Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
,br /> GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
10 Let those who love the LORD hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. 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 97:10-12(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
9 Fear the LORD, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. - Psalm 34:9(New International Version).

A QUOTE
Laughter reduces stress by distracting you from the worries and seriousness of life. - Dr. Steve Stephens -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Sometimes we have to replace "what ifs" with some some good old-fashioned "so whats". - From Reminisce Magazine -
Stay young, your opportunities have not vanished; keep pursuing them. - From Lists to Live By -

NOTES
Today has been a sunny day with a high temperature of 61 degrees and a low this morning of 31 degrees. We really haven't had much winter yet. I had lunch by myself today. Charley had lunch at his church today. I went to the post office and then to Save-A-Lot grocery store. I bought a 4 pound bag of Delicious Apples for $2.99. I took my afternoon nap with Emmy. I put food and treats out for the cats at around 5:00 p.m. I watched the Billy Graham Crusade tonight at 6:00 p.m. It was from Sacramento, California, in 1983. Billy Graham came to Oklahoma City in the mid fifties and I attended a few times. Since last time I have had e-mails from Michelle, Debra, Geneva, Burlene and Annette. I love to get e-mails.
The cats are fine. Little Girl and Rascal are in the same place they were last night when I did the Good Things, do you remember where they were? Lucy the stray came in the house a couple of times today but she doesn't stay but a few minutes. Tony was over a little while ago for a snack.
I saw a Turkey Vulture soaring high in the air today. It always amazes me how this hugh heavy birds can soar with only occasionally flapping their wings. I will leave a picture at the end of the Good Things.
I hope everyone has a nice Thursday! I will see you next time.
In Christian Love, Everett.

Daily Jewel

By Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
Jan. 4, 2012

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

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” Some claimed that he was.
Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”
But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”
“How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.
He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”
“Where is this man?” they asked him.
“I don’t know,” he said.

In the song, The “Twelve Days of Christmas,” what do the “Eleven Pipers Piping” represent? (We’re getting close to the end!) As with the past couple of days, the answer will be in tomorrow’s message. Here is today’s message.

I mentioned a couple of days ago how John differs from the other Gospels. One of the things I have observed are the encounters He had with individuals and how after that encounter their lives were drastically altered. There is reason for that. Consider the following:

“Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.” – James 5:12-15
“Praise the Lord, O my soul; and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.” – Psalm 103:2-3
“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes we are healed.” – 1st Peter 2:24

Does God forgive sin? Is God pleased when sinners repent? Does heaven rejoice when the lost are found? Does God still heal today? Does the Bible encourage us to pray for healing? Can God heal all diseases? The answer to these questions is an unqualified “yes.” Is the forgiveness of sins included in our belief system? Absolutely. Does the healing of the body fit in there somewhere? It should. David, Peter, and James thought so. Read the verses above once more. Notice the connection between the forgiveness of sins and the healing of diseases.
In the Jew’s theology, when a person was born with a defect (in this case blindness) the defect was directly attributed to the person’s background—that someone had sinned. That had to be the cause of the defect. Likewise, if an individual developed an illness or defect at some point in their life, the same accusations would apply. Thus, the reason for the question the disciples asked Jesus when this man is brought before Jesus.
We are told that Jesus healed people wherever he went. In Matthew 9 some men brought to Jesus a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw the faith of the men, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” Immediately the teachers of the law murmured among themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” Do you remember what Jesus said when he perceived their thoughts? He said, “Which is easier: to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?” The teachers had no answer. Two things happened to the paralytic that day—his paralysis was healed, and his sins were forgiven. He came with hope for one miracle; he experienced two. God had something in mind for both problems. To fix our sin, God sent His Son to die. To fix our sickness, God sent His Son to die. Double trouble; double cure. Jesus did it all. For you.
Lord Jesus, how shortsighted I am. Sometimes I limit my prayers to one problem, when actually you are ready to solve multiple problems. If I seek to be healed, you are ready to forgive as well. Or I seek forgiveness, you are ready to heal. Open my spiritual eyes to see what you see. Remind me to ask largely, and often, and teach me to be persistent in my prayers. You bore my sins on Calvaryd, and you suffered there so that I might be well. Enlarge my vision. And answer even the prayers that I do not ask. Amen.

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
Tuesday, January 3, 2012

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
13 "For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." - Isaiah 41:13(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
(The Lord said) 3 "Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David." - Isaiah 55:3(New International Version).

A QUOTE
Never miss an opportunity to tell someone you love them. - H. Jackson Brown, Jr. -

A THOUGHT TO REMEMBER
Three essentials of happiness are something to do, someone to love and something to hope for. - From Reminisce Magazine -

NOTES
Today has been a sunny day in McAlester, Oklahoma, with a high temperature of 53 degrees and a low temperature this morning of 21 degrees. I couvered up the petunia plant on the front porch with a light blanket last night and it was still blooming today. I had lunch today with Charley, Bill and my pastor, J. T. Carnell. I came by the post office and then home. Before I took my nap I went to Buck Thetford's Barber Shop and got a hair cut. I then started on my way to Walmart. I went to the newspaper office to pay for my subscription for the next three months. I stopped by Wendy's for a small bowl of chili and then on to Walmart. It was almost 4:00 p.m. when I got home. I took a very short nap with Emmy. I put out food and treats for the cats. The newspaper prints scripture from the Bible every day. The scripture they printed today was Titus 2:11-12, one of the scriptures that I used last night. One lady at the newpaper office does get the Good Things but she would not have had time to get it into today's paper so that was just one of God's plans. I had a note from a dear friend, Margaret Joines, wife of Clifford Joines. They pastored our church here in McAlester two different times and now live in Caddo, Oklahoma. Margaret has a prayer request and I know she won't mind me sharing it with you. It will be at the end of the Good Things.
The cats are fine. Little Girl on the floor in front of the heater and Rascal in the recliner. The others have been around most of the day and evening. Lucy the stray was here once today and came to the back porch.
Have a nice Wednesday! I will see you next time.

