Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

.GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
(Jesus said) 28 "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." - Matthew 10:28-31(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. - Romans 8:33-34(New International Version).

A QUOTE
I'm learning that laughter and tears are nothing to be ashamed of. To celebrate the good things. And pray about the bad. - Phil Callaway -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Correction does much, but encouragement does more. - From Reminisce Magazine - If people could have half their wishes, they would double their griefs. - From Proverbs for Daily Living -
,br /> CAT SAYINGS
"Who would believe such pleasure from a wee ball o' fur?" - Irish Saying - In Ireland, if something is funny we say: "It would make a cat laugh." - From the Internet -

NOTES
Today has been mostly sunny with a strong breeze from the north direction. High temperature was 72 degrees with a low temperature of 43 degrees. My good friend, Darren, did some tree trimming for me today. He arrived about 9:15 a.m. He did an excellent job, but didn't get finished and will come back, probably tomorrow afternoon, to do some more trimming. I saw Charley at noon time. I went to the post office. I took my nap this afternoon with Tony, my cat. I sat out in the yard with the cats for about an hour this evening. I haven't heard from anyone since last time concerning the Good Things. Pastor J. T. mentioned them in the "Daily Jewel" which I appreciate.
The cats are fine. I have seen all of them this evening.
Have a nice Friday!
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
(The Apostle Paul wrote) 18 "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." - 2 Corinthians 4:18(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD,br /> 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. - James 1:5(New International Version).

A QUOTE >br /> Giving is so often thought of in terms of the things we give, but our greatest giving is of our time, and kindness, and even comfort for those who need it. We look on these gifts as unimportant - until we need them. - Joyce Sequichie Hifler -
,br /> A THOUGHT TO REMEMBER
There is nothing as nice as a cheerful word of greeting. - From Reminisce Magazine -

FUN THOUGHTS ABOUT CATS
If it's a human heart you wish to trap Simply climb upon the lap! - From Cats Rule- Tails speak louder than words. - From Cats Rule -

NOTES
Today has been a sunny day with a high temperature of 83 degrees and a low of 46 degrees. I saw Charley and Bill at noontime. I took my nap in early afternoon. Tony, my cat, was with me part of the time as I napped. I sat out with the cats from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. this evening. Since last nights Good Things I have heard from Debra, Sandy, Geneva, Michelle and Alice. Thanks for your e-mails. The cats are fine. I have seen all of them this evening.
Have a nice Tuesday!
I will see you next time, In Christian Love, Everett.

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

“Check the Batteries in Your Smoke Alarm”
“He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon.” – Proverbs 7:20

The serpent was clever, more clever than any wild animal God had made. He spoke to the Woman: "Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?" The Woman said to the serpent, "Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. It's only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, 'Don't eat from it; don't even touch it or you'll die.'" The serpent told the Woman, "You won't die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you'll see what's really going on. You'll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil." – Genesis 3:1-5 (MSG)

One of the things that everyone is encouraged to do at least twice a year is that when it is time to move our clocks forward or back (not to far away) is to check the batteries in your smoke alarms. Although smoke alarms when properly functioning do not prevent fires they can certainly reduce serious injury and even death in the event a fire occurs. How many times do we hear in the news reports that when a fire has claimed a life or lives the last words are, “no smoke detectors were found in the home.” The National Association of Insurance Commissioners reports that the vast majority of deaths and injuries that result from house fires each year could be been prevented with an adequate or working detector in the home. There is also another factor as far as I am concerned about having an adequate smoke detector in the house and it is the peace of mind knowing that I can go to bed at night without fear, wondering whether or not the alarm is working properly. I would rather receive a rude awakening and have my life spared rather than lose my life to a horrible death, and one that could have easily been prevented.
I am going to do my best to resist the “temptation” (maybe a poor choice of words) to use the following words, but it is easy to point to something and say, “that is Satan’s greatest weapon,” only later to say again, “and here is the devil’s greatest tools.” The truth is he has a number of methods at his disposal to get us off our guard, and the one in this verse is as effective as any there is and it is this: the alarm has been disabled!
In the verse from Proverbs, the woman tells her young naïve prey that there is no risk in being caught because her husband is gone for a long time. There is plenty of time for their tryst and they can “sin in peace.”
The serpent effectively did the same. He simply deactivated the “alarm” that God had created when he told the woman that she could eat the fruit with no consequences, even though her initial response said otherwise. Once he was able to get her to remove the batteries from her “fire” alarm, the deed was done. And the result is we have been getting “burned” ever since!
The Holy Spirit was given to provide us with the ultimate alarm to detect when we are about to get “burned.” If you find yourself constantly in the midst of the fire, namely, you find yourself in situations where you know you do not belong, or you are experiencing negative attitudes then I would ask, have you checked your spiritual batteries lately?
Are you spending time with God in the Word? I don’t mean a casual glance on Sundays but a concerted effort to be in it! Are you spending time in prayer? Not just bowing your head and listening to others pray but being intentional in spending time with God—just you and Him! Are you firmly attached with the Body of Christ? There is a direct association with Church attendance and one’s personal growth! They work together! Are you holding back giving to God? Be it monetarily or in time or service, when you give to God He gives back in abundant measure! These are ways that you keep your batteries fresh. There are a number of factors that contribute to house fires, a few as a result of natural disaster: Wildfires (as we have seen in the past few years), lightning strikes, broken gas lines as the result of earthquakes—but most are caused by human error—and yet in each case there is way to escape safely. Stay up-to-date with the Lord and Savior!
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Periodic Caveat

Wordchimes.com has poets from a number of differing religious backgrounds. Thus, the concepts and opinions expressed in the poetry may or may not reflect those of the WC Staff. One thing in common is the conviction that Christ is God and was born of a virgin, lived on earth for a time, was crucified, died and buried. He rose again and is at the right hand of the Father. He came to save all men who accept Him from their sins and gives the Holy Spirit to prepare those who believe for Heaven. Enjoy reading at WC.

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, 26 for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared. - Proverbs 3:25-26(New International Version.

GOD PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
9 Since we have now been justified by his (Jesus') blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! - Romans 5:9-10(New International Version).

A QUOTE
A friend is one who shares dreams. - Glenda Hotton, M.A. -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Attitudes are contagious. Is yours worth catching? - From Reminisce Magazine - Seven days without prayer makes one weak. - From Reminisce Magazine -

FUN THOUGHTS ABOUT CATS
Any house cat not allowed to sleep with you at night, will be sleeping either (1) at your feet; (2) next to your leg; (3) against your back; or (4) on top of you, by the next morning. - From Cats Rule - If allowed to sleep with you, the cat will choose to sleep elsewhere. - From Cats Rule -

NOTES
Today has been a sunny day after the thunderstorms last night. I chose not to use the computer and send the Good Things last night. A thunderstorm is the way I ruined my mother board last time as I just kept on typing until a bolt of lightning got too close. Last night I received one and six tenths inches of rain at my house. The high temperature today was 78 degrees with a low of 55 degrees. I attended Worship Services this morning. We had another wonderful service. I would like to welcome Billy York to the Good Things. He and his wife, Sandra, and their two children, Austin and Blake, attend the same church that I attend. Welcome aboard Billy! Since the last Good Things two nights ago I have heard from Michelle, Alice, Leela, Geneva, Audie, Steve, Sandy and DeLona. Thanks for your e-mails.
The cats are fine. Rascal is in the recliner and Leo was just rubbing my legs and talking to me. I sat outside with the cats for about an hour this evening when I fed them their treats. I have seen all eight of my cats this evening as well a Lucy, the stray.
I will see you next time,
In Christian Love, Everett.