Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
Wednesday, January 25, 2010

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
20 A faithful man will abound with blessings, But he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished. - Proverbs 28:20(New King James Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil. - Ecclesiastes 12:13-14(New King James Version).



A QUOTE
God's love overflows and spills out onto others through us. - Mark York -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Life is like an exciting book and every year starts a new chapter - From Reminisce Magazine -,br /> When we pour ourselves into the work of God, other Christians want to do the same. - From Reflecting God -

NOTES
The rain started last night around 8:00 p.m. and continued until around 12:30 p.m. today and then we continued to have light mist off and on for the remainder of the day. We have cloudy skies tonight. I think we had over 3 inches of rain in McAlester. High temperature today was 47 degrees and the low temperature was 43 degrees. I had lunch with Charley and Bill. I came by the post office and picked up my mail. I took my nap in early afternoon. When I went to sleep there was not a cat on the bed but when I awakened, Beau was sleeping with me. I put treats and food outside for the cats at 4:30 p.m. I watched the Billy Graham Classic at 6:00 p.m. There have been many, many Robins feeding today on the ground. I guess they are looking for those red worms that come to the top of the ground when the ground is soaked. Since last night's Good Things, I have had e-mails from Burlene Wilson and Cathy Tadlock. Your e-mails are always greatly appreciated.
The cats are fine. They stay inside when it is raining and damp outside. At present, Little Girl is asleep on the floor in front of the heater and Rascal is in the recliner.
I hope everyone has a nice Thursday! I will see you next time.
In Christian Love, Everett.

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
Jan. 26, 2012

“The Cost of Knowing and Following”
“She (folly) calls out to men going by who are minding their own business, ‘Come in with me,’ she urges the simple..” – Proverbs 9:15, 16 (NLT, emphasis mine)

Going back to our beginnings (1:4), the word “simple” that Solomon uses in this verse generally means the “unlearned.” In Solomon’s thinking an unlearned person is one who has every opportunity to gain and get wisdom—they just simply chose not to. Whether it is laziness, arrogance, pride or a combination of any of the three—this is the person that the evil one will target. Perhaps this is why Solomon spends as much time and effort as he does to warn us of not allowing ourselves to be a victim of our own misfortune. What this means, and what Solomon has attempted to convey to us over and over again is we have available to us all the means provided to prevent these events and keep our hearts and souls strong—serving God and being loyal to the people He has placed into our lives. There is a cost, however, to this preventative measure. It is called discipleship. It means not accepting the “just enough to get by” philosophy that seems to have plagued humanity throughout all generations. It means picking up the Word of God and not just reading what it says but applying it to our lives. It means taking our relationships and our responsibilities from those said relationships seriously
! Want to know more? This is what discipleship is all about.

“Another disciple said to him, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ But Jesus told him, ‘Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.’” – Matthew 8:21

“God never tells us to give up things just for the sake of giving them up, but He tells us to give them up for the sake of the only thing worth having—namely, life with Himself.” (Oswald Chambers, in My Utmost for His Highest)

Some decisions in life must be weighed against other options that are available. “Haste makes waste” is an old saying with solid truth behind it. Few decisions made compulsively turn out as well as we think they could, should, or would. Compulsive liars are eventually discovered; compulsive eaters end up with weight problems. As we grow older, we learn to be perceptive about decisions that promise results that can’t possibly turn out the way we desire.
Except for one decision. When God calls, don’t delay. Following him trumps all other decisions. It is never the wrong decision to make. Matthew (Levi) was a recognized, successful, established tax collector. He had his enemies, as did all tax collectors whose accountability was to Caesar. Matthew was moderately wealthy. His career had been planned for him by his father, Alpheus —probably from his birth. Tradition suggests that he was a married man with children. He was going about his tax-collecting business when Jesus saw him “sitting at the tax collector’s booth.” When Jesus told him, “Follow me,” Matthew made the right decision. On the spot. In Matthew 9:9 we read, “…and Matthew got up and followed him.” Oswald Chambers was right: “God never tells us to give up things just for the sake of giving them up.” The decision to give up certain pleasures to follow Jesus will prove to be the best decision over time. Second chances may never come. Choice “A” does not guarantee that a Choice “B” exists. The best thing to do when Jesus calls is to follow the plan.
Don’t settle for “simplicity” when we can have and be more. Here is a prayer that may guide us for the day:

Heavenly Father, how comforting it is to know that you not only have a plan for my life, but that you are at work to see that plan unfold. I don’t even have to think about it. Father, you have led me safely in the past; you will lead me now. Help me to always live so that when you call my name, I will be ready to answer. In the strong name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
Tuesday, January 24, 2012

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. - 1 John 5:18(New King James Version)

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
(The Lord said to Jeremiah) 3 ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ - Jeremiah 33:3(New King James Version).

