Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

“Steering You in the Right Direction!”
“Every word I speak is honest, not one is misleading or deceptive.” – Proverbs 8:8 (Contemporary English Version)

Remember as kids playing the game, “hot or cold?” An item is hid and a person is blindfolded attempting to find that item. There is another person who is letting the blindfolded one know if they are cold, meaning they are nowhere near the hidden object or if they are “hot”, indicating they are getting close to the item. The hope is that the person who can see is giving proper instruction and/or guidance so that the blinded individual will find their way.
You might say that in a way—just as we come into this world “hungry” (a reference to yesterday’s message) we also come into this world lacking proper guidance. We are in a very real sense…blind! We need someone (or something) to lead us!
John Henry Newman (1801-1890) was not a prolific hymn-writer, but he wrote one very powerful hymn that has been sung by Christians of many traditions for more than 175 years. He was thirty-two years old when he wrote it. Here is the opening stanza of what has become one of the world’s best-loved hymns:
Lead, kindly Light, amid th’ encircling gloom; Lead Thou me on! The night is dark, and I am far from home; Lead Thou me on! Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see the distant scene; one step enough for me.
In 1832, at the age of thirty-one, Newman had reached a low point in his young life. A convert to the Protestant faith at age 15 during an evangelical revival, Newman gradually shifted from Reformed Calvinism to the Anglican faith, and in 1825 he was ordained an Anglican priest. Eventually he would turn to Roman Catholicism (1845) and to the Roman Catholic priesthood in 1847.
In December 1832 Newman accompanied a friend via steamship to Southern Europe, primarily because of his friend’s medical condition. His friend recovered and returned to England, but Newman stayed behind in Sicily, where he became desperately ill with typhoid fever. After recovering from this illness, Newman was aboard a ship again, sailing from Palermo for Marseille, enroute to England and home. When the boat was stranded for days in the Strait of Bonifacio, Newman became depressed to the point of questioning the framework of his faith. At this spiritual low-point, Newman turned to the reading of the Psalms. The Psalms seemed to bring peace to his mind and soul. He was especially drawn to Psalm 25 (verses 4 and 5) and Psalm 119:105, from which he was inspired to write the words to the hymn, “Lead, Kindly Light.” Divine guidance is a truth taught throughout Scripture. It is not God’s plan that believers wander around trying to find their own way. Jesus addressed this in John 14:15-17, where he spoke about the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “If you love me, obey me, and I will ask the Father and he will give you another Comforter, and he will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit who leads into all truth.” Further down in that chapter Jesus said, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”
The writer to the Hebrews was equally direct. He said;
“With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him. Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God remold your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves toward the goal of true maturity.” (Hebrews 12:1, 2 Phillips Version)

Can we agree that God has a plan for our lives, and that if we ask; he will guide us in the direction we should take? And we can be assured He will guide us in the right direction!!
Pastor J. T. Carnell.

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness. - Proverbs 16:31(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. - Philippians 3:20-21(New International Version).

A QUOTE
. . . When that one great scorer comes To write against you name He marks - not that you won or lost, But how you played the game. - Grantland Rice -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
It is always better to fail in doing something than to excel in doing nothing. - From Don't Wait For Your Ship to Come In - Learn as if you were to live forever; live as if you were to die tomorrow. - From Proverbs for Daily Living -

NOTES
Today has been mostly sunny with a high temperature of 70 degrees and a low temperature this morning of 48 degrees. I saw Charley and Bill at noon time. I went to the post office, then to the Petsense Store and then to Walmart. I had the trim around my house painted this afternoon by a couple of fellows. My house has brick on the front and siding around the rest of it so all that needs to be painted is the trim. I took a nap this afternoon. My cat named Tony napped with me. I put cat treats out for the cats at 4:30 p.m. It was too cool to sit outside this evening. Since the last Good Things I have heard from Alice, Margaret and Annette. I am always glad to receive e-mails. There may not be Good Things tomorrow night as I will be watching the election returns as I am sure many of you will.
The cats are fine. I have seen all of them this evening. Emmy is asleep in the recliner and Rascal is asleep on the sofa. Leo just came by and had a bite of dry food.,br /> I hope everyone has a nice Tuesday!
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
A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence. - Proverbs 11:13(New Living Translation).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
5 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. - 1 John 5:1-5(New International Version).

