Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
(The Lord said to Jeremiah) "7 Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration. But my people do not know the requirements of the Lord." - Jeremiah 8:7(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
32 Jesus said to them (the crowd), “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” - John 6:32-33(New International Version).
,br /> A QUOTE
Find something you love to do, and you'll never have to work another day in your life. - Harvey Mackay -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
A conceited person never gets anywhere because he thinks he is already there. - From Don't Wait for Your Ship to Come In. . . Swim Out to Meet It! - He's a fool that makes his doctor his heir. - From Proverbs for Daily Living -

NOTES
Today has been partly cloudy with a high temperature of 65 degrees and a low temperature this morning of 36 degrees. I attended Worship Services this morning. We had a wonderful service with an inspiring message by Pastor J. T. Carnell. I had lunch at home. I went outside with the cats a little while before my afternoon nap. I took my nap with Tony on the bed with me. I put treats outside for the cats at 4:30 p.m. Since last night's Good Things I have heard from Michele, Alice and Geneva. Thanks for your e-mails. I am getting the Good Things out early tonight because I want to watch a program at 7:00 p.m. on public television titled "The Dust Bowl." It is about the dust storms in the 30's that came to Oklahoma and surrounding states that caused many people to migrate to California. I lived through those days but we lived in eastern Oklahoma and the storms were worse in western Oklahoma. The program will continue tomorrow night. While I did the Good Things tonight I had the Lawrence Welk program on television. The show tonight was taped in 1981 and was a Thanksgiving program. I wish I could have watched it with each of you listening to that wonderful big band music.
The cats are fine. Rascal was just here but has left out. He will be back and probably lie in my lap while I watch the program. I have seen all of the cats this evening.
Have a nice Monday!
I will see you next time, In Christian Love, Everett.

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester. OL

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. - James 1:2-4(New International Version)

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
(The Lord Said) 10"As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." - Isaiah 55:10-11(New International Version).

A QUOTE
Give me a person who sings at their work. That's the kind of people I want to hire. - Thomas Carlisle -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
A smile is the shortest distance between two people. - From Don't Wait for Your Ship to Come In . . . Swim Out to Meet It - Avoid dishonest gain: no price can recompense the pang of vice. - From Proverbs For Daily Living -

NOTES
Today has been a sunny day with a high temperature of 64 degrees and a low this morning of 30 degrees. These temperatures were identical temperatures to yesterday. My housecleaning lady came at 11:15 and cleaned my house while I had lunch with Charley and Bill. I saw Stan and Sue McMullen at Taco Bobs with two of their children, Laura and Warren. Laura's son and Warren's two sons were also with them. I went to the post office and then to Country Mart for some items. I sat outside with the cats for a few minutes before I took my nap. Tony napped with me again today. At around 4:00 p.m. I went out again to the post office to mail a couple of letters. I came back by Memory Gardens cemetery. At 4:45 I took treats out for the waiting kitty cats. They have food inside the house to eat anytime they choose but they expect their treats outside and Lucy, the stray, always comes across the fence for her share of the treats. Since last night's Good Things I have heard from Burlene, Michelle, Geneva, June (my daughter) and Alice. I am always happy to receive e-mails even though I don't have time to answer each one individually.
The cats are fine. Rascal is asleep in the recliner. Tony just came in for a bite of food here on the desk. I have seen all of the cats this evening. I still miss my kitty named Little Girl. As you used to read my e-mails she was usually here in the den. I miss her getting on my chest and snuggling up around my neck. It takes a while to get over losing a pet. I look forward to seeing all of my cats and dogs in Heaven. I know I will probably get some disagreements on that last sentence but we will see.
I hope everyone has a Wonderful Sunday!
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
133 Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me. - Psalm 119:133(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
(The Apostle Paul said) 31 "For he (God) has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man (Jesus) he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.” - Acts 17:31(New International Version).

A QUOTE
The strength of a person consists in finding out the way God is going, and going that way. - Henry Ward Beecher -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
It is better to be alone than in the wrong company. - From Don't Wait for Your Ship to Come In. . . Swim Out to Meet It! Said the robin to the sparrow, I should really like to know why these anxious human beings rush about and worry so. Said the sparrow to the robin, I think that it must be they have no Heavenly Father such as cares for you and me. - Old poem in the Prairie Pastor -