A QUOTE
The victory that overcomes the world is our faith, faith in the Good Shepherd. He is our all. - John Caylor -
THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
A church whose members are giving of themselves in service is a church on the path to unity. - From Reflecting God -
Personality has the power to open doors, but it takes character to keep them open. - From Reminisce Magazine -

NOTES
Today has been partly cloudy with a high temperature of 65 degrees and a low this morning of 33 degrees. We are having some light rain tonight that started around 8:00 p.m. The rain is supposed to continue tonight and tomorrow. We still need rain in Oklahoma. I had lunch today with Charley and Bill. I went by the post office and came home for a few minutes and then went to Country Mart for some items. Country Mart doubles the value of coupons up to $1.00. My bill today was over $14.00 but my coupons brought the bill down to $8.05. I sat outside for a few minutes before I took my nap. Rascal most always sleeps with me at night but seldom during the day. This afternoon he decided to nap with me. I put out treats and food for the cats at 4:30 p.m. Since last nights Good Things I have heard from Debra, Geneva and Tom Gilham. I always appreciate those e-mails.
The cats are fine. Little Girl and Rascal are in their usual places here in the den.

I hope everyone has a nice Wednesday! I will see you next time.
In Christian Love, Everett.

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
Jan. 24, 2012

“Looking for Landmarks—The Presence of God”
“Dear friend, guard Clear Thinking and Common Sense with your life…no need to panic over alarms or surprises, or predictions that doomsday’s just around the corner, Because God will be right there with you; He’ll keep you safe and sound." – Proverbs 3:21, 25-26 (The Message)

When you are traveling down the road, highways and interstates, you are constantly looking for landmarks to indicate either where you are or how far or near you are to your destination. The presence of those landmarks makes a difference in the success of one’s journey.
I remember as a young pastor living in a rural area—when I was going to visit a family and was unfamiliar with where they lived I found it almost comical when receiving instructions on how to arrive at their home. The landmarks I was told to follow had nothing to do with street names or roads—often I was told to turn at “the blue house just past the large oak tree next to the Baptist Church that used to be the old Miller place.” I have been asked, “how can you get lost in a town of a couple thousand?” Try following instructions like these and you will see for yourself! The reason why so many people are “lost” in the journey of life is simply due to the fact that are not able to see the landmarks—the presence of God in this world. The Apostle Paul writes in the book of Romans: “…the basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes and there it is! By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such can’t see; eternal power, for instance, and the mystery of His divine being. So nobody has a good excuse.” (1:19-20, MSG)
In a Children's Sermon, a pastor included this little tribute to his "Grandma." A small green shoot appeared out of a crack in the sidewalk one day, in front of Grandma's house. Through broken concrete, this tiny bit of life forced its way into the world, ever so quietly. Imagine its determination, its drive to sprout, to grow, to blossom. How like Grandma to notice this seemingly insignificant event! To even celebrate it and point it out to me. Me, who had passed by it dozens of times without stopping to appreciate or investigate it. Grandma had been eyeing it for days, coaxing it as the sunshine did. Grandma's attention turned from her lush flower beds and carefully kept lawn to this single blade of green something-or-other, growing out of a crack in her sidewalk.
"Come look," Grandma said, down on her hands and knees. "Look here," she said, breathlessly. "This is how I know God exists. How can anyone see such a thing and not believe in God? Imagine a world where a bit of life forces its way through concrete?"
In a world where we are impressed only by the spectacular, here is a person who is far more impressed and moved by a single blade of grass! This is God telling us that the Resurrection of Christ was not impossible and that life is so very important!
The landmarks are there—they have always been there and they will always be there. What we need are “spiritual” eyes to see those landmarks and realize that God is truly with us! When things get tough there is no need to panic, no need to get upset—look for the power of the unseen and the hope that is ours through Christ!
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
Monday, January 23, 2012

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
(The Apostle Paul wrote) 1 "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." - 1 Timothy 2:1-4(New King James Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
9 Fools mock at sin, But among the upright there is favor. - Proverbs 14:9(New King James Version).

A QUOTE
Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly. - Robert F. Kennedy -

A THOUGHT TO REMEMBER
Speaking two languages is valuable, but keeping silent in one can be priceless. - From Reminisce Magazine -

NOTES
Today has been mostly sunny with a high temperature of 60 degrees and a low this morning of 34 degrees. Today I was having lunch with Charley and our friend, Bill, when in walked our other living brother, Abe Christian, and his daughter, Lyndall Holloway. We all had a nice visit together. Lyndall had brought Abe to McAlester to see his doctor. Abe will be 93 years of age on February 5. After lunch I came by the post office and then home. Little Girl was on my bed today when I took my nap and she stayed on my bed until late this evening. I put out food and treats for the cats at about 4:45 p.m. I watched "Trains and Locomotives" from 5:00 to 6:00. Since last night's Good Things, I have had e-mails from Michelle and Geneva. I will stop posting letters until I find out what the problem is. The last 3 letters that I posted did not come through on everyone's computer.
The cats are fine. Little Girl and Rascal are in their usual places here in the den. I have seen all of the cats today including Lucy and Tony.
I hope everyone has a nice Tuesday! I will see you next time.
In Christian Love, Everett.