Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
Sunday, December 11, 2011

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. - Psalm 1:1-2(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
(God said to Noah) 14 "Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” - Genesis 9:14-16(New International Version).

A QUOTE
A friend is one who sacrifices for the other. - Glenda Hotton, M.A. -

A THOUGHT TO REMEMBER
You can't turn back the clock, but you can wind it up again. - From Reminisce Magazine -

GOD'S GREAT OUTDOORS
Pileated woodpeckers (pictured) are the largest common woodpecker found in North America. They are about the size of a crow and dig such large, rectangular holes in trees in search of carpenter ants (their favorite meal) that smaller trees sometimes break in half. - From Fun Facts from The Great Outdoors - ************************************************************************************************************************** SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
Companion animals can reduce our stress and improve our health. - From The Humane Society of the United States -

NOTES
Today has been partly cloudy in McAlester, Oklahoma with a high temperature of 53 degrees and a low of 26 degrees. I attended Worship Services this morning. The title of Pastor J. T.'s message was "A Season of Rejoicing." I had lunch at home. I took a nap this afternoon with Beau and Emmy. Smokey was also with us for a while. I attended church tonight. Tonight was our annual Thanksgiving/Christmas dinner. There was lots of great food and fellowship. Since the last time I have heard from Geneva who lives near Chicago. I don't think Geneva would mind if I included her note at the end of the Good Things, so that is what I will do.
The cats are fine. Little Girl is lying in the floor in front of the heater and Rascal is in the recliner. Have a Nice Monday. I will see you next time.
In Christian Love, Everett. *********************************************************************************************************** Here is Geneva's letter:
(David said) 25 I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. 26 They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing. - Psalm 37:25-26(New International Version) I thank God today for that verse. I needed to read that this morning! It's been a busy week for this old lady and I woke with a headache. I took two of my GRANDS to the Christmas concert at church yesterday and we really enjoyed it. I told them that they will see lots of old people there and one of them put her arm around me and said, "yes, but you're a loveable one." That made my day! I have never seen the choir nor orchestra as full and God gave us a beautiful, sunny, but cold day, with Christ-honoring music and a nice warm place in which to enjoy it.
Geneva

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
Dec. 9, 2011

Daily Ornament!
A Week of Love: Friday, Day Thirteen of Advent

“Let Your face shine on Your servant; save me in Your unfailing love.” – Psalm 31:16

Gospel Reading: Matthew 23:27-39

I like the theme from today’s reading: “Love is Patient.” How true that is especially when it comes to dealing with people whose constant misbehaviors and actions do everything to test that love.
The author of the Advent devotional Illuminate reminds us of how many times God was rejected by the people He had set aside for Himself. Time and again God attempted to guide and direct them, but they quickly turned away. They refused to be gathered under the protection of God’s wings. But God’s patience is not like our own. For thousands of years He has held steady to His Covenant—standing behind His people even if and when they did not stand with and for Him. In today’s gospel reading we see Jesus revealing the heart of God and the love of God for these stubborn people, even though they neither deserved it and at times accepted it. Admit it—Christmas/Advent is a time that definitely tests our patience, not only with others but sometimes with ourselves. We think we have to do it all, get it all, be everywhere, do everything—and we neglect to do the one think that Advent calls us to do, worship Christ! Maybe that is why I am drawn to the “Wise Men!” (News Alert: The Wise Men are the theme of Sunday’s message!) Their patience is searching for the one who was born, “King of the Jews” led them to travel a number of miles, going to several places before they were to find the object of their search, the Christ-child, who at the time was believed to already have been about 2-years old. That means they had been searching (and/or researching) for at least that long. Wow!! We struggle sitting through a two-hour service in search of truth. Can you imagine two-years? No, we can’t. We are not conditioned to wait. We want things now! We buy something online (to prevent getting out) and we want it overnight so we pay more than we would if we had gone to the store. Does that make sense? We want “instant” relationships—so instead of taking the time to develop them we turn again to the internet in search of love to find that perfect “soul-mate.” And for those who think that is utter nonsense we have a friend who did just that! Many cannot wait for Christmas morning to open presents so they create a new tradition by opening them up on Christmas Eve…and for those who cannot wait for that are now celebrating Christmas Eve with a Christmas eve’s eve recognition. (I am not making this up!)
And what about the Church? It is not exempt from our cultural instant gratification system. Too many want a Church that will give them what they need now instead of putting their whole heart and energy into the Church. They want to be served first, instead of serving others and most importantly, the One for whom the Church stands for.
A few things to consider here: First, don’t expect more out of yourself than what you are physically and financially capable of! Don’t overextend yourself for something that a couple of months from now will be forgotten! Second, don’t expect more from others than what they are capable of or what they were meant to be.
And what may be the most important message of all—don’t expect Christmas to be your savior! Many businesses rely on Christmas revenue to make their year successful—and in the same way there are those who place their hope that this time will make them happy. They have made the season their savior!
The Jews were looking for the Messiah, and yet when He was in their midst they failed to recognize Him. He is still in our midst, and it is not hard to find Him—just look at the word [Christ]mas. He’s there—He’s here. He’s patiently waiting to hear from you.
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
Saturday, December 10, 2011

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
(David said) 25 I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. 26 They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing. - Psalm 37:25-26(New International Version)

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
(John The Baptist said) 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one (Jesus) who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." - Matthew 3:11(New International Version).

