Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
11 Light shines on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart. 12 Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name. - Psalm 97:11-12(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. - 1 John 3:21-22(New International Version).

A QUOTE
The hero is commonly the simplest and obscurest of men. - Henry David Thoreau -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Men make houses, but women make homes. - From Proverbs for Daily Living -
The greatest of all faults is to imagine that we have none. - From Reminisce Magazine -

NOTES
Today has been mostly cloudy in McAlester, Oklahoma, with a high temperature of 37 degrees and a low temperature of 23 degrees. I saw Charley and Bill at noon. I went to the post office. I took a nap around 3:00 p.m. for about an hour. Tony was with me. At 4:30 p.m. I put treats out for the cats and put food in the storage house for outside animals. Since last time I have heard from Michelle, Alice, Geneva, Burlene and Annette. I am always happy to receive e-mails.
The cats are fine. I have seen all of them today. Rascal is in the recliner.
Have a nice Wednesday!
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
33 Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord, and humility comes before honor. - Proverbs 15:33(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
8 He (the Lord) covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. 9 He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call. - Psalm 147:8-9(New International Version)

A QUOTE
Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. - Samuel Ullman -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
An unfaltering trust in God will give us an inner calm regardless of the storm raging around us. - From The Lunn Log -
Timely good deeds are nicer than afterthoughts. - From Reminisce Magazine -

NOTES
Today has been a cold sunny day in McAlester, Oklahoma with a high temperature of 38 degrees and a low this morning of 24 degrees. I saw Charley and Bill at noon. I went to the post office and then by Walgreen's to pick up a prescription. I took my nap this afternoon with Tony. At 4:30 I took cat treats outside and left some food in the storage house for other cats or animals. I leave food out every night and it is always gone the next day. Since last time I have heard from Burlene, Michelle, Alice, Debra and Stan. Thank you very much for your kind comments.
The cats are fine. I have seen all of them this evening including Lucy, the stray. Rascal is asleep in the recliner.
Have a nice Tuesday!
I will see you next time, In Christian Love, Everett.

Daily Ornament

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

“Don’t Worry – Be Happy”
"... whoever listens to [M]e will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm." – Proverbs 1:33

The conclusion of Proverbs, chapter one, in my opinion, sums up the entire Bible. If we live for God and not for ourselves, listen to what He has to say and then will act upon it, we are awarded a peace of mind beyond compare! What is key is knowing how to get to this point which has been the pursuit of many an individual through the centuries.
In 1988 a song plagued the airwaves that actually reached #1 on the Billboard Charts. No instruments were played and only one person performed on the recording. His name is Bobby McFerrin and prior to this recording was known for his ability to use his voice to create a variety of sounds. The name of the song? Well, after taking a look at some of the words you will see:

Here is a little song I wrote, You might want to sing it note for note Don't worry be happy In every life we have some trouble, When you worry you make it double Don't worry, be happy...... Ain't got no place to lay your head, Somebody came and took your bed Don't worry, be happy The land lord say your rent is late, He may have to litigate Don't worry, be happy Look at me I am happy—Don’t worry, be happy Here I give you my phone number, When you worry call me I make you happy, Don't worry, be happy Ain't got no cash, ain't got no style, ain't got no girl to make you smile But don't worry be happy Cause when you worry your face will frown—and that will bring everybody down So don't worry, be happy (now).....
How could such insanely ridiculous lyrics make this a number one hit? Most of it was largely due to McFerrin’s incredible vocal talents but it could also be that it struck a chord with many people’s psyche…we are incessant worriers!!
We have so many "fears" in life and in truth the vast, vast majority of them are completely unnecessary. We fear the future; “What will happen to me?” We fear the past; “Did I do the wrong thing or did I do the right thing?” We fear the unseen; “What will they do?” We fear the unknown; “What will happen if…”. It is against the backdrop of all these fears that the great deceiver steps in and causes us to stumble and fall.
In his devotional, My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers writes, “Worry (fear) is calculating life without God.” The more I think about that statement the more it resonates within me. Do I really pay attention to God’s Words and do I trust enough in what He says enough to live my life in peace and in safety? Is He truly my “Shelter in the Time of Storm?” or is that only rhetoric?
I experienced this first hand as a boy and then early into my adult life. I watched as my mother literally “worried” herself to death. Everyone was out to get her. She was constantly “looking over her shoulder,” at unseen prowlers or extortionists. She trusted in no one…not even her own family. She changed her will several times mostly after someone upset her – it was her only means of control – at least, that is what she thought. Jesus said, “Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch?” – Matthew 6:27 (The Message)
Its one thing to be cautious – to keep a watchful eye against things that could destroy. It is another altogether to allow life to destroy our spirit without allowing God the opportunity to give us His peace and assurance. Can we say, “My Lord, I know there have been many times when I have not been listening – times when other voices and words were stronger and louder. Help me to tune them out and listen only to what you have to say to me – through Your Holy Word or by that still small voice within.”
Pastor J. T. Carnell.

