Good Things

by          Everett Christian,   McAlester, OK    

 
GOOD THINGS
Saturday, April 23, 2011
 
 
GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
 
1 The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
      The skies display his craftsmanship.
- Psalm 19:1(New Living Translation).
 
 
 
GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
 
11 The lowly will possess the land
      and will live in peace and prosperity.
Psalm 37:11(New Living Translation).
 
 
 
A QUOTE
 
I advocate a man's joining in church works for the sake of showing his faith by his works.
- Theodore Roosevelt, Twenty-Sixth President Of The United States -
 
 
 
THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
 
Burning the candle at both ends is the worst way to make ends meet.
- From Reminisce Magazine -
 
If you want a place in the sun, you've got to put up with a few blisters.
- From Reminisce Magazine -
 
I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.
- Age 92, Wisdom Through The Ages -
 
 
 
NOTES
 
Today has been a cloudy day with a shower this morning around 9:30 a.m. and some light misting rain the rest of the day. High temperature for today was 75 degrees which happened around 1:00 a.m. Low temperature this morning was 59 degrees. Last night we had thunderstorms. This morning around 9:15 a.m. I went to the church to pick up a box of angel food that I had ordered two weeks ago. The lady came to clean my house at 11:00 a.m. I went to have lunch with Charley while she cleaned my house. I took a nap in early afternoon. At about 3:30 p.m. I went to Walmart for my weekly supply of cat food and other items. I sat out with the cats for a few minutes at 5:00 p.m. as I fed them some treats and put out food for the outside animals. The picture tonight is of me with one of my friends named Itty Bitty walking around in the yard with me.
 
The cats are fine. Little Girl on her blanket on the couch and Rascal in the recliner. The others have all been seen by me this evening. Leo was just here in the den but has now gone some where.
 
At 9:20 p.m. skies are cloudy with a temperature of 60 degrees. Have a Wonderful Easter Sunday! I will see you next time.
 
In Christian Love, Everett.

Daily Jewel

by   Pastor J.T. Carnell,  OK

What the Crucifixion Really Means

Is the image of Jesus hanging on the cross disturbing to you?  We in the protestant church typically do not often like to view this image.  We would rather believe in a Christ that defeated the cross and death – which is absolutely correct.  However, to defeat the cross and the grave, He had to face both: first the cross and then the grave.

I truly wish we could bypass this part of the story!  I would like to ignore its reality but to do so would not only lessen the purpose of Jesus’ life but it would also cheapen God’s grace.  Salvation without sacrifice is meaningless!  Empty!  Void!  

This, friends, is truly what separates the Christian Faith from all the other so-called world religions: That God would suffer and die on our behalf.  That He would choose this route over our annihilation.  That instead of starting over with a new and improved Adam and Eve, He allowed humanity to continue on, giving us the choice to accept His method of Salvation. 

Maybe we do not like this message because we have a hard time believing that we “need” someone to die for us.  Are we really that bad?  Paul’s message in Romans “that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23) is not a pleasant thought – but then again, neither is thinking about the crucifixion.

Would you take some time today to say thank you, Jesus, for going through the unthinkable.  For making the decision to complete a task that no other would have considered!

Daily Jewel

by   Pastor J.T. Carnell,  McAlester, OK

What is “Maundy Thursday?”

In the Christian liturgical calendar, Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday is the feast or holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter that commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles.  It is the fifth day of Holy Week, and is preceded by  Holy Wednesday and followed by Good Friday.  On this day four events are commemorated: the washing of the Disciples' feet by Jesus Christ, the institution of the Mystery of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper, the agony of Christ in the Garden of  Gethsemane, the betrayal of Christ by Judas Iscariot.

