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Archive for December 2012

December 25, 2012

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. - Luke 2:1-20(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD

7 How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. 8 They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. 9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. - Psalm 36:7-9(New International Version).

A QUOTE
Only when we are looking to God and keeping an open ear to His calling will we see His will and hear His voice. - Debbie Goodwin -
THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
It's when the fish opens his mouth that he gets caught. - From Don't Wait for Your Ship to Come In. . . Swim Out to Meet It! -

Words may show a man's wit, but actions his meaning. - From Proverbs for Daily Living -

NOTES
Today has been partly cloudy with a high temperature of 44 degrees and a low this morning of 26 degrees. I went to the Petsense store and then to Walmart at around 11:00 a.m. At 2:00 p.m. we had a wonderful Christmas dinner at my brother Charley's house with some of his family. I put the treats outside for the cats at around 4:30 p.m. I rested and napped a little after that with Tony. Tomorrow it will be just my family of cats and me at home for Christmas but that will be fine since we had a Christmas dinner today. I will probably go out for lunch depending on what is open. Snow is predicted here for tomorrow. I think it is supposed to arrive later in the day but we will see. It is real cozy here in my den or the living room. Since last time I have heard from Mary Jo (my great niece-in-law), Claudia (my great niece), Gail, Carissa (my granddaughter), Burlene, Debra, Alice, Doug (my nephew), Michelle and Gaetano. I always appreciate your e-mails. I have been having some problems with my computer hanging up on me while doing the Good Things. I have had to restart it 2 or 3 times. I will probably have to get my friend, Darren, come over and check it out.
The cats are fine. Rascal in his usual place. Tony just came in for a bite of food. I have seen all the others this evening.

I WISH EACH ONE WHO READS THE GOOD THINGS A BLESSED WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS.

In Christian Love, Everett
Posted to Religious by Que Clingerman @ 8:46 pm EST
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December 24, 2012

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
1 Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. 2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” - Psalm 16:1-2(New International Version).

GODS PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
14 For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end. - Psalm 48:14(New International Version).

A QUOTE
Our joy centers in Christ alone. Rejoice! The Savior is born. - Gay Leonard -
THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
It is unlikely there'll be a reduction in the wages of sin. - From Reminisce Magazine -
People can be divided into three groups: 1) Those who make things happen, 2) Those who watch things happen, and 3) Those who wonder what's happening. - From Don't Wait for Your Ship to Come In. . . Swim Out to Meet It!

NOTES
Today has been mostly sunny with a high temperature of 65 degrees and a low this morning of 46 degrees. I attended church this morning. We had a wonderful service. Pastor Carnell's sermon was titled "Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up!" I came home and had lunch. I took a nap this afternoon with Tony. I put treats outside for the cats at 4:30 p.m. I attended church tonight which was our 4th Sunday Fellowship night. Since last time I have heard from Patti, Michelle, Geneva and Alice. I am always happy to get your e-mails.

My daughter, Treva, my grandson and wife, Bryant and Ashley and my little almost 16 month old great granddaughter, Ella, were supposed to leave Kansas City this morning and be here this afternoon and we were going to Yukon, Oklahoma, tomorrow for a Christmas celebration at my grandson, Chris and Nancy's home. Yesterday afternoon I received a call from my daughter, Treva. She said that Ashley was sick and in the hospital so that canceled their trip to my house. Ashley probably got out of the hospital today but would not have been able to make the trip. I plan on having Christmas dinner with my brother, Charley, and some of his family tomorrow. I will not be traveling to Yukon. I am so sorry Chris and Nancy but sometimes these things happen.
The cats are fine. Rascal is asleep in the recliner. Several of the cats have been coming and going through the den tonight. I have seen all of them this evening.
Have a nice Monday!
I will see you next time. With Christian Love, Everett.
Posted to Religious by Que Clingerman @ 10:47 am EST
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December 23, 2012

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester,OK

"The God of Power” (Part 4)
The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, the power of the Highest hover over you; Therefore, the child you bring to birth will be called Holy, Son of God." – Luke 1:35
,br /> The “Power” of God is beyond our ability to understand and grasp. It is by that same power the stars were hung in the sky. It is by that power that the earth stopped spinning long enough for Joshua to complete a task given to him by that same God.
The angel declared to Mary that the Power of God was within her. And by that power the world would no longer be the same…that the Child within her was being given to…CHANGE THE WAY WE ACT!

Can there be any better “Biblical” example than that of the diminuitive tax-collector by the name of Zacchaeus? He was a thief. Collecting more than required and keeping the rest for himself. That continued for many years until the fateful day when Jesus came to his town—had lunch in his home—and then remained in his heart. He declared to everyone in the house that at that moment he was a changed man. No greater words than these can be heard as Jesus says: "Today salvation has come to this house..." – Luke 19:9