NOTES
Today has been a sunny day with a high temperature of 64 degrees and a low temperature this morning of 30 degrees. I had been saving old newspapers for about 6 months on the back porch. This morning I loaded them in the van to take to the recycling center. At the recycling center they were real friendly and four people visited with me and unloaded the newspapers. I will try not to wait so long next time to get rid of the newspapers. I saw Charley and Bill at noon time. I went to the post office. I went outside with the cats for a few minutes before I took my nap. Tony napped with me today. At 4:20 p.m. I made a trip to Country Mart grocery store for a few items. At 5:05 p.m. I took the treats out for the cats. Since last night's Good Things I have heard from Gaetano, Leela, Burlene and Alice. I am always happy to hear from my e-mail friends.
The cats are fine. Rascal is asleep in the recliner and Tony just came by for a bite of dry cat food. I have seen all of the cats today.
Have a nice Saturday!
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
11 Now it came to pass, as He (Jesus) was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”,br />
2 So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 3 Give us day by day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.” - Luke 11:1-4(New King James Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
(Jesus said to His apostles) 5 "For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” - Acts 1:5(New International Version).

A QUOTE
When we come to the end of life, the question will be, "How much have you given?" not "How much have you gotten?" - George Sweeting -

A THOUGHT TO REMEMBER
A clean mouth and an honest hand will take a person through any land. - From Proverbs for Daily Living -

NOTES
Today has been a sunny day with a high temperature of 63 degrees and a low temperature this morning of 32 degrees. I saw Charley and Bill at noon time. I went to the post office. I went outside with the cats for a few minutes before I took my nap. I took my nap in early afternoon with Emmy and Tony. I put treats outside for the cats at 4:35 p.m. Since last night's Good Things I have heard from Burlene, Michelle, Carissa (my granddaughter), Alice and Geneva. I am always happy to receive e-mails.

The cats are fine. Lucy, the stray, was just here in the den. She comes in pretty regular but will always go back to her hiding place at night. Rascal is asleep in the recliner. Since I lost my dear Flonnie four years and nine months ago these years have been the most lonesome time of my life. Even those lonely days when I was in the army I always had people around me. Now at night it is just my cats and me and Oh what a comfort they are to me. I always talk to my two daughters every day, one in the morning and one at night before I go to bed. I don't know why the Lord is letting me stick around. Maybe to take care of my cats and do the Good Things?
Have a nice Friday! I will see you next time, In Christian Love, Everett.

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

“Trust the Pilot”
“Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight, I have power.” – Proverbs 8:14

There’s the story about a man who had a frightening experience on board a jetliner at 32,000 feet. The pilot announced turbulent weather ahead and directed everyone to buckle their seat belts. The passenger became quite distressed by the subsequent bumping around until he noticed a young boy seated next to him who was not even slightly fazed by the sudden, violent movements of the plane. Upon landing, the passenger asked his young companion, “I noticed you were not frightened up there. Why was that?” The boy replied, “Sir, I know the pilot. He’s my dad. I knew that as long as he was in charge of things, I would be safe.” What a great affirmation for the Christian life. I know the Pilot. As long as the controls are in His hands, I’m okay.
My mind was drawn to a recent incident involving Chesley “Sully” Sullengerger, the pilot for U.S. Airways whose engines died right after take-off and made the decision to land the plane into the Hudson Bay. That decision saved not only the lives of everyone on the plane but also prevented possible damage and deaths would he have attempted to take it back to the airport.
We all experience frightening times in our lives, even those of us in ministerial assignments. Often, like clear-air turbulence, those times come without warning. There we are, flying high; everything is going fine, and then suddenly, without warning, trouble hits. The bottom falls out of our support system. No one offers to help, other than to offer advice like, “Hang in there; everything’s going to be okay.” But we know everything is not going to be okay. Nothing we learned in college or seminary prepared us for these sudden, underserved attacks to our credibility.,br /> In turbulent times I have found comfort in the promises of God—particularly in the Psalms. One psalm on everyone’s list of favorites is Psalm 91. Note the beauty and strength of this passage (verses 9-12):
“If you make the Most High your dwelling—even the Lord, who is my refuge— then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent, For he will command his angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”
The key to all the blessings promised in Psalm 91 is by knowing the Pilot. There isn’t anything that falls outside of His control. There are no problems so great that He cannot solve them. There are no adversaries so powerful that He cannot overcome them. And when the turbulence is greatest, He is greater. Read the closing promise in the psalm from the mouth of the Lord Himself (verses 14-16):
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name; He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
Do this for me, please: re-write the above paragraph, setting it in the first person singular. Begin like this: “Because you love me, I will rescue you; I will protect you, for you acknowledge my name.” Once you have re-written the paragraph, make it your personal promise from God. Read it to yourself whenever you feel turbulence coming. You know the Pilot; turn over the controls of your life to Him. Do it now. He wants to bring you safely through whatever is troubling you. Trust Him to do so.
Pastor J. T. Carnell