Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
(Jesus said) 21"Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” - John 14:21(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. - Ephesians 4:7(New International Version).

A QUOTE
You can only make others better by being good yourself. - Hugh R. Hawies -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
All other knowledge is hurtful to those who have not honesty and good nature. - Montaigne -
The older I get, the better I was. - From Reminisce Magazine -

A FACT ABOUT CATS
Indoor cats, especially, need mental stimulation. Give them places to explore, such as boxes with cut-outs. Play with your cats often, teach tricks, and rotate toys so they seem new again. - From CATFANCY calendar -

NOTES
Today has been a sunny day in McAlester, Oklahoma, with a high temperature of 49 degrees and a low temperature of 28 degrees. I saw Charley and Bill at noon. I went by the post office. I took a nap this afternoon with Tony. At 4:00 p.m. I went to the Petsense store and came back by McDonalds, bought my evening meal and brought home to eat. At around 5:00 p.m. I put cat treats and food out in the back yard and storage house for the cats. Since the last Good Things I have heard from Michelle, Janice, Gaetano, Alice, and Don & Evelyn. Thank you for your e-mails and comments.
The cats are fine. Rascal is in the recliner chair asleep. Some of the others have been coming and going. I have seen all of my cats this evening. This afternoon a strange cat came up to the front of my house. He was bob-tailed, sort of a Siamese color with a black spot on his face. I opened the patio door and he started to go away and I called him and he came back close to the door. I didn't pet him because you never know what a strange cat is going to do. I got a little bowl of dry food and set outside the door for him and he ate it. He had a scratch on his face. I didn't try to do anything with him because I have enough cats. I checked a little later and he was gone. Hopefully he belongs to someone close and found his way home.
Have a Wonderful Sunday!
Think The Good Thoughts!! Everett.

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” - Mark 9:35(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
24 The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight. - Psalm 18:24(New International Version).

A QUOTE
Bad temper is its own scourge. Few things are bitterer than to feel bitter. A person's venom poisons themselves more than their victims. - Charles Buxton -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Anxiety empties today of its strength. - From Reminisce Magazine -
Yesterday is but a dream, and tomorrow is only a vision; but today, well lived, makes every yesterday a dream of happiness, and ever tomorrow a vision of hope. - From Leaves of Gold -

A FACT ABOUT CATS
If your cat keeps scratching his ears or shaking his head, he might have allergies, ear mites, an infection, or a growth inside the ear. All these conditions are treatable. The sooner you see a veterinarian, the better. - From CATFANCY calendar -

NOTES
Today has been partly cloudy in McAlester, Oklahoma, with a high temperature of 49 degrees and a low temperature of 25 degrees. I had lunch at St. John's Catholic Church where they serve several kinds of soup every Friday until Easter for a donation. My brother, Charley, forgot about it and went to Taco Bob's for lunch. I will remind him next week. I sat at a table with 9 women from my church and enjoyed the soup and fellowship. I had vegetable soup today. I went to the post office. I took my nap in the middle of the afternoon without a cat. I put cat treats and food outside at around 4:30 p.m. Since the last Good Things I have heard from Alice, Pastor J.T., Geneva, Annette, Sandy, DeLona (my cousin), Michelle and Burlene. I am always glad to get those e-mails.
The cats are fine. Leo and Tony were here with me a little while ago but have now gone elsewhere. The others are around somewhere. Some of them are asleep. I have seen all of them this evening.
I hope everyone has a nice Saturday!
May the Good Lord Bless and Keep Each One until next time. Everett.

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

“Don’t Look Back!”
“What evil people dread most will happen to them...” – Proverbs 10:24 (CEV)

I have noticed something about “sprinters” in track & field, especially those who run (what we used to refer to as) the 100-yard dash, or today, 100 meter—they don’t look behind them to see who is closest to them. They don’t have time! My son ran Cross-Country in High School and I heard his coach telling them: “Looking back is equivalent to losing your spot. If you are looking back—afraid of someone catching up to you and passing you—then you will most likely have that fear realized.” And in Cross-Country, each spot you lose could cost the team precious points, preventing the team from winning.
Jesus talked of fear (and let us add to that worry) on a number of occasions. Most often in respect to life in general but He certainly understood how easily we give in to our fears and how spiritually and physically destructive they can be.
I would like to take a slightly altered approach to this verse if I could to give a bit of a different context to it. Instead of “evil” let’s insert the phrase, “…those who are not spiritually-minded…” Let’s face it, anyway you say it you get the same results. Those who are not spiritually minded are in fact, sinners. There is no such thing as “almost Christian.” Gorillas and chimpanzees are close to being human, but they are no more human than what a horse or cows are. But I digress…
The person who is not spiritually minded might believe in God, they may go to Church every week, even put something in the offering plate, but when it comes to matters of the heart and soul, God’s Word and Will tend to take a back seat. In other words, the fears of the world are of greater concern and have complete power over them in everything they say and do. Isaiah wrote: "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the LORD. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.”(Isaiah 55:8, NLT) Their trust is in themselves, or in things that have no permanency, which is where the fear comes in! If a non-spiritually minded person has put their complete trust in their possessions, what do you think they would fear most? A tornado? Fire? Flood? Theft? I cannot remember what insurance company it was but I did like the commercial about a dog that was worried about what would happen to his bone. He first, dug a hole and put it there—but he was worried another dog would dig it up. He put it in his dog house but he was not comfortable that it would be safe there either. He then put it in a safe-deposit box at the bank, but even then that was not enough. That to me is a great description of the person who cannot trust God for the things they think matter most! The person who is constantly, “looking back” knows they are not secure, they just may not know why. I will offer my opinion here—it is because they do not have a real finish line to cross or a solid foundation on which to stand. I think it is here that Jesus’ parable of the house’s foundation is appropriate.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” – Matthew 7:24-27

The race is on! Keep your eyes straight ahead and do not worry what or who is behind you. The Lord is waiting at the finish line and His reward is all that matters and if your trust is in Him…you will have nothing to fear.
Pastor J. T. Carnell.

Good Things

by Everett Chrsitian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. - Ephesians 6:13-18(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
8 The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. - Psalm 145:8(New International Version).

A QUOTE
I care not much for a man's religion whose dog and cat are not the better for it. - Abraham Lincoln -
- 16th President of The United States -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Don't let yesterday use up too much of today. - From Reminisce Magazine -
The human race is in the best condition when it has the greatest degree of liberty. - Dante -

A FACT ABOUT CATS
It's natural for older cats to sleep more, play less, and grow inattentive, but aging cats can develop health problems with these same subtle signs. That's why veterinarians recommend cats older than 7 get checkups every six months. - From CATFANCY Calendar -

NOTES
Today has been partly cloudy in McAlester, Oklahoma, with a high temperature of 52 degrees and a low temperature of 30 degrees. I saw Charley and Bill at noon. I went to the post office and came home and had a nap with Beau. Around 3:30 p.m. I went to Walmart for my weekly cat food and other items. I put cat treats and food outside for the cats at around 5:00 p.m. Since last time I have heard from Michelle, Burlene, Lucille, Alice, Geneva, Pastor J.T., Quentin, Annette, Doug, Patti and Debra. Thanks for your e-mails and your comments on the picture of my daughter and great granddaughter.
The cats are fine. Rascal is in the recliner chair and Tony just went out the front door. I have seen all of the cats this evening.
I hope everyone has a nice Friday!
May the Good Lord Bless and Keep Each One until next time Everett.