Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
January 10, 2012

GOD'S SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
(The Apostle Paul wrote) 6 "Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." - 2 Corinthians 5:6-8(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” - 1 Corinthians 15:54-55(New International Version).

A QUOTE,br /> A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent in doing nothing. - George Bernard Shaw -
,br /> THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Giving up doesn't always mean you are weak; sometimes it means that you are strong enough to let go. - From It's A Beautiful Life -

Happiness adds and multiplies when you divide it with others. - From Reminisce Magazine -
Love makes the world go round, but laughter keeps us from getting dizzy. - From Reminisce Magazine -,br />
NOTES
When I awoke this morning it was raining and rained until sometime in the afternoon. I saw on television that McAlester had received one and nine tenths inches of rain. I had lunch with Charley and Bill. I went by the post office and picked up my mail. I lay down for my nap with Beau and Emmy around 1:15 p.m. and when I awoke around 3:00 p.m. the rain had stopped. I put out food in the storage house for the outside cats at 4:30 p.m. but my cats didn't want to go out in the wet weather so I gave them their treats inside. Since last nights Good Things I have heard from Burlene, Michelle, Michele, Claudia, Patti and Alice. I always appreciate those e-mails.
The cats are fine. Little Girl is asleep on the back of the sofa and Rascal is asleep in the recliner. Tony hasn't been over today. I guess he stayed inside because of the rain and wet weather. Michelle wrote that I hadn't mentioned Friendly and Smokey lately. Well, I guess it is because they stay out of trouble and don't take naps with me. Smokey used to take naps with me but it may be that it is too crowded now. Smokey does give me some attention at times during the day. He will get on a tv tray close to me and just look at me while I pet him. Friendly will also stop by for a little attention and then go on her way. They are all good kitties.
I hope everyone has a nice Wednesday! I will see you next time.
In Sincere Christian Love, Everett.

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
Jan. 10, 2012

“Grocery Cart Treasures”
“…for she (wisdom) is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold." – Proverbs 3:14 (New International Version, emphasis mine)

In Raleigh, North Carolina there lived a woman that the people affectionately referred to as the “Cart Woman.” Every day she would walk up and down the streets of the city with an old grocery cart, rummaging through trash bins for “treasures.” If a wheel on her cart would break or if it were stolen as a prank by some of the local teenagers she would go to one of the grocery stores and barter for another.
The clothes she wore were ragged and old – often thread-barren. The house she lived in had all the appearances of a disaster ready to happen. She had little to no contact with anyone and no one knew if she had any living relatives.
No one had seen her for several days and one of her neighbors called the local authorities to see if she was ill or hurt. When the police arrived they found her on the floor of her bedroom. The coroner believed that she had been dead for approximately two days and simply died of natural causes. Her death was a tragedy in itself – given the fact that she died alone and that no one had bothered to check in on her. But it is what the police discovered going through her house that is the greatest mystery of all. As they went through her possessions they found several pillowcases filled with cash. At least twenty! By the time they finished counting the money it was estimated that she had over 500,000 thousand dollars! We hoard things thinking that someday they will yield a great reward! We fill bank accounts, safety deposit boxes or other containers with what we consider to be “precious,” when we could be gathering and collecting the only thing that can never be lost or taken – a relationship with the King.
There is nothing wrong with having bank accounts or things – but if that is all we have at the end of this life – what have we gained? Solomon tells us to seek the greatest treasure and cherish it for the rewards of a relationship with God are worth more than anything we gather here on earth. Some years ago I came across a “testimonial” that really placed this entire thought into perspective.
A small boy, walking down the street one bright summer day, spotted a copper penny glistening at his feet. He picked it up and clutched it protectively. He felt a glow of pride and excitement. Here was something that was his and it cost him nothing! From that day on, wherever he went, he walked with his head down, eyes surveying the ground for more treasure. During the next 20 years he found 302 pennies, 24 nickels, 41 dimes, 8 quarters, 3 half dollars, and one worn out dollar bill for a total of...$12.82. The money he had accumulated had cost him nothing---except that he missed the beauty of several thousand sunsets...the colorful splendor of hundreds of rainbows...the brilliance of hundreds of maple leaves that had turned during the coolness of autumn....and most of all, the warmth of the smiles of the faces that had passed him day after day. "I know now," the author of this article states, "that life's real treasures can never be measured with a dollar sign. I just wish I had not spent so many years with my head down!"
The moral of the story…keep your head up and your heart available to all God has to offer. It is better than pushing a shopping cart around all day.
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
Jan. 9, 2012

“A Chance Encounter”
“You’re blessed when you meet Lady Wisdom, when you make friends with Madame Insight." – Proverbs 3:13 (The Message)

