Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
Thursday, February 9, 2012

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
11 He (John the Baptist) answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.” - Luke 3:11(New King James Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. - Romans 8:26-27(New King James Version).

A QUOTE
Christ is not a partial saviour, He saves to the uttermost, and He cleanses from all sin. - Adam Clarke -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Let's continue to live our lives, walking in the light of Christ and cultivating an attitude of thanksgiving to God. - From Reflecting God -
Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced. - From Reminisce Magazine -

NOTES
Today has been mostly cloudy with a high temperature of 51 degrees and a low temperature of 28 degrees. Smokey came in a little wet a little while ago so it had began to rain. I think the rain is supposed to continue through the night. The temperature at present is 46 degrees. Today I had lunch with my brother, Charley, our friend, Bill, and friends Steve and Jeannie LeFlore. Mellisa was our waitress today. After lunch I went to the post office and then came home. I took my nap in early afternoon with Little Girl. I worked in my office room some this afternoon and evening. I put treats and food outside at around 4:30 p.m. Since the last Good Things, I have had an e-mail from Debra, a church friend, wife of Curtis. Her letter had such a good message in it that I will try to get it posted at the end of the Good Things to share with you. I hope the letter comes through this time.
The cats are fine. Little Girl is awake on the back of the sofa and Rascal is asleep in the recliner. Friendly and Smokey were both on the desk near me at the same time a little while ago. I have seen all of the cats this evening.

I hope everyone has a nice Friday! I will see you next time.

In Christian Love, Everett.
************************************************************************************************************************************** Here is Debra's letter:
Good Morning Dear Everett,,br /> Psalm 147, a Great message in reminding us to show our Praise and I so agree with the "quote" also, from the Good Things on Music - We listen and can hear so many messages of Praise in the words of a song. I had the KLove radio station on, on my way to work and they have had a 30 day challenge to listen to Only Christian Music - this 8yr. old boy had called in and told them that he took the 30 day challenge and they asked if it had made a difference in the life of an 8 yr. old and he told them that he is doing better in school, has more friends and is happier each day!! Then he was asked, "if he was face to face with Jesus, at the gates of Heaven and asked, "Why would you like to enter?" and the young boy replied, on the air, "Because I Trust in You". WOW!! What a praise from an 8yr. old and because of a 30 day challenge to listen to only Christian Music! God does work in his own mysterious ways and to come from the mouth of a child - what an encouragement to others!! Praise GOD!!!,br /> Hoping your week has been blessed and today adds to the many blessings you receive and we also receive from You!! This IS the Day the LORD has made, let us rejoice and be Glad in it:) Have a Terrific Thursday, In Christian Love and Friendship,
Debra

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
Feb. 9, 2012

“Saved”
“…do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you…” – Proverbs 4:6

“Wisdom is the quality that keeps you from getting into situations where you need it.” – Doug Larson

Great advice…both from Solomon and from Doug Larson. Now here is the million dollar question…How do you follow through with this? How do you use God’s wisdom for your benefit? Or…how do you know you are using it?
Actually the key from my perspective in this verse is that of “protection.” The purpose of wisdom is not to make us smarter—richer—stronger—but safer! I want to take this to a bit of a different level here. In Christianity we have a number of different words to describe the work that Christ does in our lives. Our salvation experience is intended to redeem us—restore our hearts and souls back to the condition where they were intended to be in their original state. When I think of being saved I picture someone being “rescued” from a hopeless situation. After the recent earthquake in Haiti we witnessed a number of people being rescued from the rubble. After the rescue the person is taken to a place that is safe where they can heal.
A life without Christ is a hopeless life. It offers no direction—purpose—hope. Living life in this way is not a “safe” existence. To better illustrate this I want to give an example from a pastor friend of mine.
“The young mother was serious when she asked me the question. At first, it caught me off guard. She had called to ask if I could meet with her. She said she had some questions about what Christians believe. I was happy to visit with her. Here was the question she asked: “What does it mean to be saved?”
She was not a member of any church. In fact, she didn’t attend church. She had not been raised in a family that attended church. She said she didn’t know anything about the Bible. She had enrolled her daughter in a church-run pre-school near where they lived. When her daughter repeated at home things she had learned at school, the mother became interested. As simply as possible, I shared with her what the Bible taught about finding peace with God. We prayed together. She left. I placed her on my email list where I send out regular notes of encouragement to a number of people. Two years passed. Several months ago this young mother became depressed and attempted suicide. She entered counseling in her home town. She decided it was time to try church. She visited the church where her daughter attended pre-school. Here is how she describes the experience:
“When I entered the church that day, my feelings of fear, ignorance, anxiety, and hopelessness lifted and were gone. The pastor spoke about accepting Christ as Savior and gave an invitation. I responded on that very first Sunday, with my daughter’s teacher by my side and two other teachers following. I accepted Christ as Savior. I started a new life that day—I had no prior knowledge of the Bible or church. I had feared for 30 years that people would scorn me for my ignorance of the Bible. I now know the only thing that matters is inside me and my open desire to learn from the Lord and to follow the path he has for me.”
Last Sunday—two months after accepting Jesus Christ into her life—she was baptized. I was there. She is on her way. In her testimony read during her baptism, this is how she concluded her statement of belief: “Now I am active in all church functions. I am going to Sunday school and starting a discipleship class soon. I am eager to learn from God’s word and become the best Christian wife and mother I can be.”
In his book, To Timothy and All Other Disciples, Reuben Welch said, “I wish there was a way to take the word saved and spread it out and make it bigger than we normally think about it. Behind the word saved is the big word salvation, which I have come to believe is about the biggest word in God’s Book.”
Wisdom is accepting Jesus! The wisest decision we will ever make. That acceptance will then protect our soul from ultimate destruction. In Him, we have a safe harbor that no storm can harm.
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
Wednesday, February 8, 2012

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
1 Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful. - Psalm 147:1(New King James Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
1 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. - Psalm 118:1(New King James Version).