The morning celebration of these events marks the beginning of what is called the  Easter Triduum or Sacred Triduum. The Latin word triduum means a three-day period, and the triduum in question is that of the three days from the death to the resurrection of Jesus. It should be noted that for Jesus and his followers, a day ended and a new day began, at sunset, not at midnight, as it still does today in the modern Jewish calendar.  The Last Supper was held at what present-day Western civilization considers being the evening of Holy Thursday but what was then considered to be the first hours of Friday. Its annual commemoration thus begins the three-day period or triduum of Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday, days of special devotion that celebrate as a single action the death and resurrection of Christ, the central events of Christianity. (Taken from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Beyond the history lesson, today marks the time where everything Jesus was talking about would reach its climax.  His teaching, serving and loving all come together as one.  These are more than just events that we highlight – they represent His very being and as such we come to appreciate them all the more. 

Do not let this time pass by without seeing the “big picture.”  What His life was about, what He accomplished, how He loved and touched and healed and spoke – and most importantly, He is still doing these very things!  Take a moment today to thank Him for simply being who He was. 

Good Things

by   Everett Christian,  McAlester, OK

 
 
GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
 
9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.  - Romans 5:9-11(New Living Translation).
 
 
 
GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
 
11 Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. 12 Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance. - Hebrews 6:11-12(New Living Translation).
 
 
 
A QUOTE
 
The humble can wait paitiently, while the arrogant wants it now!
- H. Dale Burke and Jac La Tour -
 
 
 
THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
 
I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love human touch - holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. - Age 85, Wisdom Through The Ages.
 
To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides.
- From Reminisce Magazine -
 
What you don't see with your eyes, don't invent with your mouth.
- From Reminisce Magazine -
 
 
 
NOTES
 
Today has been a cloudy day with light rain off and on from about 10:30 a.m.  High temperature for today is the current temperature of 65 degrees. Low temperature this morning was 53 degrees. I had an appointment at the hospital for another injection in my back. I wasn't supposed to drive after the procedure for the rest of the day. My brother, Charley, picked me up about 9:20 a.m. I was back home about 10:30 a.m. Charley came at 11:15 a. m. to take me to lunch. Bill was there to have lunch with us. We went by the post office and I was back home about 12:15 p.m. I was feeling a little woozy(a good word) from the pain medication they gave me. I layed down to rest in early afternoon and woke up about 5:00 p.m. I put out some food for the outside animals, then had a bite to eat, watched a good story on television from 6:00 to 7:00, did a little work in my office room. When I got to the computer it was about 8:00 p.m. and there were lots of e-mails awaiting. That is why the Good Things are going out late tonight. My back is feeling much better at present. The picture tonight is Little Girl with some old guy that some of you might recognize.
 
At 10:55 p.m. skies are partly cloudy with a temperature of 65 degrees. I will see you next time.
 
The cats are fine. I have seen them all this evening. When I awoke from my nap this afternoon Beau and Friendly had come to bed with me and were snuggled aganst my warm stomach. Rascal had been in bed with me when I went to sleep
 
In Christian Love, Everett.

I Am One of His Sheep

I Am One of His Sheep

April 21, 2011

²⁷ My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. ²⁸ I give them eternal life and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. ²⁹ My Father. who has given them to me, is greater than all, no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. ³⁰ I and the Father are one. John 10:27-30 NIV

I have used this verse before, but I am using it again because it best illustrates the relationship between sheep and my Saviour. Many years ago I worked with sheep when I was going to school to become a vet tech. So, I don’t know very much about sheep. One thing I do know is that they know the voice of the shepherd who tends them and they follow him. Now instead of shepherds many farms have “guard” llamas or dogs like Australian shepherds to herd the sheep. They are also gregarious animals, meaning if one sheep does something, then the others will likely follow.   

I am one of Jesus’ sheep, simply because I do follow His voice. I am blessed by the fact that my Saviour guards me so fiercely that no one can take me away from Him. Even in the atmosphere of today’s world – with all its technology, crime, natural disasters, and other things happening – I feel safe. I know that harm might happen to me, but I also know that Jesus watches over me, 24/7. In today’s world, I feel there is no greater guarantee than this promise of my Father.

May God’s blessings enrich your lives – you, your family, and your furkids.

Michelle Rose