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. - Hebrews 11:3(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
(Jesus said) 11 "For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” - Luke 14:11(New International Version).

A QUOTE
We are free to wait and to rest because we know that God is in control. - Neil B. Wiseman -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Let God have your life. He can do more with it than you can. - From The Lunn Log -
Life is hard by the yard, but inch by inch it's a cinch. - From Reminisce Magazine -

NOTES
Today has been sunny and cold with a high temperature of 34 degrees and a low of 26 degrees but it will get colder than that tonight. My daughter, Treva, arrived around 3:00 p.m. on Friday and left for home in Topeka, Kansas, at 1:15 p.m. today. I have heard from her tonight. She and her dog, Libby, made it home safe and sound. We had a good time visiting and eating out several times. I didn't attend church today as Treva was going to leave for home in early afternoon. I have heard from a few people since last time and I always appreciate your e-mails. After Treva left I took a nap with Smokey and Tony. I put treats out for the cats at 4:30 but I didn't stay out long and neither did they but they think they have to have their treats outside. Tonight I am taking it easy here in the den.
The cats are fine. I have seen all of my 8 cats and Lucy, the Stray, this evening. Lucy stayed in a while this evening resting in this warm den but no matter how cold or hot it is she goes back to her hangout at night, wherever that is.
I hope everyone has a nice Monday!
I will see you next time, In Christian Love, Everett.

Daily Ornament

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

“God’s Amazing (G)race”
"For the Lord gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding." – Proverbs 2:6

How many times do we encounter difficulties in this life and as we attempt to overcome that difficulty have we heard ourselves say, “There must be a better way…?” And most of the time we were right – only to discover that it was too late to do anything about it.
My wife and I have become addicted to watching the reality television show, “The Amazing Race.”© It consists of ten “teams” of two individuals literally racing around the world for a chance to win a million dollars. The first team to arrive at the appointed destination is deemed the winner of the race. One of the keys to the race is to arrive at each “Pit Stop” before the other teams. If you are the last team to arrive, most of the time you will hear the dreaded words from Phil Keoghan, the show’s host and moderator, “I’m sorry to say that you have been eliminated from the race.”
It is fascinating to watch what lengths these people will do and what they have to do to win the money. But more than that, how often it comes down to one poor decision made and how that decision can determine whether or not a team will continue racing or be eliminated at the end of the episode.
During each episode the teams come up against what is called a “Road Block.” A decision between attempting one of two tasks that the team must complete before they receive their next clue and continue “racing.” As a member of the television audience we are given the opportunity to see the pros and cons of each task – an advantage the teams do not have. The team must often make a snap decision as to which task they choose to complete. On a number of occasions, when one task proves to be too difficult a team will abandon the one they started and attempt to complete the other. It is typically at this juncture where for many the race is won or lost.
In this thing called “life,” we often encounter a number of “Road Blocks.” The only difference is we are not racing against others, and too often the choices we make have nothing to do with winning a race – but with making decisions that will directly affect our lives! The Old Testament provides us with two great “choice” verses…a reminder that each day we have a choice to make:
“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him.” – Deuteronomy 30:19, 20
,br /> “Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” – Joshua 24:14, 15

Solomon is telling us that God has the answers and will give us understanding when faced with life’s “choices.” And the best part is He will never “eliminate” us from this race of life – unless of course we choose to quit on our own. Choose His wisdom. Choose His life. Choose His grace. You’ll always be the winner.
Pastor J. T. Carnell.