Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
4 For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. - Psalm 149:4(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD 11 But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace. - Psalm 37:11(New International Version).

A QUOTE
If we make it our first goal always to please God, it solves many problems at once. - Philip E. Howard, Jr. -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Everybody wants to harvest, but nobody wants to plow. - From Alive -
Praise does wonders for the sense of hearing. - From Reminisce Magazine -

NOTES
Today has been partly cloudy with high temperatures in the low sixties. I saw Charley and Bill at noon. I went to the post office. I took a nap this afternoon and Smokey decided to nap with me. I put treats and food out for the cats at around 5:30 p.m. Not much happened today to write about. Since last time I have heard from Gaetano, Alice, Pastor JT, Quentin, Janice, Treva and Audie. I am always happy to get those e-mails.

The cats are fine. Rascal is in his usual place. Emmy and Tony just came in from outside. Leo came through a little while ago. I have seen all of them this evening.

Have a nice Wednesday.
Everett
Keep Thinking The Good Thoughts!!!

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

“Living with Rejection”
"If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you. But since you rejected me when I called and no gave heed when I stretched out my hand...” – Proverbs 1:23-24

If you notice the first part of the verse—it is about ‘response.’ How we respond to a given situation makes an enormous impact on how we come through said situations. Today’s post is the result of one’s lack of response–Rejection! More specifically, the rejection of what God wants from us. The rejection of a person toward God, and not God toward man. Rejection simply means, “To ignore or shun.” As I read this I am trying to figure out just what or who this may be in reference to. Is it to an actual individual? Is there someone Solomon has in mind that he was trying to reach? Was there an actual person that just would have nothing to do with the Law of God? Or could it be that this is in reference to all of mankind when Adam and Eve fell? Sadly, I have to believe it is reference to us all! How many times have we been living examples of what Isaiah writes, “...all we like sheep have gone astray.”
Throughout my years of ministry I have had numerous encounters with people who have no trouble accepting the gifts of food the Church provided or assistance with bills and at times, money…but when you offer them the opportunity to change their life they reject it like it was a terminal disease. They find all sorts of excuses as to why they cannot come to Church or why they cannot accept Christianity. God is stretching out His hand to offer them “hope and a future” and they’ll have none of it. That is the true definition of rejection.
Soren Kierkegaard was a Danish philosopher and theologian. He wrote a great illustration called the “Ducks of Duck County.” It is a good illustration of what happens when we reject what is available to us. It goes like this: Once upon a time there was a village called Ducktown. The entire population was made up of barnyard ducks. They built little duck houses and slept in feather beds of duck down, and gobbled up duck food and quacked in duck talk. On Sundays the females put on little hats and sashes, the males put on little neckties and the duck families waddled down to Duck Church, quacking all the way. One week they called a new duck preacher, and were very excited to hear his first sermon. He told them that God had endowed all ducks with three great gifts—webbed feet for swimming, beaks for gobbling food and wings for flying. However, they had lost the talent to use their wings. If they looked into the sky, the preacher said, they could see flocks of wild ducks flying in perfect “V” formations. But they were content to eat, quack and waddle around Ducktown, and couldn’t even swim much.
“I am here to tell you that you can fly,” he said. “Your wings can still lift your bodies into the air and you can soar like the wild ducks. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to leave the church this morning and take a short flight over the village?” He was so persuasive that suddenly there was a loud “Quaaack” from the back of the church, and one of the young adult ducks was in the air, circling over the congregation. Some of the other ducks were so excited that they joined in the fun, and soon you could hardly see for all the flying feathers. Their lives would be changed forever. They would no longer be confined to the ground; now they could claim their God-given endowment as masters of the skies.
Then it happened. One loud duck waddled down to the front and quacked out a protest: “Stop this nonsense! We are domesticated, not wild. We are civilized ducks. We have houses with beds, yards with gates, a village with streets and a church with walls. Flying is what our ancestors did, but we don’t fly.”
One by one the ducks flew back down to their perches, feeling a bit foolish for what they had done and holding up their heads with quiet dignity. The chastised new preacher pronounced the benediction and they all waddled home, never to fly again.
Can you remember the last time you rejected something or someone? What was the reason? For reasons known only to yourself, could there be an area of Christianity that you continue to “shun” or ignore? If there is maybe it is time to consider the reasons why you reject that area that God desires to help you with!
Pastor J. T. Carnell.

