Good Things

by   Everett Christian,  McAlester, OK

 
 
GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
 
21 Then Peter came to him (Jesus) and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” 22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!"  - Matthew 18:21-22(New Living Translation).
 
 
 
GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
 
14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace. 15 Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! 16 Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.  - Romans 6:14-16(New Living Translation).
 
 
 
A QUOTE
 
"I can forgive but I cannot forget" is only another way of saying, "I will not forgive." Forgiveness ought to be like a cancelled note - torn in two and burned up, so that it never can be shown against one.  - Henry Ward Beecher -
 
 
 
THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
 
We can pray, believe and receive, or we can pray, doubt and do without.
- From Reminisce Magazine -
 
We may give without loving but we cannot love without giving.
- From Reminisce Magazine -
 
 
 
NOTES
 
The day was mostly cloudy during the morning and mostly sunny during the afternoon. High temperature today was 79 degrees. Low temperature this morning was 62 degrees. Charley and I had lunch together. Ray Poor and his wife joined us at our table for lunch. We saw other friends also. I came by the post office. I took a nap. After I got up from my nap I went to County Mart for a few needed items. I sat in the back yard at 5:00 p.m. for about 15 minutes. My neighbor, Bill Gibson, from the apartments across the street came and visited over the fence for a few minutes. At 7:30 p.m. I sat in front of the house for about 15 minutes. Whether I am in the back yard or front yard the cats follow me. They sure enjoy me sitting outside with them.
 
I requested prayer for my nephew, Fred Renfro, on Tuesday night for his surgery today to remove tumors from his bladder. Fred's wife, Ruby, called this afternoon and she thinks our prayers were answered. There were no tumors. They will keep checking to find our what caused blood in his urine.
 
The cats are fine. Little Girl on her blanket. Rascal has been coming and going, as well as the other cats.
 
At 10:00 p.m. there is a haze in the sky with a temperature of 72 degrees. I will see you next time.
 
In Christian Love, Everett.

God's Tug: Three Words

March 17, 2011 Three Words

¹⁰ See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm.
See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. ¹¹ He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young. - Isaiah 40:10-11 (New International Version, ©2011)

This is the first entry in a new blog I’m starting. It has a different focus from my last blog, Lessons from Life.

For the last several days three words have been repeating in my mind: omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient. Being someone who is interested in the origins and meanings of words, I’ll break it down this way. Omni comes from the Latin omnis for all.  The endings of the words above are somewhat easier to discern: -present means everywhere or present; -potent means powerful, and –sciens means all-knowing. In the dictionary, these words follow one another alphabetically. I follow God and His Son Jesus, as my Saviour, although not always like I should. Maybe that’s one of the points of this blog: to bring myself closer to the God who knows all about me, but won’t quit loving me.

Michelle Rose

Daily Jewel

by   Pastor J.T. Carnell, McAlester, OK 

“The Master of Disguises”  

“Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.” – Proverbs 7:10

“And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.  It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.” – 1st Corinthians 11:12-15 (NIV)

Remember one of the classic Coca-Cola slogans?  It’s the “Real Thing?”  It was out there to perhaps to counter all the imitation colas that had arisen in the late 60’s to prove that it may look like a cola and it may have the name, “cola,” but in the long run do not compare to the original.  To that I whole-heartedly agree!

I remember as a pre-teen, one of my favorite television shows was the Wild, Wild West.  The Wild Wild West told the story of two Secret Service agents: James West, the charming gunslinger (played by Robert Conrad), and Artemus Gordon (played by Ross Martin), the brilliant gadgeteer and master of disguise. Their unending mission was to protect President Ulysses S. Grant and the United States from all manner of dangerous threats

Although the show focused more on Conrad and his character my favorite was Ross Martin and the character he played and how he was able to transform himself into what he needed for the situation.  The phrase, “Master of Disguise” was indeed properly applied to this man!

There are a number of things in this world that at “first glance” have all the appearances of that which is wholesome, good, moral and/or Godly.  But appearances can deceive which is why we must always be on top of our game—to be on the alert to know when evil is on our doorstep, lurking, waiting for us to open the door and let it in!

            The passage from Corinthians certainly is a strong and clear warning that there are those out there who have all the appearances of being Godly men and women.  They say the right things, do the right things—even their motivations (on the surface) appear righteous.  However, several events in my lifetimes, like those in Jonestown, Guyana and Waco, Texas are proof that it is easy to be disguised as a servant of Christ when all the while another is actually at the helm.

            It is here where I must put on my “Preacher” hat (or robe or whatever visual is appropriate) and make this statement:  You cannot see through the disguises unless you are immersed into both the Word of God and the Life of Christ which includes prayer and being involved in the Body (ergo, the Church!)

            I would not be surprised to discover that the vast majority of those who have been duped through the ages to follow false prophets had very little  knowledge of the Word and were not involved in the life of the Church.  That is pure theory but it would not shock me if the facts proved my theory to be true.

