Nan's Calendar

by Nan Forehand, Statesville, NC
Nov. 7, 2011

Love comes out of Heaven unasked and unsought. Pearl Buck

This is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son. 1 John 4:10

On October 18, 2011, love came running out of the woods by my office. We call this love Gracie. My co worker, Leann, had gone outside for a moment. The wind was howling and the leaves were being ripped from the trees. She heard the chattering of birds, obviously taunting some creature below. In the midst of this audible display of autumn, she paused, listened more carefully and to her amazement, she heard the muffled cry of a kitten somewhere in the woods. Coming through the door, Leann called to me and said "Nan, I hear a kitten in the woods." Since we didn't have any patients to assist nor was the phone ringing, we went outside to investigate. We listened closely and then we heard the kitten crying again. I followed the sound to the far edge of the parking lot near the highway and looking into the woods, I saw a tiny kitten all alone. I began calling "here kitty, kitty" and the kitten heard me and ran as fast as it could directly towards me and didn't stop until it reached my feet. It could barely see me because one of its eyes was shut from all the gunk in it. The other eye wasn't much better. I reached down and scooped it up into my arms and rubbed it. It looked pathetic. It was covered in fleas, I mean, to the point of being infested. It weighed barely a pound. I told Leann that I was taking it to my Vet. I found a zippered case in my car that was perfect for the occasion and placed the kitten inside. Long story short..... Gracie is free from fleas, her eyes are clear and bright. She still has a ravenous appetite and is full of life. Yes, she is like the love of which Pearl Buck speaks. She came out of the woods unasked and unsought, but she came and she has given us all the love a little one pound kitten can give. She has trusted me from the very first moment she heard my voice. She was at death's door in many respects. She could have died from the fleas, starved to death, become a snack for a wild animal, and not to mention, it rained that same night we rescued her. She could have died from being out in the rain all night. She is named Gracie, because by the grace of God, she didn't die that fateful day. I pray for the person who abandoned her in the woods. Little does that person know that God had greater plans for the life of that tiny kitten. She fills our lives with love. Sometimes, we think we have given all the love we have to give and have no room for one more responsibility. God's plan is far greater than our near-sighted visions. When love comes to you unasked and unsought, how will you respond? Nan's Calendar comes to you, unasked and unsought, because I am filled with love and compassion for all of God's creations, because I am called to love, to encourage, to challenge and to inspire. This is not from me. I am merely a vessel God uses in whatever way He so chooses. I am willing and able.
Love and prayers lift you this day. Always, Nan

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
Sunday, November 6, 2011

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
(Jesus said) 19 "Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 5: 19(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
11 Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time. - Proverbs 13:11(New Living Translation).

A QUOTE
Yesterday doesn't have to dictate today. - Glenda Hotton, M.A.

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
A good time to keep your mouth shut is when you're in deep water. - From The Cooley Newsletter -
If your thoughts are wise and your actons foolish, you're close to normal. - From Reminisce Magazine - Modesty is hoping that others will find out by themselves how great you are. - From Reminisce Magazine -

NOTES
Today has been a cloudy day with a high temperature of 76 degrees and a low temperature of 59 degrees. I attended Worship Services this morning. Hymns that we sang were "Victory in Jesus" and "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus." Choruses that we sang were "In the Name of the Lord", "Salvation Belongs to Our God" and "I Worship You, Almighty God." Pastor J.T.'s sermon was titled "Living in the Presence of a Holy God." I had lunch at home. I took a nap this afternoon. At 4:30 p.m. I put out food and treats for the animals. It gets dark earlier now since we ran our clocks back. I don't care for Daylight Savings Time. At 5:45 p.m. I went to church. I got home from church about 7:15, put out the garbage for pick up in the morning, fixed me a bite of supper and then started the Good Things. That has been my day up to now.
The cats are fine, except I haven't seen Emmy today. She has done this before so I am hoping she will show up later tonight. Rascal was just in here and Little Girl is on the couch. Have a Good Monday and a Good Week. I will see you next time,
In Christian Love, Everett.

