Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
Friday, September 23, 2011

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives. - Proverbs 11:30(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. - James 4:7(New International Version).

A QUOTE
Friends are important because they cry with us. - Dr. Steve Stephens -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
The best way to appreciate your job is to imagine yourself without it. - From Reminisce Magazine - Music is a picture painted on a background of silence. - From Reminisce Magazine -

NOTES
I had lunch today with my brother, Charley, and my pastor, J. T. Carnell. I went to Country Mart for a few items and then to the Post Office. I took my nap in early afternoon. Soon after I lay down Rascal came and joined me. When I got up I did a load of laundry. The weather was real nice this evening so I sat outside with the cats for about an hour and read. I had a note from Michelle Angelini wondering if the Billy Graham Crusades were on You Tube. I really don't know as I watch it on television. The Billy Graham Crusades are broadcast over the Trinity Broadcasting Network on Saturday night at 9:00 p.m. Central Standard Time. The same program is repeated on Wednesday night at 6:00 p.m. Central Standard Time. You can determine what time it is braodcast in your area. I had a note from Alice expressing appreciation for Geneva's note last night. Geneva last name is Poynter and she live in Chicago. She sent another note today about Ruth Graham which I think is worth sharing with you.
Here is Geneva's note: Everett, I am surprised but pleased that you included my note. I hope it will help someone else as I was helped by her book. Praise God that Franklin is now a wonderful spokesman for the Lord. I learned from one of the books that Ruth's back injury was from making a game for her children and trying it out first to see if it was safe. That's why she was in a wheel chair for the last few years of her life. Afterward the children had a wonderful time with the game. It was one of those trolley-like things that you tie to a tree at the top of the hill and then ride down to the bottom on the trolley rope. I've forgotten what they called it. The cats are fine. Little Girl is on the arm of the couch. Rascal has been by a time or two. Tony from across the street has been over a couple of times for a bite of food. Today has been a sunny day with a high temperature of 81 degrees. Low temperature this morning was 48 degrees. At 9:35 p.m. skies are mostly cloudy with a temperature of 66 degrees.
I will see you next time, In Christian Love, Everett.

Daily Jewel

by Pastor J.T. Carnell, McAlester, OK
Sept. 23, 2011

“All Your Heart…All You Do!”
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding..." - Proverbs 3:5 (The New International Version)

“Some” cannot be found in this chapter, except for the word “someone” that appears in verse 30. “All” is used or implied throughout the 35 verses of the chapter. God wants all your heart, and he wants to impact all you do. He wants your loyalty, and he wants your obedience. Although he wants you to seek understanding, insight, and wisdom (Proverbs 2), he wants you to trust in his, not yours. In verse 7 he says, “Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn your back on evil.” Commenting on these verses John Maxwell says, “Even good wisdom divorced from God can become a snare.” (Maxwell Leadership Bible).
He referred to himself as “The Great Blondin,” the first tightrope-walker to cross the Niagara Falls. He did this first in 1835. His name was Jean Francois Gravelot, a French aerialist. What brought fame to him was not only his ability to cross the Falls on a wire, but to do other things at the same time—like crossing it blindfolded. People who perform such stunts successfully have learned what it means to trust.
We live in a “non-absolute,” relative world—a world where “all” means “some” and “always” means “occasionally.” But when the writer of Proverbs recorded the words in his beloved book, he was inspired to use absolutes to describe God’s intentions about his children. And his promise is absolute as well. If you trust God completely and seek his will in matters big and small, “he will direct your paths.”
Do you remember the words of the old gospel song by Homer Grimes? What should I give Thee, Master—Thou who didst die for me? Shall I give less of what I possess, Or shall I give all to Thee? Jesus, my Lord and Saviour; Thou has giv’n all for me. Thou didst leave thy home above to die on Calvary . What should I give Thee Master—Thou has giv’n all for me? Not just a part, or half of my heart—I will give all to Thee.

Trust is not easy. It is not easy to give it or get it. It may take a while for us to get through this verse simply because we need to see what trust is and how it could make or break how we live as Christians. Do you trust God above yourself? Above others? Let us learn together how it can happen!
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
Thursday, September 22, 2011

GOD SPEAKS TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? - James 2:5(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. - James 1:12(New International Version).

A QUOTE
Sleep not when others speak, sit not when others stand, speak not when you should hold your peace, walk not on when others stop. - George Washington,br />
- THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
The one rowing the boat is never the one who rocks it. - From Reminisce Magazine - Live one day at a time and make it a masterpiece. - From Reminisce Magazine -

