Nan's Calendar

by nan Forehand, Statesville, NC
Jan. 8, 2012

Hi!
http://nansgoodwillbears.blogspot.com/

You are the first folks to receive a message by email of Nan's good will bears blog. I hope you'll visit the site. You will find it a work in progress. I just created it yesterday. I pulled together all of the messages from Nan's Calendar blog pertaining to the ministry to acquaint new comers to the history of the ministry. I've included photos of some of the teddy bears from my 2012 calendar. It was such fun to create! It literally took months to photograph all of the 12 months of the calendar. the site address is shown above on the first line of this note. Take care and remember you are in my prayers and I love you. Nan

With initiative, love, passion and conviction of purpose
Initiative means the doing of things without being told to do them. Napoleon Hill
Why are we so full of restraint? Why do we not give in all directions? Is it fear of losing ourselves? Until we do lose ourselves there is no hope of finding ourselves. Henry Miller
Passion rebuilds the world for the youth. It makes all things alive and significant. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Yesterday, Allen and I took the initiative to drive to a nearby town in our county on the search for more teddy bears. We weren't disappointed. I've heard that whatever it is that one looks for one finds. We surely did find teddy bears and lots of them. As I put bear after bear in the cart I noticed the prices were less in all of the other stores I had previously purchased bears. My objective is to buy as many bears for as reasonable a price as possible so as to help bring comfort to as many children as possible.
There were more bears on the shelves than I have ever seen in any store so far. My little shopping cart was soon to the point of holding a mound of teddy bears. Allen and I both had the same thought. We could make the most use of the money we had by putting the bears back on the shelves and going on about our business.
A very friendly and helpful employee named Brandi was kind and interested as I told her why my cart was filled with teddy bears. I explained the ministry to her and as we talked, I sensed God nudging me to ask for the manager. Brandi was happy to find the store manager for me. As I explained to Dana about the Nan's good will bear ministry and why I wanted all of the bears, and past history of prices, she listened thoughtfully. Rather than tell me the price was not negotiable, she offered to sell the bears to me for half price. Oh, my goodness! I was thrilled! There were still a lot of bears on the shelves, but I was happy to have the 29 teddy bears in my cart!! Dana told me that she would inform the cashier of the arrangement when I was ready to check out. I rolled the light, but piled high cart to Miranda's register. She looked in amazement at the teddy bears and then she looked at me. As she rang up the bears and bagged them, I told her the story. She was delighted when I had her write her name on the receipt because I wanted to include her, Dana, and Brandi in my next blog message. She said "I feel so special" and smiled as she wrote her name on the receipt.
I asked Dana if the generous offer of fifty percent off would be possible upon my next visit to the store. She assured me that should she not be there that day two other gentlemen managers would be there. I felt so glad I wasn't afraid to ask to speak to the manager. There was a time in my life I was terribly introverted and unsure of myself. I think because of the passion in my voice as we talked, there was no doubt in their minds of my honesty, integrity and conviction of purpose.
I'm convinced that those three ladies felt good about what they had done. Dana took the initiative to offer the much appreciated discount. She is a fine example of generosity in action. She did more than think about helping, she turned her thought into a gesture of good will. Because of her act of kindness and generosity I was able to stretch the dollars entrusted to me by those of the hospital emergency department who purchased four large teddy bears at their Christmas party. It was with their funds I purchased the 29 teddy bears yesterday.
I've heard it said that it takes a village to raise a child. Value Village did their part yesterday in the comfort department. Dana's willingness to help will long be remembered. Allen and I continued on our way with the trunk of our car stuffed with two very large bags of teddy bears. Our next stop was a Good Will store on the way home where we purchased another 13 bears. As Allen and I came to our pew in church this morning his dad motioned with his hand to a bag of bears on the floor at his feet. He told me who brought them and I immediately went to the couple and thanked them. As Allen's mom came through the door and took her place in the choir loft, she motioned for me to come to her. She handed me two more teddy bears!
Friends, this brings our overall total to 634 teddy bears!! It all began with the purchase of one teddy bear three years ago. God intends that this ministry of providing comfort to those who can't help themselves will thrive and continue! Remember, every gesture of good will begins with a thought. Take the initiative to turn that thought into a physical manifestation of God's love in whatever way He sees fit.
Yes, even a stuffed bear can multiply more than six hundred times over! With God nothing is impossible!
Take care and stay tuned for a message about the hospital newsletter in which an article is printed about the teddy bears and the love of God.
Love, Nan

