Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
Wednesday, December 21, 2011

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”,br /> 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. - Luke 1:26-38(New International Version)

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
(The Apostle Paul wrote) 31 "What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" - Romans 8:31-32(New International Version).

A QUOTE
It seems that the Prince of Peace still has much to accomplish among us. - Jerry Hull -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER

If you can't light a candle where you are, don't try to be a lighthouse somewhere else. - From Reminisce Magazine -
Its not the distance you travel but the direction that counts. - From Reminisce Magazine -

NOTES
Today has been partly cloudy with a high temperature of 52 degrees and a low temperature of 37 degrees. I had lunch with Charley and Bill with Bobbi as our waitress again today. I went to the post office. I took a nap this afternoon with Beau. At around 4:30 p.m. I made a trip to Walmart for cat food and other items. At 6:00 p.m. I watched the Billy Graham Classic which was a Christmas program that took place in 1977. There was lots of singing of Christmas Carols and a short Christmas message by Billy Graham. I will leave a note from Michelle at the end of the Good Things. If anyone else is having problems with the text being too wide be sure to let me know. Maybe I can contact someone who can help me eliminate that problem.
The cats are fine. Little Girl is on the back of the couch. Rascal was here a little while ago but has now gone elsewhere.
Have a nice Thursday! I will see you next time.
In Christian Love, Everett. ******************************************************************************************************************************* Here is Michelle's letter:
Everett,
I, too, am happy God is using you to reach out to others through Good Things. It appears that the width of the text is getting wider, so that I have to move the screen back and forth. I don't have Win7, but there must be ways to shorten the line length. It's not a big annoyance, I just thought you might want to know. One way I do it is to manually shorten the line length while I'm typing. Bless you, your family, and your feline family that keeps you company.
Michelle

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
Dec. 21, 2011

Daily Ornament!
A Week of Peace: Wednesday, Day Twenty-Five of Advent

“Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol Him, all you peoples. For great is His love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord.” – Psalm 117:1-2
Gospel Reading: Luke 1:26-38
“The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.” – Luke 1:35-37

From today’s Lesson in “Illuminate.”

“Gabriel, an angel or messenger of God, is sent to deliver news once again. Gabriel is a sign of God’s presence for us. When we see Gabriel appear in the story, we feel the same kind of awe and fear as Mary in today’s story and Zechariah in yesterday’s story. While it may be true that seeing Gabriel caused fear, we can also assume that the appearing of a messenger of God also comes with an overwhelming sense of God’s presence. We are invited to recognize God, who inspires a feeling of awe, in the midst of this holy announcement.” (pg. 67)
Just in case you have not watched the news lately or read the paper--it’s Advent. It’s time to sing again. It’s time to sing of Christmas. According to the American Society of Composers, the list of the top 25 “most-performed Holiday songs for the first five years of the 21st Century” does not include any traditional Christmas Carols. Amazing, isn’t it? In case you are interested, the number one “Holiday” song in terms of air-play and/or recordings is Bing Crosby’s, “White Christmas.” The number one song regarding public performances is “The Christmas Song” (“Chestnuts roasting on an open fire”). Number two is “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.” Doesn’t that just bless your heart? The closest to a religious theme is number fifteen: “Feliz Navidad.” Ouch. But do you ever want to hear “Mary’s Song?” Just a hint…it isn’t in your hymnal. It is recorded in Luke’s gospel, Chapter One. In the Third Gospel, Mary takes center stage. She speaks; she sings; she worships; she obeys God. But her introduction to the world is low key. She is pictured as being very young, very poor, unmarried, and pregnant—ideal for the socially-minded but uncomfortable for the cultic-minded. To say that Luke pictures her among the overlooked by society is an understatement. But Mary was not overlooked by God. Of all the young women God could have chosen to be the mother of the Savior, God chose well. Young Jewish girls were raised to be homemakers, not poets. They were trained to be seamstresses, not scholars. They were instructed in things domestic, not things prophetic. Mary, as it turned out, excelled in all of these. And she could sing! Her song begins with these words: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him….” (Luke 1:46-49).
In the full passage (1:46-55) this humble, young child with no formal education paints a word picture to delight the most gifted poet. She tells of a recently-conceived Savior who would announce freedom for all who believe that God will make a way where there seems to be no way. She proclaims that this Savior will bring deliverance to captives and will correct injustice everywhere. She sings of a God who has “brought down rulers from their thrones” while at the same time elevating the humble. She remembers the God of Abraham and exalts the God of Jesus Christ—even before Christ is born.
Are you ready to hear Mary’s song again? The world isn’t. It doesn’t know Mary’s God. Our leaders have sought their gods in strange places—in secular academia, in drugs of addiction, in dishonest practices, in political power, in immoral living, in self-centered schemes to gain wealth, in lies, in outright fraud, in deceptive handling of the public trust, in ways that would have been totally rejected by the founders of our nation. The world at large isn’t listening for Mary’s song. But we are. And what does Mary’s song tell us?
Mary’s Song tells of a God who keeps his promises. Mary’s Song tells of hope for those who have no hope.
Mary’s Song tells of a Savior who will redeem the lost.
Mary’s Song tells of a future that is immeasurably more beautiful than the past or present. Mary’s Song tells of the Holy Spirit who visited Nazareth so long ago and is still at work today.
Mary’s song may not be on the world’s “favorite 25” list, but it should be on our list. And we need to sing it. Why? Because it’s time to sing again. It’s Advent—it’s time to celebrate.
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
Tuesday, December 20, 2011