A QUOTE
Nature's music is never over; her silences are pauses, not conclusions. - Mary Webb -

A THOUGHT TO REMEMBER
Music is one of the greatest gifts of all; it asks nothing in return but that we listen. - From Reminisce Magazine -

NOTES
Today has been a cloudy day with a high temperature of 43 degrees and a low temperature of 38 degrees. I had lunch with Charley and Bill. As I came home from lunch, I stopped by Country Mart for three items, using a coupon again. Then I went by the post office and then home for the rest of the day. I guess Little Girl has decided to make my bed a permanent place for her daily afternoon nap but she always comes back to the den in the evening. I lay down for my nap with Little Girl around 2:00 p.m. At 5:00 p.m. I put out food and treats for the animals outside. I watched a Billy Graham service at 6:00 p.m. This one was from Reno, Nevada, in 1980. To those who accept Christ as their Lord and Saviour, he always tells them to go to church on Sunday. Since the last Good Things I have had e-mails from Burlene, Alice, Geneva and Tiyan. I appreciate those e-mails.

The cats are fine. Little Girl is the only one with me in the den at present. She is in the floor in front of the heater bathing herself. Rascal was here a little while ago. The others have all been seen including Lucy, the stray and Tony, the visitor from across the street. I haven't seen Siamese Tom, another stray, in a day or two. He has not been neutered so I guess he roams a lot.
I hope everyone has a nice Thursday! I will see you next time.
In Christian Love, Everett.

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
Feb. 8, 2012

“Drinking Bitter Water—Eating Poisonous Food”
“Stolen water tastes best, and the food you eat in secret tastes best of all...” – Proverbs 9:17 (CEV)

If you were to just “see” this verse without context, it would appear that Solomon is giving his approval to “stealing water and food.” But allow me to add what is said from the previous verse and see if it sounds the same: “And to every fool she (folly) says; ‘Stolen water tastes best, and the food you eat in secret tastes best of all.’” (This is from the Contemporary English Version)

Stolen waters are sweet. Wells and fountains of waters in that part of the world were very valuable, and were the generally the property of particular persons; about which there were at times strife and contention; and they were sometimes sealed and kept from the use of others. (See Genesis 26:18). Waters obtained by sneakiness from such wells and fountains were sweeter than their own, or what might be had in common and without difficulty, to which the proverb alludes. What he in general is saying is that all prohibited unlawful lusts and pleasures are desirable to men, and sweet in the enjoyment of them; and the pleasure promised by them is what makes them so desirable, and the more so because forbidden!
Consider for a moment these words from Genesis three:

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
“The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”
“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
“When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.” – Genesis 3:1-6 (NIV)

There is a haunting reality to this passage that is inescapable. They knew that they were not to touch the fruit of that tree. Eve said it! The “forbidden fruit” was just that. It was not intended for them to have—because God knew what was in store for them once they did. It would destroy God’s plans for them and place them in harm’s way. We are experiencing the results of their actions and we often find ourselves in the same position as they were—desiring and wanting not simply what we shouldn’t have but what is even worse, what we cannot have.
That is our biggest battle. Always has been—always will be. We know what we should not have and when we don’t get that we long for what we cannot have and should we drink those waters or eat that food, it creates a chasm between our souls and the will of God. I really like the words of Susanna Wesley and her “definition” of sin to her children.

"Take this rule: whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off your relish of spiritual things; in short, whatever increases the strength and authority of your body over your mind, that thing is sin to you, however innocent it may be in itself." (1725)

What may appear to be innocent may in truth be bitter waters. If the well is sealed that means it belongs to someone else and is not yours to have. Look for the signs. And then take Solomon’s advice and go in the opposite direction!

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
Tuesday, February 7, 2012

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" - Matthew 16:24-26(New King James Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
7 The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them. - Psalm 34:7(New King James Version).

A QUOTE
A secret to ageless living is to find fulfillment, peace, serenity, and self-esteem by giving back - volunteer. - Kelly Ferrin -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Be willing to share your joys. - From Lists To Live By -
It is not our own righteousness that the spiritually dead see, but the difference that Christ makes. - From Reflecting God -
The happiness of your life depends on the wholesomeness of your thoughts. - From Reminisce Magazine -

NOTES
Today has been mostly cloudy in McAlester, Oklahoma with a high temperature of 55 degrees and a low temperature of 43 degrees. I had lunch with Charley and Bill with Mellisa as our waitress today. I went by the post office. I then went by Sandy Isenhower's office and picked up copies of my tax returns. She sends them in electronically. I took a nap around 2:00 p.m. Little Girl had made her way back to my bed again to nap. At around 4:15 p.m. I went to Country Mart store and them by Braums. I had four coupons that saved me $9.00 at Country Mart when doubled. I got back home around 5:30 p.m. Some of my cats are always in the living room when I return home and I start talking to them. I think that is better than coming home to an empty house with no one to talk to. I put out treats and food at 5:40 p.m. The robins were flying south again just before sunset but today they were flying much higher than they usually fly. I see robins feeding every day as I drive around the neighborhood. Since the last Good Things I have had e-mails from Debra, Gaetano and Michelle. I always appreciate your e-mails. The cats are fine. Little Girl is the only cat in the den with me at present. Emmy and Rascal were here a little while ago. Emmy got on the desk next to me and meowed at me and I noticed the food bowl was not on the desk so I picked it up off the floor and put it on the desk and she was satisfied.
I hope everyone has a nice Wednesday! I will see you next time.
In Christian Love, Everett.