you are trying to watch goes through a yellow light and you get stuck at the red light?  Your only hope is that the one you are following waits for you for if not reaching your wanted destination becomes increasingly difficult.

The USA Network (like every network) wants me to watch their programs so they offer up a variety of “characters” and story lines to grab my attention.  The world is no different!  It offers up a variety of very appealing “programs” that fit whatever appetite one might have.

If you are not passionately following what God has prescribed for your soul then don’t be surprised if you find yourself on a path that does not lead to holiness—and make no mistake about it, there is only one way to God and that is by following Christ! 

WC Contest - January '11

  Winner of the 10th Anniversary of Word Chimes.com Poetry Contest:

Michelle Angelini for her poem. "An Echoed Voice"

Congratulations Michelle.

You can read the winning entry at www.wordchimes.com. 

A BIG Thank you to all those who particiapted.