A QUOTE
Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are endless. - Mother Teresa - ( 1910-1997 )

A THOUGHT TO REMEMBER
Neglect mending a small fault, and it will soon be a great one. - From Proverbs for Daily Living -

NOTES
Today has been a sunny day with a few clouds at times with a high temperature of 72 degrees and a low temperature this morning of 43 degrees. I attended Worship Services this morning. We had a wonderful service with inspirational music and songs and another good sermon by Pastor J. T. I had lunch at home. I took a nap this afternoon with Tony, one of my cats. I went outside with the cats an hour earlier this evening because of the time change and darkness coming on earlier. I went out at 4:30 p.m. and sat with the cats for a few minutes. Beau got in my lap for a little while. Since the last Good Things I have heard from Burlene, Michelle and Geneva. I always enjoy receiving e-mails.
The cats are fine. I have seen all of them this evening. The front patio door is ajar a little and the cats have been coming and going.
I hope everyone has a nice Monday!
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
8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. - Psalm 37:8(New International Version).

19 From the west, men will fear the name of the Lord, and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory. For he will come like a pent-up flood that the breath of the Lord drives along. - Isaiah 59:19(New International Version).

A QUOTE
Love wasn't put in your heart to stay. Love isn't love until you give it away. - Michael W. Smith -

A THOUGHT TO REMEMBER
Few things seem so possible as they are till they are attempted. - From Proverbs for Daily Living -

NOTES
Today has been a sunny day with a high temperature of 71 degrees and a low temperature of 55 degrees. At 9:15 a.m. I went to the Ford garage for a service job, tire rotation, etc. They also told me that they checked the battery and it was bad. I could get a new one for $129.00. At first I told them that I would just wait for a while. Then I remembered that I had bought the battery from them so I told them. They checked on their computer and the battery was still under warranty so I got a new battery for nothing, Praise the Lord! My house cleaning lady came to clean my house while I was out. I saw Charley at noon time. I went to the post office and then to Memory Gardens cemetery. I took my nap this afternoon. When I went to sleep a cat wasn't with me but when I awoke Tony was on the bed with me. I went out with the cats at around 5:30 p.m. and stayed out for about 45 minutes. Since last night's Good Things, I have had e-mails from Michelle, Geneva and Burlene. I always appreciate e-mails. If there is something that you would like to be added to the Good Things let me know and I will consider it. If there is something on the Good Things that you would like left off, let me know and I will consider it. If anyone would like to be dropped from the Good Things, let me know.
The cats are fine. I have seen all of them this evening. Rascal is asleep on the sofa and Leo just came to my desk and meowed. I think he was just greeting me since he is now eating dry food.
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
2 He (Jesus) called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me." - Matthew 18:2-5(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
(Jesus said) 2 "In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." - John 14:2-3(New King James Version).

A QUOTE
I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again. - William Penn - ( 1644-1718 ).

A THOUGHT TO REMEMBER
Many do come to bring their clothes to church rather than themselves. - From Proverbs for Daily Living -

NOTES
Today has been a sunny day with a high temperature of 85 degrees and a low temperature this morning of 48 degrees. According to the Internet the high temperature today broke a record for McAlester, Oklahoma, for the highest temperature on this date. The old record was 82 degrees. I saw Charley at noon time. I went to the post office. At 1:00 p.m. I went to the car tag office to renew my car tag for another year. I took a nap this afternoon with Tony while Emmy was sleeping on a high shelf in my bedroom. I went outside with the cats at 5:30 and sat with them for an hour. Since the last Good Things I have heard from Gaetano, Janice, Burlene, Michelle, Carissa(My granddaughter), Debra and Alice. Thanks for your e-mails. My granddaughter, Carissa, has not had her little boy as yet. She will let us know. I had a request from a dear friend to continue with the story that I had started some time ago. I suppose I could continue with the story and perhaps do a chapter once a week and leave off the Good Things for that night. I would not have time to do both in one evening. Some of you other friends let me know what you think. I will send pictures tonight.
The cats are fine. I have seen all of them this evening. None are with me at present.
Have a nice Saturday!
I will see you next time, In Christian Love, Everett.