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. - Colossians 3:16(New International Version). GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. - Isaiah 9:6-7(New International Version). A QUOTE
God has a storehouse just filled to the brim With all that man needs, if we'll only ask Him. - Helen Steiner Rice - THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
If most folks practiced what they preached, they'd be too busy to preach. - From Reminisce Magazine - Your work is a commentary on your character. - From Reminisce Magazine - NOTES
Today has been mostly cloudy in McAlester, Oklahoma, with a high temperature of 53 degrees and a low temperature of 40 degrees. I had lunch today with Charley and Bill with Bobbi as our waitress. I went to the post office. I took my nap with Beau and Emmy. At 4:45 p.m. I went to Counntry Mart for a few items. If anyone near McAlester needs apples or oranges, Country Mart has 8 pound bags for $3.33. I bought a bag of oranges. I eat an apple or an orange every day. I am not sure if everyone received the last two letters I posted last night so I will post them again tonight plus another e-mail that I received today from Tiyan. If anyone who knows computers has any suggestions on how I can improve the Good Things send them to me. The cats are fine. Little Girl is on the back of the couch and Rascal is in the recliner. Emmy and Smokey were here in the den a little earlier. Have a nice Wednesday! I will see you next time. In Christian Love, Everett. ******************************************************************************************************************************************* Mary Jo's e-mail:
I heartily agree with Gails letter ! Take care. Hugs to you and the kitties. Love, MJ ************************************************************************************************************************************************* Geneva's e-mail:
Amen to what Gail said. Some days, when I'm feeling particulary "down" I think that I'll not read all that, but I do and then I'm feeling more "up." The quotes and especially The Word always lift my spirits. Geneva ******************************************************************************************************************************************** Tiyan's e-mail
God truly uses you Everett. I am inspired by "Good Things" on a daily basis; Sometimes, just by hearing about the many people that you reach out to on a daily basis, including your feline family. I want you to know that I look forward to "Good Things" and feel blessed to have made it on to your email list, via my mother-in-law. Thank God for giving you the GRACE to give us "Good Things". Tiyan

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
Monday, December 19, 2011

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. 13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. - 1 Peter 2:11-16(New International Version.

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
(The Apostle Paul wrote) 18 "The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen." - 2 Timothy 4:18(New International Version).