I remember several years ago a commercial for Reese’s Peanut Butter Cupsã. A man was walking down the street eating a chocolate bar while another man was eating peanut butter out of jar. Being absorbed in their own self-indulgence they did not see each other until they collided with each other. The one man’s chocolate ended up in the jar of peanut butter. If you remember the line, “You got peanut butter on my chocolate!” The other exclaimed, “You got chocolate on my peanut butter!” Then low and behold – a masterpiece was created! One that I rather enjoy myself!
In another chance meeting, Jesus met a young fisherman by the name of Andrew who in turn found his brother, Simon, whom he introduced to Jesus. (John 1:40) This encounter would not only change Simon’s life, the man we know as Peter, but it would be the beginning of the movement that would change the world.
I love the language of this verse from The Message. It says we are “blessed” when we meet “Wisdom.” Our lives are enriched and complete when both the heart and the mind of the Living God enter in. The very purpose of our existence takes on a new meaning when we allow Christ the opportunity to lead us.
I remember my freshman year in college during that first week known as “initiation” week. Several of us were together and I overheard one guy state, “I am going to find the popular group and get in with them. I plan to make a name for myself while I am here.”
He did and was class vice-president in his senior year. But that kind of fame is fleeting and from what I have gathered from my classmates, his life has been less than productive since. There was a scientist who thought religion was nonsense. He began having health problems, which led to some serious financial problems which in turn led to problems within his home. Many of his experiments failed. One day he made a pilgrimage to a shrine – mostly to get away from his troubles at work and at home. At the shrine he said to himself, "If I were not an agnostic, I might experiment with this superstition of religion."
After convincing himself that he was going through the motions out of idle curiosity, he began the ritual. Halfway through, he thought, "If this were not folly, what would I pray for? Health? Money?" He continued the ritual, then suddenly he cried, "O God, I beg you. Enlighten my mind so I may invent something great to further our human knowledge!" Amazed, the scientist stood in a stunned silence. For the first time he realized what his true desires and motives were and for the first time he acknowledged that it was only through God that those motives could be achieved. Knowing this at last, Galileo began experiments which led to the invention of the telescope.
People search for years trying to "find themselves" when they could same time and heartache by seeking God! Like Galileo, once they find the Lord they will truly find themselves!
God says, “Find Me. Get involved with Me! You will not regret it.”
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
Monday, January 9, 2012

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. - James 1:13-14(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. - Romans 8:28(New International Version).

A QUOTE
At times our own light goes our and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us. - Albert Schweitzer -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Nothing makes a child so smart as having grandparents. - From Reminisce Magazine -
However far the stream flows, it never forgets its source. - From Reminisce Magazine -

NOTES
Today I went to the dental clinic where I had my false teeth made several years ago, a few years before Flonnie passed away. They repaired my teeth without charge. This dental clinic is in Checotah, Oklahoma, a distance of 43 miles from McAlester. I left McAlester at around 8:30 a.m. and arrived back in McAlester at noon in time to have lunch with Charley and Bill. I came home, took a little nap with Beau and Rascal. At 3:00 p.m. I took Leo to the vet for his annual examination and vaccinations. Last year when I took Leo to the vet he went off for a few hours when we got back home, really unhappy I guess. Today he stayed around and ate supper and was his usual self. I guess my cats are learing that they have to go every year but it sure makes them unhappy until they get back home. Well, I am a little tired tonight so I will stop for now. The cats are fine. Little Girl and Rascal are asleep here in the den in their usual places.
Have a nice Tuesday! I will see you next time.
In Christian Love, Everett.

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
Sunday, January 8, 2011

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
7 The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; 8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. - Psalm 121:7-8(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. - Ephesians 2:8-10(New International Version).

A QUOTE
How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. - Anne Frank -

A THOUGHT TO REMEMBER
If your heart is full of love, you always have something to give. - From Reminisce Magazine -

NOTES
Today has been a cloudy day in McAlester, Oklahoma, with a high temperature of 54 degrees and a low temperature of 48 degrees. I didn't attend church today. My upper teeth are false teeth. Last night after I did the Good Things I was eating ice cream and a cookie and I broke my false teeth in two. I knew they were cracked and I was going to the dentist tomorrow to have them fixed. I didn't want to go to church today without my teeth. How many of you who have false teeth would go to church with you teeth out? I will go to the dentist in the morning and get them fixed. This has been a long day. I took a nap around noontime. I have had to eat soft foods today. I have been in the living room most of the day because that is where my good television set is located. I have a tv here in the den but it is older and the picture is just not any good. The tv in the living room is a 32 inch. Rascal has been in my lap several times today. He likes to sit in my lap a few minutes at a time and then he will get down and lie on his back in the floor. I put food and treats out at 4:30 p.m. I drove two blocks this evening to a convenience store to get a Sunday Oklahoma City newspaper. I watched the Lawrence Welk show at 5:00 p.m. I put the garbage out on the street for pick up in the morning. Would you believe that I watched Hee-Haw at 7:00 p.m. or does anyone remember Hee-Haw?
I had an e-mail from Michele on the condition of Amy's cousin. I will leave it at the end of Good Things.
The cats are fine. Little Girl is asleep on the back of the sofa and Rascal is asleep in the recliner. Lucy came in the house for a few minutes this afternoon. I have seen all of the cats this evening.
I hope everyone has a nice Monday to start the week. I will see you next time.
In Christian Love, Everett. ************************************************************************************************************************************** Here is Michele's letter:
Hi Everett,
The tumor was the size of an orange. It is malignant. Amy was told the tumor was encased in a membrane. I am hoping that is good only because I am praying the cancer was contained in that membrane. Don't know if it has spread to any parts of her body.
Thank you for your prayers!
Michele