NOTES
I had lunch with Charley and Bill. I went to the post office and then to a Dollar General Store for a few items. I took my nap in early afternoon with Rascal. I did work in what I call my office trying to get it all straightened up. I still have a ways to go. I put treats and food out for the cats at 5:30 p.m. This morning I saw a box turtle (dry land turtle) out by the storage house. I don't know how he got through the chain link fence. He probably crawled under the gate. I will let him stay in the yard until I see him wanting out and then I will put him over the fence and let him go on his way. I have often thought of Billy Graham having to be away from his wife and family while he was doing the Lord's work. I was never away from my wife, Flonnie, for more than two weeks at a time in our 62 years together. I had an e-mail from Geneva concerning Billy Graham's wife. I want to share it with you. Here is Geneva's letter:
"And I never cease to be humbled and amazed at how his wife raised those children while he traveled for the Lord. I have read some books by and about her. I would have loved to meet her and talk to her. Maybe I would have been a better Mother to our son. One book that I read while our son was rebelling was entitled "Prodigals and Those Who Love Them." It helped me immensely. People (especially people in the church) tend to be critical of the Christian parents who have children who wander. One such person said, "Geneva, children are a product of their home." I told her about that book by Ruth Bell Graham and she never said another word to me about that. She wrote that book when Franklin was sowing some wild oats. I never met her but I loved her. And right now, I'd walk across the street to meet Billy Graham but very few other people who have been or are famous."

The cats are fine. Little Girl is on the couch tonight. Rascal was just here checking on me. Smokey came through the den a little while ago. They have all been accounted for this evening.
Today has been a cloudy day. It had been raining when I awoke this morning and then it rained a little more. It had stopped raining by noon. I received three tenths of an inch at my house. High temperature today was 71 degrees and that was just after midnight. Low temperature today was 57 degrees. At 9:25 p.m. skies are mostly cloudy with a temperature of 60 degrees.
I will see you next time, In Christian Love, Everett.

Daily Jewel

by Pastor J.T. Carnell, McAlester, OK
Sept. 22, 2011

“You are Being Watched!”
“Earn a reputation for living well in God’s eyes and the eyes of the people." – Proverbs 3:4 (The Message)

There was a movie out a few years ago and the more I think about it – has quite a few good spiritual illustrations attached. It was called “The Truman Show.” It was about a man whose life, unbeknownst to him, was actually a television show. It followed his life from the moment he was born and into his adult life. There were cameras on him literally 24 hours a day. Everyone in his life, his friends, co-workers, parents and wife included was actually cast members, playing out a role. For those of you who are naturally paranoid – this movie could really get to you. There are always two sets of eyes that are always upon us. One set determines how we live in public. Those are the eyes of our family, friends, co-workers, and others of importance in our lives. What people see from us and in us is typically how our reputation is formed and remembered. Is that unfair? Probably. Quite often all it takes is one bad day or one unfortunate mistake and we can be marked for life and our reputation tainted. One of my favorite quotes comes from that lovable loser, Charlie Brown who was lamenting to Linus one day: “When I’m right no one remembers but when I’m wrong no one forgets.” However unfortunate or unfair that seems the truth remains – what people see determines how we are viewed. Living right in the open has its advantages! There is, however, another set of eyes and those are the ones that truly matter! One of my favorite verses says this: “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.” (2nd Chronicles 16:9) I especially like the last part of that verse that says He is looking to strengthen those who are committed to Him. Although we certainly want people to think well of us – it matters most what God thinks of us. What people see during one of our bad days can often be misconstrued and misunderstood. The good news is that God weighs our motives and knows our intentions. It is easy to think, “No one will know the difference if I stretch the truth a little.” Or so we think. Lynn Austin, a writer for The Christian Reader, thought that way as well until an event in her life changed all that. The following is in her words: "Sometimes Satan makes a little white lie seem like an easy way out of a problem. I know. My five-year-old son had been looking forward to visiting the planetarium while on vacation, but when we arrived, we learned that children under six were not admitted. "Let's pretend you had a birthday," I told him. "If the ticket man asks how old you are, I want you to say, 'I'm six.'" I made him practice it until he sounded convincing, then bought the tickets without any problems. When the show ended, we moved on to the museum. There a large sign read, "Children 5 and under admitted free." To avoid the $5 admission fee, I had to convince my son to forget his pretend birthday. The consequences of my lie became apparent as we walked up the steps to our last destination, the aquarium. "Wait a minute, Mom," my son said with a worried look. "How old am I now?" It was then I knew that I had fallen for the "way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." (Proverbs 14:12) What do our lives look like when the “cameras” are not on us? I would venture to say that we are still being observed...so fair warning, but it is for your good – to be your strength!

Pastor J. T. Carnell

Nan's Calendar

by Nan Forehand, Statesville, NC
Sept. 22, 2011

NOTE: This message isn't intended for every person who reads it today. If you know someone who may benefit from it, please feel free to pass it along...... and do it with a happy heart.

things at rest tend to stay at rest things in motion tend to stay in motion it takes more energy to get things moving than to keep them moving change is difficult author unknown

inert - 1) without power to move or to resist 2) inactive; dull, slow 3) exhibiting little or no chemical activity
God didn't design us as inert objects! He designed us to move! I know, but......
no buts about it! Do it, whatever it is you are supposed to do, and as I have raised our children to believe, "....... and do it with a happy heart!" (As I say this, I am wearing a warm smile and with positive energy). Get off your buts and use the power God gave you! Remember, it doesn't matter how slow you go as long as you do not give up. Pace yourself. I pray you will have a wonderfully productive day today!
I love you. Nan