A QUOTE
We have always held to the hope, the belief, the conviction, that there is a better life, a better world, beyond the horizon. - Franklin D. Roosevelt - (32nd President of the United States)

A THOUGHT TO REMEMBER
Footprints in the sands of time are never made by sitting down. - From Reminisce Magazine -

GOD'S GREAT OUTDOORS
Dragonflies have nearly 360-degree vision, which, as you might imagine, makes it easy for them to capture their prey. The green darner can fly at speeds of over fifty mph. (See picture).

NOTES
Today has been mostly sunny in McAlester, Oklahoma, with a high temperature of 49 degrees and a low of 27. I have a petunia plant with purple blooms on my front porch that I have been covering every night with a blanket and so far it is continuing to produce beautiful purple blooms. I had lunch with Charley today. Bobbi was our waitress. I went to the post office and then home. My housecleaning lady cleaned my house while I was at lunch. I took my nap this afternoon. Rascal and Emmy napped with me this afternoon. Rascal doesn't usually nap with me in the daytime but snuggles with me often at night. Since last time I have heard from Mary Jo, Alice, Michele, Geneva, Annette and Janice.
The cats are fine. Emmy, Little Girl, and Rascal are here in the den with me. Beau and Smokey are in my bedroom on my bed. Itty Bitty is in a chair in the living room. Friendly and Leo are around somewhere close. Have a Wonderful Sunday. I will see you next time
. In Christian Love, Everett.

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
Friday, December 9, 2011

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” - John 8:12(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
25 Jesus said to her (Martha), “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” -John 11:25-26(New International Version).

A QUOTE
Jesus is the summation of all that God wanted to say to us. - Jerry Hull -

A THOUGHT TO REMEMBER
Jump at opportunities more often than you do to conclusions. - From Reminisce Magazine -

GOD'S GREAT OUTDOORS
According to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, "Nearly three hundred species of mussels inhabit freshwater rivers and lakes in North America. This is the richest diversity of mussels found in the world." - From Fun Facts from The Great Outdoors.

NOTES
Today has been mostly sunny with a high temperature of 52 degrees and a low of 26. I had lunch with Charley. Mellisa was our waitress today. I went to the post office, then came home. I took my nap this afternoon. Smokey napped with me. Since last time I have had e-mails from Michelle, Geneva and my daughter, June.
The cats are fine. Little Girl is on the back of the couch. Emmy just came in and is eating some dry food. The others have all been seen this evening. I will see you next time,
In Christian Love, Everett.

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
Thursday, December 8, 2011

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
29 The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. - Proverbs 15:29(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
(The Lord said) 10 "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(New International Version).

A QUOTE
Friends are important because they build memories with us. - Dr. Steve Stephens -

A THOUGHT TO REMEMBER
No brook is too little to seek the sea. - From Reminisce Magazine -

GOD'S GREAT OUTDOORS
Hikers can explore more than 133,000 miles' of trails in America's national forests. - From Fun Facts from The Great Outdoors -

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT,
Pets fill out lives with joy and happiness. - From The Humane Society of The United States -

NOTES
Today has been mostly sunny in McAlester, Oklahoma, with a high temperature of 50 degrees and a low of 31 degrees. I had lunch with Charley, Bill, and another friend, Lawrence "Sonny" Beshears. Sonny lost his wife before Charley and I lost our wives. Sonny has a home in the country north of McAlester, Oklahoma, but seldom stays there now. He lives in Oklahoma City with his son. He has given his house to his children. He was a pallbearer at Flonnie's funeral. I went to the post office to pick up my mail. I went to the cemetery. The flowers that Treva and I put there when she was here were still pretty. I took my nap this afternoon with Emmy and Smokey. At about 3:30 p.m. I went out to mail a bill and then to Save-A-Lot Grocery and Braums. I put out the treats for the animals at 4:45 p.m. Since last time I have received e-mails from Gail, Michelle and Michele. I also received a note from my daughter, June, from Hawaii.
The cats are fine. Little Girl is lying in the floor in front of the heater but I have't heard her snoring tonight. Rascal is in the recliner. The others are around somewhere and have all been seen this evening.
I will see you next time,
In Christian Love, Everett.