            I would like to close this message with another passage:  one of my favorites from the Apostle Peter who witnessed and walked with “The Real Thing!”  He walked and talked with the Light and knew what we needed

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.” – 2nd Peter 1:5-9

Nan's Calendar

by   Nan Forehand,  March 17, 2011

Eat honey, my son, for it is good; honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.  Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.
Proverbs 24:13-14

If you find honey, eat just enough---too much of it, and you will vomit.
Proverbs 25:16

I am amazed as I sit here this morning composing this message for you.  When I sat down at the computer, I asked God "Lord, what are we talking about today?"  As I allowed my mind to completely clear, I was aware of my Bible on the bed behind me.  I picked it up and opened it to the book of Proverbs.  And lo and behold, here is the message!
Since biblical times, it has been known that honey provides important nutrients we all need.  Consequently, should we overindulge, we may get sick, literally, as it says in verse 16!
Can one have too much wisdom?  I don't know that I consider myself to be wise, but I've learned a thing or two and I want to share with others some of the things I've learned.
What should we do when we find we have an over abundance of anything?  I adore teddy bears.  I don't remember having a teddy bear when I was a child.  When I was pregnant with Ashley, we decorated her nursery in a teddy bear theme and we even created a teddy bear mobile for her room.  To this day, I have all of those tiny bears in a box in the attic.
I have acquired, over time, a wonderful collection of teddy bears that rests upon Ashley's bed.  I think there may be a dozen of them.  Sometimes, when I go to the Goodwill store, I may find one or I may go months without finding the "right" bear.  Now, the question is, "do I really need all these beautiful teddy bears?"  I already know the answer.  The answer is a resounding "no"!  I want to share them with someone.  I can offer my collection to our local hospital emergency room to be given to a sick child or I can go to the local law enforcement office and inquire as to the possibility they may keep them in the trunk of their cars for distraught or injured children as they make their calls.
God has given me an abundance of love and compassion and I want to share it with the world!  What good does it do me to keep all these beautiful teddy bears for only myself to enjoy.  What good is love and compassion if I keep it all to myself?  Is it possible I could have too much love to give?  I don't think so.  Regardless of how much love I have or give away, I will have enough to share and just enough to keep.
If you receive any benefit from my daily love notes, that's great!  The good news about giving away my bears is that I will continue to visit the Goodwill store on occasion and I will surely find more beautiful bears.  After I have loved them and enjoyed them myself, I will pass them on to someone else who needs them more than I do.  The good news about giving away my love and compassion is that my supply will always be replenished.  I can only know if you benefit from the love I send to you if you let me know you've received it.  My love is a gift.  I hold it out to you and offer it to you.  It's up to you to accept it or to refuse it.  Positive attracts positive and negative attracts negative.  It's that simple.  Moderation is the key!  If you have too much of anything, let go of some of it, whether it's clothes in the closet you haven't worn for a long time or if it's negative thoughts or negative influences or negative habits or if it's a collection of teddy bears!
Take care and have a wonderful day! Love, Nan

Good Things

by   Everett Christian,  McAlester, OK

 
GOD SPEAKS TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
 
4 Sing praises to God and to his name!
      Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds.
   His name is the Lord—
      rejoice in his presence!
- Psalm 68:4(New Living Translation)
 
 
 
GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
 
(Jesus said) 10 For the Son of Man (Jesus) came to seek and save those who are lost.”
- Luke 19:10(New Living Translation)
 
 
 
A QUOTE
 
Love rejoices at the success of others instead of being envious.
- Father James Keller -
 
 
 
THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
 
When you flee temptation, don't leave a forwarding address.
- From Reminisce Magazine -
 
The secret of happy living is not doing what you love, but loving what you do.
- From Reminisce Magazine -
 
 
 
NOTES
 
Today has been partly cloudy with a high temperatue of 72 degrees. Low temperature this morning was 46 degrees. I had lunch with Charley and Bill. I went to the post office. I have been at home the remainder of the day. I took my afternoon nap. When I got up from my nap I tried to do a few things around the house such as sweeping part of the back porch. I sat outside in the back yard for several minutes at 5:15 p.m. About 7:00 p.m. I sat in front of the house for a few minutes. Some of the cats are always with me when I am outside. They want to know what I am doing.
 
The cat picture tonight is Emmy saying hello to you. Save it so you will know what she looks like when I write about her.
 
The cats are fine. I have the front door ajar and it appears that most are outside at present including Little Girl. I was going to ask you to pray about Leo for I had not seen him all day but before I could get it written he just now came in. Leo likes to roam a lot. I think he may be going to other peoples houses and they just might be feeding him. He is a beautiful male long haired orange and white cat. Little Girl just came in. Different cats have been getting on the desk by me throughout the evening. It seems they all like to know where I am all the time. Just call me the old senile cat lover. My three children also love cats as did their mother. Treva even has Topekacatlady as part of her e-mail address.
 
At 9:10 p.m. skies are cloudy with a temperature of 69 degrees. I will see you next time.
 
In Christian Love, Everett.