A QUOTE
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. - Thomas Paine -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Remember that you are not only the salt of the earth, but the sugar as well. - From Reminisce Magazine - In a crisis, rise to the occasion but don't hit the ceiling. - From Reminisce Magazine -

NOTES
Today has been a cloudy day in McAlester, Oklahoma. We had some light rain early this morning. Around 4:00 p.m. it started to rain again and we are still having refreshing rain at the present. High temperature today has been 61 degrees with a low of 51 degrees. As most of you know there was no Good Things last night. I got home from church a little before 7:30 p.m. Monday is the day they pick up garbage in my neighborhood so I got the garbage ready and out on the street. I did a few other things and by that time it was after 8:00 p.m. so I decided to rest from the Good Things last night. Today I had lunch with Charley. Bobbi was our waitress today. After lunch I went to the post office, a Dollar General store and then to the Petsense store. Yesterday a little screw came out of my glasses and the lense came out. I looked for the little screw which fell on the floor but couldn't find it so I had to wear an old pair of glasses yesterday. This afternoon I went to Oklahoma Eyeware here in McAlester and they fixed my glasses. I tried to pay them but they wouldn't take any money. Since the last Good Things on Saturday night, I have had several e-mails. I am going to share 4 short e-mails (the one from Gail, I shared before) with you to let you know how difficult it will be to ever quit the Good Things. When I was a pre teen age, barefooted, very very bashful boy in the country with no phone, no radio, and no indoor plumbing or water, in my wildest dreams I never thought that I would be doing something like the Good Things. But here I am and I don't know how much longer the Lord will let me continue doing them. Thanks to all my e-mail friends who read the Good Things and God Bless and Keep you in His care.
The cats are fine. Little Girl, Rascal and Leo are here in the den with me. The others are either in the house or on the back porch since it is raining.
Have a nice Tuesday! I will see you next time.
In Christian Love, Everett. ****************************************************************************************************** From Gail:
Everett, I've been out and about lately and am catching up on all the news and getting refueled from Good Things and yes God may be leaving you here to take care of the cats, but he is also leaving you here to take care of us. You may not think Good Things does any good sometimes, just a way for you to pass time, but I know it does good in the hearts of us on your email list. God Bless, Gail ****************************************************************************************************** From Burlene:
I agree with Gail. The Good Things contain inspirational thoughts and scriptures. As Gail said, that and the cats are why we need you. BW

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
GOOD THINGS Saturday, December 17, 2011

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. - Psalm 23:4(New King James Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
14 If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead. - 1 John 3:14(New Living Translation).

A QUOTE
Love is a great thing, a great good in every way; it alone lightens what is heavy and leads smoothly over all roughness. - Thomas A. Kempis -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Those who say it can't be done should get out of the way of those who are doing it. - From Reminisce Magazine - If everything went like clockwork, the ticking would drive us nuts. - From Reminisce Magazine -

NOTES
Today has been a sunny day in McAlester, Oklahoma, with a high temperature of 59 degrees and a low of 24 degrees. I had lunch by myself since some of Charley's family were visiting him today. Yesterday my pastor, J. T. Carnell, had lunch with us and I forgot to mention it in the Good Things. We are always happy to have him eat with us as well as any of our friends. I went to the post office today after lunch. I took my nap this afternoon. Some cats joined me including Beau, Emmy, Rascal and Smokey. They didn't all stay the entire nap with me. Since last time I had an e-mail from Gail. I will share Gail's letter at the end of the Good Things. Gail lives in rural McAlester.
The cats are fine. Little Girl is lying on the floor in front of the heater and Rascal is asleep in the recliner. The others are around somewhere. Have a Wonderful Sunday! I will see you next time.
In Christian Love, Everett. *********************************************************************************************************** Here is Gail's e-mail:
Everett, I've been out and about lately and am catching up on all the news and getting refueled from Good Things and yes God may be leaving you here to take care of the cats, but he is also leaving you here to take care of us. You may not think Good Things does any good sometimes, just a way for you to pass time, but I know it does good in the hearts of us on your email list.
God Bless, Gail