Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. ,br /> - Psalm 37:7(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
5 For in the day of trouble he (the Lord) will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.
- Psalm 27:5(New International Version).

A QUOTE
Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to see a man's character, give him power.
- Abraham Lincoln - - 16th president of the United States -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
A wise man changes his mind; a fool never. - From Proverbs for Daily Living -
Don't criticize the rooster. If you got up at 4:00 a.m., you'd crow, too.
- From Reminisce Magazine -

CAT POETRY
Black Cat
A cat as black As blackest coal Is out upon His midnight stroll, His steps are soft, His walk is slow, His eyes are gold, They flash and glow. And so I run And so I duck, I do not need His black-cat luck.
- Author Unknown -

NOTES
Today has been mostly cloudy with a high temperature of 80 degrees and a low temperature of 71 degrees. Two men came at 9:00 a.m. and installed my new patio door. It took them 45 minutes to install the door. It is a beautiful door trimmed in white. I saw Charley and Bill at noon. Bill had hurt his leg on Saturday while brush hogging. He missed his church service yesterday for the first time in many years. I went by the post office and then to Braum's for a few items. I took my nap in early afternoon without a cat napping with me. I sat out with the cats for about 30 minutes this evening. Since last night's Good Things I have heard from Gina(my second cousin), Pastor J. T., Debra, Tiyan(my second cousin-in-law), Burlene and Alice. Thanks for your e-mails. I have a special prayer request tonight in the next paragraph.
One of the waitresses at Taco Bob's Fiesta Grill by the name of Shellie Dean has an eye condition that the doctor's say is incurable. They tell Shellie that she will lose her sight in 1 to 5 years. Please pray for Shellie that God will heal her eyesight or prolong the time before she loses her sight. I told her today that I would ask my e-mail friends to pray for her and she was very pleased about that.
The cats are fine. I am able to keep the patio door open tonight and they have been coming and going out the front door. None are with me at present.
Have a nice Tuesday!
I will see you next time,
In Christian Love, Everett.

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

“Next!”
“Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng.” – Proverbs 7:26

A mother heard the family cat yowl in pain. She knew where to look—she looked for her son, Mike.
"Stop pulling the cat's tail, Michael!" she chided.
"I'm not pulling his tail," the boy retorted. "I'm just standing on it. He's doing the pulling." He, of course, is no different than any of us when we want to blame someone or something else for our problems. It's the cat's fault. Or the government. Or the school. Or....
In her audio program "How Could You Do That?" (Harper Audio, 1996), Laura Schlessinger relates a story of a 40-year-old woman who was jogging along in a state park when she was attacked and killed by a mountain lion. Her family immediately filed suit against the state because of the state's "failure to manage the mountain lion population" and because it didn't "react to reports of cougar activity in the area by posting warning signs." Interestingly, her husband dropped the suit a little later. "Barbara and I have always taken responsibility for our own actions," he explained. "Barbara chose to run in the wild and, on a very long shot, she did not come back. This is not the fault of the state, and people should take responsibility for themselves."
It is rare that we hear a story like that! I find that most of the good parts of my life, as well as those which are not all that good, are a direct result of my own decisions! When I recognize that I am ultimately responsible for the great majority of what happens to me, I begin to look for solutions to solve my problems instead of targets to blame them on. I am happier and healthier. Taking responsibility is one more step in building a life that matters.
The reason why this matters is how easily so many fall—even those who of faith who believe themselves to be either invincible or beyond temptation. Like the woman in the story that even though she knew of the dangers that existed, “surely it won’t happen to me,” was her mindset and was unfortunately her last mindset. I know I have used this particular illustration before but it fits this situation to a tee: Once a spider built a beautiful web in an old house. He kept it clean and attractive so that flies would patronize it. The very minute he got a "customer" he would clean up on him so the other flies would not get suspicious.
Then, one day, this fairly intelligent fly came buzzing by the clean spider web. Old man spider called out, "Come and sit."
But the fairly intelligent fly said, "No, sir. I don't see any other flies in your house and I'm not going in alone!"
But, presently he saw on the floor below a large crowd of flies dancing around on a piece of brown paper. He was delighted! He was not afraid if lots of other flies were doing it. So he came in for a landing.
Just before he landed, a bee zoomed by and said to him, "Don't land there, stupid! That's fly paper...you'll get stuck and die!"
But the fairly intelligent fly shouted back, "Don't be silly! Those flies are dancing and having a good time. There's a big crowd there. Every-body's doing it. That many flies can't all be wrong!"
Well, you know what happened. He was caught! Some folks want so much to be with the crowd that they end up in a mess. What does it profit a fly if he escapes the web only to end up in the glue? Solomon’s advice—don’t be next on the list. Do not be like the young man who got caught in the web. Take responsibility for your life and most importantly, the part of your life that has eternity in it!