In Christian Love, Everett. *************************************************************************************************************************** Here is Margaret's prayer request: Just a note to tell you I have a mild case of bells palsy. Hopefully, we got on it in time to get it reversed soon. Not a lot going on.....keep me in your prayers and I will REALLY appreciate it. Love you, Margaret

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
Jan. 3, 2012

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

When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.,br /> The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone. Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus. – John 6:16-24

In the song, The “Twelve Days of Christmas,” what do the “Ten Lord’s a-Leapeng?’” represent? (This should actually be an easy one!) As with the past couple of days, the answer will be in tomorrow’s message. Here is today’s message.
One of the things I truly love about this passage is not Jesus’ ability to walk on the water, but more His ability to calm His disciples in the midst of their fear! I am drawn to something that Isaiah had written some 800 years before—again, to a people facing some very difficult times.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)

I don’t remember ever having met a truly fearless man or woman. Some came close, but not quite. Being fearless allows for little wiggle-room. You either are, or you are not…fearless. It’s a little like being sinless or guiltless. You either are, or you are not. I don’t remember ever having met anyone who clearly fell into either of those categories, either. But this devotional is not about sin or guilt; it is about fear.
What did Isaiah have in mind when he wrote those inspired words: “So do not fear…do not be dismayed”? Was he speaking figuratively or of a standard too high for us to seek? Neither. He was speaking of a standard too high for us to attain on our own.
Isaiah’s point was not just about us. Isaiah’s point was about God! Isaiah had a vision of God that was superlative. He saw the Lord God Almighty as One “seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple” (6:1). Isaiah spoke of a powerful, everlasting, eternal Father who keeps his promises to his children—a Father who saves and keeps and protects. This is the God who repeats his admonition in 43:5: “Do not be afraid, for I am with you!”

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
Jan. 3, 2012

Did anyone make a New Year's Resolution? If so...why? Instead of making a resolution why not instead choose to make a renewal. In my message yesterday I listed twelve very achievable ways our lives can be renewed this year: Twelve in '12. Here they are: Reignite a Passion for Jesus!! (This has to be #1) Reconnect with the Word! (Read Your Bible EVERY DAY!!) Restore a Broken Relationship! (Relationships are our bread and butter...strengthen them) Reunite Yourself with Your Christian Beginnings! (Throw a spiritual "birthday party!" Celebrate being a child of the King!) Reinforce Your Strengths! (Don't spend time worrying about what you can't do--improve what you can do! Revive your Prayer Life!! (Enough said there!) Remember Your Failures! (Not to discourage you but to remind you where our strength truly comes from. We will fail from time to time and we need Jesus to get us back up.) Re-Establish Priorities!! (Keep the Main thing...the Main thing!! Serving God!!) Release Unnecessary Burdens! (We were not meant to carry the things we cannot alter.) Renew a Purpose to Serve!! (Make service to others and to Christ a priority!) Return God's Love by Helping Others! (We strengthen ourselves when helping others.) and lastly...Resolve to be a Better Christian in 2012!!
,br /> Daily Ornament!
Day Nine of the “Twelve Days of Christmas”
At this the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”

“Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life.
In the song, The “Twelve Days of Christmas,” what do the “Nine Ladies Dancing’” represent? As with the past couple of days, the answer will be in tomorrow’s message. Here is today’s message.
John’s Gospel, even to the casual observer, is vastly different than the other three, meaning Matthew, Mark, and Luke. According to Bible scholars, John’s Gospel was the last of the four to be written and distributed, which could explain why he chose a different approach to the life and teaching of Jesus. Had he read the other three? A question we cannot answer but ask nonetheless. Or did the Holy Spirit prompt him to take this approach? To emphasize not simply the nature of His deity, which the other three gospels do, but more the power of His deity? For example, in John chapter two—we see Jesus attending a wedding (one in which the author was in attendance) and during the course of the wedding celebration the happy couple’s family runs short of a very important item—wine. Wine represented joy to the Hebrew people and without it the celebration would have to come an end—possibly prematurely which prompted Jesus’ mother to approach Him about the dilemma. Mary then instructed the servants, “…do whatever He tells you…” and that started the ball rolling! Look at what follows:
“…the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

“What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.” – John 2:9-11

Notice the last part of that verse: “…His disciples believed in Him.” Regardless of whether or not anyone else at the party knew what Jesus had done—His disciples did and it solidified their decision to follow Him!
Do you need a reason to follow to Jesus or is it enough just to know that He is Lord and that He has saved you from your sin? Do you need some miraculous act to solidify your faith or is your faith strong enough without it to help you weather any storm that may come your way?
As we draw the Christmas season to a close, do not forget why we celebrated it in the first place. Christmas is intended to bring joy but in truth it is now that joy should be at its peak—the fact that the life Jesus gives is far more important than what one day can do.