Nan's Calendar

by Nan Forehand, Statesville, NC
Nov. 6, 2011

Time and Time Again
Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. Steve Jobs

John won't be leaving this week for Air Force Basic Training. He broke the long finger on his right hand (accidentally ran into a door as he was leaving The Upper Room) on Oct. 7th and the bone didn't heal in the proper alignment. The doctor said he would need surgery to implant a plate that will cause it to come back into proper alignment. John had to make a very difficult decision. He wanted to leave next week so badly, but he knew in his heart what would be the right thing to do. He made the decision himself to have the surgery, knowing that he would lose this AGE (Aerospace Ground Equipment) job he really wanted. He did have the surgery on Friday and we are looking at recovery and healing time of about three months. When he gets a clean bill of health from the doctor, he will go back to Charlotte and begin reprocessing into the Air Force. It is a mystery how long it will be before another job comes open for John.
Right now, his plan is to attend this next semester of classes at our local community college and go back to part time work at his job when his finger is healed properly. Allen and I are so proud of him and the maturity he has shown throughout this last month of uncertainty with his finger and his future. He has consistently maintained a positive attitude and has had no time for self-pity.
The time is always right to do the right thing because it is the right thing to do. These next few months will not be wasted time for John, because he doesn't perceive them as wasted. This event with the broken finger is simply a part of the process of his life. He is a masterpiece in the making.
As well, you are a masterpiece in the making. Everything happens for a reason even when we can't see the big picture. Whatever is happening in your life right now is happening for a reason. Hold your head up and gracefully walk on...... and do it with a happy heart.... no time for regrets.
Take care and know that you are always in my thoughts and prayers. Love, Nan

Good Things

by Everett christian, McAlester, OK
Saturday, November 5, 2011

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. - 2 Timothy 2:6(New International Version)

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
14 For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end. - Psalm 48:14(New International Version)

A QUOTE
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight. - Dorothy Law Nolte -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
A wise man is never as sure of anything as a fool is of everything. - From Reminisce Magazine -
If you don't have a sense of humor, you probably don't have any sense at all. - From The Cooley Newsletter -
Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only robs today of its strength. - From Reminisce Magazine -

NOTES
Today has been partly cloudy in McAlester, Oklahoma, with a high temperature of 64 degrees and a low temperature of 44 degrees. I had lunch with Charley. I went to the post office and then to Walmart. I took a nap this afternoon with Beau and Smokey. My housecleaning lady came at 4:00 p.m. and cleaned my house. I went outside with the cats at 5:30 p.m. and read until about 6:10 p.m. I watched the Lawrence Welk program at 7:00 p.m. and started the Good Things a little after 8:00 p.m.
The cats are fine. Little Girl is on the back of the couch and Rascal is in the recliner. Leo was by to see me a little while ago. Have a Wonderful Sunday! I will see you next time,
In Christian Love, Everett

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
Friday, November 4, 2011

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
1 Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. 2 Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. 3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, 4 praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, 5 praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. 6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD. - Psalm 150:1-6(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
24 This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. - Psalm 118:24(New Living Translation).

A QUOTE,br /> God is comfort when we're in pain. - Sheri Rose Shepherd -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Doing what you like is freedom; liking what you do is happiness. - From Reminisce Magazine -
Money will buy a fine dog, but only kindness will make him wag his tail. - From Cooley Newsletter -
Praise does wonders for the sense of hearing. - From Reminisce Magazine -

NOTES
Today has been a sunny day in McAlester, Oklahoma, with a high temperature of 64 degrees. I had lunch with Charley. I made a quick trip to Country Mart and then to the post office. I went to the cemetery before I came home. I took my nap this afternoon. I don't think a cat came to the bed while I was napping. I washed and dried a load of clothes when I got up from my nap. I think back a lot of times to the way my mother washed. We washed outside. We would carry water from a spring and fill up a large black pot and build a fire under it. My Mom would put the clothes in the large pot and boil them for a long time. We would then fill up a couple of tubs with water. My mom would scrub the clothes on a rub board and then rinse them in the other tub. We would then hang the clothes on a clothes line to dry. Doing laundry back then was a good sized job. We should all be thankful for our modern conveniences.
I went outside to put out food, treats and water for the cats about 5:30 p.m. and sat with them and read until 6:25 p.m.
The cats are fine. Little Girl is on the back of the couch and Rascal is in the recliner. Both are asleep. The others have been seen this evening.
I will see you next time,,br /> In Christian Love, Everett.