Pastor J. T. Carnell

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
(David wrote) 1" I love you, Lord; you are my strength. 2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety." - Psalm 18:1-2(New Living Translation).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. - 1 Corinthians 13:8-10(New International Version).

A QUOTE
It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself. - Ralph Waldo Emerson - (1803-1882)

A THOUGHT TO REMEMBER
If you want a rainbow, you have to put up with the rain. - From Reminisce Magazine -

CAT POETRY
How many of you remember this one? - Everett - PUSSY CAT, PUSSY CAT Pussy cat, pussy cat Where have u been? I've been to London To look at the Queen Pussy cat, pussy cat What did you there? I frightened a little Mouse Under her chair. - Mother Goose -

NOTES
Today has been partly cloudy with a high temperature of 85 degrees and a low temperature of 71 degrees. I attended Worship Services this morning. We had a wonderful service. Pastor J. T. preached an inspiring sermon. I had lunch at home. I took a nap this afternoon with Tony. I went outside with the cats at around 6:00 p.m. and stayed with them for about an hour. I put the garbage out on the street for pick up in the morning. Since last night's Good Things I have heard from Quentin, Geneva, Alice and Burlene(glad Burlene is back on line). Thanks for those e-mails. I am supposed to get my new patio door installed in the morning.
The cats are fine. I have seen all of them this evening. None of them are with me at present.
Have a nice Monday to start a new week!
I will see you next time,
In Christian Love, Everett.

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. - Colossians 3:17(New International Version).,br />
GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
(Jesus said) 31 "So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." - Matthew 6:31-34(New International Version).

A QUOTE
A friend is one who keeps in touch forever. - Glenda Hotton, M.A.
It is great confidence in a friend to tell him your faults and greater to tell him his. - From Proverbs for Daily Living - No time is ever wasted that makes two people better friends. - From Reminisce Magazine -
CAT PROVERBS
The cat is nature's Beauty. - French Proverb - The kind man feeds his beast before sitting down to dinner. - Hebrew Proverb -
NOTES
Today has been mostly sunny with a high temperature of 83 degrees and a low temperature of 43 degrees. My housecleaning lady came at 11:15 and cleaned my house while I had lunch with Charley. I went by the post office and then to Memory Gardens cemetery before I came home. Darren trimmed more brush and trees in the back yard this afternoon. I took my nap with my cat named Tony. At around 4:15 p.m. I went to Walgreen's to pick up a prescription. I sat outside with the cats this evening for over an hour and read and watched the cats doing different things. It is really interesting to sit and watch the different things that cats do. Every time I go to the back yard, no matter what time of the day, some of the cats are usually there with me. Smokey is one the first ones to greet me when I go to the yard. I haven't heard from anyone concerning the Good Things since last time. Be sure to let me know when you are ready to be dropped from the Good Things.
The cats are fine. I have seen all of them this evening. Emmy just came and meowed and I knew she wanted some canned cat food so I went to the kitchen and gave her some food. None of the cats are with me at present.
I hope everyone has a Wonderful Sunday!
In Christian Love, Everett.

Posted to Religious by Que Clingerman @ 2:34 pm EDT

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Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
10 Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds. - Isaiah 3:10(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
(Jesus said) 27 "For the Son of Man (Jesus) is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done." - Matthew 16:27(New International Version).

A QUOTE
Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves. - James M. Barrie - (1860-1937)

A THOUGHT TO REMEMBER
It is better to give than to lend, and it costs about the same. - From Reminisce Magazine -

TRUE FACTS ABOUT CATS
All kittens are born with blue eyes, which eventually changes color over time. - From The Internet - Cats make about 100 different sounds. Dogs make only about 10. - From The Internet -

NOTES
Today has been a sunny day. High temperature was 72 degrees and the low was 46 degrees. I had lunch with Charley and Pastor J. T. I took a nap in early afternoon. My cat, Emmy, decided to nap with me today. My good friend, Darren, came this afternoon and did more tree trimming in my back yard. At 3:15 I took my cat named Itty Bitty to the vet for her annual shots and examination. She is in good health, but a little overweight like a lot of us. She was a good cat and wasn't upset at all when she got back home. At about 4:45 p.m. I made a trip to a Dollar General Store for a few items. I sat out with the cats for about 30 minutes this evening. It was a little cool so I didn't stay out as long as I usually do. Since last night's Good Things, I have heard from Steve, Debra, Geneva, Michelle and Claudia(my great niece). Thanks for your e-mails and thanks to every one who reads the Good Things. You are the greatest e-mail friends and I love each one with sincere Christian love.
The cats are fine. My back was hurting a little after my activity this afternoon so I lay down at around 7:00 p.m. I guess Rascal thought I had gone to bed for the night so he came and lay down with me until I got up at 8:00 p.m. At present, Emmy and Rascal are on the sofa here in the den sound asleep. They are on different ends of the sofa. In case anyone was wondering, my back is not hurting now.,br /> Have a nice Saturday!
I will see you next time,
In Christian Love, Everett.