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
Jan. 6, 2012

“A Father’s Love”
“It’s the child He loves that God corrects; a father’s delight is behind all this." – Proverbs 3:12 (The Message)

Harry Emerson Fosdick once said, “No horse gets anywhere until he is harnessed. No steam or gas drives anything until it is confined. No Niagara is ever turned into light and power until it is tunneled. No life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated, and disciplined.” Emerson underscored two truths here. First, some things can be controlled by external forces—horses, steam engines, and giant rivers, for example. Each of these has intrinsic power, but when controlled by external forces, impressive results can be achieved. Race horses can be trained to run at amazing speeds in a one-and-and-eighth-mile race. Steam engines can generate incredible thrust when built into giant locomotives. And uncontrolled rivers can be forced through huge turbines that produce mega electrical power. Left to do their own thing, each of these would be mere footnotes in the pages of history. Second, Emerson said that in humans, internal controls are the only controls that last. External controls (by parents and others in authority) may be able to force certain types of behavior in children. But such behavioral modification will be short-lived. On the other hand, self-control learned through instruction and discipline will last. Emerson concluded, “No life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated, and disciplined.” And those results come through instruction that is internally applied.
For those of you who needed some correction now and then as a child, didn’t you hate hearing the words; “This is going to hurt me more that it is going to hurt you.” Yeah, right! As a parent, those words actually carried greater truth than I would have ever imagined. I came to realize that when my mother “corrected” me it was not because she wanted to but because she needed to! For me to see the error of my ways meant that I had to discover that there are consequences to wrong actions! I could not see that or understand that until I was placed in the same position. For the same token when my children were sick or hurt I wanted so much to relieve their pain – I would have in a moment’s notice taken their pain if it were at all possible so they could have relief.
This is how I have come to see God’s love and discipline. A rather obscure verse that brings this to light is found in the book of Ezekiel. It says this:
“…I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.” – Ezekiel 33:11 (NIV)

What better illustration could God give than that of His one and only Son – given as a token of His love that – given to redeem humanity of the nature of sin that causes us to so easily to do and say things that break the Father’s heart. Through His Son, He tells us that He is willing to take upon Himself the sin of the world – just to correct our ways!
If you see God’s ways as too “restrictive,” then take a second look. It is coming from a Father’s heart – wanting His children to do what is right for the right reasons.
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
Friday, January 6, 2012

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the LORD are firm, and all of them are righteous. 10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. 11 By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. - Psalm 19:9-11(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD (The Lord said) 28 “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. 30 I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 31 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. 32 And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; - Joel 2:28-32a(New International Version).

A QUOTE
Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can. - John Wesley -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Of all one's fancy attire, a smile is the most becoming. - From Reminisce Magazine -
When I die, do not sound taps over my grave, but reville, the morning call, the summons to rise! - A soldier -

NOTES
Today has been a sunny day with a high temperature of 70 degrees and a low temperature this morning of 41 degrees. I had lunch with Charley. I went by the post office to pick up my mail and then stopped by a Dollar General Store for a few items. I took my nap this afternoon with Emmy. I went outside with the cats at 4:30 p.m. for about 30 minutes. Lucy the stray was with us. This morning there were Eurasian Collared Doves feeding on the vacant lot behind my yard. Friendly was out there stalking them but they always managed to stay a few feet out of her way. She finally gave up and returned to our yard. This evening there were Robins feeding again. A little later there were hundreds of blackbirds feeding on the ground. Just before sundown the birds that I see every evening were flying south. I think they are Robins. Here is my theory on that. With the warm weather we are having, the birds come north to feed during the day and somewhere to the south they have a roosting place. Does that sound logical to you? I washed and dried a load of laundry this evening.
The cats are fine. Little Girl is here in the den with me. Friendly, Leo, Rascal and Smokey have all been here this evening.
I hope everyone has a nice Saturday! I will see you next time.
In Christian Love, Everett.