Many of you are already well aware of my affection for Charles Dickens—His writings are among my favorite, and none more so than what is his shortest works but what may be his greatest, “A Christmas Carol.”
From the very outset we are introduced to the main character, Ebenezar Scrooge. The miserly man who cared little for his fellow men and cared even less for Christmas. To him, Christmas was a “bother.”
In one of the beginning scenes, Scrooge’s faithful employee, Bob Cratchit is heard asking for Christmas day off. Reluctantly, realizing no one would be working anyway, Scrooge agrees, but not without comment: “That's a poor excuse for picking a man's pocket every 25th of December.” Later, his only living relative, Harry his nephew pays a visit inviting his uncle to his home for Christmas dinner. To which Scrooge declines and ends the conversation with these words: “What else can I be when I live in a world full of fools babbling "Merry Christmas" at one another? What's Christmas but a time for finding yourself a year older and not a day richer? There's nothing merry in that. If I could work my will, nephew, every idiot who goes about with "Merry Christmas" on his lips should be boiled with his own pudding and buried with a stake of holly through his heart.” And then, what well may be the most telling acts of his cold and uncaring heart is when he is approached by two individuals seeking assistance to help the poor during Christmas. This is how this conversation goes:
Second Man: What may we put you down for, sir? Scrooge: Nothing, sir.
First Man: Ah, you wish to remain anonymous. Scrooge: I wish to be left alone, sir! That is what I wish! I don't make myself merry at Christmas and I cannot afford to make idle people merry. I have been forced to support the establishments I have mentioned through taxation and God knows they cost more than they're worth. Those who are badly off must go there.
Second Man: Many would rather die than go there. Scrooge: If they'd rather die, then they had better do it and decrease the surplus population. Good night, gentlemen.
This is the kind of man Scrooge was. And the key word here is…WAS. That night, Scrooge was visited by the spirit of the man who was his first business partner, Jacob Marley, who was much like Scrooge in every way. And he paid for it by not being able to “rest in peace.” He is sent to show Scrooge that if he does not change his ways his fate would be the same.
Dickens shows us images of Scrooge’s past which gives us a glimpse into why he was the way he was—but there was hope for him to change. And change he did!!
Isn’t that the message of Christmas? That God sends His Son to turn hearts of stone into hearts of flesh? “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” – Ezekiel 36:26
May we truly allow that same power to be at work in our lives!!
Pastor J. T. Carnell
Posted to Religious by Que Clingerman @ 9:57 am EST
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Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
1-Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. - Isaiah 59:1(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
1 Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. 2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore. - Psalm 125:1-2(New International Version).

A QUOTE
Whoever is out of patience is out of possession of his soul. People must not turn into bees, and kill themselves in stinging others. - Sir Francis Bacon -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Dusty Bibles lead to dirty lives. - From Reminisce Magazine -
So live that your memories will be part of your happiness. - Author Unknown -

NOTES
Today has been partly cloudy with a high temperature of 62 degrees and a low temperature of 37 degrees. My housecleaning lady came at 11:15 a.m. to clean my house while I had lunch with Charley. After lunch I went to the post office, Atwood's Farm and Ranch Store, Wall's store, the bank and to the car wash to wash my van. I put treats out for the cats at 4:15 p.m. and then took a short nap. Since last time, I have heard from Gaetano, Alice, Geneva, Stan, Quentin and Audie (my cousin). I like to receive e-mails. It is late so my notes are short.
The cats are fine. Rascal is in the recliner. The rest are somewhere close.
Have a Wonderful Sunday!
I will see you next time, With Christian Love, Everett.
Posted to Religious by Que Clingerman @ 9:08 am EST
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December 22, 2012

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell

"The God of Power” (Part 5)
The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, the power of the Highest hover over you; Therefore, the child you bring to birth will be called Holy, Son of God." – Luke 1:35

“For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.” – Matthew 25:29

This past week we have been exploring the words that the angel spoke to Mary—revealing God’s Will and plan to bring salvation to the world. Those words declared God’s power—the same power that not only created the world but the same power that can transform a life. This power has the ability to change the way we think…speak…act…and lastly, it is the power to literally, CHANGE OUR WORLD!!

Read Matthew chapter 25 and this paragraph will make a bit more sense. In it, we are told that “we are given enormous wealth! If we can make this parable (Matthew 25:14-30) slightly allegorical, then the shocking sum of money—think millions of dollars—given to the servants is a symbol of the importance of the kingdom of God. Just like the servants, we are now stewards of God’s incredible kingdom and we have the responsibility to extend God’s rule. We do this by following the way of the Kingdom—loving God and loving our neighbor.”

Matthew, chapter 25 is one of my favorite from his Gospel. And I think it has to do with this very fact—that we have been given the keys to the Kingdom and what we do with them can change our world!

I remember the first time getting a key to the house. You would have thought I was given a hundred dollars—and in a way I was. Keys open doors! They allow you free and safe passage into various locations. Without a key the only other way to enter (a locked door) is by knocking it down and destroying it in the process. I also remember getting a key to the bank where I worked!! When I became the afternoon supervisor it was my responsibility to make sure everything was locked safe and secure. There were a number of times that when I locked the vault for the night—there was well over $500,000 in cash in that particular vault!
The same can be said when I received my own “car key.” It opened up an entirely new world. It gave me a freedom that I previously did not know or have. Being able to drive on my own without adult supervision expanded my world in ways that were (to my teenage mind) almost unimaginable!
However, with both came some enormous responsibilities. Those keys were intended to be used by me to open (and lock) the doors to places that were not necessarily mine. The house I lived in with my mom was my house—but it was in her name so she had the ultimate responsibility for what was in it! The key to the bank (and to the vault) belonged to the bank! To misuse that key could have not only cost me my job—but it could have had some other very unpleasant consequences as well!
We have been given the “Christmas” message as a means to tell people that Jesus is indeed the Lord and Savior! We easily forget that the Christmas story is found in the books of Matthew and Luke—two books of the “Gospels” (i.e. “Good News”) and as such we have been given the responsibility to preach this gospel message! A very important key—one that can open doors and take us places that before seemed almost too impossible to believe.
Take “joy” in the fact that God has placed into our hands this wonderful responsibility!! Don’t be like the one who “hid” what the Master had given him. Use your gift(s) and God’s power wisely—use them to open doors for the hurting, the lost, and the needy! Remember—we have all been there ourselves!
Pastor J. T. Carnell stor Carnell, McAlester, OK

Posted to Religious by Que Clingerman @ 1:06 pm EST
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