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD'S SPEAKS TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
An honest witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies. - Proverbs 14:5(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. 25 A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:24-25(New International Version).

A QUOTE
It is five minutes to twelve on the clock of the world's history. - Adolph Keller -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Love is a game that two can play - and both can win.
- From Reminisce Magazine -
The ship's place is in the sea, but God pity the ship when the sea gets into it. The Christian's place is in the world, but God pity the Christian if the world gets the best of him. - From Alive -
,br /> NOTES
Today has been a sunny day with high temperatures in the fifties. I saw Charley at noon. I went to the post office. Later I went to the Petsense store and Walmart. I took a short nap this afternoon. I put out food and treats for the cats at 6:00 p.m. Since last time I have heard from Leela, Margaret, Alice, Michelle, Steve, Geneva, Pastor J.T. and Debra.

The cats are fine. Rascal in the recliner and the others are around somewhere. I have seen all of them this evening.

Have a nice Tuesday
! Everett
Keep Thinking The Good Thoughts.

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
24 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, 25 or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared. - Proverbs 22:24-25(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
(The Apostle Paul wrote) 18 'I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he (God) has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. - Ephesians 1:18-21(New International Version).

A QUOTE
Don't fight your birthdays! Grow old with wisdom and with God and be sure the best is yet to be! - Dr. James Argue -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Peace is the world smiling. - From Reminisce Magazine -
You've got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather was. - Irish Proverb -

NOTES
Today has been a cloudy day in McAlester with high temperatures in the fifties. We had a little light rain this afternoon but not enough to measure. I attended Worship Services this morning. A good service with a good message from Pastor J. T. Through the years I have found to really get something out of a worship service you have to put a little into yourself. I napped a little this afternoon with Tony. I put food and treats out for the cats at around 5:30 p.m. but it was too damp and cool to stay out with them. Since the last Good Things I have heard from Janice, Alice, Gaetano, Michelle, Quentin, Cathy and Debra. Here is a paragraph from Debra's e-mail with a prayer request for John Flynn:

My Brother-in-law, John, goes in for surgery tomorrow (Monday) and it's to be a 7 to 8 hr. surgery. Asking prayers and to keep them all in your thoughts as they sit and wait for God to give the doctor's knowledge and tools to bring him through this surgery. He has gone through treatments now for months and all the test results have been great reports with the doctors happy with his progress. We leave this in God's hands and pray for all to continue in a positive direction, and he will look back on this as a stepping stone in life's journey and a Survivor of this disease, Cancer.
I am updating my e-mail list so if you still want to receive the Good Things PLEASE RESPOND (if you haven't already) by March 25

The cats are fine. Rascal is in his favorite place. Tony was just in for a bite of food. Leo was here a little while ago and got on the desk and meowed at me. Emmy also just came by and meowed. They are just saying hello. I have seen all the cats this evening.

Have a nice Monday to start the work week!
Everett
Keep Thinking The Good Thoughts.

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. - Psalm 29:2(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
24 As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is what he promised us—eternal life. - 1 John 2:24-25(New International Version).

A QUOTE
There are two days in the week about which I never worry. Two carefree days, kept sacredly free from fear and apprehension. One of these days is yesterday - and the other is tomorrow. - Robert Burdette -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Growing old is easy. The hard part is growing up. - From Reminisce Magazine -
If a care is too small to be turned into a prayer, it is too small to made into a burden. - From Alive -

NOTES
Today has been a sunny day in McAlester, Oklahoma, with a high temperature around 80 degrees. I saw Charley and Bill at noon. I went to the post office to pick up my mail. I took a nap this afternoon with Tony. I put food and treats outside for the cats at 5:30 p.m. and sat with them for about 30 minutes. Since the last Good Things I have heard from Audie (my cousin), Alice, Claudia (my niece), Michelle, Burlene, Doug (my nephew), Quentin, Libby and Tom (a former pastor).
The cats are fine. Rascal is lying on a desk near me, I just reached over and petted him. He is the one that checks on me quite often but he has quit sleeping with me at night. Maybe I snore. He is usually on my bed when I wake up in the morning. I have seen all of the cats this evening.
Have A Wonderful Sunday!
Everett. Keep Thinking The Good Thoughts.