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
Thursday, January 5, 2012
GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. - 1 John 3:18(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
13 Your (the Lord's) kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. - Psalm 145:13(New International Version).

A QUOTE
Balance, peace and joy are the fruit of a successful life. It starts with recognizing your talents and finding ways to serve others by using them. - Thomas Kinkade -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
The tomb is not an endless night - it is a thoroughfare, a way that closes in a soft twilight and opens in eternal day. - From Reflecting God -
We make a living by what we get...we make a life by what we give. - From Reminisce Magazine -

NOTES
Today has been a sunny day in McAlester, Oklahoma, with a high temperature of 64 degrees and a low temperature this morning of 27 degrees. I had lunch with Charley. I came home and took my afternoon nap with Emmy. At 5:25 p.m. I put food and treats outside. Every evening about sundown I see all those birds flying south. Maybe they have a roosting place somewhere south of here. While outside I saw several robins feeding in the vacant lot behind my yard (see picture at end of Good Things).
The cats are fine. Little Girl is in front of the heater. The others are around somewhere. Lucy the stray was outside in the yard this evening.
Have a nice Friday! I will see you next time.
In Christian love, Everett.

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
Jan. 5, 2012

Daily Ornament!
Day Twelve of the “Twelve Days of Christmas”

On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
“Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

In the song, The “Twelve Days of Christmas,” what do the “Twelve Drummers Drumming” represent? (We’ve reached the end!) As with the past couple of days, the answer will be in tomorrow’s message. Here is today’s message.

There’s an old gospel song entitled “Life’s Railway to Heaven.” It tells everyone’s story—the tragedies, setbacks, disappointments, and pain that touch every family around the world. The question is, “Where do people of faith turn when these things happen?” There is an answer. We trust. We pray. And we keep on track. Here is one verse from the song:
“You will often find obstructions; look for storms of wind and rain;
On a fill, or curve, or trestle, they will almost ditch your train.
Put your trust alone in Jesus; never falter, never fail.
Keep your hand upon the throttle, and your eye upon the rail.”
Some of you have been passengers on emotional train rides like this one—full of obstructions, storms, and dangerous curves. You have been driven to your knees in prayer as the only hope to keep your train from finding a ditch. You have experienced fear and anxiety about situations that seemed beyond the power of God to remove. And you have discovered that help is on the way. Through prayer.
Several years ago I discovered an insightful book, entitled When There is No Miracle, by Robert Wise. Here is one paragraph that describes how I have felt at certain times in my own pilgrimage:
“When our prayers seem to bring nothing but silence from God, it is natural for us to be bewildered. And soon, our apprehensions turn into a sense of deep misgiving. On every side, our doubts nag and nibble away at our self-confidence. We once thought of ourselves as people of strong faith, but now we don’t know whether to believe or not.”
Where do Christians turn when there is no miracle? I have found encouragement from 1st Peter 1:6, 7:
“So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while. These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold…”
Here are some suggestions about how we should pray, especially when the future is in doubt.

Ask in Jesus’ name. “The truth is, you can go directly to the Father and ask him, and he will grant your request because you use my name. Ask, using my name, and you will receive….” John 16:23, 24
Ask while abiding in Jesus. “If you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted.” John 15:7
Ask according to God’s will. “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us…we know that we have what we asked of him.” 1 John 5:14, 15 Ask in faith. “…If you want to know what God wants you to do—ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect an answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.” James 1:5, 6
Ask with Thanksgiving. “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” Philippians 4:6
Ask with the right motive. “The reason you don’t have what you want is that you don’t ask God for it. And even when you do ask, you don’t get it because your whole motive is wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.” James 4:3
The song writer was right. He said, “Put your trust alone in Jesus; never falter, never fail.” Just because God seems silent and far away, he is as close to you as he has ever been. He is aware of the trials you are facing, and he will see to it that the pain you feel will serve to purify you, not destroy you. As Peter said, “Your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold.” The news doesn’t get much better than this!